Wrong Conclusions
Chapter four: The Consequence of Seat Switching

Within the hour, a movie was chosen as were a couple of pizzas. Seeing as that Beast Boy was the 'man of the hour', Starfire and Raven had both agreed that for once, they could splurge on more then one pizza and had gotten a meat-lovers for Robin and Cyborg and a nice vegetarian for Beast Boy. Raven usually didn't eat too much pizza to begin with, and Starfire ate anything if she was allowed to add her own personal toppings to it, so their choices weren't an issue. The movie itself was a horror flick, as per usual, but Beast Boy had made sure that it had nothing to do with any vampires. Every time Cyborg had mentioned the word, Beast Boy had come close to hurling.

Beast Boy and Cyborg had been the first to return to the Titans Tower. They had popped the cassette into the VCR and then went to forcefully drag Robin away from what he had claimed to be a breakthrough in their thief's identity. Starfire and Raven had appeared not ten minutes later with the pizzas and set them onto the table.

Now, the movie was about to begin, and Cyborg stood up in front of Robin (who was moodily tapping his fingers on his arms, which were crossed over his chest) to tell the Titans something about the movie. "This here's a brand-spanking-new horror flick. It's said that someone had a heart attack just watchin' it! It's all about zombies and ghosts -- but no vampires 'cause widdle BB's too scawed," Cyborg flashed a challenging glance at Beast Boy, who was leaning over the couch to watch Cyborg's summary with Raven and Starfire right behind him. To everyone surprise, Beast Boy just gave a weak laugh and scratched the back of his head.

"Er...yeah. Anyway!" Cyborg continued, tossing the box carelessly to the side and sitting downon Robin's left. "C'mon! Sit down everyone, so we can start this thing!"

"Great. Another night of meaningless horror movies. How fun," Raven muttered to herself, watching Starfire float towards the couch. To her surprise, though, Starfire sat on the other side of Cyborg, rather than next to Robin. And what surprised her even further was that Beast Boy, after giving Robin a strange look-over, smiled meekly and sat right beside Starfire.

Robin, too, seemed a bit taken-aback by this. Starfire had always sat right beside him during horror movies... She usually used his cloak to shield herself whenever she got scared. He looked back at Raven, who merely shrugged and floated forward to take the last available seat, which was next to Robin.

Cyborg, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice the strange actions and merely continued on with the merriment. "About time. Let's go!" Cyborg pulled out a remote and pressed a button to turn the lights off, then another one to turn the video on. Cyborg was into the movie instantly.Within mere minutes, Robin was lost in the movie as well, where as Raven was already beginning to pull out a black book and pretending to ignore the movie best she could. She was thankful for times when she could spend time with her friends and all, but horror movies simply didn't appeal to her, especially after that time she had been frightenined into losing her powers.

Beast Boy and Starfire, though, didn't have their attention averted quite so quickly. Both looked from the corner of their eyes at Robin and Raven sitting next to one another, both feeling stabs of jealousy and disappointment as they did so. Thankfully, it was dark, so none of the titans noticed that the two were looking -- not even Starfire and Beast Boy. As far as the two knew, the other was lost in the movie already.

As much as I hate to admit it, they do look good together... Beast Boy growled at himself, mostly for being so jealous of Robin. Dude, I gotta get over this! They like each other! Hell, they may even love each other! It's not like I can blame her -- Robin's only, like, a million times cooler than me! And I can't blame Robin, either. I mean, if I fell for Raven, why couldn't he? Man, he probably made a move on her a long time ago, too. I should've been quicker! For all I know, it's all it would've taken for her to at least like me...

As Beast Boy mentally wounded himself further, Starfire merely let out and a small sigh and looked up at the movie. Beast Boy was clenching his hand into a fist, ready to literally hit himself in the face when he heard her sigh. She was right beside him, after all, and he needed something to snap him out of his mental self-abuse.

So once he heard her sigh, Beast Boy turned his head a bit to look at Starfire's face, which was just barely visible in the dim light emitted from the television screen. It seemed to rip his heart in half to just look at the poor Tamaranian. She was usually so happy and peppy, but her eyes were so depressed and lonely at that particular moment...The look didn't suit her. At all.

