After all the Titans had retired for the night, Raven was still awake sitting on her bed. To say that she was nervous was an understatement.
What Raven was really trying to do was figure out why she felt that her feelings for Beast Boy had completely come out of left field.
But, the more she thought it over, the more she realized that Beast Boy, aside from Starfire, was the closet friend she had. She and Cyborg spent a couple of times in the garage building stuff together, but they weren't always in contact with each other. She and Robin had a mutual understanding, a platonic friendship based off a similar darkness that none of the others understood. But, she never spent alone time with Robin, as Starfire usually occupied his 'alone' time. Raven had a close friendship with Starfire herself because the two were the only girls in the tower. As much as Raven wouldn't want to admit it, she needed female companionship sometimes, away from the sometimes-immature and annoying companionship of the boys. She and Starfire may be polar opposites, but that didn't stop them from enjoying each other's company.
Which is why Raven was beginning to see why feelings for Beast Boy might not be so left field.
She and Beast Boy were night and day. But when she stopped to think about it, Beast Boy was always hanging around her. In the beginning she considered it obnoxious and annoying, but now she began to understand. She wondered why he'd come back for her insults, why he'd always insist on playing videogames when she had been peacefully reading on the couch, or why he'd suddenly be up on the roof shooting hoops while she was trying to meditate.
He had wanted to be near her. And at some point she had stopped caring that he always wanted to occupy the same space as her, or would knock on her door and invite her into a game of stankball, or that he'd always be the one to come and tell her that dinner was ready. She had been so annoyed because Beast Boy was the only one who had constantly invaded her space and attempted to draw her out. None of the others had tried so hard to include her. They had given her her space, and had simply figured that was the way she wanted to be.
For the things in the past that Raven had always been so annoyed with, she now felt a sort of wistfulness. Beast Boy had cared, had cared about her. And he tried to show her in the only way he knew how, and all she had done was rebuke him with insults and bitterness at his expense. Raven may seem dry and uncaring, but Beast Boy's earnestness had touched her. She felt bad for fighting with him so many times… It was a wonder that the kid hadn't given up a long time ago.
Raven realized that he was her closest friend, and only because he had made himself be so.
Maybe it was this side of him, this eagerness to please her and attempt to always include her that led her emotions to a revelation before Raven herself realized what was going on. And once her emotions had latched onto him, Raven's natural hormones had taken over. It had only taken one catalyst to make her realize; the worry and that feeling of absolute panic when she saw his head collide with that brick wall, and his weak body slumped on the ground, out cold. She had never felt a feeling of complete terror before, that he might be seriously hurt.
The thought of him and their upcoming date brought a blush to her cheeks.
She was nowhere near sleepy, and she was beginning to get bored. She gazed across at her books, for once none of them beckoning her to open its old worn pages.
Finally she decided to walk around the tower for a bit, to maybe work off some of the odd feelings that hung about her like a fog. She turned a corner in the hallway, knowing full well that his bedroom was a few steps away. She stood in front of it, staring at the unassuming black letters that spelled BEAST BOY.
She sighed. Part of her wanted to knock on his door, to see him again and acknowledge him and what he had been trying to do for so many years. She felt an excited tingle in her stomach at the thought of him, and shivered a little. She forced herself instead to continue along the hall.
When she got to the kitchen, it was to find herself not alone.
She stared at the boy digging in the fridge, wondering just why he was in here. It was very unlike him to get a midnight snack. If anyone at all she would've expected Cyborg.
"Ahem," she said quietly.
Robin straightened up quickly and gave Raven a nod.
"Hey," he said, diving back into the fridge.
"Hungry?" Raven asked.
"Can't sleep is more like it," Robin said, standing with a hand on his chin trying to decide what was on the menu.
"Let's see, tofu, pudding of uncontainable joy, steak, mustard, gelatinous unidentified objects, a… sock? Hey! The remote control… mold… is that… Silkie?"
