Survey

20 Questions

“Hey, Raven?” Beast Boy asked quietly. Raven lifted her head from the confines of her book and made eye contact with him. A simple raise of her eyebrow meant that she was listening. Beast Boy presented her with a large, toothy smile and took a deep breath.

“Do you remember that time like 6 weeks ago where I challenged you to a chess game and you agreed? But then I started to get bored because chess is so totally boring. No offense. But then I decided to make it interesting by initiating a bet and you only agreed because you really wanted to play. But then I totally beat you? Do you remember that?” He took a breath for the first time and waited to make sure she’d grasped everything. She merely folded her book over her lap and eyed him once more.

“Well, do you?” he asked again, growing impatient.

“Do I what?”

“Remember?”

“…Remember what?”

Beast Boy shook his head and took a large breath again, only to be stopped by Raven as she held her hand in the air. “Stop, I heard you. I was just kidding.” Her last sentence came out very softly and exasperated and he grinned again.

“Oh… well, do you remember what we bet?”

“Hardly.” She watched as his eyes narrowed and his face became that of a zany.

“I bet that if I won, you would have to do whatever I say, whenever I say it. But only one time. Well… today’s the day. I want you to do something for me. And you have to do it.” He licked his lips and stared at her, hoping that she would remember this occasion.

Of course, Raven remembered the day very vividly. She’d only ever lost a chess match three times in her life. And her loss to Beast Boy was one of them. Her face still devoid of emotion, she leaned back against the couch and crossed her arms. “I believe I set some guidelines for your bet as well, did I not?” she mentioned, a smile tempting at her lips. She remembered that when she’d made the bet and heard Beast Boy’s proposal, that they had agreed on nothing sensual, degrading, or potentially dangerous. Raven remembered that part especially because she knew that she could maneuver the word ‘dangerous’ into whatever she wanted.

Beast Boy nodded his head vigorously. “I promise, Raven, it fits all of the necessary criteria!” He seemed very exuberant about the whole ordeal and in spite of herself, Raven began to get a little nervous.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” she stated smoothly, raising her eyebrow as if to tempt him to do something stupid. He just chuckled and pulled out a folded up piece of paper.

“I want you… to answer all of the questions on this survey! And none of them are sensual, degrading, or potentially dangerous.”

“Let me see them,” Raven demanded, holding out her hand. Beast Boy shook his head with a coy smirk and held the paper close to him.

“Come on, Raven. It ruins the fun if you get to look at the questions beforehand. Because then that gives you time to think about what you’re going to say. It’s only twenty questions, Rae. And if you really feel uncomfortable about any of them, I’ll let you skip it. Please?”

Raven’s eyebrow rose yet again. It was her universal expression and he never grew tired of how cute she looked whilst doing it. “Why do you want me to do a survey? I honestly thought you would do something more… idiosyncratic.”

“Such as?” Beast Boy ventured, hoping that the upcoming context clues would help him decipher the word.

“Oh, making me eat tofu… making me wear a dress… making me play video games…” Raven said distantly, waving her hand lazily with each idea.

Beast Boy chuckled once more. “Tempting, but no. I didn’t want to waste this one time offer so I made it good. And how much better can it get than getting to know you better?” Raven didn’t have an answer to that. Instead, she simply pulled up her hood and faced him.

“Fine, let’s get this over with.” Beast Boy flashed his most boyish smile and pushed her hood down.

“No hoods…” he muttered as he scooted a bit closer to her. His expression never changed as he carefully pulled out the paper and smoothed it over again. Then, with a smug look in his eye, he cleared his throat and began reading.

“Question letter Uno: What was your first word?” Raven sighed, thankful that she had no inhibitions about answering this question.

“Cur,”

“Cur, as in dog?”

“No, it’s Latin for ‘why.’ So, technically, my first word was ‘why.’”

“Wow, even from the start you were always learning, eh?” Beast Boy asked, giving her a sweet smile. She looked down and admired the lining of the couch, tracing it with her fingers. He loved making her react like this and waited a few more seconds before going on to the next question.

“Question two: If you could have any career in the world, what would it be? And you can’t say what you’re already doing.” Her eyes narrowed a bit as he challenged what she was about to say. Rolling her eyes softly, she thought for a moment.

