Quality Time Chpt 8

Quality Time

Chapter 8: A Better Prank, A Better Tomorrow

It was late at night as BeastBoy skulked down the hallway, making his way to Raven’s room. They had agreed to retire to their rooms earlier in the evening, and to meet up shortly after everyone had gone to sleep. BeastBoy was all smiles in anticipation, hardly able to contain himself as he tiptoed down the corridor. First, he’d managed to play a video game with Raven, and now, he was actually going to pull a prank with her. The bet was beginning to show promise.

BeastBoy sidestepped with his back against the wall, as if imitating something out of a spy movie, drawing ever closer to Raven’s door. He came to a halt just beside the doorframe, looking both ways down the ends of the hall, making certain no one else was around and that he’d remained unseen and unheard. Satisfied that he appeared to have kept from alarming any of the others, he turned to face the door.

He gently knocked on the door. “Raven,” he called very quietly.

He waited a few seconds, but received no answer.

He turned his head quickly, double-checking the hallway again, making sure the coast was clear. “Raven,” he called slightly louder, knocking again.

Still, no response.

BeastBoy raised his arm to knock again, turning his head away from the door, scanning the dark hallway for any signs of movement.

Just as his knuckles were less than an inch away from the door, it quietly slid open, revealing Raven, somewhat drowsy, but becoming more awake as BeastBoy was now knocking on her forehead. Alarmed by the sudden change of percussion in his knocks, he turned back to the now open doorway, finding his knuckles resting just above Raven’s temple.

Raven gave him a dead stare as he quickly pulled away his hand, hiding it behind his back with a nervous laugh. “Heh, um… sorry,” he whispered.

Raven gave no verbal acknowledgement, merely massaging her forehead slightly.

“So…. ” BeastBoy began, anxious to get underway, “Ready for a night of study in the BeastBoy School of Prankdom?” He wiggled his eyebrows, offering a grin.

“Depends. Who’s the instructor?” she asked, pretending to care.

“You’re lookin’ at him,” he beamed, “Teacher, founder, and master of all things funny.”

Raven rolled her eyes. “This has got to be the first school where the student has surpassed the teacher on such a grand scale, before the lesson, and only after meeting him,” she said dryly.

BeastBoy frowned, slumping in his posture. “Ha ha, very funny,” he responded. “So, ya think everybody’s asleep?” he asked, perking back up.

“I know I would be,” she responded, hardly eager.

“Aw, c’mon, Raven. You could at least pretend to be into this a little,” he suggested, “I thought you were all for the whole payback idea?”

“That was when I was awake,” she stifled a yawn, “And still in my body.”

“Look, we pull a prank here and there, mentally scar some of our choice friends for life, and then we hit the hay. What could be simpler?” he smiled mischievously.

“You’d certainly know better than I would, BeastBoy. You have a degree in simple,” she added.

Again, BeastBoy gave a mild frown, but gestured her to follow him anyway. The two made their way down the hall, BeastBoy leading in front.

“Ok, I figure since old chrome dome got a kick outta’ teasin’ us the most, he should be the first to get what’s comin’ to him,” BeastBoy explained as they made their way towards Cyborg’s room.

“Uh, BeastBoy,” Raven called to him.

“Now, I know we’re in this together. So, I say we split the glory,” he continued, so wrapped up in the task at hand he seemed to completely tune Raven out.

“BeastBoy,” she repeated.

“You take Robin, and I’ll teach that over grown refrigerator magnet a thing or two,” he grinded his fist into his palm with a smile. “Of course, I’ll go first. Ya know, to give ya some pointers.”

Raven stopped him, grabbing a hold of his shoulder. “BeastBoy, maybe we should just forget the whole thing,” she suggested passively.

“Say what?” BeastBoy asked, turning around to face her.

Raven sighed, “Let’s just forget about it. What’s done is done. Playing a prank on them isn’t going to solve anything.”

“Oh, come on! You can’t be serious,” he managed as quietly as possible, so as not to wake anyone up.

Raven merely stared at the green boy.

“O… k, you are serious,” he interpreted her blank expression, “But are you gonna’ tell me you wanna’ just let them get away with it? What happened to bein’ on the war path this afternoon and bein’ all for givin’ them a taste of their own medicine?”

“That’s just it. That was then, this is now,” she reasoned, “I do not condone what they did, but can you honestly say you wouldn’t have reacted the same way?”

BeastBoy shifted his eyes to the side, taking a moment to consider her words. “Well… I guess. But…”

“You would’ve cracked the same jokes and laughed all the same,” she scolded.

“Maybe. But…” he tried to cut in.

“And by this time tomorrow, I’m sure they’ll have forgotten all about it,” she concluded.

BeastBoy gave her an unconvinced look.

“Very well,” she realized she was talking about Cyborg and Robin, “By this time ‘next year’, they’ll have forgotten all about it.”

That sounded more accurate to BeastBoy, knowing how the two of them, especially Cyborg, would never be one to let someone live down a moment like that.

“Anyway, the point is, taking this situation any further than its already gone is pointless,” she folded her arms, “The smart thing to do would be to accept it, deal with it, and move on.”

BeastBoy looked at her, giving serious consideration to her outlook on the situation. This was the kind of logic BeastBoy hated most. The kind that made sense.

He couldn’t deny that she had a point. Of course, he wouldn’t be the kind to admit it, at least not out loud. Pranking Cyborg and Robin would only add one more complication to their already awkward arrangement, but he still wanted to get even. Backing down from the prank would be a tough loss to deal with. He’d feel like he was losing to Cyborg, losing to Robin, losing to Raven and her logic, and even losing to himself. Taking logic over impulse would go against his very nature. He hadn’t thought before he acted in the past, so why start now?

BeastBoy could feel the prank and its glory slowly slipping away from him. If he was going to pull it off, tonight, and with Raven, he was going to have to convince her. He was going to have to do something drastic. Something he’d never once resorted to. He was going to have to think.

“Come on! Gotta’ think here,” he spoke in his mind. “I gotta get Raven to go along with this, but how?”

“How… how… how…” his last words echoed through the void of his head.

“Hey, cool! Just like the Grand Canyon. I can hear my own echo,” he thought, picking up on his own words repeating themselves.

“Echo… echo… echo…”

Having not used the rational process of thought for so long, there was apparently enough space for his mental words to travel.

“Ugh!” he shook his head, shaking off the childish distraction of his own words repeating themselves, “Come on! Stay focused here!” he mentally disciplined himself. “What would Raven do?”

A mental picture appeared in his mind of himself, but wearing Raven’s cloak. “All things are pointless, blah-blah-blah,” he mimicked in thought, impersonating Raven and her unfeeling tone, “Jokes are stupid, blah-blah-blah. If I smile I might crack my face, blah-blah-blah.”

Obviously, his mind was taking the impersonation a bit far, but to him, it was a somewhat believable resemblance.

