Med Room
The bright flash started to fade away. Starfire slowly lowered them to the ground in what used to be the med room. They all rushed to the aid of their friends, worried about the long term effects of the explosion of light.
"Hey, BB. You and Star okay?"
"Do not worry. I am feeling much better now."
"What luck. It seems as though X'hal has accepted the mark to make you two equals."
"Yeah, but what does this mean for us?"
"What do you mean Rae?"
"I mean Beast Boy, you just gave a mating mark to Starfire and she gave you one right back," Raven responded while pointing out the new mark the shape of the sun on his neck. "So, what does that mean for the rest of us?"
"Uh nothing, I guess. I mean-uh -well- I was probably going to end up doing this to you guys at some point, I guess. So, uh, even though it's a bit earlier than I thought, I would've eventually done it."
Raven, Jinx, and Terra all blushed when they heard that and ran from the room, all faintly yelling something about be tired from the days events, leaving Beast Boy, Cyborg, Rose, and the two Tamaraneans. "Uh, well, I guess I'll start cleaning this mess up," said Cyborg.
"Me and my sister shall assist you."
"I'll help too."
"Sorry Kid, but we got to go talk to bird boy," Rose said as she dragged him off."
Raven's Room
Raven laying on her bed. After the events in the med bay, she rushed to her room, sure that she was bound to have an episode. She immediately assumed her meditative pose, prepared to fight in order to keep rampant emotions at bay. Yet, when she was finally ready, the was no resistance to be found. She easily cleared her mind. For a while, she remained on guard, sure that some latent threat was coming, perhaps being weakened by her more reasonable emotions. But, after a good hour of solid meditation, nothing had happened. She had laid down for bed, waiting for the worst to happen. She slowly drifted into sleep.
Starfire's Room
"I appreciate the concern sister, but I am feeling the fine. You do not need to keep asking me if I'm okay." They had just arrived from helping Cyborg clean up the Med Room.
"I'm sorry sister, but I was just trying to assure that you were alright. You gave me quite the scare when you...did whatever you did."
Starfire giggled. "Yes well, I do not believe that I will ever be doing that again."
"You'd better not, or I'll give you hell to pay," the dark haired girl responded. "So, what's it like?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"The mark. How does it feel? Does it make you feel different from before?"
"No...not really."
"Yet?" Starfire did not respond. "Is there something I should know about?"
"...I feel, and additional closeness towards Beast Boy. It is as though I am able to feel where he is, though I have no way of seeing him."
"It must be an effect of the mark." Blackfire reached over and stroked the mark on her sister's neck. She shivered slightly, but did not protest.
"Come, we must get you ready for bed. You have had quite an exhausting day and you need your rest."
The two quickly changed and got into bed. They had just gotten into bed and cuddled up together when Starfire asked, "Sister, why are you so against friend Rose joining the yorgin?"
"...I just worry. She plays by a different set of rules than you and your friends do. I do not know if Beast Boy would be able to stand the temptation of such things."
Starfire snuggled into her sister's back. "You should not worry of such things. Beast boy is much stronger than you believe."
Jinx and Terra's Room
"So, that happened."
"Yeah," the pink haired girl replied as she changed into some pajama pants. "Things got really crazy."
"So, what do you think? About Starfire mark, I mean."
"...I don't know. What should I think?"
"I don't know. I guess it all feels kind of surreal." they both laid down in their respective beds.
"Why's that?"
"Because, he marked one of us. Claimed one of us as his girlfriend and she has the mark to prove it. It's just, with what he said earlier, the gravity of what you guys are doing just hit me. You're in a harem. You're in Beast Boy's harem."
"Now wait a minute." Jinx leaned up. "You're in this with us. Or are you giving up on him?"
"You know I didn't mean it like that."
Jinx laid back down and turned her back towards her friend. "Certainly sounded like you meant it like that."
"You know that I just meant that I just haven't told him answer yet."
"And why is that?" Jinx got back out of bed. "Why haven't you told him when we all know that you're going to agree? Or are you going to agree?"
Terra stood up as well. "Damnit Jinx, you know why I haven't said yes yet. I don't want him to feel like he's being forced into it."
"Well, you're stupid for ever thinking that he would feel that way!"
