Ch 10

BB woke up on the couch the next day. He had given Raven his old room. There was no way he could sleep in his parents bed. He feared he would have nightmares and breakdown. The heat was blistering as he sat up on the couch, so he decided to shower as he brought a fresh pair of clothes with him. The outdoor shower still worked thankfully, but he made sure he was aware of everything around him as he bathed.

Every time he scrubbed he felt a scar or saw a bruise, each with its own horrific and troubling story. He felt insecure as he quickly washed his body and then hair. He shut off the water, dried himself, and put on a fresh uniform. It was safe and hid his body from the world.

Walking back into the hut, he saw Raven mediating over the couch but what really struck him was the fact that she wasn't wearing a uniform but a short sleeve purple shirt and white capri pants. He could see her curves better, and her semi-naked arms appealed him. He had never seen them before, but he got a closer look as he carefully took steps not to startle the empath.

"I know you're there Garfield. Your curiosity was shining like a beacon of light," she said as she came out of her mediation pose to face her boyfriend. "What are you so curious about?"

"Well besides your outfit, I can see your bare arms."

"It's hot and the material on my leotard is heavy to wear. I think I might have passed out the other day if we didn't go swimming. Plus, they're just my arms, no big deal."

"You look nice," he said as her arms caught his attention once more.

"Ok, what's the big deal with my arms?" she asked. She sighed as she held them out for Beast boy to inspect. "Just get whatever is going on in your mind out of your system." His touch felt like fire on her skin but a fire she wanted to live in forever. It sent chills up her spine and made the butterflies in her stomach come alive. She watched as he looked intently at every inch of skin. She saw his eyes widened, and she grew concerned. "Wh-what is it?"

"These scars on your arms," he said with concern.

"They're old scars from when I lived in Azarath. I couldn't take it. I didn't want to be cold. I wanted to feel, so I cut myself to feel even a little bit."

"How long?" he asked.

"I stopped when I joined the team. I knew it was wrong then, but I felt nobody understood what I was going through. No one knew how to help accept to keep my emotions under control.

His arms went around the empath. "I'm so sorry Raven," he said as he held her tight.

She felt and heard Beast boy cry for her. She was touched. "It's ok Garfield. I'm fine. With you and the rest of the Titans, I learned how to feel again and for that I will always be thankful," she said as she rubbed the back of his neck, which calmed the changeling down as he purred. Raven smiled. "Now who's the one who's adorable?"

BB laughed as he pulled away to face his girlfriend. "Thanks Rae, you're the best."

"There's something else, isn't there? I felt so much pain coming from you. It couldn't just be about my own."

"You're starting to see right through me, aren't you Raven?"

"Whatever it is that caused you so much pain in your life, you need to know that I'm here for you. We all have scars whether they're on our skin or deep inside ourselves. There's nothing to be ashamed of. I thought because I was the daughter of a demon that there was a lot to be ashamed of, but you taught me that it didn't matter who I came from but what I did with my life that made me who I am. I'm not Trigon. I'm Raven. I'll always be Raven."

Before BB could respond, a knock came to the door. He opened the door to see Prince Taiba. "Hello, I'm hope I'm not interrupting. My wife invited you both to lunch. Would you like to join?" he asked and then Beast boy's stomach growled.

"Uh heh yeah that sounds great," said BB. "Come on Rae," he said as she took his hand in hers and followed the prince.

After lunch the Prince showed them around the village. Raven noticed all the commotion going on and wondered what was going on. "Is there some sort of celebration going on?" asked Raven.

"Yes," said the Prince. "Two souls are joining together tonight to become one."

"He means marriage Raven," said BB.

"Yeah I understand that but what's that big tent for?" she asked.

"That is where the two souls will mate," said the Prince.

"Oh," said Raven as she blushed.

"Will you be joining us in celebration tonight?"

"No, but thank you anyway," said BB.

"I understand. You prefer to mate in private," said the Prince.

BB blushed. "I think it should only be something shared between two people."

"You know that's just what your parents believed," he said with a hand to his shoulder. "Enjoy yourself while you're here Garfield. I'll see you later," said the Prince as he went to help prepare for the ceremony.

"Later," BB said.

"So what happens during the ceremony?"

"Why so curious all of a sudden Raven?" he smirked.

"I've always been interested in learning about different cultures.

"Well first it starts out like any other wedding. After the couple weds, they're are helped into different clothes that barely cover their bodies. They are thrown into the woods, and it becomes a game of hunter and prey. Once they find each other, they become excited, go into the tent, and mate while the tribe listens."

"And you know this, how?"

"King Twaba told me through my dreams one night while I was sleeping in the tower. He figured I'd come back someday and mate in this villages' tradition."

"You never wondered what it would be like to follow the tradition."

"Sure my animal side finds it appealing. You know the chase and mating, but I'm human to. To me there is nothing special about having sex where everyone is listening. It kind kills the mood."

"That makes sense."

"What about your planet Rae? Is mating a public tradition?"

"No, it's actually similar to a human wedding accept that the marriages are arranged."

"Wow, that sucks."

"I would have disagreed with you years ago, but I was in a different place. I really didn't believe real love existed. As corny as it sounds, you were the first person I felt love for. When I came to this planet, I didn't know what I would find. Imagine my surprise when all those years before I believed because I was demon that I could never love and no one would love me in return. I meet you for the first time on earth, and I feel. You made me want to feel, and it made me afraid. I'm not afraid anymore," she said as she took his hand in hers. "While this experience is new to me, there is no one else I would rather go through this with. I love you Garfield."

He looked at her and smiled a genuine smile. "You really know how to lay down the charm Rae," he sighed. "On a serious note I think you deserve to know about my past. You've opened up to me about yourself in ways I never could have imagined. You deserve the same from me."

"I know it won't be easy for you."

"Your life wasn't easy either, and you got through it. You're the strongest person I know."

"You're strong to. I have a feeling that whatever happened to you, it made you stronger."

"Sometimes I wish I didn't have to go through all of it, but I think about you and I know I wouldn't change anything, no matter how horrible it was," he said as he felt Raven's arms around him.

"I want you to be happy Garfield."

"I am Rae," he said as his held her tight. "You make me happy."

"You need to be happy with yourself to. I want to help you."

"Nothing would make me happier," BB laughed.

"That wasn't clever."

"I love you to Rae," he said as he kissed her cheek. "So, what do you want to do now?"

"Lets go back to your cabin."

"And do what?" BB said as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"You won't find out if you keep doing things like that, now come on," she said as she led him back to the cabin.