(A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! I'm so glad you guys like my rewrite so far. I hope you continue to like it. Please keep me updated on what you think. Love, Ellivia22)
Disclaimer: If I owned Teen Titans, Jinx would've become a Teen Titan sooner.
I'll Be
Part III
Raven
The next morning's meditation took a lot longer than usual. Rage was still strong and keeping her locked up was more difficult. Honestly I can't blame her. Last night's events kept replaying in my mind, making it impossible to sleep. I want to take her advice and hurt those who hurt Beast Boy, but I have to keep reminding her that Beast Boy wouldn't want that. He would want me to resolve this in a peaceful manner. Hopefully I'll be able to manage it. Once I brought up Beast Boy, Rage seemed to calm down a bit and didn't fight me as much.
Now that I've finished everything in my morning routine, including checking on Beast Boy, I'm prepared to talk to the other Titans about Beast Boy-more specifically what happened last night. I decide to talk to Starfire first. Of all the Titans, she is the one that is the most open-minded. It shouldn't be that hard to get her to see reason. Since I didn't find her in the kitchen I assume that she's still in her bedroom. Taking a deep breath in an effort o keep my emotions calm, I knock on the door.
Knock Knock
Seconds later the door opens, revealing Starfire cradling Silkie in her arms. At first the expression on her face from seeing me is of worry, but she relaxes when she notices that my expression is back to it's usual blank state. "Oh Friend Raven! What a surprise!"
I don't change my expression. "Star, I wanted to talk to you about last night. I promise, I'm not here to yell at you."
Though you do deserve it Rage booms in my head. I ignore her.
Starfire relaxes. She gives me a friendly smile. "Of course, Raven. I do always enjoy our girl talk. Let me put Silkie down for a nap. Come on in!"
I enter her room, inwardly shuddering at the amount of pink in the room. Even the ceiling is the same bright pink color. It's worse than Happy's domain-and that's saying something. I push her fluffy pillows aside and sit on the circular bed. A minute later Starfire joins me. I don't waste any time.
"Starfire, I am really confused on why you think it isn't safe for me to date Beast Boy. He's our teammate, our friend. You've known about my feelings for him for quite some time and have been so supportive from the beginning. Why are you so against us dating now all of a sudden?"
The alien princess looks really uncomfortable. I can feel her emotions: confusion, guilt, and mistrust. Such mistrust. "Oh, Raven, please do not be angry with me. I do not mean any harm. I am just looking out for you. I do not want Beast Boy to hurt you."
"But he didn't hurt me. He's never hurt me. I told you that. Why do you still not trust him?"
"I want to trust him, I really do," Starfire says, avoiding my intense gaze. "But he attacked us, he fought us. He could have killed us. Robin says that the antidote did not work and I believe him."
"He was not in his right mind," I argue back, trying so hard not to get angry. "But he's taken the antidote. He's the same Beast Boy we've always known."
"Your feelings for Beast Boy is making you blind to what we all see. Beast Boy has changed and it would be best if you stayed away from him."
I stare at her in disbelief. I have a hard time believing what I'm hearing. It's like Starfire is a completely different person. She's never been mad at Beast Boy. Never-unless you count the prank he pulled on her a few years ago. Could that be why she's acting this way? Has she actually not forgiven him? That's so unlike her.
"You're right, Beast Boy has changed, but not in the way you think," I say quietly. "He has become someone who has lost faith in himself; someone who thought he had no one left to turn to. He is a person who though that the only option he has left is to kill himself."
Starfire's orange face pales. "W-what?"
"I caught him last night with a gun to his head. If I had not come in time, he would be dead right now. Come on, Star, I know you are not heartless. You do care about him. Don't you?"
A moment of hesitation. "Yes, but-."
"Do you care about me?" I ask impatiently.
"Of course I do. You are one of my best friends. That is why I want you to be careful."
I ignore her last statement. "All I'm asking is that you think about what I said. Forgive Beast Boy for my sake; talk to him He really needs a friend right now. If you can't do this for him, then do it for me. I love him and want more than anything for him to be happy again."
I get up from her bed and make my way to the door. Starfire's next words make me stop. "You really do love him, then."
I glance back at her, showing her the sincerity on my face. "With all my heart."
I close her door and walk down the hall. Breathing is difficult because my chest is so tight. This conversation was nothing like I planned. I knew Starfire can be stubborn, but I never thought I'd see the day where she'd actually hold a grudge against someone. And Beast Boy of all people. This is all so wrong.
I refuse to give up. Cyborg is next. I am more determined than ever to convince my big brother how much his best friend needs him.
Beast Boy
I don't get the courage to leave my bedroom until almost noon. I woke up around ten, like I always do. I spent most of the morning pacing back in forth in my bedroom. After last night's events I'm terrified of running into the other Titans. I should just turn into a bird and fly out the newly repaired window. At the same time I don't want to seem like a coward.
To keep my promise to Raven I decide to go to the comic book shop located in the mall. I could spend a couple of hours there, buy something to read, then return home. At least then I'll have other things to distract me.
The hallway is quiet and seems longer than normal. Maybe because of the fear of who I might encounter in the living room or the kitchen. I feel sick to my stomach from the anxiety. I hope with every inch of my being that I don't run into Robin. If I do, I might not be able to keep my promise to Raven.
The only person in the room is Starfire. She's working away in the kitchen, as always. For once she's not portraying her usual cheerful spirit. In fact, this is the most serious that I've ever seen her. I long to go over to her and crack a joke to make her feel better, but what's the point?
When I get closer, the alien looks up from whatever meal she's attempting to make. She meets my gaze. Immediately I can tell there's something different about her. Her green eyes are still full of mistrust, but I notice on the look on her face that she's struggling with an internal conflict. Could this be Raven's doing? Is it possible that Starfire is finally starting to trust me again? I refuse to be hopeful. It would just make the let down even worse. Quickly I avert my eyes and enter the elevator to make my way toward the comic book shop.
I feel uneasy the entire way to Jump City Mall. It has nothing to do with the citizens of Jump City staring at me. I'm used to it. Starfire's strange behavior isn't what's making me feel weird either. I have a strange feeling that I'm being followed. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up and my entire body is tensing up. I keep looking around, but not seeing anything out of the ordinary. I hit myself gently on the side of my head to get back into focus.
Get a grip, Garfield!
I enter the comic book shop, putting my paranoia aside. There are more important things to focus on, such as Syke, the Masked Vigilante, and his many adventures.
To be continued...
