Beyond Moonlight
Author: Krys Yuy
Summary: It's Sailor Moon's first time in the T-tower and she finds herself fascinated with the occupants that reside within. Beast Boy and Starfire welcome her with open arms, while Cyborg and Raven are more hesitant about the unexpected arrival. Meanwhile, Robin struggles with feelings that are growing too fast. Moon also questions her new crush just as her amnesia is brought to light. With no remembrance of her origins, Moon hopes to blend in and find a home among the Titans.
Pairings: SailorMoonxRobin, StarfirexBeastBoy, RavenxCyborg
Warnings: Possible swearing, violence, possible OOCness, and spoilers for Teen Titans and Sailor Moon.
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Post-Switched (Season 1) for Teen Titans and post-Sailor V Makes the Scene (Season 1) for Sailor Moon. Wow, only two people bothered to answer my question from the first chapter (Thanks MoonLight and Angel8!). It's no biggie, it was just a poll. Anyways, for now, I'm going to stick with all the pairings. But now, I might just make Raven and Cyborg really good friends. Concrete Tenshi mentioned that the SM/R relationship is going pretty fast. Yeah, I kinda realized that too, so I'll be trying to slow it down somewhat. But from this chapter, you can tell things speed up a little more. sweatdrops Hope everyone still enjoys this chapter though!
Archive/Distribution: Fanfiction-Net, otherwise ask first.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used. =0P
"She resisted the face!" – Beast Boy, Forces of Nature
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Chapter 02 – Blending In
Sailor Moon found herself waking up in unfamiliar surroundings for a second time – that she could remember anyway. However, she did notice the major difference. Whereas waking up before had included migraines and soreness, this time she felt nothing but the effects of a long blissful sleep. She sat up in bed and stretched, feeling energized and hyper. After her mind cleared of any left-over sleep, she scanned the room she was in inquisitively. It was overly clean and extremely large. Cabinets and counters lined one of the walls completely. She turned around and saw the screen above her bed, which was listing her heartbeat and other vitals.
'Someone made sure I was taken care of,' Moon mused, both impressed and grateful. 'But who?'
Intense emotion was displayed despite the mask covered eyes.
"I needed to know… who you were."
He stretched his hand out toward her in invitation. "Come with me."
"I'm Robin." Simple. Plain.
Complicated.
"Robin…" Moon whispered. She remembered the feel of his arms surrounding her. "He didn't let me fall." She brought both hands to her cheeks as she blushed. 'He sure was cute, though.'
The young heroine glanced around the room a second time and suddenly felt very alone. She swung herself out of bed and the screen turned blank. Hesitantly, she walked to what she assumed was the door, which had a large panel beside it. She tilted her head and tried to figure out how to open it. After a few seconds, she pressed her palm against the plate and bit back a smile as the scan tickled her skin. Then she hung her head as a red light beeped, announcing a negative response.
'I'm ready for a good, wonderful day but what stops me?' Moon thought, frustrated. 'A door. A large gigantic metal door.' She glared and kicked it with as much force as she could.
Then she yelped in both surprise and pain as the door slid open and her toes throbbed painfully. "Well, I wasn't expecting that," she commented to herself.
Moon heard a small whimper and looked down to find a green puppy staring up at her curiously. She grinned and kneeled in front of the small animal. "Hey there, little guy. That's an interesting color you got there. I've never seen a green dog before." She reached her hand out slowly so she wouldn't scare him. She giggled as the puppy immediately licked her gloved hand. "Well, I found someone. What's your name, sweetie?"
The puppy only barked back at her.
"I'm just gonna call you Unique 'cause of your fur color." She laughed but then a somber thought entered her head. "I don't know my real name, but you can call me Sailor Moon." Moon noticed that the pet was standing on the other side of the door. She stared at the green puppy incredulously. "Don't tell me you were the one who opened the door," she said, wagging her finger.
It had to be her imagination because the puppy started to look nervous.
Moon blinked and shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me, Uni, as long as I get out of here." She held out her arms and smiled as the puppy jumped into them readily. "Thanks. I'm already pretty lonely, and I don't wanna get lost by myself." She hugged the animal closer as it licked her cheek. "Oh, I wish I could keep you!" she exclaimed. "But you probably belong to one of the Teen Titans, don't you?"
The puppy whined excitedly.
"That's too bad." Sailor Moon went out of the room and chose a direction randomly. "I must be in the T-tower," she pondered. "These halls are so big…" She turned a corner and gasped at the view the enormous windows gave her. "Oh my gosh. It's so beautiful… but it must be even more amazing on the roof." She sighed wistfully. "I wish I knew the way."
