Picking up the Pieces - Chapter 1

                                              Picking up the Pieces. . . .
                                 A side story taken from the episode: “Betrayal. . .”
             
    (Holding out her hand, Terra asked, “Do you trust me, Beastboy?”
Looking up at her with such hope, he smiled and said,
    “More than anyone I’ve ever met.” Who would’ve thought that his deep dedication to her would be his own undoing. )
  
    But, Raven knew. She knew the minute Terra arrived the second time (From the episode, Titan Rising) that something about her wasn’t right. And even when she tried to warn Robin, she wasn’t taken as seriously.
   What made things worse, was that Raven noticed the obvious bond that had rekindled between the Terra and Beastboy, the minute she stepped through the door. Although she tried to remain indifferent to their “Puppy dog,” romance, Raven found it harder and harder to do. The closer they grew towards one another, the more it got underneath her skin. So much so, that she practically avoided them altogether.
   Convinced that it was not from jealousy, Raven knew that Beastboy was setting himself up for a big fall. And she didn’t want to be around when it happened. But unfortunately, she was.
   Terra’s betrayal to Slade had destroyed Beastboy, metaphorically, in the same way the tower had been ransacked, and torn from one end to the other.
In the beginning, Raven found herself very angry with Beastboy, inwardly blaming him for the tower being in ruins, and her own room being in a shambles. She felt justified to believe that after everything that happened, he deserved what he got!

     Yet, as they began to pick up the pieces, he had literally disappeared away from the rest of the group. According to Robin, he just needed some time alone to sort things out. For Raven, it was more curiosity, than concern that had her looking for him. And what she found caused her angry wall to crumble.  
   For there, curled up in Terra’s bed, did he lie. Only he had morphed into a green hound dog. By the way he continuously whimpered, Raven knew he was crying. But what got to her the most, was the way he pawed over that silver heart-shaped box. It was a gift to Terra, that she watched him make with his own hands. The sight of this had her heart twisting inside. Suddenly all her resentment toward him was forgotten, and she realized that he was no more responsible for what happened than Robin was, for not believing her! Only in his case, not only did Beastboy let Terra into his mind. . .but into his heart and soul as well.
    And that. . .was his downfall.
    From that point on it was like he'd completely vanished, barely coming out for anything. Including a bite to eat! The longer he stayed away, the more Raven’s mediocre front dropped. She didn’t show it around the others, but her concern was growing up to the point where she couldn’t focus, or sleep. And tonight was no exception.
     
    Sitting near the huge bay window of the Common Room, Raven had a tranquil view of the moonlight shimmering off the bay, and the bright lights of the Golden Gate Bridge. For a minute, she was actually considering the alternative of going to the rooftop in an attempt to meditate. That is. . .until she heard the doors slide open.
    Expecting it to be Cyborg coming in for a late snack, Raven looked up, shocked to see Beastboy walking toward the kitchen. As he headed for the icebox, she observed that he had shed some weight. Making him even lankier than before. Although inwardly relieved to see him, Raven wasn’t sure how he’d feel to her company. So she remained obscure, wondering if he’d even notice her. Silently she watched as he grabbed the soymilk, and a container of cereal, pouring a heaping pile into his bowl. Just when he was about to pour the milk, he stopped, as though getting the sense that he wasn’t alone.
    And then eventually, Raven watched the way his keen eyes slowly scanned over the entire room, until his stare fell on her and widened. “Raven?”
      “Yeah. . .” she said, putting her book to the side.  Rather awkwardly, Beastboy replied,

   “Whoa. . .I wasn’t expecting anyone to be up. . .”
   “Obviously. . .” she said, standing to her feet. “I take it this is a nocturnal feeding?” Letting out a half-hearted chuckle, he replied,
   “Yeah, you might say that. . .I'm kinda hungry, so I thought I'd get a bite to eat.”
   “Well. . .I won’t keep you. . .I was just leaving.”
   “No. . .You. . .you don’t have to go. . .” he stammered, as Raven hesitated. “It’s been awhile since I’ve talked to anyone. . .”
   “Try a week. . .” she deliberately emphasized.
   “Yeah, no kidding? Time flies, don’t it?”
   “Sure. . .Especially when you have a tower to put back together. . .”  
   Now she watched as his smile gradually faded away.
    “Or pieces of your heart. . .”
     By the way his voice broke, Raven knew he was still deeply hurting. This in turn had her wanting to say something. But expressing herself wasn’t exactly one of her best suits. Instead, she stiffly leaned back in her chair and asked,
    “Are. . .Are you going to be alright?” Although surprised by her consideration, Beastboy let out a playful scoff and replied,
    “Yeah, sure. . .I’ll cope. I mean. . .it’s life, right? I just have to deal with it, and move on.”      
    In spite of the fact that he tried to put up an upbeat front, it was no use. Sighing heavily, he looked away from her, and gazed back down at the table. Knowing deep down what she wanted to say, Raven stared ahead for a minute, then boldly looked toward him and said, “I’m. . .I’m sorry she hurt you. . .”
    Although very taken back by her unexpected wave of compassion, Beastboy was still swept away by his own inner turmoil, and guilt. Swallowing hard he looked at her out the corner of his eye.
     “Is that all you’re gonna say?”
     Slowly raising an eyebrow, Raven asked,  “Why? Was there something else?”
    “Yeah. How bout “I told you so,”
     Although Raven knew deep down inside that she had every right to tell him that, her head slowly began to shake. Giving him an earnest gaze, she replied,  
   “I wouldn’t do that, Beastboy. I’m not that cold. . .Just. . .concerned.”
   By the moved expression that crossed over his face, Raven knew she said too much. Beginning to feel awkward, she once again concealed it by turning away.
  “Goodnight. . .” She whispered flatly.
  As she began to walk off, Beastboy quickly stood up from the table.
    “Hey. . .” he called out, causing her to abruptly pause. Sighing, she glanced over her shoulder. “What?”
    “Thanks. . .”
    “For what?” she asked, in a more plausible voice.
    “For caring. . .And um. . .worrying about me. Even when you didn’t want to.” He cooed in a playful tone.  Having her pinned so well, Ravens eyes narrowed rather artfully, and a tiny grin crossed her lips.
   “Well in case you haven’t noticed. . .that’s what real friends do.”

                                                           
                                                   



                                                                          The End