Chapter Four

The three bursts into the Tower's living room, fully expecting an all out attack, but all they saw was Robin standing ramrod straight in front of the sofa. His hands were behind him but his face held such an expression of intense agony that the others didn't let their guard down.

Starfire hovered in front of him anxiously. "Robin! Are you all right? Was it your cry of extreme discomfort we heard?"

Cyborg joined her. "Yeah! What's goin' on?"

Robin's mouth worked as he tried to form words. Cyborg scratched his head. "Huh?"

Starfire gasped and held her hands to her mouth. "Oh! He has been stricken with Grabgar!"

Now Cy's attention focused on her. "Huh? With what??"

"Grabgar. It's an illness that robs the victim of speech. We have to make some beerabble syrup for him to gargle with."

"I don't think that's the problem here," Raven remarked. "It's probably something he ate. Again."

"So tell us! What's wrong with you, man?" Cy demanded.

"I…." Robin hissed as he sucked air in and forced words out through clenched teeth. "I. Sat. On. Beast. Boy….."

"Huh?" Now the gazes turned to a very disheveled porcupine sprawled on the sofa, eyes glazed and staring while his mouth worked in gaspy wheezes. Star shifted her concern.

"Oh! He is hurt!" She landed in front of Beast Boy and knelt down anxiously. "Beast Boy, are you all right?"

"Probably just got the wind squashed outta him." Cy observed as he walked around their leader. "Rob's a skinny guy but he's still got some weight. But boy!" Here he uttered a low whistle at the sight of several long quills. "Did BB do a number on you!" He reached down and yanked out a single quill from Robin's posterior, causing the teen to yelp and spin about.

"Yeowch! That hurt!"

Cy shrugged. "Well, they gotta come out. What do you want, Raven to teleport 'em?"

Instead of answering, Robin cast a glance of mute appeal to the cloaked figure. Raven pursed her mouth, then held up one hand. When the ball of darkened light appeared around it, she gave a yank. One quill was plucked from its seating but also yanked another cry from Robin. Raven shrugged and the light faded.

"Do you wish me to assist you in removing the points?" Star offered. Robin flushed clear to his hair and backed away carefully.

"Ah…no, Star. Um…thanks but….but I think Cy can handle it. Why don't you see to Beast Boy? Make sure he's recovered." He suggested. Cy grinned which caused Robin to give him a frown.

"All right. Make yourself comfortable on the couch." The mechanized teen ordered. "Doctor Cy is about to operate!"

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were enjoying this!" Robin grumbled as he gingerly laid down on his stomach. "Mmph. Ow."

"Hey, you shoulda watched where you were sittin'." Cy rejoined. Robin gave a growl.

"I'm not exactly in the habit of checking for porcupines in the living room! Ow."

The mentioned porcupine shook himself and looked over at the suffering teen, having recovered from the incident in somewhat better shape. Robin glared at him.

"Not one w..OW! word!" he ordered. "You hear me? Not a s..OUCH!…single word!" Beast Boy shrunk back.

"Hmmm. You know, since these quills came from BB, don't you think we should find a way to put them back? I mean, what if he's missin' an ear or something cuz he doesn't have it all together anymore?" Cy wondered as he plucked and pulled.

Robin's answer was muffled from the cushion he was biting but Cy gathered it had to do with just what Beast Boy could do with his quills. Cy grinned again.

"Hey, this gives me an idea about the movie tonight. Ever see 'Texas Across The River'? It's an old cowboy flick. Dean Martin plays this cowboy who gets shot with an arrow right in his rear."

Starfire frowned. "Cyborg, I do not think that would be a pleasant movie for Robin to watch."

"No? Then how about 'City Slickers'? I always liked that one scene when Billy Crystal ran with those bulls."

"Will you OW! Stop with that?" Robin raised his head from the cushion long enough to make that demand.

"Ok ok, just tryin' to make polite conversation, that's all." Cy yanked out another quill from his twitching patient and studied it casually. "It coulda been worse, you know. BB coulda been a skunk!"

Beast Boy wrinkled his nose in distaste, Star did the same with puzzlement. "Skunk? What is a skunk?"

"A very smelly beast." Raven explained. "And the smell doesn't go away easily. I'd say between the two Robin got off lightly."

"That's easy for y..OWWWW! you to say!" Robin punched the sofa in pained frustration. "Don't you two girls have something…URGH!….better to do?"

"Oh, shall we boil some water, or something?" Raven offered dryly. Star took it seriously.

"Yes! Robin shall need some strengthening soup after this! I shall make some."

"Fine. Make soup." Cy said absently. "And later we can have some shish-ka-bobs!"

"Not funny, Cy." Robin moaned. "Not…ARGH!…funny at all!"

Beast Boy quietly made his way out of the room.