Waking up to the warmth of the morning sun's rays dancing across her face, Starfire prepared to take on the world with optimism and enthusiasm. And while that was nothing new, she was especially hopeful that this was going to be the day Robin finally took her out on a date. After all, he had told her that if the city seemed relatively calm and the team was back to normal, he would find the time to accept her offer. With the way things had been going in recent weeks, it looked like it was time for the boy wonder to make good on his promise.
Certainly someone of his caliber wouldn't suddenly change his mind, not when a date meant so much to her. He had always prided himself on being perfectly honest with her, even if what he said weren't things she wanted to hear. Naturally there were times that he hadn't lived up to his standards. He had tricked the team into thinking he was a master thief just for the opportunity to get Slade's trust so he could glean some additional intelligence. And there had been times that he hadn't been completely forthcoming with his explanations as to why he acted the way he did. But those white lies seemed so insignificant and unrelated to spending a romantic evening with her. Surely his moral code wouldn't allow him to build up her spirits just to tear them down, right?
Firmly believing that there was no way Robin could act that heartless towards her, Starfire was happy to have been so patient. While it had been no small task, there were some advantages to having waited so long. For example, she had learned to not so much as hint at protecting the city or the team's overall mission. If she did, it would be all the boy wonder would be able to talk about. But at the same time, the princess needed to get her potential boyfriend to talk about something, something that would make him happy and open up to her a little more. If in the end, what she found out about him wasn't what she wanted, the Tameranean knew she would be devastated for having spent so much time waiting for nothing.
But Starfire was convinced that wasn't how it was going to play out. Robin was very defensive and had some rough edges; she couldn't deny that. He just needed someone that cared enough to refine him, cut through his façade, and help him see that there was a lot more to life than just running a team and fighting criminals. He needed her to give him a new perspective and reason to live. It would require a lot of time and effort, but if the boy wonder was willing to change, he could. And the benefits were sure to outweigh the costs. He wouldn't feel pressured all the time, he'd be more fun to have around while the team was enjoying their downtime, and generally be a better leader.
And given how honest he normally was, he would have to acknowledge that it had largely been due to Starfire's efforts. That admission, the removal of some of the boy wonder's armor could end up laying the groundwork for their relationship. From there, the possibilities were practically endless.
As she quickly showered and got dressed, the alien princess tried to imagine what Robin would decide they should do together and when exactly. Maybe they wouldn't go very far and just relax together. That didn't sound like his style so perhaps they would do something fun, something that didn't include combat in any form. Or maybe they would just share a nice romantic meal together to get to know each other more personally. Whatever they ended up doing, she hoped that by spending some time together she would finally make him see that they were meant to be together.
Heading for the door, Starfire earnestly beseeched her goddess once more for a sign that this was the day she had been waiting for. All her other prayers had been answered, so why not this one as well? The good weather was still holding, offering the perfect setting for a date. Beast Boy had rejoined the team and seemed like he was doing better than ever. And the city's crime rate was on a steady decline: Slade had dropped off the face of the face of the planet left no clues as to his whereabouts, most of the dangerous criminals like Jinx and her gang were either imprisoned or hiding, and the few criminals the titans had dealt with were almost trivial. It was as though Robin's dream of his team creating a utopia was beginning to come to fruition. After years of struggling to cleanse the city, it might finally be mission accomplished. Perhaps the realization of those specific developments was the sign that the Tameranean had been asking for.
With a slight bounce in her step, the princess made her way downstairs to the kitchen hoping that Robin wasn't already there preparing his morning meal and getting into his routine. If he was, there was little chance of getting him to change his schedule. However, if she managed to get to the kitchen first, she might be able to get the boy wonder to go out for breakfast and make him reevaluate what was truly important. Criminals came and went. The challenges that he sought would eventually be overcome until there were none left. She was willing to be by his side until death came between them.
Upon entering the main hall, Starfire found that the kitchen hadn't been used since the night before. Now more than ever, she believed providence was telling her that the wait was finally over. That was, until the next twenty minutes passed by without a sign from the boy wonder. But even more puzzling was that none of the other titans had shown up either. Had they all decided they were going to take the day off, sleep in late, and not tell her about it? That didn't sound like the friends she knew. It might have been possible that they had all eaten something at dinner that made them ill except for the fact that Beast Boy hadn't been present. And a combination of three of her friends being sick at the same time and the changeling sleeping in late somehow didn't ring true. There certainly was a reason why everyone was running late; she just could come up with a suitable hypothesis.
As her heart began to sink, the sound of the door opening behind her made the Tameranean spin around with hope in her eyes, only to have it quickly fade when she saw that it was Cyborg.
