A/N: OOO…I updated…everyone go ooo ahhhh…lol just kidding…now here's another chapter. I should really start updating my other story, but I had the sudden urgency to write another chapter for this one believe or not. So for those of you who like this story…smile and be happy. This is honestly not one of my favorite chapters, but than again, I hate must of my chapters, only because I prolong the story too much don't I? And even I have to say it's a bit annoying. Well lets get one with the story…this chapter will just state in like a sentence why the Royal Thieves need help in stealing what they need to steal.
Box
She knew it.
She knew that the minute she would step through those doors, all the memories would come flooding in.
All of them. Including some of which she did not want to recall. Starfire looked over to Robin. Just to catch a glimpse of him. See what he had to say about the whole thing. A part of her really wanted to ask him. You know…just out of curiosity. But the more dominant side of her brain, decided against, in fact it even tried to push the thought out of her head and was afraid of Robin finding out more.
Oh dear, what would he say?
What would he do?
Starfire didn't want to put anymore thought into it, and continued to walk past Tina into the overly enormous mansion.
She stopped for a second, allowing it all to seep in.
The marbled floors. Equally marbled stairs, and banister. Starfire almost chuckled at the memory of Tina explaining her love for the wonderful marble. The large ceiling to floor glass windows. Wide spread out lashing ruby red carpet, almost looking like real genuine fur. But Starfire knew better, Tina loved animals almost as much Beastboy. Dozens, to dozens white painted doors, leading to different unexpected locations. One of the double doors on the far end of the opposite wall crafted with clear crystal, allowing the beautiful gardened felids to fill the house with beauty, yet wisdom. And lighting the whole place, placed over their heads, a crystal chandelier, hundreds of jewels hanging down form it, a never burning out fire in the center, causing a chain reaction for all the other candles to light up.
Flawless.
Everything was entirely perfect…Starfire smiled a bit. Just as she had remembered it.
Tim peered over at Starfire and caught her smile. What was she smiling about?
He almost grinned himself, but the thought of having Kori back in the house they had grown up together, had also brought back unwanted memories. The ones focusing on what had happened years ago, at this very entrance.
He sighed.
Better not think about that right now.
The rest of the Titans filed into the mansion in an almost hurriedly fashion. Eager to see the interior of the living quarters.
Well Beastboy and Cyborg were, Raven tried her best not to seem interested, but even she had to say, it was pretty amazing.
Robin…it seemed as though he felt a little out of place to say the least.
It all happened so fast.
Star was having some problems, she showed him some rare moves, some jerk comes and states he knew her, and she knew him, and now they were coming back to some home she used to live in.
Deep in the back of his mind, he was awing at it all. But to hide it, he placed an emotionless mask that only Starfire could decode.
If given the time.
Both Cyborg and Beastboy held back the urge to make unnecessary noises, in effect of allowing their eyes to have seen the sight before them.
To say the least…they were fascinated.
Raven for a moment felt her eyes widen, but as soon as it had happened, she pulled her hood over her head and gave a few seconds to get her mind back in peace.
The place was huge.
Robin was a bit more in control than the others. For he himself had lived in a mansion for a quite a while, although living under the same roof as a certain Bat, didn't quite qualify on the lists.
But still…he had lived in a place that was said to be overly large, and even if this mansion made no comparison in greatness to his old one, his mind was set on staying in normalcy. Although he did for a moment pale.
The place was huge. (a/n: Am aware I placed that twice.)
Tina looked over at her guests in amusement. She had not had guests in such a long time; it almost seemed to give her some sort of pride in her home to have such an effect on them.
But she was still surprised.
Perhaps it was because she was living in the enormous home that she was taken aback at the jaw dropping results from her guests. Or maybe just because she didn't think that her home was as big as it should be and the fact that someone thought it was bigger than anything they've ever seen, puzzled her.
Tina chuckled at the reactions of her guests. For a moment they were drained from all color and looking very comically like strange statues.
Well, all except for Starfire. Or Kori as Tina liked to call her. Starfire was the name made after her sudden disappearance, or now known as the sudden 'departure'.