The puppy wiggled in her arms until she relaxed her hold. Then the animal jumped down and began circling her.
"What is it, Uni?"
Unique barked and scampered down one of the halls. When she didn't follow, the puppy came back, circled her, and ran down the hallway again.
'I guess he wants me to follow him…' Moon thought. She looked around. 'Like I wouldn't get lost if I went out on my own.' She took a deep breath and followed the eager animal. 'Here it goes.'
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Beast Boy muttered to himself as he walked down the hall, trying to gather the courage to talk to Starfire. The Tamaranian girl was currently in the kitchen cooking her infamous blue fuzzy meals for lunch. He kept approaching her and would chicken out in the last second, making up some poor excuse. Beast Boy really needed some advice. Cyborg was too busy fiddling with the T-car to help and Raven was locked in her room reading one of her dark novels. Robin was venting some locked up frustration in the training room, and Beast Boy didn't want to go near the Titans' leader when he was in one of his moods.
"Man, what am I gonna do…" the changeling moaned. He looked up and found himself staring at the entrance to the medical lab. 'Hmm… maybe I should take a break from worrying and check out this new chick. She probably can't hold a candle to Starfire, but I wanna see what Robin's so worked up about.'
Beast Boy lifted his hand to the panel just as someone kicked the door. It slid open and he glimpsed the strange heroine as her face winced in pain and surprise. He made a split-second decision and transformed into a small puppy.
'I'll get more out of her this way.' Beast Boy reasoned, waiting for the girl to see him. 'Besides, I get to be held by a cute girl!' He whimpered at the thought.
The stranger finally looked down at him and beamed as she kneeled on the floor. She talked to him excitedly and Beast Boy was starting to like her more and more. She reminded him slightly of Starfire with her bright personality. She also seemed to adore animals, which was an extra plus for him.
"I'm just gonna call you Unique 'cause of your fur color." She laughed.
Beast Boy was now completely won over. 'She thinks I'm unique?' he thought, puffing up with pride. 'Her laugh is so cool!'
"I don't know my real name, but you can call me Sailor Moon."
That statement piqued Beast Boy's curiosity. 'She doesn't know her real name?' he thought in confusion. 'How can she not know her real name? Add one mark to the mysterious category…'
Moon talked some more and then finally held her arms out. 'Finally!' BB thought happily. He readily jumped into them and snuggled into her warmth. He also licked her cheek as she hugged him closer.
"Oh, I wish I could keep you!" she exclaimed. "But you probably belong to one of the Teen Titans, don't you?"
'She's half-right,' Beast Boy thought wryly. Then a hopeful idea entered his head. 'One day, I might belong to Starfire!' He whined excitedly.
Sailor Moon expressed her regrets on not getting to keep him, but finally exited the medical lab. She marveled over the size of the place, and Beast Boy couldn't help but feel pleased that she liked the Titans' home. She turned a corner and gasped at the view.
'She likes this view? Wait until she sees it from the roof!' Beast Boy thought, internally grinning.
As if reading the changeling's thoughts, Moon commented, "Oh my gosh. It's so beautiful… but it must be even more amazing on the roof." She sighed wistfully. "I wish I knew the way."
'Why do you have to know it when you have me to show you?' BB thought smugly.
The changeling wiggled until she let him drop to the floor. He rushed around her before dashing down another hallway. When she didn't follow him, he doubled back and circled her again. When he went down the hallway a second time, she followed him. He led her towards the end until they reached another door.
"A door I can open!" Moon exclaimed, pleased that she wouldn't have to worry about getting locked out.
Beast Boy barked, trying to tell her to open the door.
"All right, all right, Uni." Moon laughed and patted his head. "Don't worry, I'm opening it." She opened the door to see a long set of stairs. "Great."
Unaware of her reluctance, Beast Boy darted past her and up the stairs. Moon followed the puppy again and reached another door at the top. She went through and found herself on the roof.
"Oh… wow." Delighted, Sailor Moon dashed to the center and looked around at the view. "You can see everything from up here!" She saw the harbor, the bridge, and the tall buildings of Jump City. It all looked so majestic that Moon sighed happily. "It's like you're on the top of the world," she said to herself. She remembered Unique when the puppy brushed by her legs. "It's beautiful, Uni, just like I thought it would be. Thanks for taking me here."
Beast Boy yipped and ran around her.
"It's like you can understand me…" Moon muttered. She walked to the edge of the roof and her hair danced with the wind's breeze. Jump City sparkled back at her, full of life. "The Teen Titans really are the guardians of the city. Incredible…" She sat down and enjoyed the view some more. "I wish I could meet them."