"Morning, Star," he said as he peered into the fridge and started to rummage around for something to eat.
"Good morning," Starfire answered, her voice showing how upset she was.
"What's bothering you?" the titanium titan asked as he began frying some ham and eggs on the stove. Completely unaware of the promise Robin had made, he was sure it was too early for something to darken her cheerful mood.
Not being the type of person to deal with a problem on her own especially when a friend offered a shoulder to lean on, the princess began to speak what was on her mind.
"I understand that Raven instructed me to wait for Richard to approach me for a date, but I could not. When I asked him again, he stated that if the city appeared to be safe and Beast Boy no longer needed our assistance, he would spend time with me. I prayed fervently that his conditions would be met and I believe that they have. Yet now he is not here at a time he normally is and I do not understand why. I cannot believe that he would not remember nor break his promise. I am correct, am I not?" the alien princess inquired as Cyborg sat across the table from her with his plate of food set in front of him.
"Well, I do know that Rich was complaining about his ribs still hurting him where BB hit him," the human hybrid responded as he looked like he was trying to come up with a reason that might be able to explain the boy wonder's unusual absenteeism. "Maybe he didn't sleep very well? It's just a guess. But like you said, he wouldn't make a promise if he didn't plan on keeping it."
"I thank you for your answer, friend," Starfire replied staring at the empty table in front of her as her frustration began to turn into fury. It wasn't fair that her dreams had to be put on hold yet again because of an unnecessary sparring match. Robin had to have known that Beast Boy was going to act like he was fighting for his livelihood since that was precisely what was on the line. How could he have allowed his wellbeing to be needlessly risked when there were other commitments he had made?
But while she was only slowing becoming upset with the titan commander, the Tameranean's rage burned fiercely against the changeling. He should have known not to hit so hard. There had been plenty of time between catching the roundhouse kick and slamming his knee into the boy wonder's ribs for him to know how powerful his strike was going to be. Beast Boy had hit harder then he needed to just for the sake of showing off. Couldn't he have shown some restraint? Had he been so aggressive because the taunts had gotten under his skin? Why didn't he simply sweep the leg or push Robin in the chest to achieve victory? He would have dispersed all doubt about him being ready to go on missions again, the boy wonder wouldn't be suffering from injured ribs, and a seemingly perfect chance for a date wouldn't end up passing her by.
"You want me to make you something to eat? Might cheer you up," Cyborg offered as he cleaned off his plate and noticed the princess clenching her jaw tight.
"No thank you. I do not feel hungry," Starfire stated, refusing to shift her gaze towards her friend.
"You should eat something," Robin yawned as slowly walked into the kitchen.
"Richard!" the Tameranean exclaimed as she snapped out of her despair. Instantly, she was wrapped in the warmth of optimism that she knew while forgetting about being infuriated. There was still some disappointment from having had waited longer then she had anticipated, but that would be overlooked in a matter of minutes. All the princess could think was that her goddess had heard her prayers. Robin did look like he had one of the worst nights in recent months, but that didn't matter now. There was only one question that needed to be resolved; was she going to ask him out again or was he going to remember his promise? When Starfire saw the boy wonder reaching for a bowl and a box of cereal, it was all too clear.
"You look like hell," Cyborg commented, "your ribs still bothering you?"
"Nah, they just feel a little sore. I was up all night trying to figure out what Slade is up to. He wouldn't just disappear for no reason. There's something I'm missing and it's really starting to get to me," Robin clarified as he set his breakfast on the table.
"Then perhaps instead of searching for an answer, you should honor the promise you made to me," the Tameranean suggested, causing the boy wonder to pause before he added the milk.
"What promise?" the titanium titan asked with curious interest.
"Richard told me that if he believed the city was not in danger and Beast Boy had rejoined the team, he would take me out on a date," Starfire responded as her excitement started to make her visibly anxious for her crush's response.
Feeling as though the eyes of the world were upon him, Robin didn't feel like he had much of a choice. There was always the option of stating that he was far too busy, but it would be blatantly obvious that he was just looking for things to be worried about. Plus, there were multiple reasons for him to go on a date with the princess. First, the promise he had made to Starfire had all of its stipulations met. Secondly, he couldn't argue with her logic. Staying up all night trying to figure Slade out wasn't working for him. Maybe if he relaxed and didn't think about it too much, the answer would just come to him. And finally, he had no interest in making himself a liar. Even if he wasn't able to make things work out, he would always have his integrity.