Tina almost frowned. Why even bring those things up?
She had the sudden urge to slap herself.
Did she want to cry again? Did she truly want to see all the images of the past boil up in her mind?
She unciously shook her head, and Starfire looked over at her with concern.
"Is something troubling you dear Tina?" Starfire carefully placed a hand on her shoulder.
Tina grasped the young alien's hand and gave it a light squeeze, maybe just to make sure she was real.
She was there.
Unlike all the other times Tina had went to squeeze that invisible hand that wasn't there.
She smiled at Starfire.
Starfire gave a warming smile back, but Tina saw through that smile, and went seeped in deeper.
Something was troubling Kori.
There she went again…using her old name.
But it wasn't really ever old. Just not used.
There was a comfortable silence that was so relaxing, it forced you to see everything that made this mansion 'Royal.'
The nice silence was soon to be interrupted by the light footsteps of children.
Before another word could be spoken a boy and a girl, whom looked awfully familiar to the Titans, came barging in.
Mellisa stood still staring at the Titans to see if it were true.
Max, fixed glare on his face with grimace also looked onto the Titans.
Another silence dropped over them, only this time the silence was more of an unsettling one.
No one was sure of what to say.
But then again, why say anything at all?
Robin scanned over the two children, looking at them for a second before remembering they were the ones who he was talking to on top of the T tower.
Only they were in normal clothes.
Raven glanced at the young girl, and the boy. To be honest, she wasn't sure what to say. 'Hello' maybe.
But she didn't know if that was formal or not. Or maybe it was just the fact she didn't want to talk, instead look for the library that was noticeably going to be here.
Cyborg and Beastboy both looked at their leader for direction.
And Starfire simply gave a warm smile to the new incomers.
"I'd like to welcome Max the leader of the Junior division, and Mellisa, second in command for also the Junior division. Children, these are the Teen Titans. You've heard of them, have you not?" Tina introduced and questioned.
Now it was Mellisa's time to scowl.
Oh she had heard of these guys. No one liked them, even Tina. So why was she acting so kindly to them? Why was she allowing them into her, no, their home?
Max couldn't hold it inside of him. He needed to spite somebody. Anybody.
It became his nature somewhere around when he had turned seven.
He wanted to say something to Tim. Get him angered, but he knew the line was not to be crossed.
Tim had warned him, and he didn't want to cause another scene.
The line was even more of a rule with Tina.
But Max was never one for rules.
"Yes." Max said with venom leaking out in every word. "I've heard of them. But what are they doing in our house?"
He was about to add more, but felt something pull at his sleeve and saw Mellisa giving him a stern look.
He knew she too wanted to say something. She was probably just as disgusted with the Titans as he was.
But she had a bit more control than he could hold and didn't open her mouth. Max read the message, and stood firm.
Not seconds later, did once again the light footsteps of another child ring into their ears.
Along with the occasional "Guys? Guys! Mellisa! Max!"
Tim grinned lightly.
Mellisa rolled her eyes visibly, and Max sighed.
Soon enough the heavy panting of a boy caught everyone's attention. But not before all the papers he had been holding slipped out of his balance and he came crashing down onto the fuzzy carpet, spreading the papers even furder.
The boy peered up to see the full audience of the Titans, Tina and…
Bobby gulped.
Tim.
He hurriedly raised himself up and in a salute formal way bowed in front of Tina, as if she was some real royalty.
"Forgive me Tina, they just fell and-" He was stopped by her hand.
"It's fine Bobby, just make sure it all gets picked up and get the two statues over there to help you." She motioned to the still seemingly frozen Max and Mellisa.
Bobby let a grin cover his face in an apologetic way, and made a move to pick all the papers up.
Mellisa hurried over to Bobby, bending down to let her short hair cover her eyes, and picked up the mess of papers along with Bobby.
It took Max a whole 10seconds to realize that Tina was gesturing to him, and sighed before he as well walked over and picked up papers with his teammates.
