Chapter Text
It was one of those rare, quiet afternoons at Titans Tower.
The city was calm, the alarms silent, and the skies outside glowed a lazy shade of orange as the sun started to dip. Even Cyborg had retreated into his lab for the day, Robin was buried in mission reports, and Starfire was off somewhere trying to cook another questionable Earth delicacy.
Which left Beast Boy—terminally bored and teetering on the edge of madness.
He lay upside down on the couch in the common room, head dangling toward the floor, his legs resting over the backrest like a bored jungle cat. He had played Super Mecha Slam! twice, cleaned his room (sort of), and even spent ten whole minutes watching paint dry in the rec room, hoping it would entertain him more than reruns.
It didn’t.
So he sat up, green ears twitching. His eyes drifted down the hallway toward a certain darkened door.
Raven’s room.
He grinned.
Most Titans knew to give her space—but Beast Boy? He was nothing if not boldly, foolishly persistent. And besides… she hadn’t hexed him in at least two weeks. That had to be progress.
He padded down the hall and rapped twice on her door.
“Rae? You in there?”
There was a pause. A sigh. Then her voice, muffled and flat: “Go away.”
“Come on, I’m bored outta my skull. Let me in before I turn into a sad, emotionally repressed sloth.”
“Try a silent one.”
“Too late. Already evolved into the talkative variant.”
The door creaked open a few inches. A single violet eye stared out at him, skeptical.
“You are an incurable pest.”
“And you secretly enjoy my company,” he countered, beaming.
Her eye narrowed. Then, she opened the door the rest of the way and stepped aside. “If you touch anything without permission, I’ll turn you inside out.”
Beast Boy held up his hands like a kid in trouble. “Scout’s honor.”
Beast Boy always forgot how different her room felt from the rest of the tower.
Candles flickered from shadowy alcoves. Incense drifted lazily in the air, the scent dark and earthy. Shelves of ancient books, mystical relics, and softly glowing crystals lined the walls. And in the center of it all was Raven, sitting cross-legged on a large cushion with a heavy spellbook in her lap.
It should have been spooky. Intimidating, even.
But instead… it was oddly peaceful. And deeply her.
Beast Boy flopped onto the rug, sprawling dramatically like a man starved for entertainment.
“I am so glad you’re here to save me from the horror that is peace and quiet.”
“You’re a walking disruption of the natural order,” Raven replied without looking up from her book.
“Aw, you do notice me.” He smirked.
She turned a page with slow precision. “Why are you here?”
“Hang out with you, duh.” He sat up. “We never hang out unless there’s danger or breakfast cereal involved. Don’t you ever get lonely in here?”
“I enjoy solitude,” she replied, still not looking at him. “It’s peaceful.”
“Okay, well, I brought a little chaos to your peace. You’re welcome.”
She finally looked up, eyes narrowed but amused. “If you don’t leave soon, I might have to trap your soul in another dimension.”
“Romantic,” he said, placing a hand on his heart. “At least visit me there.”
Raven rolled her eyes—but her lips twitched slightly, betraying the faintest hint of a smile. “Do you play chess?”
Beast Boy blinked. “Do I look like I play chess?”
“Yes.”
“…Well, I don’t. But I could.” He puffed out his chest. “Hidden genius, remember?”
She raised an eyebrow and stood, crossing to a nearby shelf. A moment later, she returned with a sleek, black-and-silver chessboard. She levitated it onto the low table in front of them and began setting it up with practiced ease.
Beast Boy watched her fingers move with quiet fascination. Delicate, graceful… controlled. She was like that with everything she did—every word, every gesture, measured and intentional.
“You’re really into this, huh?” he asked.
“It’s meditative. Logical. Something you might benefit from.”
“Wow. I feel so supported.”
She smirked, placing the final piece. “White goes first. That’s me.”
Beast Boy made exaggerated thinking noises with every move.
“Hmm… yes. If I place my pawn here, I will have unlocked the secret beast formation.”
“You’ve left your bishop completely exposed.”
“Oh no! My bishop!” he gasped. “Guess I’ll have to rescue him with—super tiger charge!”
She took the bishop. “Check.”