“Argh! This gettin’ me nowhere!” his mind bellowed, finding the impersonation to do anything but promote ideas, “I gotta’ think of something, and fast.”

BeastBoy rolled back his sleeve, sneaking a peek down at his watch. It was now exactly two minutes past midnight. Technically, his day was over, and Raven’s had begun. Surely if he pressed the matter further, Raven would be keenly aware of that fact. No matter how tempting he could make it sound, no matter how pathetic a job of pleading he could muster, he knew that would be the clincher.

Logic would serve him no use here. And to think he’d warmed up his brain for nothing. Then again, maybe he could still turn the situation in his favor, but it would take a little bit of luck. On second thought, seeing as how it was BeastBoy trying to convince Raven, it’d probably take a LOT of luck. He just had to use a little persuasion and just a touch of reverse psychology. Not something BeastBoy would’ve picked up on his own, but when you’re swayed and conned after so long by a half man-half computer and a crime fighting detective, you start to pick up a few things.

“Ya know what? You’re right, Raven,” he said with a sincere smile.

“I know how much you probably had your heart set on that ridiculous…” Raven stopped as BeastBoy’s statement clicked in her brain. “Wait. What did you say?” Her eyebrow raised, clearly perplexed he’d given up on the prank so easily.

“I said, you’re right,” he repeated, “I mean, it’s gettin’ late. You’re obviously beat, and it is past midnight, so we are on YOUR time.”

Raven cocked her head to the side, still finding it hard to believe he’d give up so easily, and on a prank of all things.

“C’mon, I’ll walk ya back to your room,” he offered, allowing her to lead the way.

With some reluctance, Raven took lead, walking ahead of him back to her room. The distance was short and silent as they walked back. BeastBoy spoke not one word. She was certain he would’ve made at least one attempt, two at most, to try to get her to change her mind. She shifted her pupils to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of him as they walked, but without giving away her curiosity by turning her head. She continued to move, though her eyes kept shifting impatiently.

Before long, they had arrived at Raven’s door, but by now, the absence of BeastBoy’s usual begging and pleading still had her mildly concerned. BeastBoy would never be one to be nonchalant where pranks were concerned. She began to ponder if he’d perhaps gone back to that overly quiet persona like before, choosing to act more like her in regards to her refusing the prank.

Raven opened the door, about to step inside, but turned to face BeastBoy. “Thank you… for being understanding,” she said in a dull state, masking her curiosity. She analyzed his facial expression, but found no change from before. Then again, she hadn’t noticed the change immediately last time either.

“Nah, it’s cool,” he smiled, waving his hand, gesturing her to think nothing of it.

“Perhaps,” she started, shifting her head slightly, “Some… other time.”

“Yeah, sure,” he responded.

Raven continued to look for any sign to confirm or dismiss her suspicion of him altering his personality like before. Much to her relief, she found none. His eyes still seemed to sparkle with that same energetic spirit. His smile had not deserted him once, and gave no indication of it being forced or fake. He was still his old self. This, of course, brought a great measure of relief. A surprise he still hadn’t bartered over the prank, but still a relief.

“I… must say, BeastBoy. I’m impressed,” she said calmly.

BeastBoy’s smile faltered slightly, giving way to a curious look.

“I know how much those petty gags of yours mean to you,” she started, leaning against the door frame, “To be honest, I’m rather surprised you’d be willing to merely forgo them without a second thought.”

BeastBoy shrugged. “Ah, it’s no big deal. Pranks come, pranks go. I’ll get’em some other time.”

“Well… I’m still impressed. It’s uncharacteristically mature of you to put if off, for my sake or otherwise,” she turned, stepping inside.

“Impressed? Me?” he asked as she entered her room, closing the door behind her, “I’m more impressed with you.”

BeastBoy turned, beginning to walk back to his room. No more than having taken two steps, had Raven’s door opened as quickly as it had been closed.

“Uh, BeastBoy?” she asked, poking her head out into the hall, “Just what did you mean by that last remark?”

“Hmm?” he turned casually.

“You said you were more impressed with me. Why?” she asked, stepping out into the hall.

“Oh,” he started, scratching the back of his head, looking up at the ceiling, “Just that… ya know… you don’t lower yourself to pranks and stuff like that. You don’t stoop to other people’s levels.”

BeastBoy turned, walking further down the hallway. “No matter what,” he added.

Raven stared at him walking away as the gears in her mind turned, trying to comprehend what he meant by that.

BeastBoy rounded the corner, only to bump into Raven, who had dematerialized through the wall and appeared right in front of him in the blink of an eye. Apparently, BeastBoy had managed to peek her curiosity.

“Again, what’s that supposed to mean?” she asked more sternly, crossing her arms.

“Uh… nothing,” he said, trying to keep her calm, “I’m… just saying how you don’t get caught up in the moment and try to get even with people and stuff, like me.”

Raven gave him an impatient stare. She could tell there was something he was leaving out.

“I mean… you always look the other way, and don’t take stuff personally. You know it’s all in good fun,” he listed.

“WHAT is all in good fun?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“U-um…” he stalled, rubbing his forearm and grinding his foot into floor.

“You know something, BeastBoy. As hard as that is to believe,” she said. “Now, WHAT are you talking about?” she asked, her patience thinning.

“Well…” he scratched the back of his head, “Ya remember last April Fools Day?”

Raven’s eyes gave a dull, half asleep gaze. “How could I forget? That’s when you’re at your loudest, and your pranks are at their stupidest.” Raven thought for a moment. “Wait. What does last April Fools Day have to do with anything?”

“Everything,” he said. BeastBoy paused a moment. “Okay, look. I know I normally prank Cy and Robin regularly, but I was hopin’ for a little something more ‘drastic’ this time around. And, I figured it’d only be fair to get you in on it.”

“Me? Why would I want any part of this?” Raven gave a confounded look, “And what’s so special about this one?”

“I owe them… BIG!” he muttered.

She took a moment to assess his annoyed response. “What on Earth could they have possibly done, prank or otherwise, to get you so riled up?”

BeastBoy narrowed his eyes at the wall. “I was on the receiving end of THEIR punishment,” he folded his arms, looking away.

“Punishment? What punishment?” she queried.

“Bein’ launched out the window and sent to the bottom of the ocean. Ring any bells?” he asked.

“Hmph!” Raven murmured, turning her back to him, “You deserved it.” Raven had been the target of numerous practical jokes that day. Not the most vicious punishment she’d ever dealt the young changeling, but enough to make him think twice about doing it again. “Especially considering all the…” she stopped, “Wait. You’re not implying that…”

BeastBoy nodded.

“Are you trying to say…” she asked.

BeastBoy was silent, shifting his eyes to the side.

“You mean… it wasn’t you? You didn’t pulls those pranks?” she turned back to face him.

“No,” he said bluntly. “Well… not most of them anyway.”

“Then…” Raven contemplated his early remarks, “You mean to say… that they… and it was all… and you…” her fingers pointed to and fro.

