Advice From an Unlikely Source
The sun was shining on the early morning of a April day and all the city was bustling, enjoying the warm and clear weather as they went about their business as usual. The Teen Titans, not in school and not training, were also busy with their own chores...volleyball. On top of the titan tower they shrieked and cheered as the bleached white ball bounced from one side of the newly put up net to the other. Cyborg and Robin stood to the ready on one side whilst Starfire and Beast Boy readied for a serve on the other. Raven sat swinging in the nearby hammock, willingly sitting the game out so all sides could be even but also keeping score and catching the ball whenever an off attack sent it flying from their range. She was hardly even reading her book. Watching them was too much fun.
"You ready for this Cyborg?" mocked Beast Boy.
"Oh no you didn't. Bring it Star!" he joked back. Robin grinned brightly at his female opponent. She stood holding the ball in both hands beaming at her friends, red hair swimming in the wind as it so often did.
"Prepare yourselves friends, for I am launching the wonderous sphere once again!" she squealed and launched a fast ball toward her half mechanical team mate. Cyborg leapt forward and returned it toward Beast Boy who managed his own return but only by landing flat on his butt and knocking it way out of bounds. The white ball turned black as Raven's powers engulfed it and brought it back to Robin.
"Nice shot," she taunted. Beast Boy rubbed his butt sorely while Cyborg laughed insanely.
"Whatever! At least I hit it!"
"What? Your butt?" choked Cyborg. Beast Boy's eyes exploded.
"NO! The ball!....You did that on purpose didn't you!" he wailed. Starfire walked over to her partner and lifted him by the arm from the floor.
"Do not worry, Beast Boy, for it is Robin's turn and he will surely not trick you," she smiled. Beast Boy continued to rub his butt.
"Yeah...whatever," he groaned. Robin chuckled as he stepped back into position. Starfire and Beast Boy moved apart to better intercept the ball and nodded that they were ready.
"Ready Star?" he asked and she grinned with another nod. Raven observed the mention of her in particular and noted it, as she had every other insinuation of Robin's unspoken feelings for the girl. Starfire was too naive to understand such simple words for another meaning and because they were friends, and only because they were friends, did she look out for her in that area. "Alright then. Here it comes!" he barked as he spiked the ball fiercely her direction. Starfire stood on the ready, determination in her eyes.
"I got it!" Beast Boy screamed. Instantly Starfire's attention was split and her eyes looked to see if her green friend had managed a better shot than she would have, but he was too late and the firm, thick ball smashed into Starfire's face. Cyborg and Raven's mouths dropped open and they were suddenly ready to run to her aid if needed. Beast Boy on the other hand stood mortified that he had distracted her so and Robin's were huge with shock. No one moved as the ball dropped to the ground and rolled to Cyborg's feet across the net. Starfire's face was hidden and with it, rather or not she was alright. Two small drops of red creeped their way between her fingers and dripped onto the roof.
"Starfire!"
"Star!"
"Are you all right?" the three titans questioned as they surrounded her. Starfire's response was muffled and nasally.
"I do not understand...I am bleeding from my nose area. What has happened Raven?" she asked, looking up and continuing to hold her nose. Beast Boy and Cyborg jumped back a step and Raven nearly cringed at the sight. The center of her face was a raw red with a crimson drip slipping down her chin.
"You just busted your nose, that's all. Come on, I'll help you fix it," Raven instructed and used her hand to guide Star to the staircase.
"Will this bleeding stop, friend Raven?" asked Starfire, releasing her nose and giving Raven a better view. Raven's own blood tremored at the sight. She forced her friend's hand back up to her nose.
"It should, if you keep you hand there and are careful where you hold your head," she answered as they descended down the stairs. Beast Boy and Cyborg watched after them hearing a curious "why" from Starfire and Raven's monotonous answer before their voices faded.
"Man...Star was really bleeding," Beast Boy cringed.
"I know, I haven't seen that much blood in...well I've never seen that much blood!" agreed Cyborg. "What'd you yell GOT IT for anyway? You know Robin was serving to Star!"
"I thought I could get it! I didn't mean to get her hurt!"
"No Beast Boy...it was my fault. If I hadn't served it to her, she wouldn't have gotten hurt," Robin assured quietly, still standing where he was when he served. The two boys turned to look at him. His head was hung, right hand fisted though hidden from sight, and sweat sliding off his temple.
"Hey man, don't blame yourself. We were all pla-" started Cyborg.
"I don't want to hear it. I hurt her...I hurt Starfire," he replied quickly and walked past them, head still hung. Beast Boy's eyes were large and watery as he watched his friend move toward the stairs.
"Geez...he's taking it real hard. Isn't he?"
"Yeap. S'not every day you hit the girl you like with a blunt object hard 'nough to make her bleed," sighed Cyborg. Beast Boy turned on him.
"That's not funny!" he cried.
