Shoutout to EX3451 and The Brod Road for pointing out the lack of Starfire and Cyborg response. This chapter is here because of them.

Chapter 16: Ease My Mind

It was easily the most cheerful room in Titan tower.

The walls were painted a light, warm shade of purple which seemed to glow during the daylight hours when the large windows would feed a seemingly endless stream of sunshine into the room. Sitting dominantly in the exact center of the space was a very large, very pink circular bed lacking any pillows or blankets. A large pink dresser loaded down with all sorts of girly accessories was pressed against one wall. Surrounding it were a wide variety of posters featuring kittens, a replica of the 'Mona Lisa,' an underground railway map of London and a single huge canvas splashed with all manner of neon colors – courtesy of a past attempt at art. A stack of glossy magazines tottered in one corner next to a pink television stand beside a full length mirror. Everything was bright and joyful and light.

Except the sobbing girl flung out over the bed, wallowing in the semi-darkness.

It had been three hours since Starfire had intervened between Robin and Cyborg. Three hours since she had run from the room shortly afterwards to where she currently was. Three hours of crying out her emotions and wondering how everything had gotten so messed up.

Starfire hated any sort of conflict in her titan family. Even Beastboy and Cyborg's daily bantering breakfast battles set her on edge. The situation with Beastboy and the subsequent confrontation after batman's call had thus disturbed her deeply.

Coming from a culture literally built on conflict, Starfire had grown up fighting. She had trained rigorously every day in the art of warfare, both physical and tactical. She had trained her body to the point of exhaustion countless times and hardened her heart and soul as befitting a potential future Queen of Tamaran She had also endured countless family meals consisting of nothing but yelling competitions between her father and sister.

Always the more emotional one, Starfire had sat quietly by and watched the inner royalty fighting. And every time she did, she had felt the desire to stop it rise within her. And every time it had risen she had squashed it back down again. She had been a princess of Tamaran, brutal in her ability, tireless in her conflict, all powerful in her will to survive. There had been no room in her life for sentimentality or kindness.

Indeed kindness was unheard of to her in those days.

But then those days ended.

Starfire sniffed loudly as her mood lightened.

The worst thing to ever happen to her had turned into the best. Starfire had been convinced that she would never again see the light of a sun when the Gordanians lay claim to her. She had resigned herself to a fate of torture and worse at their hands. And though she took the news befitting that of a warlord on the outside, inwardly she had been terrified. That terror had eventually led to a desperate escape attempt that had miraculously succeeded.

And she had been introduced to kindness. To a real family. To love.

Starfire had formed bonds that transcended the very nature of her species. And loved it. She loved the acceptance that her teammates offered her. Loved that she had no need to prove herself or be anything other than just who and what she was. Loved that they loved her and that any one of them would place themselves in harm's way for her and each other, where a Tamaranian would put their own survival first.

To begin with, she had found the concept foolish. Why endanger their lives for others? Why risk pain and loss to save an unknown stranger? But gradually she had come to find the answer and understand that there was a difference between living and surviving.

She remembered watching an old Tamaranian chieftain fight his last battle. He had been renowned for his long life, revered for his putting off of friendships in favour of safety and admired for relying on no one but himself. Starfire vividly remembered him falling in a civil war battle. As a young princess being introduced to war, she had watched him look around as he breathed his last and saw no one at his side.

She likened it to an event that had occurred four weeks into the lifetime of the titans. Beastboy had become trapped protecting a small girl from falling rubble, getting himself trapped under it instead of her. While Starfire had valiantly continued to combat the aimlessly violent Plasmus, the rest of her team along with some bystanders had abandoned the fight to free the trapped titan. She turned from her battle and watched as ten people together lifted a large block of concrete, revealing a turtle with one crushed flipper.

She remembered wanting to be him for a moment. Wanting to endure the pain just to know what it felt like to be looked after, to be cared for. And in time she had. It was one of the things that attracted her to Robin. He had been the very first person she every met to show even a glimpse of kindness to.

They all had.

They all did.

Starfire let a small smile out before the image of Beastboy as Changeling roaring crashed back into her head. Tears fell with renewed vigour as she remembered the display of pain and agony her friend had displayed.

