AN: These one shots aren't necessarily supposed to have any sort of chronology, but you can probably tie some together if you like. Emmizu on Tumblr asked me to come up with something for these two with the theme of Possessive. Credit for "claiming" and "heart trust" goes to KryallaOrchid and her breathtaking E'ara Universe. Read her stuff. Seriously.

Disclaimer: They're not mine, but I'd love little dolls of them.

—

Beast Boy awoke to the sensation of strong arms encircling him, something warm and soft pressed against his back. With a smile, he reached down to stroke an orange-skinned hand. When an appreciative coo from behind him reached his ears, he grasped the digits and lifted his lover's palm to his lips. "Morning, beautiful," he mumbled, wrapping Starfire's arm tighter around himself and snuggling deeper into her warmth.

Tamaraneans, as a warrior race, held fewer preconceptions of gender roles. If a behavior was allowed for a male, the same was almost certainly acceptable for a female as well. It was a fact that Beast Boy had come to appreciate in the past month.

There was something to be said for the feeling of holding a lover close in a protective embrace, certainly. That said, being little spoon when the mood struck was awesome.

"And a most glorious morning to you as well, my handsome boyfriend," Starfire's voice murmured in his ear.

A grin spread across Beast Boy's features. "Whoa. Boyfriend. That just sounds… sweeeeet. Today's the day, isn't it?" He rolled over to face the alien, clasping her hand once more when he had turned around.

Starfire nodded, answering his grin in kind. "Indeed; it has been one full month. So long as you are ready, Garfield, I am as well."

"They're gonna tease us," he said, face losing its carefree expression.

"They will ask us many questions and conduct the snooping."

"Life's gonna get a little inconvenient for a while."

"Do we proceed anyway?" The expectant glow in the Tamaranean's eyes made it clear what her opinion was; he was only happy to concur.

"Absolutely," he replied, grin springing back up even as he let out a happy sigh. "In my head, you've already been my girlfriend almost this whole time. Now I just get the extra bonus of telling people that you are."

With a joyous squeal, Starfire wrapped her arms around the changeling, and Beast Boy felt their torsos slowly lifting off of the bed. If he told her she was floating, she would come back down; instead, he brought one leg up to wrap over her hips, then rested the other on the perch his foot provided. As they rose into the air, he pressed gentle kisses to her forehead, her cheeks, her lips.

She was his girlfriend now, and he was going to do his best to keep her heart filled with reasons to fly.

When they finally settled back onto the bed, they sat crosslegged across from each other, relishing the feeling of holding hands in silence.

"So," Beast Boy said, "Now that you're officially my girlfriend, what's on the agenda for today? Anything before the big announcement?"

Starfire's cheeks flushed, and she looked away with a shy smile. "If possible, there is a Tamaranean tradition I would like to complete with you. It may seem strange, but I hope you will agree."

Reaching out a hand to gently turn her face back to his, Beast Boy looked deep into her eyes. "Star, If it's important to you, then it's important to me." He knitted his brows together, thinking back to the crash course the princess had given them on Tamaranean culture. "Are you talking about… was it called claiming?"

Green eyes lit up with elation. "You recall what the Tamaranean tradition of claiming entails?"

"Eeyup." He let out a chuckle. "I'm gonna have to be careful with my chompers."

"In truth, I do not mind," she said, eyes shining. "It is not uncommon to draw blood in a passionate claiming, and I would prefer that the full impression be visible for my first. Your fangs make you unique; if they break skin, that is merely the sweet glaze upon the confectionery."

"Oh, I love your way with words, cutie," he said, brushing her hair aside to reveal one ear. Just as he leaned in to kiss it, though, he froze. "Wait, did I hear that right? I'm your first boyfriend?"

Starfire nodded. "My Transformation was not so long ago, and as you recall, I was waiting for Robin."

At the mention of their leader's name, a strange and unpleasant mix of emotions swirled in Beast Boy's chest, and he sat back, hands in his lap. "I still say he's an idiot for letting you go after Tokyo."

