Problems

Fandom: Teen Titans

Pairing: BB/Rob

By: Shadako

First Problem: Sleeping Issues.

Everybody has problems. It's not like I'm the only one who isn't that thrilled by his current situation. But, you see, my problems aren't as easy to solve as some others might be. I know, I know, everybody thinks like that once in a while. But for me, that's not once in a while, more like a constant. Well, let me explain, maybe then you'll understand what I'm trying to get across.

At this very moment I'm pinned to a very dirty floor in a very dark and also dirty building. I can't move an inch, let alone get up. The person above me, smiling like the lunatic madman he is, is talking about destroying the city with a giant laser or something. And it's my job to stop him. What I can't do, because he just placed his heavy boot neatly on my chest, trying to crush my ribcage. And it hurts, like, a lot. Yeah, you see this isn't your average everyday problem. But this is the sort of thingI have to deal with nearly every day. Being a superhero sucks, I'm telling you.

To make matters worse, I'm all alone. Usually we would have kicked that villain's ass in no time. And with 'we' I mean the Teen Titans. Yeah, but I happen to be kind of a hothead sometimes. So when we were on this mission today and one of the bad guys tried to get away, I followed him. As a bird that isn't really difficult, the idiot didn't spot me either. Oh, I forgot to mention that I can do that. Morph into all kinds of animals, comes in handy at times. Anyway, back to the point.

So now I'm in this building, with the bad guy, being quite helpless. And just as he is about to stab his sharp weapon - thing in my head, he slams into the next wall. Wow, that was pretty cool, actually. This 'saved at the last second' kind of thing. Unfortunately, it wasn't me who knocked the villain out. Nope.

It was the person standing next to me, pose all heroic and cape billowing in the wind. Why is there even wind in this stupid building? Whatever. This guy is Robin, the leader of the Titans. Always calm, collected and cool. And right about now I can tell that he is beyond pissed. Understandable, he just had to race trough half the city to get here in time and save me from Mr. evil. Of course he managed that, he's the boy wonder after all. But still, I screwed up. Like usual. And now he's giving me this look. You know, this 'cant you do anything right?!' kind of look. I'm used to that by now. I messed up so many times by now I couldn't count it on both hands. So I just sit up, dust my uniform off and sheepishly apologize to him.

"Uh, sorry 'bout that. Got a bit carried away, I guess." I flash him a crooked smile, he just shakes his head weakly and turns to the evil boot guy. Yup, Beast Boy is being useless again. Not a second later the rest of my teammates show up. And what sight greets them? Me on the ground and Robin to the rescue, handling the situation like the hero he is.

This is the worst part about being a hero, you know? This constantly disappointing your leader and making him think you're the weak child that needs to be rescued every five minutes. It sucks. Like, a lot. A hand is brushing my shoulder gently, while a beautiful alien princess is floating next to me in mid air. "Are you alright, friend Beast Boy?" I nod, giving Star a thumbs up. She obviously doesn't get what it means, but smiles at me anyway. Just being the friendly and cheerful girl she is. Meanwhile Cyborg is tying the villain up, like a nice little present for the police. Raven is nowhere to be found, so I assume she stayed behind to watch over the rest of the captured criminals until the policeman arrive.

The only one who isn't doing anything important is me. So instead of being the hero who prevented the evildoer from escaping, I am now the quite useless part of the team that can't defend themselves. Hooray for me I guess? Ugh.

It doesn't take long until the bad guys are in prison like they should be. As we return to the Titans tower, me floating in the sky as a tiny bird, I go back to my original train of thoughts. Problems. I have a lot of them. Let me just name a few. One, my whole team thinks I am weak and need somebody to constantly baby-sit me. Two, I think they are kind of right. Three, Robin is going to be mad at me for at least three days. Four, my whole body hurts from the stupid fight with that criminal. And five, I think there is a hawk not too far above me looking for a meal. I should have chosen a bigger bird to morph into...

So, you still think my problems aren't that bad? Yeah, go figure. With a tired sigh I sink back against the couch in the towers living room. Somehow I managed to avoid getting eaten by that hawk and made it back here alive. Still, my body hurts. This dude and his stupid army boots. Tiredly I rub my sore arm, when Robin walks in. Oh joy.

"What was thatabout, BB? Going after this guy alone?" He's fuming, even if I am not able to see his eyes due to his mask, I know they are burning with the fires of hell right now. Behind him floats Starfire, worry written all over her pretty face. I just shrug a bit and look down, suddenly very interested in my shoes. How I hate it when he does this. Scolding me like some spoiled brat who's not listening to mommy. Yeah, he is the leader and all, but can't he treat me like the 17 years old teenager I am? I'm no damn kid. It's frustrating, really.

