Many thanks to Kayasuri-N, who wrote Cyborg's half of the chapter and helps me keep this story moving in the right direction.

Interlude: Eighteen Days
"I do not believe there will be coffee this morning, Cyborg. Beast Boy was slightly careless in setting down the pitcher used for the brewing." Starfire wiped the last pools of coffee from the counter. She already had cleaned away the glass shards.

"Great. Now I have to get along without my placebo."

"What is a placebo?"

"It's… has to be the day I don't have coffee, huh? It's like tricking the body. I give you a sugar pill and say it's a painkiller, you think your pain's gone away."

"There is really nothing there, but I believe that it has an effect," she said, fixing the new definition in her mind. She might know the language, but some words were still new. "Could you check for glass, please? I am unsure if I missed any shards. Robin and Beast Boy were debating whether friend Beast Boy needed more training, and Beast Boy did not realize his strength."

Cyborg scanned the area with his robotic eye. It came in handy, sometimes. He pointed towards the fridge. "A few skittered under there, but we won't step on them. You'd cut your hand getting them out." He would vacuum later.

"I do not know why they cannot get along." She carefully threw away the rag she had used on the counter. She didn't want anyone to be cut by traces of glass. "They cannot have any conversation without it becoming a fight."

"It's a conflict of personality, Star."

"There was a conflict of personality without fighting in the beginning, was there not?"

"Yeah, Star. B was just a kid, I think, and Rob was acting too adult." Cyborg shrugged. "You were getting used to Earth, I wasn't too happy about the thought of being a permanent buffer."

Starfire frowned. "I am now used to cleaning up after their disagreements. I merely left the room to check upon Silkie."

"I think you're being a bit literal about the cleaning up, this time."

"To be literal is to say exactly what you mean, and intend for the words to have a further meaning, correct?"

"That's right."

Starfire sighed. She had to cheer up, or she would not be doing any flying for an hour.

"Robin makes me so frustrated!" She stopped her fist just before it hit the counter.

Starfire set her palm flat against the Formica and took a deep breath. "I have been speaking with Angela, about him."

"Yeah? She got any advice better than belting him one?" If it came to that, Cyborg knew he would be the one doing the hitting. Starfire could get enthusiastic.

"Angela was sympathetic enough to suggest hitting him, but I had to point out that I just might break him." Starfire shook her head and looked in the cabinet. "We have the grounds of coffee, but no machine. Perhaps we later could find a replacement machine. Beast Boy almost lost control, again, and is quite strong when he is close to taking that form."

"Don't I know it. Shopping… let's not take those two. Robin will be busy training himself too hard for the rest of the day, and B won't leave the rocks. We could get a new coffee machine, easy, before they notice we're gone."

She stared out the window. "I have tried to speak with him, when he does this, but Beast Boy says he needs the alone time." There was no use attempting to speak to Robin, when he entered the gym in such a mood.

"I'll make some of his nasty tofu to get B inside, if I need to." Cyborg grimaced. "Hope I don't."

Starfire giggled. "You are quite a friend, Cyborg."

She looked from the shore to the gym. "Someday, soon, I shall lose my patience." Her smile slipped away and her eyes hardened. She tried to be nice, as was liked on the planet, but sometimes it was quite hard. "I will pick them both up, lock them in a room, and refuse to let them emerge until they finally have finished their fight and decided whatever issue it is that causes such long conflict."

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Star." Cyborg shook his head. "We might end up with two teammates in a hospital and no answers, or worse."

She smiled wryly. "At least there would be fewer conflicts, and some peace in this tower." Both feet were flat on the ground. Being down to earth was no fun at all.

"That, or they just might decide they're bosom buddies."

Starfire giggled, feet six inches above the ground. "I never shall get used to the many meanings your words have. I have already eaten my breakfast. Please tell me when you are ready to depart."

"Will do, Star." Cyborg wasn't sure what he'd said, but he didn't think about it. Starfire was laughing again, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know.