Starfire sighed, then began to speak slowly. "I cannot deny that I harbored the feelings for Robin for many years. He was the first person on this planet to show me kindness, and he has many admirable qualities."

Ears drooping, the shapeshifter nodded. "Yeah, he does. If he ever comes around again, I'll understand if you—"

He was silenced by gentle fingers over his lips. "Please, Garfield, allow me to continue. I still do not understand why he chose to distance himself, but in many ways, I am glad that he did."

Beast Boy cocked his head to the side, eyebrows shooting up.

"Robin and I might have been very happy together… or perhaps not. It is impossible to know what is inside the bekthar's egg without cracking it open," Starfire said, eyes distant. "But of one thing I am certain, Garfield Logan." Her hands took hold of his, and she met his gaze with sincerity. "I am truly happy to share my life with you. There are sides to each of us that others do not see; I am honored that you trust me with yours, and my heart rejoices that I can show you mine without fear."

"There's… a lot in my past," he said after a moment of hesitation. "I've got some stuff I'm not proud of, and I'll tell you about it one of these days. I just want you to know that no matter what, Star, you can trust me with anything. Anything at all."

"And you can trust me as well," she replied. "There is much to learn about each other still; I will not push, but when you are ready to unburden yourself, I shall listen without judgment."

Beast Boy chuckled to combat the lump in his throat. "Wow, healthy communication? Who knew that was possible in a relationship?"

"On that note," Starfire said, "I have a request, Garfield. It is not common on Tamaran to exchange promises before a claiming, but I wish to lay the most stable foundation possible for our relationship. The two things I wish us to pledge to one another are simple, but if we can hold to them, I am certain our bond will only grow stronger over time."

Chewing gently on his lower lip, the changeling tapped his fingers on the bed, weighing his words. "Star, a promise is a huge deal for me; that's why you never hear me make any. If I can, I'll promise these things, but if I say no, just remember that it's because I will never, ever break a promise to you."

"I would not have it otherwise," the princess replied. With that, she took hold of Beast Boy's hands and brought her eyes to meet his. "Allow me to go first, and you may follow if you wish. I will make these pledges to you, and regardless of your reciprocation, I will hold to them for as long as we are together." She took a deep breath. "Garfield Logan, I promise that for as long as we claim one another, I will communicate with you with complete honesty and openness. I promise you heart trust in every moment."

The changeling sat in silence, mouth agape at the weight and depth of those simple vows. "I couldn't think of two better promises to make," he whispered. "Can I put them into my own words?"

The princess nodded, eyes bright with anticipation.

"Koriand'r, I promise that for as long as you're mine and I'm yours, I will always be one hundred percent honest with you. I will never let anything important hang between us; no matter how much it sucks to talk about, I promise I'll talk it out with you anyway. I will give you heart trust; whenever things look bad, whenever something makes me doubt, I promise to trust you first and ask questions later." He took a deep breath, then shot his girlfriend a nervous smile. "So was that okay?"

The Tamaranean's response was to attack Beast Boy's mouth with kisses of all different kinds, from tender pecks to long, undulating tongue kisses that made his head fuzzy. When she broke lip contact, her eyes were leaking green light from the depth of her emotion. "Garfield," she whispered, "I wish for us to claim each other now. Are you willing?"

With a dopey grin on his face, the shapeshifter nodded. "Totally willing."

Hands on either side of Beast Boy's shoulders, Starfire's breath ghosted over his neck, and he shivered in delight. The naughtier side of his nature sent his mind wandering off to similar situations, both past and future… until a set of deceptively sharp teeth clamped down on his neck, hard. At that point, he was firmly rooted in the present, hissing in pain. His girlfriend did not relent, slowly twisting from side to side like a predator worrying its prey. Just as he was certain she would break skin, though, she released him with a gasp that he echoed. She stared at him through half-hooded eyes, desire turning her breaths ragged. "I claim you," Starfire growled. "You are mine, and mine alone."

