Chapter 2
Later that evening, Raven and Beast Boy sat on his bed, discussing Star's new changes.
"It's not just her appearance, Raven. She didn't want to hold Silkie!" Beast Boy cuddled the mutated larva.
"I know. She feels different. I don't know…kinda like…" she stopped and looked away.
"Kinda like what?"
An awkward silence struck and their eyes met.
"Kinda like Terra after her training with Slade," she said softly.
"What do you mean?" he inquired slowly.
She felt uncomfortable. Obviously, she had hit a nerve. "Look, it's no offence, but Terra felt — and Star does, too — like she had some evil force behind her, some ulterior motives."
He processed her words, and finally broke the silence. "You were right the first time, but Starfire?" It was clear that it pained him to talk about Terra, especially her betrayal.
"I don't know, really. I'm just throwing things on the ground, seeing how they bounce. What do you think?"
His eyes closed, he shook his head, putting Silkie down. His legs dropped off the bed. "I don't know either. We can't ask the guys…"
"No, they'd be in the dark."
"Guess we'll just have to see tomorrow, huh?"
"Well," Rae said, getting up. "I'm going to see tonight. You might want to be a fly on the wall, if you get my jist…I'll do the talking, though, okay?"
He smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
...
"What is that thing, anyway?" Star asked her wristband.
"Some…maggot thing…your subject's pet. Don't forget to be in character, Darkfire," it said back.
"You mean…you mean I have to touch it!"
"If that gets your mission complete, then yes. Touch it! Love it! It – is – your – pet!"
Darkfire gave a sound of disgust. "But it's gross."
"Too bad. Do what it takes."
"Yes, Blackfire. Darkfire out." She clicked off the communicator just as she heard a knock on her door. She walked over, a stupid look on her face, and opened the door.
"Star? Can we talk?" Raven brushed past her, letting herself in.
"Okay…"
"You seem…different today. Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is fine."
"How is your Galfor?"
Mywhat? "Uhh…fine also."
Raven narrowed her eyes. Star wasn't usually this quiet. A fly buzzed around the girls.
"You're sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I am okay."
"Alright," she said, getting up. "See you tomorrow then."
When Raven was gone, Darkfire sat down on Star's bed. "This is gonna be tough…"
...
Beast Boy hurried to Raven's toom, his hands clasped together. Once inside her room, he called to her through the dark.
The lights instantly came on, and he saw her on her bed, wide awake. "What took you so long? I left three minutes ago."
"Yeah, well, she kept doing weird things…y'know, for Starfire… But look at this!" He opened his hands and put them in front of her.
She examined his hands. "I don't see anything," she said dryly.
He rolled his eyes and held up a piece of orange hair.
"And…? It's a hair."
"A hair from Darkfire's head," he smirked.
She was confused. "What? Who's Darkfire?"
"And to think I'm the one who's teased…" he muttered. "Okay. Darkfire is the girl posing as Starfire."
"Can you tell me why?" she asked, her voice showing a hint of irritation.
"Uhhh…no?" he smiled sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders.
"Okay… Then what's with the hair?"
"I'm thinking DNA test."
"Hmmm…" she smiled. "Okay, DNA test it is. But when?"
"When everyone's asleep. Nobody can know!"