Title: Hey Jealousy
Author: Blair Lebeau, SocialButterfli
Summary: When a stranger named Derek appears at the door of Titans Tower seeking refuge, it leads to friendship, romance, and not to mention trouble. It seems to follow Derek everywhere he goes, and when he gets the Teen Titans sucked into it, Robin begins to believe that maybe Derek isn't what he seems. Is Robin onto something, or is it just the result of a little thing called jealousy? RobStar BBRae
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, which you already knew, but I can't afford to be sued so I'll just say it anyway.
Chapter 3 – Burning Intensity
Beast Boy and Cyborg awoke at the same time, and as if sensing the endangerment of their kitchen dominance, raced out of their rooms to attempt to get there first, only to collide into each other.
"Hey watch where you're going, man!" Cyborg yelled.
"You watch where you're going!" Beast Boy yelled back. It was a scramble as they pushed and shoved each other ruthlessly. When it came to BB and Cy's friendship, looking out for number one was the rule when it came to video games and kitchen authority. When the two Titans are in either of those situations, step back and watch out.
The two came to a screeching halt when they saw the stranger standing between Starfire and Robin.
"Whoa, dude, who're you?" Beast Boy asked, staring at the guy's purplish swelling bump. "And what happened to you?" Derek smiled ruefully, getting a bit tired of telling his story over and over again. This would be the third time, as he had just gotten down elaborating to Starfire what he told her last night, and he had heard that there was a fifth Titan as well. He turned to Robin for help, but the Boy Wonder kept his mouth shut, rather enjoying Derek's discomfort. Starfire came to his rescue, though, which infuriated him.
"It is a very long story, perhaps we should bring Raven out to hear it as well?" Beast Boy and Cyborg exchanged knowing glances.
"Not it," they said at the same time. Everyone knew how dangerous it was to mess with Raven. First off, waking her would probably aggravate her and she might choose to use your body as a bowling ball for anyway else in her way. Second, no one was allowed to go into her room, so how could anyone possibly wake her up? Robin was also looking moody, so it was probably best not to mess with him either. That left Starfire.
"And it looks like the winner is Starfire," Beast Boy said, chuckling at his friend's impending doom. Starfire looked confused.
"I have won....some sort of contest?" she asked. Beast Boy smiled broadly.
"Oh yes, Star, and you receive a wonderful prize!"
"Hooray!" Starfire said, genuinely excited. Beast Boy should have known better than to mess with the love of Robin's life when he was in such a pissed off mood.
"Back off, Beast Boy," Robin growled. "That's not cool." Beast Boy held his hands up, backing away.
"Okay, okay, man, just kidding, heh heh."
Another joke gone wrong again, Beast Boy thought. He didn't know why he bothered to try. But it was who he was. He was the funny guy, the comic relief.
Then why was no one laughing?
"I....do not understand?" Starfire said, looking around. Beast Boy sighed and decided to redeem himself.
"Never mind, I'll go," he said, trudging off reluctantly.
"What was that all about?" Derek asked. With Starfire confused and Robin willing to do nothing but glare, Cyborg stepped up to the plate.
"There's a couple things you should know about the Teen Titans," he said. "Let's start with our little green dude back there. That's Beast Boy, and he likes to think of himself as funny. He's not. He went to get Raven, who's....not the most pleasant person you'll ever meet, but she has her moments. That whole thing was Beast Boy and I saying 'not it' to get out of waking Raven up, as she probably won't take too well to being disturbed. Beast Boy said that Starfire had won, meaning that she had to go get Raven."
"Oh," Starfire said, half understanding now.
"Yeah, our Starfire here doesn't really get Earth stuff very well because she's from another planet. And Robin got pissed when Beast Boy took her confusion too far, because...."
"Right," Robin jumped in, not willing to hear Cyborg's idea of why he had done that. "I think he gets it.'
"Your planet must be very beautiful to produce one as lovely as you," Derek commented to Starfire. She blushed furiously, and Robin's face also turned red, but for another reason. Cyborg cracked his knuckles, realizing the tension.
"Well, uh, I better go make sure Raven doesn't beat the crap out of Beast Boy, so, uh, I'll be right back," Cyborg said, inching away, leaving the forming love triangle alone in the room. Starfire, completely oblivious to the conflict, grabbed Derek's hand, much to Robin's despair.
"I think you will like it here," she said eagerly. "And I'm sure no one will mind if you stay as long as you need to. We like company, don't we, Robin?" Robin glared at Derek heatedly.
"Most company," he said meaningfully. It passed right over Star's head but Derek sensed Robin's irritation.
"I hope I'm the kind of company you like, then," he said, returning Robin's glare with a steady gaze. Robin realized that Derek Santrine, if that was really who he was, was not going to be easily broken down. It was possible that he was harmless, of course, but even if he was what right did he have to come into Robin's own home and sanctuary, taking over his friends and his love? Who was he to stare Robin down? Whether he was truthful about needing help or not, this was one citizen whom Robin wasn't too keen to help. Robin wasn't like Starfire. He didn't just naturally assume everyone was good. People had good inside them, and people had bad inside them. It was up to the person which side got to take over.
And it was up to Robin to be cautious until he found out exactly how good Derek Santrine was.
The third chapter is complete! If you love me, you'll review, and you know you love me!
Sneak Peak: Get inside BB's head with how he feels about Raven, and there's major conflict between Robin and Derek with Starfire caught in the middle.
Blair