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 9 – Truth Between Friends

Robin stood outside Starfire's room, debating whether he should disturb her or not. He wanted to ask her about last night desperately, but he was also afraid of what he would find out. Derek, why had he come and messed everything up? Robin had always been able to admire Starfire from afar, never having to admit his feelings for her. Now that Derek was here, it felt like Robin had to either confess or lose her. The odds weren't good. If he confessed and she didn't feel the same way, his life would be over and their friendship would be strained. If he confessed and she did feel the same way but it didn't work out, same scenario. But if he didn't confess, Derek would make his final move and same scenario. The only good that could come out of everything was if he confessed and she felt the same way and they lasted forever. But how likely was that? Robin hit the wall hard in frustration. This woke Starfire, and she opened the door.

"Robin?" she asked, looking confused. Robin's mouth dropped open at her nightclothes. True, he liked her normal short skirt better, but the top was so revealing that he felt like he was choking on air. He decided that he was grateful for her normal outfit; if she did trade in her top for this, Robin would never be able to concentrate and would have to resign from the Teen Titans and go live in a psychiatric hospital from the stroke she would give him.

"Uh, ah, err, hi, Star," he stammered.

"Good morning, friend," she replied. Then she noticed how bright it was. "Is it still morning?" Robin looked at the clock on the wall.

"Actually, it's noon. You slept well, I guess," Robin probed carefully.

"Yes, very," Starfire said with what sounded like satisfaction. Robin's heart dropped off a cliff and was destroyed on the sharp rocks below.

"Well....that's....good." That was it. His life was over. Starfire floated over to him and took his hand. Ah, her torturous touch.

"I suppose it is too late for breakfast, but it is never too late for mustard!" she chirped cheerfully. Despite his heart just being ripped out of his chest, Robin couldn't suppress a smile at Starfire's continued reference to what she knew by now was not a drink. Starfire was amazing like that. She didn't care what was right and what was wrong by Earth standards. If she liked mustard, then she wanted mustard. Starfire's feet touched the ground and she practically dragged Robin into the kitchen.

"Now show me where Cyborg has hidden it!" she demanded, her smile never leaving her face.

"Morning, Angel." Derek was eyeing Starfire's grip on Robin's hand distastefully. To Robin's horror and Starfire's delight, Derek was holding the hidden and forbidden bottle of mustard in his hands. "I thought I'd save our Boy Wonder here the trouble." Starfire giggled joyfully. Derek's invasion of her mind had also revealed her strange obsession with the yellow condiment. She released Robin's hand and ran to Derek, who handed her the bottle. She took it from him and threw her arms around him, much to Robin's alarm. Derek hugged her back, and then looked up at Robin maliciously. He winked. Robin wanted to kill him.

"Today is a glorious day!" Starfire sang out when she released Derek. "I just have the feeling of goodness about it!" She turned back to Robin, and saw his desolate face. Her jubilant composure turned concerned as she became confused over her best friend's obvious unhappiness. She flew over to him.

"Robin? What is wrong?" she asked. Before he could answer, Raven walked into the kitchen.

"Robin, Beast Boy and Cyborg are tearing up the living room with their obsessive video game playing. Could you come out here and do something about it?" Raven cleverly asked, knowing that if she got Robin alone with her without any suspicion from Derek, she could tell him what she found out. She had been practicing her meditating since her telepathic conversation with Derek, and she felt sure of herself that she could divulge her information without him knowing. But then she was faced with a dilemma.

"I shall help!" Starfire chirped. Raven tensed; Starfire couldn't hear this just yet. Luckily, Derek came to her rescue unknowingly.

"Stay here with me, please," he said, his voice soft and....what the hell....hurt? Then Raven remembered Derek knowing Starfire's secret fear of being alone. Oh, holy mother of Trigon. He was pretending to be scared of being alone so Starfire would feel understood and compassionate for him. Raven was filled with the same rage Robin often felt towards the evil conniver. Robin was also staring at Derek, filled with a mixture of anger and wonder. He wasn't able to understand the sudden change in Derek's voice. Raven would soon fix that. Robin had been right all along. But she, and everyone else for that matter, had blown it off as jealousy. Raven felt a twinge of guilt.

Raven had to save Starfire.

"Robin, if you don't help me calm those immature boys down, I'm going to hit you over the head with one of them." Robin looked reluctant to leave the love of his life with the hate of his life. But Raven knew that if he didn't hear out what she had to say, all of the Titans would be in danger. So she took the Boy Wonder by the hand and dragged him out there, yelling about how Cyborg and Beast Boy were out of control for effect. It worked. She didn't feel Derek trying to enter her mind at all.

"Raven," he hissed. "I don't want them to be alone together. Why did you pull me away like that?" Raven looked at him sternly.

"Robin, keep your voice down," she said. She didn't wanted Beast Boy and Cyborg to hear just yet either. Both of them were convinced that Robin was seriously overreacting. She was pretty sure they liked Derek. She didn't want anyone who liked Derek knowing what she knew just yet. She wanted to talk to Robin first.

"What's going on?" he asked, complying by lowering his voice to a whisper.

"I checked out Derek's mind like you asked. Robin....he's Slade's newest apprentice."

"What?" Robin's mouth dropped open. Slade was supposed to be gone. Could Derek have come back looking for revenge? Or did Slade escape that night at the volcano and was now out to finish what he had started? Robin set his jaw. He knew this guy was trouble. And last night he had spent the night in Starfire's room. What if he did something to her? And right now she was alone with him, in the kitchen....

"We've got to tell the others," Robin demanded. "I've got to get him away from Starfire."

"No," Raven whispered, firmly. "Robin, that's not all. I chose to tell you because I know you can handle it. The others can't. You already have hostility towards him so when he reads your mind you won't be any different. I can block that I told you from my mind. The others all seem to like him, especially Starfire, and a change in their opinion about him could set him off."

"Wait....did you just say that he can read my mind?"

"That's how he's gotten to all of us. That's how he knew that if he got to Starfire, he'd make you angry. And that's how he knew how to get to Starfire." Robin stared.

"What did he find out about her that made her so close to him so quickly?" Raven looked away. It wasn't her secret to tell. The fact that Starfire had a phobia of being alone was something no one would ever expect, least of all Robin. She'd tell when she wanted to.

"It's not for me to say," Raven explained quickly. "But look, don't think about him being Slade's apprentice. If he finds out I told anyone, he said he'd...." Raven trailed off. She didn't feel like completing the sentence.

"What?" Robin asked. "Wait, did you confront him about this?"

"No. He felt me in his mind. Just like I'd be able to feel him in my mind. Which is why I have to meditate extra now so he won't tell everyone about how I love Beast Boy." Robin gaped at her.

"You do? I always thought there was something going on between you two."

"Please don't tell me I said that out loud." Robin nodded.

"I guess you don't want him to find out like I don't want Starfire to find out," he said, identifying with the secretive girl. She nodded, a light blush coming to her pale cheeks. Her powers seemed okay and nothing was exploding or getting out of control. Someone knew her feelings, and it didn't seem so bad. It actually felt kind of relieving.

Maybe that meant something.

Ooh SLADE. I just can't let that guy go. He's the perfect villain. And, hey, is anyone else pissed that there's no new Teen Titans episode on Cartoon Network tonight? They're having some Jackie Chan and Star Wars the Animated Series marathon or something. This better not be permanent. I want to beat someone. Luckily, there's a marathon on today, and even though it's all old episodes at least I'll still get my fix. So I gotta go watch it now!

Sneak Peak: Derek tells a cruel lie and leaves Starfire with a LOT to think about.

Blair