"Jealousy is the fear of comparison." -Max Frisch
At first everything was fine, or at least that's what Beast Boy kept telling himself as he scooped another spoonful of soy eggs into his mouth. From his view he watched his newest team member lean heavily against Robin, listening to the leader's every word while batting his girlish eyelashes. Scoffing changeling rolled his eyes as he took his now empty plate to the sink. So there was a new kid here, big deal give him a few more days and he'll be yesterday's news. Gar made his way out sparing one more look at the curly haired boy now surrounded by the rest of his friends. Right, just a couple more days to wait he thought, his nose wrinkling slightly.
It had been two weeks since Jericho joined the team, and their infatuation with him had only grown stronger. In fact even stone cold Raven seemed to enjoy the silent guitarist's company, choosing to mediate right by him as he strummed away.
It wasn't fair. Raven didn't even talk to him unless he initiated the conversation first, and even then he only received an answer maybe half of the time. But Jericho walks right in and gets to be her number one guy on the spot? Unfair.
Beast Boy grit his teeth as he angrily slammed his thumbs into the controller. Here he was on a perfectly quiet Saturday playing Mega Monkeys all by himself trying to drown out all his thoughts.
Jericho is so useful! Jericho is so cool! Jericho this! Jericho that! Blah blah blah.
A vein popped up on his forehead as the frustration rose inside of him. All Gar wanted was for that pretty blond boy to leave! Pausing his game he opened a window to cool off his fiery emotions, only to have the noises of two titans relaxing on the roof enter into the room. He could now hear the soft melody of Jericho's guitar mixed with Raven's chanting from outside. Turning the volume up while seething he plopped back onto the couch to continue playing only to be cut short when the screen flashed, 'Game Over.'
Throwing his controller down Beast Boy stormed out mumbling with his shoulders hunched to his ears. Even video games weren't fun anymore.
The next day came and Gar rolled out of bed, lazily dragging himself to the kitchen only to stop at the doorway. His eyes narrowed as he saw Cyborg flipping pancakes while Jericho next to him organized each flapjack into perfect stacks on the plates.
Great, he had forgotten that he'd have to deal with that fluff head again when he woke up. Trying his best to keep his face neutral Beast Boy took a seat nearby the duo.
"Morning Green Bean!" Cyborg whistled as he flung another pancake expertly back into the skillet.
"Hey Cy," Gar managed to force out, avoiding making eye contact with a happily waving Jericho.
His secret nemesis slid a plate over to him with a small note folded neatly on the side. Raising his eyebrow questioningly, Beast Boy opened the message and read it.
'Hi BB! These pancakes are 100% vegetarian approved with all soy or plant based ingredients since I heard you don't eat anything from animals! I hope you like them :)'
"Uh, thanks." He said dismissively, crumpling the note in his hands.
Looking back up he was met with the hopeful eyes of Jericho beaming straight into his soul. Stupid, fake, innocent face trying to get the best of him, he wouldn't give in that easily.
A loud rumbling was heard as the changeling's stomach argued with his mind. Guess he had to take the offer now that Cyborg and Jericho were staring at him. He blushed darkly accepting the silverware pushed towards him, and dug in still fuming that the new boy got the better of him again. What he didn't notice was the glimpse of sadness that flashed in the smaller titan's eyes looking at the discarded paper now forgotten on the floor.
A couple hours later and all was calm in the tower as Beast Boy walked through the halls. Continuing on he heard the chattering voice of Starfire and felt his spirits pick up. Starfire would hang out with him, she was the nicest person here after all. No way would she ignore him or tell him off like the others. Grinning, he dashed around the corner only to have his hopes immediately crushed.
Traveling alongside the alien princess was none other than Jericho carrying what looked like several shopping bags. The girl herself had even more hanging from the crooks of her elbows.
"Hello friend Beast Boy!" Chirped Starfire as she hovered towards him, "We have just returned from the most wonderful trip at the mall of shopping!"
