A.N. My thanks go out to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and urged me to come out with this chapter quickly. Sorry it took as long as it did, but… ah, you know the usual excuses. Please enjoy the chapter.

Chapter nine of Like It Or Not, entitled "The Warehouse District"

Friday, May 25; one day remaining

The day was young. In fact, midnight had just slipped by. Raven and Beast Boy knew that well; they were both staring at the digital clock near the male Titan's bed, watching the minutes slowly creep by in awkward tension.

Beast Boy's bedroom was perfectly silent. Raven and Beast Boy were wide-awake in their respective bunks and were feeling quite uncomfortable at having another person in the room while they tried to sleep.

Raven looked up at the ceiling which was, since she was occupying the top bunk, only a few feet from her face, making her feel quite claustrophobic indeed. But she really didn't mind. If Beast Boy hadn't had a bunk bed, who knew what their sleeping arrangements might be?

Beast Boy was having just as much trouble falling asleep. Aside from the current troubling wedding issues and intense patrol duties that had been keeping him up at night, his acute senses were currently picking up the foreign sounds of Raven's every breath and movement, and her scent was enough to keep his mind from relaxing in his own familiar bedroom. His instincts told him that something wasn't quite right, and even though the rational side of him knew that everything was well, Beast Boy knew that sleep would not be coming easy until he got used to Raven being there, and who knew how long that would take? Still, he didn't regret inviting her. The way she explained the last attack and how being around him had basically kept her from dying, he wouldn't be able to sleep without Raven in the room, just knowing that she might fall under another attack even as he slept.

He could tell by her breathing that she wasn't asleep. Obviously she would be even more uneasy than him right now, just because she was, well, Raven. She was in a strange room with a strange boy whom she didn't like very much, on top of all the wedding pandemonium that was constantly on their minds. Yeah, she might not be falling asleep any time soon either.

Beast Boy turned towards the wall, punched his pillow a bit to fluff it, and fell against it again with a sigh.

'Go to sleep, Beast Boy,' he commanded himself, trying to slow his breathing enough to relax. He squeezed his eyes shut, and a few minutes later he finally began to feel himself nodding off. Raven stirred slightly from above him and his eyes shot open again. 'Darn it!'

The minutes seemed to trickle by slowly in a thick silence. Beast Boy had just about given up sleeping and was staring wide-eyed at the bottom of the top bunk, trying to convince his animalistic side that there was absolutely nothing wrong, when his alarm clock began to blare.

Raven gasped and sat up, and the sound of her head cracking against the ceiling reverberated throughout the room.

Beast Boy fumbled for his alarm clock, shutting off the loud beeping quickly. He deftly rolled out of bed and onto his feet. The green teen stretched his arms over his head and groaned quietly, glancing up at the top bunk, where a scowling Raven sat staring at him.

"Ow," she said, palm rubbing at her throbbing forehead.

Beast Boy chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry," he apologized, "I should've warned you that was coming. It practically takes a fog horn to get me up in the middle of the night."

Raven squinted at his bedside clock. It was just after two A.M., and apparently time for the changeling's patrol shift. She half-watched as Beast Boy fixed his hair and clothing in the copious moonlight that streamed through the window.

"Well," Beast Boy sighed, "Off to patrol. Maybe I'll be back by seven or eight. Try to get some sleep while I'm gone, alright?"

Raven just groaned and lay down again as Beast Boy departed. Surprisingly, after only a few minutes of his absence, Raven slipped into a light slumber.

TT

It was just after seven in the morning, but the bright sunlight and cloudless sky promised that it would be an exquisite day. Starfire couldn't help but hum to herself as she floated through the halls, a cup of coffee in one hand and a wedding planning checklist in the other. The coffee was for poor Robin, who had been up since the middle of the night on patrol. If she hurried, she might just be able to catch him in the evidence room brooding over a stack of files before he plodded down to the training room for his morning workout.

Starfire mentally checked off what had to be done that day for the wedding as she traveled through the halls. The week had simply flown by! She couldn't believe that the very next day her two good friends were to be wed. She was fit to burst from jubilance at their good fortune. To never again suffer lonesomeness and to have the constant companionship and support of another was a blessing that Starfire herself could only hope to one day enjoy, and yet her own teammates would so soon be partaking in the delight of such a union. To plan their wedding was a supreme honor, and Starfire was proud of how well the details for the occasion were coming together.

Starfire heard a door slide open a little ways ahead of where she was passing through the hallway. It was Beast Boy's room. What perfect timing! She had to ask him about his preference on decorations for the reception.

"Good morning, friend Beast Boy!" she began joyfully, "I was wondering– Oh! Raven, forgive me, I did not know I would find you here."

Indeed, Raven had just emerged from Beast Boy's room, and by the time she noticed Starfire approaching, it was too late to retreat unseen.

