Author's Note: So some people have commented on how the alien words I use when the characters are speaking different languages are very believable. Do you want to know my secret? Trust me; it's not as good as you think.

Basically I type a jumble of letters on the keyboard and then take a look at them and see if they sound like a different language. I'm not being modest friends, that's really all I do. Anyway thanks for reviewing as always! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

~0~0~0~

No, Starfire thought, her emerald eyes reflecting the shock she felt, as she gazed down from the balcony she was perched on. Not Raven. X'hal, everything would be ruined.

No, Robin though, his mask narrowing. What were the chances? If Raven was taken away now, the entire escape plan would be pointless. It would be over before it even started.

No, Raven thought, black energy crackling around her because of the slight distraction. Her emotions flared up inside her, and she had to use all her will power to quell them. She used her remaining energy to disarm her friends' collars, silently begging them to not react too much. Thankfully they received the message.

No, Beast Boy thought. They weren't going to take her away. Nobody was. At least not with him around.

"No," he said, loud enough for Zarterrm to hear. The orange skin alien whipped around abruptly, his eyes narrowed.

"Is that a challenge, Earthling?" he growled, his teeth bared.

Beast Boy stood up straight, his chest drawn out as he yelled, loud enough to even reach the ears of the Grand Ruler. "I challenge Zara…Zorro…that thing, to fight for the girl with the violet hair!"

The stadium filled with an uproar.

Blackfire raised her eyebrows from where she sat upon her throne, and then gave a quick sideways glance in the direction of her sister. She then rose from her chair and strode over to the edge of her balcony, then raised her arms up indicating silence.

"The green Earth scum has challenged Zarterrm for the Azarathian's hand," she declared. "Zarterrm, do you except this tribute's challenge?"

"I accept it without hesitation, your majesty."

Blackfire smiled calmly. "Then the first tribute to disarm their opponent it secures the girl. Let the match begin!"

The crowd of thousands of aliens screamed and jeered at the two contestants, their noises filling the stadium.

Meanwhile within the arena itself, Beast Boy was having a mini-heart attack. If he thought there was pressure before, than he really was the biggest idiot on the planet…err…on every planet.

He and Zarterrm circled around each other for a few moments before the might alien finally grew impatient with the changeling and dove towards him. However Beast Boy used his abrupt attack to his advantage by simply dodging out of the way and taking to the skies in the form of a hawk, circling back around until he landed in the form of a cheetah. With a roar, he raced toward his opponent, scratching his shoulder with his deadly claws.

Zarterrm cried out in pain before tossing the beast off of his being, and securing a strong hold on his tail before he could change. With a grunt he threw the green Titan clear across the arena, causing him to land in a painful heap.

Returning to his form, Beast Boy looked up at the alien with an expression full of pain. Zarterrm's eyes were full of mocking, and his smile was extremely malicious. If Beast Boy wasn't careful, this creature could easily slaughter him, after all he still had his other injuries to worry about. He found himself remembering what Robin would do, and that was assessing his attacker. He noticed how Zarterrm had a rather strong torso, but petit legs in comparison. If he landed the right way, he would surely break his back easier than other would, and that just might be the key to win….that was it!

Swiftly transforming into a pterodactyl he glided toward the orange being and dipped down suddenly digging his green talons into his shoulder. Zarterrm screamed in pain and then fear as he was lifted up several feet above the arena. Just before Beast Boy prepared to release him, he cried out hastily, "I yield, I surrender! He can have the girl, let me have my life!"

Beast Boy gave a caw of satisfaction as he lowered his opponent to the ground, and changed into his regular form, sweat and blood dripping from various injuries on his face.

Blackfire rose from her throne yet again and signaled for silence. "Zarterrm has chosen to surrender, an action that is looked down upon. For that he will remain in the Troq rank and Beast Boy," she shook her head in disbelief here, "will claim his prize!"

The crowd went ballistic, except this time it was in cheers for the little Earthling that could. Said warrior gazed up toward the balconies, searching for a familiar face until he found it.

Raven just looked down on him, shaking her head. Shaking her head, and smiling.

~0~0~0~

"Well hello, Robin," Blackfire said in her usual seductive voice. "Come to see my little sister? She's a tad busy right now, being locked up in her room and all."

Robin scuffled his feet, his fists clenched. "Well, I, uh, came to see you anyway."

