TT-Animals 6

The Raven, Wolf, And Tiger: Differences
         
It Is Not Our Differences That Set Us Apart, But Rather Whether We Accept Them Or Not…
                                         
Continuity: Anytime After The End

"Star, where are we going?" Beast Boy asked his alien 'sister' as she pulled him down the hallway. Star's grip hardened even more before she answered, knowing full and well how he would respond. "To Raven's room." As if on cue, BB began squirming in her immense grip. "What? I'm not allowed to go in there! Why her room?!" Starfire simply replied that her room did not suit Raven's taste and their friend had stated that Beast Boy's room did the smelling of the cage area that harbors many animals. Beast Boy groaned, "But why are we going there in the first place?"

At this Starfire smiled, "She requested that I bring myself and you to her room. I believe it is because she is doing the worrying of you, for though she doesn't say nor express it, Raven does care about you. Now come, we must make haste!" Beast Boy stopped his struggle once Star had said Raven actually cared about him…. as in not hate. He couldn't believe it.

They arrived moments later before Raven's door and Starfire gave a light knock (for her anyway-she had a tendency to shake the tower whenever she knocked, and at least this time the door didn't fall in….). "Raven it is I, Starfire! And I have brought Friend Beast Boy as requested!" Star chirped happily. There were a couple of moments of silence before Raven's voice came from within her room, the door sliding back due to her powers. "Alright, come on in."

Star gently pushed Beast Boy into the dark girl's room, walking behind the stumbling boy. Raven's windows were open, sunlight gleaming against her purple walls, as the Empath sat on her bed with her legs crossed. Almost instantly Beast Boy hit the ground and began apologizing profusely- "…and for the time I wore your costume and pretended I was a Jedi…"- leaving Starfire innocently confused and Raven simply waiting for him to stop.

Eventually, Raven got tired of his apologies and stopped him. "Beast Boy, you're not in trouble. Why would I ask Starfire to help execute you when I know that you're her precious baby brother?"  Beast Boy stood up quickly, dusting himself off. "I'm not?" He asked confused and she shook her head. Pushing herself off the bed, she replied to him "No, at least not this time. I just need you to do something for me. Now take off your clo-gloves; take off your gloves." Her request was met with an unnatural silence from the Changeling. Beast Boy looked down at the ground, mumbling something that only his ears could hear.   

"Excuse me?" Raven asked him, crossing her arms impatiently. Beast Boy sighed, looking up at her in the eyes. The sparkle of joy and excitement that both girls had come to know from the youngest member seemed to have vanished.

Raven eyes widened at the feelings of fear, self-loathe, and pain that were coming from Beast Boy that she had to look away from him…either that or vomit right then and there. She looked to Star, and knew that her friend could feel it as well, her face and odd purple color. It was then Beast Boy repeated what he had mumbled. "….I can't Raven…I don't want you hating me anymore than you do now."  

Raven whipped around quickly, about to announce something as she felt a twinge in her heart. Beast Boy had already turned around to leave the room, as Starfire looked over at Raven and gave her a slight nod. Raven reached out and grabbed the younger boy's hand, causing him to look back at her. "Look at my hand and you'll see we're not so different."

He looked down at her pale hand to see purple claws tear through the surface of his gloves. His emeralds widened in surprise, when suddenly Starfire grabbed his other hand with both of hers, her orange tanned hands having became cat-like claws. He looked at his older sister in the eyes, to see that they had become cat-like as well.

"Beast Boy, I do not know of what has happened to make you deny who you are, but I do know that your claws are nothing you should be ashamed of. Now I do not show mine constantly of basic principle of my people-I'm only allowed to reveal them to close family members, which I view you and Raven as-but that does not mean they are not a part of my heritage. Raven, knows this as well. Your claws do not define you, dear brother; it is you who defines your claws. Yes?"

Beast Boy looked from Starfire to Raven, from orange claws to purple. He then looked to his own hands and sighed. He pulled away from their hands and stripped his gloves off slowly to reveal not only clawed hands but deep scars as well. Both girls looked at them curiously, and BB gave a sheepish grin. "Let's just say I had a rough life growing up…" And thus starts a story for another time…