Another chapter, here we go! This one features a lot of Raven and Beast Boy. Also, I have decided to change the story's rating to M, because while there will be no actual sex scenes, there are certain things in here that would be more appropriate under an M rating. Just to let everyone know.
The next morning, Robin woke to the sun shining in his face. The first thing he noticed was that he felt really good. Then he noticed something else. There was an extra weight and warmth in his bed, and soft bare skin touching his on his left. Suddenly the implications of this situation came to him and he jumped, shaking Starfire's shoulder to wake her from her slumber.
"Starfire! Wake up," he said urgently.
"Mmmhm?" she mumbled sleepily. "Is there something wrong? Are we under attack?" she asked.
"No," he said. "You… you spent the night in here," he said awkwardly.
"Is that wrong?" she asked innocently.
"Well… but… it…" Robin stumbled. "It… doesn't… look good. They'll think we… ya know… did it."
"But we did not do it," Starfire said simply.
"I know, but they'll think we did."
"Then tell them we did not."
"It's not that simple, Star. They're going to tease us."
"Why should it be any of their business?"
"Because they're our friends, and they make it their business," Robin said, rubbing a hand through his hair. "The guys are never going to let this go…" he said worriedly. "They'll leave you alone 'cause you're the girl, but I'm never going to hear the end of it…" he sighed.
"Perhaps they will not notice?"
"No, they'll notice all right."
"Cyborg and Beast Boy are our friends. Should not they be happy for our relationship?"
"Oh they are happy about it; it gives them a whole new level of teasing."
Starfire looked serious and contemplative for a moment, and then pressed her hand to Robin's chest. She rubbed his smooth skin for a second, getting distracted, then refocused and spoke.
"I will deal with them."
"What? No no… this is my problem," Robin insisted.
"Please. I shall make sure the boys do not do the teasing," she replied back.
"And how are you going to do that?"
"You shall see."
Beast Boy woke up slowly, the steady beeping of the heart monitor rousing him into consciousness. He rubbed his head, noticing the bandages, and then felt a whopping headache come on.
"Uuugh..." he moaned. He moved to set his hand back down at his side, but instead hit something soft. He turned his head, and to his surprise Raven was sound asleep, sitting on a chair next to his bed resting her head on crossed arms next to him on the mattress. Her book had fallen to the floor.
Beast Boy watched her for awhile, wondering why she was here. Did Cyborg pay her to stay or something?
Suddenly she herself roused and sat up, stretching her tight muscles from the uncomfortable sleeping position. Then she glanced at Beast Boy and noticed he had wakened.
"How're you feeling?" she asked.
"Eh… okay I guess. My head hurts," he answered, still staring at her with his dark green eyes.
"That's to be expected," she said, stretching once again. Beast Boy watched her, attracted to her figure. Then he chastised himself. This was Raven he was thinking about here. Hell would freeze over before she would ever think about him like that…
The truth was Beast Boy had had feelings for Raven for a long time. He couldn't help it. The thing that almost attracted him the most was that she was a challenge. The animal instincts in him loved a good chase, and no one could make it harder for him than her…
But he did have to admit that it was getting a little exhausting. He couldn't help it however, because at times like this she was so pretty… and had she sat by him all night? He had to know.
"Raven… did you sit here all night by me?"
Raven looked embarrassed.
"Well… yeah. I did. Someone had to make sure you stayed stable."
"Thanks," Beast Boy said kindly.
Raven's cheeks flushed. There was a softness in his eyes that she didn't ever see there before, and she could feel the appreciation emanating from him.
Suddenly his gentle smile turned into a frown and he clutched his head.
"Oooh…" he moaned.
"What is it?" Raven asked, standing over him.
"Head hurts like crazy," he said, grimacing.
"Here, I'll get you some pain killers," Raven said, getting up.
"I feel like I've been run over by a Mack truck," Beast Boy moaned again.
Raven brought him the medicine.
"Do I have to stay in here all day? These damn medical beds are like sleeping on a rock," he complained.
"If you want, you can camp out on the couch today," Raven said.
"Good. I hate being in here."
"You hungry at all?" Raven asked.
"Yeah, I think I could eat a little," Beast Boy said, sitting up.
Raven helped him down from the bed and Beast Boy wrapped up in the blanket. She supported him as they walked out the door, noticing that his body still felt very weak.
After Starfire and Robin had collected their clothes, which had been scattered about Robin's room, they dressed and headed for the kitchen. Cyborg and Raven were sitting at the breakfast table, and Beast Boy was huddled up in his blanket, doing his best to get down some cereal.
