"Thought I might find you up here."
Beast Boy didn't say anything. He was standing near the edge, looking out over the city. Robin quietly stepped across the rooftop. "They're pretty worried, you know."
"Yeah." He rubbed his eyes.
Robin's voice took on a lighter tone. "Wasn't easy convincing them to go back to their rooms last night."
"Good thing you're a hero, then," Beast Boy snapped, but he knew his anger was irrational. What's wrong with me?
Robin was silent. Then, he tilted his head back, facing the dim morning sky. "I'm not asking you to explain it. I only need to know how this will affect the team."
He scowled. "Don't really wanna talk about it, dude."
"Tough. You attacked him, Beast Boy."
Shaking his head violently, he closed his eyes. "No, I- I didn't. I just pushed him."
"Exactly." Robin stepped up next to him. "He's heavy. You shouldn't have been that strong." He shrugged. "The Beast, on the other hand..."
Beast Boy turned, but Robin was just looking straight ahead. His cape stirred with the breeze. "This is different," Beast Boy said.
"I know. I've never seen you with more than one change before." Robin sighed. "This isn't good."
Fear brushed against his mind. Something told him to run, like an animal before a hunter. Beast Boy fought it down. "What are you saying?" he asked carefully.
Robin didn't face him. "I need to keep this team safe, Beast Boy."
A scene jumped into his memory. He was in a tall chair, with metal bracelets anchoring his arms in place. Robin, staring down at him. Demanding. Accusing. And then-
"We've been over this," he said in a low voice.
"You said it yourself. This is different."
He opened his mouth, but Robin interrupted. "Look. Can you tell me, right now, that you know how to handle this? Without any doubt?"
No, he thought. It had come out of nowhere- first the dream, and then the change was suddenly fighting, straining to cycle through a dozen animals at once. And he still didn't know why.
Hearing his silence, Robin frowned. "Do you know how it started?"
"No, but-"
"Will it happen again?"
He gritted his teeth. "I don't know."
"Will it interfere with missions?"
"I don't know, alright?" Beast Boy yelled. "I don't know, and I'm sick of worrying about it! So just leave me alone!" A startled pigeon sprang away from the roof's edge, soaring over the bay.
Robin kept his voice level. "Beast Boy, you know we can't do that. You need our help, and maybe- maybe- we can figure this out." He faced his friend, completely unmoved by the outburst. "At least try to talk to them. After yesterday, you owe them that much."
He couldn't find the words to argue. Mind racing, he stared at the waves below as they gently rolled onto the island's shore.
Beside him, Robin turned back to the city. The early sunlight was starting to glint off the buildings in the distance. "One more thing," he said slowly. "We're going to upgrade your training schedule. Every morning, be up here at six."
Beast Boy looked up in shock. "You're kidding."
"If you want to improve your self-control, it starts with discipline. If you're slipping, we have to correct it." Robin crossed his arms. "Simple."
"No, it's not." Glaring, Beast Boy stepped forward so he was directly under the older boy's chin. "You think it's gonna be that easy, dude? You'll just snap your fingers, I run a few laps, and suddenly everything's fine?"
Robin returned the black look without flinching. "Of course not." Beast Boy waited for him to defend himself, but he simply turned and headed back. "Six. Don't be late."
The anger rose again, and he shouted at Robin's back. "You're crazy, dude! You're not gonna be the one to fix all this! You can't solve everything!"
He stopped, but didn't turn around. "I'm the leader, Beast Boy."
"So?"
"So," Robin said over his shoulder, "That means I'm whatever this team needs me to be. And right now, I have to help you. That's all there is to it."
He scoffed. "You know, you're starting to sound a lot like B-"
"I know."