"Wasn't meant to be. Rob's gonna blame himself either way, we should just let 'im work through himself."
"Training room?"
"Probably."
Downstairs Raven was putting cotton up Starfire's nose, much to Starfire's unusal enjoyment. Her eyes were fixated on her nose and a goofy grin was plastered to her face.
"And these soft spheres are called cotton? What a wonderous invention it is!" she smiled.
"I suppose...most people use them to remove nail polish. You're lucky," Raven answered sarcastically. Starfire's eyes widened and she locked eyes with Raven.
"Truly? I am being given special treatment with the spheres of cot-ton?" she asked. Raven's expression, mild as it was, read exasperation and a singe of pity.
"No. I was being sarcastic Starfire," she answered, pushing the red haired girl's head up and shoving another cotton ball into her left nostrol.
"I do not like this sarcastic. Words should mean what they say," protested Starfire.
"Yeah well, they don't. So you'd better get used to it."
"Is that the sarcastic as well?"
"No, that's realism," she replied. Starfire considered this for a moment and then when Raven came at her with another cotton ball squeaked like someone was holding her nose and backed away.
"No more cotton spheres please!" she pleaded. "I can already breath less than a garearave (gar-gear-av) in winter. Please, may I not rejoin the others now?" Raven gave the plug a look over and could see no blood on the cotton.
"Sure. Look's fine. But take it easy, okay?" she replied and Starfire nodded happily. Raven then smirked at the sight of her best friend's nose over filled with cotton. "You look like an idiot," she smiled.
Beast Boy and Cyborg had just settled down to a game of gundam wars when Starfire and Raven came walking in. Beast Boy fell off the back of the couch laughing at Star, who grinned brightly in return, and Cyborg gripped his side violently as his laughter bellowed around the room. Starfire looked at Raven who shrugged and sat down with her book once more.
"Where is Robin? Surely he will enjoy this marvelous joke that Raven has helped me to create?" asked Starfire happily. Beast Boy's laughter deadened to a dull chuckle of nervousness and Cyborg simply stopped. "What is it? Is there something the matter with Robin?'
"Physically? No..." answered Cyborg.
"Then what is the problem?"
"He just- kinda avoiding- he thought- he didn't-" attempted Beast Boy.
"I do not understand those words when used together," answered a confused Starfire.
"I think he's in the training room," replied Cyborg. Starfire smiled and thanked him before floating off to find her best buddy. Beast Boy and Cyborg exchanged glances, leaving the video game on pause and catching Raven's attention.
"Is there something the matter with Robin?" she asked, repeating Starfire.
"Not really. He's just, kinda takin' it hard the way he hurt Star," shrugged Cyborg. Beast Boy took a deep breath and flopped down on the couch next to his black mechanized pal.
"Yeah. He'll get over it," he added. Raven's eyes went to the hallway Star had drifted down when the video game turned back on. If that was all that was wrong with Robin she shouldn't have the slightest bit of difficulty shaking it out of him. And if she couldn't, well unfortunately that was Star's and Robin's problem. Raven made a point of not getting involved in emotional relationships...at least as much as she could.
Starfire had just reached the end of the hallway when she heard a loud thudding to her right. The door to the gym was opened just a crack and she could see inside where the boy wonder was relentlessly pounding a punching bag. She'd seen him do this before. He did it when he was upset. Instead of going inside she thought to ask for permission, in case he wasn't in a talkative mood.
"Robin?" she called gently. Robin's fist froze against the bag. Star was calling for him. But why? Didn't he hurt her?
"What is it Starfire?"
"May I join you in-"
"No, go away," he replied and went back to beating down the punching bag.
"But Robin, I wish to-"
"I said no Starfire. I don't want to talk to anyone," he added sharply. Starfire's feelings were hurt. He refused to even look at the door. She must have offended him somehow by bleeding or leaving the game.
"We can continue the ball of volley now if you wish, Robin," she added timidly. Her only answer was a faster thudding against the bag. Surrendering she backed away from the door and floated down the hall. Robin paused and listened to her leave. No one else could hear her move through the air but Robin could. He had sat for several hours in the training room, watching her attacks and listening to the way she slid through the air. The sound mocked him almost and a bright red flash of earlier came back to him. Gritting his teeth at the idea of making his secret love bleed a reckless and harsh fist collided with his punching back, throttling the sand filled bag back so intensely that the chain pulled free and the bag came to a thundering crash on the bench press. Robin dropped to his knees tiredly and stared at what he had done.
Meanwhile Starfire had made her way back to the common room and descended down onto the couch away from the others. Raven looked up over her book, reading her friend's face, while Cyborg and Beast Boy continued their game.
"So?" Raven asked expressionless.
"Hm? Oh, he is busy training," lied Starfire. Why wouldn't he talk to me? she wondered mentally as a thoughtful finger drifted up to her nose and poked at it. The cushioned feel was odd and different, still she hardly noticed. Raven shrugged and went back to her book.
