The Last Candy

by

Teen Tyrant

Disclaimer: As you might have guessed, I do not own Teen Titans. If I did, they'd go another five seasons at least.

Starfire opened her eyes. Today was the day! Her favorite of all of Earth's holidays. It was Valentine's Day. Hopping out of bed, she quickly readied herself for the day and began gathering up her valentines that she'd made for her friends, and the candies she was going to share with them. She took a single valentine and moved back to her bed, where Silkie still slept. She tapped him on the back and the little mutant grubworm woke up, yawned and looked up at her, smiling. She smiled back, her emerald green eyes twinkling.

"Good morning Silkie." She handed him a candy-flavored chew toy in the shape of a heart that she had made herself. It had his name written on it in cursive. She had designed it to withstand constant chewing even from her pet grubworm.

"Happy Valentine's Day, my little bumgorf!" Silkie took the valentine in his mouth and instantly began chewing it, looking up at Star with an expression of love. Starfire smiled, giggled, and picked her bumgorf up off the bed and hugged him. His little wormy "legs" attempted to return the gesture. She put him back down on the bed, patted him on the head, picked up her other valentines, and exited her room.

In the living room of the tower, the other Titans were all kicking back on the couch, waiting for Starfire to walk in. They knew she would, and that she's have valentines and candy for all of them. When it came to holidays, especially ones about emotional states, Starfire was as predictable as the movements of the moon.

Starfire walked through the sliding door of the living room with a smile and shouted, "Friends! I wish you all a happy Valentine's Day! I bring you valentines and candy to celebrate this wondrous day of the expression of love!"

Robin smiled. "Happy Valentine's Day, Star."

Cyborg nodded. "Yeah, happy V-Day."

Beast Boy turned to her. "Same here."

Raven looked up from the book she was reading. "Ditto.".

Starfire began to hand them all the valentines she had for all of them. To Cyborg she gave a plastic heart that was half red, half gray with drawings of bolts in it, to symbolize his combination of biology and technology. His name was written on it. She gave him Hershey's Kisses and some of those little heart candies with messages of love written on them.

To Beast Boy she gave a green heart with the patterns of tiger stripes and bird feathers, his name written in the middle, and she also gave him some of the candy.

To Raven, Starfire gave a black heart, with Raven's name written in blue. Knowing how Raven was, Star did not give it any more detail than that. Raven also got her share of candy.

Finally, to Robin, Star gave a heart slightly larger than the others. It had the symbol of one of his birdarangs on it, along with his name, written in cursive. Below his name were the words "My Best Friend". She also gave him the remainder of the candy she'd brought.

Robin smiled and looked at her. "Thanks Star."

Beast Boy looked up from his valentine. "Yeah, thanks. It must have taken you awhile to make these feather designs on mine."

Starfire beamed. "It was time well spent, to please my friends."

She looked around at all of them. "Now, will you all share the valentines you have for each other?" Her friends just stared back at her. Star's smile faltered. "You did get valentines for each other, did you not?".

Beast Boy smiled. "Well, I did get you and Raven both some big chocolate hearts. Didn't know what else to do. And I think Robin and Cy will understand if I didn't get them anything like that. Ahem."

Cyborg nodded. "Yeah, we gotcha."

Beast Boy took two large chocolate hearts out from behind his back and held them out to the girls. Starfire eagerly took hers. Raven stared at BB for a moment, before reaching out and taking the candy. She stared at it.

"I think I'm actually touched. You went to the trouble to get me something on this pointless holiday." she said.

Starfire turned to Raven. "It is not pointless. The sharing of the valentines is important because it allows you earthlings to share your feelings with everyone important to you."

Raven rolled her eyes. "I had a feeling you'd be like this. I just got everyone some candy." She waved her hand and a box of chocolates floated into the room. "You can all just split them among yourselves." She reopened her book and continued reading.

Starfire frowned for a moment, then smiled again. "The sharing of candies is an important earth custom. Although a true gift would be more expressive, I will take your offering of candy as your way of wanting us to enjoy the sweetness of friendship." Raven's eyes left the book and turned to Starfire.

