Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans 2003 this is a work of fan fiction please support the official releases.
Phew! managed to get this one out before Christmas. Again I make no promises with the schedule. It was merely a best hope guideline. It's that time of year though and truthfully I had a little 'blip' but either way here it is.
So I originally wanted to do this months ago but I thought It would be better released at well... you know. I also do enjoy writing stories set during the original run. Also who doesn't love a good Christmas special. The story this is based on has yes ... been done to death but I wanted to put my own spin on it and I felt Raven was the only character I could buy going through it. Its fun too to explore Raven and Beast Boy's relationship before I wrote them together. Like the little moments that would have built up to there relationship... The good and the bad.
Again I hope you guys enjoy this one. This is more like a special than an actual episode so no real action and that mainly just character stuff and flashbacks.
Ok here we go!
How Raven Learned to Love Christmas
Jump City was quite the sight during Christmas. The city was filled with lights of all colours glistening against the falling snow. The festive season was in full swing. It was a time that had almost every citizen in high spirits. Even a certain grey skinned demon Empath.
"Garfield come on! I don't want to be late!" Raven called behind to her boyfriend who was struggling with the bags even after spawning extra arms.
Thank you new powers he thought to himself.
Raven was rushing in front with several bags of her own in hand, the cold air was putting an effect even on her breath. Demons usually run hotter than most. She was worried they wouldn't be on time. Garfield in truth wanted a quieter Christmas this year after they made their yearly visit of course. Tradition is tradition after all. Raven stopped in front of the building she hoped to reach: Jump City General. The hospital was a tall rather plain looking building sitting amongst the other skyscrapers.
"Hurry up Gar!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Garfield scrambled himself together and made his way into the hospital lobby behind Raven. The two received several waves from fans as they made their way towards the visitors elevator. The two Titans scrambled inside. A flicker of black magic switched on the button for floor 35 of 52 identical buttons. The metal box began shifting and the two Titans were soon on their way up. Both took a deep breath whilst the elevator rang "Jingle bells" quietly through the speaker system.
"And to think, you wanted a quiet night in. What would the children have thought?" Raven deadpanned.
"Hey, now I never said we shouldn't come. I was hoping we do a Christmas day surprise dressed up and you know have a chill eve? You know" Garfield defended.
"Oh no, I have plans for Christmas day. Besides Cyborg's going in tomorrow as well and he'll probably bring the Titans East along two since they owe him apparently"
Raven affirmed her position with sternness. Garfield was intrigued. He looked over at her and thought how much she had changed over the years. The girl beside her, whom he now valued more than anything used to find the notion of Christmas a complete waste of time. For years he'd tried to get her to open up to the idea and after finally succeeded thanks to a rather risky but successful plan he'd got his wish... for better or worse.
Raven was now obsessed with celebrating Christmas and celebrating Christmas the "Right" way or as he liked to call it the "Raven" way. Now they were together it became even more apparent how much the difference was showing.
Garfield thought back to the last Christmas with the old Raven, almost four years into their crime fighting tenure and when she had to put up with an annoying young man called Beast Boy.
(Roughly Three years earlier on Christmas Eve morning)
Twas the night of Christmas eve and the town of Jump City was a bustling in bright red and green merrying. As the snow fell on a familiar T-shaped Tower, inside a particular grey skinned demoness was feeling rather sour...
"Bah Humbug"
"What was that Raven?" Beast Boy asked. The Empath chewed vigoursly with her mouth and swallowed what was left of the waffle she had just eaten.
"I said... boy I hate this holiday" Raven deadpanned. Beast Boy gave out a loud groan.
"Ughh not this again Raven, why can't you lighten up? It's Christmas!" Beast Boy flapped his arms down in frustration. The two Titans were in the kitchen area. Raven was sat in her usual stool trying to enjoy what was left of her tea.
Beast Boy however had been baking all morning and was hovering around the oven.
"You're point being?" Raven argued in her usual monotone. Beast Boy looked irked at her comment.
"My point is, it's the festive season. It's a time of joy and celebration" Beast Boy tried to appeal to the humanity he had to believe resided somewhere in the stubborn teammate sitting across from him. Raven rolled her eyes and looked away from him.
"Pass" she snarked.
Beast Boy let out a loud sigh and rubbed his eyebrows in defeat. Since he knew he was fighting a losing battle he decided to inspect his work in the oven. As he bent down Raven looked back over towards him briefly.
What does he do with all this stuff?
Since they moved into the tower Beast Boy had made a tradition of baking a large quantity of food every year. A quantity he would take with Cyborg out every Christmas eve and she had no idea where. They would offer to show her yet the Empath found the notion of going out into Jump City at this time of year discomforting.
The truthful part of her was always still curious. Cyborg had just entered the kitchen with a familiar jolly disposition.
"Morning B, Rae, Rae" Cyborg received a subtle wave from Raven who still had a cup of tea in hand.
"Morning Cy" Beast Boy chirped. Cyborg came over to inspect the goods, the metal Titan peered down to view the items in the oven.
"Oooh looking good BB, even better than last year" Cyborg rubbed the little green Titans hair.
"Well if it was anything like last year, we need to have plenty" Beast Boy reminded him.
"Speaking of which, Rae? You wanna join us this year?" Cyborg turned back around towards Raven who still had her familiar stoic look. She rolled her eyes.
"If I didn't want to come with you guys last year, what makes you think I've changed my mind this year?" Raven deadpanned with just the tiniest hint of venom behind her words.
Out of all the Titans Cyborg probably put up with Raven's whole deal the best throughout the year but even he had his limits, especially around the holidays.
"There's no need to be like that, Rae" Cyborg said crossing his arms. "What's with you this time of year. Everyone else is busy taking in the joy of the season?"
Raven huffed "What's so great about Christmas?"
"It's a time where everyone in the city comes together, Rae in celebration" Cyborg argued. The Empath rolled her eyes.
"I see people out there indulging in commercialism by buying over expensive gifts" Raven countered. Before either of them could rebuttal, Starfire rocketed into the living room with a gleeful smile. Since coming to Earth Starfire had taken to Christmas rather well, there were no other holidays on Tamaran this time of year. With a hush of wind throughout the kitchen each Titan noticed they were now wearing a bright red Christmas hat.
"Oh how joyous the morning is friends! I cannot wait to take in the tradition of Christmas nog and clay moving TV specials" Starfire beamed. Her enthusiasm perked up both Cyborg and Beast Boy. Raven however still wasn't budging. The hat wasn't exactly comfortable either.
Robin entered the room after Starfire looked more cheerful than usual. He was usually as serious as she was on an average day and hoped he would have her corner on the subject.
"Good morning guys" Robin announced cheerfully, Raven's hopes were quickly shattered. The others gestured back to his greeting whilst Raven looked away with a scrunched up face under the red hat.
"Why are you so cheery?" Raven asked. Robin raised an eyebrow at her question.
"It's that time of year Raven, lifts me up like nothing else" Robin answered sipping on a cup of coffee that seemed to materialize out of thin air.
