Chapter 5: Midnight Musings.

Starfire couldn't sleep. Rolling onto her side, she read the clock on her bedside table. 3:45. Sitting up, she swung her feet off her pillow and exited her room.

She wandered through the hallway, in search of some comfort, that would allow her to sleep that night. As she passed Robin's room, she briefly considered waking him, so she could talk with him and ease her mind, but decided that she could not. Her leader got little enough sleep as it was, and it would be selfish of her to wake him at this hour. As she made her way to the common room, she could not help but all but running past the room of a certain changeling.

As she entered the common room, she saw, to her surprise, that she was not alone. Cyborg was there, elbows on knees, chin in hands, and sitting on the sofa. With a shock, she realised that this was the exact same posture he had occupied when she had wished him goodnight, over six hours ago.

"What is it that keeps you awake, friend?" Starfire was worried. She hadn't seen Cyborg this pensive since he'd made that hologram ring.

Cyborg didn't answer for a long time. Just as Starfire was about to leave, he spoke up. "Star, do you know why BB doesn't eat meat?"

"Because he is a vegetarian?" Starfire wasn't sure where this could lead, but she was glad that Cyborg was at least talking now.

"Had you ever thought about that? I mean, just look at his teeth. Definitely not carrot-eating teeth. And he eats meat-flavoured tofu, as well."

Starfire had to admit it seemed a bit unusual. "Well, I had never thought about it before."

"Well, I asked him today, in the interview, why he always ate meat flavoured tofu, and do you know what he said? He asked me if I'd ever considered that he likes the taste of meat."

"But…then why is he a vegetarian? If he likes meat, why does he eat meat substitute?"

Cyborg continued to stare ahead at nothing. "He said the Beast likes meat."

"Oh…"

"The Beast said a lot of things to me. He said I was weak, I was lazy. A part of Beast Boy said I was lazy. He said I need to be put in my place."

Starfire whimpered. Cyborg continued, the words cascading off him like water.

"He thinks I don't fight well enough in battles, that I'm not strong enough. Since he views this team as his 'pack', he wants us so step up a notch, rise to his level."

Cyborg turned to look at her for the first time in the conversation. Starfire thought she could see tears welling up behind his eye. "How did I miss all this, Star? How come I know so little about someone who's supposed to be my best friend?"

"There is much that Beast Boy keeps hidden. He does not speak of his time with the Doom Patrol, for instance." Not particularly encouraging, but she was doing the best she could.

"Yeah, but why? What makes him wanna keep stuff like this from us?"

"Perhaps he feels it is a burden he wishes to bear alone."

"Maybe. But still, what could he be hiding like that?"

"What do you wish to know about him?"

"I dunno. What his life was like before the Titans would be a good start."

"Have you ever asked him?"

"…Well…no."

"Then you should not be surprised that you do not know. What does he know of your past?"

"…I don't think it's interested him. I know Robin knows all about me, knows all about all of us. He snooped around a lot on all of us, after the whole Terra thing."

"Then maybe you should ask for permission to see it."

Cyborg brightened up. "Maybe I should. It'd be a starting point, at least." Cyborg frowned. "What did you say you were up for, anyway?"

Starfire seemed to retract into herself, and Cyborg began to regret asking.

"…I am afraid." This admission seemed almost more than Starfire could take.

"Of the Beast?" Starfire nodded in reply. Cyborg put a companionable arm around her shoulder. "Don't be."

"But I saw him bare his fangs at you when you talked to him, and Beast Boy said he wishes harm upon us, and the last time we fought him we were not victorious, and-"

"Star, remember what BB said. It's still him in there. You just need to keep calm, and show no aggression around him. Remember, he's an animal, so if you're aggressive, he'll be aggressive back." Starfire whimpered at this, and Cyborg hurried along with his explanation. "But all you gotta do is keep calm, and show him you're not gonna fight him. If you do that, we can work through this." This appeared to work, and Starfire calmed down considerably. "Good. You think you can sleep now?"

"Yes, thank you." Starfire smiled slightly.

"Then I suggest you do. You've got a tiring day ahead, trust me."