What's up with Star...? Beast Boy asked himself, studying her for a few more moments from the corner of his eye. Within a second, he mentally smacked himself in the face for not realizing earlier. Of course! Star's totally got the hots for Robin! Man, I forgot she likes him so much with the whole Raven thing going on. She must hate seein' 'em together more than I do. I wish I could make her feel better... It isn't the same when she's sad...

"...What is wrong, Beast Boy?" Starfire whispered, turning her head very slightly to look at Beast Boy. He had an uncomfortable look on his face, and she didn't think it was caused by the movie. "Are you positive you are unharmed?"

"Huh?" The Changeling blinked a bit, before shaking his head vigorously to rid it of any thoughts he had been having a moment before. "Yeah, fine, fine! Just kinda tired from today. Must've spaced out!" Beast Boy let out his normal, high-pitched laugh while scratching the back of his head. Cyborg growled darkly and hissed a 'Shut it, will you?', causing Beast Boy to go completely silent.

"...If you claim so to be true," Starfire said quietly and went back to watching the movie. With a small sigh and one last glance towards Starfire's sad face, Beast Boy finally began to do the same.

Two hours later, the movie finally ended. Raven had managed to ignore the entire thing, where as Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy were gaping in horror. Starfire was clinging to Beast Boy's arm and whimpering into it, although apparently, Beast Boy did not notice she was there.

"...Ugh, I remember why I hate zombies so much," Robin went a slightly paler color than usual, and Cyborg did the same while fighting an urge to pass out.

"Dude, that was sick...!" Cyborg made a motion to vomit, but seemed to stop himself in time. Raven still scooted away just in case, though.

"Oh, man, maybe vampires WOULD'VE been better-" But Beast boy's commentary was cut off as his attention was drawn to the arm Starfire was clinging to. She had let out a whimper and dug her nails into his arm.

"Are the walking undead no longer on the screen...?" She managed to squeak out, causing Beast Boy and Cyborg to laugh a bit.

"It's only a movie, Star! And yeah, it's over," the Changeling said with a laugh, as Cyborg joined in. Starfire whimpered again while hesitantly pulling her face away, but refusing to un-dig her nails from Beast Boy's arm.

"But...but I fear they may return!" She cried.

"Yeah, Star, you can deal with vampire-boys flyin' around without so much as yawning, but when it's a guy in a lot of make-up and rubber, you head for the hills," Beast Boy taunted.

"Ooh, don't let thee scary make-believe-man get me! Out of my way, sludge beast, I'm hiding from a guy with make-up!" Cyborg imitated Starfire, causing her to smile a bit at her own silliness.

As Beast Boy and Cyborg continued to lightly taunt Starfire's fear of movies but her lack of any fear during battle, Raven and Robin both looked over at the three, having slightly different reactions. They didn't feel like teasing Starfire at all...

Robin accidentally crushed a piece of crust he was holding in his hand, a sudden wave of anger washing over him. He didn't know why, but every second Starfire continued to hold onto Beast Boy's arm seemed to send a new wave of rage pulsating through his veins. It shouldn't have been a big deal; Starfire hugged people all the time and it had never bothered him before. But there was some form of territorial voice going off in Robin's head, telling him that Starfire was supposed to be clinging to HIM, to HIS arm --not Beast Boy's. She always sat next to him during horror movies for protection. Why... why was the suddenly avoiding him and going to Beast Boy instead?

In Raven's head, a small twinge of annoyance went off. She didn't know why, really, and merely assumed it had to do with Beast Boy and Cyborg's taunting. After all, she had not had it any better when they had made fun of her fears. They had no right to go after Starfire in such a way. But then again, Starfire was been asking for it by sitting right between Beast Boy and Cyborg, rather than Robin...

...Why WAS she sitting next to Beast Boy rather than Robin?

Raven blinked a bit as her eyes focused in on Starfire's hands on Beast Boy's arm. She felt another annoyed twinge in her system. "Nngh," She let out an uncomfortable sound, suddenly slamming her book shut, and causing Beast Boy and Cyborg to go tacit in mid-joke.