"Did you now?" she asked, mildly surprised, but increasingly pleased nonetheless. "And to what do I owe the Boy Wonder?"

There was something about her tone that portrayed that she was mocking him, but he didn't really care at the moment. "I wanted to request permission for our warriors to use the ship as their sanctum. It's…more private that way."

Blackfire smirked. She glanced to her right at her commanding officer. "Trogaar, dear, would you mind giving Robin and me a moment here?"

Trogaar stood up and bowed in dismissal without a second thought. "Of course not, Queen Komand'r," he said instantly, and then left shortly afterward.

Blackfire narrowed her eyes as the metal doors slid shut behind the Gordanian before she stood up from her throne and walked ever so slowly toward the Boy Wonder.

"Now where were we? Oh, that's right, I remember," she smiled sweetly at him, causing bile to rise in his throat. "Your…sanctum…for…what was it? Oh, yes, privacy." She laughed. "Now how dumb do you honestly think I am?" She paused as if expecting an answer before continuing. "I know what you're planning Robin. Don't you believe for a second that I bought your obedient act. Don't think I don't know what you're really doing up there with my little sister. It's been about escaping all along, hasn't it?"

Robin looked down, his teeth gritted.

"Kind of clever, I have to admit," Blackfire went on. "Telling Trogaar that it would be okay with me for you to see my sister for…certain pleasantries...after all, it has been about privacy all along hasn't it?"

Immediately Robin's face snapped up his cheeks a flaming red color, and his hands kneading threateningly. Blackfire seemed to sense his shock and anger, for she pursed her lips.

"My, my, my sister has been rather naughty lately hasn't she?" she narrowed her eyes, loving the fact that she could make him squirm. "Just not in the way you were expecting, hmm?"

"…Shut…up," he seethed.

She gave another smile. "Oh, yes you are right, I digress. But sneaking onto the ship two at a time and making your escape? Pure classic. Honestly I never imagined things would work out this way to my advantage." She walked behind him as she talked, her fingers tracing his shoulder ever so lightly. "However…I bet you never even counted on me assisting you."

Robin froze. Had she really just said what he thought she had said? "You're joking."

Blackfire laughed. "I wish I was, it would make this whole train wreck much easier wouldn't it? But no, I'm not." She flew back up to her throne and sat down, crossing her legs neatly. "I'm going to offer you a deal. A deal not even you can refuse," her eyes shone with a new emotion. "I'll help your friends beat their rank, choose their girl, and make a dashing escape on one of those oh, so crafty escape pods. After all, we can make it seem like an accident so easily. In return, all I ask is for you and my darling little sister to remain here with me. You won't even have to fight each other to the death. Although that would make things around here rather boring," she sighed. "Oh well, I suppose I knew I would have to pull a few strings, but again I digress." She rose quickly and flew right in front of him her hand drawn out ever so slightly. "So, Boy Wonder, what do you say?"

A million thoughts raced through his mind. He couldn't condemn him and Starfire to a life as slaves! But then again if he refused, his friends would have zero chances of escaping, dooming them all to life imprisonment. Instead of making a decision he avoided the question with another question. "What if you're lying?"

Blackfire sighed. "Honestly, don't you have any faith in me? I thought we were friends?" When Robin didn't answer she rolled her eyes. "Very well." She reached for something behind her cloak and withdrew a tiny flask of something and handed it to him.

He examined the bottle immediately, glancing suspiciously at her. "What's this?"

"Every Tamaranian's weakness…or kryptonite as you might call it," she winked. "Metallic chromium. If I'm exposed to too much to it, I will die, as will Starfire if she is nearby. If I'm lying, then press the button on the very bottom. That same sample will be injected into my brain, and I will perish. Happy ending for everyone."

"I wouldn't want to kill you."

"Why, I think that's the nicest thing you've said to me all day," she replied dryly. "But if that's the case it's your loss. And if you don't believe that's it, then get Starry up there, to identify it. I believe she's free to talk now. Think about it Robin. What's best for your team?"

As he left the throne room in search of Starfire, Blackfire chuckled to herself. "Oh, he really is adorable," she said to herself, while typing in a code to open the Gordanian ship for Beast Boy and Raven. After all, she knew from the very beginning what his answer would be.

~0~0~0~

"I can't believe we're actually going home. As soon as I get back to the tower, I'm shoving my face full of tofu and never going back."

