The Relationship Guru

Chapter 1

Beastboy ran from the doorway to hide behind the couch. He carefully raised his eyes over the edge to see Cyborg and Robin playing video games.

Cyborg felt eyes on him, so he turned back as did Robin. They both blinked as they saw nothing. Beastboy had ducked back just in time. They shrugged at each other and resumed their game.

Beastboy looked about, still behind the couch, and decided to crawl around the back of it to the end. From there he stuck his head out in the blink of an eye and spotted Starfire sitting off on a chair. She was bobbing her head to music that caused little notes to float around her head. She had on headphones and her eyes were closed as she entertained herself. He let out a breath. 'Good, she's not here.' He thought standing to his full a height, an impressive six feet compared to his former stature. He strolled to take a seat with the others, brushing off his costume now an aquamarine instead of purple, when IT happened.

The sound of a door sliding open and closing found it's way to his ears. And then a clear, "Hey guys!"

Beastboy froze mid-stride, cracking into several pieces and giving off a slight squeak. He rapidly collected himself. He turned himself about and faced the approaching girl. "H-hey, Te-Terra."

She had also changed a great deal. Facially she was the same as before. Her blonde hair was the same, but she kept it back in a loose braid. She no longer had her goggles, but she wore a pair of oval shaped, blue-tinted glassed. She was still quite lean, but with a more feminine shape. Her outfit consisted of an electric blue, spandex wife-beater; semi-baggy, brown cargo pants; and black combat boots. A pair of elbow-length, brown gloves completed the ensemble. At five foot five, she was still the shortest of the group.

"Sup BB?" The petite blonde walked past him and sat by Cyborg and Robin. "Hey guys. Winner plays me?"

"Sure, just gotta finish off the little birdy here." Cyborg said.

"You're on Terra. After I'm done here, I'm bringing you down too!" Robin replied. His adult voice had lower tones and was smoother than any of them remembered, but it was still distinctly Robin.

Cyborg and Robin looked at each other, little anger-dashes being sent back and fourth between them.

Terra's brows raised as she sweat-dropped anime-style. "Uh... right. Hey Beas-Changeling, aren't you gonna...?" She trailed off noticing he had left.

Beastboy had dashed off before anyone could say another word. All of them, even Star, looked at his dust trail as it settled. What was up with him?

Moments later he was banging on Raven's door. "Hey Raven! Raaaveeen! Open-up! I gotta ask ya something." Despite his whining, his voice wasn't nearly as high-pitched as it used to be.

Inside her room, Raven felt a vein pop on her brow. She dropped out of her meditative pose and floated to the door. She opened it enough only to peak out an eye.

Beastboy raised his hand to knock again, "RAE..."

"What?" she barked at him. His hand stopped half-way to the door.

"Uh, hey Rae. Can I talk to you for a sec?" He asked pulling at one of his ears.

"What about?" She opened her door all the way and raised a brow at him.

He looked around, "We can't talk here. Come on!" He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her off to the roof.

A couple of minutes later Raven sighed. "Well, like I said before, it's obvious that you like her. Everyone knows. Well, pretty much, I don't think Star really no-"

"Dude! She KNOWS!?" Beastboy's eyes were wide as saucers. "Oh man, what am I gonna do?!" He started pacing around, rambling.

Raven sighed. "Uh, B-Changeling? Changeling?!"

He stopped suddenly and looked pleadingly at her. "Come on Rae, you've gotta help me! What do I tell her?"

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes she continued. "Hold on a second. I never said she knew, you didn't let me finish."

"But Rae! What am I going to DO?! Every time I see her it's like I just freeze up and don't know what to say." He said, practically dancing around as his ripped at his hair.

Raven's anger flared. "Beastboy... SHUT-UP! Do you want my advice or not?"

At her glare Beastboy pulled a zipper to shut his mouth and nodded rapidly. He never even bothered to correct her on the whole 'Beastboy' thing.

"Ok then. The first thing you have to do is actually get around to talking to her without having a panic attack. You were always so sure of yourself before. What's different now?" Raven began, calmly taking a seat Indian-style.