"Why are you so... " Robin tried to think of the correct word "... Down?"
Raven looked up to him with a stoic expression.
"It's that time of year..." She replied. Robin didn't need her to say anymore, he understood.
"I just didn't think the holiday's were your thing either..." Raven continued.
"What do you mean?"
"Well growing up around... " Raven began however Robin quickly cut her off.
"Raven, Raven, Raven... Who do you think got him to open up to the idea?" Robin explained. Raven frowned a sigh in defeat, perching a hand under her chin. Starfire's cheery mood began putting hers even further down, eventually she took notice of the empath's sour look, she landed behind her and paced over towards her stool.
"Oh friend Raven, you must partake in the yearly festive activities. They will surely perk you up" Starfire beamed towards the sorceress.
"I'm fine Star" she replied in a deadpanned tone. The others could usually deal with Raven's stuck up attitude but even they had their limits, particularly at this time of year.
Beast Boy especially was getting increasingly frustrated with her attitude after the last few years, he was trying his best but he was growing tired of trying. Even Cyborg had his back on this.
Starfire on the other hand tried to deal with it differently, by insisting again.
"Please Raven you should try the egg nog we prepared yesterday" Stafire insisted to her.
"Again I'm fine" Raven deadpanned. The others could tell Starfire was pushing her luck.
"...Star why don't you leave her alone" Robin said raising his hand towards her. Stafire didn't register him however as she tried once more.
"Please Raven you should... "
"I SAID I'M FINE!" Raven screeched with glowing white eyes, her powers shredded through the hat Starfire placed on her head. The kitchen shook as Beast Boy's current mixing batch exploded. Raven breathed heavily and regained her composure. Robin came up behind Starfire.
"I told you to leave her alone" he whispered.
Beast Boy however had officially had enough.
"What is your deal Raven?! You've ruined my last batch! Why are you acting like this? Like such a stuck up..." Beast Boy yelled clenching his fists towards her.
"Beast Boy don't say something you'll regret!" Robin spoke up.
"No, no. It's fine Robin, he's a big boy... " Raven cut in. She slowly rose up from her stool and paced over slowly towards the angry green Titan glaring at her. She locked eyes with him and got up close to him. She used her height over him to her advantage and stared down at him menacingly.
"So tell me... Beast Boy. What were you going to say?" She asked in a slightly sinister tone. Beast Boy didn't look away and stared back up at her. She could sense the anger pouring off of him but strangely enough she couldn't sense his usual leaking fear he often had around her.
"You're a smart cookie, Raven why don't you tell me?" He replied. The other Titans looked concerned as they didn't break the intense gaze.
"Guys?" Cyborg stood up nervous for the two of them.
"Do you need reminding of what happens to things that annoy me Beast Boy?" Raven responded coldly. The Changeling smirked slightly, still not breaking eye contact.
"Is this the part where I'm supposed to be intimidated?" The sentence echoed through Raven causing her eyes to widen, in that moment she didn't indeed sense any fear in him and despite all previous encounters, here the Empath choked. She looked back towards her friends who were frozen by the tension radiating from the both of them. She turned back to face Beast Boy who was still glaring up at her. She narrowed her eyes and scoffed.
"I'm going to my room" Raven lightly shoved Beast Boy to the side and walked slowly up the kitchen steps pulling her hood up. Before she reached the door she gave him one last quick glare, he returned the favour and she glided out of their sight. The other Titans sighed, thankful that the encounter didn't escalate any further.
"Was there any need for that Beast Boy?" Robin asked.
"That's something you should ask her, dude? You're always defending that bad attitude of hers" Beast Boy countered back.
"She's still getting used to this place, to us... It can be a bit much especially around Christmas, right Cyborg?" Robin quickly turned around towards Cyborg hoping he would back him up, instead the metal Titan was standing with his arms crossed looking displeased.
"Nah, man. She was out of line here, me and BB have commitments tomorrow and she almost destroyed this year's batch. It's Christmas Robin?! Who doesn't like Christmas?" Cyborg argued.
Robin sighed.
"I did not mean to upset her" Starfire whimpered.
"It's not you Star, clearly Christmas isn't for everyone. Alright let's leave her for a while then we can all cool off" Robin suggested.
"Sounds good, alright BB let's get this mess cleaned up and try again" Cyborg offered. He and Beast Boy began cleaning up the mess Raven had made of the kitchen.
"These two might be a while, why don't we head into the city, I promised I'd show you how to ice skate didn't I?" Robin offered.
"Oh that sounds most wonderful, I wish to partake in as many traditions of the season, there are many I missed last year" Starfire beamed.
"Alright... " Robin made his way towards the kitchen doors before stopping for a moment and turning back to face Starfire who was gliding behind him.
"Just promise me... you'll go easy on the egg-nog, Star"
Darkness was filling Raven's as she floated In the lotus position above her bed, chanting her familiar mantra.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos... Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos... Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos..."
Is this the part where I'm supposed to be intimidated?
Beast Boy's use of her own words echoed throughout her brain, she couldn't get it out of her mind. The Empath flopped down onto her mattress with a disgruntled look of frustration.
"Jerk..." She whispered under her breath, despite knowing he was well out of earshot for some reason she didn't want to say it too loudly and she couldn't tell herself why.
Back in the kitchen Cyborg and Beast Boy had finished cleaning up and starting a new batch ready to be baked with the others. The Changeling hadn't said much, he was playing the moment between him and Raven back in his head.
"Priss..." He muttered quietly.
"Did you say something?" Cyborg perked up.
"... No..." He lied.
"You doing ok little buddy?" Cyborg asked. Beast Boy looked up at him and sighed.
"I just don't know how to deal with her sometimes" he admitted. Cyborg thought to himself for a moment.
"She can be a bit... much... but you know she's always there for us when it matters" Cyborg said.
"That's the problem, she never wants to do anything fun at Christmas, it's the time we should all be together?" Beast Boy tried to explain.
"We can't make her BB, I don't like it either but Robins right. Not everyone has a thing for the holidays"
"... I know it's just... I wish there was a way to get her to lighten up, like that guy from that movie? You know?..." Beast Boy tapped his chin trying to think of the name.
"Scrooge?" Cyborg answered.
"That's it!"
"Oh sure, do you know three ghosts that could come visit her by tomorrow?" Cyborg snarked.
"Uh, no?"
"Well looks like that idea's shot, oh well... Unless?" Cyborg rubbed his chin in thought
"Wait what are you thinking?" Beast Boy asked. Cyborg looked down at him.
"I was thinking we let Raven teach herself a lesson" he said.
"I'm confused?" Beast Boy rubbed his ears as Cyborg rolled his eyes. He pulled himself towards the Changeling's ear and whispered. The green Titan made numerous faces as he explained his plan.
"Are you crazy? What if she finds out, she's already mad at me? And you're basing this plan on a lot of assumptions" Beast Boy said in a nervous panic.