"NO! Damn!" wailed Cyborg. "I cannot believe you beat me!"
"Well it had to happen once!" laughed his gaming buddy. "Or twice or three times!" he added.
"It is impossible to read with you two yelling at each other. Simply play again," barked Raven.
"I think we shall!" smiled Cyborg when suddenly a bell rang out around them.
"Pizza's here!" screamed Beast Boy as he leapt up over the couch. Raven stood angrily and walked toward the glass doors and balcony on the other side of the room.
"I'll be outside when they finish acting idiotic," she spoke to Starfire and headed out with her book. She slid the door closed behind her and found the only shadow to float in and read. Starfire sighed heavily, thinking too much to realize Cyborg was still in the room.
"What's up Star?"
"Huh? Oh. Cyborg..." she started and thought carefully. She couldn't ask Beast Boy because he was much to excitable to sit still and give her advice and Raven had told her before that any boy/girl information would have to be pryed out of her.
"Yeah?What's the matter?" Starfire turned on the couch and crossed her legs. Cyborg was beginning to get worried.
"Robin will not look at me, nor will he speak to me. I am confused as to what I have done wrong."
"You didn't do anything. Guys are just weird like that sometimes. I lock myself in my lab sometimes too."
"Yes well, I wish for nothing more than to speak with my Robin," she replied. Cyborg raised an eyebrow. He caught what she said, but did she? The words repeated in her head and a flourishing blush covered her face. "I mean--"
"You like him, right?" Starfire stuck to nodding. "And you want me to tell you how to get his attention..." Starfire thought about that one for a second and then smiled happily.
"Indeed. That I would be very joyous with," she smiled.
"Well...you got my and BB's attention with your nose!" laughed Cyborg.
"Then I shall show him my nose?"
"Well, that could be difficult if he's not letting you into the training room so we'd better go with something else. okay...why don't you sneak into the weight room when he heads off to the bathroom and..." Starfire listened to his deep plan. It wouldn't be hard. She would pretend to need his help and he would graciously offer it. The idea of Robin coming to her rescue was a wonderful idea and her favorite thought most of the time. When Beast Boy showed up with the pizza Starfire ate three pieces as quickly as possible and managed to disappear before Beast Boy called Robin in for dinner. He arrived very relunctantly, looking around obviously for Starfire until he discovered she wasn't there. He felt a deep guilt first and then was relieved not to have to confront her.
Starfire slipped into the weight room quietly and carefully. The last thing she wanted was to be caught before she needed help. Fortunately he wasn't there, but the room had practically been destroyed. There was sand all over the room and one of the weights had actually been broken in half. She was a little scared by it, but decided she'd rather have Robin's attention than his anger. The only thing she could think of was the weight lifting bench...
Robin finished up his last slice and decided exhaustedly that he should go clean up the training room before any of the others spotted it. Cyborg and Beast Boy had already started up a video game and Robin called winner so he didn't have long. Raven promised to call him when they were done since she was headed to her room in about five minutes anyway so he headed off to clean. What he didn't expect was the sound of a soft and vulnerable whimpering coming out of the room.
"Ouch!" squeaked Starfire. Robin slammed through the door in a panic and found her laid out on the bench press, the bar pressed down on her chest with all the weights she had put on it. Her knuckles were white and her breathing shallow.
"Star!" he yelped and rushed to her. Starfire beamed seeing his face. She had thought he would never come and had gotten too distracted to lift the weights from her chest. He ripped each weight of one at a time and then lifted the bar off her.
"Robin! Thank you! I thought you would never come!" she smiled.
"You what?? You mean to tell me you did that on purpose? Why would you do that!" he yelled. Starfire's expression went blank, hidden sadness behind her eyes. Perhaps she was wrong when she thought he cared for her.
"I wanted to talk to you..." she said weakly. "I am sorry I disturbed you, I will leave..." she nodded and flew out of the room as quickly as she could. Robin reached to stop her but it was only half hearted. He didn't really want to speak with her yet, even if he knew he'd hurt her feelings. And why was her nose so ... large? he thought.
Starfire was on the roof before she realized where she was. The sun was still up and shining and there were plenty of bright clouds filling the sky. The best part was what dried the overwelling tears in her eyes...the breezes. Walking slowly over to the hammock Starfire sat down. She distractedly decided, blood or no blood she wanted to take that cotton out of her nose and so piece by piece pulled out each ball. She dropped them on the floor next to her and fell back into the hammock letting it rock. Her mind was filled with all the times Robin had smiled at her and the times now that he yelled at her when she came around. Why didn't he want to talk to her? Why didn't he care about her? She slid her hand under her cheek and rolled over onto her side watching the horizon of the water appear and disappear with every rock of the hammock.
"Hey! I said no meat!" yelled Beast Boy.
