In the Same Boat

I had fun writing this one. ;p Kudos goes to The Flying Frog to be the first to respond to my mini-project...! Sorry you had to wait so long for me to actually get it going, man. Hope you enjoy this, and my latest chapter of Life With No Green.Laterz!

Commissioned by: The Flying Frog

Characters: Cyborg, Beast Boy, Robin

Scenario: It's a boys' night out! Discussing their mutual love lives…or lack thereof—you know, teasing each other about it despite the fact they are all in the same boat.

Pairings: CyborgxBumblebee, RobxStar, BBxRae (ignore Terra she never existed -.-)


Disclaimer: I don't own any Teen Titans characters, or the show. Oh, crudmonkeys.
"I just don't understand."

The flickering lights of the downtown arcade were annoying Robin; the yells and shouts and loud bangs and trills and other various sound effects were killing his head. He should've known exactly why Cyborg had insisted on dragging him out on the town that night. There are some things which need to be discussed man-to-man, that require secure insight—things that Robin and Cyborg had long ago mutually and silently agreed would not be spoken of in the Tower…or at least in the presence of the girls of the Tower.

"I mean, you put two and two together, and it spells out the girl's crazy for me! But does she return my advances? Hell no, just looks the other way!"

But how did they end up having this conversation in an arcade?

"WOHOO! HIGH SCHORE, SUCKERS! Dudes, you just can't touch this!!"

Oh yeah. Right.

As Beast Boy did his victory dance surrounded by awed and high-fiving gamers, Robin gave a quiet snort as he looked across the table at Cyborg.

"I'm not quite sure most people have the same definition of 'advances' as you do, Cyborg. Usually telling her as many 'yo-mamma' jokes in a minute as you can does not count."

Cyborg frowned at Robin pouting. "Ha. Not the point, man." He sighed, leaning back in the booth the two friends were currently occupying. "Aqualad told me I had a chance, but sometimes it seems that she's just so…stubborn, arrogant. Like she doesn't want anything to do with me other than stomping over me like a bug for sadistic enjoyment."

Robin grabbed his half-finished drink, sipping at it while he stared at the half-finished pizza in front of him. "Bumblebee's an…independent girl. Of course she's not gonna fall into your arms because you send a flashy smile her way. And you really gotta stop bragging about your sonic blaster. That's getting old."

"Brag? What's not to brag about?" Cybrog smiled smugly. "And it's only one of many amazing tricks I can pull. Boo-yah."

Rolling his eyes, Robin couldn't help but give a snicker. "She respects you right now, but ever use that on her and it'll go right down the drain…"

"Heh, yeah, I guess you're right. But you gotta get me some more field missions with the Titans East. I can't turn up the heat with my head stuffed in the wall, wrench in hand."

"You'll manage, knowing you." Robin paused. "…Hey, Cyborg? Are you…ya know, serious about this?"

Cyborg gave him a quizzical look. "Whaddaya mean?

"…You've been after her for a while now…like what, a year or two?"

"Since I met the little stinger." Cyborg grinned.

"So, has it turned into you actually…," Robin shifted, rubbing the back of his neck, "…wanting a relationship? Or is it just the chase?"

Cyborg watched Robin carefully, who was refusing to meet his eyes. "Hmmm…well, I don't think…" He switched his gaze to the wall, though looked past it absently, obviously thinking. "No, it's not just the chase," he murmured, more to himself than Robin. "I can't say for sure what I'm aiming for, honestly…" He leaned forward suddenly, an earnest look on his face. "I mean, it would be the first time, I mean, I went out with a complete hottie when I was fifteen, but other than that…"

Robin raised an eyebrow at the faint blush covering Cyborg's cheek and nose. Seeing Robin's expression, he got even more flustered and crossed his arms, sinking back into the booth. "Nevermind…but anyway, why're ya asking, Robin?"

Now it was Robin's turn to get flustered, immediately cluing Cyborg in on what it was about. "No…no reason," he replied nervously. "Just making sure, ya know?"

If the screaming hesitation in his voice wasn't enough…Cyborg got an evil gleam in his eye, a sly smile stretching across his face. "Oh, really? Wouldn't have to do with your reluctance regarding a certain little alien girl we know, now would it?"

"What?! I—no, of course not!"