Raven pieced together her thoughts. Was he actually saying that Robin and Cyborg had been the mad jokers who’d driven her crazy that whole day, and she punished BeastBoy out of reflex for something he didn’t even do?

Raven looked at him curiously. “The Tabasco sauce in my herbal tea?” she questioned.

“Why else would Cy offer to make your tea ahead of breakfast?” he hinted.

“The dead fish rolled in my cloak?” she asked, a trifle more annoyed.

“Didn’t you think it was taking Robin just a bit longer than usual to come to breakfast?” he offered.

Raven’s stare hardened. “The smiley face painted on my chakra?”

BeastBoy opened his mouth to speak, but dawned a puzzled look instead. “Ya know, come to think of it, I don’t even wanna’ think about how they pulled that one off.”

Raven fumed, no doubt upset being made a fool of and never being wise to it. “WHY THOSE NO GOOD! UNDERHANDED! SCHEMING! LITTLE…” she ranted quietly, doing her best to keep her powers in check.

BeastBoy simply watched, slightly amused. It wasn’t often he’d seen Raven blow her stack at someone other than him.

“Hold it,” she froze, regaining her state of calm, “Why didn’t you just tell me it wasn’t you?”

“I tried,” he said, “Believe me, I tried. Do you know how hard it is to try to explain yourself when you’ve got about ten gallons of ocean water and seaweed lodged in your mouth, throat, and stomach?” BeastBoy recalled the nauseous and queasy feeling that accompanied him after crawling back on shore from being ejected from the tower by way of Raven’s powers and knocking small fish out of his ears.

“What about afterwards? Why not tell me then?” she asked reasonably.

“Well, see, after I managed to get back inside and get the nasty taste of salt water and sea weed outta’ my mouth, I crashed. When I woke up afterwards, I… must’ve forgotten all about it,” he explained shyly, a bit embarrassed it’d slipped his mind until now.

“And, let me guess. When Cyborg and Robin made their snide remarks earlier, it all just seemed to come ‘rushing’ back, right?” she said, still amazed how his short attention span and inferior mind could’ve blocked out something of that nature for so long.

BeastBoy gave a nervous chuckle.

“I can’t believe this!” she screamed in her head, turning away from BeastBoy. “The both of them, pulling those unnerving pranks, on ME!? And I never even suspected!” Raven silently cracked her knuckles, gritting her teeth, impure and rather violent thoughts going through her head.

“Anyways,” BeastBoy said, breaking her train of thought, “I just wanted you to know how much I admire you not sinkin’ to their level. And don’t worry, I’ll get’em some other time.” BeastBoy turned, heading back down the hall to his room. “So, I guess I’ll see ya tomorrow…”

BeastBoy’s goodnight sentiment was cut short as Raven grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him back the way they’d come, heading for Cyborg’s room. “Let’s… GO,” she said coldly, a sinister look in her eye.

BeastBoy continued to be dragged by Raven’s sudden fierce increase of strength, his feet dragging along the floor. He couldn’t break free even if he wanted to. “Whatever you say, Raven,” he smirked, “Whatever you say.”

BeastBoy’s plan had worked. Raven was now going to prank the others at his side.

“She just needed the right motivation,” he grinned mentally.


Cyborg slumbered peacefully. At least, as peaceful as a cybernetic being that snored like a rusty chainsaw could. Lying on the long metal platform adjacent to his system’s recharger and offline, he slept soundly.

A shadow appeared over him. BeastBoy’s hand waved in front of him, snapping his fingers repeatedly, testing to see if Cyborg’s sensors were truly off and he was indeed asleep. “That’s what I love about Cy,” he grinned, receiving no response, giving a mischievous look to Raven beside him, “Ya plug him in for the night, and he’s an easy target.”

Raven looked on as BeastBoy relaxed, believing nothing could awaken their sleeping friend. “So, now what?” she tapped her fingers against the wall.

“Oh, what to do, what to do,” he smiled, opening the floodgates of gags and pranks in his mind to find a prank fitting of the metal man before him. “Sit back, Rae, and learn from the master,” he cracked his knuckles.

Raven rolled her eyes.

“Let’s see,” he started, “We could put really powerful refrigerator magnets on his back that spell out ‘KICK ME’.”

“Oh, that’s rich,” she said, lacking any genuine amusement, “Except for the fact that you, me, and Robin would probably shatter every bone in our feet from trying to kick someone who’s backside is made of reinforced steel.”

“There’s still Starfire,” he reminded her, with a glimmer of hope, only now realizing the flaw in his plan.

“Sure. Baring the two possible outcomes of her either shattering his lower regions or putting him into orbit,” she promptly replied, dashing the suggestion.

“Well… we could always attach a satellite dish to him and get free cable if she does,” he smiled sheepishly, knowing she’d proven her point.

Raven simply shook her head.

“Yeah, you’re right. A little much,” he conceded. His eyes went wide, perking up as another idea formed in his mind. “We could always attach wheels to him and enter him in a soap box derby,” he waggled his eyebrows, “Think of it as giving back to the community.”

“Oh, yeah. A two ton metal man on wheels, careening wildly down a steep hill,” she said sarcastically, “That’ll end well.”

“Kinda’ stressin’ the whole property damage thing, huh?” he said, hanging his head.

“You think?” Raven said, thinking it was obvious.

BeastBoy shrugged, giving a weak chuckle. “Well, none of that stuff matters anyway. Cause I already picked something totally fitting for old lead head, and it’s already set and rarin’ to go,” he grinned with an enthusiastic thumbs up.

“And you bothered to offer up those pointless suggestions, because?” Raven asked vacantly.

“Sort of… caught up in the moment I guess. Showing off, ya know?” he scratched the back of his head.

“Just so you know, it’s technically not showing off unless whatever you’re trying to dazzle someone with actually surpasses ordinary standards,” she said in her blank state.

“Um… Meaning?” he responded, surprisingly not able to follow.

“Never mind,” she sighed, shaking her head. There was no point in droning on about how, despite his creative and imaginative suggestions, they were all flawed and not thoroughly thought out.

BeastBoy shrugged off Raven’s words, placing an envelope beside a small counter top beside Cyborg’s still lifeless form.

“Okay,” he smirked, gesturing for them to leave, “I got mine. Now, let’s go get yours.”

BeastBoy moved past Raven, heading for the door.

“That’s it?” she said, mildly surprised.

“That’s it,” he nodded.

Raven glanced from BeastBoy, to the envelope, and back again to BeastBoy. “I hardly see how delivering his mail is considered a prank.” She said, making her way towards the door, nowhere near impressed.

“Well… I was planning on waiting til’ morning for you to find out, along with bolts for brains over there. But…” he paused, finding the temptation of bragging too great, “If ya really wanna’ know…”

BeastBoy leaned in, whispering the intricacies of his plan into Raven’s ear. As his plan was unfolded to her, Raven’s expression slowly changed, from a total blank to a wide-eyed stare. As the final words escaped from his lips, Raven pulled a step back, taking one last quick look at the envelope.