"I said meat! I don't like spaghetti without meat!" snapped Cyborg.
"Who said either one of you have a say so? I'm cooking dinner tonight and I'm going to cook it the way I want," explained Raven.
"Doesn't Starfire normally cook anyway?" asked Beast Boy.
"Do I look like Starfire to you?"
"I think he was just asking where Starfire is, that's all," explained Cyborg. Raven went back to the stove and pushed Cyborg away from the fridge.
"I haven't seen her since the pizza got here for lunch."
"Ya know, neither have I!" laughed Cyborg.
"What's funny about that?" asked Beast Boy from the counter where he was sitting.
"Ya know!" he answered with a wink and an elbow.
"Oh yeah!" he laughed and then his face went straight. "No wait, I don't know..." Cyborg sighed and opened his mouth to explain when Robin's voice came out.
"Hey, anyone seen Starfire?" Cyborg's expression was suddenly deadly serious.
"She's not been with you?"
"No, why would she be with me?" he asked confused.
"We haven't seen her at all today..." voiced a somewhat worried Raven.
"Maybe she went to the mall or something?" wondered Beast Boy.
"For seven hours?" demanded Cyborg. Robin took this instantly as a bad sign.
"Titans, let's search the tower. Find Starfire!" he barked and took off.
"Right!" nodded Beast Boy.
"You take the basement Rae, Beast Boy the training rooms, and I'll get the upstairs. Let's let Robin look everywhere else," instructed Cyborg. The three split up quickly with Beast Boy screaming out Star's name the whole way.
Robin's mind raced with worry. What if Slade got her? What if she was hurt somewhere expecting him to come help her, like earlier in the weight room? He couldn't live with himself if something else happened to her. She was his to take care and if she was hurt someone would pay! He would spend his life to assure that. The clanging of the staircase echoed up and down the spiral stairs of his heavy footsteps.
"Starfire? STARFIRE!" he screamed, hearing his own voice be strained. He loved her, he couldn't deny it. He loved her scent, her smile, her laugh, her heart, her hair...everything. He couldn't stand to be without it. He opened the doors to the roof quickly for a fast check he saw nothing and was going back down the stairs when he realized the hammock. Coming back up the stairs he came out onto the roof this time. The hammock was rocking in the wind and there was a slight color of red flashing against the sunset. He could've been fooling himself but he felt that she was there. He felt...she was near him. "Starfire? Are you up here? Please...please be up here?" he begged quietly as he took a couple more steps. He saw her laid on her side, red hair draped over her shoulders and eyes closed tight. She was sleeping and there was the oddest purple mark on her nose. He assumed he'd badly bruised her nose when he blooded it. A sigh of relief went through him so powerful that he thought the ground was shaking. "She's alright," he whispered and moved closer to her. Gently using one finger he brushed the hair out of her face and gazed down at the pink light that was shining off her face. Starfire's eyes flickered open and fixed on him.
"R-Robin?"
"Hey Star. You okay?"
"Yes. Where am I?"
"The roof. You must've fell asleep up here. Come on, everyone's real worried about you," he started and stood to head back downstairs. Starfire's face went rigid and she grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. She wasn't happy with what he'd said to her now that he'd finally spoken. "What's the matter?" he asked, blushing slightly.
"Why are you not talking to me Robin? I am not that stupid," she stated. Robin sat down next to her on the hammock and she still didn't release him. "Was it because I bled and stopped the ball of volley game? Or did I shame you by not catching your spoke?"
"Spike," he corrected. She blushed.
"Spike."
"Starfire, you didn't do anything wrong. I promise."
"Then why would you not speak to me?"
"Because I hurt you," he answered quickly and turned his head. Starfire's heart stopped. "I couldn't stand the thought of hurting you. Of making you bleed...it was my fault. I injured you."
"You did not do anything of harm to me Robin. It was I who did not catch your 'spike'," she assured and used the hand she held to turn him to face her. The sight of the bruise on her nose forced his eyes to drop down. "You are upset because you feel like you harmed me?" she asked and he nodded. "Glorious news!" she cried and gripped his hand as she smiled. He couldn't fight the grin that creeped its way onto his face.
"What?" he questioned.
"Oh, I am sorry. It is only that I am so overjoyed to know you do care about me!" she blushed. Robin stared at her astonished for a minute. She was overjoyed to know he cared about her? Did that mean?
