Title: Vignettes

Genre: General/Romance

Pairings: Beast Boy/Raven

Rating: PG-13

Summary: A series of one-shot photographs of relationships between the Teen Titans. Chapter 5: Belated Valentine's Day Tribute.

Disclaimer: Don't own the Teen Titans.

Author's Notes: A little belated, but for Valentine's Day. And, I'm not sure if this is going to make the cut for A World Without You, but it may be something of a teaser for chapters 3 and 4. ) Thanks for reading!

Part 5

Beach

They were walking on the beach at night, watching the waves lap against the sand. A first, Raven had abandoned her boots and was walking barefoot with him (he hated wearing shoes, in the first place), and casually, he reached down to touch her hand as they wandered, leaving soggy footprints in their wake. Embarrassed by something, she scuttled away from him, her sand-prints arching away from his own.

"We haven't been talking." Beast Boy said, ignoring his rapidly numbing feet as cold water filled the sandy spaces between his toes.

"We've been busy."

"We've never been that busy." Beast Boy insisted. "It's been a week. What's wrong?"

Raven scowled darkly under her hood. "You've been busy."

"Have not." Beast Boy replied, reflexively and out of guilt since he knew he hadn't had much time to spend with her. And, for some reason, this was upsetting to him.

"Beast Boy, I wanted to let you know that…" Raven said, swallowing a lump in her throat. "It's fine that you and Terra are together, and I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"I don't want it to ruin our friendship either." Beast Boy agreed. He tried to close the gap between them, but every time he stepped to her, she stepped away. "I've been spending a lot of time with Terra."

"It's understandable."

"But, I'm here with you now." He continued. "So, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

He was at least close enough to touch her face if he extended his arm all the way, and he did so. "You just look so tired."

"I'm okay, I just…" Raven cleared her throat. "I don't want anything to ruin our friendship."

"I don't want anything—"

"Beast Boy, be quiet." Raven commanded, and he was silent. "I don't want anything to ruin our friendship, but I do have to tell you something, and even if you don't feel the same way…"

"What?"

"I love you." She said, and winced.

"I know." Beast Boy said.

"And, not the way you mean it when you tell me the same. The other way." Raven added, wondering if she could become any more juvenile. After a moment, she saw the realization finally dawn on his face. For several long moments after that, though, he didn't say anything, and Raven hated herself. What if things were never the same? Why the hell did she think it would have been better this way? Why did she open her mouth in the first place?

"Raven…" Beast Boy said, slowly. "I…"

And, since Raven thought then that, if she was already in trouble, she might as well heap it on in bushels, feeling edgy and maniacal in a way she rarely felt outside battles, feeling adrenaline rush through her head, pounding, she leaned forward and kissed him.

Raven kissed him in a way that certainly wasn't friendly or platonic or any of the things they were supposed to be, and for an instant, Beast Boy was disoriented, struck with some parts wonder at her and some parts disappointment at the fact that he hadn't thought of doing this with her first.

Well, that was reconcilable.

His hands wound their way down her arms, and he tangled his fingers warmly with hers, holding hands with her for a moment then twisting out of her grasp to bring his hands up again and brush the stray strands out of her face.

"You…" Beast Boy said, when she pulled away. His heart was beating so quickly, he waited for his brain to catch up with the rest of his accelerated senses. Beast Boy inhaled a breath of salty cold air, and realized his entire body was numb from it, but he really didn't mind. "Raven, you…"

"Beast Boy." She said, distancing herself from him. "I'm sorry."

Raven, never wanting to hear the disappointing words she knew he was going to say, fled from him.

And, he didn't run after her.