“You’re a twisted and vicious human being,” she said dryly, looking back at him as they casually left the room.

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” he smiled.

The two made their way down the hall towards the next person/victim’s room.

“So, what do ya think of the BeastBoy School of Prankdom now?” he smirked, looking ahead down the hall.

“Not bad, professor,” Raven remarked, closing her eyes, humoring him, “If you pride yourself on mere trickery and manipulation.”

“Is that the sound of, ‘I’m sorry I doubted you’ I hear?” he perked up his ears, grinning ear to ear.

Raven gave him her usual empty look, far from impressed.

“Or you think, just maybe, you can do better?” he smiled, almost challenging her.

Raven continued down the hall, moving just slightly ahead of BeastBoy. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

BeastBoy came to a momentary halt, slightly surprised by her response, taking in her words, watching her walk in front of him. She sounded so sure of herself, so calm, so focused. Was it possible she was taking this every bit as serious as he was?

“This is gonna’ be good,” he whispered to himself, gleefully running after her to catch up.


The door opened quietly as BeastBoy peered inside, finding Robin sound asleep. Signaling to Raven, the two crept to his bedside, more cautious than with Cyborg. After all, unlike their previous target, Robin didn’t have an off switch, at least not one that they were aware of. Robin’s senses were sharpened by past experiences, making him a light sleeper. He would surely be alerted by any sound above a whisper, making the two Titan’s task far more difficult.

“Okay, Raven,” BeastBoy whispered with a smirk, standing on one side of the slumbering boy, Raven on the other, “You’re up.”

Raven nodded, closing her eyes. Placing one hand on her forehead and waving the other above Robin’s motionless form, she began to quietly chant. “Azerath Metrion Zinthos.”

Robin’s body became encased in a black aura, lifting him a few inches above his bed where he hung, levitating in the air.

“Now,” she started, her voice returning to regular volume, “We can proce-mmph!”

BeastBoy clamped his hand over Raven’s mouth, startled by her sudden carelessness to speak at normal volume, hoping to silence her before it triggered Robin’s awakening. “SHHH!” he placed a finger to his lips, trying to remind her of their situation, “Are you TRYING to get us busted?” he frantically whispered.

Raven removed his hand from her mouth. “Relax,” she said in a dull tone, “He’s in a trance. A mere precaution, just in case. All his senses are temporarily at a standstill.”

“A wha?” BeastBoy asked, perplexed.

“He’s in a temporary state of mental numbness. You know, like the way you are, with the exception that yours is permanent?” she cracked. “All his senses have been temporarily muted.”

”Uh…” BeastBoy scratched his head, “Meaning?”

“Meaning…” she began.

Raven struck Robin firmly with an open palmed slap across the face.

“EEK!” BeastBoy yelped, covering his eyes in fear they’d be caught.

Robin remained motionless, breathing normally, not even stirring. BeastBoy peeked between his fingers, finding Robin still asleep, slowly lowering his hands from his face.

“…He’s dead to the world.”  Raven concluded.

A moment passed as the outcome finally registered in BeastBoy’s mind. “Sweet!” he beamed, speaking at normal volume, making faces at their leader.

“Don’t get too carried away,” Raven said, bringing him back to reality.

BeastBoy ceased his face making, turning his attention to Raven. “Okay. So… what now? What have ya got in store for him? NO! WAIT! Lemme’ guess.”

Raven kneeled down, opening a small rift in the floor. Reaching into it, she pulled out a small sack, which had previously been stored in her room for just such an occasion. Upon removing the item, the rift receded from whence it came.

“You’re gonna… flip his whole room upside down and let him wake up on the ceiling, right?” BeastBoy guessed with a grin.

Raven, not even bothering to point out the strain from her powers that suggestion would create, merely opened the sack, verifying its contents.

“Oh, wait! I got it! You’re gonna’ create this giant cake,” he stretched his arms in exaggeration, “And as soon as he wakes up? BAM! This dummy dressed up like Slade pops out.”

Raven looked at him questionably. Apparently, BeastBoy had no distinction between a prank, a joke, and something to launch someone into a psychotic episode.

“No! Even better. We leave him a little companion to help him sleep better. Like… say… a teddy bear?” he smirked, morphing into a ferocious looking grizzly bear.

“Actually, you’re not very far off,” Raven said, turning her attention back to him.

BeastBoy paused. “I am?”

Raven tossed the contents of the sack at BeastBoy. “Help me get this on him,” she said.

Catching the item, BeastBoy unfolded what appeared to be an article of clothing. Looking at the strange outfit in his hands, he looked curiously at Raven. “What’s this?” he asked.

Raven discarded the sack. “Phase One,” she answered simply.

It took only a matter of minutes for them to slip the outfit over Robin’s uniform. It would’ve taken less time if BeastBoy hadn’t stopped every so often to hold in a chuckle or two. The two took a step back, BeastBoy admiring Raven’s handy work.

“I would KILL for a disposable camera right about now,” he grinned, holding back a laugh.

“It’s not over yet,” Raven interrupted, waving her hand, starting to levitate Robin out of his room, “On to Phase Two.”

Raven and BeastBoy moved silently down the corridor, coming to a stop just outside another door down the hall. Raven entered the room, guiding Robin’s lifeless body with her powers shortly behind her. BeastBoy remained out in the hall, standing watch. A short while later, the door opened as Raven emerged.

“Well?” BeastBoy asked hopefully.

Raven gestured him to see for himself, holding the door open just enough for him to peer inside. Beastboy fell over, both hands over his mouth, trying desperately to hold in the over powering urge to laugh his head off.

“Easy, BeastBoy,” Raven said, still in a blank state, “There’ll be plenty of room for that in the morning.” Raven gave a small yawn, signaling the night had lasted as far as it was going to for her. “Right now, I think we should get some sleep.”

The two started back down the hall.

“I’ll try,” he shrugged, “But, it’s not gonna be easy,” he grinned, a chuckle leaking out.


Morning time came, as the two sat opposite of one another at the table. Raven, lightly sipping a cup of herbal tea, and BeastBoy managing to slowly consume a bowl of cereal in between rubbing his eyes. Barely awake, it was obvious sleep had not come easy to him. Not to mention the fact that waking up early didn’t help much either.

Raven cracked an eye, all too aware of this, taking another sip of her tea. “Maybe you should go back to bed,” she politely offered.

BeastBoy’s eyes suddenly opened wide, as if he were sitting on a pile of hot coals, attempting to give the impression that he was fully awake. “Are you nuts?” he shouted, “No way I’m missin’ this.”

“BeastBoy, who are you trying to kid? You’re practically asleep on your feet,” she said, paying him little mind.

“Oh yeah? Well, what about you?” he retorted, “You were up just as late. Why don’t you go catch some Zs?”

