"Beast Boy!" Starfire stood up from the couch as Beast boy entered the living room. "Beast Boy, do you wish to join us for the..." She thought a moment. "The fireworks?
"Fireworks?" Beast Boy saw Robin slide down a little on the couch. He probably would have agreed if it weren't for that something inside of him that told him not to. No, he had-other plans. "No thanks, Star." He hadn't called her that in a long time. "I have something I have to do." Robin had breathed a sigh of relief at that.
Robin got up and took Starfire's hand to lead her out the door. Beast Boy sat down on the couch and waited another half hour or so before starting out the door after them.
The sun wouldn't set for another hour or so, so Beast Boy could stay on the pier for a while until it did. It would be a while before anyone settled down for the fireworks. The pier was so crowded at that time of day that Beast boy didn't have to worry about being seen by Robin or Starfire. Just as long as he didn't go to the same place as them, but he doubted that would be a problem. He spent his time, and all of his money, in the arcade, banging at the crane most of the time because it wouldn't let go of his prize. He stuck to the slots after about eleven tries on one dumb stuffed giraffe. A five-year-old girl had gone up to the same game afterwards and gotten that giraffe in a single quarter's try. Beast Boy tried convincing himself he'd just loosened it up for her. And after that, time sure did fly, because the next thing he knew, Beast boy was sprinting across the pier, his shoes clanking hard against the wooden boards, as he came to the realization that Robin wasn't coming to show Starfire some long, boring set of fireworks. And ahead of him, he could see Robin taking Starfire's hand and helping her across to where he wanted to go.
Down below the pier, where the water slammed into the rocks with incredible force, Robin held Starfire's hand and guided her across. Beast Boy was quite sure Starfire was enjoying that, because not once did she just use her alien powers to fly even the shortest distance. Once, she had even slipped, but she'd allowed Robin to gently and carefully pull her back up. By then, Beast Boy had simply taken the form of a hawk and followed them from above. Eventually, Robin had begun to climb atop a rock; a large boulder that overlooked the waters like a miniature cliff. Starfire hesitated.
"The location of the fireworks has...changed?
"No," Robin smiled at her as he sat down on the rock. "I just wanted to show you something."
Beast Boy changed back into his human form. He looked in awe at the horizon. Never before had he seen such an amazing sight in that busy, crowded city of theirs, nor had he ever thought he would. He sat down in the grass that topped the huge rock like a giant green pancake. Starfire and Robin also looked out into the distance, where the sky was tinted a brilliant violet pink color, and where the sun was setting slowly. Starfire took ever bit of it in. She never took her eyes away from that beautiful glow. She loved it. She loved the bright, golden sun, the colorful sky, the way the ripples seemed to sparkle in that light.
"It is magnificent, Robin."
And it was. The view, the peacefulness, the relaxing sound of the waves breaking beneath them, and as they crashed into the rocks and were drawn back out to sea with a strange swishing sound. Every last thing about it was perfect, magnificent.
"If you look below, it's even more beautiful." Robin said, his face already slightly red.
Starfire looked, her own reflection staring back up at her. But she didn't understand and she looked back up at Robin as if wondering what possible beauty could come from a puddle. But Robin smiled anyway, still in full appreciation of his friend. She watched the sun. He watched her. She didn't seem to notice, either that, or she didn't seem to really care. Robin moved closer to her, and it was hard to tell if she noticed that. That probably didn't matter to her either, she probably liked that.
"On my planet, when a star moves this close, most think it will...well... Robin, your planet, it is so peaceful. You are lucky to live here."
"Aren't you just as lucky."
Starfire gave a weak little smile. Robin studied her worried face, maybe growing nervous himself. "I know you'd tell me if something was wrong." He said, comfortingly.
"If something were the matter, you would know, would you not?" Starfire asked him, looking into his face. Beast Boy watched and Robin nodded lightly. He would know. But he didn't. Something was bothering Starfire, and Robin, for once, didn't see that. Or at least, not until now.
"Did something happen? Here, on Earth?"
"Robin, you will not try to change my mind, will you?" Starfire didn't look hopeful.
"About what?"
"Robin..."
"I won't."
"It is...my sister. She has..." Robin hugged her as she burst into tears. Now he knew what was wrong. But Beast Boy had the feeling there was more to it then just a family death.
"You don't want me to change your mind?"
"And if I were to tell you I want to leave, you would not?"
