HOME | DD
RanaTilion — Raven and Beast Boy
Published: 2008-10-24 02:36:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 4109; Favourites: 69; Downloads: 737
Redirect to original
Description
Yeah, okay you can probably tell by the fourth fanart that I'm rewatching Teen Titans.Beast Boy & Raven are kind of a pairing I don't want to like but it's to cute not to. It might not be "canon" in the show but it's there in subtext.
This particular piece was inspired by "The Beast Within" where Raven and Beast Boy are fighting. Poor kid does get picked on a lot.
Related content
Comments: 11
Beast boy is trying too hard to appear mean and Raven makes it look too easy.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
As it pertains to Raven, she may have feelings for Beast Boy, considering comics scans, what animated series writer Rob Hoegee has said, what Terra has said to the empathic half-demon, and given things Beast Boy & Raven have in common.
These comic scans prove that BB/Rae is a possibility, if not canon (at least, for Raven, anyway, as she's the one to be making moves on the changeling in both of the scans):
Teen Titans (the comics which inspired the show) #30: [link]
Regarding the above kiss, Raven said later in that same issue that it was “something [she] wanted to do”, proving the kiss to be no mere heat-of-the-moment fluke. Beast Boy would continue this train of thought in #53 of the comic line within an earlier era when Raven hits him by saying, “Your physic whammo is better ‘n kisses, Raven. I think I’m in love.”
Teen Titans GO! (the comics that are based off of the show) #42: [link]
In the above scan, Affection somehow already seems to “know” Beast Boy by her comment of: “It’s you. How ya doin’…handsome?” This seems to imply that Raven’s inner most romantic feelings are for Beast Boy, even if Raven herself doesn’t acknowledge said feelings out loud, for safety-related and embarrassing reasons.
Rob Hoegee said that not only do BB and Rae "fight" (i.e. use playful banter [lame & cheesy humor and sarcastic dry wit]) like a married couple, but "Raven hits Beast Boy out of love" (which reflects back to Beast Boy’s comment in the #53 TT comic) and--in my honest opinion--because Rae's emotion-driven powers restrict her from feeling any strong emotion (love included) without repercussions, as much as she may enjoy the attention BB pays to her (and thus, she may love BB in general), Rae doesn't want to risk loving him out of possible fear that she might hurt him in some way (such as her emotions going haywire and her demonic side branding BB as a mere boy toy or something else sinister), which is why she vents out her frustration out on him (for she knows he's willing to often take her abuse).
On top of given him abuse, Raven has a strong protectively jealous streak. When Beast Boy himself is pitted against Raven when he is controlled by the Puppet King, Raven tells him, "Beast Boy, it's me! Don't make me hurt you!" This means that she doesn't want to hurt Beast Boy, because--despite outward appearances--she does care for the changeling. This ties into her jealous streak, for not only does she smack and berate Beast Boy repeatedly when he's trying to hook up with several of his Japanese fan girls (she literally would’ve had to be on top of Beast Boy in order to be as close as she was when she was pointing out the boy's faults in the film), but as seen via season 2, Rae also was jealous when a certain blond was around.
Not only did Terra get praise, recognition, and control (supposedly) over her powers quicker than Raven, but Terra also took away the one thing the changeling often gave to Rae...attention. In this fan’s honest opinion, these things made Raven jealous and in the catfight in the mud, Terra highlighted Raven's jealously and struck a nerve when she said, "Come on Raven, what stinks the most; that everyone liked me better than you?"
Considering Beast Boy & Starfire were the only ones to really be fond of the geomancer, the earth mover’s comment would thusly imply that BB & Star are the "everyone" that the earth mover meant when the comment was said.
With that in mind, this could very well mean that Raven was jealous that Terra had Raven's best friend (and "sister") & Raven's possible--and more than likely--crush wrapped around her skinny-as-a-stick finger, which made Raven upset and caused her to be defeated (for her emotions got the better of her, just as they most often would for anyone who has a best friend and a crush that are being used by someone else).
Terra’s betrayal (given Beast Boy’s feelings & the shared issues of appearance, acceptance, trust, and control both Terra and Raven seemed to share) isn’t the sole thing the two Titans have in common, for both have had disheartening pasts in which they’ve lost loved ones (BB losing both of his parents in a freak boating incident [even though he was still too weak and helpless to channel his abilities as a shape shifter, BB blames himself for his parents’ death] & Rae losing not only her mother, but the mentor that trained her [Arella and Azar, respectively]) and have faced down situations beyond their control (BB being labeled a freak and being forced to unwillingly commit crimes in his pre-Doom Patrol days & Rae being branded a “demon seed” [also known as a “spawn” or more of a “what” than a “who”] merely due to her heritage).
As well, they both have fought back heartbreak (respectively thanks to Terra and Malchior) and have dealt with their own personal inner struggles (BB trying to soothe the savage Beast Within him & Rae trying to place her deep Rage into a dormant state of being).
All these tragic events—along with the fact that both have become superheroes that put up facades (Beast Boy having an energetic and loud personality when compared to Raven’s reclusive and reserved demeanor, despite the fact that BB has been handed hardships & that Rae does have the capacity [and ability] to feel [although she cannot feel without running the risk of hurting someone and this is something Rae has sometimes yet to master, despite all that she’s been taught and has learned]) have slowly but surely brought BB & Rae closer together, not just as a friends and teammates, but as a possible item.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow.
Like I said, subtext.
But you did a great job of pointing the specifics out.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I remember that exact face-off shot. Rae:"Is this the part where I'm supposed to be intimidated?" The episode is on YouTube somewhere, but anyway...
I loved that shot 'cause of the tension. I kind of wanted him to just lay a rough kiss on her like a jerk, just to see her reaction: A blush and/or blank look? A slap to the face? Or a MAGICAL retaliation?
He'd probably have a smug smirk, if you think about his attitude in 'The Beast Within', so godforsaken cocky.
I find it very interesting that you made this with a little redness on Raven's cheeks... heh heh. I'm a BBRae shipper myself. Subtext, yay!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Yay, my favorite duo having at it! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It definitely IS THERE in subtext. Sometimes the hints are too obvious. Love your work! And the beast within is one of my fav episodes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Subtext is a writers best friend. And thank you.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