Robin grabbed the little worm from the fridge, a partially digested soda can and three cheese sticks in his mouth. Robin chuckled and plopped the little larva on the floor, where he happily slugged off to find his mistress.
"And what has you in this state of insomnia?" Raven asked.
Robin's face tinged red. "Nothing. Couldn't sleep is all."
"Starfire?" Raven smirked.
Robin scratched his head. "Maybe," he said, non-committal.
"She bought those dice, didn't she?"
Robin's eyes went wide and he coughed into his hand.
"How did you know about those?!" he squeaked.
"Be glad she came back with only them. She was considering a tuxedo thong for you at one point." Raven contained a smile while watching her leader squirm.
Robin turned his back to Raven, willing the redness to leave his cheeks.
"Where did you go?!" Robin asked finally.
"Some stupid little gag gift and adult novelty store. We… didn't mean to go in there," Raven said.
"I'd appreciate you not giving her ideas, Raven," Robin said accusingly, turning around.
"It wasn't me… entirely. She was the one who wouldn't leave."
Robin was silent for a moment.
Raven decided that this would be a fun moment to really yank Robin around. Not many opportunities arose where she could get the best of her leader, but it sure was fun embarrassing him. Wait a minute… it was fun to embarrass Robin? Raven didn't like embarrassing people… but Beast Boy did. Maybe she had been spending too much time with him…
"So, what did it roll?" she asked casually.
Robin choked for a minute and the blush returned.
"I'm teasing you, Robin," Raven finally said. She became serious. "Nothing is wrong, is there?"
"No," Robin said quickly. "I'm just… getting used to her… us, I guess."
"It's different, being a couple," Raven admitted, thinking about her own upcoming date.
"I've… wanted this for a long time," Robin said, sitting down at the kitchen bar. "But I don't want it to go by too fast, you know?"
"I know," Raven said. "But, in my opinion you have some catching up to do. Starfire has wanted this since she met you."
"Really?" Robin said.
"I can't tell you how many times I've heard it," Raven said dryly, remembering the long conversations she'd had with the distraught alien princess.
"I… didn't realize she was that upset," Robin said.
"Robin, couldn't you see the googly eyes she always made at you? How she was always hanging around you? It wasn't because she needed you personally to explain everything to her, we could all do that, but it's because she wanted you."
Robin gave a 'huh' and drummed his fingers on the countertop.
"I've been ignorant for so long…"
"You have," Raven agreed.
The two were silent for awhile, both thinking. Raven thought with a chuckle that Robin was one of the most intelligent and worldly people she knew, yet it took him this long to figure out the mystery of a girl right in front of his face.
Raven ruefully smirked inwardly however when she realized that everything she had just said to Robin applied to her and Beast Boy too. She had been ignorant for so long…
"Couldn't you see the googly eyes he always made at you… how he was always hanging around you…?"
"But what about you? How did this Beast Boy thing come about?" Robin asked curiously, breaking the silence.
Raven tensed up a little bit, still not used to sharing things about her personal life, especially when she just had a revelation that she had been as clueless as Robin when it came to relationships. That was pretty damn clueless.
"I really don't know," Raven half lied.
"Mind if I ask, but Raven? Why… did you come into Ops dressed like…?" Robin stopped, not quite sure how to continue tactfully.
Raven looked down at the counter, thoroughly embarrassed.
"See, well… I was… being influenced by a certain… emotion. And she influenced me to… wear… what you saw."
"An emotion?" Robin asked.
"Yes," Raven said. "You wouldn't understand it, but Beast Boy and Cyborg would."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember that time Beast Boy and Cyborg took that little joy ride through my mind? They witnessed my psyche, all my emotions personified. I've never felt more vulnerable and exposed… but anyway, each emotion is a separate entity in Nevermore, which is my mindscape. This particular emotion cropped up not too long ago, and she was influencing me, overriding the rest of my emotions and self control."