Raven froze. "Starfire," she said, making a supreme effort to keep her voice plain, "I was just, ah, you see…"

Starfire peered at her friend innocently. "Did you come to find Beast Boy?" she inquired. "I had hoped to speak with him as well, but he seems to still be on patrol."

"Er, yes, so I see," Raven replied casually. "Well, I'll be going now."

"Alright, friend Raven!" Starfire responded warmly, continuing down the hall as the dark girl quickly walked in the opposite direction. "Oh! Raven?"

The empath reluctantly stopped in her tracks and turned back to her teammate.

"Starfire?"

The alien smiled brightly. "I have read copiously on the subject and talked at great length to the very kind employees in the wedding shops, and I have learned that partaking in a party of bachelorettes is common on the eve of one's wedding day. I even received several very bizarre suggestions as to where such a party could occur."

Raven's expression grew dubious. "A bachelorette party?" she smirked. "No thanks."

Starfire's grin fell a bit. "I was prepared to receive such a response, I am afraid." Her smile perked up again. "So I resolved to request that we simply partake in the 'hanging out' this evening instead. Oh, Raven," she gushed, "It will be wonderful! We can share our hopes and dreams and rejoice in the joyful occasion that is soon to take place, and I shall even do the shopping for the junk food that people on earth find so delightful. This sounds enjoyable, yes?"

Raven stared at Starfire blankly. She sighed. "Star, I…" she began. She caught Starfire's pleading look. Raven huffed. "If I must," she acquiesced as she turned to leave again, wanting more than anything to just escape to her room and try to forget her sorry predicament over a novel and some meditation.

TT

Beast Boy glanced at the chipped coffee cup on the table in front of him. He eyed the tepid beverage blankly, staring at it without really seeing it. His elbows propped on the tabletop, Beast Boy sat all by his lonesome, letting his mind drift where it would.

The changeling felt like a wreck. He was dead tired. His head hurt from thinking so much. The sense of trepidation that throbbed through his skull was enough to drive him mad.

He looked around the quaint coffee shop for a clock. He really had to start wearing a watch. True, he could go through the trouble of taking his communicator from his pocket to check the time, but he didn't feel like budging.

From the sun's location in the sky, Beast Boy guessed it was around three in the afternoon. He had finished his patrol shift early that morning, but Robin had graciously allowed him the day off. Robin could be a real jerk of a guy, but Beast Boy was glad that his leader had the kindness to at least allow him a day of escape just before he was to be married.

Married. God, he was getting married. He could repeat that a million times and probably go through the ceremony without what was actually happening sinking in. Less than a week ago he had been just fine, minding his own business and plodding along in his complacent life. And now this.

Beast Boy hadn't been off duty for more than five minutes and had just been wandering vacantly through the streets, wondering how he should spend his last semi-normal day, when a couple of typical teen, female fans had accosted him. They did the whole "Oh my God, you're Beast Boy!" nonsense for a while, insisted on buying him breakfast, and spent a solid half hour begging for autographs and pictures and carrying on in what he believed was a very unbecoming flirtatious manner. And he let them. He even essayed a smile and a corny quip or two, much to their squealing delight. It was a waste of time, but hey. Tomorrow he would be forced to swear off all possible romance, girlfriends, and God knows what else, until Raven cut off their pathetic excuse for marriage as soon as possible.

What a life he had condemned himself to. In hindsight, his quick decision seemed kind of stupid. He had agreed to forfeit all hopes of contentment and for what? A girl who would sooner kill than kiss him. It was all very sad, really, what was to become of him.

He hated being depressed like this. He really, really did. He was ashamed to admit that he wished he hadn't agreed to go through with the marriage so quickly. What in hell had he been thinking? Had he thought it over at all? Well, he was definitely paying the price for a hasty decision now. And he would be paying for years to come.

But whenever his gloomy thoughts strayed too far down that path, he would snap right back to the reality: Raven would die if he didn't marry her. He had to do this. He knew that, honestly. But she was supposedly a smart girl, so why couldn't she just see what he was giving up for her? He wasn't asking for much, but for God's sake, marriage was supposed to bring happiness, darn it! She was basically condemning him to two years of miserable, lonely, abstinence. She was letting his young life become wretched, and all the while she couldn't see past her own damn issues, which for all he could tell, only consisted of mopey, self-induced cynicism and absolute determination to never let another person see her as anything but utterly cheerless and despondent.

If only there was a way around this wedding, they would both be much happier. That is, unless Raven had a change of heart. If she could face this in a mature way then all his problems would just melt away. But seriously, he had more faith in the Tooth Fairy than in the possibility of Raven reconsidering her deep-seated distrust of all things that breathed.