Tina nodded, almost in a proud leader way, and directed her guests to another room. Before they had all filed out of the entry room, Max sent a harsh glare over to Tim. Tim wanted to wince. Wanted to explain himself to Max.
Say he was sorry.
Tell him…that he was his brother. He sighed.
But why? What would it do? It wouldn't make him act like Bobby again or the old Max again, wouldn't see him as a hero again…as a brother.
So why even bother?
Tim followed in the back, behind Robin.
Raven was behind Starfire, Beastboy behind her, and Cyborg behind him.
Starfire almost felt a bit scared. The memories this place was bringing was almost too much to stand, and she needed someone to be there for her.
Not that Raven wasn't a great friend or anything…but she needed something more.
Robin…Tim…Nick...
Sometimes Starfire felt selfish.
Too selfish for her tastes.
Here was a perfectly nice friend and she wanted more.
She felt disgusted with herself. She took a look over her shoulder at Raven.
The telepath, still with her trademark hood over her haed was scanning the perimeter. Almost as if looking for something.
A library perhaps? Raven for a mere second caught Starfire's stare, but otherwise didn't seem to have noticed.
Continuing to scan the area.
Starfire felt her shoulders slump.
She then looked in front of her to meet Tina's back, and even more weight to fall on her back.
Why did she all of a sudden feel all alone?
Raven kept her eyes roaming the rooms.
'There has to be one.' She kept thinking.
Her eyes being the only thing visible underneath her hood. She felt at ease with her hood on.
Totally untouchable.
Her hair was most likely going to be messed up again once she pulled it back down, but she didn't care.
She never did.
Her cape made her seem out of the ordinary, or completely ordinary at the same time.
It was strange, yet normal.
Raven kept her body walking in a straight line as her head moved from side to side, or at least her eyes seemed to.
She saw the alien princess glance at her, looking at her with an almost pleading look.
What did she want from her?
Did she expect her to just go up and hug her?
Hold her?
Raven almost chuckled.
She was Raven.
All she could do is go on as if it had never happened and continue to focus her mind on other things.
She knew Starfire was probably going through something.
Something only she could be possibly going through at the moment.
Something that was hard to deal with. But what could she seriously do?
She actually thought about it for a second before throwing it out the door, and mentally slapping herself for even thinking upon it.
Then another thought hit her.
'She is your friend.'
Raven then suddenly stared at the beautifully marbled floor, a few swirls going here and there in the crafty design.
Her hood fell even lower and she felt herself sinking deeper into her small little cave.
Hiding.
Into strange, and ordinary once again.
She was strange because it wasn't normal for one to do that, yet she seemed ordinary because you couldn't see her face.
Her boots graced the floor with a peaceful ease, making it seem even a louder silence than before.
Raven felt shameful.
Starfire was her friend. How could she just look away and act like nothing had happened.
Suddenly Raven felt like her hood. That damned hood.
She wasn't a friend if she did nothing, yet if she did do something she wasn't…Raven.
All the saliva in her mouth then formed a nasty taste on her tongue and felt the urge to spit.
Spit all the nasty stuff that was for some reason accumulating at the back of her throat.
She rubbed her tongue underneath of one of her molars; unintentionally thinking it would erase the taste.
She needed to say something.
Do something.
She was her teammate.
Her partner.
Her friend.
Raven closed her eyes for a second. Deep in thought, having a mental fight with herself. Now with her father gone, she could more easily learn to show enormous bounds of emotion without the fear of destroying something.
But it was still some getting used to, and to go as far as comfort a friend who knew most of her secrets, it was forming a headache.
The taste would still not go away.
She needed a sink.
She needed time to think.
…She needed a book.
Raven looked up from her dark cave, noticing that they had stopped and she was standing still behind Robin.
'How did I end up behind Robin?'
Raven sighed.
Where was that damned library when you needed one?
Tina took a nice cushioned seat in her office.
She had leaded everybody into it, and had sent a maid to get some extra chairs.
Tina smiled.
Their only maid.
Many times had Tina tried to bring in new maids, but not only was trust a major problem, but so was the fact that her little thieves could be quite troublesome.