“Unlike you, my body isn’t in such a lazy state that it requires fourteen hours of sleep a day. You’d be surprised how little sleep you require when your mind isn’t slowly eaten away by video games and…”

Raven gave a clearly audible yawn, much to BeastBoy’s satisfaction. Raven looked away, hoping he wouldn’t make it an issue. Another hope dashed.

“Uh, what was that?” BeastBoy grinned.

“Not a word,” she warned.

“Word about what?” he teased, “That YOU’RE every bit as tired as I am?”

Raven glared at him.

“You just can’t stand to admit that you’re every bit as normal as I am,” he said proudly.

“The word ‘normal’ must’ve taken on a more broad meaning since last I checked,” she said dryly, working in her usual remarks.

“Aww, come on! You’re tired, and you know it. Just admit it,” he said.

“I admit nothing,” Raven responded, turning her attention back to her tea.

“Oh, really?” he smirked, “I betcha’ if I said ‘sleep’ three times, you’d be out like a light, and I’d have to stop you from passing out and drowning in your tea.”

“Subliminal suggestion? You must be joking,” she scoffed. “Only the weak minded succumb to such simple psychological methods.”

BeastBoy smiled, interpreting her statement as, “You’re on.”

“Sleep,” he said plainly, looking her dead in the eyes.

Raven locked eyes, her vision not even faltering.

“Sleep,” BeastBoy repeated, more dreamily in a dazed tone, trying to make the prospect of rest even more tempting.

Raven’s eyelids started to weigh heavily, drooping slightly, but still not breaking line of sight with BeastBoy. The word started to spread a hazy feeling in her mind. Sure, she’d agreed to go along with the prank of her own accord and had given up a portion of the night to do so, but now? Sleep didn’t sound like such a bad thing.

“Sleep,” BeastBoy said, wiggling his fingers like a magician, expecting her to conk out right in front of him.

BeastBoy and Raven stared at one another a full minute. BeastBoy looked on, confident that any second she’d collapse into slumber. He watched for any sign of fatigue, leaning forward to the edge of the table.

SPLASH!

BeastBoy’s head dropped like a rock into his cereal, fast asleep, small traces of air bubbles gurgling from the surface of the soymilk.

Raven took another sip of tea. “Like I said, only the weak minded.”

Raven placed her empty cup on the table, taking another look at BeastBoy’s head, still submerged in his own breakfast. Letting out a small sigh, she turned BeastBoy’s head just enough for him to breath above the surface of the milk. She certainly wouldn’t be able to claim her prize if he drowned.

Just then, Cyborg entered the kitchen.

“Morning,” he offered genuinely high-spirited.

“Cyborg,” she nodded, accepting his greeting.

A faint snore came from BeastBoy’s mouth, as if greeting him in his sleep.

Cyborg came to a stop beside his green friend, chuckling at the sight before him. “Uh… shouldn’t we wake him?”

“What for?” Raven answered, “This is the most I’ve enjoyed his company,” she smirked.

Cyborg gave a small laugh. “Sorry to ruin it for ya, Rae. But, I got a little matter to discuss with sleeping beauty here.” Leaning over, he shook BeastBoy’s shoulder. “Hey, BB. Wakey wakey.”

BeastBoy continued to doze in his bowl.

“C’mon! Rise and shine,” he shook harder.

Still, no effect.

Grabbing hold of the end of one of BeastBoy’s pointy ears, he lifted the ear just enough to have a clear vocal range of his eardrum. “BEASTBOY! WAKE UP!” he bellowed.

The result was the same. BeastBoy continued to sleep soundly.

“Give it a rest, Cyborg,” Raven said rationally, holding her head in an attempt to stop the ringing in her ears from Cyborg’s yell. “He’s too far gone.”

“We’ll just see about that,” he smiled.

Walking over to the stove, Cyborg removed a frying pan and placed it on the burner of the stove. Twisting a knob on the counter top, a low heat lit under the pan as Cyborg held a piece of bacon above it. He released the bacon, letting it fall onto the surface of the pan.

No sooner had the bacon begun to sizzle, BeastBoy’s eyes shot open. “MURDERER!” he shouted, sitting straight up, pointing a finger as milk dripped down his pours.

Cyborg turned to Raven. “Works every time.”

Raven rolled her eyes. Not the type of display to inspire maturity in people.

BeastBoy rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Cy, gimme a break,” he said lazily, “Can’t ya see I’m tired?”

“And why would that be?” he asked, pretending to not know, scratching his head, “Oh yeah! Cause you were too busy making a late night mail run.” Cyborg grinned, holding up the envelope BeastBoy had deposited in his room.

BeastBoy just looked at him lazily.

“C’mon, B. Did you really think I’d fall for such an obvious forgery?” he scolded with a smile. “How could you even think I’d buy into this? I mean, it’s obviously your handwriting.”

BeastBoy yawned, still giving him hardly any mind.

“And trying to pass off a love letter of all things,” he laughed, “Did you really think I’d believe that a girl actually sent this?” He unfolded the letter, reading off a few choice excerpts:

I wait for you, I long for you,
You’re the only thing worth living for.
I cherish you, I treasure you,
A love that grows more and more.

BeastBoy rested his head against his folded arms on the table, his eyes half open, smiling contently at his handy work. Raven was in a state of disbelief. BeastBoy had actually written THAT? It was kind of touching, bordering on sentimental. It even rhymed. Raven pretended not to care, but listened intently.

Cyborg read on:

You seem so very close,
But at the same time so far apart,
And not a day goes by, to say I’m not shy,
To give you all my heart.

Cyborg chuckled, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. “Oh, BeastBoy,” he laughed, “If only I’d known.” Cyborg held his side cracking up with laughter. “C’mon, man! I thought you were better than this. You honestly call THIS a prank? I can spot a forgery like this a mile away,” he boasted.

BeastBoy smiled, half asleep. “Oh, I know you could,” he started, “but I don’t know about her.”

Cyborg stopped cold. “Say what?”

“Hey, Raven? Any idea when they pick up the mail?” he asked, opening his eyes slightly, looking up to face her.

Raven glanced over at the clock hanging by the wall. “The last pickup was around…  three o’clock yesterday afternoon,” she answered.

“So… she should be gettin’ that ‘obvious forgery’ in less than a few hours,” he smirked, laying his head back down.

Cyborg yanked him up out of the chair, holding him by his shoulders. “You didn’t!” he shouted pleadingly, hoping it was all just an empty threat. “Tell me it’s a joke. Yeah, this is all a joke, right? Ha Ha Haha! Ya got me B. Boy, you really know how to play one off,” he laughed nervously. If it was possible for a half machine to sweat, Cyborg was the first.

BeastBoy’s smile remained in tact.

“Come on, man! Tell me it’s all a gag! A joke! A fib!” he shook the young boy in a desperate plea.

By now, even Raven was giving a curious look. BeastBoy had only discussed the high points of his prank. He hadn’t gone into the precise details.

“BeastBoy?” he questioned, a nervous laugh hardly audible, “Buddy?”