"Not assumptions, just past experiences. If we do it just right she'll do all the work for us" Cyborg explained.
"I don't know..." Beast Boy was unconvinced.
"C'mon B, we both like the girl but she could do with an attitude adjust for this time of year. If it makes you feel any better I'll take the blame if all goes wrong" Cyborg offered.
Beast Boy paused for a second to think. Which was unusual for him.
"Alright let's do it" He yelled.
"Excellent" Cyborg began rubbing his hands and laughing manically, causing Beast Boy to start doing the same.
A few hours had past and Raven was still in her room trying to distract herself. Her mind was too unsettled to try meditation. Next should moved onto reading, after switching between several books she decided that wasn't going to happen either. Finally she just settled on taking a nap.
About an hour in she felt a chill creep in the room. The mist from her breath was like a blast from a steam engine. Gliding over to the large window spread out across her room she inspected for any holes, nothing. Chattering over to her door she exited with her arms wrapped over herself. She glided down towards a small control panel a few hallways away and noticed it had been left open slightly. She looked at the temperature controls that affected the whole tower.
Cyborg heard a loud banging on his door.
Here we go he thought.
"Cyborg?!, Open up!" The voice sounded annoyed. Another set of bangs followed again. Cyborg straightened himself up and paced over to the door. The panel whistled across to the left revealing a red cheeked disgruntled looking Raven with her arms crossed.
"Oh hey, Rae?" Cyborg tried to say without his own teeth chattering.
"Yeah hey, Rae nothing. What's going on? It's freezing in my room" She barked.
Cyborg darted his eyes about. "Oh that, well about an hour ago I looked and saw that the heating's busted throughout most of the tower."
"Can't you fix it?"
"I already have, the system just needs to be reset. Should be ready just before midnight" he replied.
"Midnight?! I can't survive in there till midnight!" Raven protested.
"We'll the living room still has some heat, it has an emergency system" He boasted.
"Why don't all the rooms have that?" Raven narrowed her eyes and sneered. Cyborg looked nervous.
"After Christmas I'll get right on it!" He promised nervously. The Empath sighed.
"Listen, Rae I know you had you're... moment earlier but come to the living room with us. We'll be watching Christmas classics and stuffing our faces" Cyborg offered.
"Wow...sounds amazing" Raven snarked. She rolled her eyes and exhaled.
"What choice is there" she muttered.
"Great!" Cyborg beamed "Oh just so you know BB and I didn't get enough food for both tonight and tomorrow so tonight were stuck with pizza..." Cyborg explained.
"Ah pizza, truly the cornerstone of the traditional festive meal" Raven deadpanned. "...Whatever as long as it's warm I don't care" she finished. She turned around and glided towards the living room. Cyborg's door shut and the metal Titan exhaled after somehow managing to pull the first stage of his plan.
The Empath entered the living room through the main doors.
Raven immediately noticed the heat coming from the living room and took a breath rubbing her arms reviling in the warmth. She noticed Starfire and Robin in the kitchen area chatting. Typical she thought to herself. She then noticed Beast Boy sitting at the couch indulging in a strange stop motion Christmas special on the TV.
Despite a much greater grasp of earth than Starfire, even she had her questions about such accepts of there culture.
"Hey Raven, coming to bask in the warmth?" Robin asked.
"Well I would have gone to the fire dimension but the demons there run a little hot" Raven deadpanned. Robin gave a light chuckle but Starfire looked confused, thinking she was telling the truth.
"We were planning to show Star some more Christmas classics, are you going to join?" Robin queried.
"Might as well, what else is there to do in here?" Raven said.
"That's the spirit" Robin said, Raven rolled her eyes.
"Alright y'all pizzas finally here!" Cyborg yelled from the back of the room. The metal Titan had a stack of around ten pizza boxes perched in his left hand.
"Alright shall we sit down" Robin said.
"Oh I cannot wait to for take the traditional Christmas specials of your world l, last year's were most delightful" Starfire glided behind Robin with a powerful smile.
"Whatever..." Raven paced over towards the coach. Beast Boy noticed the other Titans moving towards him, he quickly shifted over towards one of the couch ends and watched as they each took there spots. Robin and Starfire parked themselves in the middle next to him whilst cyborg jumped in with the pizza and placed it on the table in front of the curved sofa. That just left Raven who walked around and placed herself at the opposite end of the couch. She dusted the spot off and sat down on her cloak with her arms crossed. Immediately afterwards she gave Beast Boy a light glare. The Changeling didn't have the nerve to look at her but he made a quick glance and nervously darted his eyes away.
She could still sense his frustration but that had mostly deflated instead she sensed a great amount of anxiety which made her curious.
"Ok dig in guys" Cyborg said, he had opened at least five of the boxes and spread them out for each to partake. Raven was no big fan of pizza. It was nice in the moment, however it never agreed with her stomach. If she didn't know any better she'd think she would prefer being a vegetarian like Beast Boy.
Right now though she was too hungry and cold to care and started munching down as well.
About an hour later most of the pizza was gone with each Titan looking full and bloated. Even Raven had clearly had too much. On the TV screen the odd stop motion special was just finishing wrapping up. On next was an adaptation of a very famous Christmas classic.
"Ooh next is a Christmas Carol" Beast Boy perked up.
"Uhh which one?" Robin asked. Beast Boy genuinely wasn't sure. He pulled up a TV magazine from the table and flicked through.
"One of the ones that's not a cartoon" he confirmed.
"Well you won't understand it then" Raven snarked. Beast Boy's temple twitched but decided not to bite and ignored her.
"This is a good one Star" Robin assured her.
"I am looking forward to it, however I do not think anything will defeat 'It's A Wonderful Life" Starfire remarked.
"Please come back heating system" Raven pleaded to herself. The special began and the disgruntled pizza filled Titans watched in front of the glow of the giant screen.
As the special reached it's end towards midnight each Titan was glued to the screen. All expect Raven who was sitting crossed armed and clearly still uncomfortable from all the pizza. The Empath had been rolling her eyes all throughout. As the credits rolled Starfire gave a fast little applause.
"Marvellous, most marvellous!" Starfire beamed.
"Told ya" Robin said.
"Meh..." Raven cut in.
"Friend Raven, you did not enjoy the Carol of Christmas?" Starfire asked.
"I've seen better" The Empath replied, she reached for another slice of pizza now as cold as her own room.
"Careful Raven, eat anymore and it'll give you nightmares" Cyborg warned. Raven stood up and dusted the crumbs off. With the pizza slice still in her mouth she paced around to behind the couch.
"Christmas is already a nightmare..." She muttered to herself before she headed towards the hallway.
"Till tomorrow guys" she waved before disappearing.
"Goodnight" The rest of them said in unison. They all looked at each other until Robin spoke up.
"Well at least she was here" He conceded.
Cyborg gave Beast Boy a quick wink and stood up.
"Well I best be heading to bed too me and grass stain have to be up early, we should be back before 10am to do gifts" Cyborg said as he grabbed Beast Boy like a doll and perched him on his shoulder.