If only someone understood what he was going through. He seriously doubted that he could spell out his muddled anxiety and suffering coherently enough for even the best shrink to grasp what was running through his head every hour of every day since he had (naively, so painfully naively) agreed to marry Raven. He really didn't have anything to lose but his dignity by bearing all, and perhaps it would be better to sacrifice that before he did something really stupid in his frustration.

The tough part was deciding to whom he could go for help. He didn't trust many people to listen to what he had to say and not spread it around or use it against him. Basically he was restricted to his teammates on the issue of trust. It would have to be Cyborg. He was the obvious choice out of the four other Titans on his team. Now Beast Boy had never been the type to share his feelings with other guys (what male is?), but he was fairly certain that Cyborg wouldn't betray his confidence. Beast Boy had reached the summit of despair, and he was willing to try something as radical as spilling his emotional guts to escape these rotten feelings that were beating him up from inside his head.

Beast Boy fished out a few dollars from his pocket and left them on the counter with his cup of cold coffee, flashing a perfect copy of his dopey, carefree smile at the few tables of civilians who had been not so casually staring at him as he brooded. He dashed through the door and took flight in the form of a falcon, sight set on Titans Tower.

TT

Raven moaned from her bed and burrowed deep under the covers. The curtains were drawn and her room was as dark as it could be, but the darkness gave her no reprieve.

"Azar, let me die," she groaned in anger, gingerly turning to her other side. She had been afflicted with a headache since the day before, which had only been exacerbated by whacking her cranium on the ceiling of Beast Boy's bedroom that morning. She felt terribly feverish too, but simultaneously so cold that she yearned for a hot, steamy shower. And yet she couldn't bring herself to stand; her body throbbed like she had run a marathon or two the day before, so that even breathing made her chest ache.

So this was what it was like to die. Raven knew that this was no illness, but the curse warning her that she had come dangerously close to the deadline for the fulfillment of the marriage. Why in hell she had let Robin talk her into waiting until the day before her birthday was a mystery to her, but she had, and now she was paying the price.

Beast Boy, to her knowledge, hadn't returned from patrol yet. Either her current state made the seconds tick by like hours, or his shift had been over for quite some time. She was vaguely worried about not knowing where he was, just incase this dreadful achiness and pain turned into something even worse, but her communicator was on her nightstand. He was just a call away. And yet Raven wasn't entirely certain that she could find the energy to move across her bed to take up the device.

Raven groaned again. If she hadn't been so badly frazzled when Starfire met her in the hall, she never would have agreed to spend time hanging out that evening. She just wanted to be left alone, that the gods might have a mite of compassion on her and allow her to fall asleep again. It would be best that way, and maybe she could forget all her troubles, at least for a few listless hours.

TT

"I just don't understand her, ya know?" Beast Boy was sitting on top of a tool chest in the massive underground garage, watching Cyborg install some new part or something under the hood of the T-Car. "She's always yelling at me for being immature, but she's the one who won't give me a chance! She just completely ignores all of my opinions 'bout the marriage."

Cyborg stopped for a second to grab a tool from the floor. He paused a moment to glance at his friend, who refused to make eye contact and was staring intently at the wall behind him.

"Well, what did you expect?" Cyborg asked patiently.

Beast Boy stopped to think before he answered.

"I thought I'd have a little more weight in a relationship like this. Even with her. I am the guy, after all."

"Yeah, well, as long as you're a pushover Rae'll wear the pants in your relationship."

"Pushover?" Beast Boy said, finally deigning to look at his teammate in irritation. "I am not a pushover."

Cyborg chuckled. "Around most people, you might not be," he agreed with a shrug, "But you're a sucker 'round Rae."

"So what're you saying is that I should be more pushy?" Beast Boy demanded.

Cyborg held up his hands. "Whoa, no, for the sake of your own health, I wouldn't advise trying to push Rae around."

Cyborg grabbed a few colored wires from a broad table by his side and disappeared behind the hood again.

Beast Boy scowled. "How am I supposed to know what to do?"

"Well how would I know any more than you?" Cyborg asked, voice echoing from within the car.

"Well, you've had a girlfriend before, right?"

Cyborg surfaced again and got a reminiscent look in his dark eye.

"That was a long time ago, B. And that was high school. What you've got going with Rae is a little different, don't ya think?"

"Kinda. But you know Raven. She loves to be in charge. I couldn't force her to do a thing."

"I don't want to butt into your business, and I'm not saying you have to force anything. You have to be more assertive if you want anything to change, that's all."

"I've tried that," Beast Boy replied miserably, "It just leads to us arguing and things just get even more awkward."

"Better awkward now than terrible for your whole marriage," Cyborg pointed out wisely. "However long it may last."

"Trying to work out stuff with Rae is impossible though!" the changeling complained. "One minute we'll just be talking and the next she's calling me impulsive and throwing down ultimatums."

"And so you're just going to wallow in self-pity and accept the fact that she'll run your relationship forever?"