Spinning around in the air some of the items in her bags flew out only to be caught by the silent boy running around her. After collecting all the accidentally thrown clothes Jericho gave an exuberant wave to his fellow titan only to be ignored once again by Beast Boy.
"Hi Star." Gar muttered with a strained smile as he practically shoved Jericho out of the way causing the younger to wobble, "Are you busy 'cuz I thought we could hang out?"
"Well," Starfire pressed a finger to her lips as she thought out her response, "Jericho and I were going to do the ritual of matching accessories with predetermined outfits now, but you are most welcomed to join us!"
Dress up? No way was he ever going to be caught doing something that girly. And with Jericho there was even worse. Why does this kid think he can just steal all his friends anyway?
Scrunching his nose in disdain, Beast Boy shook his head.
"I think I'll pass on this one. Find me later when you're done and alone, 'kay?"
The girl tilted her head confused as she shared a look with the small blond next to her.
"Would you mind if I brought Jericho with me when we have finished?" She asked.
"Uh, I don't really think he needs to come." Gar said quickly, pretending to not see the frown now adorning the other boy's face.
"But we are all friends here. Are we not? Should that not mean that we-" The princess reasoned but was cut off by an angry snort.
"Listen, just forget it. Don't make such a big deal about it, jeez!"
With that Beast Boy pivoted on his heels and stormed away, his ears flopping downwards to his shoulders as he rushed off.
Stupid Jericho! Always ruining everything and everyone!
The changeling entered his bedroom locking the door behind as he slumped to the floor wiping the droplets off his cheeks. He wasn't crying. He wasn't. It was just dust or something that got in his eyes. It wasn't like he was upset or anything.
Right?
"Woah! Nice moves!"
Beast Boy sulked against the wall of the training room standing as far away as possible from Jericho and Robin. It was almost the end of the day, and the leader of the titans decided that sparring would be a great activity before heading off to bed; because that made total sense.
Gar rolled his eyes again as he watched the two duke it out on the mats. He had to admit that Jericho was pretty decent, but not nearly as good as himself of course. Sure the kid could flip Robin over his head, but could he do the same thing against a full sized grizzly bear? Definitely not.
In the training arena Jericho dodged another punch flexing himself backwards as Robin's fist shot over him. Grabbing the Boy Wonder by the elbow the towhead used the momentum to swing the teen's body up towards himself before instantly dropping down causing Robin to roll over him landing sprawled over on the floor.
"Wow! You really pack a punch!" Robin panted as he stood up cracking his back.
Jericho beamed up at him bouncing on his heels as he helped straighten out the leader's uniform.
"Of course he can." Beast Boy mumbled out sarcastically, crossing his arms, "He can do everything perfectly. Pfft yeah right."
The others must have heard him since they faced his direction. Robin gave Gar a quizzical look as one of his masked eyes widened, Jericho averted his gaze to the ground fidgeting with his cuffs uncomfortably.
"Uh Beast Boy?" Robin started, "You okay?"
Cheeks slightly reddening at being noticed, Gar replied, "I'm fine."
And before he could stop himself he rambled on.
"Why are you even asking about me? Shouldn't you be more focused on your new favorite anyway?"
"What?" The bird was confused, "What do you mean 'new favorite?'"
"I-" Beast Boy was at a loss for words.
This was Robin, the one guy who literally lived in Gotham and worked with Batman as the Dynamic Duo. He was his childhood idol growing up with the Doom Patrol, basically dreaming to have the chance to meet him. And now he was living that by being a part of the titans. But at the moment, he wished that he wasn't here at all. All the eyes were staring straight at him and it felt like Beast Boy was about to be swallowed up by the shadows on the walls. He hated this! And it was all because of Jericho! If he wasn't here then everything would be normal. His friends would still hang out with him, he wouldn't be cast out of everything, or out done by some mountain climbing nobody!