However always being plagued by fear of the unknown and self-doubt he fought to keep hidden from the team, the boy wonder could stop himself from thinking that he might end up weakening the team. How could he be absolutely sure that showing his emotions wasn't going to be used against him? What if it caused him to put everyone and everything he cared about in grave danger because his job wasn't his top priority anymore? Would he be able to forgive himself if one of his teammate ended up dead because he wasn't able to make the right choices? Could they ever find it in their hearts to exonerate him? And beyond that, Robin started to wonder whether or not the team was meant to stay united and watch over a city that had come to depend on their unique talents. There were so many questions he wanted to answer before he made a decision. But without the being clairvoyant, he was going to have to take a leap of faith. And he knew it too.
"Star," the titan commander said setting down his spoon as he bowing his bed before looking up and staring her in the eyes, "I think you're right."
"You are being truthful, yes?" the alien princess asked, almost unable to believe what she was hearing.
"I made a promise and I'm not going to break it."
"This is a most glorious day," the Tameranean cried with tears of joy in her eyes. In a flash, she grasped the boy wonder's hand and unleashed a plethora of questions that ran so close together that he wasn't able to a word in edgewise. Were they going to leave immediately or was it his intention to take her out for lunch instead? Did he know where they were going to eat or was he going to wing it? Was she going to need to get dressed in something more formal or was her current attire appropriate? Was it going to be a relatively quick date with somewhat minimal conversation or were they going to spend hours upon hours together talking about what the future might hold for them? Was he going out with her to make good on a promise and make her happy or was he doing it for his own pleasure as well? Did he have certain expectations from her or was their relationship going to be guided by elements of chance? How much was he willing to sacrifice to overcome problems they were sure to have? The list of inquiries continued until Robin put his hands up in surrender, trying to signal that some of those questions would be answer in time and not in front of any of the other titans.
"There's a small restaurant in town that makes some of the best waffles I've ever had," the titan commander answered while the alien princess caught her breath. "We'll leave now and see how things go. But I'm taking my communicator just in case there's an emergency. Even though this is our first time going out together, we still have a responsibility to keep this city safe."
"Let us go and hope that our time together will not be ended prematurely," Starfire stated, desiring to make the most of what time she would get with the boy wonder.
Before Cyborg could say anything or really knew what was happening, he was left alone in an empty room with only a bowl of cereal and a carton of milk left on the table. And while he did spent time by himself, it was often because he was working on a project that none of his friends could help him with. With having so much downtime in recent weeks, everything that he wanted to make had been finished and upgraded several times even. If he really wanted to, he could work on his car. But it was running so well that he would just make problems that had to be fixed before the team was dealing with back to back missions day after day. Maybe he should just play a couple of videogames and burn some time while he waited for Robin and Starfire to get back from their date. It was certainly better than just standing around wondering what to do.
Grabbing a couple cans of soda before taking a seat on the sofa and picking up a game controller, the titanium titan started to wonder where Raven was. While it wasn't uncommon for the changeling to sleep in and not show up until after lunch, the half-demon was much like the boy wonder in that she tried to adhere to a personal schedule. Before morning practice was called she would focus on controlling her emotions and finish her cup of tea. Afterwards she gave advice to her friends if they asked for it, read one of her novels, meditate if she thought it was necessary, and waited to go back to bed so she could start her routine all over again. It certainly wasn't like her to be starting her day so late.
While Cyborg was curious as to why Raven was being delayed, experience told him that unless she asked for help she would take care of herself. After all, she mended broken bones and eased the suffering of her friends. So if she was ill, why couldn't she use those same abilities to ward off diseases? However, that was assuming that she was sick. Maybe she had decided that she was going to skip drinking tea and read in her room. Maybe she hadn't slept well and ended up running late like Robin had. Maybe she was deep in meditation and lost track of time. There could very well be hundred so possible reasons the dark sorceress was running later than usual. But the ones closest to the truth never entered his mind. And even if they had, he would have dismissed them as completely ridiculous.
Forty-five minutes later with no sign of the dark sorceress, Cyborg went from being curious to being downright concerned for his friend. Tossing his game controller on the coffee table, he got to his feet with the intention of assuring himself that nothing terrible had happened. The worst tragedies were the ones that happened overnight, striking quickly and without warning. Each of the titans had lived through a terrible misfortune and there was no guarantee that they wouldn't have to go through it all over again. The only difference from those past experiences and now was that the team had each other's understanding to help ease at the pain.