"Your wish is my command."
Sailor Moon turned, and where Unique had been next to her, now sat a young teenager with green skin. He grinned at her sheepishly as she gaped at him. "Wh- what?" she asked, eyes wide.
"Beast Boy at your service." He bowed his head slightly but that didn't stop her from noticing the mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Or Unique, if you like."
"But my favorite Titan is Beast Boy! He's green and he can change into any animal he wants!"
Moon remembered Samantha's words and wondered why she didn't realize it before. "Do you always approach people as animals first?" she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Beast Boy blushed. "Well, y'see… usually, if people think I'm an animal, they're more carefree about their nature. They don't fake anything," he replied. "I wanted to see who you were for real."
She lifted an eyebrow. "And?"
"And I think you're totally cool!" Beast Boy responded without hesitation. "No doubt you love animals." Then he looked haughty. "Of course, who can resist me?"
Sailor Moon burst out laughing. "I guess I can forgive you for tricking me even if you didn't apologize," she said, still grinning. "I can already tell you'd make a great friend."
"Oh yeah, sorry about earlier," Beast Boy commented, even as he beamed from her compliment. "I'd like to be your friend, too."
"Cool." She extended her hand and smiled as the changeling shook it. "I need all the friends I can get."
The two superheroes then proceeded to get to know one another better.
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Robin wiped the sweat off his forehead as he headed to the medical bay. Two hours of training didn't ease the strange feelings stirring in him. He frowned. Ever since he saw Sailor Moon, things were getting really complicated really fast. There was something about the strange heroine that did something to him. The only way to figure it out though was to get to know her.
"She should still be sleeping," he muttered to himself. Guiltily, he hoped she was so that he would be able to get close to her without her actually knowing.
Robin placed his palm against the plate and it slid open for him. He expected to see her still peacefully sleeping on the bed he had placed her in last night. That's why he was unprepared for the bout of panic that swept through him to see the empty bed and tangled blanket. He rushed to it, looking for any signs of a struggle. There were none, only signs pointing to the fact that she had left. Not knowing why it bothered him so much and preferring not to analyze it, he called up her vitals on screen.
"Show me the patient's vitals from the last automatic check-up," he ordered the computer.
The computer's bland voice droned on in response. "Done. Patient stabilized. Breathing and heart rate normal. Recovery complete."
"When did she get up and go?" Robin demanded.
"Patient logged out at 11:47AM."
Robin ran his hands through his black hair. "That was half an hour ago!" he exclaimed, agitated. "Where could she have gone?" Muttering to himself, he pulled out the Titan communicator. "Titans, we have a problem!"
"What's up, Robin?" Cyborg asked.
"Sailor Moon isn't in the medical lab anymore!" Robin informed, practically shouting. "She's disappeared!"
"Calm down," Raven's monotone voice said with a hint of annoyance. "She's probably lost in the T-tower somewhere."
"Ah! Our new friend has disappeared?!" Starfire exclaimed, worried. "I will go look for her!"
"Titans, look for Sailor Moon! Who knows where she could be?" Robin stated, now talking more to himself than the others.
"Uh, dude?" Beast Boy's voice said timidly.
Robin ignored him and kept going on. "Cyborg, search the mechanical area and cargo bay, since you're there already. Starfire, you get the kitchen and the entertainment area. Raven, search the room floors."
"Dude, just-"
"Beast Boy, this is important! You get the other floors, while I'll go back to the training area." Robin crossed his arms impatiently. "She can't have gone far!"
"Dude! Will you listen to me?!"
"What is it?" Robin snapped, already dashing down the hall to the elevator.
"She's on the roof!"
"Oh." Robin felt like hitting himself as he realized how foolish he was being. "Right."
Beast Boy's voice came back. "I swear I don't know what he's getting so worked up about. I mean, it's not like you left or anything. He can be such a doofus sometimes."
Robin felt a pit of dread forming in the middle of his stomach.
"What? Of course I turned my communicator off!" Beast Boy exclaimed to someone who was definitely not a Titan.
Robin growled. "Beast. Boy," he muttered into the communicator.
There was a long silence on the other end. "…. Hehehehehe… Robin?" Beast Boy gulped. "Did you just… hear all that?"
"Please don't tell me that the person with you is who I think it is." Robin felt his head throbbing. 'What if she heard me freaking out?' he thought in mortification.
"Umm… no?" Beast Boy said nervously.
'Oh god. She is.' The Boy Wonder slapped his forehead and hung his head. "Stay where you are," he ordered tightly. Robin had already turned around to head to the stairs that led to the roof.