Robin, truthful enough, didn't answer that. He kept Starfire in his tight embrace. Beast Boy saw, though Robin did not, that Starfire had actually smiled.
"You could count it down." Robin said suddenly, looking out at the sliver of sun still left. It took Beast Boy a while to realize he had changed the subject.
"Counting it down will make it go faster?" Starfire asked, almost doubtful.
"Then we better count slow." Robin replied, completely aware of that lame comment. But Starfire giggled.
Beast Boy tried ignoring them or that moment and he counted down the seconds himself in his head. Ten, nine, eight, sev-
Robin turned to Starfire and kissed her. Shocked, Beast Boy almost fell over. The sun had completely disappeared beyond the horizon before they'd gotten to break the kiss. But by then, neither of them really cared.
Titan Tower loomed ahead, the huge letters' reflection sparkling in the waters around it. Beast Boy headed toward it, dragging his feet as he went long. He lightly kicked a small, round pebble and watched it skim the water before it began sinking. Sinking. Kind of like the feeling he had in his stomach. He stopped in front of the tower and looked back. Now his own reflection could also be seen. His face was red and sweaty and it was no wonder. After all, he'd run over half the way. He sighed and turned to open the doors. He almost collapsed. The sight of blood could do that to you.
He noticed the blood right away when he entered the tower. It was on everything from the walls to the couch to the carpet. On the floor, Raven lay, coughing up blood and making the nastiest sound Beast Boy had ever heard. She was breathing very heavily and it was almost surprising that she was even breathing at all. She continued to vomit, coughing and gasping for air. Beast Boy almost threw up just looking at it. He ran to her a tried to move her onto the couch, but he feared that he would just make it worse. If that was even possible. But it was. Because suddenly, she fell limp. Beast Boy felt her take that one last breath, felt her choke on her own blood and vomit, felt her die. Die in his arms. And the first thing that came to his mind: Starfire. That last dream he'd had was back now. It had entered his mind and left just as quickly. Beast Boy dropped Raven. Blood splattered onto the carpet, right onto the black mark. Now that teddy bear seemed to have eyes. Evil eyes and a grin and... and claws? Claws. Bloody claws, dripping, running- blood. Beast Boy dropped to his knees and hit the ground with a hard clunk. He cried into his hands, adding little bloody smudges to his face. And somewhere beyond, Starfire and Robin were probably having the time of their lives, laughing and joking and just having a good time. But here was Beast Boy, sitting alone, surrounded by blood and puke, beside his ex-best friend; his ex-best friend who was as dead- as dead- as dead as Terra. That was the next thing that came to his mind. Terra. Terra had died, hadn't she? And Beast Boy had loved her. He'd liked Raven too. A long time ago, but still, he'd liked her. And now look at her! There was Starfire. What about her? He had to-
No! Over and over in his head, he tried to remind himself. It was that damn volcano! It was her own stupid mistake that killed her! Tears began to mix with the light coat of blood. And Raven! She was sick! Sick! Nothing to do with each other! Nothing to do with Terra!And he wanted to scream now. Scream anything and everything out to the whole world. The whole freakin' world!
"Terra." He found himself saying aloud, but it was completely lost in his tears and gasps.
"No..." He said, a little louder now.
Practically a shout: "No! Terra, why?!"
And then he heard it. It was a cough. A short, muffled cough. It was Raven. Fresh blood rimmed her lips. Beast Boy grabbed her and this time, he did get her to the couch. She's alive, she's alive! She'll be okay! Take that, you bitch! And it had been then that he realized he was going crazy. He really was, wasn't he? What was wrong with him?
But no! Raven! Raven coughed again. Yes, she'll be fine Robin will come and he'll know what to do... I'll just wait...just...just wait... But Robin wasn't coming and Beast Boy knew that, and it was really no use trying to convince himself otherwise. Robin was with Starfire and that's where he would stay, all night long. Beast Boy glanced across the room and remembered the telephone. How could he be so stupid?! The ambulance was what he needed. The ambulance. He ran for it, but suddenly, he stopped. The laugh. That laugh! He heard it. It echoed, it continued, it laughed. It surrounded him, took him in its grip, paralyzed him with fear. It-it-but it was only in his head, wasn't it? But how it seemed so real! And how everything seemed to be spinning now! He didn't know what to do now. . Maybe he was a little psychotic. No, he was. He shouted. Shouted nothing. He reached for the phone. The laughter continued, in his head, in the room, it continued. He grabbed the phone and dialed.