But just as he took the first steps to head towards the door, Raven walked in and took a seat on the sofa as though she to say that there was nothing to be concerned about. So she hadn't come downstairs for her morning tea or witnessed Starfire take the boy wonder out for their first date. While that information reinforced the dark sorceress's status as the team's counselor, Cyborg was fairly sure that she would rather resolve all her problems before thinking about celebrating her friend's success. And that caused the titanium titan to reconsider the idea that something was bothering his little sister. There had to be something truly troubling her to through her schedule off. Was it a good idea for him to try getting involved? Or would Raven just refuse his help, insisting that she deal with her problems her way? There was only one way to satisfy his curiosity. He had to strike up a conversation with the team's version of a silent protective watcher.
"Star got Robin to go out with her for breakfast," Cyborg said sitting down, hoping to use some small talk to get a discussion going.
"Good," the dark sorceress answered directly, her voice not showing the slightest hint of emotion. While she was happy to hear why two of her friends weren't present and practice hadn't been called, she knew the alien princess would tell her everything. First, they were the best of friends. That bond had been formed when they had switched bodies. And secondly, Starfire often demonstrated a keen desire to share her joy with all her friends. Even though Raven appreciated what she thought to be Cyborg's intentions, there was no need to hear about the date secondhand.
"Um…ok. Is there something bothering you?" the titanium titan asked, deciding that it would just be better to get straight to the point.
"I'm fine," Raven responded as she looked up from her book. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, you're usually not late unless you're sick. And you don't look sick," the mechanical hybrid explained.
"I didn't sleep much and had to meditate more then usual," the half-demon answered.
With such a straight answer and his conscience telling him that he shouldn't try to push for details, Cyborg picked up his controller and resumed playing his game. But after several failed attempts, he started to wonder how Beast Boy had managed to slip through a minefield while avoiding a hailstorm of bullets and mortar fire. Even after pulling off a seemingly impossible sneak attack that completely avoided the frontlines, his character still ended up killed. Either the changeling had cheated, found a secret passage, or somehow skipped the level entirely. Whatever it was, the titanium titan was tired of seeing the screen flashing red and turned off the television. There were more important things he could do then sit around shaking his fist at the screen.
Getting up off the sofa a second time, the mechanical hybrid noticed his little brother standing at the water's edge just staring out over the ocean like he was waiting for something. He wasn't sure how long he had been standing there, but it seemed eerily similar to what he had done for weeks after Terra had left him. Hoping for the best while fearing the worst, Cyborg went outside to find out what Beast Boy was up to. Over a year of support and therapy would for nothing if he went back to thinking about the geomancer as the one that got away.
"BB," the titanium titan said coming up behind his friend. "Hey, grass stain," he said a little louder when he got no response.
"Oh hey," the changeling said turning his head, "what's up?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you. What are you doing out here? You're not thinking about her are you?"
"You mean Terra? Nah, I haven't thought about her 'til you brought her up."
"Oh, sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it. We're cool."
"So…what were you doing?"
"Just thinking," the shape shifter answered cryptically as he thought about being a little more specific. He really didn't enjoy keeping secrets from the team. They were his closest friends, almost always there to help him when he needed it even if they sometimes acted like they didn't care. And in the hierarchy of who he trusted most, his big brother was second only to Raven. It was Cyborg who approached him about his bad attitude and how it damaged the team's moral, helped him find ways to get his mind off of Terra completely, suggested that he get additional help from Raven which had not only ended up giving him a covert romance but ended up saving his life as well, and recommended that take a break from missions so he could sort out his life more effectively. In addition to all those things that Cyborg did to save him from despair, they had fun together: pulling pranks, playing videogames, and whatever else their two brains could come up with. There was no question about it; the titanium titan was an all-round great person to have around.
Still, that didn't make telling his friend about his condition any easier. While there were countless reasons for the idea to not be taken seriously, it could only end one of three ways. Cyborg would think he had lost his mind, keep treating him as a friend, or try to avoid him as much as possible. And without a way to test for a reaction, it came down to how much Beast Boy was willing to risk.
"Well, I guess I'll just go back inside since you look like you want to be alone right now," the titanium titan finally announced after the changeling started to stare out at the horizon again.
"Wait," Beast Boy shouted, causing Cyborg to stop dead in his tracks. "There's something I need to tell you," he said in a calmer voice as he took a deep breath.
With his palms sweating as his fists trembled at his side, the shape shifter hoped his choice of words would sound diplomatic. Because whatever he said next could very well be the last thing he would say to his best friend. At the very least, he didn't want to discredit the surgeries that had been performed while he lay in a coma.
