Last Rites by UndyingShadows

Chapter One

DISCLAIMER: The Teen Titans are not mine. Anything mentioned that belongs to anyone else is not mine.

Beast Boy

Everything hurts.

Every time I try to move I want to scream for help, but I can't. It's bad enough I got beat by Doctor Light, but if I let the guys know just how much it hurts they're gonna know somethings wrong.

"BB?" There's someone knocking on my door. It takes me a minute to place the voice - i'm just a little distracted right now and i'm a little unfocused.

It has to be Cyborg. Robin won't come, 'cause I messed up his plan, Starfire doesn't have a dude's voice - unless I missed some really important stuff when I was out - and Raven wouldn't call me 'BB.'

I sit up, then lay back down. New plan - sit upslowly. I'd call out, but i'm pretty sure the mess in my room eats sound.

To the door.

One step, then two. Left at the mouldy pizza crust, right at one (dirty) laundry pile, over another.

Here I am. Note to self: Clean room. Okay, Garfield, Straighten up, ignore the pain, smile - no need to make Cy worry.

A quick glance in the mirror reminds me what I forgot.

I turn around and trudge back into the mess - Noone wants to see a Beast Boy in his boxers.

Cyborg

Okay, I think three minutes is long enough.

I mean, I know he got beat up an' all, but you'd think he'd open the door.

I wouldn't tease him. Well...not all that much, anyway.

"BB! Open the door - You gotta come out so I can kick your butt! I got new games!"

Oh, man. Didn't think i'd have ta lie to the guy.

Guess it's worse than I thought.

He ain't coming. Guess I better tell Robin.

Oh boy.

Well, least I won't have to smell his room.

Beast Boy

Alright - this time.

One more time, I force a grin and pull the door open. "Sure Cy - I'm up for..."

Huh. Why'd it take me so long to notice noone was there?

That's not good. He probably thinks that I didn't wanna talk to him.

If I just stay up here, they're gonna keep worrying about me and keep trying to get me to open up.

Since Cy couldn't get me to come out, they'll send someone else.

I bet it'll be Starfire, first. Then again and again and again.

I'll tell her i'm fine, she'll notice I look a little off and start worrying.

By the time she reports to Robin - which she will - she'll have herself convinced that i'm turning into...I dunno...a Tami...Tamer...Tamo...

Something real bad from her planet.

Then he'll come and try to play therapist. If that doesn't work then he'll try to force it outta me. If - by some fluke - I manage to survive that, they'll send Raven.

One glare from miss 'if you touch me I will send you to the dimension of killer earwax' and i'll talk.

Then everything'll change.

I don't want that to happen.

So I guess I gotta go get some breakfast and act like my normal, uber-good looking self.

Kick Cy's butt at a few games, pretend to try Star's cooking, listen to Robin's lecture about pulling my weight and tell Raven a few jokes.

Hopefully that'll fool 'em for a while, cause if it doesn't i'm gonna have to tell them.

But if I do that, they'll get upset and try to fix it. When they figure out they can't they'll start treating me like one of those really expensive vases, and things won't be the same.

So, I can't tell them i'm dying.

I just can't.

Man i'm tired...I think breakfast can wait until tomorrow.

Or the day after...

Raven

"Nah, he wouldn't even open the door - somethin's really eatin' him"

Cyborg and Robin are whispering to each other, on the sofa. I assume they don't want Beast Boy to hear them.

...I'm thinking about it again.

Stop it, Raven. It's not your problem. It's Beast Boy's problem. It's his own fault that he went down in less than five seconds.

Don't be silly, Rae. He's your friend, 'course you're worried about him.

I'm not worried about him. It's his own fault - if he can't accept that, then he can stay in his room forever. Then I can have my peace.

Don't be so heartless! It's not like you haven't gotten your butt kicked before!

Be quiet, i'm trying to listen.

Really? Why? Thought ya didn't care?

I never said I didn't care - just that Beast Boy can handle himself.

Mmmhmmmm. Sure he can. That's why he didn't get up, right?

Fine. I'm a little concerned. So let me hear this.

You should go up an' ta -

"Shut. Up."

Uh oh.

Cyborg and Robin are standing in front of me now, and they aren't happy.

I don't need empathy to see that.

Cyborg's human eye is narrowed in a glare. His robotic one is glowing an even brighter red. Even his metal fists are clenched.

Robin's arms are crossed, and you can see his glare through his mask. The fact he looks just a little like a rainbow lessens the effect, slightly.

"Listen up, Rae, I know that ya don't like BB all that much. That doesn't mean everyone else is gonna stop tryin' ta help him. I'm his best bud - I gotta do something. You want quiet? Go to ya room." He sounds calm enough, but I can tell that he wants to hit me.

Why, of all things, did I have to say that? I could have said anything.

I hate arguing with myself.

What hurts the most though, is what he said - that I don't like Beast Boy.

I can't really blame him, I suppose...

Keep calm, Raven. Just explain.

Explain that I was talking to one of the many Raven's that lives in my head?

Hm. You have a point.

Ah, now Robin's starting.

"I know that you and Beast Boy don't see eye to eye, but he's a part of this team. That means it's your duty to help him. Do you understand?"

I'm about to answer, but he cuts me off.

"I guess you didn't notice, but whenever you need him, Beast Boy's right there beside you. Every time he tries to be nice you cut him down, make him feel like dirt. Does that stop him trying? Stop him being there for you? No. That's because he knows that we're a team. We look out f -"

That's enough. I cut him off before he really gets going.

I narrow my eyes and frown a little.

"Don't talk to me about treating Beast Boy badly - when was the last time you spoke to him for something other than to criticise him, Robin?"

I pause for a moment, and let that sink in.

"Next time, ask before you assume I was talking to you. I was reading aloud."

I'm up now, and almost at the door.

I can feel the shock coming from both of them

They deserve it. How dare they speak to you like that?

I'm at the door, so I turn around and speak again.

"Beast Boy is a pest. If I can have a few days without him annoying me, i'm not going to say no."

Cyborg opens his mouth to yell at me, but he doesn't get a chance.

"That doesn't mean I don't care about him. I do - he's my best friend. It's just better not to push him."

And with that, I leave them.

Let them squirm.