Kiss the Boy
Chapter Two
Voices began floating in and out.
"…wake up soon?"
"Maybe we should pour water on him. Ooh, I got a better idea! How about we have Starfire kiss him?"
"How about you kiss him, Beast Boy?" Raven sounded ticked.
Wha…? Should I wake up…?"Starfire, don't listen to Beast Boy!"
That's a yes.
Robin's eyes snapped open, only to be met with a pair of jade peepers staring back into his own. Starting, he scooted back a bit on the medical bed, surveying the rest of the team.
"What just happened?" he asked. The others stared at him, Starfire moving back to her spot next to Raven.
"Dude, you passed out," Cyborg informed him. He scratched his head. "I didn't know you were afraid of operations."
Robin crossed his arms over his chest defensively, scowling. "No. I just… it was a shock, okay?" He watched on as Cyborg chuckled. "What? It's not funny Cy."
"I know," Cyborg told him, pressing his fist to his mouth to contain snickers. Robin sighed and looked at Raven.
"Can't you do anything about this?" he requested pleadingly.
Raven shook her head. "Things like colds and sore throats are beneath my powers. Would you really want me to operate on you?" she asked him, one hand glowing black. He sat up on the bed.
He was struck speechless for a moment. "…" Robin turned to Cyborg, sighing resignedly. "Fine. When are you going to do it?"
Cyborg stared for a second, then laughed. After a few moments he stopped in mid-laugh. "You were serious?" He shook his head. "Like I said, I don't think I'm qualified to operate on someone. You're going to the hospital first thing tomorrow to get it done by a real doctor."
Robin passed out.
--
Somewhere along the line, the calm blackness of unconsciousness had melted into a Disney-induced dream. Blackfire had become Ursula, Starfire took the role of Ariel, and Robin was stuck trying to figure out what Starfire was saying, having replaced Eric.
The haunting notes of Starfire's song, her voice having been stolen by Blackfire long before, echoed in his mind as he sat up straight all of a sudden. Panting slightly, he peered into the darkness to try and determine how much time had passed.
Judging by how dark it was, he had probably been out longer this time. Looking around the room, it was obvious that someone had taken him to his room. The curtains were covering the windows, but even if they weren't there would be no light. His shoes had been placed neatly next to the bed, and whoever had done this had taken the time to pull the covers down and place him underneath.
Pulling them off and letting them fall to the floor, Robin groaned and put his head in his hands. The feeling had gone from scissors shoved down his throat to a circle of the sticky side of Velcro that tightened painfully on the tender sides of his esophagus every time he swallowed or even made a noise.
And of course, there was no water on the nightstand to help soothe the painful sensation. Of course.
Getting up and ignoring the protests of his aching body, Robin made his way into the common room. The lights were dimmed as before, small patches of gold on an otherwise pitch black room.
The Boy Wonder crossed the room and grabbed a glass from the cabinets. Filling it up with water, he gulped it down quickly and sighed with relief. Now to find a water bottle…
"Robin?"
Said Titan, hunched over in front of the refrigerator at the moment, stiffened, shoulders tensing. A few moments later he stood back up and turned around, only to half wish he hadn't.
Starfire floated in the doorway.
In her nightgown.
Looking at him curiously.
In her nightgown.
She blinked, head cocked to the side.
In her nightgown.
Oh, and did he mention the nightgown that ended at mid-thigh?
Naturally, Robin gaped for a second, barely registering the sound of the water bottle falling to the floor. Luckily, Starfire flew over to his position and reached down, giving him a chance to recover his scattered wits despite the fact that she was right in front of him.
As she straightened, the fallen water bottle in hand, his wits were shot to pieces again. He tried to concentrate as she handed him the bottle, smiling sweetly.
"Hello Robin," she greeted, still wearing that adorable smile. "I am glad to see you are awake."
His hand, which had been groping thin air for a couple of seconds, finally closed around the bottle and he nodded. "Yeah. Who took me to my room?" he asked her, voice scratchy. Taking a sip from the bottle to fix it, he watched her blush. A small smile appeared on his face.
"You?"