"You do that." she said simply, before continuing to read.

Cyborg shrugged. "Sorry Star, couldn't think of what to get you guys. Besides, all the good valentines cards were taken. So, I just got y'all candy too."

Star's eyes were blank and a sweat drop rolled down her head. She smiled, but it was faltered. "I see. Well, one can never have too much sweetness and unhealthy junk food to show how one feels about their friends, I suppose."

Starfire looked at Robin expectantly. He continued to just stare out the wall of windows at the bay. Noticing that Starfire was looking at him, he turned to her and shrugged.

"Um, sorry Star. I didn't get you guys anything. Not even candy. You know I'm not good at all that stuff with sharing feelings."

Starfire's eyes went wide. "What? But...but... but...Robin. It is Valentine's Day. The day when earthlings are supposed to show how much they care." She got really close to him, only a foot away. Robin actually moved his head back a little in surprise. Starfire's eyes looked a little weepy. "You are supposed to tell of the true feelings you have in your heart for your friends. Are we all to go this whole day without knowing how you feel about us?" Robin stared back at her, sweating and shaking. He tugged at the collar of his uniform.

"Uh... well, uh... I..." He looked at the other Titans. "You guys don't mind, do you?"

They all looked back at him. "Nope."

Robin turned back to Starfire. "See, it doesn't bother them." Starfire's bottom lip began to quiver. Robin tried to ease her with a smile. "Its okay, Star. You guys all know how I feel about you. You don't need a special day or a valentine to know that I think the world of you guys." His smile showed a million teeth.

Starfire turned away. "It is just not the same. It will not seem right to go through Valentine's Day without you giving just one gift to at least one of us."

xxxxx

The day moved on without anyone receiving anything from Robin. What began to distress Starfire even more was the fact that none of the others seemed concerned with this at all. For a holiday that they created, these earthlings did not seem to care about it very much. All day, the five friends munched on the chocolates and heart candies that had been passed out among them. And there were valentines from outside the tower that came via delivery.

One was a card with a pair of dolphins on it who were touching their beak-like mouths together in a dolphin kiss, bubbles shaped like hearts dancing around their heads. Written below this picture was this message: A heart as big as the ocean deserves a love as deep as the sea. On the inside of the card was this written message: To Starfire and Raven, the two coolest gals I know. Love, Aqualad. Starfire and Raven were both grinning from ear to ear at this. Aqualad had remembered them!

Cyborg actually got two Valentine's Day cards. One came from Bumble Bee. Dear Cy, keep it cool Metal Man. Your Pal, Bumble Bee. The other was from Jinx. Cyborg, still don't want to join the Hive? I'd LOVE to have you on our team. Still keeping the position open for you, in case you change your mind and decide to leave those losers. Love, Jinx.

Both of these letters had boosted Cyborg's ego immensely. "Oh yeah, the ladies all love Cy!"

Beast Boy got no further valentines, which really bummed him out. He had at least expected something from the Doom Patrol to show that they remembered him. Not for the first time, he wished that Terra was still around. He would have loved to have spent this day with her.

Even Robin got a Valentine's Day card sent to him. When it came, all the others gathered around to see who it was from, as nobody expected him to get anything, especially Robin himself. On the cover was a picture of a pair of lips, puckered for a kiss. On the inside was written: Hi, Robby-poo! I still want you to be my boyfriend, and if you leave those friends of yours and come to my Daddy's house right now and apologize, I'll forgive you for that time you had me thrown in jail, and I'll give you a big kiss too! I'll be waiting! Below this was a lipstick stain where a pair of lips had kissed the card. Below that: Love, Your Kitten! Meow!

Robin's jaw dropped and a sweat drop ran down his head. "Kitten?"

Starfire's eyes blazed. "Her! That blackmailing gremplork would dare to send you a valentine! Hmph! She will just have to make do with her spider-headed friend, because you will not take any such offer, correct Robin?"

Starfire stared daggers at Robin, who gulped and nodded. "Right. I don't even like her anyway. Wish she'd get that through her head."

Starfire smiled. "Indeed." she said, before taking the card from Robin, holding it in her fist and burning it to ash with her power.