"Robin--" interrupted a voice that instantly went silent. It was Raven from the stairs. The two turned their heads and when Starfire caught the sight of her best friend she released his hand quickly and lowered her head guiltily. Had she meant to be holding his hand? No, that was why she released it. Raven's presence had made her painfully aware of how close they were on the hammock and how it would look for two friends. Robin felt his own blush at the same realization though Raven made no expression of having noticed that she was holding onto him so. "I see you found Starfire...we assumed when you didn't come back immediately. But there's a problem. Someone's attacking Gotham. We have to go, NOW"
The sun was shining on the early morning of a April day and all the city was bustling, enjoying the warm and clear weather as they went about their business as usual. The Teen Titans, not in school and not training, were also busy with their own chores...volleyball. On top of the titan tower they shrieked and cheered as the bleached white ball bounced from one side of the newly put up net to the other. Cyborg and Robin stood to the ready on one side whilst Starfire and Beast Boy readied for a serve on the other. Raven sat swinging in the nearby hammock, willingly sitting the game out so all sides could be even but also keeping score and catching the ball whenever an off attack sent it flying from their range. She was hardly even reading her book. Watching them was too much fun.
"You ready for this Cyborg?" mocked Beast Boy.
"Oh no you didn't. Bring it Star!" he joked back. Robin grinned brightly at his female opponent. She stood holding the ball in both hands beaming at her friends, red hair swimming in the wind as it so often did.
"Prepare yourselves friends, for I am launching the wonderous sphere once again!" she squealed and launched a fast ball toward her half mechanical team mate. Cyborg leapt forward and returned it toward Beast Boy who managed his own return but only by landing flat on his butt and knocking it way out of bounds. The white ball turned black as Raven's powers engulfed it and brought it back to Robin.
"Nice shot," she taunted. Beast Boy rubbed his butt sorely while Cyborg laughed insanely.
"Whatever! At least I hit it!"
"What? Your butt?" choked Cyborg. Beast Boy's eyes exploded.
"NO! The ball!....You did that on purpose didn't you!" he wailed. Starfire walked over to her partner and lifted him by the arm from the floor.
"Do not worry, Beast Boy, for it is Robin's turn and he will surely not trick you," she smiled. Beast Boy continued to rub his butt.
"Yeah...whatever," he groaned. Robin chuckled as he stepped back into position. Starfire and Beast Boy moved apart to better intercept the ball and nodded that they were ready.
"Ready Star?" he asked and she grinned with another nod. Raven observed the mention of her in particular and noted it, as she had every other insinuation of Robin's unspoken feelings for the girl. Starfire was too naive to understand such simple words for another meaning and because they were friends, and only because they were friends, did she look out for her in that area. "Alright then. Here it comes!" he barked as he spiked the ball fiercely her direction. Starfire stood on the ready, determination in her eyes.
"I got it!" Beast Boy screamed. Instantly Starfire's attention was split and her eyes looked to see if her green friend had managed a better shot than she would have, but he was too late and the firm, thick ball smashed into Starfire's face. Cyborg and Raven's mouths dropped open and they were suddenly ready to run to her aid if needed. Beast Boy on the other hand stood mortified that he had distracted her so and Robin's were huge with shock. No one moved as the ball dropped to the ground and rolled to Cyborg's feet across the net. Starfire's face was hidden and with it, rather or not she was alright. Two small drops of red creeped their way between her fingers and dripped onto the roof.
"Starfire!"
"Star!"
"Are you all right?" the three titans questioned as they surrounded her. Starfire's response was muffled and nasally.
"I do not understand...I am bleeding from my nose area. What has happened Raven?" she asked, looking up and continuing to hold her nose. Beast Boy and Cyborg jumped back a step and Raven nearly cringed at the sight. The center of her face was a raw red with a crimson drip slipping down her chin.
"You just busted your nose, that's all. Come on, I'll help you fix it," Raven instructed and used her hand to guide Star to the staircase.
"Will this bleeding stop, friend Raven?" asked Starfire, releasing her nose and giving Raven a better view. Raven's own blood tremored at the sight. She forced her friend's hand back up to her nose.
"It should, if you keep you hand there and are careful where you hold your head," she answered as they descended down the stairs. Beast Boy and Cyborg watched after them hearing a curious "why" from Starfire and Raven's monotonous answer before their voices faded.
"Man...Star was really bleeding," Beast Boy cringed.
"I know, I haven't seen that much blood in...well I've never seen that much blood!" agreed Cyborg. "What'd you yell GOT IT for anyway? You know Robin was serving to Star!"
"I thought I could get it! I didn't mean to get her hurt!"
"No Beast Boy...it was my fault. If I hadn't served it to her, she wouldn't have gotten hurt," Robin assured quietly, still standing where he was when he served. The two boys turned to look at him. His head was hung, right hand fisted though hidden from sight, and sweat sliding off his temple.
"Hey man, don't blame yourself. We were all pla-" started Cyborg.
"I don't want to hear it. I hurt her...I hurt Starfire," he replied quickly and walked past them, head still hung. Beast Boy's eyes were large and watery as he watched his friend move toward the stairs.
"Geez...he's taking it real hard. Isn't he?"
"Yeap. S'not every day you hit the girl you like with a blunt object hard 'nough to make her bleed," sighed Cyborg. Beast Boy turned on him.
"That's not funny!" he cried.
