Author's Note: Yes, I realise these are short. I'm writing them after I do my major writing for the day, so these things barely have any time committed to them. I'm only sticking to a single idea per chapter, snapshotty thing, not the complex weave I normally offer.
They'll get longer. There is plot a-coming, just be patient. At the moment, I'm really only posting what has already been posted on tumblr.
List
"Oh, I'm so gonna win this," Beast Boy hollered and gave a manic laugh. "TURBO!"
Cyborg grinned. "Nah-ah, I've been saving mine too!"
"You are both wrong," Robin said, his thumbs madly hitting the controls. "I so got—"
"Oh your left!" Cyborg cried.
"No way!" Beast Boy pouted. "I had that!"
"I'll get you this turn," Robin said. "I got the inside lane."
"HA!" Beast Boy announced. "Banana bomb!"
"Invulnerable!" Robin countered, "And there's the finish, I'm gonna—" There was a loud crunch. "Shit."
"You're gonna shit?" Beast Boy teased.
"Yeah," Robin said, dropping the remains of his controller into the box of already broken controllers by his knee. "In your litter tray."
"Dude, gross."
Cyborg reached into the box beside him, extracting another controller and handed it to Robin. "You'll need to order another box soon."
Robin sighed. "I should just give it up as a bad joke."
"Nah, you'll get it," Beast Boy said. "Just stop being so cocky. Simple."
Robin laughed. "Yeah, sure."
"BB's gotta point," Cyborg said.
"It's in my nature to be confident and cocky," Robin said, glancing over his shoulder to Starfire and Raven in the kitchen. "It's not something I can switch off."
"Well, I'd better get to inventing a Tamaranian durable controller."
"Yeah," Robin said, and floated up off the couch. "You do that."
"You out?"
"I think I've broken enough today," he said. Somersaulting in the air he floated for the kitchen.
"Are you going anywhere near the sweet shop?" Raven asked Starfire. She sat on the kitchen counter beside her, peering at the holographic screen Starfire was studying. "The… oh, what do you call them… you know the ones I like."
"The K'kditx?" Starfire asked.
"Yes! Those."
"Certainly."
Robin heard a different set of words in his brain. "Chocolate dipped beetles?" he asked.
Raven squeaked and flailed and subsequently fell off the counter and ended up in a tangle heap on the floor.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked.
"Azar!" Raven said, her hand to her chest. "You were quiet before, but floating? Give me some warning next time."
"Sorry," he said and landed. "Still getting used to this."
"You and me both," Raven muttered and took Starfire's outstretched hand to be hoisted to her feet.
"So, chocolate dipped beetles?" Robin asked.
"Yes," Raven replied and looked at Starfire. "Please. I'm never going to pronounce that right. Chkk-chkkdicks?"
Starfire nodded. "K'kditx. Of course."
"You like them?" Robin asked and pulled a face.
"They're delicious."
"Really? Beetles?" With a frown, he looked at Starfire. "Wait, am I speaking Tamaranian?"
Starfire nodded and added another note to the screen. "That will happen. Our brains have trouble translating specific names, which is why they tend to stay in the language of origin. For example, Coca-Cola would always remain as such, but if I used 'soda', it would translate."
"Ahh. So… she doesn't know what they are?"
"Beetles?" Raven asked, raising her eyebrow as though daring him to comment more. "I know. I don't care."
"Oh."
"Do you require more jodolang candles?" Starfire asked and Robin translated as 'moon flower'.
"No. But if you could order me some shampoo, that'd be great."
Starfire nodded and chewed her lip. "Very well."
"Are you going shopping?" Robin asked.
"Fly girl, you going to the space bazaar?" Cyborg asked, sprawling his arms over the back of the couch as he turned to look at them.
"Indeed. Do you require anything?"
Cyborg nodded. "That oil you got me last time. It rocked."
"Oh oh! And that fungus!" Beast Boy called, waving his arms around.
Starfire inclined her head. "Very well."
"Space bazaar?" Robin asked, excited. "Can I come?"
Starfire looked up from her screen. "You wish to come… shopping? With me?"
"You hate shopping," Raven said.
"Space shopping," Robin said with a grin. "C'mon, Star! Please?"
She exchanged a glance with Raven, who shrugged. "He can survive the trip. He's got the bladder thing."
Robin blinked. "Bladder?"
"The qaton," Starfire said and her words literally translated to 'bladder'. "It is what allows us to survive in space."
"Oh. So. Please?"
She looked torn.
"Pleeeeeease," he begged. "Can I come?"
"It will be… a challenge for you," she cautioned. "Many different languages and cultures and you must do what I say, when I say it and not question."
He grinned, sensing she was willing. "I'm up for it."
She studied him for a moment longer. "Very well."
He whooped, eliciting a shake of the head from Raven and a laugh from Cyborg.
Beast Boy groaned. "Only guy in the world excited about going food shopping."
"Meet me on the roof in ten minutes," Starfire said, picking up her device. "I shall show you how to use your qaton." She walked toward the door, studying her list. As she grew level with him, she looked up. "Oh, you will need—"
Her hand snaked out and she grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him forward. Robin cried out in surprise, only to find his mouth covered by hers.
Robin stiffened. Starfire was kissing him. She was kissing him. Her lips, on his lips.
He wasn't sure what to do with his hands. Should he hold her in his arms? Place them on her hips? Bury them in her hair? Oh, that was a nice thought, he liked her hair. Bury them in her hair and pull her closer and… he should… she's kissing him and it's continuing and he could hear Cyborg in the background making his trademark 'woah'.
He wasn't sure why she was kissing him in front of their friends. Or in such a blasé manner. Or why… why did she still grip the front of his shirt as though holding him in place. Why wasn't she moving otherwise? Why weren't her lips moving? Shouldn't a kiss be more… involved? A two-way tangle of lips and maybe, if he was lucky, a little bit of tongue? And side-boob? Or even the feeling of breasts pressed against his chest as he held her and…
This was so much like the kiss he'd gotten from her when they first met. So unexpected and…
Why was his mind filling up with languages?
Starfire made a noise in the back of her throat, then pulled away. "That should suffice."
Robin staggered, staring at Starfire. "Huh?"
Her attention was already back on her device.
His knees felt weak. His hand went to his head as a headache bloomed. "Ow."
"That will fade," Starfire said. "It takes but a moment."
"What…?"
"Language transfer. Tamaranian is not sufficient for the bazaar, you required more," she replied and typed something else in her device. "The roof. Ten minutes."
She breezed out of the room and Robin fell to his knees and stared after her, completely astounded.
"Dude, did he just… make out with Starfire in the common room?"