"Sorry, dude. Like I said, got carried away a bit." Even more frustrating is the slight blush darkening my cheeks. What the hell is wrong with me? This guy is practically telling me I'm stupid, so why do I act like some schoolgirl? He's looking down at me, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Oblivious to my embarrassment, hopefully."It's not that difficult to follow my orders, now is it? Just stay with the team and don't get yourself into trouble all the time."

All the time, huh? Yeah, I get that I mess up sometimes, but I can be helpful, too. I guess? Or maybe not. He's really mad. If it's even possible, I sink farther into the cushions of the couch, looking at anything but him. "I said I'm sorry, okay?" How I hate it when my voice sounds so small. I just can't help it when he is standing before me like this. He can be quite intimidating when he wants to be. Guess it's a leader thing.

"I don't care if you're sorry, you constantly mess up, BB! I'm fed up with your childish behaviour. You're getting yourself and others in danger, acting stupid like this." Okay, that actually hurt. Sure, I followed him on my own without listening to orders first, but still. I'm not that useless! I want to say just that, but can't. I just sit here on this couch, being the pathetic kid I am in Robins eyes, and stare at the floor.

How I wish I was as strong as him. Not just physically. He can take everything people throw at him, no matter what anybody says or does, he's always cool and collected. He doesn't care at all what others say or think about him. I'm not this self confident. Nowhere near it, actually. So maybe he is right about me and being childish, yeah, so what? I can't help it, that's just how I am. Again I'm not saying any of those things, I just sit there while he goes on with his little speech.

"You can't keep this up, BB. Get yourself together and finally start to listen to my orders, or we're doing the next mission without you."

Without me, eh? Like, they don't need me at all? Nice, Robin, really. It's not like I'm feeling useless and kinda unwanted already without him telling me that. I blink a few times, trying to clear my vision. Not working too well, damn it. With that last sentence he actually managed to make me cry. I don't want to, really. I'm trying to be strong in front of him and Star, but I just can't help it.

Hastily I wipe the back of my hand over my eyes, but I think they still saw. Damn. So much for saving face in front of my friends. I get up on shaky legs, still worn out from the fight, and turn away from them. "Just say it if you don't need me, alright?" My voice cracks, I try to sound angry but it won't work. Nothing really works for me today, I guess. Ah, screw it. I just want to be alone and sulk in my room.

"Friend Beast Boy-!" Starfire is calling after me as I run out the livingroom, down the hall and as far away from Robin as I can. Great, now I made the situation even worse. I seem to have a talent for this. At least onething I'm good at. At least Cy wasn't around to see me like this, he'd tease me for days.

With more force than necessary I punch in the code to open my door. As it slides shut behind me, I don't bother to lock it. I hardly doubt anybody cares enough to come after me, really. Letting myself fall face first onto my bed I try to calm down and stop the damn crying. How can I expect Robin to treat me like an adult when I'm bawling my eyes out like a 10 year old? Ugh. Me and my stupid emotions.

How I wish there was a limited amount of problems a single person could have. But no, they just pile up more and more every passing second. Seriously, how can it be this difficult to be a green teenaged superhero shapeshifter? How do others manage this?! Okay. No, scratch that last line. There are no others like me. But still, I really need some advice here. And not Robins 'get yourself together' kind of crap. That's no helpful advice! If he wanted to help me, he could start by explaining to me why I happen to behave like a flustered schoolgirl around him lately. If I think about it, I really don't want to know. I have enough stuff to deal with at the moment, last thing I need is this. Whatever 'this' may be. And I really, really hope it's just a very weird phase I'm going through. Something that will go away on it's own if I ignore it.

By the time I finally pull myself together and get up from my sulking position on the bed, it's already dark outside. Starfire just brought a plate of food down for me. Well, she calls it food, I call it poisonous. It still sits on my desk, far away from me. Since I don't really feel like eating dinner anyway, I can go to sleep just as well. Cy will be mad at me for ditching our game session tonight, but I couldn't care less at the moment. I feel beyond tired, muscles still sore and eyes red. So I quickly hop in and out of the shower, dress in my old batman pyjamas and lay back down. With a tired sigh I pull the cover up and over my head. The only thing I want right now is sleep, to forget this horrible day.

Granted, I lie awake for the next two hours. Rolling from one side to the other and staring at two different walls plastered with colourful posters. I rarely had difficulties with going to sleep when I was younger, but now this happens at least once a week. When I told Raven some time ago she gave me the advice to 'stop thinking so much', yeah like I can control that. Annoyed at myself for being this messed up I turn again, now facing away from the door. Not two minutes after that, said door opens almost noiseless. I quickly close my eyes, pretending to be asleep. I swear if Star came down here to read a book to me again, I will hit her in the head with it. Don't get me wrong, I like her and all, but I'm a bit old for good night story's. And who should come see me at around midnight but Star? She's the only one who doesn't care about peoples proper night sleep. The sound of footsteps however proves me wrong.

