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 5 – Moment of Brilliance

Starfire's eyes widened as both boys looked at her expectantly. She was expected to choose between them? She would do no such thing. Starfire was not one to aggravate people; she was one of those girls who loved everyone and everyone loved. Even those who were jealous of her loved her. It was impossible not to.

Derek had asked if she was coming. Now she would answer.

"I believe I should retire to my room," she said, to the disappointment of both boys. "I'm very tired."

"Yes, you should rest. You have a big night ahead of you, it being our first date and all." Starfire couldn't take this misunderstanding in front of Robin any longer. But how could she redeem herself without making Derek angry? She had an idea; she would use her normal unawareness of Earth customs to act as if she didn't know that "date," meant fernardslepan.

"Yes I am much looking forward to our friendly night of movie watching. Are you and the rest of the Titans coming, Robin?" she asked, looking at him with fake expectancy. Robin looked surprised, and then a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"Why, of course, Starfire," he said, quickly, before Derek could jump in. "I'd love to join you on your friendly night of movie watching." Starfire smiled happily. This had been a stroke of genius on her behalf. Not only had she saved herself from a date with Derek, but also she would be able to spend some more quality time with Robin.

Robin was thinking the same thing. He was also plotting how to get Starfire to sit either at the end or next to one of the other Titans so Derek wouldn't have a chance.

"Starfire, uh, don't you know what a date is?" Derek asked, obviously unhappy with the turnout. Starfire smiled at him sweetly.

"I suppose that it is a ritual between friends where they go out to the movies and enjoy each other's company. The merrier the more! I'll be retiring to my bedroom now, see you all tonight!" And with that she twirled out of the room, pleased beyond belief with herself.

Much to Derek's disappointment, all the Titans were up for a movie. As they filed into the movie theater, Derek reached for Starfire's wrist to pull her down next to him, but the wrist he grabbed was not Starfire's. Instead, it was Raven's, but due to the girlish slenderness of her wrist he didn't notice the difference in the dark move theater until everyone had taken their seats and he turned to try to share a romantic moment with who he thought was Starfire. Instead Raven's indifferent gaze met him as she stared at his hand still wrapped around her wrist.

"Um," she said, and Derek quickly snatched his hand away, laughing nervously and sweat dropping. He stretched back to see where Starfire had been seated. His fears were confirmed as he saw her on the aisle seat next to Robin. His temper escalated as he realized there was nothing he could do. What was supposed to be a movie for two had turned into his worst nightmare. He wanted Starfire, and if Robin was going to get in the way of him getting her, then Robin would simply have to be eliminated.

By any means possible.

Raven had no problem with Derek, actually she found him quite entertaining because of the conflict he added to their daily lives. For a while crime had been slow, and while that wasn't a bad thing, it certainly wasn't exciting. So with Robin being obviously jealous of the newcomer and the future possibility of this Niltiac coming after them, he wasn't so bad to put up with in exchange for that. But the fact that he had just grabbed her wrist and pulled her down next to him was freaking her out. Beast Boy was also freaked out by the fact that Derek had so aggressively made sure that Raven sat next to him, but after seeing Derek's surprise that is was Raven who was in his grip and not Starfire, the feeling of resentment was gone. But for a second, he had understood how Robin felt. But Beast Boy was an amicable person, and he liked Derek. Derek laughed at his jokes. So Beast Boy immediately dismissed the thought from his head and concentrated on the fact that he was at the movies sitting next to the girl he secretly might love. It wasn't exactly a date, but it was something. And after Derek's accidental assertiveness had spooked Rae, she was leaning slightly away from him, which meant slightly towards Beast Boy. Life was good.

The movie was a horror flick, originally chosen by Derek so that Starfire might get scared and he could comfort her, but it ended up working against him because by the time the movie was over Starfire was in Robin's lap, arms around his neck, clinging tightly and eyes squeezed shut from fear. Needless to say Robin enjoyed that immensely, ever now and then whispering reassurances in her ear. It had thrilled both of them to be so close, and neither of them really paid attention to what the movie was about. After the first bloody massacre, Starfire found herself in Robin's lap and from then on it was themselves and nobody else.

Raven had found the movie terrifying as well, and had tried to hide it, but when one particularly horrifying creature seemed to become 3D on the screen, Raven remembered what happened when she ignored her fear and let out a little scream that was mostly silent and the character returned to his flat 2D figure. She had hoped the scream had gone unnoticed but Beast Boy had been waiting for an opportunity and picked up on it right away. He had done the lame yawn-and-stretch maneuver in order to "casually" put his arm around her earlier and she had pretended not to notice, and when he heard her squeak, he seized the chance to clasp her shoulder with his hand. She had unable to act as if she didn't detect that, so she looked at him and he smiled at her. And, to the surprise of both of them, she left it at that. It was kind of....nice. Although she would never admit it and if Beast Boy brought it up later in public or private she would deny it thoroughly.

The movie ended, and the lights came on. Raven stood up immediately, not willing to let anyone else see that Beast Boy had had his arm around her. This also meant that she blocked Derek's view from Robin and Starfire, which was good, because Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven were all gaping at their position and who knew what would have happened if Derek had seen. Robin set her down, embarrassed, but Starfire, who had only been scared, looking for comfort, and not meant for the whole lap incident to be sexual in any way, smiled at her friends, not knowing why they were looking so astonished.

"That was truly a horrifying yet entertaining movie!" Starfire exclaimed. "Did you not think it was wondrous also?"

"I think it's time to go home," Raven suggested. She had made the mistake of reading Robin's mind to see what he was thinking about the whole lap thing and all she had gotten were screams of embarrassment that were giving her a migraine. Everyone else agreed, including Derek, who was hoping that he'd have better luck with Starfire in the T Car on the way back. If he were lucky, maybe he'd get to sit next to her and casually take her hand in his or something.

"So, Raven," Beast Boy said in a suave, sure voice. "It got kinda cozy in there, didn't it?" Raven looked him straight on in the eye.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, and opened the door to the T Car.

There you have it, another chapter with bits of fluff thrown in there as well as conflict. Must I really say it? Just in case, I will. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!!

Sneak Peak: Starfire tells her reason for her secret fear of being alone. But who does she choose to open up to?

Blair