"Wasn't meant to be. Rob's gonna blame himself either way, we should just let 'im work through himself."
"Training room?"
"Probably."
Downstairs Raven was putting cotton up Starfire's nose, much to Starfire's unusal enjoyment. Her eyes were fixated on her nose and a goofy grin was plastered to her face.
"And these soft spheres are called cotton? What a wonderous invention it is!" she smiled.
"I suppose...most people use them to remove nail polish. You're lucky," Raven answered sarcastically. Starfire's eyes widened and she locked eyes with Raven.
"Truly? I am being given special treatment with the spheres of cot-ton?" she asked. Raven's expression, mild as it was, read exasperation and a singe of pity.
"No. I was being sarcastic Starfire," she answered, pushing the red haired girl's head up and shoving another cotton ball into her left nostrol.
"I do not like this sarcastic. Words should mean what they say," protested Starfire.
"Yeah well, they don't. So you'd better get used to it."
"Is that the sarcastic as well?"
"No, that's realism," she replied. Starfire considered this for a moment and then when Raven came at her with another cotton ball squeaked like someone was holding her nose and backed away.
"No more cotton spheres please!" she pleaded. "I can already breath less than a garearave (gar-gear-av) in winter. Please, may I not rejoin the others now?" Raven gave the plug a look over and could see no blood on the cotton.
"Sure. Look's fine. But take it easy, okay?" she replied and Starfire nodded happily. Raven then smirked at the sight of her best friend's nose over filled with cotton. "You look like an idiot," she smiled.
Beast Boy and Cyborg had just settled down to a game of gundam wars when Starfire and Raven came walking in. Beast Boy fell off the back of the couch laughing at Star, who grinned brightly in return, and Cyborg gripped his side violently as his laughter bellowed around the room. Starfire looked at Raven who shrugged and sat down with her book once more.
"Where is Robin? Surely he will enjoy this marvelous joke that Raven has helped me to create?" asked Starfire happily. Beast Boy's laughter deadened to a dull chuckle of nervousness and Cyborg simply stopped. "What is it? Is there something the matter with Robin?'
"Physically? No..." answered Cyborg.
"Then what is the problem?"
"He just- kinda avoiding- he thought- he didn't-" attempted Beast Boy.
"I do not understand those words when used together," answered a confused Starfire.
"I think he's in the training room," replied Cyborg. Starfire smiled and thanked him before floating off to find her best buddy. Beast Boy and Cyborg exchanged glances, leaving the video game on pause and catching Raven's attention.
"Is there something the matter with Robin?" she asked, repeating Starfire.
"Not really. He's just, kinda takin' it hard the way he hurt Star," shrugged Cyborg. Beast Boy took a deep breath and flopped down on the couch next to his black mechanized pal.
"Yeah. He'll get over it," he added. Raven's eyes went to the hallway Star had drifted down when the video game turned back on. If that was all that was wrong with Robin she shouldn't have the slightest bit of difficulty shaking it out of him. And if she couldn't, well unfortunately that was Star's and Robin's problem. Raven made a point of not getting involved in emotional relationships...at least as much as she could.
Starfire had just reached the end of the hallway when she heard a loud thudding to her right. The door to the gym was opened just a crack and she could see inside where the boy wonder was relentlessly pounding a punching bag. She'd seen him do this before. He did it when he was upset. Instead of going inside she thought to ask for permission, in case he wasn't in a talkative mood.
"Robin?" she called gently. Robin's fist froze against the bag. Star was calling for him. But why? Didn't he hurt her?
"What is it Starfire?"
"May I join you in-"
"No, go away," he replied and went back to beating down the punching bag.
"But Robin, I wish to-"
"I said no Starfire. I don't want to talk to anyone," he added sharply. Starfire's feelings were hurt. He refused to even look at the door. She must have offended him somehow by bleeding or leaving the game.
"We can continue the ball of volley now if you wish, Robin," she added timidly. Her only answer was a faster thudding against the bag. Surrendering she backed away from the door and floated down the hall. Robin paused and listened to her leave. No one else could hear her move through the air but Robin could. He had sat for several hours in the training room, watching her attacks and listening to the way she slid through the air. The sound mocked him almost and a bright red flash of earlier came back to him. Gritting his teeth at the idea of making his secret love bleed a reckless and harsh fist collided with his punching back, throttling the sand filled bag back so intensely that the chain pulled free and the bag came to a thundering crash on the bench press. Robin dropped to his knees tiredly and stared at what he had done.
Meanwhile Starfire had made her way back to the common room and descended down onto the couch away from the others. Raven looked up over her book, reading her friend's face, while Cyborg and Beast Boy continued their game.
"So?" Raven asked expressionless.
"Hm? Oh, he is busy training," lied Starfire. Why wouldn't he talk to me? she wondered mentally as a thoughtful finger drifted up to her nose and poked at it. The cushioned feel was odd and different, still she hardly noticed. Raven shrugged and went back to her book.