"Dude, no! I just… don't understand her. How am I supposed to know what to do when she throws me out of the Tower just for telling jokes?"

"Well I hope you figure that out somehow."

"How?" Beast Boy pleaded.

"Beats me," Cyborg admitted, shrugging as he fiddled with a screwdriver absently. "All you can do is talk to her."

"That's all I'll ever be able to do to her."

Cyborg rolled his eye at his miserable friend.

"I've got faith in you, BB. You'll win her over."

"Not the way it's going now I won't."

"Then change it."

"I can't!"

"Well pick a side, Beast Boy! Are you just going to go along with whatever Rae wants or are you gunna take a stand on things?"

Beast Boy slapped a hand over his eyes and fell back over the large tool chest, disappearing from sight and hitting the floor with a dull thud.

"I can't just go along with her all the time," he said after a minute, apparently thinking things over from the cold concrete floor of the garage.

"There ya go," Cyborg said approvingly. "That's a start."

Beast Boy groaned. "But I already knew that!" he exclaimed. "I still have to figure out how to make her listen to me."

Cyborg grinned. "Well you've got your work cut out for you. I don't think that Raven listens to anyone."

The changeling picked himself up from the floor and set himself back on the tool chest.

"Maybe I should just give up trying to turn the marriage into more than she wants," he sighed. "Save myself the humiliation."

"It all comes down to how much you want her," Cyborg pointed out. "Is she worth chasing? Is the payoff worth the fight?" Cyborg retracted his finger turned soldering iron from the T-Car engine, took a last glance, and shut the hood carefully. He turned around and leaned against the car, crossing his arms over his chest and looking squarely at the changeling. "Not that I think you haven't considered it before, but I hear that with this whole marriage deal, if you play your cards right, you just might get lucky," He winked suggestively.

Beast Boy smirked humorlessly but blushed despite himself. "Don't talk like that," he insisted. "I'm not even sure how I feel about her, or even if I would want to, uh, you know." He blushed even more furiously and refused to meet Cyborg's gaze again.

Cyborg's booming laughter reverberated through the garage. "Beast Boy, there isn't a red-blooded, seventeen-year-old male alive who can honestly say that he would pass up an opportunity like yours."

"Dude! Don't you get it? This is still Raven we're talking about here, not some normal girl. It's not about us wanting to be together or anything! We're getting married to save her life, and that's all there is to it. Regardless of what I want – and I'm not admitting that I want anything – Raven would never agree to do anything requiring physical contact with another human being."

"And how are you so sure about that?"

"Believe me, Cy, Raven's made it perfectly clear," Beast Boy insisted.

"But have you asked her?"

"Hello? Do you think I have a death wish, or do you actually believe I'm dumb enough to have missed every hostile sign she's sent my way?" the green teen demanded.

Cyborg's grin grew. "I do believe that Raven's charm has been rubbing off on you."

"Dude! No part of Raven has been rubbing off on me!"

"Friends?"

Cyborg glanced toward the door and Beast Boy almost fell off the tool chest again. Starfire was at the door, peeping into the garage and wearing a pensive expression.

"Star!" Beast Boy exclaimed, jumping up, "How long have you been there?"

"I only just arrived. Robin requested that I ask if you two wished to join him for dinner in the city. I would join you myself, but Raven and I have already made plans for an evening of the hanging out."

"I haven't eaten in a few hours," Cyborg shrugged, "Why not?"

Beast Boy shook his head. "Thanks, but I think I'll stay here and try to get some slee–"

"He'll come too," Cyborg cut in. "Tell Rob we'll be up in a minute."

"I shall relay your message promptly." With that, Starfire drifted off, and the two male Titans were left alone again in the silent garage.

"You're not spending the night before your wedding moping in your room, little man," Cyborg insisted. "We done here? Or do I have to waste more time trying to convince you that you're dumb to give up on Rae before you're even hitched?"

"It's not giving up, it's accepting reality."

"No, it's giving up. Now come on, the pizza joint closes at seven today."

TT

"Friend Raven, I fear that you are not enjoying our time of hanging out," Starfire noted.

Indeed, Raven was lying on her back, staring up blankly at the ceiling of the common room as Starfire poured honey mustard on their Chinese takeout. With a supreme effort, the empath tilted her head to look at Starfire.

"I'm sorry, Star," she said. "I'm just not feeling well."

Starfire nodded in understanding. "It is the curse, yes?"

Raven nodded. "I was a fool to wait until the day before my birthday to marry."

"You are not a fool, Raven. This marriage came upon you very suddenly, and I feel that you are… mostly behaving admirably, despite what you perceive to be a very unfortunate circumstance."

The dark girl smiled. "Thanks Starfire." She hefted herself into a sitting position, careful not to ruin the clear nail polish that she had allowed Starfire to apply.