"Yesterday, when I told Robin that I'm stronger then I look…wait, lemme try that again. Um…I'm not normal. No, wait…"
"Just take a breath and calm down, BB," Cyborg instructed as he saw how much fear was written in Beast Boy's eyes. And while he really wanted to know what his little brother wanted to tell him, he preferred to not see him lose his mind. There would be plenty of chances in the future for the changeling to make his confession, announcement, or whatever it was to be called. It could wait for a later date. There was certainly no rush.
"I'm a vampire," the shape shifter blurted out, forgoing any diplomacy.
"Say again? I could have sworn that you said you were a vampire," the titanium titan chuckled, thinking that something was going wrong with his system. Surely there was a glitch in his system. Even if Beast Boy said some really crazy things over the years, he wouldn't claim to be a fabled monster. Hadn't he spent years trying to convince the public that they couldn't judge him for his green skin? Something wasn't lining up.
"I'm a vampire, a real one," the changeling stated as he tried to not feel disappointed. He had to try putting himself in Cyborg's shoes. How would he have reacted if their roles were reversed? Would he have taken the announcement seriously or would he have laughed too? Even though Beast Boy wanted to tell himself that he would have believed his friend, he knew he was just lying to himself.
"I see," the mechanical titan mumbled under his breath as he took a seat on the rocky shore, the jovial expression on his face fading while he tried to come up with a better response. Not once had he thought that the some of the creatures he had seen in movies were actually real. He had always assumed they were fictional, just characters in a story. Then again, he hadn't really believed anything that couldn't be explained by science until he met Raven. That had been the first time he seen proof of the paranormal. And more evidence had filtered since then. With all his memories acting as his advisor, the titanium titan had to at least consider that Beast Boy wasn't trying to make a joke.
But there was also an element of fear that came along with accepting the revelation. Vampires were supposedly merciless creatures that crept through the shadows as they sought a victim to devour. They cared for nothing and took what they wanted. Was that what the changeling was claiming to be? Was he trying to stay on the team so he had a reputation to hide behind? Did he intend to make the titans his first victims? That didn't sound anything like the friend he knew. Beast Boy was his friend, everyone's friend, not a monster.
Closing his eyes, Cyborg forced the questions from his mind. He had to remember the good times he had shared with the shape shifter. They had spent countless hours playing videogames, watching movie after movie, planning and pulling pranks, and just hanging out together. It was those memories that he needed to focus on; not what he had seen in horror films.
"I was hoping that we could still be friends. I just thought I could tell you…" Beast Boy said as turned around and stared out at the ocean. Every second that his friend kept silent was torture, like a knife was being stabbed in his back repeatedly. An answer, any answer, was better than getting nothing but a blank expression.
"B, we've spent a lot of time hanging out over the years so I can tell that you're being serious with me," Cyborg finally answered as he got to his feet and brushed the dirt from his legs. "And even though I'm really having a hard time believing you, I'll give it a chance. Just promise me one thing."
"What?" the changeling inquired, curious to know the stipulation as he felt some sense of relief.
"Make sure you ask Raven to help you. The last thing I want is for you to do something you'll regret."
"Why do you think I've be talking to her so much?" the shape shifter asked as he glanced over his shoulder.
"I thought you were trying to flirt with her," Cyborg answered before laughing. And when he saw his friend shake his head as he stared at the ground, he figured that his joke had been taking all in stride. But if he had been able to see the changeling grinning, he might realized that there was a lot more than just flirting going on between Beast Boy and the dark sorceress.
Meanwhile, somewhere across town, the Tameranean princess was standing on the top of a skyscraper with the boy wonder. Although he thought the date to be over and they were simply making a stop before getting back to the tower, she did not. There were so many questions she wanted Robin to answer. While he had given satisfactory responses to many of them, he had tried to avoid others. But now that they were hundreds of feet in the air with only some birds keeping them company, there was no need to make excuses. How was anyone standing on the ground going to overhear what he said?
And Starfire could point out one other reason for the titan commander had to be completely honest with her. There was no way he could get down from his perch by himself. He didn't have wings. His cape didn't double as a glider or parachute. And his grappling device would leave him hanging about thirty feet above the sidewalk. Death might not result from a drop from that height, but he would definitely be hurting for a while. He might enjoy pushing the limits of the human body, but surely he wasn't willing to risk paralysis just to keep a secret. That wasn't just foolish, it was selfish too.
"Alright, we can head back when you're ready, Star," the boy wonder said rising from his crouched position.