Always playing pranks on the butlers and maids.
Nannies, and gardeners.
Even the security guards.
All of them (except for the security guards.) had left Tina all alone to deal with them for herself.
She was just about to give up, when that lady opens the doors, somewhere around her mid thirties, takes a seat in front of Tina, without even her invitation, let her add, and says, "I don't want to ask, I probably don't even want to know. But I need money, and-" the lady pulls out an ad that asks for a maid, (paid handsomely of course) "it says here you're the one to give it to me." Her accent heavy with old English.
Tina quirked an eyebrow and asked if she had any experience.
The lady shook her head, signaling a no.
Again Tina asked if she had ever picked roses, or watered gardens, did beds, or cooked meals.
The lady once again shook her head.
Tina looked critical at lady, was this some kind of joke?
Then Tina decided to ask one more question.
"Do you like children, and can you handle them?"
The lady smiled a toothy grin, "I love children, but I will not stand for misbehavior, and I can take care of them with my eyes closed."
The young mentor returned her smile, "Then you have the job."
That was almost twenty years ago, now she still ripe in her old age, and kept the order in the house.
Along with the cleaning and the cooking.
Although, Tina had noticed, she hardly did neither, ordering the children to clean their rooms for themselves, learn to wash the dishes, mop the floors, dust the counters, and so on and so fourth when they had dirtied it.
But before Tina could protest, she learned that all children needed responsibilities and chores.
So she let it past.
And not only that, but the woman seemed to be there whenever you needed her, almost like a second mother to the children, and even a mother to Tina herself.
Even to Starfire, who the second she saw her old maid, flew over to her and gave her a hug strong enough to snap her poor old back. The maid patted the happy alien girl and asked for Starfire to turn around for her, to get a better look of the young girl.
They had shared their 'I missed you's' and then the maid left to tend to the chairs.
Soon enough the maid came back in holding two extra chairs, one on top of her head, the other with her free hand.
Looking comically silly, almost resembling a circus seal.
But what was found even funnier perhaps was the fact that she looked like a grandmother and was holding everything like she was twenty again.
Cyborg instantly made a move to help her, but before he could even take a heavy step forward, she had situated the seats on the floor already, waving him with a hand to sit him back down.
"Are you all right?" He asked still a bit worried, yet a hint of surprise in his voice.
The lady just shook her head in a reassuring way, and opened her mouth to speak.
"When you've lived in house as big as this, with children as wild as him." She said pointing at Tim. "This is the easiest thing in the world."
Tina giggled lightly, as so did Starfire.
Cyborg gave a funny smile, and Beastboy sat sulking, not understanding what the old lady meant.
"What's that supposed to mean you old hag?" Tim asked quite rudely.
Tina gave him a sinister look, and Starfire glared at him as well.
The others looking at him like he had just taken a lolly pop from a child.
The old maid just put a beginning to wrinkle hand to her narrow hip, and pursed her lips.
"It means, you're more than a handful, young child." She said emphasizing the word 'young' knowing he hated being called a child as well.
"I'm no child." He defended childishly.
Starfire and Tina, along with Cyborg were now all smiling at Tim's stubbornness.
"Timothy, how old are you?" The maid questioned.
Tim took sudden interest in the wall a few feet beside him. He knew where this was going, and the adding of his original name wasn't at all helping.
"…"
"Timothy…?" She coaxed in an almost too motherly way.
He let out a deep sigh, not even bothering to hide it.
"Eighteen…" He muttered.
The maid nodded her head.
"And how old am I?" She asked once again.
The smiles were now unruly laughter.
"Fifth…Fifty-six." He hesitated, almost as if prolonging his death.
She smiled and nodded, starting to head out of the joyful room, glad she had somehow brought some of it, being too bizarrely quiet the last time she was in there.
"So who is the child?" She asked before stepping out of the door.
Tim grinded his teeth together.
"I…am." He muffled under his breath.
The maid pretended to strain to hear.
"Sorry, what was that?"
Tina decided to join in on the fun and also asked.