"Of course. Sure thing, Rob," BB replied.
"Beast Boy?" Raven's monotone voice asked over the communicator.
"Yeah Rae?"
"You are an idiot."
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Even though Beast Boy had already confirmed her location, Robin still rushed up to the roof. His heart was pounding in his ears as he reached the door. 'You are getting worked up over nothing,' he told himself firmly. 'Stay calm.' He opened the door and felt relief as a tinkling laugh met his ears.
Robin walked out and saw Beast Boy and Sailor Moon sitting by the edge of the roof. They were talking and laughing as if they had been friends forever. 'When did they get so chummy?' a voice hissed in his ear. Robin ignored it and headed towards the couple.
Beast Boy saw him first and waved uneasily. "Hey buddy!" he exclaimed. "Moon and I were just getting acquainted. Found out some interesting things, too." He nudged the girl in the shoulder and she blushed.
Robin's eyes narrowed. 'I thought he was supposed to like Star?' His outward appearance was quite the opposite of his churning emotions. He looked every bit the cool and collected leader of the Teen Titans. "That's great, BB," he said. "Thanks for making her feel at home."
Beast Boy's nervousness died down and he gave Robin a thumbs-up. "It was my pleasure, man. Moon is the best!"
Sailor Moon gave the changeling a little shove in embarrassment, still not looking up at the Titans' leader. "Shut up, Unique!" She emphasized the pet name.
"Ow!" Beast Boy rubbed his arm and gave his leader a knowing look. "Don't let the petite form fool you, dude. She's got the strength of an ox or something."
Moon turned even redder and Robin found it quite endearing. He was also jealous that Beast Boy was the one who could make her blush so easily. He was about to comment on it, but then Sailor Moon lifted her head slowly. Robin noticed that she wasn't wearing her white goggles anymore and he breathed in sharply. Wide blue eyes stared back at him innocently, if not a little hesitantly.
Moon gave him a small wave as she ducked her head shyly. "Hi."
Robin snapped out of his stupor and gave her a little half-grin, eyes growing in surprise as she blushed again. 'Well, what do you know.' His grin widened. "Hi."
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The last three Titans joined the others on the roof ten minutes later. Cyborg and Raven took their time, while Starfire rushed towards her new friend. "Sailor Moon! It is wondrous to see you again!" the Tamaranian exclaimed joyfully. She engulfed the blonde heroine in a tight hug.
"It's good to see you too, Starfire!" Moon gasped as the alien girl hugged her with everything she had. She hugged back but could only take so much. "Star- I can't… breathe."
Starfire immediately let go of her, but was still smiling giddily. "This is so exciting!" She grabbed Moon's hands. "You will stay with us, will you not?"
"Umm…" Moon suddenly looked uncomfortable. She pulled her hands from Starfire's grasp. "I… don't know." She looked at the other Titans, whose faces weren't as encouraging as Starfire's. Beast Boy was smiling, but Raven and Cyborg looked hesitant. Even Robin seemed unsure. "Your teammates might have something to say about it."
Starfire whirled around to face her other friends. "Come fellow friends! Sailor Moon must stay with us!" She looked at Robin. "Please?"
"Star, I-" He saw Moon's lost face and didn't know what to do. "Maybe you should introduce the others to her first."
"That is right!" Starfire said. She pulled Moon to her feet and brought her in front of the other Titans. "Sailor Moon, meet my good friends and fellow Titans, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy."
Beast Boy nudged Moon in the shoulder suggestively. "We've already met, Star," he said with a wink.
"Yeah, and he was quite the charmer." Moon pulled on Beast Boy's cheeks before she gazed at Cyborg's imposing figure and Raven's mystifying aura. "Hey. I've heard a lot about you guys."
"Really. What kind of stuff?" Cyborg asked.
"Nothing much." Moon grinned mischievously, forgetting her nervousness. "Just that you guys rock."
All the Titans looked surprised at her statement.
"You probably get a lot of fan mail," Moon continued, enjoying their embarrassment and smiled. "Can you point me to the fan club?"
Beast Boy laughed. "I knew it, dude! There is a fan club!"
"Pinhead."
"Hey! I heard that Raven!" the changeling fumed, glaring at her.
"Whatever."
Amused, Moon watched as Beast Boy and Raven traded insults. "Are they always like this?" she asked no one in particular.
Robin shook his head at his friends. "Worse," he admitted.
"At least Raven listens to him," Cyborg commented, shrugging. "I kinda tune him out."
Moon stifled a giggle as Beast Boy glowered. "Everyone's against me," he moaned.