Cyborg's grin only widened. "Your face says otherwise, man. Wondering whether or not you should mention to your great ol' pal something you would like to take very seriously?"

Robin huffed and looked away, ignoring the heat rushing to his face. "Shuddup."

Cyborg sniggered. "Hit a nerve, didn't I? You know…" He leaned back, smiling. "You've been anything but discrete about the way you feel. We know you too well—even Beast Boy can plainly see it."

Robin dropped his haughtiness, physically drooping. "That obvious, huh?"

"Yeah…but it's not like it's a bad thing. You two are painfully entertaining—neither of you have the guts to say anything to each other, even though your actions scream loud enough."

"But—she's just so innocent and oblivious…wait, what? Neither of us…?"

Cyborg cracked up at the incredulous, stunned Robin. "Hoo, man, you're priceless sometimes!"

Robin didn't respond to Cyborg's laughter, not even after it had died off. "Hey man, you alright…?"

"DUDES! I just beat my top score…the top score…AGAIN! Check it out! WOOT!!"

Beast Boy slammed himself into the booth next to Cyborg, face shining with triumph and pride. Along with his arrival came a stack of six notebooks, along with a ripped napkin or two. From somewhere within his suit, Beast Boy managed to produce three pens, two of which he threw casually at his two friends. "C'mon, guys, it's autographin' time!"

Cyborg groaned, but compliantly grabbed a notebook. "Aw, man, didn't I tell you not to do this to us?"

"Dude, it's like, our duty! When the fans call, we answer!" Scribbling his name down after flipping open one of the other notebooks, Beast Boy looked at Robin out of the corner of his eye. "So, not that it doesn't suit you or anything, but why so quiet, Robin?"

This earned a glare from Robin, but it was Cyborg who answered. "He's ashamed that he's too dense to notice the shining star of his life is head-over-heels for him!"

Beast Boy snorted, Robin glowered. "Knock it off already."

"No, but really," Beast Boy said innocently. "You'd think after so many ridiculous Tamaranian pick-up lines you'd get it, dude."

Both Cyborg and Beast Boy burst out laughing, the reddening face of Robin too much to handle. Robin furiously slapped his autograph down, leaving a few inkblots. "Haha, so clever," he snapped. "At least she's cute when she tells corny jokes. You just look stupid."

"Hey!" Beast Boy sniffed, Cyborg renewing his laughing. "I try, and not all my jokes are corny! I swear I saw Raven's lips twitch yesterday at my tofu-chicken one."

"Yeah, twitching in annoyance."

Cyborg playfully shoved Beast Boy as the green changeling reached for a leftover pizza slice. "Yeah, BB, sometimes you kid yourself—I know you adore her and all, but Rae doesn't exactly have your sense of humor…hardly any at all…"

"W-what?!" Beast sputtered. Robin snickered. "Whaddaya mean, adore?! And everyone has a sense of humor!"

Cyborg and Robin exchanged a meaningful glance, only causing Beast Boy to sputter more. "C'mon, dudes, don't pick on me!"

Cyborg laughed. "Nah, that's Raven's job, isn't it? You wouldn't like it coming from us…"

Robin smirked. "Besides, I would hardly call it picking on you when we all know it's the truth."

Beast Boy didn't say anything, but his darkening, flustered face only made Robin smirk all the more. Seeing this, the younger green changeling choked out a small, "Whatever," before grabbing the signed stuff and vanishing into the teeming arcade crowd again.

"So, what," Robin huffed, "he gets to run off just like that?"

Cyborg grinned, rolling his eyes. "Well, you know. BB's an introvert when it comes to his feelings; and he knows he probably doesn't stand a chance when it comes to Raven."

Robin's expression softened some. "Ah, don't sound so sure about that, Cyborg."

Cyborg peered at Robin, curious. "Meaning…?"

Robin shrugged. "Dunno. But I do know the kid has grown on Raven over the years."

"Hmm." Cyborg raised an eyebrow. "She has become more tolerant of him, that's true. BB, man…he's had eyes for her since the beginning, that's kinda obvious. But she basically had brushed him off repeatedly since day one."