"What emotion is this?" Robin asked, interested.
Raven sighed. "It's awkward."
"Awkward? That's the emotion?"
"No! Explaining is awkward. The emotion was…"
"You can tell me, Raven. I won't laugh."
"I know you won't laugh. More like feel uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable?"
"Lust."
Robin felt a little stunned. And uncomfortable.
"L-lust?"
Raven nodded.
"Well, that explains the wardrobe malfunction," Robin said. Suddenly Robin grinned devilishly. Remembering Beast Boy's accidental confession yesterday, and Raven's attempt to embarrass him tonight, he had a question of his own to ask.
"So, what did Lust make you do to Beast Boy? He claims he doesn't 'kiss and tell.' Whatever does that mean, Raven?"
Raven stared at Robin, shocked.
She attempted to grab her hood and pull it over her head, but her black long-sleeved pajama shirt was hoodless.
"Touché," Raven said after a moment.
Robin grinned at her from across the table.
Then his smile faded. "You really do like him, right? You're not just humoring him? I don't want to see him get hurt again…"
"Of course I… like him," Raven admitted, attempting to open herself up and fighting the urge to end the conversation. She knew she could trust Robin, however.
"It just seems like this happened out of the blue," he remarked.
"I thought so too," Raven admitted. "But then, I started thinking about things, and him, and realized that he may have been feeling this way for a very long time. There were signs, but no one noticed them, not even myself."
"Starfire did. She said she had seen this coming for months."
"Starfire did?" Raven said, surprised.
"Yeah."
"You know, for as naive as everyone thinks she is, she's very good at reading people sometimes…" Raven commented.
"She is. She can always tell when I'm upset about something, even if I'm doing my best to hide it. She notices when the rest of you are upset, mad, or sad too…"
"Hmm…" Raven answered.
"So… do you and Beast Boy know what you're going to do tomorrow night? Nothing too strenuous now; he's still recovering," Robin grinned at his clever implied joke.
"Ha ha," Raven replied. "I'll try not to injure him. Maybe we can borrow your dice. That wasn't too strenuous, was it?"
Robin's smirk turned into a pout.
"You're not going to tell Beast Boy or Cyborg about those, are you?"
"As long as we come to an understanding," Raven said, touching her fingertips together.
"And what understanding is that?"
"No more laps around the tower for me. I despise running."
Robin stared for a moment. "What if I let you fly for them?"
"Deal."
"Not a word nor implication of the dice. Promise?"
Raven reached her hand forward. "Promise."
Robin shook it in agreement.
Raven glanced up at the clock. "Well, it's 2:30 in the morning. I should probably go get some rest."
"Yeah, me too."
The two stood up.
"Besides, if you stay away too long Starfire's going to wake up and come looking for you," Raven said slyly.
"How do you know-?!"
"Oh please. She's never going to sleep in her room again unless you two decide to switch it up a bit."
Robin sighed.
"Good night, Raven."
"Night Robin."
He shut off the light in the kitchen.
Robin returned to his room and found Starfire cuddling with Silkie, wide awake.
"Hey, Star," he said, coming back into the room nervously.
"Hello, Robin. Did you satisfy your midnight hunger cravings?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Good," she replied, rubbing Silkie's tummy.
There was a silent pause, Starfire knowing something was on Robin's mind, and she waited patiently for him to get the courage to voice his thoughts.
Robin sighed. "Star? Were you really waiting that long for me to come around?"
Starfire thought for a moment. "Is there something wrong, my love? Why does this question bother you so?"
"Because, it… well, it seems like you might have been feeling this way for a very long time, and I'm sorry that I didn't ask you out sooner."
"Robin, I had felt the feelings the day I met you… when you showed kindness to me by releasing my bonds. I mentioned that no one had ever showed me such kindness, except Galfore. I spoke the truth. I was not of course… in love with you from just that action, but it later served as a starting point."