"Cheer up, Uni!" she exclaimed, making everyone turn and stare at her. Moon plopped down next to Beast Boy and Robin again while the others followed suit.
"Uni?" Cyborg repeated, frowning.
"It's a long story," Beast Boy cut in, laughing nervously. He changed the subject. "We should plan something really fun! Tomorrow has got to be our day off!"
"No can do, Beast Boy," Robin said authoritatively. "We've got our hands full."
The changeling pouted. "Like what?"
Their leader lifted an eyebrow. "Like Slade," he said seriously.
Sailor Moon felt even more left in the dark. "Slade?" she asked, questions swarming around her head.
"Slade is our ultimate nemesis," Beast Boy informed. Even his usual silly expression turned grave.
Starfire agreed, nodding her head. "He is not a nice man at all."
"We can't rest until we stop him." Robin got swept up in his passion for catching Slade. 'I won't rest.' "I'm going to take him down if it's the last thing I do. He won't take over this city. I don't care what it takes. Even my life…" He ignored the others' gasps.
'I wanna catch the bad guy too, but he…' Moon looked at Robin strangely. "There's more to life than being a superhero!"
Robin flinched and stared at her. "Not for me," he whispered. He stood up and put some distance between him and Sailor Moon.
Moon felt hurt but managed to give Beast Boy a small puzzled smile. "Was it something I said?" she wondered. 'Could I be as selfless as him? Could I sacrifice my life?'
Beast Boy patted her hand reassuringly. "Robin's always been the mysterious type. He's very… complex," the changeling informed quietly. "Lately, he's been having a lot of mood swings."
"Lately?" Raven echoed in monotone. She looked at Moon pointedly. "If by lately, you mean yesterday... Then yeah, he has been having mood swings."
Moon could feel the building animosity coming off the psychic. "Is… something wrong?" she asked uneasily.
"What's your real name?" Raven asked out of the blue.
"Raven!" Robin said sharply. He thought about his own name and how he shielded his past even from his friends. "You don't have the right to ask her that!"
Raven raised an eyebrow at his defensiveness. He had already pulled away from the girl, but he still felt the need to safeguard her. 'I didn't know your feelings could change so fast, Robin,' she thought in disbelief. 'Something has happened to you…' Her focus narrowed in on the new heroine. 'And she has to do with it.'
"Chill, man," Cyborg said, putting a hand on Robin's shoulder. "What's gotten into you?"
Robin shrugged off his hand. "Don't worry about it."
Raven turned her head from her leader to Sailor Moon. "Well? What's your name? Where do you come from?"
"I don't know." Moon clenched her fists.
"How can you not know?"
Sailor Moon stood up abruptly. "I can't remember, okay?!" Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't remember…"
The Titans stood up and regarded the young heroine carefully. Robin took the initiative. "We're going to need to… ask you some questions." After a pause, he added, "Is that okay?"
Raven and Cyborg exchanged a look at Robin's words.
'This isn't Robin,' Cyborg thought, eyeing his leader.
Sailor Moon sniffled and wrapped her arms around herself. She suddenly felt very cold. "It's fine," she whispered. "I understand."
Robin nodded. "Good."
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"Robin, I really don't think you should be with us in there," Cyborg commented, standing in front of the doors to the medical bay.
The Boy Wonder raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Why not?"
The humanoid thought of his leader's reaction to Sailor Moon, and knew it would be a bad idea. "Just trust me on this one. It'll be better if you're not there."
Robin didn't like not knowing what was going to happen. "That's not a good enough reason," he stated, moving to brush past his teammate.
Cyborg held him back with one hand. "Stay back, Robin," he warned.
"I have a right to be in there!" Robin exclaimed, growing angrier by the second. "You can't tell me what to do!"
"You have a right to wait quietly while Raven and I do this!" Cyborg retorted, his own temper starting to flare. "Just listen to us!"
"No! I have some questions, too!" Robin replied, crossing his arms stubbornly. "I'll do what I want!"
"Rob, you are such a-"
"Quiet. Both of you." Raven's voice broke through their loud voices. Her face was emotionless, but her eyes betrayed her annoyance. "Robin, Cyborg and I will question Sailor Moon."
He was still ready to fight. "But-"
"No buts," Raven interrupted, holding up her hand. "Out of all the Titans, Cyborg and I have the least attachment. We won't let anything slip by."
Robin stiffened at the veiled implication. "What are you trying to say?!" he demanded. "I would never jeopardize this team! Not for anything!"
Raven could feel his sincerity, but knew he was unaware of what was going on inside of his head and heart. "Frankly Robin, you're not going to help anyone with your attitude right now. That and your feelings for Sailor Moon are clouding your judgment," she stated honestly. "Let us do this."