“Your first date’s in six months… with good behavior,” he smiled mischievously.

Cyborg froze in fear, dropping BeastBoy with a thud back into his chair. All thoughts in his cybernetic mind ceased, save for one. The image of the letter falling into the hands of its intended recipient. His human cheek bearing a blush, and the metallic region of his face rising in heat level, he turned, bolting at top speed for the door. He had to find and intercept that letter before it reached its destination, even if he had to ransack the post office and stop every mail truck in the tri-state area. He skidded to a halt just as the automatic door opened, turning back, giving BeastBoy the most disgruntled look he could muster.

“You know how bad I’m gonna’ get you for this, right?” he said bitterly, his eyes narrowed in a cold stare.

BeastBoy leaned his head against one hand, responding with a smile. “Is that before, or after the wedding?” he chuckled.

Cyborg gritted his teeth, ignoring him, running out the door.

BeastBoy laid his head back down on the table, a satisfied and almost smug look triumph on his face. Raven looked down at him with a mild look of surprise. She didn’t know what was more astonishing. That he’d successfully pranked Cyborg, mastermind of pranks and trickery, or that he’d actually written something as poetic as what Cyborg read from the letter?

BeastBoy crooked his head, curious as to Raven’s silence. “Well?” he asked.

“Well, what?” she asked, her train of thought broken.

“What’d ya think?” he asked, flashing a hopeful yet tired smile.

Raven paused, shifting her eyes to the side. “Not bad,” she said dryly, “But, what if he finds letter before it gets to… you know who?”

“He won’t,” he answered.

“And what makes you so sure of that?” she folded her arms.

“Because I never sent it,” he announced proudly.

Raven raised an eyebrow. “You mean?”

“I only told him I sent another copy of the letter,” he chuckled.

“So… in other words, you sent him on a wild goose chase….” she said.

BeastBoy quickly morphed into a goose, giving a loud honk, then morphing back with a grin. “Yup. But, I’m sure he’ll figure that out… eventually.”

“How do you mean?” she asked.

“Think about it. Cy’s not gonna’ rest till he finds that letter. And if he can’t find it by any other means, the only sure way he’s gonna’ be able to know if it got to where it needs to go is to go straight to its final destination, right?” he explained.

Raven nodded, with him so far in his explanation. “Yes.”

“So, he’ll have to go, in person, to find out whether ‘she’ got the letter or not,” he smiled.

Raven looked a bit confused. “Wait. She wouldn’t know anything about it. How’s she going to know what he’s talking about? Unless…”

“Unless, he blurts out what he’s lookin’ for when he asks her,” he grinned, “You know how Cy gets when he’s all nervous and stuff.”

Raven could picture it in her head. Cyborg nervously asking about her mail, dropping hints he was looking for something in particular. How would he explain he was looking for a letter… a love letter… and from him? How would he try to convince her it was misunderstanding? And more importantly, how would a bad luck sorceress respond?

“I reiterate, you’re a twisted and vicious human being,” she said.

BeastBoy took a small bow.

“But… there is one thing I’m curious about,” she said, letting her eyes wander, trying not seem too anxious, “Since when can you write like that?”

“Uh… like what?” he asked, sincere and unsure of what she was getting at.

“The letter,” she hinted.

“Oh! Ya mean all that stuff that rhymed?”

Raven rolled her eyes. “That ‘stuff’, yes.”

BeastBoy twiddled his fingers, looking away.

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” she offered respectfully, leaning back into her chair, “It was… actually very well done, considering you wrote it.”

“W-well… I uh… just started writing and… I figured, with so many words out there, I’d have to find something that sounded good sooner or later,” he laughed nervously, obviously lying through his teeth.

“BeastBoy, can’t you be serious?” she said, unphased by his poor attempt at humor.

“I tried it once, but everybody laughed,” he smirked.

Raven could tell that wasn’t the real reason. Sure, she would’ve credited BeastBoy with the words ‘dumb luck’ at other things, but this seemed different. Something about the words in his poem seemed so sincere, so genuine. Not even BeastBoy could stumble across something like that by accident or by sheer luck.

“Whatever,” she said in a dull voice, not pressing the matter further, “I should’ve known better than to expect a sensible answer when your mind is still half asleep. Not that there’s that much of a difference when it’s awake.”

“Speaking of awake, when do ya suppose bird boy’ll be wakin’ up?” he smiled.

A valid question. Raven looked up at the clock, making calculations in her head. “Well, given the time Robin normally wakes up, and judging by the amount of energy I exerted to numb his senses last night, he should be waking up right about…”


Robin began to stir, slowly opening his eyes beneath his mask. He felt refreshed, very well rested. “Eeaaahh,” he yawned, “Boy, I can’t remember the last time I slept that good. Feels like I…”

Robin was cut short as he noticed that he felt rather warm. Pulling back the covers with one hand, he discovered that, somehow, he had been dressed in rather unusual nighttime attire. Over his standard uniform, he was dressed in a full pajama outfit with knitted leggings and even a hood pulled over his head, covered with fluffy pink fur, and floppy ears drooping from the top of his hood. It was a bunny outfit, similar to something a small child would wear.

Robin narrowed his eyes at the ensemble. “What the? How did…” Robin was cut short yet again as he tried to move, but found he could not. It felt as if something were weighing him down from his side.

Slowly turning his head, he lifted the covers from beside him to find Starfire fast asleep.

“STARF-,” Robin caught himself, lowering the volume and shock in his voice just in time, “Starfire? What are you doing in my…” he whispered, questioning why she was sleeping in his room. Unfortunately, as Robin surveyed his surroundings, he became painfully aware that they were not in his room. He was in Starfire’s room, in bed, and with her sound asleep next to him.

Starfire slept soundly on her side, hugging Robin’s other arm. It didn’t take a world-class detective to piece together what kind of conclusions might be drawn if Starfire woke up and found him like this. He did not need to know the Tameranian word for pervert. Robin slowly made a cautious attempt to remove his arm without waking her, but every attempt to loosen his arm from Starfire’s hold resulted in her tightening her grasp, smiling dreamily, nuzzling against his shoulder.

“Just my luck,” he whispered to himself, blushing heavily, “Starfire clings to things in her sleep.”

Robin waited a moment for her movement to settle, taking a deep breath. Again, he tried to slither his arm free. Thankfully, Starfire’s alien strength was not at its peak with her asleep. Slowly, inch-by-inch, he started to pull himself loose. Leaning farther back at the edge of the mattress, his arm more than halfway, straining to dislodge his wrist, he heaved once more. Almost with a ‘pop’, Robin’s arm was freed, but the sudden pull had thrown him off balance, causing him to tumble to the floor.

Rubbing his head with a low groan, flat on his back, he remained silent in the hopes that Starfire was still asleep. A minute passed, Robin holding his breath, scanning for any sign or sound of Starfire’s awakening. After observing nothing but total silence, he finally relaxed, slowly exhaling.