Batman's words floated through her mind, 'You and your team failed him…'

That set off another round of sobbing and Starfire buried her face into the sheets of her bed, attempting to muffle the sound of her despair. 'Forgive me friend Beastboy, forgive us all.'

She felt a light, cool touch on her back and whipped her head up. The sympathetic and concerned face of Cyborg looked back down at her.

"Oh, friend Cyborg I am much distressed!" Starfire threw her arms around him, heedless of the creaks and groans his metallic body gave off in response. She felt his arms move around her back and squeeze and cried the last of her tears into the strong body of her friend.

"Hey, it's all good Star. Everything's gonna turn out fine, just you watch," he spoke, trying to sound soothing but instead sounding like he was in considerable physical pain. Which he was.

Starfire withdrew from her killer embrace and looked at him with bloodshot eyes. "I fear everything is not 'gonna' to be the fine, friend Cyborg," She replied, wiping her eyes. "You and friend Robin are doing the fighting about friend Beastboy who has left us…" Impossibly, more tears rimmed her eyes.

Cyborg sighed to himself. He had just returned from giving Raven her private viewing of the Beast incident. He really wasn't in the mood to console anyone after that. But he knew Starfire desperately needed it and as usual he put his friend's needs before his own. He sat on her bed, thankful for his reinforcing it after two separate accidental dream demolitions it had suffered at the alien's hands, and patted next to him. She fell down onto the bed heavily beside him.

"I'm not going to lie Star, it's not a great situation. But we will get through it together. Robin and I just have an issue we need to sort out. We'll talk about it tomorrow and resolve it," Cyborg talked with the straightest face he could muster. He wasn't lying, but he wasn't being brutally honest either.

"Resolve it?" Starfire asked, looking confused.

"Yeah, we'll talk it out. Set things straight, ya' know? You were right to stop us today. Everybody was a bit emotional because of Batman's message." He winced as he saw Starfire's reaction.

"Oh Cyborg!" She exclaimed, throwing herself back into his arms, "Friend Beastboy displayed such pain and much anguish and now he has left us!"

Cyborg again wrapped his arms around the Tamaranian and wondered what to say. The truth was he wasn't exactly sure how he felt about Beastboy's… sabbatical of sorts. He had spent the time after the confrontation with Robin angrily pacing his room and then worrying about Raven coming after him for the video. He hadn't had much time to think about his friend's situation. He decided to just speak from the heart.

"Beastboy's tough Star, I wouldn't worry about him. He's stronger than he appears to be. Both inside and out. That said, I still can't really believe how he acted that night. I had no idea he had so much crap stored up within him. I mean, whenever he was the Beast it was like he was just an animal, there was none of my little brother then. But as the Changeling I could see him as himself. Just an angry, messed up version of the guy I know." Cyborg continued to ramble on, not so much talking to Star as to himself.

"It kinda' hurts I guess, knowing he had all that stuff inside and never told me about it. Never told any of us about it. I mean, I'm practically his brother and he's practically mine, how could I have not seen any of that. Am I really that blind?" He asked himself softly, eyes staring vacantly out the large window.

"I do not believe so," Star replied from his chest. "I do not think any of us saw what was inside him. Thinking now, there is very little about friend Beastboy that I know. Where did he come from, what did he do before the titan's formation? Oh, I am a terrible friend!" She again buried her face into Cyborg's torso.

He rubbed her back softly. "Not you're not Star. None of us really know much about him, but then none of us really talk to each other about our pasts much."

Starfire pulled out of his embrace and shook her head at him, "You are wrong friend Cyborg. You have shared with us all how you came to be how you are now. I have also shared my past with you all, though admittedly it out of need when the Gordanians returned to recapture me. Raven would have remained silent of her past and heritage but her entire life was laid bare for us to see. What you say is true of Robin, but he is bound to secrecy to protect the identity of the Batman, and he has told me some of his previous life in Gotham. The only person that we know nothing of is friend Beastboy, except that he was expelled from the Patrol of Doom."

Cyborg stared back at the alien. She was right.

