This one is happier, I promise!
Thank you so much for the review on the previous chapter. It's nice to know FF is still a safe play to try something new! I sincerely appreciate it.
There will probably be a break between this and the next update. I managed to post something new every day for a week, which is pretty impressive for me. But, I also want to work on the longer fic I have in mind, which won't happen if I'm churning these out. I won't be gone, just slowing down a little.
EaD
From his vantage point on the open balcony of the second floor, Robin leaned against the railing and eyed the crowd below. Laughter and conversation rose up and around him, and once-boy wonder couldn't help his faint smile.
Titans from all across the globe were gathered at the Titans East Tower to celebrate the first anniversary of the end of the Brotherhood. Not all of them, but most. Heroes from all over the world had been brought together to remind one another what they had fought so hard for. Some of them had formed long lasting friendships during that time and this gave them a chance to catch up.
Slim arms wrapped around Robin's middle and he grinned. Some had formed more than friendships.
He turned, leaning back against the railing to face Starfire. She smiled and settled against him, her bright eyes dancing. "It is good to see them all having fun."
"It is," Robin agreed. "Been too long since we had a break."
"Everyone looks so happy," she noted, looking around.
Robin followed her gaze. Tramm and Cyborg had gotten Aqualad into a corner as they tried to convince him to let them redo the console – again. Mas and Menos were arguing with Kid Flash downstairs, Wildebeest and Herald off to the side and watching with smiles on their faces. As much as Wildebeest could, at least. On the stairs, Jinx was talking animatedly with Bee, Beast Boy, and Kole, who had managed to drag Gnarrk from their icy home. Thunder and Lightning had last been seen on the roof with Killowat. Even Bushido and Jericho had come out of their respective hiding places to celebrate with them. And Speedy was looking comfortable on the couch downstairs with –
Raven?
Robin frowned slightly, barely managing a response when Starfire said she was going to get some more food. He had been worried that the empath would be antisocial when she arrived at the car with a book under her arm, but she had been making an effort earlier, speaking with Jinx and Jericho. When she'd finally settled down on the couch downstairs, Robin had figured that was the end of her social interaction.
But Speedy was sitting on one side of the couch and Raven on the other, both of them talking with apparent ease. Despite the oddity of the situation, Robin was pleased to see her looking relaxed among this many people. It spoke to how much they'd all grown in the past year.
"Here," Starfire returned, a drink in hand for him. He took it with a smile, doing his best not to read too much into the two below.
Having migrated downstairs twenty minutes later, