Author's Note:

Is all this cute and fluffy getting on your nerves too?

Meeting

"What about this?"

Robin chortled. "You look ridiculous."

Starfire giggled and removed the hat, placing it back on the rack. "I thought the feather was most becoming."

"Yes. Very fetching. In a ridiculous way."

Starfire peered through a monocle at him as she moved among the dollar shelves, things marked for quick sale, picking up items and studying them before placing them down again. "Why do they sell these?"

He kept pace with her. "Because... people will buy them."

"I see." Starfire picked up a beaded chain and looped it around his neck, peering at him curiously. "Hmm."

He took it off, placing it back on the shelf. "No, thanks."

She nodded. "Its colour was in conflict with your uniform."

"And my uniform is bright enough already. We're not here to get stuff for me."

"Are you certain?" Starfire asked, smiling. "There was a feathered hat back there which would look charming on you."

"Charming?" he asked, laughing. "I can assure you, that wasn't charming."

She adjusted the shopping bag resting on the crock of her arm as she picked up a sparkly triangular piece of cloth. "Ummmm..."

Robin cleared his throat. "Yeah. Put that down."

"What is it?"

"A thong." He coughed.

"A thong?" She held it up. "There seems to be padding at the front... ooooh."

Robin went red.

"It is for men?"

"... yeah."

She studied it. "Men wear these?"

"Not willingly. "

Starfire turned toward him with this innocent expression on her face.

"No, I don't want it," he replied, grinning at her cheek. She caught on really quick, and that was wonderful.

She giggled into her hand.

"You hungry?" he asked, glancing toward the clock tower.

She hesitated, her expression shifting from delight and mischief to melancholy.

"What?"

Picking up a marked down jewellery box, she watched the ballerina dance for a moment. "I am simply concerned."

"About?"

"Returning your kindness. You have purchased me all these clothes and shoes and undergarments-"

He grinned. "I don't think I can thank you enough for being able to do the lingerie section on your own."

She smiled meekly. "I have nothing to offer in return."

He gave her a crooked smile and shook his head. "Star, you're new here and you have nothing. And you're my friend, I want to help you."

"I know. I am just... unused to this niceness. Someone assisting me simply because they can and not because-" she trailed off and looked uncomfortable.

"It's not a weakness to accept help."

"Why me?"

He paused. "Why you? Because... you're you."

"I do not understand."

He ran his hand through his hair. "I don't think I understand either. Um..."

"DUDES!"

Saved by the changeling, Robin turned and smiled as the green boy bounded up to them. "Robin!" he said, beaming, then turned. "See!" he bellowed back to Cyborg, wearing slacks and a hoodie and making his way toward them. "I told you it was Robin!"

"Yeah, yeah," Cyborg said and fist bumped Robin in greeting. "Hey Rob."

"Hey guys."

Beast Boy shifted his gaze to Starfire. "Hey! Starfire! Cool!"

Starfire looked positively delighted and Robin wasn't sure if that was because Beast Boy recognised her, or she recognised him.

"Friend," she said and wrapped her arms around Beast Boy. "Oh, it is glorious to see you."

Beast Boy yipped, went red and shot Robin a startled look but Starfire was already moving onto Cyborg with another exclamation of 'friend' and a hug. Robin felt a momentary surge of jealousy swell within him, which he quickly dismissed.

"Ahh. Hey girl," Cyborg said, concerned. He patted her on the back, his eyes on Robin too. "I see you found her."

Robin grinned sheepishly, even though he really hadn't been looking for her. "Yeah."

Starfire bounded back to Robin's side, placing her hands around his upper arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Robin is helping me integrate with society."

Cyborg's smirk grew wider. "Oh, he is, is he?"

Robin did his best to ignore Cyborg and gently disengaged his arm from Starfire's hands. "Um... we were about to go get smoothies and lunch. Did you guys want to join us?"

"Smoothies," Starfire said. "Oh, yes. The breast beast, correct?"

Beast Boy's jaw dropped and Cyborg's eye got very big and he looked like he was trying not to laugh.

Fortunately, Robin was getting a little used to this. "Cow," he corrected gently.

"Cow," Starfire nodded. "My apologies."

They made their way through the crowd of people toward the eatery. "Been shoppin'?" Cyborg asked, nodding at the bags both Starfire and Robin held.

Starfire's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Yes," Robin replied. "We've been shopping. Starfire doesn't have many belongings so we got her a few changes of clothes."

"You went clothes shoppin'?" Cyborg asked in a teasing tone and waggled his eyebrow.

Starfire blinked at Cyborg. "Why are you so lazy with your speech?" she asked, then turned to Robin while Cyborg looked alarmed. "This is more of the slang, yes?"

