Chapter 20

Raven drummed her fingers on the cool metal railing, keeping in time with the beeping of the heart monitor. It had already been three hours since they had returned to the tower and deposited Beast Boy in the medical bay. Raven was getting impatient.

After she finished healing him, all that was left of his injury was a faint red line stretching across his side. Though he was completely healthy now, he would still be out for a while. While the rest of the team was satisfied with his condition and went to work on tracking Red X, Raven opted to stay and keep an eye on Beast Boy. Because he shouldn't be left alone and I'm the one with the healing abilities, she justified.

In truth, more than anything she wanted to stay by his side. She wanted to be near him before he woke up and their entire relationship changed.

She looked down at his calm, sleeping form from her spot next to his hospital bed. His hair was ruffled in a cute, handsome way and the afternoon sun cast shadows on his face. He wore a peaceful expression that made Raven smile. Now, when he was sleeping, Raven could sit beside him and enjoy his presence. It was strange; Beast Boy had this calming effect on her. Like his aura washed away all of the negativity in hers. As soon as he woke up though, everything would change.

Why did he have to kiss her that night? She thought she was finally starting to understand him, but evidently she was wrong. She never saw it coming. She just didn't understand how someone like Beast Boy could like someone like her.

And where the hell did it come from? she wondered as she rubbed her temples. She had always been the dark, moody, reclusive member of the team and Beast Boy had been her opposite: he was energetic, outgoing, awkward, and often irritating. But she realized that that wasn't him anymore. She hadn't spent enough time with him over the past year to notice, but he had grown. Physically and emotionally.

The boy laying on the bed before her was still energetic and still outgoing, but had developed a sense of confidence, strength, and maturity Raven admired. Though she had only noticed the change of character a few days ago, she quickly grew used to it.

A barrage of images floated through her mind. Beast Boy kissing her, Beast Boy making her laugh, Beast Boy annoying the hell out of her in that lovable way of his. And today, when Raven caught sight of his bloodied body, the fear that coursed through her at the thought of losing him.

The feelings they evoked were too much. At first she thought she would feel that way if any of her friends were in that situation, but when she pictured Robin or Cyborg she just didn't get the same deep, penetrating emotions she did when she thought of Beast Boy. And what does that mean? That I like him? Raven thought sarcastically. She didn't think she did. They were friends. Perhaps becoming best friends. That was the logic behind her irrational emotions.

Besides, she was going to be... gone in four days. She couldn't let Beast Boy get any closer to her. It would just make it more difficult on both of them when the time came.

She made her resolution right then: she would tell Beast Boy there was nothing romantic between them, and she would tell him now.

It was at that moment that Beast Boy chose to come to, like he had some kind of ESP that told him Raven was ready to talk. His heart rate picked up as his eyes opened slowly. He looked confused for a moment before he got his bearings and realized where he was. His attention immediately went to his side, which he found was in good shape. He smiled.

Raven struggled to rearrange her features into a stoic expression.

"Hey," Beast Boy said quietly. He seemed just as hesitant as she was.

"Hey." They stared at various spots around the room in an attempt to avoid eye contact in the heavy, awkward silence that followed.

"Sooo, I'm guessing it was you who fixed this?" he asked eventually, gesturing to his side.

"Yes. It will probably leave a faint scar, but other than that you're fine." She spoke without the strength her voice usually carried.

"So where are the others?"

"Tracking X. I said I'd watch you." More silence. Raven gathered her confidence and relaxed her mind.

"Beast Boy—"

"Raven—"

They both spoke at once and stopped immediately when they heard the other. Raven closed her mouth. If Beast Boy wanted to talk, by all means, he could go for it.

"Raven," he began again after a few seconds, "we need to talk about what happened the other night." Raven simply nodded. She didn't trust herself to speak.

"I just wanted to say, I'm, um... really sorry about that. I don't know what I was thinking. Not that you're not great and all," he rushed to clarify, "but you don't like me that way. I get it. I don't know why I thought otherwise." He looked resigned, like her rejection was just something to be expected.

Logically, she should have felt relieved. She was all ready to let him down, and here he did the work for her. Instead she felt disappointment. Raven didn't have any thoughts or any words. She was too focused on why the hell she was feeling disappointment at this.

"Raven?" he asked. She realized she had been silent a long time.

"It's okay," she managed at a low volume. Though she tried her hardest to sound unaffected, she wasn't very successful. He looked at her with confusion.

"What's wrong?" he asked gently.

Unfortunately, she had nothing insightful to say in return. He continued to study her face as her lips hung open with unspoken words and her cheeks flushed with color.

"Wait," he breathed, "did you actually... like that kiss?" He stared at her incredulously.

"No!" she supplied far too quickly. She wanted to hit her head against a wall. Why am I acting like such an idiot?

"You did," he realized with wide eyes. "Oh my God. I knew it!" He bolted into a sitting position, body squirming with excitement.

