Surprisingly...

Raven's mouth opened and closed a few times, seemingly trying to think of a reason that she couldn't get off my lap without just saying she wanted to sit there. "I...b...but...I might spill my tea if I do that," she finally stated. Well, it was indeed a valid argument. I decided to concede to it for the time being.

With a casual shrug, I nodded. "Fair enough, if you don't mind it," I replied coolly. "Last thing I want to do is make you do something you don't want to do." I could see her grip on the cup tighten at those words. I was basically inviting her to tell me that she didn't want to get off my lap. Her jaw clenched and her breathing sped up.

Almost absentmindedly, Raven raised the cup to her lips and drank. I couldn't see her face too well from my vantage point, but I had a feeling her eyes went wide as she realized she had, without thinking, drained her cup. I stayed silent for a time, watching her peer into it, as if trying to will it to be full of liquid again.

After letting her stew a bit, I cleared my throat to speak. Before I could, Raven raised her hand up. To my surprise, her cup floated over to a nearby end table. How the blazes had they mimic her powers? With a sigh, Raven managed to free herself entirely from the blanket I had given her, letting it fall to the floor. Hopping off my lap, she turned to face me. I could only blink in astonishment. It was a double whammy. First she showed she had powers, now she was actually getting off my lap on her own accord? She didn't even look conflicted anymore.

Crossing her arms under her oversized chest, Raven looked me in the eye. "I bet you think you're clever, don't you?" she asked, her voice somewhat...off. I couldn't place it, but there was something underneath her usual raspy monotone. I opened my mouth only for her to silence me with her hand...causing black energy to cover my mouth. "No. I'm talking here, you're listening. I don't know what you're up to....being so kind to me, then all of the sudden teasing me like that."

My eyes widened and Raven scoffed. "Oh, don't play innocent. Putting me on your lap like that. Y...you may be...attractive, John, but I...I'm not..." I was more confused than ever now. She looked really upset and I couldn't understand why. I wasn't even sure how she had figured out I was teasing. I thought I was being really sneaky there.

Taking few deep breaths to calm herself, Raven pointed an accusing finger at me. "You're up to something," she insisted. "No one...no one should make me feel..." Once again, her confidence wavered. Was she...was Raven somehow resisting her own programming? No, that shouldn't be possible. So...was this part of it? But why? I thought back to what exactly I ordered. I wanted her to put up a front, and she most certainly had. Now, though...?

I tried to speak again, but I was still gagged. Sighing, I pointed to my mouth. Raven's eyes narrowed...and seemed somewhat moister than usual, and she made a motion with her hand. I felt the pressure over my mouth disappear. "Raven, I sincerely don't know what you're trying to say here," I confessed. Her expression softened briefly before she shook her head. "I don't do 'feelings'...and you're making me feel," she accused, cheeks turning pink.

I still wasn't getting it. I mean, I knew what she was feeling. Raven was designed to be attracted to me. And...oh ho. That was it, wasn't it? Raven was attracted to me and wasn't sure how to deal with it. ...but, no. She's been attracted to people before. Why was this different? Hmm. She had accused me of teasing her. Ah. It wasn't that she was attracted to me that threw her off. It was that I seemed interested.

With this realization, I had some ammo, so to speak. "Okay...so...are you accusing me of charming you or something?" I asked with the slightest bit of incredulity. I mean, I had just watched her float a cup away...and had my mouth covered by something I couldn't see. The idea of magic charms shouldn't be too far out of the realm of possibility.

"No, I..." Raven began, face getting redder. I think she was getting frustrated. "I don't know!" she snapped. "You...you...just LOOK at me!" I quirked an eyebrow. What was she talking about?