“Phew,” he sighed in relief, “That was close.” Robin slowly got to his feet, about to tiptoe for the door.

BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!

Starfire’s alarm clock went off. Her arm swung almost instinctively as she rolled over, smashing the clock, the nightstand, and much of the general vicinity into the ground. This, of course, stopped Robin dead in his tracks, slowly turning to see Starfire lazily sit up and begin rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Starfire stretched her arms over her head, loosening her inactive stiff joints from a good night’s sleep. “Oh, good morning, Robin,” she said cheerfully with a smile, acting in her normal manner, “Did you sleep well?”

Starfire seemed completely calm and at ease with the whole situation. Could it be she was still half asleep, or at least somewhat daydreaming? A comforting thought, but extremely unlikely.

Starfire stretched once more, this time arching her back. “I must ask you to leave now as I must get dressed for this glorious new day,” she beamed, calmly swinging her feet over the side of her bed. “And I trust you would most likely wish to do the same.”

Robin gave a nod, the only reaction his brain could fathom at the moment, and casually stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind him. Though unscathed, he was still at a loss for what had just happened. He didn’t know how this had happened, but he was going to find out.

He bolted down the hall at top speed, arriving in the kitchen, finding BeastBoy still somewhat half asleep with his head laying on the table and Raven opposite of him, setting down her tea kettle.

Robin breathed heavily, taking a moment to catch his breath as Raven and BeastBoy stared questionably at him. “Okay,” he said, clearly aggravated, still catching his breath, “I believe an explanation is in order,” he fumed angrily.

“What do you mean?” Raven said coyly.

BeastBoy’s smirk was hidden, his face buried in his folded arms on the table.

“I ‘MEAN’ why did I happen to wake up in a bed, other than my own?!” he shot, clearly in no mood to play games. He walked over beside BeastBoy, who was still an act for dead, or at least hoping to pass as one. “Care to offer any insight, BeastBoy?” Robin crossed his arms, impatiently tapping his foot.

“Dude, I don’t think I’m the one you should be talkin’ to,” he said face down.

“That would be my insight you’re after,” Raven said casually, refilling her mug.

Robin narrowed his eyes, taken slightly off guard.

“The Christmas tree jokes yesterday?” she hinted.

“Yeah, just seems like one holiday after another with you,” BeastBoy sat up, flopping against the back of his chair, “Yesterday, it was all about Christmas, but if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear I slept til Easter.” BeastBoy couldn’t resist a shot at Robin’s bunny attire.

“Hardly as cheerful as the Easter Bunny, BeastBoy,” Raven cut in, taking a sip of her freshly poured tea, “Although… he does look like he’s about to lay an egg.”

BeastBoy did his best to stifle a laugh.

Robin, just realizing he was still wearing the ridiculous bunny getup, tore off the hood as well as the other remnants of the outfit like tissue paper, tossing it aside. He opened his mouth to speak, but Raven cut him off.

“Before you say anything about going too far, or any other nonsense to justify any manner of retribution on your behalf, may I point out, in addition to your comments yesterday, the words: ‘You reap what you sew’?”

“Robin’s sewing?” BeastBoy said puzzled.

“It’s the intellectual way of saying ‘What goes around, comes around’,” Raven interpreted.

Robin calmed himself slightly. “Still, there are limits to how far a joke can go,” he enforced. “You might’ve scarred Starfire for life with a stunt like that.”

“Relax, Robin. I got permission first,” Raven sighed.

“Yeah,” BeastBoy chimed in, offering some measure of support, “She got… huh?”

Raven sipped her tea.

Robin and BeastBoy both looked at one another, equally confused. “Permission? You mean, you actually asked Starfire beforehand?” Robin asked, astonished. It made sense, considering how aware and at ease Starfire was upon her awakening.

“Forget asking. I’m shocked she gave ya the ok,” BeastBoy said, just as stunned.

“Of course I asked. You think I would just slip a person in bed with someone without considering the consequences? Give me some credit,” Raven said.

“You mean, this was all Starfire’s idea?” Robin said, now face-to-face with Raven.

“Putting you in bed with her was MY idea, the bunny suit was hers.” Raven corrected, still an uninterested tone about her. “Believe me, I could’ve come up with far worse.”

Robin took her words in with an eerie calm.

“She actually wanted him in that thing?” BeastBoy asked.

“Yes. She was quite firm about it,” Raven answered.

“Long way to go for a stuffed animal if ya ask me,” he grinned.

Robin was about to offer rebuttal, when there came a familiar voice from down the corridor.

“Robin? To where have you gone?” called Starfire, the sound of voice drawing closer.

Robin looked at the door, a sudden nervous feeling trembling in his stomach. He looked back at the two culprits before him. “We’ll discuss this later,” he shot, making a break for the lower level staircase. He was in need of time to gather himself regarding this awkward matter, and didn’t feel like he was presently up to the task of confronting her about it.

“What’s the rush?” BeastBoy called, “Maybe she just wants to book you for an afternoon nap,” he cracked with a wicked smile.

Robin shot a quick glare before disappearing from sight.

No sooner than his departure, Starfire whisked through the doors of the main room, scanning the area. Flying over to her friends, she maintained a low flight at the end of the table in the kitchen.

“Good morning to you, friends,” she smiled, hands together with a warm greeting, “Have you perhaps seen…”

BeastBoy and Raven both pointed towards the exit, tipping her off to Robin’s whereabouts.

Glancing in the direction, she nodded with another warm smile. “I thank you, friends.” And with that, departed as quickly as she had entered.

BeastBoy and Raven looked at each other. BeastBoy burst into a hysterical fit of laughter, falling out of his chair. Raven merely continued to sip her tea, but the side of her mouth curled all the same.

“Let it be known that I, BeastBoy, am in the presence of prank greatness!” he cried, expelling the tears of laughter.

“Calm down,” Raven said, her miniscule smile faded, “It wasn’t that funny.”

BeastBoy regained himself… eventually. “Are you kidding? You just completely outdid me!” he smiled, “Come on! Gloat! Brag! Something!”

Raven slowly looked up at him standing beside her. His expression was sincere. Usually, BeastBoy was a sore loser, but it seemed as though he was actually happy for her. He almost seemed glad she had outdone him.

“It’s not an accomplishment or anything,” she said dismally, “It was a childish, immature, and utterly pointless activity, if you can even call it that.”

“And, you loved every minute of it,” he smirked devilishly.

Raven looked coldly at him. “I felt no such enjoyment. Let’s merely agree that it met with your approval and drop it,” she said bluntly, going for another sip of her tea. Though she may have felt some minor enjoyment in executing the joke on Robin and getting some manner of payback with it, she would certainly not be willing to tell him that.

“Oh, no you don’t!” BeastBoy said, gently lifting her up from her seat, turning her to face him, “You’re not getting’ outta this one.” Too many times had Raven dismissed such things as pointless and insignificant, and the one time she’d actually participated, she’d proven just how good she was at it as she was at everything else she’d set her mind to. He would not let this accomplishment go under-appreciated so easily.