"Well I'd rather be stupid than be a creep that would take his choice away from being in a relationship." the two stared at each for long seconds. Then both flopped down on their respective beds. "Shit, this last week has been stressful."
"Who are you telling? I've been avoiding having to tell Beast Boy about his mom all week. On top of listening to Robin's morning spiels and making sure Cyborg takes care of Bumble Bee and Kid Flash. I'm wiped out."
"We should probably do something to cheer Beast Boy up a little." They both sat in silence for a while. "Hey Jinx, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I just might be. On the count of 3. 1...2...3!"
"Beach Day!" they say together as they jumped up.
Common Room
"So, Starfire is okay?"
"As far as we can tell. After she necked lover boy here, she turned back to normal."
"That's good. Now Beast Boy," he said, now focussing on the green haired teen. "There was something I was trying to tell you before you had to leave. The honorary wake for your mother is being held in a few days. I've already got a replacement Titan on the way to cover for you. Cyborg will drop you off at Dayton Industries on his way to drop Bumble Bee and Kid Flash back at Titans East."
"Okay. Thanks man. And sorry about blowing up at you like that."
"Not a problem. I definitely deserved it. So yeah, we're cool."
"Thanks. I think I need to hit the sack. Today has been stressful." He made a movement to turn off the communicator, when Robin stopped him.
"Leave it on. I need to speak with Ravager. Alone." Beast Boy looked between the two. Rose nodded her head and and he left.
"So traffic cone, what's up?"
Robin ignored the nick name. "I want you to know I don't trust you being there."
"What a surprise."
"However, I need you to be there to watch out for Beast Boy. If Slade and whoever he's working for are targeting Beast Boy and you and Terra are the only one's who'd be able to know what to watch out for."
"Sounds like you're in quite a pickle."
"I am. But I know how to fix it. You follow the code, don't you."
Rose smirked. She liked where this was going. "What do you think? Listen, I'm a professional. So yes, I follow the code. Any contract I take will be completed."
"Good. I'd like to contract to protecting Beast Boy."
"$50 a day."
"...That's much cheaper than I thought."
"Well, let's say I'm offering you a special discount." 'For additional benefits.'
"Okay, that will work. I'll send the paperwork and the first payment tomorrow."
"All right. Bye." She turned off the communicator without waiting for his response. "Time to go cash in one of those benefits."
The Next Morning-Beast Boy's Room
Beast Boy woke up to the sound of his communicator going off. He sighed as he tried to pick himself up, but found his arm pinned. The last night had been filled with nothing but nightmares. He looked over and sighed. Apparently, with the med room in presumed disrepair, Rose had decided that his bed would be the best choice to sneak into. 'So, this is how many times I an wake up to girls in my bed without reacting. To be honest, I thought it would take a lot more.' He softly pulled his arm free of her grasp, grabbed his communicator, and snuck out of the room. Before he answered he put on a happy face. "Beast Boy here. What's up?"
"Mandatory meeting on the roof. Right now. Hurry up."
"Okay, be there in a sec." He opened the door and walked to the sleeping woman. He softly shook her shoulder. "Hey Rose. It's time to get up."
The girl woke up and stretched. "Hey Kid. Kinda surprised you're taking me being in your bed so well."
"Yeah, well, I think after last night, nothing will catch me off guard. So come on. They're expecting us on the roof."
They hurried to the roof, where they found a happy looking Starfire and Cyborg, an unconcerned looking Blackfire, an aggravated Raven, and tons of pool toys. On top of said pool toys, was grinning sorceress and a blonde geomancer, who was hiding behind her. "Beach Day!"
"Hooray! This is most wondrous news."
"Yeah, so not happening."
"Why not Rae? It sounds like fun."
"No. Just, no."
"Please, come with us Raven. Please with the chocolate strawberries on top."
"I said that it's not happening."
"Please, Rae. For me." Beast Boy reached out and stroked her hand. And then she felt it. Him. She could feel all that Beast Boy was hiding underneath the surface. She sighed. As much as she wanted to help Best Boy right now, she really, really didn't want to go to the beach.
"...Fine."
"Yay!" the rest shouted.
A/N: Next chapter: The Obligatory Beach Episode! Please Review!