Robin's heart raced when he heard Starfire's words, especially the close to a confession "in love with you" part. It was a feeling that Robin knew was always creeping up on him, and one that scared him to death. Robin hated-- loathed, feeling vulnerable. And being in love left one completely vulnerable, with the possibility of getting one's heart broken by another.
Robin had always been too willing to reject the feelings of love because of feeling vulnerable. He forgot about the good sides of love… someone who is always there for you, loves you, committed to you, and the making out part gets a lot better too…
Starfire was well aware of how he felt, and was determined to get him to come out of his shell. And she thought she knew just how to say it.
"As our friendship grew deeper, I began realizing that I wanted things to be more than just a friendship. You were very special to me, more special than anyone… and I think you felt that way too, but you seemed unwilling to take things further. Something was keeping you from expressing your feelings, and I believe it is your own personality, and the way you have been raised."
Robin listened silently, knowing what she was saying was true. Feelings and emotions had always been considered a weak point, vulnerability… a liability. Bruce had told him to never show emotion, or his enemies would exploit them. This of course was referring only to crime fighting, but his reserved foster father had leaked that into their personal lives as well, and Robin had picked up the trait. He showed anger and frustration often, but when it came to expressing love and caring, Robin fell short, and he knew it.
"But, though my society is what it is, we still show emotions and feelings; our powers of flight depend on it. I have witnessed here that showing your emotions so openly is often frowned upon, and I have always wondered why a society would suppress themselves so. Even still, your society does not discourage the individual, and as an individual you have the right to express and to feel all you desire. I wonder to myself, darling, why you do not exercise this right? It is all you hold dear; it is something that no one can take away from you. It is what makes you you."
Robin cleared his throat, fully understanding Starfire's point. It sent waves of conflict through his heart…
He sighed. "I understand what you're saying, Starfire. But emotions can also be exploited by enemies-"
"Robin-"
"And they are a weakness-"
"Robin."
"And if any enemy ever-"
"I am not your enemy, Robin."
Silence.
"But-"
"Do you not see? You cannot keep silent your emotions, it is what makes you human!" Starfire burst out, distressed.
"See what friend Raven goes through every day? So she may not experience what all people can? She has had her right taken away from her; she must be silent or she will lose control. She wishes to be normal, to express feelings and be like a normal girl her age. She has to be the way she is. Why do you emulate her, when you do not have to?"
Robin tried a rebuttal. "Because, I told you, enemies would use that and exploit that-"
"I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY!"
Robin grew silent again at Starfire's outburst.
"Robin, yes, enemies could exploit that, but I would not. You cannot let them suppress everything you feel in every area of your life, or you will become an empty shell with nothing left to call you human. I will not sit back and watch the light in you flicker out, Robin. I care about you, and I love you!"
Starfire heaved in a big breath and fell backwards against the headboard, hugging Silkie tightly. She had not meant to get so worked up and blurt out what she had, but it had been said. Her heart raced, she could feel it thumping wildly in her chest, wondering what his reaction would be.
Robin's breath lurched in his throat at her last words, and he had no clue what to say. A warm wave bubbled up into his chest and he felt a tingle in his fingers. His mind was like a storm of thoughts, and he couldn't find one thing to say to come back with.
He breathed out…
"I… Starfire…" He could feel the thick tension in the air, and the possible hurt that might never be able to be fixed if he left her unanswered each second more that passed.
She stared at the bedspread, wondering if he would finally let go.
"I love you too."
His words wavered a little; he sounded unsure to admit it verbally, but sure of what he felt inside.
Starfire leaped forward and grabbed him tight, holding onto him with all her life and heart.
The next morning, Raven was meditating in front of the large bay window in Ops, watching the pink and golden sun rise higher in the sky. Normally she would still be in bed, but she had woken up early with a mass of nerves knotting in her stomach. It was not that she was worried that her date would go horribly wrong or that she would not enjoy Beast Boy's company, but it was the excitement and the anticipation that had her feeling sleepless. Raven was unused to this foreign feeling, and she was nervous about her own performance. How should she act? What if they get into a fight again? What if the dress she and Starfire picked out doesn't look as good as Starfire said? What if Beast Boy changes his mind and doesn't like her by the end of the date?
