The smell of aspen trees, and the promise of snow filled the air. Twilight kissed the sky with its last breaths as the stars began to emerge, twinkling dully, scattered across the Gotham skyline. The wind blew, encasing the bystanders in crisp, frosted air, the pain riddled faces pulsed red from the biting cold.
"I would like to thank everyone who could make it here today, I realize that for people such as ourselves leaving our responsibilities behind at short notice is not a luxury we typically are enabled to indulge in."
Graceful glittering snow fell softly to the Earth, Robin, clad in dress clothes stood in front of his comrades, people he had stood next to in life or death situations, bled for, became an advocate for, but his family none the less. He looked out at the people standing before him, Titans, League members... Alfred.
"As everyone is well aware, last week we lost what I would like to believe was one of the most beautiful souls that had ever walked across this planet. She was selfless, brave and above all else, a Titan."
Raven offered a bleak upturn of her mouth, possibly meant to form a smile, but it was lost to the heavy sadness of grief she could feel pulsating around her. Beast boy stood next to her, his black jacket and beanie covered in large flakes of snow, tears caught in the red rimmed, inflamed dark under circles of his eyes. Unlike the other three remaining founding members, he didn't attempt to portray the façade of not feeling the overwhelming sensation of gut wrenching pain the deep gash of Starfire's death had so brutally left in open. He sucked back the obstructions from his nasal passages, shuddering and furiously wiping at the series of tear trails that had formed deltas on to his cheeks. Cyborg's head hung low as he passed a small package of tissues over to his left, not willing to watch Robin give his eulogy for fear of watching the emotions pass over his friend's face throughout his heartfelt message. Afraid the raw emotions would release the crushing pain in his windpipe, and inevitably giving in to the same hysterics Beast Boy was suffering from.
"I didn't tell her nearly enough how much she meant to me, that she was my best friend... I wish I had more opportunities to take her to the "mall of shopping", and to sit on the couch and watch movies with her... and to put heaping gobs of mustard over every food known to man kind..." a slight chuckle arose from the crowd, who were surely recalling the Alien girl's unhealthy obsession with the yellow condiment.
Robin rubbed his gloved hands over his face in exasperation, a strangled heave escaped his chest and echoed across the silence.
"I wish I would have finally grown some fucking balls and put this stupid ring I've carried around for a year and a half on her finger, bought a house four blocks away from a goddamned Starbucks and never looked back, " he knelt to the ground, and with a shaky hand placed the small black velvet box on the ledge of the tombstone, whispered a silent apology, and stood back up gently removing his mask.
"I wish to resign from my duties." He let the remaining grip he held on his mask go as he slowly made his way out from being front and center of the group, walked through a wall of surrounding aspen trees and wasted no time starting and climbing on his motorcycle and shifting it into gear.
"I better follow him home." Bruce's voice broke the silence as he clasped Clark on the shoulder and gave him a slight nod. Clark returned the gesture, and approached the other Titans.
"Any of you that need someone to talk to, or just want to get away for a while, come up to the watch tower. We can always use the company up there. We are extremely honored to been made apart of this today, we understand the pain losing a teammate brings, Robin was an incredible leader. Give him some time and I'm sure he will be ready to tag along on missions again." He pulled an unsuspecting Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven in for a hug as Diana, Ollie, Wally, John and Shayera walked around to each Titan, shaking hands, filling the air with words of encouragement, and even shared a few laughs lightening the atmosphere.
"You think he will be alright?" Beast Boy leaned close to Raven as he softly spoke.
"Eventually, yes. But it will take time. He has experienced a lot of loss throughout his life. He's going to take it harder than most of us." She turned to look at him, her face still sullen.
"I can't believe she's really gone." Cyborg placed a metallic hand on top of the gravestone. Everyone had started to leave, the wind had picked up considerably, and the chill in the air was unbearable.
Beast Boy knelt to read the inscription.
"Even a small star shines in the darkness."