Raven gave him a hard look for keeping her from her tea and his unexpected pulling her out of her chair.

“Raven,” he began, “Kneel.”

Raven raised an eyebrow. Confused, she found no sense in what he was asking. Then again, it wouldn’t be a first for BeastBoy. Reluctantly, Raven kneeled down on one knee.

BeastBoy smiled, picking up a butter knife from the table. Lightly tapping her left shoulder, and then the right, he mimicked something of a medieval nature, similar to how a king knighted an individual.

“I dove thee, Prankster Supreme,” he smiled warmly, paying her tribute.

Raven was slightly taken aback. It was a sweet gesture. Different, out of the ordinary, a bit corny, but sweet none the less. She stared briefly.

“Well,” BeastBoy said, breaking the moment, putting back down the butter knife, “What do ya wanna’ do now? Your day, remember?”

What to do? Now, there was a good question. After the video game yesterday, the prank last night, on top of everything else that’d transpired, Raven could feel her emotions beginning to churn. A sign that it was time to undergo some manner of corrective restraint.

“Maybe… meditation, perhaps,” she said, shaking off the feeling of her knighthood.


The two made their way up to the rooftop, one of Raven’s more preferable meditation spots. The brisk sea air and the heightened atmosphere helped to relax her more thoroughly while in a trance. Raven moved to the center of the roof, taking up her meditative position, floating close to the ground. BeastBoy sat beside her, leaning back on his side, watching her.

After a minute or two passed, Raven cracked an eye to find BeastBoy just staring up at her. Thinking not much of it, she closed her eye and began to delve into a deep trance.

“So?” BeastBoy asked timidly.

There was a brief moment of silence. “So, what?” Raven responded, her eyes still closed.

“Aren’t you at least gonna’ ask me if I wanna’ TRY to meditate?” he asked hopefully.

Raven returned to full awareness, opening her eyes, looking at the green boy beside her. “You can’t be serious,” she said, doubtful if he was serious.

“Aw, come on, Rae. Are you gonna’ tell me you don’t want some company for something like this?” It only seemed fair. Raven had tried his video games, after all.

“BeastBoy, meditation is a silent activity that demands focus and concentration. You don’t say anything; you don’t do anything. Therefore, company is irrelevant,” she explained, closing her eyes once more.

“What’s the matter? Afraid I might like it? Like how you did with my video games?” he smirked, baiting her.

Raven’s eyes opened again, giving him a firm look. “I never said I ‘liked’ them. I said I ‘tolerated’ them.”

“Okay. Are you afraid I might ‘tolerate’ meditating?” he corrected.

Minutes passed, and Raven spoke not a word. She sat in mid air, floating gently in the breeze. BeastBoy slumped slightly, thinking he might have pushed his luck.

“Sit up straight,” she said, breaking the silence.

BeastBoy’s ears perked up. Startled a bit, he looked at her, finding her eyes closed, still facing straight ahead. He remained motionless.

Raven opened one eye, looking down at him. “Do I have to repeat myself?” she said in the empty tone he’d come to know so well.

BeastBoy sat up immediately, replicating Raven’s sitting position, crossing his legs with a smile. He looked straight ahead, though glancing to his side occasionally, awaiting further instructions.

“Now,” Raven said, “find your center.”

BeastBoy looked down, placing a hand on the center of his chest. “Okay, now what?”

Raven sighed, remembering who she talking to. “Let’s… try a different approach,” she started. “Clear your mind. Empty your thoughts until there is only nothingness.”

She looked beside her to find BeastBoy with a vacant expression on his face, almost able to make out a cricket chirping.

“I’d say he’s got the clear and empty part down,” she said in her mind, momentarily forgetting BeastBoy’s mind was already close to a blank slate.

“Now… just hold that emptiness, and let your mind drift. Cast off everything around you and let your mind find balance and harmony within yourself,” she spoke serenely.

She peeked as BeastBoy closed his eyes, a serious yet blank expression on his face. Upon seeing this, Raven closed her eyes as well, resuming her own meditation. She could only guess if he was actually meditating. For all she knew, he could be planning another prank, or thinking of ways to beat his video games, but Raven was not compelled to judge. Time would tell. And with that, she began to collect herself and delve deeper into meditation.

A short time passed. After an hour of intense meditation, she opened her eye, to check on BeastBoy. She was aware that sitting still was probably not the most exciting activity for someone like him. Plus, she didn’t want to be neglectful.

Raven opened her eye to sneak a peek. A quick glance revealed BeastBoy not in the same spot as before, absent from her field of view. This briefly alarmed Raven, but not to the point of worry.

“Maybe he’s gone to the bathroom. Perhaps, he’s given up and gone to fetch something to read. Or… maybe…” she listed in her head.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of light snoring. Raven, now with both eyes open, looked down to find BeastBoy curled into a ball, sleeping soundly just below her. By the look of it, he’d most likely conked out, falling over at some point from supposed meditation. Not surprising, considering how tired he was from this morning.

Raven stared dully at the half open mouth of her slumbering friend, who was close to blowing bubbles with his own drool. She gave a low sigh. “Well, at least he’s not bothering me,” she muttered, “and I suppose he did at least try.”

Granted, BeastBoy becoming fluent in the art of meditation seemed a bit much to hope for, but at least he made an attempt… sort of.

“May as well make the most of this,” she said to herself, closing her eyes, about to return to meditation and let the sleeping boy lie. “Now, I can WHAAAA!”

Raven felt a slight jerk as something pulled her down by her collar. She looked to find BeastBoy, who in is his sleep, had managed to grab the end of her cloak flowing in the breeze and tugged at it, pulling it over him like a blanket.

Raven balled up a fist in aggravation. She turned to face BeastBoy, taking aim with her fist cocked back like the hammer of a rifle. Her arm trembled, still locked in attack mode, but seemingly unwilling to strike. Finally, after holding its position for a few seconds, it lowered to Raven’s side, her fist unclenching.

“One of these days, I’m going to find a way to stay mad at him,” she fumed mentally.

She had expected it all to be an act. That he was faking. She had hoped he would’ve flinched, springing backwards, justifying her actions enough to connect with a shot to his already hollow head, but he was merely tired. Tired from staying up, providing her with his company and his own crude, yet somehow amusing, form of recreation. He had shared a part of himself with her, and despite less than desirable results, she had unknowingly attempted to do the same with him.

Raven gave another sigh. “I suppose everyone meditates in their own way,” she muttered, almost as if in defeat.

She resumed her meditation, lowering herself, floating closer to the ground, letting more of her cloak drape over BeastBoy’s slumbering frame.


Next Chapter: Raven and BeastBoy have begun to share what makes them who they are with one another. But, what does tomorrow hold in store for the two? And, will their late night practical jokes really go without repercussions?