She nodded mutely, suddenly fascinated with the ground. Feeling a sudden surge of boldness, he brought his finger under her chin and gently tilted her face up meet his gaze. The smile was more pronounced now.
"Thanks."
Starfire's cheeks became pinker and she beamed. "I welcome you. Truly, I– " She stopped in mid-sentence, as if she suddenly realized something. As she continued to stare at Robin, he shifted awkwardly.
"What? Is there something– "
"You are… taller… than me," she said softly, almost incredulously. Robin raised an eyebrow.
"What are you– " He looked down, only to meet her eyes. "… Oh. I guess I am," he said in what he hoped sounded like an offhand voice. Inwardly he was cheering at this new revelation; while he knew being short for his age wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it was a relief to know that he was finally taller than someone besides Beast Boy.
Starfire poked him in the chest. "How did you accomplish such a feat in such a small amount of time?" she inquired, genuinely curious.
Robin shrugged and took another sip. "I guess it was just a growth spurt." At her confused look, he clarified. "It's when a guy suddenly grows taller."
Starfire put a finger to her lips, thinking. "Will Beast Boy be experiencing the "growth spurt" soon then?" Suddenly she gasped, hands flying to her mouth. "What if you do not stop the growing?" she worried. At her distress, Robin chuckled and shook his head.
"No, it only happens once in a while, and it's just a few inches at a time."
The alien princess relaxed, smiling weakly. "That is most relieving, for I would not wish for Friend Beast Boy to grow until he resembled the jovial man on the peas."
Robin thought about it for a second, then burst out laughing. "Beast Boy– as the– Jolly Green Giant?" He stopped laughing, due to his throat, and drank a little from the bottle. Seeing Robin drink seemed to remind Starfire that her best friend was still sick.
Grabbing his arm, she began pulling him along. "It is late; you should be resting for tomorrow." Feeling him still, she looked back, only to see his slightly apprehensive face.
"Yeah…" He could see concern for him in her large eyes, wishing to somehow comfort him. He smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry; I'm fine."
Starfire looked down, then held his left hand between hers and looked directly into the mask. "You are sure?"
His other hand came up and covered hers. "Positive."
With one last worried smile and an impromptu hug, she bid him goodnight. Robin waved and watched the purple-clad figure disappear down the hallway.
Rubbing his hands over his face, Robin slid back into the bed, falling into a dream involving Beast Boy the Jolly Green Giant, a little toga made of leaves, and one thoroughly disturbed Raven.
Well, at least he wasn't having anymore Disney-themed dreams.
--
"Okay, everyone know what their job is?"
Nods all around, and Cyborg pointed to Raven, who rolled her eyes.
"I'll be covering the door so that he doesn't try to run," she droned, thinking this whole idea stupid. Ignoring her, Cyborg pointed to Starfire.
"I shall be holding onto him to ensure he does not do the bolting," she sounded off happily.
Cyborg nodded, pleased. "I've got the papers covered. What will you be doing, Beast Boy?" he asked the changeling pointedly.
"I'll cover his ears every time someone says surgery," he grumbled. Sitting up straighter on the couch, he pouted. "Why do I have to do it again?"
"Because, while we were assigning jobs last night, you were watching America's Most Explosive Car Crashes," Raven replied dryly.
"Yeah, and when we told you told come over here you ignored us, so you're stuck with it," added Cyborg. Disregarding Beast Boy, who stuck his tongue out, he looked at Starfire. "Go wake up the patient, would you Star?"
The Tamerainian nodded and flew off to Robin's door. Knocking on it, she called to him. "Robin? Robin, please awaken, we must journey to the hos– erm… To the location where you will receive treatment!" Getting no response, she knocked harder and consequently made a dent in the door. Starfire eeped and tried a different approach.
Wedging her fingers in the crack between the panels of the door, she managed to push them back into the slots on the side. The gears groaned in remonstration, but went back. Well, the dented one went as far in as it could, what with the large metal bump and all.
Starfire floated in, looking around the dark room. The curtains were still blocking the sunlight, making the only source of light the brightness spilling in from the hallway. Perhaps that is why he has not awoken, she mused.
Reaching the bed, she shook the lump in the covers that was Robin. "Please Robin, awaken. Friend Cyborg wish for you to get the butt in motion."