"I'm going to bed," The half-demon said calmly. "Everyone else probably should too, with that vampire-guy running around." With that, she began to float off towards her room.

Robin hopped to his feet instantly, happy to have an opportunity to break Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Starfire up. "Raven's right. We should all go to bed after that fight today. Especially you, Beast Boy," the Boy Wonder gave a smile; half because Beast Boy had done so well that day, and half because Starfire had finally let go of the Changeling's arm. He didn't know why, but the latter caused a cool feeling of relaxation to take over his body.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Beast Boy let out a small laugh, hopping to his feet. Cyborg stood up as well, and Starfire simply hovered a few feet above the couch.

"Mm," Robin gave a small nod before turning to walk off. "I think I'll call it a night for now, too. Good night," He waved lightly to his friends, only Starfire waving back. A few moments later there were two recognizable 'Fwoosh' sounds, as Robin's door opened and closed behind him, Raven's door doing the same right after it.

"I should go catch some Z's, too," Cyborg said with a small yawn. "All that chasin' after you was pretty annoying, BB," He snickered lightly, walking off before Beast Boy could think of a retort.

That left Beast Boy feeling pretty frazzled, and he crossed his arms over his chest to pout at the robotic titan's back. "Stupid Cyborg always having to have the last stupid shot because he's so stu-"

"...Are you truly alright, Beast Boy?"

"Huh?" Beast Boy turned a bit, to look into Starfire's eyes. She was giving him an uncomfortably worried-filled glance, and he backed up a bit out of instinct. Why's she starin' at me like that...? ...Or does she always, but I never really bothered to notice before...? Aw, man. Beast Boy's thoughts were cut off by the sounds of Cyborg's door opening and closing behind him. "Uh, of course, Star! I mean, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, after the battle with the Trigon, you have had the Querchok eyes."

"...The what?" By now, Beast Boy was more than accustomed to Starfire's Tamaranian terms, but he could have sworn he'd never heard THAT one before.

"The Querchok is a creature on my planet whose eyes are always filled with sadness and despair, despite its mouth always being up-turned into a smile. When someone's eyes are filled with the same sadness, though a smile is on the face, that is the term we use on Tammaran," Starfire blinked innocently, as though she assumed Beast Boy would have known this.

Beast Boy merely twitched. Man, Starfire's a lot sharper than any of us give her credit for... "Really, Star, I'm fine," Beast Boy finally said. "I just...started t'think a little more, y'know? And since I'm not used to doing that, it's making my head hurt," He laughed a bit, Starfire giggling as well. She was one of the few people who appreciated his jokes...whenever she understood them, anyway.

"Well, if that is what you say," Starfire began to float towards her room, but out of nowhere, Beast Boy's gloved hand gently caught her wrist. Starfire's eyes widened and she turned back to look at Beast Boy's strangely anxious face. Starfire had no idea, but Beast Boy was dying to know if she was going through the same thing he was. If she was feeling the same pain he felt over Raven's loss, only over Robin's. It may have been a 'misery loves company' thing, but then again, making Starfire feel better could've let Beast Boy forget about Raven, and they could both be their old selves again.

"But...What about you? I mean, I heard Robin talking about you getting totally awesome at your Starbolts all of a sudden, and your eyes are like Kweerchak...Quarche...That thing you said's too!" Beast Boy hadn't meant to be so open about it, but he hadn't thought before blurting everything out.

He flushed darkly and quickly let go of Starfire's wrist as suddenly as he had caught it. Beast Boy spoke up again before Starfire could have replied to his prying question. "Sorry! None of my business. Night, Star!" Beast Boy ran off, feeling horribly embarrassed with what had just come over him, leaving Starfire alone in the living room before she could have even said 'goodnight' back.

Starfire sighed once he was gone, turning towards the window and rubbing her arm lightly. "So, it is obvious that I, too, have the Querchok eyes...?" She asked her reflection, getting no response other than another small sigh escaping her lips.

Disclaimers:

Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, Robin, Cyborg, Silkie, and pretty much everything but the plot at hand belongs to © D. C. Comics/Cartoon Network/Kids WB

Now, gimme reviews! And such!