"Alright guys. Say hi to everyone for me" Robin said.
"I as well" Starfire added.
"Will do, c'mon BB" Cyborg turned around so that Beast Boy was facing the two other Titans he quickly gave a thumbs up gesture as Cyborg carried him out of the room.
Raven returned to her room to find some heat coming back. It still wasn't exactly comfortable but it was bearable after all it wouldn't be long before it was fully back again.
The empath groaned grasping her whining stomach, clearly protesting the amount of pizza she had eaten.
She prepared herself for bed and the rigors of another Christmas. She still felt cold, from out of her rather sinister looking wardrobe she pulled a dark blue nightgown and quickly crawled into it with her leotard still on.
Better she thought.
The Empath felt a pain from her stomach as she clutched her gown she let out a massive belch that seemed to shake her whole room. With her cheeks now red from her own shame, she groaned.
"No more pizza for a month" She muttered to herself.
With a wave of her magic she lifted up her bed sheets and flopped onto her large bed. With her magic she wrapped the sheets around her like a warm cocoon.
With a light yawn she quickly drifted off.
The other Titans had retired for the night as well. Each was sound asleep wrapped up in there own beds ready for another festive holiday coming up the next day. The snow outside was settling nicely and the rest of Jump City was quiet and restful into the early hours of Christmas morning.
It was now around 5am and the heating had come back in force. Raven in her sleep had begun wrestling the warm sheets off herself. She was now layed out snoring loudly and the opposite end of the bed.
"It was the pancakes, I knew it!" Raven mumbled in her sleep. The sorceress had come so close to the edge of the bed she was very close to falling off.
A large set of bangs rattled on her room door which completed her fall. The Empath jolted awake at the loud noise and landed to the ground with a loud
"Ooof" Raven scrambled herself up. Her face turned to frustration. She marched towards the door and with a light whistle it barred left.
"Beast Boy I swear to...!" Raven growled but on the other side, no one. Not a peep nor a sign of any other Titans. Just darkness and at all more. She looked along both sets of hallways.
"Hello?" She called out. After seeing no one visible she returned back into her room. The door whistled back across. As she paced over to her bed she was quickly startled again.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Even louder this time. The Empath clenched her fists and marched back around towards the door.
"I'm going to throw you out into the bay Beast Boy! If it's the last thing I...!" Again Raven was met with dark hallways. This was starting to get strange, even for her.
"Come on Beast Boy this isn't funny!" Raven yelled out into the seemingly endless hallways. She then heard a light pair of wings flapping. She spotted a small bird at the end of one of the hallways.
"I knew it! Beast Boy I'm going to make you regret... wait" As the bird got closer it wasn't the familiar green Raven was accustomed to rather a deep shade of black. The bird was oddly familiar as it approached she could make out the shape of a Raven hoping closer towards her.
The sorceress heart began racing rapidly. The birds piercing red eyes stared back at her and within one blink the eyes split into two.
Raven fell back into her room breathing heavily. She felt the whole room warp as she scrambled towards her bed. She looked behind and saw the door has shut.
She pulled herself back as far to the back of her bed as she could, pulling her sheets over her face.
"It's not real, it's not real, it's not real..." Raven repeated to herself afraid to let the sheet down from her face.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Once more on her door.
Raven gave out a little squeal and started shaking.
"It can't be real, it can't be real, it can't be real..." Raven was almost hyperventilating, being behind the sheets wasn't helping. She needed to take in some air yet the fear of looking towards her door was keeping her arms still. With a large breath she gripped the sheets and pulled them down.
"HI RAE-RAE!"
Raven practically screamed at the sight of a pink hooded transparent girl floating in front of her.
"Geez Rae, will you calm down?" Raven looked at the hooded girl was the spitting image of herself.
"How, how are you here?" She asked.
"I dunno, too much pizza not enough meditation? If you don't fully get your powers then how can I?" The pink Raven rambled.
"I must be dreaming..." Raven said.
"Or maybe this is all real... Muhahaha!" The pink Raven cackled. The real Raven looked annoyed.
"Alright I've had a long and probably will have an even longer day today, so could we skip whatever this is so I can go back to bed?"
"No can do, Rae" The pink Raven replied.
"...Why?" Raven growled.
"The others and I have been taking, we think you need to lighten up this year. Enjoy Christmas the way it should be done"
"Hmm?, counter proposal?... You... get out of my room before I smash my mirror?" Raven deadpanned. The pink Raven rolled her eyes.
"Ughh... You are impossible, this is why we think Beast Boy hates us!" The pink Raven yelled.
"Who cares what Beast Boy thinks?, he's a jerk!" Raven barked crossing her arms.
"Wow, hey kettle my name's pot, nice to meet you" The pink Raven chuckled.
"Look, just go away" Raven begged. The pink Raven crossed her legs and arms and looked down at her doppelganger.
"Sorry Rae-Rae this is happening. The others will be with you soon, were going to show you the true meaning of Christmas." She said.
"Oh please no... just come together so I can go back to sleep" Raven pleaded.
"It's for you're own good..." The pink ghostly Raven slowly disappeared through the bed.
Raven flopped her head down on the pillow she looked up at her ceiling and groaned.
"No more pizza for a year"
A small source of light started shining next to the right side of Raven's bed. She peered over yet couldn't make out what it was.
"What is that?" Raven leant over her bed and was spooked as another version of herself jolted up from what seemed like out of the floorboards. Raven screeched causing her grey cloaked clone to as well.
"Oh it's you!" Raven yelled at the timid looking version of herself. Like the previous version her body was slightly transparent, she held a small candle night in her hand.
"S...sorry. I'm here to... to show you something" She whispered. Raven glared at her with frustration.
"Go. Away." Raven clutched her sheets and pulled them across as she turned around to lay back down on her bed. In a spilt second she was on the floor once again with another
"Oof!" She quickly got back on her feet and saw that her bed was gone. In fact almost everything in her room was gone, except for the door. She turned to glare around and the ghostly grey version of herself.
"Alright where is everything?" She growled.
"It'll come back, once... once we're all done" The grey cloaked Raven said nervously.
"No it'll come back, now!" Raven raised her arms to prepare her magic. Nothing. No black aura or energy came pouring out. She shook her hands in desperation.
"Ughh what's happening?!" Raven looked around to see the other Raven was out of site. She turned to see her room door placed against a wall of darkness. The grey Raven was floating there waiting.
"This way..." She whimpered and disappeared through the door. Raven didn't want to follow but could see the darkness that had swallowed her room was starting to crawl towards what was left of her floor. She quickly darted after her other self and followed the small flickering light her candle flowing through the dark hallways.
"Hey wait up!" Raven called behind her. The grey Raven came up to a familiar set of large doors that normally lead into the living room, yet Raven wasn't quite sure but they looked different.
"What's behind those?" Raven asked the shy mirror of herself. The other Raven looked back at her.
