Quality Time

CHAPTER 12: Magic For Dummies

"Checkmate," Raven said, moving her pawn, clinching another effortless victory.

"Ugh!" BeastBoy groaned in defeat, "Okay, okay. One more time."

Five minutes later.

"Checkmate," Raven said once more.

"What, again? What is it with you?" he pulled on his hair. "Alright, just one more game. I think I'm startin' to get the hang of this."

Four minutes later.

"Checkmate," Raven announced, clenching another consecutive win.

"Aww!" BeastBoy slumped, his head drooping in defeat.

He took a deep breath, letting out a small sigh, as if conceding to a prolonged surrender. An impressive effort for his first time playing chess to be sure, even if it was only because he'd lost a total of fifteen straight games and kept playing.

BeastBoy scooted over to the side, making to exit from off of Raven's bed. He made certain to go slow, partially because his feet had fallen asleep from sitting Indian style for so long across from the chess board, but also still faintly dizzy from the effects of the flu. The chess game had been the only thing keeping his mind off being sick. And now, with nothing to distract him, other than the fact that he had been sealed in Raven's room for the better part of an hour or two without incurring so much as a bruise, he was quickly brought back to the realization of just why he had been quarantined to begin with.

"Had enough?" Raven asked, watching him as his feet touched the floor.

"Hmph," BeastBoy smirked as if she was joking, "You're just lucky I don't have a white flag, or I'd show you."

Raven rolled her eyes, the closest a person could get to a smile most of the time.

BeastBoy shakily rose to his feet, his knees slightly wobbling from supporting his weight with both his feet still asleep. He attempted to step forward, only to wobble backwards, stumbling back onto Raven's bed, knocking over the chess pieces still remaining on the board.

Raven looked down at the scattered pieces laying across her bed to BeastBoy, deadpan expression present.

"Eh heh heh," he chuckled nervously, massaging his feet, "First day with these feet."

Raven sighed, paying it no mind as she gathered up the pieces and the board, setting them off to the side on the floor.

After a moment of vigorously rubbing his feet, rotating his ankles, confident his feet were now awake; he got up once more, only this time without the falling down part.

Raven paid the accomplishment little mind as she herself chose to settle into her usual meditative position, closing her eyes, beginning to focus. If it was safe to assume BeastBoy was taking a break, or just plain going to hang his head in shame for a while, she figured she might as well take the opportunity to tighten the mental reigns of her powers. Just because Raven wasn't using her powers didn't mean it'd be impossible for her emotions slip. Better safe than sorry was common practice when it came to her powers.

BeastBoy, still slouching in his posture somewhat, made his way over to one of the far bookcases against the wall. Seeing as how it was the only thing he could observe that wasn't under lock and key, or a potential danger given the mystic or otherwise unknown origin of countless other items in the room, he decided the least amount of harm would come from just glancing at Raven's books. Besides, he had to find something to occupy what little attention span was nestled in that green noggin of his, and he had always been semi curious as to just what kind of books Raven had in here.