"I must first know if we shall do this again in the future. You were unwilling to date me for so long, I do not wish for this to never happen again. Please tell me, did you enjoy my company? Do you truly love me? Or did you agree to come with me to honor your promise?" the Tameranean asked as she hovered inches over the edge and turned to look the titan commander in his eyes. Although she was sure of the answer he would give, there was the smallest faction of her mind that wasn't entirely convince that Robin loved her the same way she loved him. That voice needed to be put to rest. Only an straight answer would suffice. No explanations, no speeches, just a simple yes or no.
"Why would I go out with you if I didn't care about you?" the titan commander asked as the cold wind swirled around his feet.
"That is not the same as love. I care for our friends but I love you," the princess answered, clarifying her question and offering a second chance to answer the question at hand.
"Star," Robin said taking a deep breath as he looked into her emerald eyes, longing to give the answer he knew she wanted to hear, "I really want to say that I do but…"
"What have I failed to do? Have I not waited patiently for you? Have I not made this world my home so that we may be together? Do you only care for protecting your city? Starfire shouted, her eyes burning with rage as she thought about going back to the tower and leave the boy wonder to his fate. How date he look her in the eyes and essentially admit that he had played with her emotions. How could he think he was so righteous when he was willing to commit treachery?
"Please don't misunderstand me. I just don't want to see you get hurt," the boy wonder answered.
"You do not need to worry about me anymore," the infuriated princess said turning around.
"No, wait!" Robin begged. "Let me explain."
"Why should I not leave you here? I have given you everything and you only care."
"I'm scared, ok? I'm scared that if anyone finds out how I feel, eventually it will get back to Slade. And I know he'd be willing to do anything to you just to get to me. He almost killed Beast Boy on my account. If I ended up losing you…I…" the titan commander stammered as he remembered how the changeling's near-death experience had shaken him to the core. That pain would be nothing compared to what he could face if his nemesis found the perfect way to control him. He might be forced back into apprenticeship, using his skills to destroy a city he wanted to protect. Or worse than that, Slade might decide to hold him hostage and force Starfire to do his dirty work. There was no better way to break down the titans then turn them against each other.
"If you will always fear what Slade may do to you, you will never defeat him or understand my feelings," the alien princess responded, her temper beginning to relax as she made a very profound statement. It was almost as though she understood the psychology of war just as well as, if not better than, the boy wonder. And still she was willing to put her heart on the line. What made her any less vulnerable to the criminal mastermind's devices? What moral standing did she possess that Robin did not? Or perhaps the reverse, what code did the boy wonder live by that Slade wanted to manipulate so badly that he considered the rest of the titans pests, inconveniences that needed to be pushed out of the way?
"Kori," Robin whispered as he started down at the people going on about their business, "you're right. I haven't really lived my life. I've let Slade control me and I didn't even notice. And I'm sorry. I ignored you, tried to keep you away, and didn't think about how much I might have been hurting you. If you can forgive me, I'd really like to start over."
"Of course I shall forgive you," Starfire exclaimed as she embraced the boy wonder and held him tightly to her chest.
"Ribs…my ribs," the titan leader gasped.
"I am so happy, Richard," the Tameranean titan responded as she loosened her hug. "Let us return home. We must tell the others immediately."
Back at the tower, Beast Boy was relaxing on the sofa whist guiding Cyborg through the level he had been struggling with. He wanted to prove that no matter what had happened, they were friends and there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Fear would breed paranoia. Paranoia leads to distrust. And somewhere down the line, they could become enemies. If that was bound to happen, the changeling wanted to make sure that that day was going to be decades in the making. So by the time neither wanted to talk to each other, they were only seconds away from dying.
At the same time, the shape shifter wondered why his big brother wasn't asking very many questions. There had been an initial few before the subject was dropped. If the situation was reversed and he had just found out his best friend was a vampire, Beast Boy knew he'd be talking about it until his mouth was taped shut. Then again, maybe he should just count his blessings and be grateful Cyborg wasn't grilling him. Robin would probably make up for that once he became aware of a hidden truth.
That distracted Beast Boy for a moment and got him to wonder where the boy wonder was. He had been so eager to reveal one of his biggest secrets that he hadn't noticed that no practice had been called, no mutterings about Slade being up to something, or anything else that Robin was known for doing around the tower. It was like he was gone; overnight he had disappeared into the sky and left his team behind. And speaking of disappearing into the sky, where was Starfire? Was she with Robin? Had after so many years the boy wonder had finally admitted the obvious and decided that it about time to have something a normal life?
"Vic, do you know where Dick and Kori are?" the changeling asked as his friend reached the final safe house before facing one of the toughest boss encounters in the game. "By the way, the RPG is in the corner," he added.
"Thanks and yes," Cyborg answered as he saved his progress.
