AN: Here's some Pre-BBStar, I suppose. As you can likely tell, there's no real continuity within this collection; just a series of moments, not necessarily related. I'll have many ways to get these two together as time goes on.

Disclaimer: I don't own much of anything, and that includes the Teen Titans.

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"Well, this is awkward."

"Agreed, my friend."

"I'm in a closet, tied to an alien bombshell, and somehow I'm not thinking of making a move. I think just about every straight guy in the world would want to smack me right now."

"Your heart lies elsewhere, Beast Boy," Starfire said.

The shapeshifter let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, it's dumb like that. I think I must be a massacrist or something."

"…Massacrist?"

"Yeah, somebody who likes pain."

The Tamaranean's eyes crinkled in apology for her next words. "Do you perhaps mean, masochist?"

Shame drenched Beast Boy, rushing down his head and into his chest. "This is why she doesn't want me. She's so smart and pretty, and I'm a nobody. I can't even speak English as good as a girl who came to earth two years ago!" He bit his lip, hoping to quell the tears starting to form. "No wonder she chose him and not me," he whispered.

Starfire's breathing stopped, the silence all the more audible in such confined quarters. "You are referring to Raven," she choked out. "And to Robin."

Not trusting his voice, Beast Boy merely nodded.

The princess let out a sigh that ended with the barest hint of a whimper. "They appear to have become… closer as of late. I fear that the feelings are developing between them."

A long silence passed between them before Beast Boy found words. "When we were all dying, that little version of Raven went to Robin and told him to get up. She stopped and looked down at me, and then she ran right past me. Then when our Raven, the Raven we know… when she came back, she went straight to Robin too. She hugged him. The first thing she said to me was that I wasn't funny, and she hugged him." His fingers tightened, until he remembered where his hands were positioned. "Sorry, Star. I just…" He trailed off, hoping she could piece together the words he couldn't.

"It is… difficult," she murmured, eyes glassy. "Loving someone, truly loving them, means wishing for them to be happy… but I so much wished for him to be happy with me."

Beast Boy let out a shuddering sigh. "Yeah. It was so much easier when I could tell myself Raven didn't want to be with anyone… but now I know she just doesn't want to be with me."

Sniffling, Starfire brought her eyes to meet Beast Boy's. "There must be something wrong with me, yes? That is why I am not suitable for Robin."

"No, Star, you're amazing. You're beautiful and kind and smart and everything a guy could ever ask for." He snorted. "Heck, the only reason I'm not flirting my little green butt off right now is that I've got my heart tied up with somebody who's never going to love me back."

"It is hard to see such qualities in myself at the moment," she said, voice trembling as she looked down once more, "But I trust you and believe you… and so I will try to believe these things as well."

Wishing he could take hold of his friend's hands, the changeling steeled himself. "Star, look at me." When she complied, he did his best to show her nothing but determination in his eyes. "Let's promise each other something. When we get out of here, no matter what, we're never going to let anyone make us doubt that we're worth something. It's gonna be hard, but we'll get past this, and when we do, we're gonna be stronger because of it." He bit his lip. "Promise me that you'll always remember that you matter. Okay?"

Starfire smiled through her tears. "I will make this pledge if you do the same, my friend."

Nodding, Beast Boy returned the smile. "Deal."