"The past..." The doors split open and inside Raven saw the image of the living room, incomplete and still being finished. Another version of herself as well as her friends were there too. Christmas decorations were spread all across the room mixed in with all the wiring.
"This, this is?..."
"You're memory... The first Christmas we spent here" The grey Raven confirmed. The real Raven looked around, it all seemed so real. She quickly glanced at herself and noticed she was transparent like her other selves. She quickly assumed none of the others could see her.
Beast Boy looked so young here as did she. Raven watched as the past version of herself walked up towards the Changeling in the kitchen area.
"So, Beast Boy. Should I be worried about what you got me?" The past Raven chuckled nervously.
"Oh don't worry Raven, I think it'll put a smile on your face" Beast Boy replied with a cheeky grin.
Raven was remembering everything. This was only a few months after the team formed and back here she and Beast Boy got on much better. Particularly after admitting to him she found him funny. Beast Boy had taken this a bit over the top. Constantly feeling the need to make her laugh or smile any chance he could get.
Back here Raven was still getting used to her powers and not really knowing the people she would live with for years that well yet she was a little more open and odd. She was still trying to fit in herself and not push anyone away with her very nature. She was young and a little bit naïve back then.
Here she put up with Beast Boy well enough. Usually just laughing off his antics with a fake chuckle or smile just to show she was a team player.
Raven was starting to remember where it was soon all going to go wrong.
"Why do we have to see this?" She asked her other self.
"It's where you and Beast Boy's relationship changes, it's where you put up the wall" The timid Raven whimpered. The grey Raven lifted her candle light as the time in the room jolted forward like the fast forward button on a Television. The scene stopped and the past Titans were now parked in the couch exchanging gifts.
Ravens heart sank, she knew what was coming. She and the grey Raven floated closer towards the memory.
The past Raven smiled she had received a selection of very thoughtful gifts from the other Titans. Last was Beast Boy, who despite his constant efforts to make her laugh, she was the most fond of currently.
She gave the Changeling's a light smile unwrapping her gift. The wrapping job itself wasn't great but it wasn't one of his strengths.
Raven finished tearing through the paper and a small grey tube with no discernible markings was revealed.
"Uhh thanks Beast Boy... Umm what is it?" She asked.
"Open it" he gesture towards her with his hands. Raven tried to open the tube but was struggling.
"Is it some kind of earth delectable?" Starfire asked Robin. The Titans leader wasn't sure what the object was then saw Beast Boy's giddy smile and his eyes widen behind his mask.
"Oh no..." The boy wonder, gulped.
"I think I've got it..." The past Raven successfully removed the lid and peered inside. A light click was heard and before anyone could blink Raven's face was covered in a splash of pink foam.
Beast Boy couldn't control it anymore and burst out laughing, despite the ill placed nature of the prank the others couldn't help it and quickly found themselves laughing as well.
Raven dropped the tube and wiped the foam from over her eyes. She glared back at the laughing green Titan with vicious white glowing eyes.
Beast Boy's laughter was cut short when he felt his body levitate upwards. He looked down to see Raven looking furious, face still covered with an arm raised in the arm coated in black magic.
"Raven wait!? I'm..." Beast Boy's attempted apology was cut short as he was thrown out the window and into the bay. His screamed could be heard dying out of earshot as he landed with a splash in the cold winter water. Luckily he was well adapted for this kind of situation. It still hurt though.
The past Raven was panting heavily, the others looked at her worried.
"Friend, Raven?" Starfire asked. The Empath looked at them. The waves of embarrassment, angry and sadness had all taken there toll. Light tears began forming in her eyes. Raven ran out of the living room as her powers left a trail of light destruction in her wake. She fled through the doors back to her room as the others looked on.
"This is when you pushed him away..." The grey Raven said.
The real Raven looked at her.
"Can you blame me?" In truth Raven did feel guilty about what she'd done but for her Beast Boy had crossed the line. She'd tried to meet him on his terms but she knew now that a life of being the but of his jokes would be in her future.
So like the grey Raven said, she put up a wall. After he tried for weeks to apologise she finally gave in but there relationship was now different. She wouldn't laugh at his jokes and she would instead, keep him at arms length. Infact she started doing this with everyone in particular though with Beast Boy.
Even after they had long made up the two went on the assumption that they now didn't like each other, a lesson they would keep having to relearn. Though Beast Boy's prank had also had another effect on Raven. Her feelings towards Christmas. It was a holiday she already wasn't fond of.
The memory shifted again, the living room looked complete and familiar now. The Christmas decorations were more subtle this time. Robin had to be convinced having Christmas again was a good idea. After a stern lecture to Beast Boy they had gone ahead.
The memory was of there second Christmas together as the Titans. Raven had spent most of the following year indulging in books whilst the others were out doing things or watching dumb movies as she called it.
The two ghostly Raven's watched as the past Beast Boy approached Raven sitting on one of the couches towards the back of the living room. Robin was behind him with arms crossed as a witness.
"Uh, hey Rae?" He said nervously with his hands behind his back.
"What do you want, Beast Boy? Raven didn't even look up from her book to grace him with even a glance.
"I wanted to give you this" Beast Boy pulled a square poorly wrapped gift from behind his back and presented it with both arms towards her. He was still jittery from last year.
Raven looked up and got to her feet. She placed her book down and enveloped his gift with her magic. Beast Boy looked terrified.
"It's, it's not what you think... honest!" He yelped nervously. She looked back at him, then examined the gift. With a wave of her hand she stripped off the paper with her magic to reveal a book. The Empath examined it a grabbed it with both hands.
"I hoped you'd like this one..." Beast Boy smiled nervously. Raven looked up at him again, this time with a raised eyebrow.
"I should, it's the one I'm currently reading" Behind Raven the book she had just put down from a moment ago and Beast Boy and Robin could see it was the exact same copy. The Boy wonder planted his hand on his face whilst Beast Boy simply gulped.
Ravens face turned into more of a frustrated one but was quickly deflated by Robin who cleared his throat to her behind the Changeling. Raven rolled her eyes.
"I guess it's the thought that counts... thank you" She grumbled. Beast Boy perked up a small smile.
"Ha, you're welcome Rae..." He beamed. Ravens eyes glowed white.
"Ven! Raven!... Sorry" Beast Boy corrected. The glow in Raven's eyes subsided as she sat back down to resume reading.
"He tried this time..." The grey Raven commented.
"Not enough to check what books I had" Raven countered. The memory changed again as raven prepared for the retelling of her third Christmas at the tower.
By now the Titans were more settled in. Raven and Beast Boy were still not as close as they could be and the previous year he has been through a lot with Terra.
This time Beast Boy sought advice from Starfire since she was the closest to Raven at that time. He still wasn't sure what to get her but he knew he wanted it to be something she'd remember, something thoughtful too.
Raven's memory was coming back, she could already feel the awkwardness she was about to relive.
The memory settled in the image of the Titans exchanging gifts once again. The two Ravens watched the Raven of the past receive a rather nice looking gift from the Changeling. Given his track record she glanced up at him.