It was Raven's quiet tone and words that had Robin's anger dying down. "My feelings?" he echoed hoarsely.
"His feelings?!" Cyborg repeated loudly, eyes practically bugging out of his head.
Raven lifted an eyebrow as she nodded. "She's done quite a number on you, Robin," she replied in monotone. 'And you don't even know it.' "While we do this, I suggest you think about it." She went back into the medical bay.
Cyborg gave Robin an assessing look, shook his head, and followed Raven.
Once the doors of the lab slid shut, Robin went to his room on auto-pilot. When he got inside, he sat at his desk and stared at the articles covering it. Broken bird-a-rangs that needed fixing, freeze disks, electric disks, and some spare bo-staffs… Weapons of a superhero.
"There's more to life than being a superhero!"
Why did Sailor Moon's words shake him so much? Robin shuddered and covered his face with his hands. 'This is what I do. This is what I'm good at,' he thought. 'I get the bad guy. I save the innocent. It's all I'm meant for… right?' God, why did things have to get so confusing?
Moon's smiling face drifted into his mind. She affected him like no one else. This heroine who was just a stranger yesterday, but now… she had already wormed her way into his head. She was so similar to Starfire, but there was something else that drew him to her. It was like she knew exactly what it was like to be him.
Impossible! What was he thinking? 'No! I can't do this! I have to stop… whatever this is.'
"Agh!" Robin shouted in frustration, throwing a bird-a-rang at his punching bag. It sliced through and the contents spilled onto the floor of his room. He held up his hand and caught the weapon as it came back to him. "Damn."
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"All right." The door shut behind Cyborg and he joined Raven, who was sitting by a computer with her hood off. He nodded at Sailor Moon, who was seated on the bed she had been occupying earlier. "Let's get started." He brought some of Moon's data on screen. "I'm just going to ask you some questions, but don't think about lying. My girl Raven here can tell." He noticed the girl's anxious face and felt a bit sorry for her. "Don't worry about it. It's just a precaution for the whole team. I hope you understand."
Moon nodded reluctantly. "S-sure. N-no problem."
Cyborg posed his hands over the keyboard. "So you claim not to remember anything about your life?" he asked intently.
"That's right." Moon fiddled with her skirt nervously. "I don't remember who I am."
"You know you're Sailor Moon," Raven replied in monotone.
"Yeah, but that's all I know."
Cyborg needed to dig deeper than what he already knew about her. "Do you know the circumstances of your origins?"
Moon turned puzzled. "My… circumstances?"
Raven resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Was this girl pretending to be dumb or was she just a plain fool? "How did you get your powers? Where are you from?" she elaborated.
"Oh." Moon laughed shakily. "I just… have them, I guess."
The two Titans stared at her incredulously. "You must have gotten them somewhere," Cyborg stated, scratching his head.
"I told you. I don't remember," Moon declared, clasping her hands. "All I know is my purpose."
"Which is?" Raven inquired, feeling with her mind for any signs of deception.
"I fight for those who can't," Moon repeated the words she had thought the day before. "It's my job to protect the innocent and…" Her face scrunched up. "And…"
"And?" Cyborg echoed.
"I… I…" She looked confused. "I can't-" She clutched her head. "There's something else…"
Raven felt the sincerity in her mind. "She's telling the truth."
"How do you know your attacks then?" Cyborg inquired, recalling the fight with Control Freak. "You were shouting something."
"Seriously?" she asked, and they nodded. "Well, it just came into my head. The words were just there."
Raven was a little jealous at how easily Moon could wield her powers. 'It's like she doesn't even have to concentrate.' She shook off the emotion and the monotone was back in her eyes.
"I think it's safe to say that you have amnesia," Cyborg stated, continuing to type the information into his computer.
"You don't say…" Raven said dryly.
Cyborg ignored her, used to her subtle sarcasm. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Sailor Moon thought back, but couldn't recall anything farther than yesterday. "Waking up in an alley down the street from the video store," she answered. "Anything before that… it's a total blank." Her eyes grew sad.
Cyborg wasn't sure if he heard right. "You just woke up in an alley?"
"Yeah. That's the last thing I remember… or should I say first thing."
Cyborg looked to Raven, and the psychic nodded her head. 'She's telling the truth,' Raven thought, narrowing her eyes. 'But why do I sense something else from her? Something bigger?'
Moon looked back and forth from the two Titans. "I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble," she said softly.
Cyborg looked at the girl who was staring back at him innocently. He softened somewhat. "Hey, it's okay."