"NO! Damn!" wailed Cyborg. "I cannot believe you beat me!"
"Well it had to happen once!" laughed his gaming buddy. "Or twice or three times!" he added.
"It is impossible to read with you two yelling at each other. Simply play again," barked Raven.
"I think we shall!" smiled Cyborg when suddenly a bell rang out around them.
"Pizza's here!" screamed Beast Boy as he leapt up over the couch. Raven stood angrily and walked toward the glass doors and balcony on the other side of the room.
"I'll be outside when they finish acting idiotic," she spoke to Starfire and headed out with her book. She slid the door closed behind her and found the only shadow to float in and read. Starfire sighed heavily, thinking too much to realize Cyborg was still in the room.
"What's up Star?"
"Huh? Oh. Cyborg..." she started and thought carefully. She couldn't ask Beast Boy because he was much to excitable to sit still and give her advice and Raven had told her before that any boy/girl information would have to be pryed out of her.
"Yeah?What's the matter?" Starfire turned on the couch and crossed her legs. Cyborg was beginning to get worried.
"Robin will not look at me, nor will he speak to me. I am confused as to what I have done wrong."
"You didn't do anything. Guys are just weird like that sometimes. I lock myself in my lab sometimes too."
"Yes well, I wish for nothing more than to speak with my Robin," she replied. Cyborg raised an eyebrow. He caught what she said, but did she? The words repeated in her head and a flourishing blush covered her face. "I mean--"
"You like him, right?" Starfire stuck to nodding. "And you want me to tell you how to get his attention..." Starfire thought about that one for a second and then smiled happily.
"Indeed. That I would be very joyous with," she smiled.
"Well...you got my and BB's attention with your nose!" laughed Cyborg.
"Then I shall show him my nose?"
"Well, that could be difficult if he's not letting you into the training room so we'd better go with something else. okay...why don't you sneak into the weight room when he heads off to the bathroom and..." Starfire listened to his deep plan. It wouldn't be hard. She would pretend to need his help and he would graciously offer it. The idea of Robin coming to her rescue was a wonderful idea and her favorite thought most of the time. When Beast Boy showed up with the pizza Starfire ate three pieces as quickly as possible and managed to disappear before Beast Boy called Robin in for dinner. He arrived very relunctantly, looking around obviously for Starfire until he discovered she wasn't there. He felt a deep guilt first and then was relieved not to have to confront her.
Starfire slipped into the weight room quietly and carefully. The last thing she wanted was to be caught before she needed help. Fortunately he wasn't there, but the room had practically been destroyed. There was sand all over the room and one of the weights had actually been broken in half. She was a little scared by it, but decided she'd rather have Robin's attention than his anger. The only thing she could think of was the weight lifting bench...
Robin finished up his last slice and decided exhaustedly that he should go clean up the training room before any of the others spotted it. Cyborg and Beast Boy had already started up a video game and Robin called winner so he didn't have long. Raven promised to call him when they were done since she was headed to her room in about five minutes anyway so he headed off to clean. What he didn't expect was the sound of a soft and vulnerable whimpering coming out of the room.
"Ouch!" squeaked Starfire. Robin slammed through the door in a panic and found her laid out on the bench press, the bar pressed down on her chest with all the weights she had put on it. Her knuckles were white and her breathing shallow.
"Star!" he yelped and rushed to her. Starfire beamed seeing his face. She had thought he would never come and had gotten too distracted to lift the weights from her chest. He ripped each weight of one at a time and then lifted the bar off her.
"Robin! Thank you! I thought you would never come!" she smiled.
"You what?? You mean to tell me you did that on purpose? Why would you do that!" he yelled. Starfire's expression went blank, hidden sadness behind her eyes. Perhaps she was wrong when she thought he cared for her.
"I wanted to talk to you..." she said weakly. "I am sorry I disturbed you, I will leave..." she nodded and flew out of the room as quickly as she could. Robin reached to stop her but it was only half hearted. He didn't really want to speak with her yet, even if he knew he'd hurt her feelings. And why was her nose so ... large? he thought.
Starfire was on the roof before she realized where she was. The sun was still up and shining and there were plenty of bright clouds filling the sky. The best part was what dried the overwelling tears in her eyes...the breezes. Walking slowly over to the hammock Starfire sat down. She distractedly decided, blood or no blood she wanted to take that cotton out of her nose and so piece by piece pulled out each ball. She dropped them on the floor next to her and fell back into the hammock letting it rock. Her mind was filled with all the times Robin had smiled at her and the times now that he yelled at her when she came around. Why didn't he want to talk to her? Why didn't he care about her? She slid her hand under her cheek and rolled over onto her side watching the horizon of the water appear and disappear with every rock of the hammock.
"Hey! I said no meat!" yelled Beast Boy.
"I said meat! I don't like spaghetti without meat!" snapped Cyborg.