"Yours," he managed to whisper back. In a moment of daring, he seized her shoulders and rolled them over, pinning her to the bed. Escaping from this position would be effortless for her, but the changeling sought to banish that thought from her mind. Peppering kisses along her jawline, he worked his way down the side of her neck. The princess tilted her head, exposing a welcoming expanse of skin, and he closed his mouth over it.

As Beast Boy tried to mimic Starfire's actions, he was shocked at just how difficult it was not to break the skin with his fangs. They weren't quite razor sharp, but they were undeniably designed for piercing. Still, he kept his pressure as strong as he dared.

"Harder," Starfire moaned beneath him, legs squirming even as her pelvis lifted off the bed to grind against his. "Show me and all others how much you want me. Mark me, Garfield, claim me, make me yours!"

Upon hearing those words, the primal urges inside of Beast Boy rushed to the forefront, and he bit down in earnest. Starfire cried out, and blood filled his mouth, yet he hung on, twisting from side to side to ensure his mark would last.

When he finally pulled away, some blood still remained in his mouth. Only briefly did he consider spitting it out; it was part of his girlfriend, and he wanted all of her. Instead, he took Starfire's lips in a savage but tender kiss, letting the blood wash into her mouth as well. After a long moment, he broke contact, panting. "I claim you," he rasped, staring into dazzling green eyes. "You're mine now, Star, all mine."

"I am yours," she replied, and once again they began lifting off the bed. Thinking quickly, Beast Boy took his girlfriend's hands, matching their palms together as his shins remained balanced on her thighs. Once more their lips joined, but this time it was gentler, more sedate.

They didn't come down for quite some time, but the alarm on Starfire's bedside eventually interrupted their fun. It was with reluctance that they touched back down on the bed, but the excitement of what was to come still infused them both.

"I'd better get going," Beast Boy murmured. "Gotta take a shower before the big announcement."

"I will do the same," the Tamaranean replied. Her eyes glinted with mischief. "Are you certain we should not conserve water and shower together? I have been told that California often experiences drought."

The changeling's heart hammered against his ribcage. "I, uh… let's see," he stammered. "It's 8 AM now. If I see you naked for the first time ever… let's do the math here… carry the one, plus two for resting…" He grinned. "The Titans wouldn't be seeing us until sometime tomorrow. Late tomorrow."

Starfire giggled. "I see. I suppose I shall have to take the check of precipitation, then."

"Raincheck it is," he replied. One more lingering kiss, and he was shuffling toward the door. "See you at breakfast, my beautiful girlfriend."

"Indeed you shall, my handsome boyfriend." She turned her back to him. "Oh, and Garfield?"

"Yeah?"

The oversized T-shirt Starfire wore to bed began creeping up her legs, revealing heretofore unseen flesh to Beast Boy's eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he realized she was wearing a red, lacy thong. When the shirt cleared her head and he was treated to a vision of a lithe, muscular back, his jaw dropped.

When he managed to process that she wasn't wearing a bra, a little whimper escaped his mouth.

Looking over her shoulder, Starfire smirked. "Enjoy your shower. I shall very much enjoy mine."

Beast Boy gulped. "Uh, better add half an hour onto that shower." He blinked. "On second thought, more like… ten minutes." With that, he transformed into a mouse and scurried away.

—

Just as Beast Boy emerged from his en suite bathroom, toweling off the last bits of dampness from his hair, a gentle knocking on the door drew his attention. It seemed Starfire was a little impatient to make the announcement to their friends. Toying with the idea of answering the door in the nude but deciding against it, he instead threw on a loose pair of sweats… but forewent the shirt. Turnabout was fair play, after all.

The knock was repeated, somewhat more forcefully, and he tossed his towel aside as he crossed the room. "Okay, okay," he called out. "Geez, someone's a little overeager." Reaching the door controls, he cocked a hip and leaned seductively against the doorframe as the metal panel slid aside to reveal a very shocked Raven.

"G-good morning, Beast Boy," she stuttered, eyes wide. "It appears I've caught you a bit early." Her gaze flicked down to his torso, and one side of her bottom lip shrank almost imperceptibly. Raven was… checking him out?