She wasn't going to cry… she hoped. "You've all been so nice to me," she murmured, looking down at her hands. "You took in a complete stranger and helped her out. You guys are really wonderful."
Raven again heard the truth in her words, just as she did several times before. Still, she was wary of the blonde heroine. No one was this trusting, cheerful, or damn right honest. She paused. Okay well, Starfire didn't count. She was from another planet. Raven strengthened her resolve not to trust Sailor Moon. "Don't try to sweet talk us into anything," she warned.
Moon blinked. "I just want to be your friend," she replied quietly, unable to keep the hurt out of her voice.
Now she definitely sounded like Starfire. "If you're lying…" Raven shook her head. "You endanger my friends, there is no place where I can't find you," the psychic threatened dangerously. She slipped her hood over her head and left the room silently.
Silence permeated the room before Cyborg gave Sailor Moon a sheepish look. "That's Raven for ya." He chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "You might have to get used to her."
Moon considered his words carefully. "Will I have time to get used to her?" she whispered. 'Will I get a chance?'
Cyborg stared back at her for a moment. Then he surprised her by giving a subtle nod and a small grin. "Maybe."
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Beast Boy knocked on Starfire's door, determined to find out her feelings and not think about the other dramas occurring in the tower. He already had enough on his plate to deal with. 'I will not back down. I will not back down,' he thought fiercely. "Be cool, just be cool," he muttered. He jumped in the air as the door slid open unexpectedly.
"Yes Beast Boy?" The Tamaranian beamed at him. "What is it you wish of me? I was just about to go downstairs and see if Sailor Moon would like to partake of some unhealthy sugar candy with me. You may join us if you want!"
"Could we go inside your room for this, Star?" he asked in a rush. She stared at him weirdly. "Well, I- it's just- I'd like to talk to you in private, please!" He waved his arms around wildly and started to panic.
Starfire smiled at him fondly. Beast Boy was so silly and he always managed to make her laugh. She caught his flailing arms and drew him into her room. The door slid closed behind them as Starfire led her friend to a chair and sat on one opposite him. "What is it you wish to talk about?" she asked.
"Umm…" How did he start a conversation again? Gah, he needed help! "I… I…"
"Beast Boy! What is wrong with you?" Starfire giggled softly, amused by his stuttering. "Do you need Earthly refreshment of some kind?"
"No thanks, Star…" Beast Boy's hands curled tightly on his lap. What was wrong with him? 'I'm just about to find out if the girl I love is in love with someone else, that's all,' he thought darkly.
Starfire's laughter faded as Beast Boy's expression turned solemn. "Friend! Why are you so sad?" she demanded. "Please do not lie to me!"
'Friend, huh?' Beast Boy thought sadly. Already, there was a sinking feeling inside. He breathed in deeply. "Do you- do you like Robin?" he asked. Everything he ever wanted was riding on her answer.
"Of course I like Robin." Starfire tilted her head in puzzlement. "He is my best friend."
"Oh. I see." Crushed, Beast Boy started to exit the room. "I guess- I just wanted-" He hung his head. "Stupid," he muttered to himself.
"Wait! Beast Boy!" Starfire ran up to him and grabbed his arm, but he wouldn't look at her. "Why are you asking me these questions? What is the matter?"
"It's nothing, Star," the changeling said, shaking his head. "I wanted something that was out of my league, that's all."
"What is it that you desire?" Starfire demanded. She didn't like to see her friend so depressed. "I will eagerly get it for you if that will make you happy!"
'Always thinking of others…' Beast Boy finally turned to look at her usually smiling expression. Now however, she looked anxious with a small frown marring her beautiful face. 'I did that to her,' he thought, drowning in more self-pity. 'I can't be the one to take that smile away. Not ever.' Her warm green eyes stared inquisitively at him and his fingers itched to touch her. 'Just once,' he promised himself. 'Just this once and I'll be happy.' He slowly reached out to her.
Starfire grew even more confused as the silence drew on without him answering her question. It also added to her agitation. Beast Boy not being his usual silly and carefree self made her… uneasy. Unhappy. She didn't like seeing him like this. Sad and quiet. He was looking at her with a mixture of longing and regret. 'Why does he look like this?' she wondered. Suddenly, he reached his hand out toward her. "Beast Boy?" she asked uncertainly.
Beast Boy sighed as he cupped Starfire's face with one hand. He caressed her skin and smiled slightly at her wide-eyed expression.