“I don’t know… most likely something to do with English or literature.”

“Yeah, I figured. Books are kind of your thing, huh?”

“Yeah, they’re kind of my thing.” For a reason she didn’t know, Raven gave the smallest of smiles at their banter. Beast Boy gave an airy laugh and rubbed the back of his neck, enjoying every second of this.

“Okay, question three: Sunny or rainy, and why?”

“Rainy, because it’s so much more serene than sunny.”

“Care to elaborate on that?”

“Well a sunny day gives off a sense of natural vivacity. You always want to get up and do something and enjoy everything and the list goes on. With a rainy day, you can make it your own. You can relax, revel, or make your own sunny day. That was a good waste of oxygen, wasn’t it?” Raven stated, before flushing again and lowering her head, embarrassed at her rambling. Beast Boy’s hand sought out her cheek, turning her head back around to face him.

“No, it really made sense. I never saw it that way… maybe now rainy days won’t seem so dreary.” Raven nodded idly but kept her head up as he removed his hand slowly and returned his eyes to the paper.

“Question four: You know those little indestructible boxes on airplanes? Why don’t they make the whole plane out of that?” Raven gave her signature, rare laugh that sounded like a sigh to those who couldn’t see her face and nodded again.

“I was waiting for this type of spontaneous question.” She watched as Beast Boy’s ears flickered slightly, his eyes shining brightly at her. “The plane would be too heavy; it wouldn’t be able to fly.” His face fell slightly at her answer.

“Oh, that was anticlimactic.”

“Good word, Beast Boy.”

“Thanks! Okay, question five: Do you like to laugh?”

“Of course I like to laugh; that was a wasted question.”

“Then how come you never do?”

Raven paused in her answer. Her hand subconsciously played with the hem of her cloak as she quickly diverted her attention to it. “I… don’t know… it’s potentially dangerous?” her response came out more like a question and he bent his head to find her eyes.

“I don’t think anything will explode if you laugh.”

“Like you know.”

“I do, and it is now my official goal in life to make you laugh!”

“I thought that already was your goal.”

“No, my original goal was to make you smile, and I’m proud to say that I’ve accomplished that a few times over.” As he said it, Raven couldn’t help but actually give a small smile, nodding at the smug look on his face.

“Okay, Beast Boy, let’s move on.”

“Okay, question six: What’s your favorite movie?”

“You haven’t seen it.”

“How do you know?”

“Because it’s a dialectical film, no action, no horror.”

“Still, I probably know of it.”

Raven sighed, “It’s called The Hours.”

“LESBIANS!” Beast Boy shouted, causing Raven to jump and her face to redden. “That movie is about lesbians, right?” Beast Boy asked once he calmed down. Raven sighed, shaking her head.

“Hardly, it’s about three women who are incredibly sad but hide it by overindulging in their life. It’s about selflessness and wanting to belong and having your own personal life. The fact that they are gay or some bisexual is all a part of them wanting to be their own person.” Beast Boy grinned sheepishly at her. No wonder it was her favorite movie, it seemed to personify her life.

“Okay, sorry about before; I kind of insulted your movie.”

“That’s okay, I knew it would be something like that or you wouldn’t have heard of it.”

“Question seven: What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?”

“Mint chocolate chip.”

“That’s a good one.” Raven nodded at him as she clasped her hands together nervously.

“What’s yours?”

“I like plain old sweet cream actually.”

“Sweet cream is good, with cherries in it.”

“I’ve never tried that… I might now though. Hey, after this, do you want to go get some ice cream?”

“What’s the next question?” Beast Boy swallowed hard, slightly saddened by the fact that she had subtly declined his offer, but smoothed out the paper again.

“Um, question eight: Oh, you’ll like this. What’s your favorite book?” Raven’s eyes widened humorously as she contemplated her vast stretch of readings.

“There’s so many, really. Can I name a few of my top favorites?”

“Sure, the more the merrier.”

“The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard, Blindness by Jose Saramago, the list could go on.”

“I’m sure it could. Hey, is Blindness about people who see white instead of black and have to be contained and stuff?”

“Yes, actually. Have you read it?” Raven’s eyebrows rose at his assertion. Beast Boy shook his head with a bashful laugh.

