Chapter six: Angel.
Raven levitated stoically, as she gazed through the wide glass wall of the tower. She catalogued the activities that went on below her, along the shore. Her team mates were enjoying the seasonal weather, frolicking in the thick layer of show that had fallen over night and had not yet started melting. Even Robin had taken time out from brooding and planning, and was helping Starfire construct her very first snowman. Cyborg and Beast Boy were engaged in a snow ball fight that they were each taking entirely too seriously, they'd each put together their own adequate but none to impressive fort, a simple wall like structure used for straight-forward duck and cover.
Raven found herself locked on this contest of sorts, the tact and strategies that they used had Raven imagining the competitive flare between them. She noted how Beast Boy would peer over his shoulder, his back tight against his makeshift shelter. She registered that Cyborg's attacks were indeed faster and more frequent, but very rarely hit their target. Beast Boy's snowballs seemed better made, they came out of nowhere with deadly accuracy, but the preparation that came with each throw made him slower and did not allow him to get the upper hand.
Raven had never really been a fan of going out in the snow, she loved the look of snow, how everything looked calmer, and how the world's colours appeared almost bleached. She could appreciate the simple beauty of a snowy landscape. However, she'd never had much interest in messing around in it, it was wet and cold and not all that entertaining. But, as she watched her friends' antics, she wished to join them.
When Raven had dressed suitably, she headed out. When the other Titans spotted her they halted their activities to greet her, Cyborg and Beast Boy had forfeited their snow ball fight, neither of them being able to get leverage. Robin and Starfire's snowman was coming along nicely, and they quickly returned to their sculpture. Beast Boy advanced towards Raven when she didn't make any move to do anything snow related herself.
"Come make snow angels with me, Rae?" Beast Boy asked her gently.
Raven raised an eyebrow in incredulity. Was he serious? She had no interest whatsoever in lying back and getting completely frozen from head to toe, not to mention that the clothes she'd just put on would be soaked straight through, and have to be stripped off the second she got back inside. It seemed entirely too much hassle for something as trivial as a snow angel. And Raven, an angel? Really?
He continued to stare at her expectantly, and she could see that even though he was anticipating a rejection of his offer, he fervently hoped that she'd take him up on it. So with a patient sigh Raven nodded once, and Beast Boy flashed a smile that could not be paralleled. With that he grabbed her wrist and tugged her to a snowy embankment that had been untouched, no prints of any kind had been made. Without a word Beast Boy flopped mercilessly onto his back, causing a wall of snow to spray up and out from all directions from the impact. He proceeded to spread and close his arms and legs rapidly in an attempt to complete his angel.
With a quick roll of her eyes and another small sigh Raven lay down beside him, far enough away so that her angel would not overlap with his, the second her back hit the cold she'd wished that she'd stayed inside, but the worst was already over, and she too spread her arms and legs wide, before bringing them back to a ram-rod straight position. She continued this motion until she was satisfied she'd get a good result. Beast Boy was already standing, and he held a hand out to aid her up.
They took a step back and Beast Boy smiled proudly, she followed his gaze to the two perfect renditions of angels that were set within the slope. Raven permitted herself the briefest of smiles, too. She'd never thought of herself as capable of making anything akin to angelic. But something as trivial and inconsequential as a snowy imprint, had managed to bring about a bud of hope.