Author's Note:

Relationships are all about compromise, give and take, finding a balance. Robin has pretty much said to Starfire, it's his way or the highway. Not compromising at all.

Sex is a natural and wonderful way of sharing affection with a partner. Even though it can be casual and only a way to get off, between two people who generally care for and love each other, it's a beautiful thing. Starfire is not pushing. She's not said to Robin "If you loved me, you'd sleep with me." She's trying to understand why he wants to wait and he forced the issue. She reacted to that like he meant it.

Kry's sexual awareness (on a T no less): Sexual abstinence is the practice of voluntarily refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity. Some or all. In layman's terms abstinence is... whatever you choose it to be. It can range from penetration (lack of), all the way up to kissing and holding hands. Some people marry without kissing each other. Some people have done everything else but have penetrative sex. As long as you are clear how far you are willing to go and stick to it. Here's an... odd fact for you. For some girls, you are a virgin until is the hymen is broken. Which means, anything else goes, anal included.

So...

Big fat warning: Currently this is a T. I do plan to keep it that way. There will, however, be talk of sex and marriage and other sexually related topics. If you are uncomfortable with candid talk that will not involve actual descriptions of the deed in question, you probably shouldn't read this.


The camp - Friday

Raven considered the triangular cloth disdainfully. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time, but now the moment arrived to reveal it, she hesitated. Dark blue, the bottoms of them even had a gem belt like her uniform did, Raven had to admit it complemented her skin. When she'd tried it on at the Tower, she did like how it looked. So she'd forced herself to pack that swim suit and no others.

Beast Boy liked her body, he'd told her. It's not that she was modest about him seeing, well, only a little, it was the other guys. And girls. Bumblebee had looked fantastic in her striped bikini. Kole was still growing into herself, but she looked amazing too. Argent was gorgeous. Jinx... wow...

And Starfire would knock them all dead when she decided to go swimming.

Not that Raven was modest. She wasn't. She told herself that. She walked around in a leotard (hidden beneath a cloak). It was just she never really wanted to show off before.

And now, with Beast Boy, she did. And she didn't have any clue how to do that properly.

"Raven, c'mon!" Bumblebee called. "You're holding us all up."

Raven glanced toward the closed flap of the tent. "Um... go without me."

"Not a chance, girl. We strut together."

"Girl posse," Jinx said.

"I... don't know."

"Raven, don't be shy. You've got a fabulous bod. You'll make BB drool. C'mon."

Raven tugged at the ties around her neck, undoing them, then redoing them. She fixed how the bikini bottoms sat around her hips, adjusted the top again. She was actually quite thankful there wasn't a mirror handy, she'd possibly never get out of the tent. With a sigh, she bent to pick up the towel.

"Hey, Star," Bumblebee said in greeting. "Coming swimming after all?"

"Yes," Starfire said.

Raven raised her head, there was something wrong with Starfire's voice. Restrained pain, barely contained anger.

The zipper of the tent was shoved up, Starfire slipping through and closing it up before Raven could even protest.

"My apologies," Starfire said, not looking at Raven. Off came her boots, landing with two thumps at the end of Starfire's sleeping bag. Then her uniform belt, then- Raven turned away.

Edging toward the tent flap, Raven said, "Are you okay?"

"No," Starfire snapped and Raven heard the sound of a zipper, then a rustle of cloth.

"Need to talk?"

"Nope," Starfire replied actually popping the 'p'.

Raven blinked. "Okay, something is really wrong."

"And I do not wish to talk. I wish to swim."

"Star-"

"I have been talked at enough, dear friend. Please."

Raven flicked her eyes to Starfire briefly, thankful that Starfire had her back to her. "Azar, Starfire. What is that?"

Emerald green bandeau top and these tiny lettuce edged bikini bottoms, Raven couldn't believe Starfire could hide anything in that and yet she managed to.

"I am being most vindictive and petty," Starfire told her in a tone that could rival Raven's. "I am aware. I was to wear this for him, but now I plan to show him what he gave up."

Gave up? Raven was very troubled at that. "Star?"

Starfire finished fitting her top and turned, sweeping Raven with her eyes. "Beast Boy would approve," she said with a tiny smile.

"Yeah, totally not self-conscious standing next to you at all."

Starfire smiled a little brighter. "Lift your chin, curve your lips, you are beautiful. Show it, Raven." She bent down to retrieve her towel from her bag. "Come. Let us swim." Starfire unzipped the tent flap, looped her arm through Raven's so she could not escape and led her out of the tent.