“No, but they made a movie about it I think. It’s playing now, with Julianne Moore. HEY, Julianne Moore is in The Hours too!” Raven nodded, a small grin etching her features.

“Yes she is. I might have to see that sometime. You say it’s playing now?”

“Yeah it just came out like yesterday, I think.” Raven nodded and Beast Boy went on to the next question. “Okay, question nine: What’s your favorite place in the whole universe?”

“To be honest, the roof.”

“You are up there a lot… why?”

“Because it’s very serene…no matter what the weather is like it’s always so quiet and peaceful up there. And the view is always gorgeous. It really helps me to clear my mind.”

“Yeah I like the roof too. It’s like, when you’re standing on the edge staring out at the horizon, the wind whipping through you… and you know everything’s going to be okay.”

“Yes,” Raven said, her voice just below a whisper. Beast Boy felt his cheeks reddening as she gave a ghost of a smile and pushed some of her hair behind her ears.

“Q-question ten:” Beast Boy stated, having to clear his throat again. “Do you have any hidden talents?”

“If I did, why would I reveal them?”

“Aw come on, Raven, please? Do you seriously have one?” Raven waved her hand in the air nonchalantly.

“I wouldn’t call it a talent so much as a hobby… I like to… write here and there.” Raven’s eyebrow rose as she witnessed Beast Boy break into his largest smile of the day.

“You write, Raven? That’s great! I’d… like to read it sometime…” His ears drooped at his sudden admission and she swallowed hard.

“No, I don’t think so. I plan to take them with me to my grave.” Beast Boy pursed his lips and moved them from side to side.

“Oh, okay… I guess we’ll move on then.” He said, scanning the paper.

“Beast Boy?” Raven asked suddenly. “You’re not… going to spread what I say in this around, are you?” Beast Boy lifted his eyes and saw that Raven looked… worried. It was a feeling he did not enjoy instilling in her so he was quick to answer.

“No, of course not, Raven. Whatever you answer stays with me and me alone.” Raven gave him a thankful look and exhaled the air that she’d been holding. “Did you really think that I would go around telling people your personal life? I’m an idiot, Raven, but I’m not a jerk.” Beast Boy looked down and fiddled with the paper, disheartened. For some reason, Raven felt a great pressure welling up in her eyes…

“I’m… sorry, Beast Boy. I shouldn’t have assumed that of you. It was wrong of me…” She looked down again, becoming fascinated in the lining of her book. Her finger nicked a page, resulting in a paper cut and she quickly raised her finger to her lips, sucking the wound as her cheeks reddened. Beast Boy noticed how badly she was feeling and impulsively grabbed her hand.

“Hey, Rae, it’s okay.” He chuckled to himself and pulled a tissue from his pocket and placing it on her finger. “Sorry about the rhyme but that aside, don’t feel so bad. It’s completely understandable.” Raven nodded, pulling her hand away. Beast Boy sighed. “Do you want to continue?”

“Of course.” He flashed a small smile and was pleasantly surprised when she returned it, only to cover her mouth with her hand sheepishly.

“Okay, question eleven: What’s your earliest memory?” Raven sighed, absently tapping her fingers along her chin. Then she took a deep breath and clasped her hands together, staring at the floor.

“I guess it would have to be when I was about three or four. I’m in Azarath and I’m walking around. I finally find my mother and she picks me up and smiles at me… That’s where it ends.” Her mouth twitched slightly as she finished and she looked up at him. He just grinned at her.

“Why are you being so open with me?”

“A bet’s a bet.”

“Yeah but there are so many loopholes you could have used.” Raven shrugged slightly.

“I don’t know… I just… I don’t seem to have a problem answering these questions. I really don’t know… but I am enjoying this. However, I’m sick of blushing,” she said, placing a hand to her cheek again and shaking her head. Beast Boy chuckled.

“I’m enjoying this too. And don’t worry about it… It’s kind of cu-Question twelve: What’s your favorite type of food?”

“Probably Japanese.”

“Question thirteen: How do you feel about homosexuality?”

“What kind of question is that?” Raven asked, furrowing her brow. Beast Boy shrugged.

“I don’t know, I just want to know.” Raven sighed and shifted her position.