"Yes Timothy what did you say? I could not hear Timothy, could you hear Timothy, Kori?" She asked Starfire.
Starfire didn't noticed what she had called her, and was glad to be in on the game.
"No I did not hear Timothy. Would you please speak louder Timothy?"
She then burst into unattained giggles.
Tim hated that name, just as much as he hated Timmy.
"I said…I am…"
"You are what Timothy?" They all asked in union.
They were now getting annoying. Calling him Timothy on purpose.
"I am… I AM THE DAMN CHILD!" He practically yelled.
Now everyone was laughing and smiling, even Raven, though she hid it under her hood, and Robin seemed obviously happy for some reason that they were targeting his new enemy.
The maid nodded once more, and left the room filled with laughter.
Before she could get to far though, she heard her name being called and stopped to listen.
"Oh wait, Patty. Can you please make four cups of coffee, one of them dark, and two hot chocolates please?" Tina asked, through the door.
Patty smiled, and continued walking to her former destination.
"Already have." She chimed.
Her footsteps faded away, signaled that she was far off.
And judging by the size of the mansion, she wouldn't be back from the kitchen in a long time.
Raven was already seated on a chair next to Starfire, and when the mention of coffee came up she was about to interject, saying she wanted it dark, but before she could get a word out, Tina seemed to have read her mind and spoke her thoughts.
Raven for a second was flabbergasted but covered herself in her cave once again.
Her purple hood.
Oh how she loved that thing.
Or did she really love it?
…Perhaps she just felt the need to love it, for without it she would be just another weirdo?
…Raven inwardly sighed.
She thought too much
She needed a book; take her mind off of herself.
Instinctively, she turned her eyes left and right, searching for some shelves for books.
Anything.
Although she wasn't even sure if that would be proper.
After all, she hardly knew these people, and they were brought to the boss's office for another reason rather than drinking coffee.
She focused back on Tina.
First Raven wanted to know why everything was happening.
Where everything was going.
And why Starfire was pulled into all of this.
Although the way everyone was acting around her, it was becoming obvious that she knew the people more than just friends.
They were her family.
And they were thieves.
She aloud her mind to wander out of her head and seep through other minds, see what they were thinking. She knew it was wrong.
But she did it anyways.
She regained more control over her powers, and when she was as tense as this, her mind had enough power to read other people's thoughts, for a while it took out some power out of her, but that was sort of the point.
All that power was bubbling up, and becoming an annoying knot.
So she used up her power a bit to have a little…how could she put it? …Fun.
And lose that knot in her back.
Suddenly a crash of thoughts came up in a tide of confusion.
'Why are they calling Starfire, Kori?'
'Why is Tim looking at Starfire like that? He better direct his eyes somewhere else, before I-'
'Kori looks so different from last time. Her curves have defiantly filled out more…whoa and her outfit is AWESOME…Why is bird-boy looking at Kori like that? Why does he look like he wants to kill me? He better stop staring at me…why do I have the feeling someone's in my mind?'
'Why are Timmy, and Robin looking at me like that? Have I done something wrong? Why are they now looking at each other like a froglaster and a ninglepolistic about to eat each other?…Oh, X'Hal.'
'…What did that old lady mean? What was the whole point in saying what she said? I don't get it…and is that carpet real fur? It better not be.'
'Man, that was a good diss for an old lady…if it was to be called one.'
'Why does Raven have to put her hood up all the time? She looks prettier with it down…And why is she looking at me like that? Did I do something? Do I have a booger somewhere?'
Raven read the last bits of the thoughts and let her own mind seep back into herself, carrying a few left over thoughts with her by accident, not having enough time to recollect themselves, and everyone was a bit shaken up, all (except for Tina) wide eyes and looking like they had just forgotten something.
Raven was suddenly embarrassed, and pretended not to know anything.
Beastboy was seeing swirls, and had forgotten everything he was just thinking about a few seconds ago.
"Dude…"
Tina looked a bit worried that everybody was acting this way, and directed her attention to the green boy.
"What's wrong?"
"I just forgot about everything I was just thinking about."