"Finally," Bumblebee exclaimed, turning. She did a once over on Starfire and let out a low whistle.

Raven stopped to apologise to Bumblebee, but found herself yanked into walking again by Starfire's iron grip. She stumbled a little, but corrected herself, setting her pace to match Starfire's.

"Rush to get in the water, huh, Star?" Jinx called as the rest of the girls hurried to join them.

"Something akin to that," Starfire said, her lips twisting up into a smug smile.

Raven followed Starfire's eyes, seeing Robin standing absolutely still with his mouth open as they stalked past him. There was no guessing where his eyes were, at all.

Starfire lifted her chin, turned her eyes away from her boyfriend and made a humph sound.

"What's gotten into you?" Raven whispered.

"I shall tell you what has not..." Starfire began in a very indignant tone before she stopped and sighed. "Do not worry. I am certain this mood shall not last long."

Bumblebee bounced on Starfire's other side, seemingly enjoying the attention of the boys playing football as the girls passed the suddenly frozen scrimmage line. She turned around and blew a kiss to Herald, who had popped his head up to grin at her. A slight turn of her head and Raven saw Herald extract himself from the group with a, "Going swimming."

"Sounds like a good idea," Speedy said.

"Uh-huh," Cyborg mumbled, his eye wide.

"Maybe they'll consider playing with us instead-" Kid Flash started. "No... that means you guys will get your hands all over my woman."

Jinx laughed. "Better hurry, Flash," she called, blowing him a kiss and two seconds later there was a gust of wind beside her and the speedster throwing his arm around her shoulder, having already changed into his swimming trunks.

"Where is Beast Boy?" Starfire asked, curious.

Raven cast her eyes around. "I'm not sure. He said he'd meet me in the water... can't see Aqualad either, maybe they're racing already."

"I am certain that he will cease when he sees you."

"You think?"

Starfire patted Raven's hand affectionately. "I am certain."

Raven smiled, feeling better from Starfire's confidence.

"He won't be able to resist," Bumblebee said. "Look at all the boys who have suddenly decided that swimming was the way to go."

"Poor guys," Jinx said. "Lusting after things they cannot have. Especially since we're all taken."

"I'm not," Kole said.

"Gnaark might have a thing or two to say about that," Jinx said.

"But-"

"You could always hang out with Jericho," Bumblebee said with a sly smile. "He'll protect you from the big bad guys in Gnaark's stead."

Kole flushed.

Starfire peered around Bumblebee to see Kole. "Jericho?" she asked, beaming. "He was heading down to the docks when I passed him with his guitar. Perhaps you should swim over there."

"Um... maybe," Kole mumbled.

"Matchmaker, Star!" Bumblebee said.

"It is a shame that the males outnumber the females," Starfire mentioned.

"Yeah, for them," Jinx replied.

"Us lucky ones get our girl," Kid Flash mentioned. He bent, scooping Jinx up, then raced toward the water while she squealed in delight.

Raven hesitated at the water's edge, thankful that Starfire finally released her arm, tossing her towel on the bank and wading into the water.

"I will go to the floating platform," Starfire said over her shoulder, still sloshing forward. Argent, Bumblebee and Kole started into the water as well, and Jinx was trying to flee from Kid Flash, all the while giggling madly.

Raven shuffled her weight, her toes in the water. "Um... I'm just going to wait for Beast Boy."

Starfire paused, waist deep. "Do you wish for me to wait with you?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Race you to the platform, gals," Bumblebee cried, diving into the water.

Raven lingered at the edge of the water as she watched the girls swimming out toward the platform. Then watched the rush of boys charge past her into the water after them and the race they had, leapfrogging and wrestling each other in the water as they swam to the platform. She watched little Kole swimming carefully and safely along the edge of the late as she made her way over to the dock, smiling at how Jericho changed seating positions so he could greet her when she made it, Kole wasn't the greatest of swimmers so it was nice to see her trying.

Bumblebee challenged anyone who would listen to beat her backflips and jumps off the edge of the platform. Kid Flash was enjoying himself by running across the surface of the water, splashing anyone he could. Hotspot and Argent sat beside each other on the platform, feet dangling in the water as they talked. Cyborg had stolen the volleyball so they could toss it at each other, he would lift out of the water to pelt it at another Titan, who would in turn throw it to someone else. They looked like they were having a lot of fun, but Raven wondered where Beast Boy was. Perhaps she should just swum, instead of standing alone on the bank waiting for him.

