Wow. I really loved writing this chapter, so I really hope you all like reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I finally got the chance to put in some fluff from BB's perspective in at the end! I'm still taking prompts, so keep on sending them in. Thank you to everyone who reads this, and especially those of you following who continuously review. You make my life. R/R.~ Love, Sam.

Sprezzatura

The Plan: Part 1

"For I will be horribly in love with her!"

Sounds of battle rang through the tower, rocking the coffee table and shaking the glasses inside of the kitchen cabinets.

"Eat dust, Bird Brain!"

Cyborg's boisterous voice shook the bowl of popcorn on the table in front of them as he swerved to the right, nearly knocking Robin off the couch completely. The Boy Wonder was biting his lip as his fingers danced over the buttons of his controller, eyes narrowed in concentration.

"You just wait, Tin Can," Robin ground out through his teeth. "You just wait."

But Cyborg's car knocked Robin's off the track and passed the finish line just a few seconds later.

"Booyah!"

Robin mumbled something under his breath about cheating while Cyborg danced around the room, his limbs flailing in every which way until he dropped back down on the couch beside Robin.

"Rematch?"

"You're on."

They had just started a new game when Cyborg quietly nudged Robin's arm. Rolling his eyes at Boy Wonder's confused glance, he nodded to the door to indicate that the video camera he set up earlier had spotted just the person the two had been waiting for.

Beast Boy could never resist video games.

"Hey Robin!" Cyborg's voice was unnaturally loud as he called over to his friend sitting less than a foot away.

Robin winced, rubbing his ears before responding in an equally exaggerated manner. "Yes, Cy?"

"Did you know that Raven told me that she still loves BB?" Cyborg smirked as he checked the camera in the hallway right outside the common room. Sure enough, Beast Boy had decided not to come in after all. The changeling had his ear pressed right up against the door and he was, as expected, listening in on their conversation.

"No, I didn't know, Cyborg. Why don't you tell me about it?"

"Well, Robin. Raven told me in absolute confidence that she still loves Beast Boy, but she's too shy to admit it because she thinks he'll turn her down."

"Wow, wouldn't that be ridiculous. Everyone knows Raven is smart and pretty and kind and one of the most powerful superheroes the world has to offer. He'd have to be really stupid to turn a girl like her down."

"But you know Beast Boy. Oh well, I guess they can't get back together." Cyborg's lips pulled down in a mock pout. Stifling a grin, he watched Beast Boy's shocked expression in the hallway. "What. A. Shame." He nearly shouted the last three words, leaning back with a satisfied smirk etched permanently on his lips when a rather shaky Beast Boy made his way down the hall.

Together, both Robin and Cyborg, with matching grins, leaned back casually on the couch as they propped up their feet on the coffee table. Each of them grabbed their controllers, resuming their race to congratulate themselves on a job well done.

Inside his room, Beast Boy felt the complete opposite of Cyborg's and Robin's easy nonchalance.

"Raven… loves me? Still?"

He was pacing, occasionally stabbing his fingers through his mossy green locks.

He thought she hated him. Knowing that she didn't washed wave after wave of calming relief through his bruised and battered heart. But it didn't dismiss the fact that she loved him and if Beast Boy was completely honest with himself, he still loved her. He had never stopped.

And he never would.

-Flashback-

"Robin to Beast Boy."

Beast Boy rubbed his eyes as he sat up in bed, the covers falling off his bare chest. Immediately, he shivered as cool air hit his skin. The bright yellow communicator on his bedside table vibrated again and he quickly accepted the call so he wouldn't wake the sleeping empath just a foot away from him.

"Beast Boy."

"I need you out in the common room, packed, by 6 a.m. It's a code red, so we might be gone for a while. Do not be late. Robin out."

The screen went dark and Beast Boy was left staring at nothing for a few seconds. The clock flashed 3:07 A.M. in glaring red digitized numbers, almost mocking him with their dispassionate blinking. When he could take it no more, Beast Boy turned back around. His eyes found Raven's sleeping form easily, rising and falling with soft, shallow breaths. Involuntarily, the corners of his lips turned up into a soft smile and before he could stop himself, Beast Boy kissed the exposed skin of her bare shoulder.

Happiness welled up inside of his chest within moments. It spilled into his lungs and Beast Boy breathed out it all out in a content sigh. It was impossible to deny that he loved her.

Years ago, he thought he might have been able to ignore that growing feeling within him, but he was immensely happy that he did not. Because as a result, he got the most beautiful girl in the world as his girlfriend.

And he'd have to leave her for who knew how long.

Beast Boy's brow furrowed as his smile slowly faded away. He knew that they were heroes first, so why did leaving her feel like a punch to the gut? Somehow, during their lengthy relationship, they managed to avoid the topic of their unnaturally high risk of death. And Beast Boy was about to go and stare that in the face.

A sudden wave of fear washed over him as he stared at Raven, realizing that this might be the last time he would see her.

Without hesitation, Beast Boy gathered her up in his arms, burying his face in her hair. She stirred, turning over with sleep still swimming in her violet eyes.

"Garfield?"

That voice.

That voice made his entire body physically ache. There was something about its sweet, gentle innocence that twisted his heart and wrung out the pure, unadulterated adoration he felt for her.

How was he supposed to live without her for months? Maybe years? The answer was simple enough.

He couldn't.

He couldn't do this mission knowing that he had a girlfriend back home waiting for him. Knowing that he could die or she could die and then one of them would be left incomplete and unfinished for the rest of their life.

"Rae, we need to talk."

He was really going to do this.

Garfield watched as Raven slowly came into wakefulness, sitting up on their queen sized bed. Locks of her deep purple hair fell around her face and one of the straps of her navy tank top had slipped down her shoulder but somehow, she still managed to look breathtaking.

Taking one last awe-filled look at her, Beast Boy sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. This was the last time he'd ever get to call her his.

But it would be better this way, right?

Meeting Raven's concern eyes, Beast Boy kissed her hair and took her hand gently in his.

"Come on, let's go to the roof. I'll tell you there."