"I think you'll like this one" He grinned. She looked back down and started to unwrap the elegant looking box. As she pulled the box of the glow of two bring star shaped ear rings splashed on her face.
"Oh... Wow" Raven was actually stunned. These not only looked nice, they looked like real gold as well. The design was a sharp star shape with numerous points. Like a wishing star.
Cyborg leaned in to Beast Boy and whispered.
"How much did you spend on those?" The Changeling then wiggled his fingers together.
"You don't wanna know"
Raven looked back over towards him. This wasn't normally the kind of thing she'd buy herself. She was genuinely moved by the effort however.
I don't know what to say, Beast Boy... but I can start with thank you" Raven smiled at him and floated to give him a light hug which shocked the other Titans including him.
"Look guys... Raven's hugging me!" He chirped.
The Empath pulled away from him "Don't get used to it" She then glided back over to her seat on the couch.
The real Raven watched her last self with the earrings and remembered thinking how hopeful she was that they could potentially get closer like they did before. Despite Beast Boy's efforts it was all about to be derailed by a little dose of reality called practically.
As nice as the earrings were they were large, sharp and kept digging into Raven anytime she moved. Despite her best efforts it wasn't a good idea to wear them all the time. After about a week Raven placed them in her drawer to be brought out only on the most specific occasions. She didn't want to however as she did actually like them, Beast Boy however had already taken notice and about a week after new year he confronted her about it.
The two Ravens watched as the memory shifted to the the Changeling and Empath ready to have an awkward exchange in the hallway.
"Listen Raven, you clearly don't like them so why don't you just tell me that and quit lying?"
"I'm not lying about them Beast Boy, they are just a bit... much... to wear all the time. Don't overthink this , please?" The past Raven pleaded with Beast Boy who sighed at her words.
"Look it's obvious to me Raven we don't know what to get each other at Christmas. So why don't we just not bother this year and save ourselves the stress?"
"Beast Boy don't be like that. Look I'll go get the earrings and I'll wear them right now"
"It's not about the earrings Raven, I just... I just don't know how to get through to you at this time of year. I thought I could but clearly... no...I can't"
"Beast Boy..."
"Save it, Raven. Just save it"
The memory then faded and the real Raven and her grey cloaked counterpart were left in a hallway of darkness.
"Wait was the point of all that?!" Raven growled at her.
"They are our memories, it's not my fault" The grey Raven whimpered.
"Was it to remind me of how difficult I am or how mean I am? Huh? C'mon, out with it?!" She yelled.
The grey Raven's candle flicked as it began to die out.
"Maybe she will help you see better" The timid Raven backed up disappearing into the darkness.
"Ohh no! No more of this. This stops now!" Raven yelled. The darkness around engulfed her until she was alone in a black void. She quickly began turning around looking for anything or anyone else.
Then a light peered into view. It was faint though she could make it out as the shape of a door. Without hesitation she sprinted towards it hoping it would be an escape. The familiar whistle of the Titans doors could be heard as she belted through only to be met with the sight of the clouds and snow. She looked down and saw she was floating in mid-air. No powers, above the island the Tower stood on. The door had led outside into the cold Christmas winter.
"Ooops..."
Raven quickly darted back towards the door and managed to grab the ledge of the door now perched on the side of the massive t shaped tower. The Empath dangled there hopelessly. She looked down and squeaked seeing how far she was up.
"Bout time you got here" Raven raised her head up to see a dark green cloaked Raven staring down at her with a smile.
"What are you waiting for?! Help me?!" Raven screeched. The green Raven glided out of the door frame and floated behind her real counterpart.
"Only if you take my hand" The green Raven offered with a gesture.
"Forget it. I'll do it myself" Raven tried to claw her way up back into the ledge. She tried to push against the glass on the tower with her boots. The Empath lost her footing but the jolt of the slip caused her to fall down to the next section of the tower. This time she barely managed to hold her grip without slipping again. Now reaching the door would be practically impossible.
"How about now?" The green cloaked Raven asked this time floating upside down. The real Raven growled and looked over towards her. She reached out her hand holding herself up with the other with every ounce of strength she had. The green Raven clutched her hand and pulled her up with seemingly no effort.
"Wait how are we?" Raven questioned.
"No time, c'mon we should just about catch them" The green Raven tugged her counterpart whom was pulled at incredible speed through the air.
"Where are we going?!" Raven yelled but the other Raven didn't hear. They swooped in and out of the tall buildings of Jump City until they reached a rather unremarkable and generic looking one.
Jump City General.
"There!"
The green Raven pointed towards the ground at the building's entrance. The T-Car had just pulled up. Cyborg climbed out clad in his winter clothes.
"Let's go, B!" Cyborg called. The passenger seat of the T-Car swung open. A pile of baskets started to struggle through the door frame. Squeezing tightly they eventually forced there way out with a visible pair of legs carrying them.
Beast Boy peered from behind the pile clearly struggling.
"Dude! Give me a chance!" Beast Boy panted. Cyborg grabbed a handful of the baskets with little effort and grabbed him by the coat.
"C'mon they'll already be wondering where we are" Cyborg dragged the two of them through the hospital lobby. The two ghostly Raven's glided behind them invisible to all the others who greeted the two Titans who walked by.
Cyborg and Beast Boy stopped at the elevator and waited for a group of nurses to exit. He then squeezed the two of them into the cramped elevator and hit the button for the correct floor. With a light 'ding' the doors shut and the two Raven's watched.
"Come on let's go!" The green Raven said.
"Wait what if they see us?" Raven wondered.
"No one can see us, now come on!" The green Raven tugged her doppelganger and they both phased through the doors and entered the elevator shaft. They looked up to see the elevator moving up and they ascended after it.
After several floors the lift came to a halt with a sharp brake. The two Ravens waited for a moment before they phased through the floor of the elevator. They glided along a short hospital hall to a set of doors Cyborg and Beast Boy were moving towards. Raven examined the markings around the halls and quickly came to a good guess what the two of them were doing. Cyborg placed his hand on the large doors and turned towards his green partner.
"Alright B, here we go" Cyborg pushed the doors and the two of them entered the room.
"Merry Christmas Guys!" The two Titans yelled in unison.
"Beast Boy! Cyborg!" The sound of the Titans names were screamed by a ensemble of many children laid out in a room filled with hospital beds. Almost all of them ran over to greet the two Titans.
"This is where they go each year?" Raven said in awe floating behind them near the door with there
"Oh wonderful you're here" A blonde nurse wearing sharp glasses came over to meet the two Titans. She had a warm smile after seeing all the baskets brought. Cyborg began removing his winter coat and placing it on a nearby rack.
"Yeah sorry Claire, we had a bit of a... production issue" he said looking over at Beast Boy. The green Raven looked over at her true counterpart who looked rather guilty after Cyborg's comment.
The children had already begun digging into the baked goods they prepared yesterday.
