Up a Creek
By Stargirl7
Chapter 1: Summer Plans
Author's note: Ok, so people are probably wondering, "What's happening to Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy on their camping trip while Raven and Starfire are elsewhere?" Your answer, delightful people, is here in this fic. Hope y'all enjoy!
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Beast Boy was getting The Itch. You know the one I mean. The one that drives people crazy at the very beginning of summer. Some people call it "Cabin Fever". Ever since he and his fellow Titans had returned from Tamaran after the calamitous events there concerning Slade, Blackfire, their wedding, and poor Starfire's coma, Beast Boy had been bored. And considering the fact that it was summer, he wanted to do something instead of constantly fighting the bad guys. So, of course, being the helpful guy that he is, and wanting to find a cure to his "Summertime Blues", he suggested a group camping trip…
"Hm," said Robin thoughtfully, sitting on the couch in the living room of Titans Tower next to Starfire, who was resting her head on his chest, apparently asleep. "That's not a bad idea, actually. We could all use some down time after everything that's happened recently." Beast Boy grinned at him, and then turned to look over at Raven and Cyborg, who were both currently reading. Cyborg glanced up from his tech magazine, and grinned at him.
"I'm game," he said, stretching his legs out in front of him towards the coffee table. "It's been a while since I've been camping. Sounds like fun!"
"Sweet!" Beast Boy said, giving Cy a high five. He then turned to look over at Raven, who was still deeply engrossed in her Edgar Allen Poe collection of poetry. "What about you, Rae? Feel like coming along for some fun in nature?" Raven glanced up from her book, and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't even think about it, Beast Boy," she said decisively. "There is no way on Earth that you guys are going to get me to come on a camping trip. Besides," she said, holding up a hand as Beast Boy was about to interrupt her, looking back at her book again. "I already have my own plans for the summer."
"Oh, yeah? What?" Beast Boy asked indignantly, a hand on one of his hips. Raven smirked a little bit as the others glanced over at them.
"I'm going to Paris," she said, a little smugly. The others stared at her for a second.
"Paris?!" the chorused, unexpectedly waking Starfire up, who looked around at the others blearily, wondering what was going on with her friends that was causing them to shout. "Why Paris?" Raven rolled her eyes.
"Because of the history there. The people. The language. The food! This is the kind of city where, if I had the chance, I would live." Raven said, her gravelly voice unexpectedly excited. The others were considerably surprised by Raven's sudden display of emotion. "And besides, there's an opportunity for an internship at the library in the heart of the city. This vacation is practically calling my name." The others thought for a moment, and then realized that Raven was right about this. This was the perfect opportunity for her. Robin looked over at her for a second.
"Ok, Raven, but only if you really want to," he said, smiling at her. Raven smiled back, and continued to read her book.
Meanwhile, realizing that Raven was obviously out of his camping trip scheme, Beast Boy then turned to Starfire, who was sitting up now, but still looked very sleepy.
"What about you, Star? Feel up to a camping trip?" Beast Boy asked, imploringly. Starfire thought for a minute, looking very confused. She looked over at the others.
"Please tell me, friends, what is a 'camping trip'?" Starfire asked, her green eyes wide in wonder. "I have never heard of this before." The others thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to explain this to her.
"A camping trip, Starfire," Raven said, trying to explain. "Is when a bunch of people generally go out into the woods, pitch a tent, roast marshmallows over an open fire, eat a lot of hot dogs, go fishing, tell scary stories, and of course, annoy the local wildlife. They're generally fun," she added dryly, returning back to her book. Starfire nodded, understanding everything now. She looked over at Beast Boy, thinking.
"Although your suggestion of a 'camping trip' sounds the fun, Beast Boy, I have also made my own plans for the summer." Starfire said gently, trying not to hurt his feelings. The others looked at her in surprise as well.
"What are your plans, Star?" Robin asked her, genuinely curious. Starfire blushed.
"My plans for the summer vacation, Robin," Starfire said, smiling at him for a moment. "Are to visit the Tokyo, and to reside there." She grinned at the others' surprised expressions. Robin was considerably surprised.
"Why Tokyo, of all places? After everything that happened there, you want to go back?" he asked her incredulously. Starfire nodded emphatically.
"Indeed, Robin, of course I do. The last time that we were there, we were very busy with the Brushogun and the Commander Daizo, and did not have enough time to explore the city and its surrounding area. So, since the summer vacation is here, and I have the opportunity to share an apartment with a young woman named Jay, who is around our age, I am going to go to Tokyo." She looked at everyone for a second. "I hope you do not mind that I shall be gone…" Everyone shook their heads emphatically.
"Of course not, Starfire," Robin said, giving her a hug. "We'll miss you, and we'll miss Raven too, but you both will be having your own fun." Starfire smiled at him, grateful that he understood her so well. Beast Boy looked at Cyborg, who shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, dude, looks like it's just you, me and Robin," Beast Boy said, shaking his head sadly for a minute. His face suddenly brightened up again. "So, when do we leave?"