Title: Of Beautiful Beasts
Rating: T, for name-calling. {No cusses, just rude words}
Characters: Raven, Beast Boy
Overusedness: Beauty and The Beast
Notes: Oooh, I love Beauty and the Beast. My all-time favorite princess movie, and I could watch it every day. I can be such a girl sometimes. X3 I've been dying for the chance at reading Leprince de Beaumont's novel all the way through. Anyways… Beauty and the Beast is the next logical choice in this series.

It was a secret that Raven did her best to hide. She tried, really did try. Ever since Starfire introduced her to the concept, though, she couldn't find it in herself to draw away. Perhaps it was the lack of it in her own childhood that pulled into its dark, swirling vortex. No matter how much she truly detested her addiction, there was absolutely no possible way that she'd ever be able to stop.

Yes, Raven had grown a strong attraction to Disney movies. More specifically, and lately, the princess movies. She's been watching them in chronological order for the past month. One a week. She would sneak down to the TV at one in the morning and watch a Disney movie at a just understandable volume and seat herself on a pillow on the ground. She would wear her silk pajamas, consisting of pants and a tank top, and hunch herself over a bowl of crackers throughout the duration of the movie.

She'd been going by what the internet had said was the 'official line-up' for Disney Princesses. First it was Snow White, then Cinderella, after that Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid. This night was going to be Beauty and The Beast. She peeked out of her door, taking a quick look around. After confirming that the hall was cleared of all beings of any sort, she made her way down to the main ops. room.

First, she filled a plastic bowl with some light saltines and got down a glass for simple water. After that, she grabbed a cushion from the couch and placed it directly in the middle of the floor, between the couch and TV. She took out the disc she had gone out to rent yesterday and stuck it into the player. She put the volume on eleven and watched in rapture as the previews rolled by on the screen. She made mental note of some of the more interesting movies and tensed as the tell-tale castle appeared.

As the story of a stained glass window stole her attention, she didn't notice a groggy figure walk through the door. He paused, waking immediately when he saw a figure watching a princess movie. 'Beauty and The Beast,' he recognized. He was about to call out and ask Star what she was doing when she stretched back, revealing cropped hair and a fragile build. 'Raven?'

He knew that if he said anything it would scare her off, and he certainly didn't want that. He morphed into a gnat and flew to the sofa. When he was resting on a cushion, he carefully morphed back. There he sat for the rest of the movie.

It was when Belle dropped down over the dying Beast that Raven moved again, shifting to lean forward. He was vaguely aware of a thought passing through his mind: she must have been really captured in the movie to not have noticed him. A strangled sort of noise, exceedingly quiet and only hearable due to his advanced senses, came from Raven as Belle claimed her love for the Beast and broke into sobs.

His head snapped to her, eyes widened in alarm. Had this movie elicited emotion from Raven? Her position screamed that he was right, poised forward and towards the screen and face twisted. Her eyebrows were drawn together and up, eyes holding more moisture and gleam than usual. He watched her for another moment or two, hesitantly returning his attention to the movie.

At the end of the movie when the prince and Belle were dancing together in the ballroom, Raven lifted her glass to drink the last of her water. Beast Boy, with his twisted sense of timing, used that moment to make his existence known. "Good movie, huh?"

She threw her head forward, choking on the liquid that she was in the process of swallowing. She hacked and wheezed, eyes near popping out of her head. "Wh-what are you doing here?" she managed between caws.

"Same as you," he gestured towards the screen, "Watching a movie."

"No!" Her face looked akin to a cherry, be it from embarrassment or anger he couldn't quite tell. "I mean… ah!"

Beast Boy grinned. "Good movie though, isn't it Rave?" When she only stared at him, a baffled expression painted on her still red features, he continued on. "I mean, I've always liked how they're both so completely different, but they end up together in the end. Shows a strong personality, y'know?"

"Bwah-buh…"

"Awh, Ravey. Speechless?"

She took a moment to steel herself, expression melting into an intense frown. "First, it is Raven. Not Rave or Ravey. Get it through your thick skull, you cretin. Second, you are never to speak of this."

He leaned forward, elbows on knees and chin in hands. "Sure thing, after we talk now. Raven, have you ever noticed how little we have the chance to share thoughts with each other?"

She raised a delicate brow. "Yes. The question is whether or not I cared."

A wry grin made its way onto his face. "Heh, funny Rae. Seriously though. You're up… I'm up… What did you think of the movie?"

Her face was stony and she was silent for a good five minutes before she opened her mouth. "It was…" She rested her forehead in her fingertips and sighed. She grumbled something under her breath and looked back up at him. "My favorite so far. How about you?"

He beamed. "Mine too! Err… you know. If I had to pick between princess movies then… uhm."

A dry chuckle made its way from her throat. "If I can admit to enjoying it, then so can you, Beast Boy."

He laughed. "Fine. I loved it."

She nodded, smirk plastered on her face. They sat in silence for a while.

"So, Raven. Now that I think about it… Belle kind of reminds me of you."

Head turning toward him, she gave him an inquisitive look. "Oh?"

"Yeah… I mean, you both read a lot. You're nice and different and smart and pretty an-" he cut off when he realized what he revealed. "Well," he figured out loud, "You already knew that I thought all that stuff, though, didn't you?"

She donned a light colouring in her cheeks, but was otherwise indifferent.

"Um, anyone that reminds you of me?"

She tapped her chin lightly with an index finger, giving the illusion that she was thinking about it seriously. "LeFou?"

He gasped, as if offended. "LeFou? Why?"

"Childish, dull, small…"

"Hey! I'm not small anymore! I'm taller than you!"

"By three inches, congratulations."

He huffed. "Seriously, though."

"Hmm… well. Because you both have more than one personality… and because you are both loyal… and your eyes are… unforgettable…" She caught the sly look on his face and cleared her throat, straitening herself. "And you're both pigheaded." She sent him a meaningful look. But, her eyes softened the slightest bit. "And then… you both have…" She paused in thought. Finding it hard to come up with applicable wording, she gave up. "You remind me of The Beast."

He realized that she was trying to make reference to his own Beast, and came off of the coach to sit beside her. "Yeah? You know what that means Rae? We're destined to be together."

She gave him a look. "Are we?"

His face reddened a little, but he continued. Even went as far as to wrap an arm around her shoulders. "Uh-huh, Rave. Beauty and The Beast. Tale of true love."

Raven rolled her eyes. "Sure thing." As she pulled his arm off and dropped it to the side, she reached out with her powers to take the dishes to the kitchen and take care of the movie. She stood and returned the cushion to the couch. "I'll be heading up now, Garfield."

"G'night, Raven," he stood up to send her a proper farewell, taking a deep bow. "Your Beast wishes you a peaceful rest."

She gave him a tiny smile, raising her hand to cup his face. "I wish a quality sleep upon you as well… my Beast."

A shiver raced through him as she whispered those last two words. Then she pushed off of him.

"Well, I ought to get to bed then. Goodnight, Gar. See you tomorrow… or later today really." She left through the doors, headed to the habitat level.

He sat there, lips pursed in thought. "Huh," he mumbled to himself. "So she doesn't deny it."