A/N: While watching a Gossip Girl episode, I was trying to figure out another game to have Robin and Starfire play. Well, right as I was scouring the web for a nifty idea, they began playing a game on Gossip Girl in the episode where Dorota gets married. So, this idea did come from Gossip Girl. Just a little disclaimer there. Anyway, enjoy the read! Reviews are appreciated!

"The game is simple," Beast Boy stated into the microphone. The Titans watched him closely, and Robin felt a groan rise in his chest. It was never good when Beast Boy brought up an "easy game."

"Each pair of Titans grabs a balloon. You put the balloon between your stomachs, and start dancing. Each time the song changes, you and your partner get closer. If the balloon pops, you and your partner loose." Beast Bot explained, and Robin's eyes flicked over the crowd as soon as the word "partner" left the green Titan's lips. He found Starfire easily, and could see that she was already looking towards him. As much as he didn't like the idea of a game that encouraged physical contact, he liked the idea of having physical contact with Starfire.

Yeah, that came out wrong. Still, he placed down his can of Sprite and began walking towards the alien princess, vaguely aware of Beast Boy telling everyone to find a partner. His mind was set on Starfire, and how unbelievably gorgeous she looked in her purple, strapless, form-fitting dress.

In his peripheral vision, Robin saw Kole and Gnaark grab a red balloon from Cyborg followed by Aqualad and Terra. two by two, all of the Titans lined up and grabbed their balloons, except Robin and Starfire.

"Hey," he said, turning his attention to her. They stood to the side of the crowd, both preferring to wait until everyone else had dissipated before grabbing a balloon.

"Are you going to join in the game of dancing with a balloon?" Starfire asked, cocking her head to the side. A piece of her hair, which had been pulled back into an elegant bun, fell forward and she pushed it behind her ear. Mindlessly, Robin reached his hand out and untucked the strand. He much preferred her hair down, though he did admire the way her collarbone and shoulders were now revealed...

"Yeah, do you, um, maybe wanna be my partner?" Robin asked, fiddling with one of the buttons on his light blue, button down shirt. Starfire imagined wistfully that his eyes looked beautiful beneath his concealing mask.

"I would love to." As she said the words, Robin felt a balloon hit his leg, and turned to see Cyborg wiggle his eyebrow. He smirked back, and picked up the green balloon, dragging Starfire out to the dance floor.

"So, are you enjoying the party? He asked, placing a hand on her waist, and squeezing her other hand. She placed her free hand on his shoulder, smiling at the naturalness of it all. But they both craved more, and Robin could feel the electricity sparking between the two. It was why he'd been distancing himself from her lately. Slowly ripping his own heart apart, and doing what he did best: shutting down.

"Indeed. It is quite lovely to see the Titans that we don't get to see as much, yes?"

"Yeah. They're great to be around."

"Mmmm, speaking of, you haven't been around much lately." the music changed to a slower tune, and Robin and Starfire stepped closer.

""I've been busy, Star."

"Doing what?"

Staying away from you, he thought, but decided that it was easier to lie to her, "paperwork."

"But Cyborg said you had finished paperwork last month."

"I forgot some. What's with the interrogation?" again, the music changed. Robin heard the balloon squeak as they became closer, and heard several balloons around the room pop. He didn't bother to look up and see who was out of the game.

"Nothing. I am sorry for being nosy. I just... I miss you."

Robin felt something pull roughly at his heart, and he remained silent for a few moments, until the music changed again. More balloons popped.

"I'm sorry Star, I'm just-"

"Running away?" she finished for him, looking down at their feet.

"Star, I'm not running away."

"No, not literally. But you are running away from your feelings, and you are running away from me." A faster song began playing, and Robin couldn't help but notice that the songs weren't lasting as long. Surprisingly, though, Robin and Starfire's balloon was.

"Alright, Titans. We're down to our last few competitors!" Beast Boy announced, and Robin rolled his eyes behind his mask.

"What feelings am I running away from, Star?"

"Your feelings for me." New song. Less distance. Robin could tell he was in trouble, and he wished the balloon would go ahead and pop. That way he could go observe the room quietly from a corner, and get away from this uncomfortable conversation.

"I'm not, I, uh, I mean, I-"

"You are, Robin. And I am afraid that if you continue running, I will loose you as my best friend. It's hard enough not being able to be with you as something... More."

"Starfire, you know I can't risk that."

"Why is it that you can risk your life by fighting off ruthless villains, but you can not be with someone you have feelings for."

"Because, Star. Not even Slade can compare to how scary love is."

"No one said that you would have to love me."

"Not now, but it'll eventually come to that, Star. And I can't..." Robin's voice trailed off sadly as the song changed. He began to consider that Beast Boy and Cyborg had rigged their balloon to never pop. It was down to he and Starfire and Kole and Gnaark.

"I know you think that you can't, Robin. But can you try?"

"I lost the two people I loved most when I was younger, Star. I don't want that to happen again."

"Robin, even if we are never more than best friends, you will have to loose me someday." Robin heard the music change, but he was more focused on the way Starfire was now playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. The way she was leaning towards him.

He heard their balloon pop, followed by the applause for Kole and Gnaark. But none of this mattered to Robin, because despite the fact that he had lost the game, he had gotten something so much better than applause: Starfire.