Beast Boy blinked. “Wait, how—?”
“You're moving pieces like it’s a street brawl.”
“Hey, chaos is a valid strategy.”
“You mean cheating?”
He looked deeply offended. “I would never. How dare you accuse—”
Raven’s eyes narrowed.
He glanced down at the board—where his knight had mysteriously relocated.
“Oh… right. That.”
“You moved it while I was lighting the candle.”
“Just a little adjustment.”
She folded her arms. “This is chess, not improv.”
Beast Boy leaned forward with a mischievous grin. “Tell you what: You win, I owe you a favor. I win, you let me plan our next movie night.”
She tilted her head. “You're assuming we're having a movie night.”
“So you're saying there's a chance.”
She stared at him. He stared back.
Then—against her better judgment—Raven smirked. “Fine. But no more cheating.”
“Scouts honor.” He crossed his fingers behind his back.
To Beast Boy’s credit… he did try to play fair. For a solid five minutes.
But Raven was relentless. Her traps were silent, deadly, and he could barely keep up.
He scratched his head, looked down at the board, then casually stretched—sliding a pawn into a better position with his sleeve.
She didn’t say anything at first.
Not until three more turns passed and he somehow managed to escape yet another checkmate.
Then, slowly, her hands folded in her lap.
“I see what you’re doing.”
Beast Boy blinked innocently. “Whaaat?”
“You’ve been sliding pieces when I blink.”
“Raven, please. I’m wounded.”
“I could hex your hands to glue themselves together.”
“Okay, okay! I may have been improvising a little.”
She leaned in, arms on the table, her gaze fixed on him like a laser.
“You know,” she said, voice silky-smooth, “there’s something almost admirable about your complete lack of shame.”
Beast Boy grinned. “It’s part of my charm.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?”
They were closer now than before. Raven’s voice was calm, but her eyes sparkled—subtle amusement under her cool exterior.
“Why do you really want to hang out with me?” she asked.
He hesitated. Just for a moment. Then his voice softened.
“I like being around you, Rae. You’re weird. I’m weird. You don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. You just are. And honestly…” he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, “I kinda like that you scare me a little.”
Raven blinked. Her cheeks colored slightly—but she looked away, letting her hair fall between them like a curtain.
“You’re not supposed to say things like that,” she muttered.
Beast Boy shrugged. “Why not?”
“Because then I don’t know whether to hex you or kiss you.”
His heart skipped a beat.
“Wait—kiss me? That was an option this whole time?!”
Raven looked back at him, deadpan. “Not anymore.”
He grinned wider. “So there was a chance.”
Raven rolled her eyes so hard he swore he heard them creak. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet here you are, letting me cheat at chess.”
“I let you think you were getting away with it.”
“…Wait. So you knew every time?”
She raised a finger and tapped her temple. “Empath, remember?”
Beast Boy groaned and collapsed backward onto the rug. “My whole life is a lie.”
Raven turned toward him with the faintest smile tugging at her lips. “Next time, try playing fair. I might go easy on you.”
“Lies. You’d crush me just to prove a point.”
“True,” she said, deadpan. Then, softer, “But maybe I’d let you choose the movie anyway.”
He propped himself up on his elbows, staring at her. “You are flirting with me.”
“I’m… tolerating you.”
“That’s Raven-speak for flirting.”
She looked away quickly, hiding the way her lips curved.
They ended up playing three more games. Beast Boy cheated less and lost more, but he didn’t seem to mind.
Eventually, the chessboard lay forgotten, and they were both leaning against the edge of her bed, a shared bag of gummy worms between them. The room was dim, warm with candlelight. The quiet between them was easy.
“Hey, Rae?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks for not turning me into a frog.”
She looked at him from the corner of her eye, a soft expression playing across her face. “You’re not quite annoying enough today.”
“High praise. From you, that’s basically a love confession.”
“Careful. I could still banish you to Azarath.”
He grinned. “Only if you come with me.”
She tossed a gummy worm at his face. “Go to sleep, Beast Boy.”
He leaned back, hands behind his head, smile still lingering.
“Goodnight, Rae.”
She paused for just a second… then said softly:
“Goodnight, Gar.”