As Raven's mind suddenly plunged into a storm of negative rhetorical questions, Cyborg had arrived almost right on cue to begin breakfast.
"Hey, you're up early," he commented, starting the burner and heating up a frying pan for sizzling bacon.
"Yeah," she droned, biting her lip. After a moment she floated down from her lotus position and sat at the bar, watching Cyborg cook.
"You seem even quieter than usual, and that's saying something," he tried again, noticing that Raven was not herself.
She sighed, leaning her head against her hand.
"Not thinking of backing out, are you? BB would be disappointed."
"No," she replied. "I guess… I guess I'm just… nervous."
"Well, that's understandable," Cyborg smiled kindly, flipping the bacon and starting ham and scrambled eggs. "But you don't need to be. BB's a good kid. He'll treat you right."
"It's not him I'm worried about," Raven said softly.
"Huh?" Cyborg turned his head to look at her forlorn face. "Aw, girl, you'll be fine! Don't worry about trying to impress him, he already likes you, and knows all about you. You been living with him for five years. It's not like the boy has any surprises coming."
Raven smirked ruefully. He did know everything about her, pretty much. After Trigon, everyone knew her deepest darkest secrets. And they had all stuck by her…
Pasts had been a touchy subject with the Titans, each one of them had never opted to willingly open up about it. They all only knew minimal about each other, just enough to explain their present situation. Except for Raven now, of course. Raven's past had completely reared up and made itself known for the whole of Jump City, and she had once again never felt more vulnerable. She was no longer such a mystery to the Titans, but the rest of the Titans remained a mystery to her. There was a slight irony in the fact that the most secretive and private member of the Titans had the only past that was out in the open and known to all of them. Not by her choice, of course…
She knew the most about Robin, having seen glimpses into his head, but even then the visions she had seen were not expanded to her by him, and she figured they never would be. She could sense that the falling people in that trapeze act had been his parents and that they were dead, but that was all. His career with Batman was much more widely known, but who he really was under the mask and his real name had never been discussed.
Cyborg had only mentioned that he had an accident, and that was all.
Starfire's past also remained a mystery to Raven, like where her parents had gone, and the origin of her starbolts. No one else on her planet could use them…
Beast Boy on the other hand was a complete and absolute mystery. His real name was Garfield (which Raven thought was hilarious) and he had formerly been living and working with the Doom Patrol… and that was all she knew. Why he was green, how he got his powers was completely an enigma. How did he know so much about animals? Being able to turn into them might help, but he knew so many random facts about them.
At first Raven had always dismissed the boy, finding him annoying, obnoxious and extremely immature. But the longer they spent time together, and especially after Terra, Raven began to see underneath his exterior mask. And what she found there was a complete shock to her… she had always assumed that whatever had made Beast Boy green and given him his powers couldn't have been that traumatic, because he never seemed to be depressed or ever showed signs that he was not alright inside. He flied by the seat of his pants, was happy-go-lucky, and she envied that freeness about him. But when she looked deeper, past his corny jokes and video game crazes, she found that he ran deep, and there was intense pain etched there. It would sometimes echo into his eyes, into his smile, and Raven could tell that a memory had surfaced and he was reliving whatever had inflicted him. She had never paid attention to what would trigger these moments however, and now she was thinking that maybe she should have. She would never openly read his mind or pry into his past, as that would be cruel and invasive, but the curiosity about what had happened to him was growing in her. Beast Boy may not find any surprises on her half, but she may find some on his.
"Raven? Raven," Cyborg snapped his fingers in front of her face. "You totally zoned out there for a moment. Girl, you sure you alright?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Cyborg… I don't mean to… pry, but… did Beast Boy ever tell you anything about him? I know you two are best friends. It's just… I'm curious."