"Cyborg! Cyborg!?" One of them yelled. Cyborg leant down towards a little group of the youngsters.
"Yes?" He said
"Is it true you can lift 12 people?" They asked. Cyborg chuckled and lowered his arm down.
"Why don't you grab on and see?" The children grabbed onto Cyborg's forearm, he gently lifted them up and they started giggling.
"Beast Boy! Beast Boy! Can you turn into a hippo?!" Another group of them asked gleefully. Beast Boy glanced over at the nurse Claire who quickly shook her head.
"Sorry guys I can't turn into a hippo up here" He said with disappointment.
"Aww" they muttered in unison.
"But I can turn into a Pygmy hippo!" Beast Boy morphed into the form of a small hippo causing the children to cheer. Claire laughed and even Raven formed a small one seeing her friends making the kids happy. Her respect for the both of them had just gone up.
"Did you know this is where they came each year?" Raven asked her green counterpart.
"No, but we've all had our theories, besides you know you've always been curious" she chuckled.
"I don't know what your taking about..." Raven mumbled.
"Wow you're denial would be endearing if it wasn't tiresome" The green Raven snarked.
Beast Boy noticed at the back of the room a little girl sitting alone still in her bed. He made his way over to Claire.
"Is she ok over there?" He asked her.
"Oh she's just very shy, she hasn't been here long I think she's still getting used to it all" she replied.
"Would you mind if I?"
"Be my guest" she offered.
"Keep them occupied a sec, Cy"
Beast Boy grabbed one of the baskets and left Cyborg with the children. He slowly walked over to the girl's bed at the end of the room. She was reading some kind of book.
"Let's see how he does" The green Raven tugged her counterpart and pulled them both over towards Beast Boy.
"Hey there?" Beast Boy greeted her gently. The girl partially squeaked and hid under the covers.
"Hey, hey it's ok I don't bite" Beast Boy grabbed a nearby stool and parked himself besides her bed. He placed the basket on the end of her bed and flipped the lid letting the aroma of the fresh bakery out.
The girl slowly peered down and crawled over to make a quick grab for the basket. If Beast Boy didn't know better her short bangs reminded him of a certain Titan. She swiftly grabbed one and returned back under the covers. Beast Boy chuckled and noticed a small poster next to the wall on her bed. It had Raven drawn in a comic book like style, slightly exaggerated. They hadn't captured the eyes really. Next to her bed was the book she was reading. A collection of poems and shorts stories.
"I don't think I need to ask you who your favourite Titan is" he smiled. The girl peered her head from under her sheets. She looked over at the poster and back at Beast Boy.
"I... I just think she's really cool..." The girl whimpered. Raven's face turned slightly red, she didn't know she had fans.
Beast Boy looked back over at Cyborg and the other children. He then leaned in next to the girl.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Mary... Mary-Jay Jones" She mumbled.
"Well Mary-Jay Jones can you keep a secret?" He asked.
"I... I think so" she whimpered. Beast Boy looked around trying to pretend people were listening.
"I think she's really cool, too" he whispered to her. Raven's face turned bright red, her green cloaked clone gave out a little chuckle.
"You do?" Mary lit up after Beast Boy admitted his little confession.
"Of course she's one of the coolest people I know..." Beast Boy paused for a second thinking back to yesterday. "... But I think she sees me as a bit of a..." Beast Boy shifted into a small green monkey and marched around the end of her bed in silly fashion. Mary giggled at him, he morphed back and flopped back on the stool.
"He at least you find me funny" he smiled.
"What is she like?" Mary asked.
"Well she's a lot like you, she likes her own space, always reading...has a great laugh" Raven became more and more flustered at his words she tried pretend it wasn't affecting her.
"She's not really a fan of... all this" Beast Boy turned around and gestured towards the Christmas decorations around the room. Mary frowned.
"Is that why she's not coming?" She asked.
Raven looked towards the girl and felt a wave of regret. She wasn't good with kids, In fact she wasn't good with people in general. Beast Boy knew this but he thought for a moment and tried to think of an answer that wouldn't throw her under the bus.
"She's also quite shy like you..." He told her. Mary still looked disappointed which made Raven feel worse.
"I'm sure you'll meet her one day though, I stake my priceless comic book collection on it" He chuckled. Mary giggled again. Beast Boy stood up and offered his hand out.
"Wanna say hi to Cyborg and the others?" He asked. Mary looked nervous but Beast Boy had such a warm smile.
"I'll be with you ever step" he promised. Mary smiled back and gently grabbed his gloved hand. He escorted her over towards the others.
Raven wasn't exactly in a good frame of mind at the moment. She only felt worse after coming here.
"Take me back... Take me back now!" Raven growled and the green cloaked mirror of herself.
The two Ravens landed at the roof of the Tower. Raven was too distracted to even notice the cold.
"Why are you all doing this?" Why are you reminding me how... how evil I am? She stuttered.
"You still don't get it?" The green Raven was genuinely confused at her.
"Please stop..." Raven begged.
"I'm sorry Raven, there's one more of us left to see you. We didn't want it to be her but she's the only one that will get the message across" The green Raven faded into the darkness like her grey counterpart had. As Raven watched her go she watched as another Raven phased out of the tower roof. They were clad in a black cloak and her face wasn't visible at all. Raven was puzzled, she had never seen this version of herself in her mirror before.
"Wait... which one are you?"
The black cloaked Raven said nothing, she didn't move, she simply floated there.
"Look I'm tired of this game, let's just get this over with already" Raven deadpanned.
The other Raven again didn't move, her cloak however did begin to change colour. To a bright blood red. Raven's eyes widened at the shift.
"No..." She whimpered. The Empath then noticed the glow of a vibrant orange light coming from behind her. She slowly turned around to confirm her growing fear.
Jump City was in flames. Every building, monument or structure was a blaze. Raven fell to her knees at the edge of the Towers roof.
"No...no, no, no this can't be real..." She denied to herself. The roof beneath her collapsed, forcing her downwards. She grabbed a stray metal beam and hung helplessly once again. She looked down and saw a fiery portal forming at the base of the tower like a mouth ready to swallow her.
"This can't be real!" She screamed. Looking up she saw the now red cloaked Raven perch herself above her on a slab of damaged concrete looking down at her. The Raven's face was still hidden, except two pairs of vibrant red eyes opened to glare at her.
"No, no, no!" Raven was losing her grip quickly. She felt a sharp burning session across her body as bright red symbols burned themselves onto her skin. The last of which burned itself into her forehead around her gem. Raven then heard a cry like a thousand voices.
"WHAT YOU HAVE CONCEALED!..." They screamed.
The red Raven quickly closed the gap between them and snatched her by the hand holding her up above the fiery chasm. She then finally spoke.
"...You shall become..."
The red Raven released her and Raven fell screaming into the fiery maw, she closed her eyes as the blaze rocketed closer. She then felt a sharp thud against her head as her body flopped onto her bedroom floor.