Starfire grinned wistfully. "Friend Raven, you remember what my wedding on Tamaran was to be like?"

"Who can forget?"

"If you recall, I was also to marry one whom I did not choose for myself."

"And you were lucky enough to escape it."

Starfire sighed. "I was so fortunate, yes. I wish to comfort you, Raven, for although you do not wish to marry Beast Boy, please remember that your situation could be far worse."

"It could be worse," Raven agreed lightly.

"You are my best female friend, Raven," Starfire said ardently, "And I want nothing but happiness for you on your wedding day, and every day after that. But I fear that neither you nor Beast Boy are the slightest bit happy about your union."

"Happy? No, I was never meant to be happy. And I can hardly expect Beast Boy to be happy with someone like me."

"I am afraid that I do not understand, then. Although reclusive, you are a wonderful person who a worthy male would find quite pleasing."

Raven scoffed. "I could never please Beast Boy, nor do I wish to try."

"But why not?"

Raven silently regarded the earnest, green-eyed Tamaranean girl for a few moments.

"I am not going to change who I am to make a petulant, seventeen-year-old boy happy. He knew what he was agreeing to when he said he would marry me. I wish to think of it less as marriage and more as a temporary condition anyway."

"You do not need to change who you are in order to please Beast Boy." Starfire said wisely. "He would not like that. But I do think that he would appreciate your effort to get along."

"I'm more than willing if he feels like acting rationally."

"I am quite certain that he does not believe that."

"Why would you think that?"

"It does not matter why, but I am sure that Beast Boy would also say that he is willing to try to get along if you began acting rationally."

Raven laughed mirthlessly. "Starfire, the day that Beast Boy has to ask me to be rational is the day that hell will freeze over."

"Forgive me Raven, but I cannot agree. Because I have come from an arranged marriage as well, I can understand what you are feeling, but because Beast Boy is my good friend, I can also sympathize with what he is going through. This marriage will be as difficult for him as it will be for you, because of all that he is sacrificing for a seemingly unrewarding union."

The empath looked at Starfire carefully. "That's ridiculous," she said quietly. "This isn't going to be painful for him."

"Do you not understand what he is giving up for you, then?"

"Nothing he would get even if we didn't marry," Raven smirked. "Nothing will change between Beast Boy and me after the wedding. We will be able to forget all about it for two years and then it will be over, and he can go right back to accosting every female he comes into contact with."

Starfire leaned back gently against the couch. "Oh, Raven," she sighed sadly, "Will you not be swayed from that opinion?"

"I do not see why I should allow myself to be swayed," Raven replied. "If he felt the way you say he does, he would have told me."

The Tamaranean smiled quietly. "Do you also not know how forbidding you often appear?"

"That has never stopped Beast Boy from annoying me before."

"But perhaps it would stop him from making himself vulnerable before you, and from asking for what he has never dared ask before."

"Starfire, you're being unusually candid this evening."

"Maybe the time for tact is running out."

Raven examined her nails carefully, and finding that they were sufficiently dry, crossed her arms over her chest and drew up her knees. She allowed herself to stare off into space for a few moments.

"You must agree that it would be best for the both of us and for the team to not become… involved," she said slowly.

"I can think of nothing more involving than a marriage, nor do I think that you should make it seem so meaningless."

"But for our safety, for our duty to the team–"

"No," Starfire cut in. "Those are merely excuses, friend Raven."

"How could you know that?"

"Simply because I am not blinded by the same things that you are." Starfire glanced at her friend. "Oh, I have offended you," she exclaimed sadly. "Forgive me, Raven. That was not my intention."

"Don't worry about it," Raven replied calmly. "I appreciate your effort to make my marriage work out, but it's just a hopeless cause." Starfire opened her mouth to refute the comment, but Raven continued on. "I'm not expecting to be made happy by this marriage, and I do not believe that Beast Boy is either. I can only hope that it is tolerable. It's getting late. The boys will be home soon, and your patrol starts in less than a half hour." Raven stood carefully and struggled to keep her balance.

Starfire rose to her feet as well. "Will you at least contemplate what I have said?"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself."

The alien grinned. "Good night, friend Raven. May your rest be contenting and may you awaken tomorrow in good spirits for your wedding day."

"Good night, Starfire." With that, Raven retreated to her bedroom, unable to keep her tumult of emotions from stirring inside her as she walked. How could she possibly face Beast Boy and sleep in his bedroom now? Besides needing time to think seriously about what Starfire had said, she would be a complete wreck after another long night of being unable to fall asleep while Beast Boy was in the same room. Maybe she would take her chances and spend the night in her own bedroom. Honestly, with the way that her life was heading, Raven was beginning to wonder if it would really be all that bad if she just died alone in her bed from one of those awful attacks.