Raven felt, more than saw, the great wave of depression walking toward her and stopping by her side. She cast Robin a glance, wearing green swimming trunks and frowned. "Star's mad at you."

Robin sighed. "Yeah. I know."

"Did you break up?"

Robin jerked his head back and looked at her wildly. "Did she say that?"

Raven narrowed her eyes. "She said something about showing you what you gave up."

Robin growled as he watched Starfire conduct an arching backflip off the edge of the platform, Bumblebee whistling appreciatively and clapping. "She's playing a fucking game."

"Doubt it. Starfire doesn't play games, she doesn't know how."

"Then she's doing a pretty good imitation of it."

"Or, she's trying to tell you something."

"What?"

"I don't know. Ask her."

"I don't want to play. If she's going to do this, then she's not the girl I thought she was."

Raven narrowed her eyes, then smacked him up the back of the head. "I don't know what you think she's doing, but it looks to me like she's trying to have fun."

"She's flirting with the other guys."

"That's crap and you know it."

Starfire squealed as Cyborg tossed her out of the water and she landed on her back with a splash. She came up laughing while Cyborg grinned cheekily at her. "I shall get you!" Starfire called and Cyborg turn to flee playfully away.

"Somehow, I can't see that as flirting," Raven said. "Maybe if that was Speedy, but it's Cyborg. He's an older brother to all of us girls, you know that."

Robin grumbled. "Suddenly don't feel like swimming."

Raven kept a straight face as she hoisted Robin up in her powers and tossed him into the lake. Wading into the water after him, she smiled as he came up spluttering. "Opps," she said, casually swimming past him and headed for the platform.

"Finally joining us instead of wallflowering, huh, Raven?" Bumblebee called, waving as she sat on the edge of the platform.

"I was waiting for Beast Boy," Raven said, swimming breast stroke so she could talk at the same time. She warded off a splash from Speedy with her powers. "But I think he and Aqualad must be exploring."

Cyborg yelped as he was tossed through the air by a giggling Starfire, Titans below scattering so he wouldn't land on them.

"How deep is it here?" Raven asked, reaching up to grip the side of the platform. The drums underneath made a dull echoing sloshing sounds as they floated on the water, and as she peered between them, she could see Jinx ready to ambush Kid Flash.

"Dunno," Bumblebee said. "Can't see the bottom. Pretty deep. There's a rope to follow if you want. Thunder and Lightning were having competitions to see who could go down the furthest, but Lightning kept short circuiting."

A surge of pink power, a yelp from Kid Flash and Raven raised her hand to

protect herself from the splash. "Got you!" Jinx cried.

"Everyone is so silly today," Raven mentioned.

"We don't often get to have fun as a group. And we are teenagers," Herald said as he made his way around the platform to grab onto Bumblebee's ankle.

"Don't you dare," she said, her wings buzzing behind her.

"Dare what, honeybee?" Herald said with a grin and yanked her into the water.

Bumblebee squealed as she landed with a splash.

Raven shifted her grip on the platform, heading underneath to the darkness created by the planks. Something slimy brushed against her leg, slithered upward a little, then Beast Boy surfaced in front of her, grinning toothily. "You came swimming!"

"I said I would."

"Damn, Rae, that's one sexy outfit," he said, appreciatively. "Very fine."

"Checked it out, did you?" Raven asked, pleased.

Beast Boy's hand brushed against her stomach as he lifted his other one out of the water to hang onto the drum. "I was stalking you underwater with my eyes. Thought about playing Jaws, but since this is freshwater, there's no fun in that."

"I think Cyborg would beg to differ," Raven pointed out. "I think he expects to be chased."

Beast Boy looked beyond her toward his best friend. "Shark in fresh water's pretty hard. I can't breathe properly."

"Hold your breath."

Beast Boy laughed. "Okay, okay. I'll go stalk him. Do I get a kiss first?"

Raven smiled and nodded. She gripped his upper arm as he slid in to take her mouth, his hand slithering from her stomach to her ass to hold her closer to him. Their feet entangled below the surface of the water. It was sweet and tender, as it always was with Beast Boy, containing cheek and laughter and a little hint of desire. He never pushed for more, she didn't ask, but slowly they were slipping that way anyway. His tongue brushed against hers, his fang pricking at her lips as he deepened the kiss and very softly began to hum the theme to Jaws.