Cyborg shook his head. "Nope. Little grass stain's never told me anything. I always did wonder if somethin' really bad had happened to him, though. He seems to take it well."
"He does. I think he's fooled us all for a very long time," Raven said thoughtfully.
"Fooled who?" Beast Boy yawned, dragging a Batman comforter in around his shoulders and slumping at the table. He wore only black boxers underneath.
Raven and Cyborg straightened and coughed, having being caught talking about him, and Raven stared at her plate as Cyborg plopped scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast onto it.
She suddenly grew nervous again with her crush so close in proximity, and wondered how she was going to keep all that food down.
Beast Boy glanced over at her and noticed her staring at her plate like a zombie deer in the headlights. He grinned and poked her. Raven came out of her daze and gave him a hesitant smile, then busied herself with trying to shove eggs in her mouth. Beast Boy got up and gathered his brightly colored children's cereal and soy milk. Then he noticed that Raven hadn't made her herbal tea, which was extremely unusual for her. Her kettle was sitting on the stove, so he poured some water in it and set it to boil.
He sat back down next to her, and Raven looked up, giving him a shaky smile. He gave her an earsplitting grin and dug into his cereal.
The doors to Ops slid open and Robin and Starfire entered, holding hands and both grinning like cats.
"You two look happy today," Cyborg said, digging into his breakfast.
"That's an understatement," Raven said dryly, looking up and noticing Starfire's beaming face.
"Oh it is a glorious morning, is it not friends?! The sun is shining, birds are chirping and singing their glorious songs, Robin and I have the plans for this evening, and Raven and Beast Boy are doing the dating!"
Robin smiled at her exuberance as Cyborg pointed to the stove where breakfast was waiting for them.
Raven went back to eating her food and being oblivious to everything around her, including the whistle of her tea kettle. Beast Boy glanced at her, then got up and began making her tea.
He set the cup in front of her and smiled when she looked up.
"Forgot something," he grinned.
"You made that for me?" she asked, surprised and touched.
"S'not that hard. After watching you do that every morning for how many years, I should know by now, right?"
Raven gave him a small smile, her heart leaping in her chest.
"Wow, no biting comment on my intelligence or competency? What's happened to you this morning?" Beast Boy asked as he sat down.
"Nothing. I was just touched by what you did for me, but if you were looking for an example of your level of competency, go check the burner you left on and try not to burn the tower down."
"That's my girl," Beast Boy grinned as he got up to shut off the stove top.
Raven rolled her eyes, feeling the nervousness in her stomach ease a bit.
After Starfire had finished eating, and Robin had begged off claiming he had paperwork and reports to file, Starfire eagerly descended on Raven.
"Friend Raven, you must come! We must do the girl talk, and prepare you for your date this evening!" Starfire dragged Raven off to her bedroom before the poor girl had a chance to refuse.
Beast Boy smirked as they left, then put his cereal bowl in the sink.
"Hey Cy? Got any more of those pills? My head is killing me again," he mumbled.
"Come'ere B," Cyborg said. He looked into Beast Boy's eyes. "They're not dilated anymore, but I'm sure you're still recovering from the shock. You did take a pretty nasty blow to the head. I'll get you some IBU profen and then you take a rest, man. You need to have all your strength for your date tonight," Cyborg waggled his eyebrows.
"Heh, yeah," Beast Boy said weakly. He grabbed his blanket and walked over to the couch, where he turned on the tv and laid down, aimlessly flipping through channels.
"He said what?" Raven asked, astonished and not quite sure her ears hadn't betrayed her.
"He admitted that he loves me," Starfire said happily.
"Wow," Raven said. "How did that happen?"
"Well," at this Starfire sobered. "We had been having a discussion of seriousness, and I got upset with him. I told him I was worried for him, and then I just blurted it out. He then echoed my sentiments."