Beastboy undid the zipper at his mouth. "That was before. She's changed, I've changed. We're both more mature now... but I CAN'T act mature! Don't yo-"

Raven used her powers to shut him up before he went off again. "Just be quiet or you will never learn anything. Now, since you have absolutely no control of yourself, I will teach you a simple meditative technique. But you must stay quiet, got it?"

Again he nodded rapidly and she allowed him to speak. "So, where do we start sensei?"

She sighed yet again. 'This is going to be a long day.'

"First thing, sit down as I am, hands at your knees and keep your back straight." She looked to see him mimicking her position. "Good. Now close your eyes. I want you to take in deep, even breaths, let them out slowly." She looked at him. "No, not shallow breaths, I said deep! You're going to run out of air like that."

Beastboy opened his eyes and looked at her, she was standing right in front of him. "Oops, sorry... heh."

'Oh yeah, really, really long.' She mentally rubbed her temples. 'Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if he suffocated himself.' She thought dismally. 'Nope, Robin definitely wouldn't like that one.'

- Meanwhile downstairs-

Cyborg and Robin's game was coming to a close. Just one last turn...

Cyborg, Robin and Terra were deeply enthralled in the game. None of them noticed that Starfire was also deeply enthralled... in one of them. Time seemed to stand still as she looked on, her music forgotten. The one she was concentrated on had changed so much and yet so little over the years. She was surprised she had never noticed it before, but behind his playfulness, he was also very wise.

Suddenly it was like everything was placed into fast-forward before falling back into place. "Boyah!" Came Cyborg. "I win bird-man. Haha! Come on Terra, I bet you can't beat, the master!" His voice had grown deeper and richer, and at the moment, it was filled with laughter. At twenty he didn't look much different than before, his robot half didn't allow for much of it. He was still the tallest titan at six eight, but if you were to look on his face you could tell he had matured.

"Eh, it was pure luck. I'll get you next time Cy." Robin said.

"Let's go tin-man!" Terra said, taking Robin's discarded remote and preparing for a game of NBA Streets.

"You guys have fun. I'm going to get some training in." Robin said as he made his leave.

The other two video game junkies just waved as their game started. Starfire never noticed Robin leave, or that she was listening to the same CD for the fourth time in a row. No, she was too busy staring at her current obsession: Cyborg.

Starfire sighed. 'He never even notices me. How am I ever to have a chance?' She thought, growing distraught. An idea struck suddenly. 'I shall ask friend Raven, she will be able to help remedy this situation!' With that she took off in search of her best friend of four years.

Starfire finally found Raven on the roof. She and Beastboy were talking as they headed for the door that would lead back downstairs.

Raven stopped on seeing the newcomer. "Hey Star." She greeted.

Starfire smiled. "Hello Raven, Beastb- I mean, Changeling." A seventeen year old Beastboy had decided he no longer fit the title 'Beastboy' and had decided he'd rather be called 'Changeling.' The others were still adjusting to the change.

Beastboy paid no mind to Star as he continued through the door and downstairs. He was humming to himself and smiling widely.

"Well, he seems quite chirper. May I inquire as to why?"

"It's chipper Star, and it's no big deal. I was just helping him figure out how to romance Terra." Raven's monotone had not left her, but her voice was smoother, less scratchy.

Starfire's eyes lit up. "Oh marvelous! So you CAN assist me, yes?!" She was floating an inch off the ground, hands clasped in front of her, eyes glittering.

Raven knew this was a bad sign, and that she should just turn and walk away but, "What do you mean Star?"

The girl dropped back to the ground. "Oh! I am in love with a member of our team and I do not know how to gain his affections! Please friend, you must help me!"

Raven stared up at the alien girl. At six four the orange-tinted girl towered over Raven's five eight frame even in heeled boots. "Well that's easy Star, I'm sure Robin feels the same way about you." 'You two have only been pining for each other for years now.' She left that thought out as she continued. "All you have to do is tell him and-"

Starfire looked at her friend in horror. "Oh no! I do not love Robin!"

"Well then who-" Raven was cut off again.

"I am interested in friend Cyborg!"

Raven's jaw dropped. "What?!"