10. Perchance to Dream?
A gentle breeze brushed Robin's face, carrying with it the scent of grass, trees, flowers in bloom and other smells of spring. Inhaling deeply, he stirred and opened his eyes.
He found himself looking up at Starfire, and realized he was lying on the ground, a carpet of cool grass beneath him, with his head resting on her knees. She smiled down at him, and the dusk sky overhead was a breathtaking blend of oranges, reds and purples that perfectly complimented her own coloring while bringing out the brilliant green of her eyes in sharp contrast.
After a few seconds he realized he was staring, but couldn't think of anything witty or clever to say. So, he simply settled for "Hey."
"Hello," she answered, softly.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this comfortable. They were on a scenic hillside overlooking the city, which, to his eyes, had never looked so calm and tranquil in its transition from day to night. The normal sounds of traffic and activity seemed somehow muted and more distant than they should have, and rather than sounding busy, they provided a comforting backdrop which made the scene feel even more peaceful.
Their other friends were there with them as well, relaxing only a few yards away. Terra – when had she come back? – was there, sprawled on the grass much as Robin was, resting her head on the side of a green German Shepherd and scratching his belly idly as they both lay half-asleep, perfectly contented. Cyborg reclined a bit further away, his visible circuits giving off only a very dim glow. He had one arm propped behind his head as a makeshift cushion while the other was tucked protectively around Raven, who was sleeping next to him, wrapped in her blue cloak and looking tiny and fragile by comparison.
Robin sighed in contentment. This felt so perfect. He didn't ever want it to end.
"Why don't we do this more often?" he asked Starfire, rhetorically.
"I do not know," she answered, her voice sounding far away. "But I wish we would have."
"Well…at least we can enjoy the moment," he sighed, closing his eyes again. "I must have fallen asleep. I was dreaming that we'd gone to some island, out in the middle of the ocean, and…"
Something wet dripped on his face, and he opened his eyes to see that Starfire was silently crying. He reached up to touch her face, and she smiled down at him through her tears.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I fear we may never see such sights as this again," she sighed, her hair billowing slightly in the breeze. "At least…not together, nor in the same way."
"Why not?" he asked her, confused.
She smiled again in response, then quickly leaned down to kiss his forehead before whispering her answer.
"Because…you must wake up, now, Robin."