Robin nodded. "Some people drop the g's on 'ing' words. Guys, Star's not too clear on slang just yet, can we try not to use too much?"

"Star?" Cyborg drawled, grinning.

"Yes," Starfire said, looking at Robin. "That is the second time you have called me that. Please, what do you mean?"

"It's a nickname," he said, not that he'd realised he'd been doing that. "I thought it sounded... nice... that's all."

Cyborg nudged Beast Boy. "Nice, he says."

Robin ignored him. "So, Raven tells me you're staying with Cyborg," he said, looking at Beast Boy.

"Raven?" Beast Boy squeaked. "You've seen her too?"

"Every now and then. Talked to her yesterday briefly," Robin said.

"You talked to the girl?" Cyborg asked as they all hopped on the escalator together.

"Yeah, she seemed okay." Robin glanced up to see Starfire hesitating at the top of the escalator, watching the stairs descending. "Just step on."

She did, nearly tripping as the stairs moved beneath her feet, but she gave him a brilliant smile when she kept her balance. She seemed okay, so Robin returned his attention to Cyborg and Beast Boy.

"She's been shadowing us," Beast Boy confessed. "I saw her in the park."

"Arcade for me," Cyborg included.

Beast Boy gave Robin a wide eyed look. "But, dude, you got to talk to her. Wowzers. You're lucky. I don't think she likes me. I tried to follow her to tell her more jokes and she vanished."

"She's probably shy," Robin said.

"Dude, is she stalking us?" Beast Boy asked, looking concerned. "How'd she know I was staying with Cyborg?"

"I think she's just keeping track," Robin said as they reached the bottom of the escalators. He waited at the bottom, holding out his hand for Starfire so she could use it to steady herself stepping off. "She strikes me as a private person."

"Raven?" Starfire asked.

He nodded, releasing Starfire's hand and the four of them headed toward the seats.

"I saw her at my cave, but she did not speak to me."

"Your cave?" Beast Boy asked.

Starfire nodded. "Although, now I know more about human nature, perhaps the fact I was unclothed deterred her from speaking to me."

Robin closed his eyes briefly, while Beast Boy and Cyborg reacted to that.

"Maybe," Robin said as though it didn't matter. "Curious though." He looked at Beast Boy. "She said you were living in a dumpster."

Beast Boy went pink and tugged on his ears. "Well... when you're an animal eating out of a dumpster isn't as bad. I was sleeping in the park as a squirrel too."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Robin asked.

"Dude, you're not my mom," Beast Boy said. "And I've lived in the jungle all my life. I know how."

"Yeah, but you were more than happy to leave a bath ring in my tub," Cyborg teased.

"Hot water, Cy," Beast Boy said with a grin. "Can't get that as a bird."

"Do you know what you want to eat?" Robin asked Starfire.

"Um... the smoothie?" she replied.

"That's to drink."

"Then I am uncertain."

Robin nodded. "Sit," he said, nodding at a vacant table and handing her the bag he was carrying. "I'll get you something."

As Starfire followed his instructions, Cyborg gave him a teasing look. "This a date then?"

"No," Robin said, heading toward one of the food shops. "Just friends."

"Uh-huh. Sure."

"She's an alien."

"So?" Beast Boy said. "She's still hot."

Cyborg and Robin stared at Beast Boy.

"Dudes, I'm not blind. She's way out of my league though."

Cyborg snorted.

Robin's eyes wandered over to Starfire. "I'm not interested in a relationship right now."

"Right," Cyborg drawled.

"OH!" Beast Boy announced and bounded away. "DUDES! PANCAKES!"

Cyborg laughed.

"You must have your hands full," Robin noted.

Cyborg watched Beast Boy with a small smile. "He's a strange little dude, but he's funny. And I couldn't just leave him in the park."

"Yeah. I know how that is."

"Where was she?" Cyborg asked.

"Camping out in some cave."

"She's stayin' with you?"

"Yeah." He sighed. "She's got no money, Cyborg. Her planet basically said don't come home. She's got nowhere to go. What was I supposed to do?"

"Exactly what you're doing," Cyborg said, planting his hand on Robin's shoulder. "Helpin' her out."

"Won't last."

"Maybe. But it'll give her a chance, right?"

"And keep the city safe."

"Riiight. 'coz, that's what you're worried about."

"DUDE!" Beast Boy bellowed across the eatery. "They got tofu pancakes!"

Cyborg's expression twisted. "Tofu gunk again? Haven't you had enough? That stuff stinks."

Robin chuckled as Cyborg headed over to him and turned to see Starfire viewing him from her seat. He smiled, waved, and headed to grab them some food too.

Author's Note:

Next chapter: Novelty - suggested by fiefeifofum (the editor took out mah dots!)