Raven hurried down the abandoned backstreets of Gotham city. She couldn't help smiling as she imagined seeing Beast Boy again. She had missed him more than she'd ever missed anyone.
After what seemed like walking for hours on end Raven could see the shoreline of Gotham Beach. She quickened her pace when she saw the changeling staring out at the blue ocean.
"Hey." Raven said, sitting next to him.
"Hi." He smiled.
They sat silently, neither one knowing what to say. Raven tried to ignore the fact his shoulders had become broader, and that he actually had muscles. Beast Boy was trying to ignore how beautiful her eyes were in the soft moonlight.
"Where have you been?" He finally asked.
"I'm renting a house about two miles from here… you?"
"Living where ever I can I guess, mostly trying to avoid the paparazzi." He grinned. "And my millions of fangirls."
Raven didn't even suppress the giggles. "Of course, who wouldn't chase after a catch like you?"
"That's right. I'm the hunkiest green guy you've ever met."
"And the only green guy I've ever met."
"And I have the most irresistible green pointed ears." Beast Boy said, his smile broadening ever more.
Raven laughed… she actually laughed. Beast Boy laughed at her laughing, and Raven laughed at him laughing, and soon they were lying on the cool sand laughing so hard they could hardly breathe.
"I missed you Rae." Beast Boy said after they'd calmed down.
Raven didn't complain about the nickname, in fact, she'd missed it. "I've missed you too… you and your green pointy ears.
Beast Boy sat up. "So… we're cool?"
Raven sat up too, leaning on one arm. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… we're still friends… even after last time we saw each other?"
Raven blushed bright red. She had suddenly been hit hard with the memory of saying goodbye to Beast Boy in the Tower. "More than friends BB… Best friends."
"Even after all that you still want to be my friend?" He asked, surprised.
"Of course! You still liked me when I almost destroyed man-kind. I can still like you after we…" Her blush intensified. "…kissed."
"You're the best friend I ever had Rae." He stood and helped her to her feet.
She hugged him, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "I never want to leave again Beast Boy…" She whispered, "never…"
Beast Boy gently pushed her away and laid his hands on her shoulders. Purple met green as they gazed into each other's eyes. "I'll visit you."
"Everyday?"
"If that's what you want."
"You won't forget about me…will you?"
"Never."
She bit her lip and tried to fight off tears, but was losing. "Do you love me BB?"
Beast Boy smiled. "Always."
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Starfire walked through the palace corridors, thinking about Robin yet again. What was so important about him? Why could she never focus because of his memory? Why did everything she ever did remind her of him?
Starfire knew nothing would bring him back, but that didn't keep her from wishing there was some way she could. The easy thing to do would be to just forget all about him… that would also be the hardest.
Starfire didn't realize that a Tamerainian boy walking towards her, totally focused on the book he was carrying. They ran right into each other. "Oh…I am terribly sorry!" He gasped in accented English.
He reached out a hand and helped Starfire to her feet. "You… you speak the Earth tongue as well?"
Suddenly who he had bumped into dawned on the boy. "Y...Yes Princess. I study Earthly traditions, culture, and languages. I am terribly sorry, princess, I really should be more careful."
"No, do not be the sorry. I am most pleased to have some one to speak to. I am Starfire, and you may call me that rather than Princess."
"Starfire." He smiled. "I like that name. I'm Glorgarth, but my companions call me Glor."
"It is most pleasing to meet you Glor. Please tell me, do you know anything of the fun we can take part in?" She asked.
"Fun? Well, we could go see if my new invention works."
"You are an inventor?" Starfire asked as Glor lead her down a hallway she'd never ventured down.
"Well, not really an inventor, I do a lot of tinkering that's for the sure." Glor pushed a door open.
"Tinkering?" Starfire repeated in confusion.
"I like to try to make things out of odds and ends, but most of the time my 'inventions' don't work."
"Odds…and ends? I do not understand the way you use these terms." Starfire followed him through the door.
"Odds and ends are just different objects I find around the junk piles. Like light bulbs or wires."
"Oh…" Starfire nodded, pretending to understand. "Yes. So what is your newest of the… tinkers?"
Glor laughed. "Right over her. I call it my 'Memorandum'. You simply put this helmet on, and random memories appear on screen here. I hope to use it to more effectively get the true evidence from criminals."
"So, you are interested in the capturing of the bad guys, and the kicking of their butts?" Starfire asked.
"Of course. Who wouldn't want to bring justice into this dark world of ours? I also want to ship this prototype to Earth, so the Earth dwellers may use it as well." Glor grinned. "Besides, wouldn't it be interesting to get a peek into the minds of others?"
"Yes it would be most interesting." Starfire examined the helmet. "May I… give it a go?"
"Help yourself."
Starfire slid the helmet on, and a static filled image appeared on the screen.
"Hang on a second; it just needs a few minor adjustments." Glor said, turning a knob on the side of the screen. The image became clear.
(The scene playing out on the screen)
Raven frowned at the pink Starfire had insisted on painting her toe nails. "I hate this color."
"But friend Raven, pink is one of the most beautiful colors with your light skin."
"I still hate it."
The scene changed suddenly.
Beast Boy and Cyborg wrestled for the remote while Raven sat, reading a thick book, and Robin was sitting at the dining table studying the newspaper like he had a test on it. Starfire floated over a smiled at him. "Would you accompany me to the shore of beaches where we can all enjoy the salty water and warm sunshine?"
"Sure." Robin grinned, folding the paper.
Again the scene changed.
Robin was falling… it seemed like the fall was drawn out, in slow motion.
His black hair whipped around in the wind and he didn't move at all…
He careened toward Earth at top speed…
(end memory scene)
Starfire yanked the helmet off. "I do not wish to see anymore." She choked out, her eyes filling with tears.
"Star… I'm sorry I didn't know." Glor took the helmet from her hands and set it aside. "I…I'm so sorry."
Starfire covered her face with her hands. "I cannot believe he is gone… He was so strong…"
Glor approached her slowly. "He meant a lot to you… didn't he?"
Starfire burst into tears and backed into the wall, sliding to the floor. "They all did, but Robin was… Robin was different. He…he loved me…and…and…" She sobbed.
"Hey…"Glor sat down next to her. "Please don't cry… I… it'll be okay Starfire."
Starfire looked up at him in confusion. "How can it be okay if he is gone?"
Glor shrugged. "I don't know for sure… I mean, those other people were your friends too right? Maybe if you find them, things will start to heal."
"How can I find them? They are on Earth, to far from reach."
"You're a princess; we could have a ship ready for you by tonight if you wanted."
Starfire thought for a moment. It was hard to fathom a team without Robin… "I must…consider this."
"It's just an idea… and Starfire?"
"Yes?"
"I really am sorry. I didn't want to make you feel bad. I just…"
"Do not worry Glor… Perhaps you are right. Maybe I do need…to heal."
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