"Look who finally decided to show up this mornin'," Cyborg winked. "How was the rest of your date?"
Starfire giggled girlishly and Robin smiled, shaking his head.
Beast Boy grinned, despite still feeling under the weather. "Heard your bed was rockin' last night, Robin."
"Yeah, I couldn't sleep one wink with all that noise goin' on," Cyborg joined in, laughing.
Robin looked mortified while the smile drained off Starfire's face. She walked round to stand behind Cyborg and Beast Boy. She grabbed both their ears, though being slightly gentler on Beast Boy, and chastised them like they were naughty children.
"Ow ow ow ow ow!!!"
"Robin and I have had the most wonderful date last night, and it is none of your concern what we did after hours. Robin is a gentleman and you two have no right to tease him so. You should be happy for our new relationship. You will behave now, yes? No more teasing now please."
She released their ears and both rubbed the offended appendages, scowls on their faces. Robin snickered, and Raven looked amused.
Cyborg grumbled and went back to his breakfast. Beast Boy sniffed and got up shakily to go lay on the couch.
Raven watched him go, feeling sorry for him, and feeling guilty. She was pulled out of her thoughts however when Robin addressed the subject of them.
"Oh, by the way, Beast Boy?"
When he saw that he had the changeling's attention he continued.
"Cyborg and I both agree that you are not allowed to take place in any battles for a week, or at least until you are feeling better. Concussions can be dangerous, and you can easily sustain another one if you're not careful."
"Check, dude," Beast Boy said weakly, plopping onto the couch and giving a thumb's up.
Raven continued to stare at the boy. Then abruptly she got up and quickly said, "I'll be in my room."
"What's new?" Beast Boy said sarcastically, though not maliciously, and turned on the tv.
Robin went off to the training room with Starfire trailing behind him, and Cyborg decided to join Beast Boy on the couch.
Raven walked to her room as if in a zombie-like state. She was aware of what was happening, but it was as if there was something that was controlling her, and she couldn't stop it. She had spent the night in her uniform, and felt a little grimy from the battle yesterday.
She went to her room and grabbed a fresh towel. Then she headed to the bathroom to shower.
As the hot water poured down her and soothed away tensions, she couldn't help but think of a certain teammate…
And it disturbed her. She had never noticed… feelings… for him before, so why were they surfacing now? The thought of Beast Boy had always brought on annoyance in the past, and she considered him rather immature for his age, which was no longer teenage but young adult, but he still liked to act as though he wasn't a day over 15. She could admit that he had gotten a little better at being quieter and less obnoxious lately, but… that didn't mean she liked him. Did it?
Cause if she did like him, it certainly wouldn't be too bad if he were to just suddenly appear and come into the shower with her…
Raven audibly gasped and covered her face as that thought came unbidden.
"Where the hell did that come from?!" she thought wildly. She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling exposed, even though she was alone. She pulled back the shower curtain to make sure the door was locked. An odd feeling came over her, like there was an internal battle waging inside. A feeling she was not familiar with crossed her middle, and she sat down in the tub, letting the shower water course over her.
"No…" she whispered, staring at the opposite wall. She drew in a shaky breath and stood up, quickly washing out the conditioner in her hair. Turning off the water, she stepped out and dried off, then hurried to her room. She dropped the towel in her hamper and went to her underwear drawer. As she was about to pull it open, she stopped and looked into the mirror over the dresser. A sort of glazed look came over her eyes and she instead wheeled around and went to her closet, digging in the back for things she had hidden long ago…
Robin was done training and he and Starfire came back to the kitchen for water and lunch. Cyborg and Beast Boy were still watching tv, though considering lunch as well. They were just about to get up when the main doors slid open to reveal Raven.
To say that the four on-looking Titans were shocked was an understatement. Robin's eyes opened wide, Cyborg's mouth hung slack, Starfire looked at her curiously, and Beast Boy thought his heart was going to pound out of his chest.
Starfire scrutinized Raven with a finger to her lips. "Hm… I recall making you purchase these things, but… all together they make you look…"
Like a Transylvanian whore.
But a damn hot one.
Raven had teased her hair, giving a sultry sort of bed-head look, applied smoky eye make-up and cherry red lipstick. A black velvet choker adorned her neck. What was even more amazing than her face was her clothing, or almost lack thereof. She was cloak-less, wearing only the corset that Starfire had made her buy for a top. It was strapless with supported cups, black lace with red silk underneath, and laced up the middle with red ribbon. It accentuated Raven's curvaceous body perfectly. She wore a black leather skirt that challenged the length of Starfire's mini-skirts, fishnet stockings and knee-high black lace up boots with stiletto heels.