"Good. I hope went well."
"I want to say that's nice of you, but I have a feeling there's another reason. What is it?" the titanium titan asked making sure to pause his game before he looked at the changeling quizzically.
"Well, if his date went good, maybe he won't get so pissed off with me. I mean, how can you have a good time, come back, and get upset? I would have said something yesterday after practice, but after what I did to Dick, I thought it might be kicked off the team permanently."
"I don't think he would have kicked you off the team, BB."
"Vic, do you really think that he would be fine with me breaking his ribs if he knew what had happened to me? 'Cause I don't. He was trying to piss me off more than usual during our fight yesterday…"
"Because Raven asked him to," Cyborg countered, revealing some information that he probably shouldn't have.
"What? Why would she do that to me?" Beast Boy questioned, unsure of how he should be feeling. It was so underhanded, so unlike her that he could hardly believe his ears.
"She wanted to test you. She said you wouldn't be so careless anymore and Dick didn't believe her. So she told him to do his worst. At the time, I didn't know why. But now I think I do."
"A test?" the shape shifter muttered under his breath as he tried to think of a few explanations. Was it to validate his apparent success and the confidence she had in him? Had Robin's comment insulted her so she decided to retaliate by using his previous successes to teach a valuable lesson? Did she do it to make sure he was up to the task of battling her demon? Or was there another reason that he couldn't come up with? No matter what the reason was exactly, the changeling managed to view it in a positive light. After all, she was his Raven. All she ever did was try to make him better. And if that meant she had used the feud he had with the boy wonder, Beast Boy only admired her that much more.
"Yeah, a test," the mechanical hybrid replied. "I told you a thousand times, she does think of you as a friend. But don't tell her I said anything. She might put my car on the roof or something."
"I don't think she'd do that to you."
"What won't I do?" the dark sorceress asked seeming to come out of nowhere.
"Um, you know I think I need to make sure my baby's safe," Cyborg stated getting up.
"Hold on. What are you talking about?" Raven questioned again as she held up a hand to stop the titanium titan's exit. With the sound of breaking glass coming from the kitchen reminding her that the freedom she could enjoy with her boyfriend was nullified by Victor's presence, she quickly got her sorcery under control.
"I heard what you and Rich were talking about yesterday," the titanium titan answered as he scanned the quickest route to his workshop so he could protect his car in case the dark sorceress decided she wanted to get back at him.
"Victor, you'll have to be more specific than that."
"He said you were using Robin to test me," the changeling interjected.
"Oh?" the half-demon responded in a fairly even tone. "Why would I do that, Victor?"
"I'm guessing it might have to do with BB's…um…condition," human hybrid replied.
"Dude, you can just call me what I am. It's not like I'm going to bite you for it," Beast Boy encouraged while he tossed in a joke for good measure.
"Have you eavesdropped on anything else you shouldn't have?" the half-demon inquired as she stared Cyborg dead in the eyes.
"No, I promise. It was an accident."
Taking a moment to respond while she repeated the somewhat panicked answer in her mind, Raven chose to drop the subject entirely. Even though she wasn't pleased that one of her teammates had overheard a conversation that wasn't meant for his ears, it had allowed her an opportunity to see what else he might know without forcing her to act out of character.
And she really couldn't blame him too much anyways. The whole conversation she had with the boy wonder hadn't been in a private setting; she had challenged the titan commander outside the gym minutes before practice. If she had really wanted to assure herself that the whole discussion would be kept secret, she would have taken the necessary precautions. For that reason alone, it was easy to forgive. But when she also factored in the knowledge that Cyborg wasn't aware of her prime motive, the whole issue became trivial. Plus, there were other matters that were demanding her attention.
Initially the dark sorceress had believed that after she and Beast Boy consummated their relationship, it would only be a matter of days before she formally informed the team. But now she wasn't so sure. Her changeling's announcement was sure to rattle what sense of normality the titan's had. They would need time to get used to knowing that a longstanding ally had been resurrected as a vampire. And being that they all came from different backgrounds, it could be awhile for her friends to overcome their personal predispositions. Cyborg seemed to have gotten used to the revelation fairly quickly, likely because he had a close friendship with the changeling. But Robin and Starfire could hold out on acceptance for days, weeks, months, maybe even years.