Robin let out a yawn and turned over. "It's "get your butt in gear," Star," he corrected sleepily. He yelped as he felt her grip his ankles and began to pull him out of bed.
"Then you must be doing that now please," she told him, jerking back suddenly. Looking back, she saw that Robin's hands had grabbed a firm hold on his headboard in protest.
Not wanting to hurt him, she tugged gently (for her) on his legs as an attempt to pull him away. "Robin, the others are waiting. Please let go," she grunted with a stronger tug, "so you may do the getting better."
Robin shook his head, wanting nothing more than to huddle back under the covers and avoid this whole thing. However, when Starfire dropped his legs, making him flop down to the bed at an awkward angle since he was still holding on, he craned his head over his shoulder.
"Star, what are you do– " His body twitched and he laughed as she tickled his side. "What're you– sto– stop! Let go!" The rest of his protests were consumed by laughter that he unsuccessfully tried to contain.
She had begun tickling him to get him to loosen his grip. It was actually working pretty well.
Starfire smiled and continued, sitting down on his lower back. "I will not relent until you get up Robin," she giggled, her finger climbing higher.
Robin felt his arms begin to weaken, although whether it was due to the tickling or the contact was unknown. He finally let go and turned over, stomach aching from the laughter.
In an instant, she had grabbed his wrists and pinned them above his head, grinning. "There! Now you must…" Trailing off, it was obvious that she had realized what position they were in.
"…"
"…"
Both were completely silent, Starfire on top with Robin under her, hands pinned over his head. Of course, the moment couldn't last forever…
Someone appeared in the doorway, blocking the light.
"Yo, Star! Is Rob up yet? We need to– OH G– " Cyborg clapped a hand over his eyes and tried to back out of the door. "I didn't– If I'd known you were doin' something kinky– I'll wait. Out there," he jerked his thumb over his shoulder and sped down the hall at a speed that Kid Flash would be proud of.
Robin blushed deeply and gruffly asked Starfire to let him up. The blush, along with his scowl at Cyborg's teasing glances, stayed until they were parked an in the hotel lobby.
--
Normally, Robin liked it when Starfire held his hand. All was right with the world, it was all good, not a care in the world, ect. ect.
But when Raven was hovering near the doors, Beast Boy seemed to forget the term "personal space" and lingered by his head, and Cyborg was filling out forms like his life depended on them, it was hard to fully enjoy the guilty pleasure of Starfire holding his hand.
Cyborg, the speed-demon writer that he was, actually was pretty pleased with how the plan was working. Robin wasn't making a mad dash for the exit, and as long as no one mentioned anything that pertained to surgery, things would continue to–
"Thank you," the nurse behind the desk said kindly, taking the paperwork before the ink had even dried. "Here's your room number," she handed a piece of paper to Cyborg, "and your surgery has been scheduled for eight o'clock tonight."
There was a thud as Robin collapsed on the floor.
The rest of the team glared at Beast Boy, who, until this moment had been looking around aimlessly, looked utterly confused as to what he did wrong.
"… What?" He looked down and saw Robin on the floor. "OH!"
Bending down, he clamped his hands over Robin's ears and beamed. "Uh… He's playing dead?"
"…"
"… Yeah, I wouldn't have bought it either."
Disclaimer: Don't own the Jolly Green Giant. xD Imagine if I did... -imagines nothing but a bag of peas- Oh. Never mind then.
Authoress' Note: Just wanted to get something out before I left for vacation. today ;) I'll be back sometime around the end of July and start writing a new chapter. (Sadly, I don't own a laptop. D;) I've developed slight writers block on The Hourglass, but I'm working on it. I don't want to put out something suckish and short.
Anyways, the next chapter is going to be fun(ny). Beast Boy's going to shake up the hospital. xD Poor Robin; I remember waking up with that horrible pain in my throat and not having a drink... Nearly drove me crazy. I was a little iffy about the tickling scene; Robin tickling/laughing is like a pink Batsignal. That might explain why I yelled really loud in Target when I saw one. ;
Thank you Kryalla for the beta! ;D And, to all those reviews. Thanks so much!
- Christine