“I don’t really have a problem with it. I believe the Kinsey theory.”

“Kinsey theory?”

“The theory that everyone is gay, it just varies on a level from one to ten, ten being completely gay.”

“Oh, that seems a bit plausible. What number would you say you are?”

“Is that part of the survey?”

“No,”

“Then I guess you’d better move on.” If Beast Boy didn’t know better, he would have thought she’d given him a flirtatious look. However he did know better and merely laughed as he read.

“Question fourteen: Are you afraid of the future?”

“No. I’ve already ended the world; it can’t get much worse than that.” She sighed a laugh once more and he shook his head humorously.

“Question fifteen: What are your favorite names, boy and girl?” Raven thought for a moment, her eyes staring out the large windows of the common room. Beast Boy took this time to admire her stunning features before she turned back around.

“I guess I like Grey for a girl… and Mark for a boy.”

“Mark?”

“Yes,”

“That’s my middle name.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Beast Boy laughed as Raven ran a hand through her hair.

“Question sixteen: Do you have a tattoo? If so, where and if not, how do you feel about them?”

“That’s… an interesting question, Beast Boy,” Raven murmured, her eyebrows rising in skepticism. Beast Boy laughed nervously.

“I guess it is, kinda. I don’t know… I like tattoos, personally. I was just wondering if you did…”

“Tattoos are fine, as long as they’re not perverted or racist or something.”

“Do you have one?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know…?”

“I would.”

“Next question,” Beast Boy groaned in feigned annoyance as she rolled her eyes at him, forcing back her smile.

“Question seventeen: Do you believe in soul mates?”

“I don’t know… I believe in happenstance but I don’t completely denounce the idea. Anything is possible I suppose.”

“Question eighteen: Do you ever sing? If so, what do you sing?”

“Again with the strange questions,” Raven said, raising her hand in question.

“Aw, come on, Rae! I love to sing! I think everyone loves to sing!”

“Then I guess you just wasted a question because presumably, by what you say, I love to sing.”

“Well, do you?”

“I don’t know… it’s okay I guess.”

“Does that mean that you do indeed sing?”

“…yes?”

“That’s so cute, Raven! What do you sing?” Raven flushed at his words and licked her lips, averting her eyes from his.

“I don’t know… songs.”

“Good enough for me! I’ll have to hear it sometime though…” Before Raven could respond, he moved on to the next question.

“Question nineteen: What is your worst fear?”

“Being alone.”

Raven answered it so quickly that Beast Boy almost didn’t hear her. From the looks of her shocked expression it appeared to be that her admission was involuntary. Her jaw was clenched tightly and she was now examining the small paper cut on her finger.

“Aw, Raven, you don’t have to worry about that. You’ll never be alone.” Raven continued not to look at him and merely nodded. Beast Boy sighed. “Okay then, on to the last question… Question twenty: Were you aware that I so totally cheated on that chess game?” He looked up at her, nervous as to what her reaction would be. Surprisingly, it was not what he expected.

Raven laughed, actually laughed. Granted, it lasted only about two seconds but it wasn’t her normal sigh. It was soft and rhythmic and he enjoyed all two seconds of it. Then she sighed and shook her head at him. “Of course, Beast Boy… you didn’t even know the names of the pieces… how you managed to even cheat to win was impressive.” Beast Boy’s mouth fell open as she stood and stretched.

“Then… why did you agree to this?” Raven shrugged and grabbed her book, cradling it gently in her arms.

“You seemed much too excited for me to ruin it. And I rather enjoyed it, as shocking as that is.” Beast Boy swallowed hard as his smile returned.

“Really? Then how about we discuss it over Japanese food, and then mint chocolate chip ice cream? Followed by going to see Blindness?” Rolling her eyes again, Raven strode past him. As she did so, she enacted a rare act of intimacy. She reached out, and tussled up his hair with her palm. Such a gesture that would seem normal to anyone else actually caused Beast Boy’s heart to stop beating, to him at least.

“I don’t think so. For all I know, you could just want to find out the location of my tattoo.”

“Wait, so that means you have one?”

Raven merely shrugged and disappeared through the doors, leaving him to stare after her, mouth agape.

A/N: Thanks for reading and PLEASE REVIEW!!