"No you didn't," Raven snapped in defense. "You just said you knew I didn't have—"

"Yeah, yeah, I was just saying what you wanted me to. What I thought you wanted me to." He was grinning from ear to ear. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you came around."

"Beast Boy... you're... you're wrong," she stuttered. Idiot, idiot, idiot...

"Am I?" he asked softly, leaning forward to make his intentions clear.

Not again, Raven thought in a panic. Her brain told her this was not what she should be doing, that she was trying to stop Beast Boy's advances, not condone them. But for some exasperating, unknown reason here she was, not saying a word or moving a muscle as his face moved closer and closer. She was strangely mesmerized by his lips.

As his lips reached a mere inch from hers, she closed her eyes.

"Yo BB! You're finally up!" The two of them pulled away faster than Raven thought possible. She instantly drew her hood up to hide the pink she was sure covered her face.

"Uh, yeah. How'd you know?" he replied to Cyborg nervously, though he quickly recovered. He was always a lot better of a liar than Raven. Cyborg hadn't seen anything, as there was a curtain obscuring the view from the doors. Raven had never been so thankful for a piece of fabric.

"Sensors sold me. When were you going to call us Raven? He's been up for ten minutes!" Cyborg started unhooking Beast Boy without any idea that something was going on. He had always been on the less observant side.

"We were... talking," she replied flatly. She heard the med bay doors swish open again.

"Beast Boy!" Starfire called brightly. "You are awake!" She was followed by an impatient and preoccupied Robin whom she had clearly dragged from the evidence room.

"Yep! Thanks to Raven I'm healthy as a horse!" He gave her a smile that had private meaning, causing her blush to deepen.

"Good. We could use your help tracking X and Slade," Robin said while doing something on his communicator.

"No we do not!" Starfire exclaimed, narrowing her eyes at Robin. At this he looked up. "The Red X and Slade are not going to be found, as they are never found. The celebration of Raven's birth is in only four days. We must prepare!" she announced.

Robin opened his mouth like he was going to argue, then sighed in resignation. It was fascinating to Raven how he almost never argued with Starfire. He didn't extend that courtesy to the rest of them.

"Sure. Lets all work on the party instead of looking for Slade." Starfire wouldn't pick up on it, but the rest could sense the weak sarcasm in his voice.

"Yes, most wonderful! Come friend Cyborg, I require your assistance!" She grabbed a hold of his arm and practically dragged him from the room despite his protests.

Robin sighed. "I'll be in the evidence room. I'm glad you're okay Beast Boy," he added before taking his leave. That left the two of them alone again.

Raven stood briskly from her chair. "I'm going to my room," she said quietly. She had to get out of here before she did something stupid.

"Raven, wait!" Beast Boy called after her. She could hear him stumble out of bed to follow her.

She turned to tell him she couldn't talk right now, but found him right behind her. Before she knew what was happening, his mouth was on hers.

This kiss was brief but still sent heat rushing through her. He pulled away and smiled at her.

"See you later." Without another word, he walked past her and out the door.

Raven stood there dumbfounded, her mouth slightly ajar in shock. What is it about Beast Boy?

She didn't quite have an answer yet

The appearance of the evidence room was by design: Robin worked best under the dim lights, surrounded only by newspaper clippings and files. It helped him focus and helped him think.

However conducive to investigative work it was, it didn't help him much today. It had been two hours since he left the med bay, and he still didn't have a single lead.

Raven's words played through his mind. She said that Slade was only after Terra. It wasn't that Robin didn't believe her, it was just, well... Okay, so I don't believe her, he sighed. He trusted Raven with his life, but he acknowledged she was a reserved, secretive person. It just didn't make any sense that Slade would come out after years of hiding, go to all the trouble of luring the Titans away, and kidnap Raven just to figure out where Terra was. If he wanted to know that, it wouldn't be too difficult for him to figure out.

Robin ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He wasn't getting anywhere with his detective skill, which left him with two options. He could either wait for Slade to strike, or he could try and lure him out.

The first option wasn't really an option at all. Waiting for Slade to harm innocent people was not an acceptable course of action. The second option wasn't attractive either. Robin recalled the last time he tried to get closer to Slade, when he donned the mask of Red X. It took his friends a long time to get over that one, especially Starfire.

However hesitant he was to go that route again, he didn't have another choice. Slade had finally emerged after years in the wind; this time, he wasn't getting away.

Robin knew he would have to be careful. He wouldn't deceive anyone other than Slade. It would have to be a one time deal, and his friends would never have to know. They wouldn't be involved.

The only question was how. How was he going to lure Slade out without raising any red flags? The answer was to give him something he wanted. The problem was that Robin didn't have anything that fit that description. But he knew someone who might.

An idea formed in Robin's head that he thought just might work. With a grin on his face, he picked up his communicator and dialed the number for his contact at Jump City Labs.