He knew absolutely nothing about the green prankster. He had no idea why he was green, where he had gotten his powers from, how he had gotten into the Doom Patrol, what he had done before that, where he was born. Pasts were generally a no go topic in the tower, but that didn't hold up against Star's logic. They knew nothing about him.

"You're right Star. We don't know anything about him. But maybe that's just how he wants it."

"No!" Starfire exclaimed vehemently, eyes faintly glowing green in the gloom and muscles clenched. "I shall not allow him to continue to store up his pain and sorrow. He will speak of his agony, he shall reveal it all to us and never again will he take on the suffering of the Changeling!"

Cyborg stared. Starfire was as flighty in her emotions as they were powerful, so he was used to her rapid mood swings. However, he was still shocked and pleased at the depths of her care for the Green Bean. He smiled at the alien, whose energy seemed to drain out of her as a thought stuck in her mind.

"But we have realized too late, friend Cyborg," She stated as her whole body seemed to slump, "We did not help when our friend was in need. Indeed, we most likely worsened our friend's suffering." Her eyes widened and glistened to Cyborg's dismay. "The Batman was correct. We failed him." She tailed off into soft sobs and Cyborg felt his heart crack. He quickly drew her into another embrace. She continued on between gasps.

"It is no wonder friend Beastboy left after his transformation into the Changeling. He did not want to endure the same reaction we had the last of the times." She spoke dejectedly.

Cyborg started. He had never considered that. Did Beastboy still harbor feelings deep inside over the Beast incident. Anger, fear, pain? He knew Raven had talked to him and took him out of his funk following the incident but if the emotional torment Beastboy had displayed as Changeling was anything to go by, he was good at repressing negative emotion.

He sighed at himself. 'Just another reason to despise that whole mess…damn.' He addressed Starfire.

"Maybe or maybe not Star. One more thing we'll need to talk to him about when he gets back. At the end of the day, he made his decision. We should respect it. Besides, Batman said whatever they are doing would only take around a year."

Starfire's mind wandered through the words Batman had spoken earlier that day. It was somewhat hazy. She had had trouble following the course of the conversation and had simply latched onto the fact that Beastboy wasn't coming home. She focused on his words from earlier.

'…Beastboy has made a full and remarkable recovery...'

'… will be staying here indefinitely…'

'…cutting off all communication…'

'…team failed him…'

'…I can do far better…'

'… can help him and I will…'

Starfire's eyes widened and she leapt off of the bed in a sudden fit of energy. Words starting coming from her mouth extremely fast and she spun around the room.

"Friend Cyborg, friend Cyborg! All is right indeed! We may have not been able to help friend Beastboy but the Batman has promised to! It is as you have said, 'gonna turn out just fine' it has!"

Cyborg stared at the dancing Tameranian, spouting off sounds so fast, the computer half of his brain was convinced he was approaching mach2 in the T-Jet with the top down. Still, this was much better than a sobbing Starfire.

"Woah, woah Star! Came it down a second now, calm it down." Cyborg reached out and clamped his hands around her shoulders to stop her spinning before a mini cyclone formed.

"But friend Cyborg, I am the most happy and the relieved."

"Okaaay, I'm glad but do you mind explaining why."

"How do you not see it my friend? As Batman rightly said, we failed in helping friend Beastboy in his time of need. Batman, however approached our friend and pledged to help him in our place. And Beastboy accepted! I do not know much about our fellow superhuman Batman, but if Beastboy was willing to leave us for his help than I am positive that their training together will yield results. And then Beastboy will never again need to become the Changeling again! Haha!"

She renewed her twirling around the room, rejoicing in her newfound relief and guiltlessness.

Cyborg was once again silenced by the alien's beautifully simplistic views.

He had never once stopped to consider the situation from Beastboy's point of view. Now that Starfire had laid everything out for him, it all became so simple. Batman had grown decidedly colder at the mention of the Beast incident and how Robin and the titans had handled it. He had even gone so far as to chastise them over it, before saying he could and would do better than them. If anyone could help, it was him.