TT

Robin glanced out the window of the operations room with a sigh. It was only a little after ten at night, and with four hours before his patrol began, he had quite a bit of time to kill. He knew that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep before he went on duty, and by the time his shift ended, it would be well after sunrise. And then he was officiating a wedding in his own Tower. Good God, this was messed up.

Cyborg was waiting out the time until his patrol shift in the operations room as well, typing away in some sort of coding at one of the many computer consoles in the room. For a long time the only sounds were Cyborg's rapid typing and the scratch of Robin's pen over a stack of agonizing paperwork.

"It's been a long time since I've seen Beast Boy acting so miserable," Robin finally sighed, breaking the silence.

"Poor guy's just confused," Cyborg replied, taking a break from typing for a moment to read what he had written.

"How long do you think it'll take him to get back to normal?" Robin asked. "We're really hurting, what with two Titans practically out of commission. What's worse is that the media is starting to talk."

Cyborg sighed and rubbed his eye. "Once the wedding stuff blows over and Rae stops chewing him up all the time I'm sure he'll be fine. But there's no way to know how long that'll take."

Robin nodded grimly. "You know I can't afford keeping them on the team if they'll be useless for too long."

"Now don't do anything hasty," Cyborg warned his leader. "After all, if Rae gets her way, things should be back to normal very soon."

"Something tells me Beast Boy isn't going to go along with that."

"Cut him some slack, Rob!" the bionic teen demanded. "This is really hard for him. The last thing he needs is the threat of being kicked off the team looming over his head. He has nothing else to ground him but us."

"We can't afford slack in our line of work," Robin replied. "Believe me, taking him off the team is the last thing I want to do, but the fact is that he can either keep up with his duties, or he can't. As leader of this team, it is my responsibility to be certain that we are all competent, and if this sort of stress is too much for him, then maybe he isn't cut out for the life of a superhero." He glanced at Cyborg. "If I may be perfectly frank."

"I don't see you threatening to kick Raven off the team," Cyborg said angrily. "If someone had to go, which I'm definitely not saying needs to happen, then why wouldn't you go to the root of the problem?"

Robin regarded his friend carefully. "It is in the best interest of our team to not get rid of any of anyone," he replied coolly, "And I'm not going to do anything hasty. But don't think I'm not considering all of the options."

Just as Cyborg was about to offer a furious retort, the console before Robin began to beep. The dark-haired boy rapidly brought up a file to the screen. As he glanced at it, the corners of his mouth turned down.

"Rancid," Robin growled. "He's been sighted in the warehouse district."

"Beast Boy's on patrol there," Cyborg spoke up. "I dunno, you think li'l unstable Beast Boy can deal with it all on his own?" he said, voice heavy with sarcasm.

Robin whirled over to another computer console even as his bionic friend was speaking, already rapidly typing in a pass code that brought up a grid of the city. A few keystrokes brought up a red blinking dot on the grid. Robin grabbed his communicator again, quickly calling the changeling and apparently ignoring Cyborg.

"What's up, Rob?" came the tinny voice of Beast Boy through Robin's communicator a few seconds later.

"Johnny Rancid has been sighted in your vicinity. I'm sending the exact coordinates of his last sighted location to your communicator," Robin said gravely, hands flying across the keyboard on the console once more.

"I'm on it," Beast Boy replied a few moments later.

"Cyborg and I are on our way. Starfire should already be within fifteen minutes of you. We'll be there soon, Beast Boy." Robin said.

"Got it. I can deal with Rancid for fifteen minutes," Beast Boy assured him. "Beast Boy out."

Robin turned to Cyborg as the transmission was ended. "Cyborg?" he began.

"On my way," Cy said with a nod, exiting the room.

It took mere seconds for Robin to contact Starfire and brief her of the situation. She assured him that she was already on her way to Beast Boy's aid and signed off.

Robin had a vague sense of trepidation over the fact that Beast Boy was going to be on his own, potentially fighting Rancid without backup for a while. But then again, maybe this would serve as a test to see if the changeling could still keep up with the demands of a superhero life, or if he had finally cracked under the pressure.

TT

Beast Boy had been sitting on the roof of the tallest warehouse building in the city, swinging his feet over the edge and enjoying the cool, gusty breeze when he received Robin's call. He was happy to be given a mission; the district he was assigned to patrol was small enough that walking through it for half the night was almost unbearable without some sort of action. This was the first criminal activity of the evening, and he was absolutely itching for a good fight. Morphing into a hawk, Beast Boy set off from the rooftop, making a b-line for the warehouse Robin had ordered him to.

The night was a silent one. The moon shone brightly in the cloudless sky, illuminating the streets well enough for him to navigate even if he didn't have superhuman eyesight. His flight was short, as the location Robin had given him was only blocks from where he had been perched when called. As a precaution the shape shifter circled the building several times before landing, checking for any signs of Rancid. Upon finding none, Beast Boy descended quickly and dropped from the air, morphing back into his human form just outside the warehouse. His head turned as he carefully scanned the area for movement.