Bringing up the whole incident with Killer Moth's bratty teenage daughter, Kitten, had made Starfire even more upset that Robin had not gotten any valentines for her and the others. Not even candy, even thought there was an abundance already. It was the principle of the matter. Starfire knew that Robin was not comfortable revealing his feelings, at least not verbally, and not in front of more than one person. But still, her being his best friend, she expected something from him, for her at least if no one else. On this, the earth day where feelings were expressed, she'd hoped he might want to open up a little. Express how he truly felt about her as a friend, and as something more, if there was anything more.

She knew that their friendship was deep, and while she was willing for their relationship to be only friends or perhaps a romantic one, she didn't truly know how Robin felt about it. She had picked up the impression that he may care about her as a little more than just a friend, but without him actually saying it, she would never know if she was only imagining it. If Robin only cared about her as a friend, she would be disappointed, but would still willingly care for him as her best friend, which he was.

Here, on Valentine's Day, she was hoping that at last Robin would tell her how he felt, so she could respond to it. But since he did not get her a valentine, a card or even some candy, she could only guess that this meant A) Robin truly wasn't comfortable with revealing his feelings even on this day, or B) she was only imagining that there may have been a deeper connection between them, one that could possibly lead to her first romantic relationship with a boy. Robin may have avoided giving her a valentine so as not to give her the wrong idea. Maybe this was a sign from him that they truly were only friends. While Starfire was still happy about that, it was also saddening that she would not be able to experience and share the one emotion that even she had not yet had: true love.

xxxxx

The day was reaching its end. The sun was mostly down, the sugar rushes from all the candy were wearing off of the Titans. Soon it would be time for bed. The Titans were watching You've Got Mail, but it was over now. Starfire had liked it.

Cyborg stood up and stretched his mechanical muscles. "Man, I'm beat. Didn't even do anything today, really. Just feel worn out from eating all that candy. Hope I don't get sick. Oh well. Night all." He left the room.

Beast Boy stood up. "Yeah, I'm kinda hoping that we don't have any chocolate around here for a while. Its been great guys, but I'm glad this Valentine's Day is over. Besides, I'm seeing hearts everywhere now. See ya tomorrow." He headed for the door.

"Night Beast Boy." Robin said to his green friend. BB left.

Raven picked up her book and the card from Aqualad. "Pointless as it all was, it was kinda nice to have a day where someone can tell you how much they care for no good reason. I actually wasn't annoyed by Beast Boy all day." She looked down at the card from Aqualad in her hand, then looked at Starfire. "Star, I hope you don't mind if I keep this."

Starfire smiled. "That is okay. I believe it will do you good to have a reminder of someone else's emotions in your emotionless world." Raven stared back at her friend.

"I'm going to assume that wasn't an insult. Later." She walked out of the room, leaving Robin and Starfire alone on the couch.

The sun had gone down, and the moon was shining now. Robin stood up and looked at her. "Well, I'm going to go to bed now too, Star. I'll see you tomorrow at combat practice?" he asked.

Starfire stood up. "Yes, I will see you in the sparing room. I think I will go to bed now too. The excitement of all the valentines we received today has left me quite tired." At the mention of valentines, Starfire frowned, showing that she was still disappointed that Robin had given none. She brightened slightly and said, "Since we are both going to our quarters, I will accompany you along the way."

Robin smiled. "Sounds fine to me." They exited the living room, Starfire turning off the light switch on the way out.

Turning down the hall, they came to Robin's room first. Stopping outside the door, Robin looked at her. "Goodnight Star." he said.

Starfire smiled. "Goodnight Robin." she said back. Robin opened the door, took a step in, and stopped. He reached into one of the compartments of his utility belt and turned back to Starfire.

"Starfire, I know that you're upset that I didn't get any valentines for you guys. And I know you said how this day won't seem right to you unless I do something to show I care about you guys. Well, I didn't want the others around to bug me about it, but I do have one thing. I want to give it to you."

Starfire's eyes went wide and shiny with joy. "Really? What is it!"