"Oh… but he still said it, right? He loves you Starfire; it's been obvious for a long time. He just needed a little push."
"Yes. We talked about it this morning, and he is not regretful for what he said. We are very happy!"
"I could tell," Raven said with a small smirk.
"What about you and Beast Boy? You have still not told me how you two have gotten together, and why you were dressed as such yesterday," Starfire rambled, eyes shining.
Raven leaned back a little, not really wanting to explain the awkward situation.
"Um… well… do you remember when Cyborg and Beast Boy went into my mindscape?"
"Yes," Starfire said, prompting her to go on.
"Well, a new emotion has surfaced there, and was taking over my actions… which is why I came into Ops dressed like that and it's behind how Beast Boy and I… got together."
"What emotion is this, Raven?"
"Well… um… Lust."
Starfire stared at Raven with interest, before responding.
"Lust? So, you have felt 'feelings' for friend Beast Boy, and that is what prompted this emotion to take over your soul?"
"Couldn't explain it any clearer."
Starfire grinned.
"Why Raven, does Beast Boy know-"
"We kissed."
Starfire gave a girly shriek of excitement. "Really?!"
"Lust made me do it though… that's all I remember. Beast Boy pulled us into Nevermore where Knowledge explained what was happening to me. I think I did something to Beast Boy while Lust had control over me, but he didn't say what. He got red when I brought it up."
"So you decided to do the dating when?"
"Knowledge told us to. And then you guys came home."
"Hmmm. This is so wonderful, Raven! Perhaps we can do the dating of doubles soon!"
"Yeah… 'dating of doubles'…" she said doubtfully.
"So, do you know what you are planning to do with your hair?" Starfire asked, picking up a couple of Raven's strands with a thoughtful hand on her chin.
"No," Raven answered. "I was just going to keep it the way it was."
"You cannot do that!" Starfire said. "Hmmm. I believe I have the idea!"
Starfire rushed over to her vanity table and began sorting through various hair products.
"Is he really okay?" Robin whispered to Cyborg, standing behind the couch and looking down at his sleeping teammate.
"I think so. He's been real tired though. I think he'll be alright for tonight, as long as he rests all day."
"Good. Make sure nobody disturbs him then."
"You got it dude," Cyborg said, plugging his headphones back in and returning to his video game.
Later that night Beast Boy stood in Ops, pacing nervously and tugging on his collar and tie.
"Chill man, you know girls. They take forever to get ready," Cyborg admonished.
"I know dude."
"You nervous at all, Beast Boy?" Robin asked.
"What do you think?"
"Aw, don't be. Raven won't kill you as long as you don't try anything," Robin grinned.
"Real funny dude," Beast Boy scowled.
Beast Boy had his hair slicked nicely, wore a darker blue dress shirt with a light blue patterned tie, and black dress pants and shiny black dress shoes which he borrowed from Robin. Beast Boy looked very handsome and distinguished, but he still felt slightly uncomfortable. He did not dress up often.
"So what do you think Raven's going to look like?" Cyborg mused.
"Don't know, but Starfire's been in there with her all day. They must be doing something," Robin said.
"How much you wanna bet she comes out looking like she did yesterday?" Cyborg grinned.
"Shut up! That wasn't her fault!" Beast Boy exclaimed.
The two looked at him.
"I mean, um…" he faltered.
"It's okay, Beast Boy. Cyborg was teasing," Robin said kindly.
"Dude…"
Robin nodded his head and said, "I know," under his breath.
Beast Boy's face flushed. "She told you-"
But he didn't have time to finish, because the doors to Ops slid open from the dorm hall, and Raven stepped into the room.
The three boys looked up with astonishment and shock, but not for the same reasons as yesterday.