Nothing. He narrowed his eyes. It certainly wasn't like Rancid to sneak around. He was the type of villain to charge in with some gigantic clanging machine, laughing maniacally and unabashedly taunting his foes. Either Rancid had suddenly learned battle tact (which seemed highly unlikely), or else he had already left the scene. Or perhaps he had never been there. False leads were not uncommon things for the Titans, after all.

The changeling remained still for a few minutes, senses straining for a sign that something was wrong and debating whether or not he should call Robin back. After all, there was no sense in having the whole team investigate a false lead.

With a sigh, Beast Boy decided to take a once around the exterior of the building. Perhaps he had missed something during his aerial assessment. His quick circuit around the building's perimeter turned up very little, however. The place looked like your run of the mill, abandoned warehouse. The only odd thing that Beast Boy noticed was that most of the warehouse's windows had been smashed in, but he couldn't tell if it had been done recently. But there wasn't a single reason to believe that a villain was nearby.

Satisfied that he was in no immediate danger, Beast Boy determined that he ought to inspect the warehouse's interior; he guessed that it had been five minutes since Robin had contacted him, and the Boy Wonder wouldn't be happy to find him just waiting around the location he was expected to investigate when he arrived.

Beast Boy started up to the entrance of the warehouse, his footsteps sounding against the old, cracked pavement. It was pretty eerie, he had to admit, how deathly silent this part of the city was at night. He found a gigantic, rusty, steel door on the side of the building and discovered that it was ajar. It had apparently been like that for quite some time, as it wouldn't budge as he attempted to shove it open a little wider. Luckily he had a rather slight body and was able to squeeze in through the narrow entranceway.

He stepped inside cautiously. Despite the fact that the warehouse was obviously abandoned and had been that way for quite some time by the looks of it, the giant chamber he entered was dimly lit by dozens of buzzing light bulbs that lined the ceiling. How odd. Maybe half of them were burned out, but the working bulbs threw shadows across the mostly empty warehouse with their meager light. Random piles of boxes and barrels covered by dusty blue tarps were all that remained in the abandoned room, and the bulky objects looked ominous in the sparse light.

A barely audible noise that sounded very much like a muffled footstep came from somewhere in the warehouse, immediately putting Beast Boy on edge. He swallowed, anxiety slowly creeping in as he continued to strain his ears for any sign that he was not alone. If it weren't for his animalistic hearing he wouldn't have detected the nearly inaudible break in the silence.

'Chill out Beast Boy,' he commanded himself, 'It's probably just a mouse or something. This place has gotta be full of them.' Beast Boy cautiously stepped further into the room and away from the door. His steps left tracks in the thin layer of dust and grime that covered the floor.

Another noise no louder than the last rang out, this time from behind him.

Beast Boy spun around in fright, prepared to see Johnny Rancid or some other villain poised to attack, but there was no one in sight.

He tried to chuckle to himself. "My mind's just playing tricks on me," Beast Boy muttered in an attempt to relieve his nerves. "There's no one here."

As if on cue, a tarp on the other side of the warehouse shifted, making Beast Boy practically jump out of his skin.

"Who's there?" he demanded, wincing as his unsteady voice reverberated throughout the room. There was no reply. Gathering up all his courage, Beast Boy cautiously began to step over to the source of the disturbance, ready to shift and take flight at the first sign of a coming attack. He felt something crunch beneath his shoe and he jumped back, embarrassed to find that it was just the glass from the many broken windows that littered this part of the expansive warehouse. The moonlight fell in pieces on the floor, further illuminating his path as he crossed the room.

With all the bravery he could muster Beast Boy pulled aside the tarp that he could have sworn he saw move before, and was rewarded only by a cloud of dust that sent him into a coughing fit.

It was just a stack of wooden boxes. Nothing alive. Maybe it was all in his imagination after all. That must be it; he just got himself all worked up and had started seeing things because of how sleep deprived he was. He might as well wait outside the warehouse for his team to show up. This place was seriously giving him the creeps.

He turned, dropping the tarp as he prepared to leave, and looked up just in time to see a massive form drop down from the rafters.

Beast Boy yelped as the object deftly fell to its feet, hardly fazed by the impact of the thirty-foot drop that echoed like a gunshot through the warehouse. It was Johnny Rancid, and he looked devilishly pleased at the changeling's horrified reaction to his grand entrance.

"Boo," he said, erupting into laughter as Beast Boy recovered from his shock.

"Rancid," the boy tried to growl menacingly as he assumed a battle stance, "Don't even try to get away. The rest of the Titans will be here any minute."

"What makes you think I'm gunna try to get away?" Rancid demanded, cracking his knuckles loudly and taking a threatening step forward.

Beast Boy backed up accordingly, boots crunching over more glass.