Tina quirked any eyebrow, but was the only one to do so.
For everyone seemed to nod in agreement, and had their hands attached to their heads, in agony.
Headaches.
Tina scanned over at everyone, and noticed that Raven was the only who didn't suddenly feel affected.
Raven caught her stare, and for a moment blushed in once again embarrassment.
Had she been caught?
She pulled her hood further over her head, eliminating even her eyes from view, and slumped into the chair.
It wasn't very like herself.
And perhaps Tina knew that. For when she saw Raven like that, she looked accusingly.
Raven stayed under her hood. Then the thought of what Beastboy had said unwillingly entered her mind again.
'She looks prettier with it down.'
She bit her lip in distress.
She felt the sudden need to pull the hood down lower.
It wouldn't go any lower.
Damn hood.
She hated it.
After everybody had situated him or herself into normalcy, and regained some of their footing, they were all drinking their favorite drinks, which the maid had brought of course.
Raven circled the rim of her mug with a pale pinky, and waited for further speaking.
The air all of sudden turned much more harder to breathe, and Raven caught herself thinking back on her last thoughts, or rather a certain changeling's last thoughts.
She took a secret peek at him, and found herself half blushing before seeping back into her secret cave and grimacing at the fact that a warm feeling had covered her cheeks.
Then Tina cleared her throat and attentive Raven came back into place.
Time to listen.
Tim slumped back into the shadows of a nearby wall, close enough to hear Tina talking, and far enough not see Starfire's face.
He didn't want to see Starfire's face right now.
Because he wanted to see Kori's face at the moment. At first everything seemed normal…everything seemed like just a few words and Kori would be back, none of this, 'Goody goody Hero mush,' and back to who she really is.
Princess of Thieves.
But suddenly, everything became more difficult. Lots more difficult. It almost seemed impossible to get the old Kori back.
Tim now leaned all his weight on the wall in the corner. Allowing himself to listen to Tina's words.
"Now…I truly have no idea how to start, or what exactly is going on here, but form what I've heard Starfire is now part of the Teen Titans, correct?" She stated her obvious statement in a question and they call all tell how she emphasized the name 'Starfire.'
Tim scowled, and the others nodded.
Tina continued, "Well…I would really like Starfire to tell you the rest, but let me just say that we need her." She looked over at Starfire, "We need you. We can't do this without you, and we can use all the help we can get." Her last sentence being directed to the other Titans in the room.
That's where both Tim and Starfire interjected, causing everyone, even Raven, to jump.
"NO!" The shouts could be heard all throughout the mansion.
Soon you could hear the barks of over angered dogs, and Tina's stressed out sigh.
She expected this.
Tina quickly opened her small desk cabinet and took out a small type of whistle, those things could come in handy at times all though you had to make sure you knew how to use them.
She blew once, twice, and the barking had stopped.
Suddenly they all heard a sudden in take in breath, and all turned to see a very visibly wincing Beastboy, holding his elf like ears.
Raven looked worried for a second, the others looking critical.
Was he okay?
Robin then noticed the whistle in Tina's hand, and directed her attention to it as well.
"That's a dog whistle, isn't it?"
Tina's eyes went wide for a second and then back to the groaning Beastboy, who still heard the ringing in his ears.
"Oh, I'm really sorry." She apologized in a tone that anyone could tell was truly sorry.
Beastboy tried to nod, he really did, but it seemed like his head was shaking, and his ears…well those at the moment could burn off for all he'd care.
Damn dog whistles.
Tim smirked, finding it all rather amusing, and Cyborg had to stifle a laugh.
Beastboy looked funny…as he always does.
Starfire looked truly scared for her friend, and flew over to him to see his ears; for she noticed were where the pain was mostly centered.
She pushed his hands off his ears to get a better look, and then tried touching his delicate ears, just to see what his reaction would be.
Raven knew immediately that what Starfire was doing wouldn't help one bit.
But she stayed stone.
Her body forced her to stay put.
But her mind pushed her to get up and help him.
She took a sip of her coffee.