Raven stepped in, tottered a little, not used to heels. Starfire had given her hair some body and curled her hair to flip out at the ends. It bounced cutely as she moved. Raven's make-up was dramatic but not over the top—smoky eye shadow with slightly heavier eye-liner, mascara, a tinge of blush on her pale cheeks, and muted red lip-stick.
Her dress was absolutely stunning. Shimmery black, the dress's hem hit at mid calf and featured two long slits up the side to Raven's hips. The top of the slits were laced part way down, like a corset. The dress was a halter, a string tied around Raven's neck with the fabric bunched onto the string, a hole in the middle that dipped to show her cleavage. The dress hugged her curves perfectly and enhanced her shapely figure. She held a slip of shimmery black transparent material around her shoulders for a wrap, and strappy black high heels adorned her feet.
Beast Boy's breath was taken away.
Cyborg gave him a little punch on the shoulder. "You lucky son of a b-"
"Raven," Beast Boy whispered, oblivious to his best friend.
Raven was blushing, and wondering why the boys were just sitting there, staring at her. She looked around the room for a second, waiting for someone to react.
She felt very self conscious, because no one was moving, or saying anything at all.
"Um…" she started.
Starfire peeked out behind her.
"See? I told you they would be the speechless!"
Starfire's entrance broke the silence, and Beast Boy held out his hand as Raven came down the steps. She took it gracefully, and looked him up and down.
"You clean up nice," she said, embarrassed to be sentimental in front of her friends.
"Raven… you…" Beast Boy said, his eyes wide at the sight of her.
"Damn girl! Whoo hoo! I'm tellin' you, I bet I'm not the only guy in Jump City who's gonna to be jealous of BB!" Cyborg said, grinning.
"Raven, you look really good," Robin said sincerely.
"Thanks," she said shortly, red tingeing her cheeks.
Starfire smiled happily as she walked to Robin's side and linked arms with him. "Where will you two be going on your date, Beast Boy?"
"There's a great restaurant on the outskirts of town. We'll start there, and then the rest is a surprise," he winked.
"Glorious. You two will have a wonderful time," Starfire clapped.
"Hey Cyborg, about the T-Car-"
"Yeah, about that," he said, crossing his arms, looming over Beast Boy like an impenetrable force.
"Um… see… it'd be pretty inconvenient to try and take the B-ped and all, when we're all dressed up… I mean look at how much time Star spent on Raven's hair, you wouldn't want it to get all messed up, now would you?"
"So…?"
"So… can I take the T-Car?"
"No."
"Aw come on! That's not fair, Cy! Robin-"
"Listen to me you little grass stain. If there is one dimple of a dent or hairline scratch on that car by the time you get back, I will bust your little green bean as-"
"Just let him take the car, Cyborg," Raven droned.
"Fine. But you two stay out of the back seat too. The T-Car isn't for makin' out-- unless it's me!"
"As if," Beast Boy said, yanking the keys from Cyborg's hand and pulling Raven out the door to the elevator to the garage.
"Have a wonderful time!" Starfire called after them as Cyborg exclaimed "hey!"
After the two were gone, the three remaining Titans stared at each other blankly.
"Well, Starfire and I were going to go catch a movie, so…" Robin started.
"Okay," Cyborg said.
"Will you be alright by yourself?" Robin asked. "We'll keep our communicators on incase there's trouble."
"S'fine, s'fine, go on! I'll be juuuust fine here by myself," Cyborg grinned, shooing them with his hands.
Robin looked at him somewhat suspiciously, but put his arm around Starfire as she picked up her purse.
"Guess we're taking the R-cycle," he said as they too headed down to the garage.
Cyborg waited until the elevator light dinged to the garage floor, then eagerly headed towards the Titan's mainframe computer and put through a transmission.
Hmmm… what is Cyborg doing…?
Sorry about the wait, everyone. But I do want to take a moment and thank everyone who faithfully reviews and/or adds me onto their favs and alert list! You guys are great; you all give such wonderful feedback. It makes writing enjoyable.
Next up, Beast Boy and Raven's date!