Raven wrinkled her nose. "I'm so glad you told me that."

Beast Boy glanced at her and blushed. "Oh, right sorry." He winced suddenly and started to hold his side.

"Here," Raven said gently, removing his hand and pressing her own on his ribs, letting her healing powers circulate through. He sighed in relief as the pain began to ebb to a soft ache. "Thanks Rae," he said gratefully, "I don't know what I would do without you."

She paused in her work before glancing out the ground and muttering, "Likewise."

Beast Boy's head snapped up and his mouth dropped, although a glare from Raven a second later silenced him. Still she couldn't wipe the smug smile off his face.

Once she was finished healing his ribs she began to tend to his scrapes and open cuts, ensuring that they wouldn't get affected. It was beginning to get unbearably quiet in the little escape pod, so finally Beast Boy spoke up.

"So you got that collar thing off huh? Those things seemed to hurt like a mother."

Raven nodded absently. "Yes, I realized the others too. They're useless now, just basically accessories," she paused for a second. "There was a Tamaranian girl up there."

Beast Boy blinked. "No way…did she speak English?"

Raven hesitated again, and then glanced to the side. "I may have contributed…just a little."

It was silent as she let that sink in. She almost dared him to comment, which he did after several moments.

"That's so hot," he squeaked.

She whacked him.

"Ow! Okay jeez I get it sorry!" he said hastily holding up his hands. He chuckled a little bit more, until he stopped suddenly. Raven raised her eyebrows at this.

"What?"
"I uh, just uh," the changeling scratched his head, avoiding her gaze. "It's just uh, I was…uh…"

"Use your words. You can do it," she encouraged blandly.

He gave a half-hearted dirty look before resuming his floundering. "I was just, you know, uh, really…really worried about today….I mean I almost…you almost-"

"I almost couldn't be here," she finished for him.

"Yeah…"

"And that's exactly why I owe you so much. I never thought I'd say this but, I'm glad you're around Beast Boy…I really am."

He looked up at her shyly blushing, and she offered him something she rarely gave, a genuine smile. The world seemed to slow to a snail's speed as suddenly their faces grew closer and closer. Neither could really make sure if what was happening was for real of not. Just as their lips were about to touch, Raven's mind was suddenly clouded with an unpleasant feeling, a feeling that wasn't her own, considering she had never felt happier in her life. She sighed in annoyance and her breath hitched as she pulled back slowly, her head instead coming to rest on a green forehead.

"Sorry," she muttered, "Robin's trying to reach me."

At this, Beast Boy visibly relaxed, thankful that it wasn't him that was the problem for once. "Don't be long," he told her cheekily, and she had to roll her eyes at that. She then focused all her energy on finding Robin. It wasn't difficult; after all, they shared a connection.

Could you have honestly picked a worse time? She snapped irritably.

Robin's mood sifted form angst to mild surprise. Why? What's happening? Before Raven could think of something to cover up with she was interrupted. Never mind, where are you guys now?

Uh…the escape pods remember? That was the plan. Now for some reason his mind was coming off as extremely confused until it abruptly vanished.

Oh…okay…she must have…he trailed off as more unpleasant feelings took over.

What? Robin you aren't making sense. Is something wrong?

No.

That was strange. Robin rarely every came off snippy, unless he was hiding something. Raven pushed it aside as concern for the others flooded over her. Is everyone alright?

Yeah, answered. No you're right; everything is going according to plan…

Then what's the problem?

I just wanted to make sure everything was okay with you two…in case I don't get the chance later to talk to you.

You mean before the pod takes off?

…Right.

She sighed. Robin-

Just be safe.

And he was gone.

Raven sighed irritably. Whatever. He was just paranoid that was all. Everything would be fine. It always was. She became distracted from her thoughts when she felt a hand rub against her own.

"Everything okay?" he asked, with a concerned expression on his face.

She glanced up at Beast Boy with a new emotion shining in her eyes. "For once, everything's perfect," she murmured, before her lips met with his own. A moment later the pod shot off silently, its coordinates set toward Earth.

She couldn't have been more wrong.

~0~0~0~

Author's Note: Believe it or not, I have never written a Raven and Beast Boy kiss, so this scene was way overdue. I was really happy with this chapter I have to say. I hope you were too.