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 8 – Mind Blowing Experience

Raven reappeared in the hallway of the Titans' bedrooms. After what Beast Boy had said to her, she knew that meditation was necessary—fast. He had gotten to her like no one had ever done before. She didn't know how to handle this, so she knew she just had to keep her feelings in check. Meditation was key.

As she walked down the hallway to her room, she passed Starfire's, and suddenly the door began to open. Not wanting to be seen, Raven levitated to the ceiling and hid, only her head sticking out. Derek emerged, stretching and yawning. She saw him look back into the room, and then smile.

"Sleep well, Angel," she heard him say. Then he began to walk out to the living room. Raven quickly disappeared and reappeared into the living room where the boys were still. Her unannounced entrance surprised them.

"He's coming," she said quietly. Robin snapped to attention, looking around wildly for Derek. His hands clenched into fists again and when Derek entered the room, and it was all he could do not to lunge for him and shove one of the fists right into his nose.

"Morning everyone," the good-looking boy said.

"Where were you?" Robin growled. Derek smiled.

"Oh, around," he said nonchalantly. "Who's up for some breakfast?" Derek hadn't been with the Titans for long, but he already knew the magic words. Cyborg and Beast Boy automatically forgot the fact that Derek had spent the night in Starfire's room and raced into the kitchen.

"Me, me, me!" they both shouted.

"I thought so. You two coming?" Derek asked, addressing Robin and Raven. Raven shook her head for the both of them. Derek shrugged and followed the psycho breakfast-lovers into the kitchen. Robin turned to Raven, hope mixing with the wrath in his eyes.

"Raven," he whispered, desperation in his voice. "Please. Cyborg and Beast Boy say I'm just jealous. Starfire would never think something bad of Derek. Please, someone has to believe me. I don't trust him, Raven. I'm not just saying that. He went into Starfire's room last night. Who does that? Something's not right, Raven. Please believe me." Raven looked at the desolate leader. She could feel his pain, and knew that he was in fact jealous. How could he not be? But just because he was envious, did that mean that he wasn't to be trusted also? There was basically a choice here: to listen to the friend who had given her a home, or to listen to the stranger who showed up one night asking for refuge and told them a story that had no evidence. Raven had never heard of Nagem or Niltiac. So whom would she trust?

"Alright," she said quietly. "I'm not saying you're onto something, I'm just going to check out his mind for you. I'll tell you what I find." Robin looked at her gratefully.

"Thank you," he whispered. "Now I'm going to go find Starfire." As he walked away, Raven began to concentrate on Derek. For some reason, it was harder to break into his mind. But when she finally did, what she found shocked her.

She saw Starfire's fear of being alone. She saw Derek comforting her. She saw Starfire falling into the arms of someone who finally understood her. She saw her falling asleep in Derek's arms. She saw Derek smiling upon her evilly. She saw Derek whispering, "I have you now." The scene shifted. Raven saw Robin's fury. She felt his hate. She felt Derek's satisfaction at Robin's detestation. The scene shifted once more. She saw a dark place, and Derek sitting on the cold floor. She saw a tall figure move towards him. She saw....

Raven gasped. And then she felt a sense of realization, as the owner of the mind heard her gasp inside his head and felt her there. Suddenly, there was a blockade.

'If I wanted you to read my mind, Raven, I would send you an invitation.' Raven let out a little scream, but no one heard it but Derek.

'You monster,' she said.

'That's me. And if you tell anyone about what you saw, I'll tell your little green friend exactly how you feel about him. That's right, Rae, I know your secret fears too. I know everything." Raven shut her mind down, unable to take anymore. She had to tell Robin, she knew that, so she would have to meditate extra hard to make sure no evidence of telling him came up in her mind that Derek could see.

All of a sudden she was filled with a rush of despair she couldn't control. Derek felt it, and laughed inside her head, thinking it was because he had won.

'I think we could get along really well, Raven. Now why don't you come out here? I made you some herbal tea," Derek said, and left her mind. If Raven could have, she would have smiled. Derek had no idea why she was really disheartened. It was because of her damned father, Trigon. It was because of him she was not able to feel. It was because of him she had to waste hours of her life away meditating. It was because of him her childhood had been hell, it was because of him she could never be a normal girl, it was because of him she could not feel, it was because of him she couldn't admit her love for Beast Boy.

Stop it, she told herself. What good does it do to think about that? I can never do anything about it. It's worthless. Raven sighed, knowing she would have to convince herself that she didn't have feelings for Beast Boy again. It happened every now and again. She would slip up, and her heart would take over her brain and remind her how she felt. Then her brain would take back over and she told herself otherwise. It's what she had to do, or else.

She entered the kitchen, and Derek handed her a cup of herbal tea, grinning sinisterly. She took it from him gingerly and gave him a weak smile in return, hoping to make him think that he had control of her. It worked, and his smile became broader.

Derek was slowly wearing the Teen Titans down. They were unable to cope with his disruption of their normalcy, and he was living up to his prophecy. He was the downfall of the Niltiac, the word for Titans in ancient Nagem language.

Dun dun dun dun! Oh no! WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN??? Only I know unless you review massively! I am so cruel, I know, but you love me anyway. More reviews equals more chapters, so start reviewing, loyal fans!

Sneak Peak: Raven tells Robin the truth about Derek, and also lets it slip about her secret feelings for Beast Boy.

Blair