The second, no, millisecond, Starfire placed her fingers on his ears, he yelped a cry of pain.
Okay…maybe burning off his ears was a little to rash. Concluding that just a pinch to the ear would cause him a jolt of rushing pain.
Starfire, as if fire had erupted on Beastboy's ear, hastily jumped back.
"Beastboy? Beastboy, are you all right?" She asked her tone a bit shaky, seeing to it that she had caused her friend some sort of pain.
Robin seemed to see the worry etch over Starfire's face and stood up.
"He's fine Star. He just…well…Cyborg?" He asked giving up on what exactly was wrong with Beastboy…after all, this normally happen with dogs, and it was a dog whistle.
Cyborg looked over Beastboy once, and came up with a solution.
"It's nothing. His nerves on the ear drum just jumped to an high level, and couldn't hold so much…" Cyborg looked up for a second noticing it being awkwardly quiet, even Beastboy had stopped his complaining, all of them looking quizzically.
The half metal man irritably sighed. He knew he was getting nowhere.
"It was a really loud sound to BB, and now it won't stop ringing in his ears, so right now his ears are really sensitive, which is why it hurt when Star touched them." He tried explaining.
Starfire seemed to understand at first, but wasn't entirely paying attention, and Raven didn't feel like saying anything.
Tina nodded her head in understanding, and continued to look at Beastboy.
"Are you sure it's nothing? He seems rather pained." Tina stated, still looking worried, probably most likely because she had caused it.
Cyborg just waved his hand as if to dismiss the actual thought, and sat back down.
Soon enough, Beastboy's ears returned to their natural feeling, and although he can still not hear as well as before, the ringing had stopped, and the burning had seized.
A momentary sigh escaped him in relief.
He had really thought his ear would burn off for a second there.
Tim's grin had left him long before Beastboy had stopped yelping, but rather wandered to other things.
Robin situated himself back to Tina, as did Raven, for full attention.
Starfire instead looked to floor for a second, not sure of what to make of everything. She knew that Tina would tell them what exactly they needed help in. But it would be up to Starfire to tell the Titans…and Robin, that she was a thief once herself.
She seemed to sink lower into her chair, and for a moment she actually wanted to.
Just sink away, and not have to deal with anything….
She shook her head from the silly thoughts, and gazed back at her motherly figure. Starfire focused on Tina, and tried to search her eyes for the reason of calling her back to the Royal Mansion, and sending her out on a mission no less.
"What exactly do you need our help in?" Robin voiced her thoughts.
Time seemed to freeze, as Tina looked over at Starfire, and then at Tim.
Starfire bit her lip, and Raven sensed the sudden panic.
Then it finally hit Raven…although maybe a little to late.
They were thieves.
Everything in the mansion was probably stolen artifact.
They were criminals.
Robin had the thought flying over his head for the past hours, and not until now did it come down full force.
Gravity pulled it down, and his face contorted into a distasteful grimace, like he had just tasted something sour.
He put people like this in jail.
What was stopping him now?
"We need your help in getting a box." Tina began…she took a pause as if trying to get herself to continue talking.
Starfire almost looked annoyed.
A box?
And she wasn't afraid to speak her thoughts either.
"A box Tina? Is this the reason for my sudden calling? Could you not do this yourselves, instead of asking for my assistance-" She was silenced by Tina's lack of speech.
Starfire knew for a fact that when Tina did not talk…she did not listen.
It was pointless trying to speak to her when she wasn't even paying attention.
The annoyed alien laid her back on the front of her cushioned chair, losing all hope of detouring this mess.
OR…she could just fly away, and come back when everybody was done with the yelling and shouting.
For she knew there was going to be something of that category.
Shouting she could handle.
Yelling she could stand.
Fighting she could stop…
But silence…it reminded her too much of loneliness…and that she could never put up with.
To be alone…never again could she do that.
She was not meant to be kept alone.
Perhaps Raven was…no…not Raven either.
No one was meant to be kept lonely…alone.
No body there…Starfire shuddered and unintentionally hugged herself. But in a matter where it seemed like she was just crossing her arms, and so no one paid any attention to her movement.