So it's not her, then who? Cy would have been louder, Raven floating in without me even noticing. So there is only one person left. I unconsciously hold my breath. That person happens to be the last I want to see right now, let alone have in my room. He is silent for a moment, watching me I think, which makes me all kinds of uncomfortable. And pretending to sleep is quite difficult like this, you know?

"BB, you awake?" He finally asks. I consider ignoring him for a second, but I guess it wouldn't work too well. So I silently nod. He, being the boy wonder, somehow manages to notice it in the dark. He can do anything, now can he? Geeze, why does he have to be so damn perfect? I feel the warmth return to my cheeks, suddenly thankful for the lack of light. While I'm busy with my stupid feelings and how to suppress them best, Robin sits down on the edge of my bed.

"Listen, Beastboy, what I said earlier, I didn't mean it like that." His voice is an edge softer than usual, which makes my stomach flutter. Oh god, how much I want to slap myself across the face for behaving like this. "You know that we need you, right? We wouldn't be the Teen Titans without you." So much for me wanting to be mad at him. Really, who could do that when he's like this? I still try to be pissed of, only to fail miserably. Somehow his presence alone is enough to reduce my mind to mushy goo. I might need professional help.

"It's not that I don't trust you to do things on your own. I'm just worried about you, that's why." After those words he lightly places a gloved hand on my shoulder. My blush deepens. He really wants to apologize, and the only thing I can think about is that Robin is in my room alone with me. Seriously, hormones? Being a teenager sucks even more than being a superhero. I sigh, than nod.

"It's okay, dude. I'm fine, no damage done." Not true, but he doesn't have to know that. I offer half of a smile he can't see since it's still dark. Trying my best to keep up my cheery attitude. "Alright, but next time, try to listen to me, okay?" I nod sheepishly, face still hidden half way under the covers.

"I'll try." I can tell he's not convinced. Guess I just screwed up one time to many. For now he let's it slide, though. "Good. Now get up and come with me." Okay, now I am quite confused. Get up? It's like midnight or something. Where the hell does he want to go with me in the middle of the night? My brain comes up with a few ideas pretty fast, none of them ideas I would like to have. So, to stop this ridiculous process of thought, I get up. Robin is already out the door and I follow, still in my pyjamas. And still no clue what the hell is going on. But very, very nervous.

"Uh, not that I mind or anything, dude, but where are we going?" I can tell he's smiling behind his stupid mask because he managed to confuse me. "The medical room, duh. That bulky idiot managed to beat you up quite a bit, if I remember correctly." I roll my eyes in annoyance. Yeah, he landed a few good punches and pinned me to the floor, so what? I'm not that skilled in hand to hand combat. But couldn't it wait till morning to patch me up? We get beaten on a regular basis anyway. Well, Robin tends to be over dramatic when one of us is hurt. He's feeling responsible or something. Again, leader thing.

We reach our destination pretty fast. I scan the room for the black haired witch warily. Usually its Raven patching me up, so where is she? I sit down on the uncomfortable metal bed, still looking for her. But the only person here with me is Robin, who is currently taking his gloves off. Wait. Waiiiit a moment. You're kidding me, right?

"Raven's gone to bed already, said she had a headache. So I'm playing nurse for you tonight."

I swallow thickly as the dark haired boy wonder walks over to me, now gloveless. He's serious, isn't he? Oh, this is bad. Stop blushing, damn it!

"It won't be that bad I guess, just checking to make sure nothing's broken." And he's right in front of me, offering a smile. This isn't helping a single one of my problems, really! But starting to complain now wouldn't be much help either, only leading to me getting even more flustered. I just have to look at this as what it is, a medical check up. Nothing more, even if the weird part of my brain likes to believe that. And the even weirder part of my brain likes to make me even more kinds of uncomfortable. I lift my shirt, trying to block out my own thoughts.

Yeah, just try not to think about it. Pretend it's the scary witch – girl and not Robin. Works just fine, until his fingers graze over my ribcage. Maybe I should just tell him I'm fine, no broken ribs or anything. That villain didn't do much damage, I'm just a bit sore is all. But then he'd stop, and somehow I'm not sure if I want him to. Seriously, I'm messed up. Like, a lot. So I just sit there, cheeks a lovely scarlet by now, and watch him move his fingers over my chest.

Problems, huh? My name is Beastboy, I just turned seventeen and have to deal with being a teenaged superhero changeling, who obviously has a thing for his leader and boy wonder Robin and should really question his sexuality. So, yeah, I do think I have a lot of problems right now, without much hope for solving a single one. Just peachy, isn't it?

~~~ tbc.

That's it for the first chapter! Gosh, I wanted to write a BB/Rob Fic for so long…

Finally got it started! Oh, and guys, english isn't my first language, so please don't kill me! :D First try ever to write a longer story in english. Feel free to point out grammar mistakes, it helps a lot!