"Why are you here?" the diminutive Titan demanded, "You don't even have one of your sissy robots to fight your battle for you."

"I'm not lookin' for a fight," Rancid said, "I'll be done before the rest of your twerpy friends show up."

Beast Boy hardly had time to prepare before Rancid struck. He tried to dodge the bungling man's massive fist as it swung sharply at him, but the changeling's reflexes seemed to fail him. The boy was struck forcefully in the right shoulder, sending him flying backwards. His back connected with the ground and he skidded painfully over the filthy, glass-strewn floor. It was all he could do to suppress a cry as stray shards of glass cut into his back.

He leapt up, shifting into a gorilla and preparing to smash the villain before him, but Johnny eluded his massive fists by dodging to the right. Even as he was still in gorilla form, Rancid swung at his side, managing to inflict a punishing blow before Beast Boy could strike again. The green beast roared in pain and shifted into a kangaroo, sending Johnny Rancid careening to the floor with a brilliant kick to the chest.

Rancid was back on his feet before Beast Boy could inflict any more damage, and the villain ran behind the nearest uncovered stack of boxes. He picked up the topmost box with a grunt and sent it flying at the changeling, who shifted into a mouse and scurried to safety behind another tarp ten feet or so away. Once relatively protected, Beast Boy shifted back into human floor and grabbed his communicator from his pocket. He jammed the button to call Robin.

"Rob!" he cried in desperation, "Where are you?"

"Beast Boy," Robin's agitated voice sounded over the device, "We ran into trouble with Adonis downtown. Cyborg's on his way to your location." Beast Boy could hear the sounds of screaming civilians and shattering glass over the communicator and felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Dude! Rancid's here! He's–"

Beast Boy was interrupted when the entire mountain of covered boxes he was hiding behind was shoved over, and he barely managed so jump away in time to avoid being crushed as they smashed to the floor, causing more dust to billow up. He had dropped his communicator as he tumbled to safety, and Johnny Rancid's gigantic boot came down on it, sending bits of plastic and sparks flying.

The villain laughed at the changeling's dismayed expression. "And now you're the one who can't get away," he gloated, yelling triumphantly as he charged at the changeling. Rancid's massive fist connected with the Titan's jaw. Beast Boy was sent sprawling to the floor, blood flowing from his mouth as his head erupted in pain. He scrambled to his feet, shifting into a falcon and flapping madly up into the rafters. His focus was set intently upon hiding himself to recoup, but just as he reached the ceiling, a wooden box connected with his avian body. Stunned, Beast Boy was sent careening to the floor.

On the verge of blacking out after the force of the fall, Beast Boy found himself shifted back into human form on the floor, only for Rancid's boot to connect ruthlessly with his chest. He tried desperately to draw in a breath, but the excruciating pain made him cry out instead. Rancid's sadistic laughter continued.

"What's wrong?" he leered, "Not so high and mighty without your friends around, eh?" He chuckled evilly as Beast Boy tried to hiss out a reply, but the struggle to draw air into his lungs occupied all of the changeling's attention.

With a mighty effort Beast Boy struggled to shove himself to his feet, preparing to leap up and make for the door. He had given the fight his all, but now he had to take flight fast before it was too late.

Rancid seemed to perceive his intentions. "Don't worry, I'll let you go soon enough," he laughed, advancing on the wounded Titan.

The changeling regarded him with scorn, spitting blood in Rancid's direction and attempting to articulate through a throbbing jaw, "Cyborg'll be here any minute."

"That's more than enough time," Rancid assured the battered Titan before him, pulling a little case from one of his pants pocket. Beast Boy's vision was swimming before him, but he was sure that he saw a needle being produced from the case as Rancid crouched beside him. The room seemed to swirl around Beast Boy, but he struggled to his knees, only to be shoved over once again by Rancid. The huge man easily pinned the weakened green boy to the ground.

Beast Boy tried to wriggle free as he felt the bite of a needle pierce his arm, but this only made the villain's grip tighten dangerously. On the verge of passing out and hardly able to draw in a single ragged breath with the villain's crushing weight upon him, Beast Boy started to worry that this might not end well. This triggered a deluge of panic; he had to live, for Raven's sake if nothing else!

Beast Boy faintly heard the sound of metal doors being blasted open, which seemed to be coming from very, very far away. The man over him tensed and Beast Boy felt his arm twinge again as the needle was withdrawn.

"Yo!" Get the hell away from Beast Boy!" A furious, but also quite muffled voice exploded, and a flash of sizzling blue energy passed over the fallen Titan's head. The retreating footsteps and victorious laughter of his assailant were the last noises that registered in Beast Boy's exhausted mind as his vision faded to black and he allowed himself to be overtaken by unconsciousness.

--

Please review or PM me if you have any feedback to offer.

Thank you for reading.