Prompt #13 : "You've got that whole drunken-sway thing going on." BBRAE
Raven stood outside of Ben's bar and restaurant, looking as out of place as a cigarette butt left behind in the wilderness. Her hood was up, and she tried to ignore all the suspicious stares she was receiving from the older, grungy gentlemen hanging out by the entrance. She could feel their malicious intentions as they brazenly eyed her up and down, and Raven was grateful for the shield that was her cloak.
She stared up at the blaring red sign, where the letter "B" kept flashing on and off in between what looked to be a burger bun illuminated in a brownish yellow light. The colours were vibrant against the late night backdrop that was the current scene, and Raven wondered why the hell he always chose this place when there were much better bars to visit in the city.
She took in a deep breath through her nose, steeling her nerves, and figured now was better than never. Without another moment of hesitation, Raven swung open the door and stepped inside the mangy old pub. The chime went off in its typical fashion, alerting everyone to her presence, and as per usual, all eyes were drawn to her mysterious, hooded figure. She nearly choked on the heavy film of cigarette smoke that smoldered the room in a slight haze, while she scrunched up her nose at the smell of liquor, grease, and body odour. Really corny country music drawled on in the background from the old jukebox in the corner, and she deduced that the place was pretty busy for a weeknight.
Raven shut out the emotions that danced about her, wafting from the patrons of such a dreary lit place. Instead, she looked for a familiar shade of green.
He popped out, of course. He always did. In such a bland environment, he was the splash of colour, the life of the party. She found him easily enough by one of the pool tables.
One look at him and she knew he was already drunk. Beast Boy had never been too good at holding his liquor. He was currently watching one of his newest 'friends' about to make a move in their little match up of the bar favourite game. His eyes were nearly closed, and he seemed to be swaying on the spot, the drink in his hand dangerously sloshing about in the glass.
This time, Raven's work was going to be cut out for her. Nonetheless, she floated on over to his location until he'd looked up with a dazed stare, and his face broke out into a huge grin upon his slow recognition.
"Rae Rae!" He called out affectionately, holding his arms open as if to give her a welcome embrace.
"You came!" He hiccupped, and then snickered for no apparent reason.
The empath sighed and rolled her eyes. "You know I always do."
"Wanna play some pool?" He queried, his words slurring as he indicated the table where his intimidating 'friend' regarded her with cool, calculating, beady eyes.
The man was a behemoth, with a salt and pepper beard that equaled to his proportions. He stared down at her from his impressive height, folding his sculpted arms over his massive chest, his biceps flexing. He wore a paisley blue bandana on his head, a pair of black jeans, a denim vest, and a tight wife beater underneath. Leave it to Beast Boy to befriend the biggest, baddest biker dude in the shop.
"No," she answered plainly, returning her gaze to Beast Boy's smaller, leaner frame.
"Aw, you're no fun," he pouted, sticking out his bottom lip.
"You met my friend George? George is like….a big, stuffed teddy bear. He may look like he'd shank you, but he'd do it out of love, you know?" The changeling rambled, placing a hand on the bigger man's broad shoulder with somewhat of a struggle due to the height difference.
"We're going home, Beast Boy. Now," Raven ordered sternly, ignoring George.
Beast Boy blinked at her a few times, not understanding.
"But I just got here! You should try the pie, Rae. Best pie around. Terra-"
And there it was.
Like clockwork, it happened annually, and like a fool, Raven always came.
This was why.
The way his face fell at the mention of her name, like anyone could read the heartbreak in his soft features, even when he was so intoxicated he couldn't walk straight. His whole body sagged with the emotion, and it suffocated her, tore at her insides until they were bruised and raw.
This was why she had to come to collect him, every year. The other Titans didn't even know; they'd merely thought that Beast Boy was out and about town for some much needed alone time on the eve of Terra's betrayal. Except, the next morning when Raven had found him passed out in the lobby, drooling onto the floor and covered in bruises and cuts, she'd grown concerned. When she'd confronted him about it then, he'd played innocent. In standard Beast Boy behaviour, he had brushed off her worries with a smile and told her that he was perfectly fine.
The next year, she'd decided to follow him discreetly, watching silently from the shadows as Beast Boy performed what eventually became an annual routine. He'd go to the very edge of town to this middle of nowhere, mediocre bar, start drinking until his judgement was impaired, and wind up picking a fight with some nasty characters over the most ridiculous of squabbles.
When Raven couldn't take watching the kid receive such a severe beat down any longer, she knew she had to intervene. Apparently, a drunken Beast Boy couldn't maintain control of his transformations and thus, was not super effective against five burly men with beards and brass knuckles. She had made quick work of them with her terrifying powers, scaring the others away after they had witnessed what she'd done to their friends. Then, she'd turned to regard the changeling's knocked out, battered form, and found that she took pity on her damaged teammate. It was then that Raven had decided begrudgingly to give him a lift via dark energy back to the tower, where she'd also then nursed his wounds and helped put him to bed.
"I love this song! Wanna dance, Rae?"
Just like that, he snapped back into shape, his thoughts fickle and incoherent because of his intoxication level. Beast Boy didn't wait for Raven to respond; instead, he put down his drink, grabbed her by the hand and dragged her away from the pool table to a spot that wasn't cluttered with people or chairs. The music had changed to something a bit more upbeat, but still old and with a country twang. He held Raven by the waist, her other hand clasped in his, and spun her about as he stepped awkwardly to the beat.
"You've got that whole drunken-sway thing going on," he told her huskily, his face so close that she could smell the traces of sweet alcohol on his breath.
She raised an eyebrow, disbelieving.
"Beast Boy," she warned through gritted teeth while he continued to move to the music, holding her warm body against his own.
He ignored her plight, but eventually slowed down, and seemed to be purring into her hair. Raven grimaced, uncomfortable with her lack of space, but also not wanting to make any trouble at his most frequented pub. She tried to push him off, but his grip was vice-like, and he clung to her like she was the only thing keeping him afloat.
"Dance with me, Raven," he whispered against her ear, his hot breath tickling her skin.
"We need to get back to the tower," she reasoned, still protesting his nearness.
She could feel the way everyone's eyes bored into them, and tried to calm down and act normal. As a result, she stilled in his arms. It was always unpredictable how a drunken Beast Boy was going to act, but at least this year he hadn't pretended that she was someone else from their past.
That must have been progress in the healing process.
"You always been this soft?" He slurred, his footsteps coming to a crawling halt.
Raven tried not to blush at the bold comment, and finally managed to break free out of his embrace, his strength winding down with his mind.
"Let's get you home," she said, draping one of his arms over her shoulder before dragging him out of the bar."I think you've had enough for one night."
Beast Boy's eyes were practically closed by the time she'd gotten the two of them outside. The fresh, crisp night air was a welcome change compared to the stuffiness of Ben's restaurant and bar.
"Promise," Beast Boy whispered then, catching the empath's attention with his sudden, brief moment of clarity.
She stared at him, his head lolling from side to side as he tried with all his strength to remain somewhat conscious.
"Promise you'll come find me, Rae…," he told her, staring into her eyes with a half lidded gaze.
Recalling all the ways in which the changeling had somehow been there for her, even when she'd pushed him away with insults and a cold front, Raven knew her answer before she'd said it. She did not need any clarification on what his confused words meant to outside ears, because she'd understood him even in his current, fractured state of mind. With a quick nod of her affirmation, she replied simply; "Always."
~FIN