She groaned at the pain she was feeling but quickly jumped to her feet seeing herself back in her room, everything was how it was. She checked her body for the symbols she had seen before but found nothing. Running to the mirror she looked at her face. Despite a visible set of bags under her eyes and flop sweat everything seemed normal. She slowed down her breathing.
"It was just a nightmare" she said to herself. Strangely after she said those words the drawer where her mirror was mysteriously opened. She looked over at it with a slight edge of fear.
"Maybe not then..." Raven noticed through her curtains the morning light peering through. She pulled them across and was greeted to a Jump City coated in white snow. She breathed a sigh of relief. She then wondered what the Raven's were trying to tell her. She looked down at the tower island and saw Beast Boy and Cyborg having a snowball fight.
This might be their last Christmas... Raven thought. She had always known her time was drawing near and despite her best attempts she knew she might not be able to escape her destiny.
She knew what she had to do. She pulled her window across and was met with a strong gust of cold wind. She jumped down without thinking not even checking if her powers were back and glided down. Her blue nightgown flapped like her cloak against the cold air.
"You there, Beast Boy!" Raven yelled above them. The Changeling looked confused.
"Raven?" He questioned.
"What day is it today?" She asked. The two of them looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
"Girl you should know, it's Christmas day!" Cyborg said.
"Perfect" With that Raven disappeared back up into her window leaving the other two Titans looking dumbfounded. Quietly Beast Boy instinctively passed Cyborg a twenty dollar bill whilst they were still looking up in puzzlement. He lightly grabbed the note with his own shocked expression still plastered on his face.
After an hour or so Cyborg and Beast Boy returned back into the Tower.
"So do you think it actually worked?" Beast Boy asked.
"I don't know anymore..." Cyborg admitted. The two approached the living room doors and upon entering saw piles of baskets filled with all sorts of food, gifts and toys.
"Woah" they both said in unison.
"It's about time you two got here" Raven made the two of them jump as she appeared behind them.
"Where'd you get all this Raven?" Beast Boy questioned.
"You'd be surprised what people in this city will do to help out one of the Teen Titans, honestly even I didn't know..." Raven explained.
"Well it all looks great Rae, I can't wait to dig into... "
"Woah, woah, woah" Raven cut Cyborg off. "This isn't for you two, now come on and grab you're coats" She ordered.
"Aww but we just came in from the cold" Beast Boy whined.
"Not my problem, come on both of you we don't have all day" Raven lifted the baskets with her powers and had them follow behind the her down the hall. The other two Titans groaned and followed her as well.
Back at Jump City General the children jumped at seeing Cyborg and Beast Boy come through there doors for a second time.
"Hey kids I know we're back again but we have a special surprise!" The two of them gestured to the empty door frame as the children watched Raven slowly float into inti view.
"Hi" The empath waved. The children looked on in awe with wide eyes. Raven looked around at the frozen little kids.
"... Umm I'm Raven"
The kids rushed towards her
"Raven!" They each started shouting. Raven became bombarded with the sounds of hundreds of questions from each of them. She looked down and chuckled lightly.
As a half an or so passed Raven had spent the afternoon, playing, levitating and delighting the children. Yet there was one she was hoping to meet and she couldn't see any sign of her.
She then noticed Beast Boy approaching with a very timid looking girl hiding behind him.
"Hey Raven, I think someone wants to meet you?" Raven looked down at the girl hiding behind Beast Boy.
She knelt down to her height and gave a light smile.
"Hi there" Raven said gently. Mary clutched Beast Boy's hand in a nervous look.
"I hear you're my biggest fan" Raven reached out her hand towards the girl. She looked up at Beast Boy who gave her a light nod. The girl then looked back towards her. Within what seemed like flash she darted over towards the Empath and embraced her in a tight hug. The force knocked Raven back, she wasn't expecting it.
Beast Boy chuckled and even Raven smiled as she hugged the girl back gently.
Cyborg headed off first to go and prepare the food for later in the day back at the tower. Beast Boy and Raven stayed for a little longer.
"Bye kids have a great Christmas and have a happy new year" Beast Boy waved as he headed back to the elevator with Raven. The Changeling had almost forgotten the tension between the two of them. The two of them entered the elevator and watched the doors close slowly. Raven noticed he still had one small gift with him.
"Who's that for?" Raven asked. Beast Boy looked down and the small box.
"Ohh well I know we said we shouldn't get anything for each other this year but I felt bad so I just thought I'd bake some stuff just for..." Beast Boy was cut off by the strong embrace of Raven's arms. She had pulled him into a tight hug.
"Raven?"
"I'm sorry for yesterday, I'm sorry for all the other Christmas's and well I'm sorry for being... me" She whimpered.
"It's ok I acted like a jerk, I'm sorry too" The Changeling wrapped her arms around her. Raven pulled back and glared at him sharply.
"I'm still mad at you" she claimed
"Wait? What's wrong now?"
"You got me a gift and I didn't get you one!" She yelled.
"Ohh, well don't worry about that Raven" Beast Boy shrugged off. Raven rolled her eyes and then noticed something hanging above the elevator.
"That'll do" She said aloud.
"Huh? Raven are you?..." Beast Boy froze as he felt a pair of soft lips gently peck on his cheeks.
"Woah! Raven what are you doing?!" Beast Boy wobbled back against the elevator wall.
"Don't overthink it" Raven pointed upwards and Beast Boy's eyes were drawn to a branch of mistletoe hanging above them.
"Oh... I see tradition and all that"
"Merry Christmas, Beast Boy" Raven smiled
"Merry Christmas, Raven" He smiled back.
Present Day
Raven and Garfield were sure the elevators in the hospital were falling. It was taking ages to reach floor 35. Garfield looked over at his girlfriend again, this time he noticed a golden glitter coming from beneath her hair.
"Hey are you wearing those earrings?" He asked her.
"Yes?"
"I thought you didn't like them?
"No? They just weren't practical to wear all the time like I tried to explain last time but you got all insecure"
"Because you never liked my gifts?"
"Whose fault is that? You made me cry on my first Christmas you know?"
"I am gunna be apologising for that for the rest of my life?"
"Yes... yes you are"
"Well didn't you ever think you'd be sharing a bed with that horrible person in the future"
"Again, I never thought I'd have a future"
"Fair enough"
"Speaking of beds... I may have ordered a Santa outfit that's a little bit too small for me"
"Ohh really? I'm sure that was an accident"
Raven chuckled and pulled him in for a tender kiss. Garfield cupped her cheek and returned her embrace, the two pulled back.
"I love you, Garfield"
"I love you too, Rae"
The two heard the jolt of the elevator coming to a stop, the two stepped out ready to spend another Christmas afternoon with the children they protected in this city they called home.
Ok there we go. I'm glad I managed to get this one out before the holidays were over. It was fun going back to the time of the original run. It was fun coming up with origins for characters attitudes. remember we were all young once and all capable of being real jerks. I hope this all came together coherently and it put someone in a Christmas mood.
Please leave a review if you have the time and I'll see you next time in the new year.