BBRae Week 2014 7 - Realisation

Seeing as I've written several 'realisation' moments this week, I'm keeping this one short and sweet and easy.

It started in small ways. The other Titans noticed the fights growing fewer in number as time went by. Not that they didn't fight, you understand, they just learned to accept things about the other: Beast Boy learned to leave Raven to her books and she learned the value of a video game to him. With that acceptance came an unexpected level of comfort with the other. Raven often found herself leaning against the changeling while he played and she read. It was a nice way to share time with a friend without interrupting their chosen activities.

When social events came around, Beast Boy would escort Raven simply because she was utterly comfortable around him, not shrinking away from his touch. She was probably close enough to Robin or Cyborg but they tended to want to bring dates of their own. The girls Beast Boy dated weren't really interested in such events, same as him. But he tolerated them for his friend. His first post-Terra breakup was quiet: he returned to the Tower one night and didn't speak a word until the following day. He simply plugged in his console and played until his eyes began to close. Raven knew, though: she could sense the conflict in him. She waited weeks before confessing she thought it was for the best anyway - the girl simply wasn't good enough for her friend. There were a few other girls, some more serious, some less so. Raven was always there when it ended, reading next to a silent changeling. He often tried to articulate his gratitude but always failed.

Finally, Raven made a romantic venture of her own and he ended up with a chance to return the favour. She was holed up in her room, not particularly interested in seeing the others, especially the perpetually jubilant Starfire: her joy would cast Raven's dismay into painful contrast. She didn't speak when the door opened. She didn't speak when he walked in and shut the door behind him. She didn't speak when he sat on the bed and started reading the comics he had brought with him. The only communication was when he offered her one of the cookies he had with him: she accepted with a small, sad smile. After that they grew even closer, usually in each other's company even when they didn't verbally acknowledge it.

Weeks later, Raven walked into the common room after her meditation, looking forward to seeing her friends. She saw Robin, Starfire and Cyborg sat at the table while Beast Boy sat on the couch with the remote, looking curiously at an item on the news. Raven glanced at it: it was standard celebrity gossip tripe... except it wasn't standard at all. It was about them. Specifically, Beast Boy and herself. It was a picture from one of the all-too-numerous (for Raven) events they had attended. Raven didn't know which, they blurred into an interminable whole in her memory. Still, there they were, all dressed up. The article seemed to be suggesting they were a couple. Preposterous, Raven thought. They had heard the line before. Still, something was clearly buggin Beast Boy about it. She approached the couch and laid a hand in his shoulder. He didn't flinch. He always knew she was there somehow. He turned and contemplated her with the same expression, clearly trying to put something together in his head. Finally, he turned and spoke.

"Raven? Are we in love?" he asked, plainly. Raven goggled for a moment, already preparing to deny such nonsense. But her brain took over and started linking the pieces together.

"You know what? I think we are," she answered. He grinned at her. She smiled back.

"Heh... who knew?" he laughed. The other three Titans left their seats and managed to shout in unison:

"WE DID!"

And there you have it, another BBRae Week completed. Have a good'un, shadowgawkers.

-Jack