Tina nodded her head and continued.
"As I was saying…This isn't just any ordinary ruby…Its special…really, special. And we need your help to get it."
"You mean steal it." Robin glared. His mask showing the scrunching of his eyes, and his mouth twisting into a terrible scowl.
Tim lightly growled, almost in a doglike way that caught Starfire's attention.
She knew something bad was going to happen…
Tim was going to open his mouth but was silenced by Tina's sudden stern look.
"Robin, Teen Titans…" She sighed almost in an attempt to soothe herself. "It's not totally what you think…" She paused again.
She needed to make them understand. She needed to get them all to help her and the others…but most of all, she needed Kori.
"I think you want our help to go steal something that's too hard for you to steal." Cyborg commented dryly, also not liking where this was going.
Raven wanted to say something as well. Maybe something sarcastic…something wise.
Something.
She took another sip at her coffee, not noticing that there was nothing in the empty mug.
Taking in nothing but dry air, making a strangenoise that sounded like sucking in air between teeth.
Beastboy turned to look at her, and noticed she was still wearing her hood.
Why didn't she take it off?
Tina shook her hands in front of her defensively, palms facing their direction,in a way most people showed they were harmless.
Or at least it seemed that way for a moment.
"No, no, no, no," She repeated in an almost spanglish form, saying it fast enough to sound like a single no. "It's not like that…we have to do this."
Maybe it was her eyes.
Or maybe the way she suddenly spoke so scared, and helpless.
Perhaps even, it was the way she held herself, almost shaking.
But the protesting Titans, stopped their ranting, and then the silence came.
Starfire stared at Tina.
Something was wrong…she knew it.
"If we don't steal this, then we'll lose…" her head suddenly bowed in defeat.
"We'll lose everything…and when I say lose…I mean death…people will die if we don't take this…innocent civilians." She explained.
It was safe to say now she got the Titans attention.
"Tina…"Starfire breathed noticing the waver in her voice.
"This box…it's special…we can't let the moon hit it on the twelfth day of December. If it does…well let's just say nothing good will come out of it. Only bad things…" She stopped.
They understood what she meant. Or at least she hoped so.
Raven finally found her voice…something wasn't normal in the way she said box.
"What type of box is this?"
Tina was gong to speak but Tim beat her to it.
"I'm sure you've heard of it…" He began, a smirk edging his features.
"Pandora's Box."
A/N: OMG! Not as long as I wanted it to be…but oh well…sorry…really I truly am…I like long chapters and I myself can't even seem to be make them.
Did you see that one coming?
I didn't…no seriously I didn't…I originally was going to make this like about some ancient ruby…but then I decided this story was meant for twists and turns…so why not add some more! LOL…okay not funny because by now I've probably lost you…since you still don't understand how Slade fits into all this.
Because right now it makes it seem like the Royal Thieves are taking the Pandora box because if they don't some huge calamity will set loose, and people will die.
Because they really do care for innocent lives right?
If you know where I'm going with this then…you're smarter than you think…and if you don't well stay tuned because it's all going to be clear soon enough...i want to say more on the pandora box thing...but what more can i really say?
OOO and I forgot…heads up for next chapter…a new character will be introduced into the story…but you probably already know him from previous episodes…opps said too much…I have to stop doing that. Also…THANK YOU 4 ALL THE REVEIWS! CHEERS I LUV REVEIWS AND ONE OF THE REASONS I DECIDED TO WRITE ANOTHER CHAPTER SOONER THAN MY OTHER STORY IS BECAUSE SO MANY PPL REVWIED FOR THIS ONE…SO KEEP UP WITH WORDS! THANKS 4 UR SUPPORT!
LOL…well bye for now!
Remember smile and be happy!
Love,
Your One-N-Only,
Princess Lali (as in lolly pop) of Spain and England.
P.S.: So sorry for those who read my other story but I just had the sudden urgency, like I stated in the beginning like writing another chapter for this one. But do not despair I'm going to continue that other story soon enough…bye bye for now!