Robin took his hand out of the compartment of his belt. His hand was in a fist, some very small object concealed inside it. "Its a candy."

Starfire's face went slack. "A...candy?"

Robin nodded. "Yeah. Its actually from the batch you gave me. I ate the rest of it. But I didn't want to eat it all." He took her hand and held her palm up. He placed a piece of candy into her hand. He was keeping his hand over it, preventing her from seeing it. Also, she felt him move it after he had placed it. Like he was positioning it in a particular way in her hand, while trying to keep it out of her sight.

She did not understand. "Robin...?"

Robin smiled, then it left his face and his expression was completely serious. He looked her right in her big green eyes, his face more serious and focused than she could ever have remembered it being when not in battle.

"I saved this last one. For you." He then closed her fist over the candy. She still had not seen it. He held her closed hand in both of his for a moment longer, continuing to look her in the eyes. Then he smiled again, let go of her hand and stepped back. "Goodnight Starfire." He said. Then he turned around and went into his room, the door closing automatically behind him.

Starfire stood looking at the door, unsure of what to make of this. Then the corners of her mouth turned up a little as she realized what had happened. Robin had felt guilty that he did not get her a valentine, so he had saved his last candy to give to her. A show of friendship, to let her know that he could give after all. Smiling with the realization that she had gotten him involved in Valentine's Day after all, Starfire opened her hand to eat the offering Robin had placed there... and stopped. Slowly, her eyes went wide as she stared for a long time at what Robin had left in her hand.

It was a piece of candy. One of the heart-shaped candies she had bought to share with her friends for this day. These candies came with words that were written on them. Words of feeling. This one also had such words written on it, and they burned up at Starfire from her hand. Written into the candy were the words I Love You.

Starfire could not think for a few moments. Robin had saved a candy for her. He had placed it in her hand while the others were gone. And it said I Love You. Starfire almost jumped for joy, but then she stopped herself. She was being silly. She knew how Robin was. Her first impression was correct. He had given this to her as a valentine because she had been sad when he had not. He had tried to make her feel better and just giving her this one thing would be enough, so he had. The fact that it said I Love You was just incidental. A lot of those candies had had those words on them. She had eaten many that day. Robin had saved this one and it just so happened to have... but no. That couldn't be it. Now that she thought about it, it could not be a mere coincidence.

Robin had saved this particular one. He was too specific to just pick one at random. And he had waited until the other Titans were gone. He had looked her in the eyes and said that he'd saved it just for her. He had placed it in her hand in a way that she would not see it until after he was gone. And this brought another realization: she had been able to read the words immediately when she opened her hand! That's why Robin had been fiddling with it while giving it to her. He had placed it in such a way so that the words would not be upside-down or face down against her palm. He had placed it so that she would be able to read I Love You the moment she opened her hand!

Starfire looked up at the door. She could not believe it. Robin was not comfortable with speaking his feelings. So he had done this. He didn't tell her with his own words, but with the words on his last candy. It was a sign for her. A message to her. One that he did not have to speak, one that the other Titans would not know about unless they were told about it, and therefore could not tease him. A sign that she would know the meaning of right away, and one that would allow her to acknowledge it at the time and place of her choosing. After all the time they had known each other, this was the closest Robin had ever come to telling her how he really felt about her.

Tears started to form in her eyes and she looked down at the candy again. She could not eat it. She would not. She would put it in a special container, where Silkie could not get it, and save it for all time. Whatever happened, she would always know that on this night, Robin almost... almost...

She looked up at his door one more time, and softly, in a whisper, said, "Thank you, Robin." She then turned and headed down the hall to her room.

The End

I know its not that good, but this is my first attempt at a Teen Titans fic, so cut me some slack. I know that most of it is lacking in substance, but all I could keep focused in my mind was the whole scene outside Robin's room. Everything before that was just an attempt (a very lousy one I admit) to explain how it got to that point. I hope you enjoyed that last scene at least. I really put all my creative romantic juices into it to making it touching without there being anything too sappy and without anything actually happening between Robin and Starfire. I hope it served its purpose. Robin and Starfire Forever! - Teen Tyrant