He was not acting like the green friend she was used to. This Beast Boy was more serious than she had ever seen him before. So serious and so… heartbreaking. However, the feel of his hand on her cheek was somehow different. It made her warm inside. "What-" Her question stopped as the changeling put a finger to her lips with his other hand.
"I just want to ask one thing, Starfire, and I'll never mention it again," Beast Boy promised, even as his heart plummeted. "Will you do that for me?"
Starfire nodded, too puzzled to speak.
Beast Boy lowered his finger from her lips slowly, but his right hand was still holding her face. "I know that you like Robin," he stated quietly. "I won't get in the way. But… I'd like to- I'd like to know what it's like…" He looked up at her gorgeous face. 'Just once.'
"Yes?" Starfire asked, mesmerized.
"… to kiss you."
Starfire gasped but Beast Boy was already drawing her face down to his. Their lips pressed together in a sweet first kiss. Beast Boy relished the moment of feeling her before he pulled back seconds later. Starfire's eyes had glazed over as she stared forward at nothing. He memorized the look of her and caressed her skin one last time.
'I had no right to take that from you,' he thought guiltily, but knowing he wouldn't change his decision for the world. "I'm sorry," he whispered softly. He closed his eyes in regret as he turned and ran from her room.
Starfire smiled slowly as her eyes cleared. That was the most pleasurable thing she had ever experienced! She was about to thank Beast Boy, but realized he was gone. "Beast Boy?" Feeling hurt, she sat down on her bed and mulled over what just happened. She touched her still tingling lips. Beast Boy was just a friend… so why did she want to do it again?
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Moon gazed at the night sky from the lounge/entertainment room. The lights were out and the screen was rolled up on the ceiling so she had an uninhibited view of Jump City. The Titans were going to let her have a guest room, but she insisted on sleeping on the couch. She didn't want to take advantage of their hospitality. Besides, for some reason, she knew she was a heavy sleeper so it wouldn't matter where she slept. Starfire had argued with her the most, but Moon eventually won because of her stubbornness. When Cyborg and Raven had questioned her, she answered as truthfully as she could. At first she had been wary, but she realized she wanted to be their friend, which was the reason for her honesty.
'I can't hold anything back,' she thought, staring at the stars. 'I want them to trust me. I want them to be my friends.'
Starfire and Beast Boy were well on the way to being her friends. The Tamaranian already felt like a long lost sister. She had strange quirks, but so did Moon. Beast Boy was just the comedic friend that everyone had to have. He made her smile and laugh with his goofy attitude and sometimes lame jokes. She was already very fond of the green changeling who won her over so easily. Both Titans together made for an amusing pair. She knew they were fun personified.
Sailor Moon grinned as she thought about the two peas in a pod. 'Star and BB… that has a nice ring to it.'
Cyborg was one of the more interesting Titans, but he was still cautious of her. She couldn't blame him for wanting to make sure she wasn't a spy. If she was in his situation, she would want to protect her teammates too. When he was interacting with the others, he seemed like a fun-loving guy. Moon wished she could see his carefree side. Raven, on the other hand, was a long way from trusting her, let alone tolerating her. The mysterious girl seemed determined not to like her. Every time Moon answered a question, Raven would make her feel uncomfortable, either with a look or her words.
'She just doesn't trust easily,' Moon thought, biting her lip. 'I wouldn't trust me either, though. It's not like I know where I come from, but…'
Robin was a whole different issue all together. He made her insides jump around whenever she was near him. He was incredibly smart and sophisticated. It was hard to believe they were the same age. He was the Boy Wonder, the one-man army. He could fight and run like no one else, and she had only seen him against Control Freak. He… He was just Robin. The devilishly handsome leader of the Teen Titans.
Sailor Moon blushed. 'He's not even here and he's making me blush!' she thought, embarrassed. But how did he feel about her?
Robin had been unbelievably kind to her, but he had pulled away on the roof. Was it because of what she said? Being a superhero really wasn't everything. There was so much more to life. Getting the bad guy was important, but it shouldn't take over someone's life. Moon knew something was happening to Robin from their earlier conversation. He was letting the job get to him. She knew what he was going through somehow. She wasn't sure about her identity outside of being Sailor Moon, but she felt like she knew about being a leader. Robin was taking on too much by himself. For being so smart, it seemed even Robin could make mistakes.
Moon snuggled onto the couch and clutched the blanket closer. 'I want to help them,' she thought wistfully. 'I want to be silly with Star and BB. I want to find out more about Cyborg and crack Raven's wall. I want to get close to Robin.' She shook her head. 'Too many wants after only a day...' She sighed as her emotions warred inside. 'I wish I could just… blend in.'
She didn't know where she belonged… but maybe she could belong with them.