'And how can I blame Beastboy for taking his offer? Star's right. He wouldn't even want to face us after how we treated him last time something like this happened. And then he wakes up to Batman offering to help and train him. He'd be mad NOT to accept.'

He leapt up from the bed.

"You're absolutely right Star. This could be the best thing that ever happened to him. We should be happy for the Sprout! He's being trained by the frickin' Batman for crying out loud! It's the opportunity of a lifetime! This is…this is fantastic for him!"

"Oh I do so agree!" Starfire exclaimed, sweeping the metallic man up into a hovering hug without any discernible effort.

She stopped suddenly.

"Raven, I must go inform Raven of this revelation. Excuse me friend Cyborg." She whisked off straight through her door with a crash before Cyborg could stop her.

The eldest titan sighed heavily before sinking onto the bed again.

How could he have not seen it before? How could he have only seen the loss of HIS friend, his own problems with the situation? How could he have been so selfish as to not see the benefits for Beastboy?

'Maybe it's stuff like this that led to him becoming Changeling in the first place. Do we, sort of… I dunno… take him for granted, maybe?'

Cyborg physically shook his head.

It was late. And it had been a long, emotionally draining day. He knew he should go after Starfire but he couldn't muster the energy nor the desire. 'Besides, she's probably off at her 'secret' spot. Star'll never find her.'

Cyborg rose to his feet and squared his shoulders.

Though he was happy with his new acceptance and peace with the situation, his argument with Robin was still fresh on his mind. It would be another long day tomorrow and he needed to sleep and recharge. No way was he going to let down his friend in the future.

Not anymore.

So, another changed up chapter.
I like the relationship between Star and Cy and I don't think it's explored enough around here so I thought I'd through in a little brother sister moment as I progressed the inter-character relationships a bit. You like? Or a bit boring? Be honest now!

Review Responses:
BartWLewis – Haha, I think at this point a lot of people are hoping for Robin face-punching :)

LiumD – Well you were right, the ride was not over. Not the other titans anyway. Still not over yet, but maybe not quite so emotional and more… explanatory.

Ravanginghunter – I'm looking forward to covering his training as well. There'll be some good opportunities for some fun :)

EX3451 – Reread this chapter like 3 times to make sure I didn't do a repeat of that last review :) You've made me paranoid, dammit! I CAN'T SLEEP!
Yeah, I thought the video was a good way of communicating my version of the event while keeping it interesting, cheers.
I'm not sure what you may be hinting at, but I was just trying to show that Raven releasing her emotions is good for her and that there is optimism in her somewhere. Did I disappoint? And what were you thinking. Who knows? I could integrate it in.

Shugokage – Arigatou gozaimasu!

The Brod Road – Half-demon horns is an excellent phrase! I may steal that from you in the future :)
I'm glad you thought it was well done, I did too :) Raven will definitely not be letting it slide, but maybe not in the way you expect.
At the moment, I establishing the situation at both scenes and building characterisation and relationships. When things came down and I hit some sort of a rhythm with the training, you'll find your Cyborg fun :)

Haebris – Alfred Pennyworth? A Yank?! Blasphemy! The good Alfred is and always will be a God-fearing Brit! God Save The Queen! :)

Annatheavidreader – You know what? I completely agree. This will be expanded on next chapter. Good to know someone else is on my wavelength :) I consider all opinions that are sent my way. I may not act on them all but the only reason this chapter exists in because of the people I name at the start. You guys tell me what you want and I will try to accommodate you as long as it fits into my vision for the story.
Thank you for your input. Sincerely.

Mincymina – Live and learn sounds good to me. I do ask you! And then I thank you!

FF8Cerberus – I guess it was just all too much for her. Venting is healthy

Jesusfreak – It wouldn't have made a difference if he had, plus he wasn't exactly thinking clearly and he really didn't need to. The exact ages will be revealed in a couple of chapters, late-teens. And yes, this story is an exploration of the character of Beastboy, his past will definitely come into it.

Renton-torston - mira mi lista de fics favoritos. Ya verás qué tipo de emparejamiento habrá :)

So thanks for reading this chapter.
As always any and all feedback is appreciated and loved. Say whatever the heck you want to. Go nuts.
Jamata!
CJB