Beast Boy passed out.
Cyborg ripped his attention away from the empath for a moment to gently slap Beast Boy awake again.
"Uh… um…" Robin cleared his throat.
"Raven? It confuses me that you should have combined these articles of clothing? Surely you…" Starfire stopped, confused.
"You made her buy that stuff?" Robin hissed to Starfire behind his hand.
"Well, yes," Starfire admitted, "But I did not intend for her to wear them all at once. She looks… like she would have paying customers, yes?" Starfire bit her lip.
"Dude…" Beast Boy whispered under his breath once he was conscious again.
Raven stepped down into the room.
"What are you all looking at?" she asked indignantly.
"Um… Raven…" Robin said, pointing at her outfit.
Raven looked down at herself and the shock on her face was almost humorous. She let out an unnatural shriek and phased through the floor.
"Yo, what the hell was that all about?!" Cyborg said.
"I dunno dude," Beast Boy said out loud. 'But damn…She looked good…' he thought silently.
About a half an hour later Raven reappeared, looking normal again. Her cheeks tinged red as she avoided the stares of her teammates. She quietly sat down on the opposite end of the couch from Beast Boy and read her book. After about fifteen minutes the alarms began ringing through the tower.
Cyborg got up and checked the GPS locating system.
"Report! What's the trouble?" Robin asked quickly.
"There's a disturbance in the middle of town. Looks like Mumbo's up to his tricks again," Cyborg answered.
"Then let's get down there," Robin said. He, Starfire, and Cyborg raced for the door. Raven got up slowly.
"What about Beast Boy? Shouldn't somebody stay with him?"
Robin hesitated a moment, not taking the time to be confused about Raven's concern for green changeling.
"Well… uh…" he stuttered. "Stay with him then. But be ready if we need you." Then they were gone.
Raven looked down at the sleeping boy. What did she just do?! Beast Boy was sleeping, like anything was going to happen to him.
'What is going on? Something strange is happening…'
She shook her head and sighed, then sat down to continue reading her book. She had picked it up at the library, and was somewhat dismayed when the title had been misleading. The cover had been completely normal and unassuming, so Raven was a little disappointed when "Midnight Spells" turned out not to be a book about spells but rather a romance novel. Someone had put it in the wrong section. Nevertheless, Raven wouldn't admit that she had become slightly captured in the plotline, and decided recreational reading wasn't so bad.
But it just so happened that currently the main characters had fallen in love and a rather juicy love scene was next. Raven hadn't been expecting that, and her cheeks turned red as she read their… exploits. This author most certainly was not bashful about being graphic.
After the scene was done, Raven felt… anxious. She wouldn't admit the chapter had gotten to her so much, but she closed the book and held it in her hands, trying not to envision it. Instead she glanced over at the sleeping boy to her left.
Dropping the book on the floor, she inched over on the couch towards him. He was sprawled out on his back, wearing only the gray sweat pants Cyborg had slipped him into yesterday. The blanket was twisted around his legs, and his bare chest rose and fell with his gentle breaths.
The glazed look came over Raven's eyes again, and she rose up to hover over him.
Slowly she reached out and touched a finger to his collarbone. His skin was soft and smooth. She let her fingers splay out over his chest, and pressed her palm to him. Beast Boy stirred but did not waken. She breathed in hard, consistent, as she intently rubbed her hand down his sternum, over his belly, down to his waist, over the waistband of his pants…
She brought her hand back up to his skin, smoothing her hand over his chest while lowering herself closer to his face, biting her lip.
She looked down at her hands, both of them now on his pecs, feeling the taut muscles underneath.
A sigh startled her, and she glanced up to see Beast Boy's eyes crack open; he rubbed one of them, and then groggily asked, "Raven?"
Raven all at once came to her senses and ripped her hands away from Beast Boy's skin like they were burned. She flew up a distance away from him, and then once again phased out of Ops.
Beast Boy sat up, confused. He looked around the empty room.
"What was… was that… Raven?"
He scratched his head.
"That couldn't possibly have been real," he concluded. "My dreams are getting to me again," he smiled. He lay back down on the couch.
Raven had landed in her room and was breathing heavily, like she had just run a marathon. She clutched a hand to her chest and thought wildly 'what was that all about?! You were feeling him up like a horny little school girl!'