"Who said either one of you have a say so? I'm cooking dinner tonight and I'm going to cook it the way I want," explained Raven.
"Doesn't Starfire normally cook anyway?" asked Beast Boy.
"Do I look like Starfire to you?"
"I think he was just asking where Starfire is, that's all," explained Cyborg. Raven went back to the stove and pushed Cyborg away from the fridge.
"I haven't seen her since the pizza got here for lunch."
"Ya know, neither have I!" laughed Cyborg.
"What's funny about that?" asked Beast Boy from the counter where he was sitting.
"Ya know!" he answered with a wink and an elbow.
"Oh yeah!" he laughed and then his face went straight. "No wait, I don't know..." Cyborg sighed and opened his mouth to explain when Robin's voice came out.
"Hey, anyone seen Starfire?" Cyborg's expression was suddenly deadly serious.
"She's not been with you?"
"No, why would she be with me?" he asked confused.
"We haven't seen her at all today..." voiced a somewhat worried Raven.
"Maybe she went to the mall or something?" wondered Beast Boy.
"For seven hours?" demanded Cyborg. Robin took this instantly as a bad sign.
"Titans, let's search the tower. Find Starfire!" he barked and took off.
"Right!" nodded Beast Boy.
"You take the basement Rae, Beast Boy the training rooms, and I'll get the upstairs. Let's let Robin look everywhere else," instructed Cyborg. The three split up quickly with Beast Boy screaming out Star's name the whole way.
Robin's mind raced with worry. What if Slade got her? What if she was hurt somewhere expecting him to come help her, like earlier in the weight room? He couldn't live with himself if something else happened to her. She was his to take care and if she was hurt someone would pay! He would spend his life to assure that. The clanging of the staircase echoed up and down the spiral stairs of his heavy footsteps.
"Starfire? STARFIRE!" he screamed, hearing his own voice be strained. He loved her, he couldn't deny it. He loved her scent, her smile, her laugh, her heart, her hair...everything. He couldn't stand to be without it. He opened the doors to the roof quickly for a fast check he saw nothing and was going back down the stairs when he realized the hammock. Coming back up the stairs he came out onto the roof this time. The hammock was rocking in the wind and there was a slight color of red flashing against the sunset. He could've been fooling himself but he felt that she was there. He felt...she was near him. "Starfire? Are you up here? Please...please be up here?" he begged quietly as he took a couple more steps. He saw her laid on her side, red hair draped over her shoulders and eyes closed tight. She was sleeping and there was the oddest purple mark on her nose. He assumed he'd badly bruised her nose when he blooded it. A sigh of relief went through him so powerful that he thought the ground was shaking. "She's alright," he whispered and moved closer to her. Gently using one finger he brushed the hair out of her face and gazed down at the pink light that was shining off her face. Starfire's eyes flickered open and fixed on him.
"R-Robin?"
"Hey Star. You okay?"
"Yes. Where am I?"
"The roof. You must've fell asleep up here. Come on, everyone's real worried about you," he started and stood to head back downstairs. Starfire's face went rigid and she grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. She wasn't happy with what he'd said to her now that he'd finally spoken. "What's the matter?" he asked, blushing slightly.
"Why are you not talking to me Robin? I am not that stupid," she stated. Robin sat down next to her on the hammock and she still didn't release him. "Was it because I bled and stopped the ball of volley game? Or did I shame you by not catching your spoke?"
"Spike," he corrected. She blushed.
"Spike."
"Starfire, you didn't do anything wrong. I promise."
"Then why would you not speak to me?"
"Because I hurt you," he answered quickly and turned his head. Starfire's heart stopped. "I couldn't stand the thought of hurting you. Of making you bleed...it was my fault. I injured you."
"You did not do anything of harm to me Robin. It was I who did not catch your 'spike'," she assured and used the hand she held to turn him to face her. The sight of the bruise on her nose forced his eyes to drop down. "You are upset because you feel like you harmed me?" she asked and he nodded. "Glorious news!" she cried and gripped his hand as she smiled. He couldn't fight the grin that creeped its way onto his face.
"What?" he questioned.
"Oh, I am sorry. It is only that I am so overjoyed to know you do care about me!" she blushed. Robin stared at her astonished for a minute. She was overjoyed to know he cared about her? Did that mean?
"Robin--" interrupted a voice that instantly went silent. It was Raven from the stairs. The two turned their heads and when Starfire caught the sight of her best friend she released his hand quickly and lowered her head guiltily. Had she meant to be holding his hand? No, that was why she released it. Raven's presence had made her painfully aware of how close they were on the hammock and how it would look for two friends. Robin felt his own blush at the same realization though Raven made no expression of having noticed that she was holding onto him so. "I see you found Starfire...we assumed when you didn't come back immediately. But there's a problem. Someone's attacking Gotham. We have to go, NOW"