Over the years, the princess had demonstrated how difficult it was for her to challenge beliefs she had always accepted. And because she had never really talked extensively about Tameranean folklore or the creatures that might have evolved from the tales, Raven was faced with a mystery. Vampire might be considered blessed beings that required sacrifices for their continued protection, an idea that suited Beast Boy fairly well. Perhaps the whole idea of the living dead was a completely foreign subject and a chance for Starfire to learn something new about Earth's culture. Or just as possible was that vampires were thought to be purely evil and none deserved to be spared the blade, no matter who they were or what they had done in their past lives. There simply wasn't a way to know for sure without raising some suspicion.
However, the most random reaction to the new had to belong to the boy wonder. Even though he would never admit to it, many of his responses were based entirely on how much success he was having against Slade. If he was making no progress or not as much as he thought he could be making, he could very easily take his frustrations out on an unsuspecting changeling. Under those conditions, Robin would likely say that he should have been informed immediately, that because he was in charge, he needed to be aware of significant changes to his team. And just as likely was for him to think Beast Boy had finally gone off the deep end. But maybe after having a lot of downtime, he would just pat the shape shifter on the shoulder and be done with it. That wasn't very likely, but stranger things had happened.
Heading towards the kitchen to make some tea that would help keep her emotions settled down, Raven decided that she was going to have to convince her changeling to keep their relationship hidden a little while longer. And while it certainly posed a challenge, there were three distinct methods she could use to keep her boyfriend silent. First, she could think of reasons to keep things secret faster than he could up with reasons to tell. Secondly, she had been the one to ask him for a chance, not the other way around. And finally, she could think of things that were sure to keep his mind occupied. A devilish grin crossed her face as the last idea as the mug in her hand shattered.
"Damn it," the dark sorceress cursed. Reclaiming control over her powers was being a lot more complicated then she had anticipated.
"You ok?" her shape shifter asked turning around on the sofa and looking at her with a reasonable amount of concern. It was enough to show that he was worried about her but not enough to make the titanium titan wonder what was going on.
"I'm fine," Raven responded as she cleaned up her mess. "Go back to playing your game."
"Hey, did Vic tell you about Star?" the changeling questioned.
"Grass stain, are you looking for trouble? Leave the girl alone," Cyborg suggested.
"It's alright, Victor. I have been struggled with my curiosity," the half-demon answered, hoping nothing was said to pry into her half-truth.
"Yeah, they went out for breakfast," the shape shifter informed.
"I'll let Kori tell me everything," the dark sorceress replied before pouring her tea and taking a quick sip.
Leaning back against the counter as Beast Boy and Cyborg went back to staring at the television, the half-demon hoped that the alleged date would end well. But before she could even start to think of what might happen if Starfire had her heart broken, the Tameranean burst in through the front door and put those thoughts to rest.
"Friends," the alien princess exclaimed as Robin followed close behind. "I have the most wondrous news."
Already able to tell what was coming, Raven smiled to herself and waited.
"You had a good time?" Beast Boy asked as he finally got up to get a soda.
"Much more than that," Starfire stated as she grabbed the boy wonder's hand and pulled him close to her. "Richard loves me. He told me he did."
"About damn time," Cyborg commented as he looked over his shoulder.
"So you're both in a good mood?" the changeling asked.
"Most certainly," the Tameranean answered.
"Yeah, I am," Robin added curious to know why the shape shifter was so interested how they were feeling. It seemed to be a rather unusual question to ask someone coming back from a date. Wasn't a more normal question something like where did you go, what did you do, or even what took so long?
"Great, glad you two are happy," Beast Boy stated.
"Beast Boy, is there something wrong? You jealous?" the boy wonder asked.
"Nah, nothing's wrong."
"Come on, out with it," the titan commander ordered.
Looking at Cyborg and then to Raven before staring at the new couple, Beast Boy hoped that he wasn't about to ruin a great moment in the team's history. He would never be forgiven if he did. Still, there was enough time for him to come up with a suitable lie and save his announcement for a later date.
"You might as well say whatever you want to," the boy wonder stated, his voice sounding like a mix between a taunt and encouragement. Maybe that was Beast Boy's mind making that up. It seemed like such an odd combination.
"You need not fear. Please tell us what is on your mind," Starfire encouraged using a phrase that had once confused her.
"I just want to say that I really hope you two can keep this going. You deserve to be happy," Beast Boy said as he felt the perfect opportunity slipping through his fingers. Maybe he couldn't believe that Robin would alright with the news and stay focused on his girlfriend. Maybe he had feared that he would ruin Starfire's bliss. Maybe both thoughts had been the reason. No matter what the motive for his backing down, there was only one thing Beast Boy could do: continue to congratulate his friends, bask in the joy of their success, and hope that the future would provide him another chance to reveal his secret.
"Someday," he told himself as a nod from his Raven told him he had done the right thing, "someday."