Raven pulled back. "Go get him, big guy."

Beast Boy flashed Raven her most favourite cheeky grin, not that she'd tell him, and sunk below the water. A moment later, a dark shape moved beside her, his fin cutting the surface of the water, then sank beneath.

"Dun, dun," Raven called, her powers helping her voice to echo eerie.

"Holy crap, something just brushed my leg," Speedy blurted, thrashing. "Seaweed breath, that you?"

"Dun, dun," Raven called again.

Beast Boy's fin cut the surface with such perfect timing that Raven wondered if he could hear her.

Cyborg's face lit up in a massive smile. "Watch out ya'll!" he said, waving his hands around. "It's Jaws."

Those Titans who didn't immediately make the connection, shrieked and cried out, clamouring for the platform in general pandemonium. Starfire giggled happily behind her hand as Beast Boy circled her twice then made a beeline for Cyborg. Raven caught Starfire's eyes turning toward the bank and the giggles stopped, her face becoming sad and Raven wondered what had happened.

Raven peered through the water legs and bodies of Titans hoisting themselves and others to safety on the platform. Water dripped through the cracks in the planks and Raven made an effort not to look up.

"Help, help," Cyborg cried playfully as the fin reached him and then he was pulled under. Raven was pretty sure she heard Bumblebee emit a terrified squeal.

There was a long minute as the water around the platform became still.

"Shit. What do we do?" Hotspot asked.

"Some heroes we are," Speedy muttered.

"Well, I don't know about you, but my powers don't work underwater."

"I don't have my bow."

"Where's Aqualad when you need him?"

"Mine work, but I'd zap everything within a quarter mile," Lightning said.

"Why would a shark go for Cyborg?" Herald asked. "He's mostly metal."

"I think the bigger question is how would a saltwater shark get into a freshwater lake," Raven said dryly from beneath the platform.

And then Beast Boy and Cyborg burst out of the surface of the water, Cyborg perched on the green shark's back like he was riding a horse and holding onto Beast Boy's fin. He regally waved to the Titans as Beast Boy flopped back down into the water.

"Shit," Speedy said from above Raven. "It's just Beast Boy."

"Oh, for fuck's sake, that was a mean trick," Hotspot said.

"Ya'll should've seen the look on your face," Cyborg said as he surfaced, Beast Boy coming up beside him.

"Scared silly," Beast Boy said, panting a little.

"Nice one, B," Cyborg said as they shared a high five.

"Dino rides later," Beast Boy called as he swam back toward Raven, grinning. "I'll be Nessie."

Boys dive bombed off the edge of the platform and back into the water and the game of water dodgeball started back up again.

"I'm glad you decided to come swimming," Beast Boy said as he reached her, lifting his hand so he could grip one of the drums so he wouldn't need to tred water.

Raven shifted her grip on the rope around the metal barrel she was clinging to so she could twist to see him better. "Me too."

"Any reason why you're hiding under here?"

"Beyond it being dark and creepy?"

"Other than that."

She shot him a coy glance, moving more toward the middle of the platform. "I've heard all sorts of nefarious activities are conducted under here."

Beast Boy grinned, moving from his barrel to the one she was using for buoyancy. "What kinds of activities?"

Raven moved around the edge of the drum, turning so her chest was against to the drum itself. "All kinds," she said, still moving slowly away from him, although their feet were brushing under the water now.

"Any, in particular, you want to try?" Beast Boy swung up behind her, pressing his chest to her back, trapping her between the drum and him.

"Maybe."

He kissed her neck, then moved away. "Well, when you figure it out, you let me know."

She twisted and made a grab for him and Beast Boy laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He wrapped one hand around her back to keep her against him, lifted his free one to hold onto a bobbing barrel to keep them afloat. "So, what was the idea?"

Raven flicked her wet hair out of her face. "Might have had something to do with-"

"Opps, sorry," Kid Flash said, he and Jinx rounding one of the barrels. "They stole our idea, Jinx."

"Nuts. What about under the dock?"

"Shoo," Raven said darkly.

"You go, girl," Jinx said, winking and then she and Kid Flash swam out from beneath the platform again.

Beast Boy chuckled sheepishly. "So, your idea?"

"Had something to do with kissing."

Beast Boy grinned. "I can do that."