Bbrae: One Shots

Chapter Two: Fears

Third Person POV

Night in jump city seems so peaceful, unless you happen to be half demon or a shapeshifter. Beastboy and Raven both lay awake without the knowledge of the other’s conscious state. When Raven decided to try tea to calm her enough to sleep, she was surprised to find Beastboy in the kitchen as well, seemingly lost in thought. “Beastboy?” Raven hesitantly called out to her green team member, startling him out of his thoughts, as well as the chair he sat in. He grunted slightly when he hit the floor, staring up at the empath with an odd assortment of emotions in his eyes. Raven could feel surprise, anxiety, humor, and.. Love? She didn’t understand why he would be feeling love at 1:00 AM alone in the kitchen, but who was she to judge? After scrambling onto his seat again he chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck “Hey rae, what are you doing up so late? Or are you up early? I'm sorry if I woke you.” Beastboy seemed to be so distracted with his emotions that he didn’t realize he was slightly rambling. 

Raven sighed slightly and continued to make her tea “I’m up late, meditating” raven had lied to the shifter, and he knew it, after becoming closer after Malchior and closer again after defeating her father. Beastboy could pick up on the subtle clues in raven’s behavior. He couldn’t explain how, he just seemed to know. Like how he knew her voice shifted slightly higher, or that she shifts away from someone slightly when she lies. He didn’t understand why Raven felt the need to lie to him. 

Beastboy’s POV

*Why is she lying? Did something happen?* I was confused, I usually stay up late due to my animal nature, the habits of both Nocturnal and Diurnal animals keeping me both alert and exhausted. I don’t usually see Raven out of her room during the nights. I honestly try my best not to think of her on nights like these. She tends to make my rational thoughts rather intimate. I came to terms a few years ago that I have a huge crush on Raven, I just don’t act on it for fear of ruining our friendship. “Are you sure? You seem upset.” Despite our closeness she seemed surprised I noticed, my mind began to wander. *God she looks so cute when she’s surprised. She usually looks cute, or beautiful, or hot.* I quickly shake my head to try and erase those errant thoughts before focusing back on my Empathic teammate. She finally replied after her tea was finished boiling. “I’m fine Garfield. I just haven’t been sleeping well these past few nights.” I nod in understanding while cleaning the mess from my late night snack. “Sorry Rae, anything I can do to help?” She shakes her head slightly and returns to her room. I follow soon after and return to my own room, kept awake now by worry for my friend and secret crush.

Raven’s POV

*God he’s really cute when he acts concerned* I shake my head slightly at that thought and make a mental note to talk with passion about sudden outbursts. Getting back to my room I stayed up the rest of the night actually meditating. Attempting to either quell the recent burst of nightmares, or my own unruly emotions. *I don’t want the rest of the team to know I've been having nightmares again, I don’t want to be treated like a child.* The nightmares started seemingly at random and have been persistent. I’ve tried every manner of spell and herbal remedy I can recall but nothing has seemed to work. *I feel like I’m at my wits ends here*.

Third Person POV

The next few nights had similar interactions between Beastboy and Raven, but each time Beastboy gets a little closer to uncovering the real reason for his favorite empath’s recent insomniatic spell. He isn’t quite sure how to approach Raven about this due to her preference for privacy, but he is worried about her. So tonight he steeled his resolve and waited for Raven to enter the kitchen. Like clockwork, she came into the kitchen at 1:00AM like she has the last few nights. Beastboy stood up, and without warning hugged the half demoness. “Please tell me what’s wrong Rae, I can help”. The startled empath could only freeze in his arms before suddenly hugging him closer, much to the changelings joy and surprise. She seemed a bit nervous before she finally spoke, “Promise me you won’t tell the rest of the team?”. Without hesitation Beastboy agreed, making the motion of locking his mouth and throwing away the key in an attempt to ease the tense atmosphere. Raven gave a light chuckle before leaning against him slightly, too tired to fully care “I’ve been having Nightmares all week, sometimes it’s Malchior coming back… and sometimes its my father, breaking free of Azarath and coming back to earth to finish what he started… to finish the prophecy.” When she finished her sentence Beastboy's arms tightened around her as he spoke with an almost foreign sense of determination “Neither of them will hurt you again. I swear Raven.” To say raven was surprised would be an understatement, not only had Beastboy use her full name, he swore to protect her? This definitely wouldn’t help keep any of her emotions in control, but tonight she didn’t care about control. She sank into Beastboy’s arms happily and sighed, “Could you…” She hesitated before finishing her sentence, not wanting to push the boundaries of their friendship. Beastboy replied honestly even without her finishing the question “If I can do something, anything, to help you Rae, I’ll do it”. The sincerity in his voice made passion squeal in her head and start rambling about romantic nonsense, but she quickly quieted her and approached the question again. “Could you sleep with me… in case I have another nightmare?” Raven and Beastboy both blushed before Beastboy smiled softly “Of course Rae”. After leading the changeling to her room, Raven layed down and motioned for him to get on the bed as well. “If you’re going to stay with me you might as well get comfy.”

Beastboy POV

Raven told me to get on her bed, and I listened despite my racing pulse and even faster thoughts. *Oh god she looks so cute, but she’s nervous, Am I making her nervous? Am I too close? No, calm down Beastboy, Raven needs your help. You can keep yourself in check for one night, can’t you?* After settling on her bed I look around her room, relishing the rare opportunity to see her room, let alone sit on her bed. Without thinking I started playing with Rae’s hair, it was so soft I just couldn’t help myself, but I haven’t been thrown out the window yet so she must not have too much of a problem with it. *I might as well enjoy playing with her hair now before she kills me for this after she’s gotten proper sleep* I chuckle to myself and smile softly when I notice Rae dozed off. I tuck her in properly and attempt to leave the room, but Raven grabs me in her sleep and cuddles up to my side, freezing me in place.

Raven’s POV

When morning came, I woke up feeling refreshed, a good night's sleep compared to the week of nightmares I’ve been dealing with. Looking to my side she noticed a sleeping Beastboy, hugging me to his side as if to protect me from my own nightmares. I chuckled at his unconsciously wholesome action and began to get up to make my morning tea, but stopped when Beastboy whined in his sleep and started mumbling “Rae, please don’t go… I love you”. I froze completely at those words, happy and passion running wild in my head while I tried futility to calm myself. *He loves me??? Am I still dreaming?* I was cut from my mental spiral with passion yelling in my head “Oh for Azar’s sake raven. He just said he loves you. We love him too.'' Once the yelling emotion calmed down I slowly made myself comfortable in Beastboy’s arms. I leaned close to his admittedly cute ears and whispered. “I love you too Gar”