Stuff Like That There
(Hugs)
by Em
A/N: It seems like the Crack-iness is back! Boo yah.
Not beta'd.
Thanks: Special thanks to Absentia who when I told her that although I knew how the hug might actually take place in this chapter, but that I didn't know how to explain it, asked the crucial question, "Why do you need to explain it?" I think the pattern is emerging and I like to explain myself overmuch. Otherwise, I'll respond via pm.
08: Bear Hug
"Once the bear's hug has got you, it is apt to be for keeps."
- Harold Macmillan
Aqualad was in the middle of a rather intricate account as to the meticulous nuances of Atlantian verb tense (the past participle conjugation was notoriously complex) when Robin walked into the room.
Even though she didn't turn to face the door, and her eyes never left Aqualad's instruction, there was a slight sign of recognition cross Raven's eyes as soon as the Titan leader walked into the room that Aqualad couldn't help but notice. He paused, momentarily, in his instruction to wave a greeting at the masked Titan, only to notice Robin's eyes were right on Raven.
For a moment, Aqualad felt strangely awkward – like the much bemoaned third wheel of American Earth culture, but Raven smiled a little (a small smirk, really) and nodded at him so he continued.
Raven's attention was once again his, but then Robin's arms wrapped around Raven's waist from behind, clasped together in front of her and lifted her off the ground before Aqualad could get three more words in.
There was a flash of a blush dusting Raven's cheeks, but Aqualad valiantly held in his laughter even when confronted with the look of pure mischief on Robin's features as he held the stoic empath about two feet off the ground (Aqualad hadn't really realized how much taller Robin had grown than Raven until that moment). But when he noticed that Raven's features had not changed, she hadn't even turned to look at the person hugging her from behind and only heaved a long-suffering sigh instead, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Robin," Raven spoke, her tone calm and as monotonous as ever.
"Raven," Robin replied, the humor evident in his voice, even if the tone was a decent imitation of hers.
"Put me down please," Raven requested, perfectly composed, as if she were not being held by the waist feet off the ground.
Robin pretended to think about it for a moment. "No, Raven," he announced, just as calmly, "I don't think I will," Robin answered.
Raven sighed again, somewhat defeatedly, and her eyes turned to Aqualad. "Aqualad, please continue."
Aqualad tried, he really did, but it was extremely difficult to talk Atlantian grammar structure when he was laughing so hard. When Raven sighed again and looked extremely put out, all hope of lessons were entirely and thoroughly wiped from his mind and he tried to apologize through his guffaws of laughter. "I---can't ---" he managed. "I---I'll---" he couldn't finish speaking between guffaws and opted instead, for a quick retreat.
"You see why I can never learn anything when you're around?" Raven was asking Robin as Aqualad hurried into the elevator. "You scare away all my teachers."
And before he collapsed entirely into a fit of uncontrolled laughter, Aqualad heard Robin reply, "Good. I don't want your attention on anyone else when I'm around, anyway."
And as he escaped, Aqualad thought that Beast Boy had been right after all. Life in Tower West had gotten considerably more amusing since the two birds had declared their affection for each other.