"Nah," he replied, trying to keep things smooth so as not to embarrass her. "It's okay. So… what brings you to the biohazard zone that is my room?"

The little crack in Raven's veneer disappeared, and she reverted to her normal self. "A matter of personal expertise." The empath was speaking in a complete monotone, even flatter than usual. In general, that meant that she had just finished handling some emotional uproar… not that she ever told him what the problem was.

"You've finally decided to try tofu and you want to know which way to try it first?" he quipped.

Raven paused, nervous energy gathering in the air between them. "I have a proposal for you," she said after a few seconds, still not quite making eye contact. "Melvin's birthday is this week, and she's expressed interest in exploring a new series of comics. I have a list of her favorites thus far, but I am… out of my element when it comes to such things." Finally, she brought her eyes to meet his. "In exchange for your assistance in picking a suitable gift, I would be willing to treat you to lunch at the vegetarian restaurant near the comic shop. You've mentioned before that it's your favorite."

Beast Boy grinned. "Y'know, that sounds like fun, but you don't need to bribe me, Raven."

"Perhaps," she replied, "But I've been meaning to try that restaurant, and you are something of an expert in… vegetarian…" She trailed off, eyes fixed on a point below his face. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Is that… a bite mark?"

Clapping a hand to his neck and rubbing, the changeling blushed. "Uhhh… yeah."

Raven blinked a few times. "Anyone I know?" she asked.

With a sheepish smile, Beast Boy nodded. "Star."

The sorceress's eyes widened. "So… you two are…?"

"Yeah," he murmured. "We've been kinda testing the waters for a while, and… it's been good. Real good. We didn't want to say anything to the team until we knew for sure just in case it didn't work out; easier to go back to just friends if nobody else knows, y'know?" He sighed, unable to suppress an even wider smile. "But it's official now. We were planning to tell you guys at breakfast."

"I see," Raven said, looking down at the ground. A moment passed in silence, and she slowly brought her hands to her hood and raised it.

Beast Boy cocked his head to the side. "Raven? Is something wrong?"

"I'm fine," she snapped, taking a step back and hugging her arms around herself. Her chest inflated and deflated with a long, shuddering sigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take that tone with you."

"Come on, Rae," he begged, reaching a hand out to pull her hood back down. "You can tell me what's going on."

"Please… please don't call me Rae," came a half-sob from within the cloak. "I'll be fine. Really." Raven swallowed hard. "I need to go meditate. Can you… can you tell Starfire that…" A pained noise came from the empath, and she balled her hands into fists. "Tell her that you're both wonderful people, and you deserve all the happiness in the world. You'll be good for each other."

Realization slammed into Beast Boy's chest like a speeding car. "Oh my god. Raven, I'm so sorry. We didn't know. If we had—"

"It's okay, Garfield," she said in an impossibly tiny voice. A wet chuckle shook her shoulders for the briefest of instants. "I didn't realize it either until recently. For once, it seems my timing is even worse than yours."

The shapeshifter sighed, interlocking his hands behind his head. "I'm sure this doesn't help right now, but for what it's worth, we're both here for you, for whatever you need. If you want, you and me can still go to the comic store together, or I can just write down some recommendations and you can do it on your own."

"You and I," the empath corrected out of reflex. "And… thank you. I'll let you know once things settle. For now…" She took a deep breath and removed her hood, revealing cheeks irrigated with saltwater trails. "Congratulations, Garfield. I really do wish you both the best." With no warning, she shot forward and wrapped her arms around him. Just as Beast Boy started to return the embrace, she broke away and strode off down the hall toward her room.

Watching his friend retreat back into her self-imposed solitude, Beast Boy let out a sigh. Once she had disappeared from view, he grabbed a clean shirt from his dresser, then headed for the common room. There were some difficult conversations awaiting, but he and Starfire would make their way through them together. He only hoped that time and understanding would bring Raven back to both of them.