Among the many things Raven "didn't do" was sexual tension. First off, being who she was, she had never considered a boyfriend fitting into her life. She had figured no one would want to deal with her anyway. Second, much like Robin, though for different reasons, she had squirreled away any stray thoughts and considered herself above all that stuff. She hadn't been attracted to anyone (well, save for Aqualad, but that was just a silly crush she and Starfire liked to giggle over, and it wasn't realistic anyway) and to her knowledge no one had been attracted to her. A certain someone named Malchior was to remain out of the picture and never to be thought of again. Raven considered that time in her life as to have never happened, end of story.
Most of her thoughts on boyfriends, if she had ever wanted one, were turned bitter after Malchior's betrayal. She had realized that opening one's self up to someone special left one extremely vulnerable indeed. The hurt and the pain, the tears he had caused, the bitterness towards herself, left Raven figuring that she would never let this happen again.
Therefore sexual tension was out of the picture, and had happily remained so for those couple of years.
But now, a sort of floodgate had been opened somewhere, and Raven was left feeling very confused indeed. She slowly sat on her bed and stared at the floor.
Beast Boy couldn't sleep now. He had tried, had tossed and turned a little, but it was no use. It had felt too real to be a dream. He had felt Raven's warm hands on his skin when he woke up, had felt her hot breath on his face…
Beast Boy got up slowly. Then he ventured off to Raven's room. First the outfit, then the feeling up… He just had to know what was going on.
He stood outside her door, listening to see if she was in there. There was no sound. Still, Raven was a quiet person and could be in there. Beast Boy shrugged and knocked on the door.
The door slid open just wide enough to fit his thin body through; he was tugged into the room before he knew what had happened and the door slammed shut behind him in one fluid motion. Then he was pressed up against it and received the most passionate, mind numbing, mind dizzying, thunderous kiss he'd ever received. Well, okay, so he'd only ever almost kissed once, and maybe it was the concussion aftereffects that were making him dizzy, but he was pretty sure he'd never get kissed like this ever again. Fireworks popped before his closed eyes.
After a couple of passionate minutes, the kiss was disconnected and Beast Boy opened his eyes in astonishment.
"Raven?!"
With one hand she flung him over to her bed aided by her magic.
Beast Boy landed with a thud, and as he watched her sway towards him slowly, seductively, he felt very much like a poor little moth that was caught in a black widow's web.
A really really hot black widow's web.
Raven stood, grinning, the smoky eye makeup and cherry lipstick back, along with the corset and matching panties this time. High black heels were on her feet.
"Raven? As much as I totally like this and this is like, a million and one fantasies come true… what is going on?!" Beast Boy shrieked.
Raven's eyes were glazed over, and she didn't answer as she approached the bed, kneeling one knee on first, then the other, stalking him in a cat-like way. Beast Boy let out an 'eep.'
She licked her lips as she raised his hands over his head with her magic, pinning him down. Then she straddled him, still grinning.
"Raven… Raven what are you doing?!" Beast Boy cried again, attempting to get through to her.
Again she didn't answer, the grin fading into a small smirk as she trailed one finger over his chest in an 's' pattern, down to his belly button, further still…
Beast Boy's breath came out in haggard gulps the lower she touched, and then he let out a moan as she cupped him quick as lightening over his gray pants, smirking from his reaction and the way his body arched.
Her eyes had almost faded away now, light purple irises were all that remained and after Beast Boy had gotten over the shock of her touch he glanced at her, certain that she was either in a trance or being controlled. He was determined to get out of the situation, so no one was taken advantage of. Wondering what to do, he quickly turned into a spider and scuttled under blankets so she couldn't find him. He heard her begin to flip the blankets around, and turned into a small snake to slither out and under the bed, but she caught him before he could reach safety. Beast Boy turned back into himself and tried to push her away, her strong arms still wrapped tightly around him. Beast Boy knew Raven wasn't this strong, and something was fueling her strange behavior.
'The mirror…' he thought. 'Nevermore, we've got to go to Nevermore and find out what's wrong…'
He reached as best he could and grabbed Raven's meditation mirror, keeping it away from her as she tried to take it from him, a scowl on her face now. The red and black swirls of magic began to shoot from the mirror and it engulfed both of them, sending them hurtling into Raven's mindscape.
Everything will be explained in Nevermore…
Also, I have drawn fanart for a scene in this chapter… find it on my DeviantArt profile (link can be found on my biopage) the piece is titled same as this story, and it can be found in my gallery.