"It's just- You know-" He stuttered.
Before he could finish a single sentence Jericho sprinted out of the room interrupting him.
"Beast Boy, you need to apologize to him."
Raven materialized by Robin, her hood covering over her eyes as she glared at him, "I have felt nothing but jealousy from you aimed at Jericho."
"I'm not jealous!" Gar responded.
Jealous, why would he be jealous of that loser?
"You do not treat him the same as you treat us." Starfire chimed in, her hands folded in front of her as she gloomily floated, "In fact you had asked me to purposefully exclude him earlier today."
"Yeah but that wasn't-"
"Dude, you tore up the note he wrote for you at breakfast." Cyborg included sternly.
Gar felt himself shrink.
'Why were they ganging up on him? Because of Jericho? Really?'
"Listen Beast Boy, you need to work out whatever issues you have with him. We're a team and you guys need to learn to get along." Robin placed his hand on top of the changeling, "Jericho's already been trying to reach out to you, you should try to meet him halfway."
"Fine. I'll say sorry tomorrow." Gar huffed exiting and leaving his concerned team behind marching to his dorm. It was late and he didn't want to deal with anyone else tonight.
It was Monday and instead of trudging his weary feet to the kitchen Beast Boy was yanked straight out of the doorway by a rather impatient Jericho. Gripping at the offending hand now securely latched on to his wrist the changeling tried to pull away, but the other refused to let go.
"Get off of me!" Gar hissed as he struggled to be released.
Jericho didn't even acknowledge him, continuing on wherever he was going. However, there was a surprisingly tense look across the younger boy's face as he dragged his teammate to an empty room and shoved him inside.
Beast Boy stumbled backwards before tripping over his own feet and landing hard on to his backside. Glaring up at the kid in front of him he growled.
"Ow! What was that for!"
A piece of paper was instantly thrust into his face with a long message scrawled on to it, covered with crossed out words and ink stains.
'Why are you being so mean to me? I just want to be friends! We're teammates now and we should be able to trust each other, but I feel like you don't want me here at all! And that really hurts my feelings. I just want to know why you don't like me because I don't understand what I did to make you upset, but I'm still sorry for whatever it was. Please talk to me about it. I don't know how to fix something if I don't know what it is. I just want us to get along and work together! We don't have to be close, but I'm tired of all the cold shoulders and mean comments from you. So can you please tell me why? Please?'
Beast Boy was stunned. He didn't think that the quiet boy in front of him would ever confront him because come on it was Jericho! The kid was the literal definition of being a 'nice guy'. But now seeing the pained expression on the other's face Gar felt his heart give a pitiful squeeze.
Sighing Gar put the note down and stood up.
"Jericho, I don't- I mean-" He rubbed the back of his, guilt flooding inside of him.
"Everyone loves you, wants to be with you, and no one really ever treated me that way. I've had to earn my spot here, and you just kinda got it without really doing anything." He took a deep breath, "I guess I am jealous. Jealous that everyone likes you more than me. And maybe I was pretty mean to you, but that's because I felt mad and… I took it out on you."
Meeting the intense emerald eyes of the younger titan, Beast Boy finally apologized. He couldn't keep fighting him, not like this. His friends were right after all. He was being a total jerk.
"I'm sorry. Sorry for everything in the last weeks, especially how I treated you. It wasn't right of me to blame you for how I was feeling."
Suddenly Gar was embraced by two thin arms wrapping around his body as he was pulled tightly into a hug. What was going on? Was he being forgiven?
Stepping back after a moment Jericho looked up at him with a small smile grasping their hands together and interlocking their fingers. He gave a little sideways nod as his cheeks regained their usual rosy color.
Blinking Beast Boy realized what was happening and felt a tug on the corners of his mouth as his fangs popped out.
"Yeah, we can start over."
Giving their arms a tiny shake the changeling leaned over.
"I'm Beast Boy, nice to meet you."
'Jericho, likewise.'