"Yeah, exactly." Cyborg stared, confused. "For one," Robin explained, "I don't think Raven can stand the thought that she's developing a soft spot for him, ridiculous as he is—none of us can take his jokes for too long. Two, she'd also kind of required to keep her emotions in check for obvious reasons. Drama and confusion are the main players in the air when it comes to people like Beast Boy and romance."

"Oh? How so?"

"You never know for sure or not whether they're serious, feel the same way as you do, cuz they're always putting on this kind of show, a façade. You said so yourself; BB keeps to himself when it comes to discussing his feelings, although you would think otherwise."

Cyborg absorbed all Robin had said for a second, then let out a low whistle. "Talk about informed, man, you seem to have it figured out."

Robin scratched the back of his head. "What can I say?" he laughed. "I'm the so-called leader of the team, it's my job to have things figured out."

"Yeah, guess so."

"…"

"…"

"…You know, though, Rae and I have had—we've had a connection of sorts, ever since the Slade stuff. When she…went into my mind. It's harder for her to hide around me."

"Yeah, that and the fact that you are the so-called leader of the team."

They both grinned.

A clamor broke out a few feet away as Beast Boy handed out the signed notebooks and napkins, smiling and laughing at the excited and awed boys around him. Cyborg and Robin watched him, smiling themselves, lost in their own thoughts for the moment. A particularly loud trill from behind their booth caused Cyborg to snap out of it, more memories and questions on his mind. He gave Robin a mischievous look, and the Boy Wonder immediately brought himself back to the arcade, wondering if he really wanted to know what that look was about.

"What is it?" he sighed, giving in.

"Hey," Cyborg snickered, "remember that conversation we had back at the beginning, when the three of us guys finally started getting along?"

Robin raised his eyebrow. "We had a lot of conversations about a lot of things, Cyborg. Enlighten me."

A look of uncontained, sly glee passed over Cyborg's face. "You know, the one about…whether Raven or Starfire was the hotter chick?"

Robin's face instantly reddened yet again. "You mean, the conversation you and Beast Boy had…?"

"Yeah, yeah. And I know you remember how fidgety you got when Beast Boy started going on about Star's legs…" Robin sputtered. "…but remember when I mentioned I thought Raven's curves would be fine if she didn't cover herself up with that cape all the time?"

Robin nodded suspiciously. "Yeah, okay. So…?"

"Beast Boy got all pouty and mad at me after I said that, remember?" Cyborg shook his head, smiling to himself. "Well, I found out a couple months ago… Raven and Starfire had heard the whole thing."

Robin choked. "What?"

"You heard me. I was talking with her about nothing in particular one evening, and after taking a sip of her goddamned tea, she told me like she was friggin commenting on the weather. Scared the crap outta me, but she said it was all over and done with—"

"I bet that's the reason the training room malfunctioned the same day, and all three of us were trapped…running from flying projectiles…and laser beams…and painful whatnots…" Robin looked at Cyborg, and they both shuddered.

"Yeah, but to make my point," Cyborg continued hastily after the pause, "I kinda started teasing her a bit, about Beast Boy's reaction—and then she levitated boiling water over me…"

Robin chortled. "Okay, and your point…?"

"Well, I coulda swore I saw the faintest blush coloring her cheeks—first time I ever did, either. Do you think…?"

Robin just smiled, glancing over at the green changeling now challenging some other kid to one showdown or another. "If Raven's an emotional train wreck, I'd say Beast Boy has the guts and spine to be the tracks that'll keep her from careening out of control."

Cyborg smirked. "Poetic…so do ya think Raven'll see BB's bed first, or Starfire'll see yours?"

"What the f—?!"


Back at the Tower, Raven disrupted herself from her most recently scourged ancient book by letting loose a wild, harsh sneeze. From the kitchen, Starfire ceased her quiet humming and attempts at cooking something edible to hover over to her friend on the couch.

"Friend Raven," she said in a singsong voice, still mixing whatever gooey concoction she had managed with a large wooden spoon in a mixing bowl. "As they say on my homeworld, someone must be speaking of you with the utmost intensity for a sneeze of that magnitude!"

Raven merely blinked, disheveled. Starfire giggled, and interrupted herself with her own fierce sneeze. After a moment of silence, she giggled all the more. "And I as well, I suppose!"

Raven rolled her eyes, and Starfire returned to her humming.