MOMENTS

Prom Night

It was a quiet evening in their apartment. Rain drizzled lightly against the windows, and the soft glow of the lamp cast a warm ambiance across the living room. Beast Boy and Raven were curled up on the sofa, sharing a blanket, with a half-finished movie playing in the background. Gar's arm was casually draped around Raven's shoulders, while her head rested against his chest.

Raven shifted slightly, breaking the comfortable silence. "Gar?" she asked softly, her voice holding a tinge of curiosity.

"Yeah, Rae?" he responded, turning his attention to her immediately. He always did.

"What was prom like?" she asked, her tone neutral, though there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes—curiosity, maybe even longing.

Gar blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. "Prom?" he repeated, as if testing the word. "Uh, it was... you know, kinda like a big, fancy party. Dresses, tuxedos, dancing... stuff like that."

Raven nodded, her gaze distant as if picturing it in her head. "What else happens? I mean... what's it really like?"

Gar shifted, realizing she was genuinely interested. "Well," he began, grinning slightly, "there's the whole deal of asking someone out, getting dressed up, awkward group pictures that everyone pretends to hate but secretly loves. Then you show up at the venue—it's usually decorated with some cheesy theme, like 'A Night Under the Stars' or 'Enchanted Forest.' There's music, dancing, punch that's usually spiked, and some people sneak out early for, uh..." He coughed, a slight flush on his cheeks. "You know, their own kind of 'fun.'"

Raven raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Sounds... chaotic."

Gar laughed. "Yeah, but it's also kinda magical. Everyone acts like it's the most important night of their lives, even though it's really just a glorified dance. I mean, I remember being super nervous when I asked someone to prom."

Her eyes flicked to his, a glint of curiosity. "You went to prom?"

"Yeah, of course," he said, grinning. "I wasn't exactly a stud, but I had my moments. Got the suit, fumbled through asking a girl, and somehow managed to not embarrass myself on the dance floor."

Raven tilted her head, a small, amused smirk tugging at her lips. "Hard to imagine."

"Hey!" Gar protested, feigning offense. "I've got moves, okay? Even back then. Maybe not Titan-level moves, but still."

She chuckled softly, but her gaze turned pensive, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the blanket. "I never went to prom," she said quietly after a moment.

Gar's teasing expression softened instantly. "Really? Why not?"

Raven hesitated, clearly debating how much she wanted to say. Finally, she sighed and began. "School wasn't exactly... pleasant for me."

Gar stayed quiet, sensing this wasn't something to interrupt.

"I didn't exactly have a normal childhood," she continued, her voice steady but subdued. "Between my powers, my... father's shadow hanging over me, and everything that came with being who I am, I never fit in. Most of the kids at school either avoided me, teased me, or outright hated me."

Gar's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything, letting her talk.

"I tried to stay out of everyone's way," she admitted. "Didn't want to give them a reason to notice me. But it didn't matter. They always found something—my clothes, the way I talked, the fact that I didn't smile like everyone else. I was the 'weird girl.' And I guess, in a way, they were right."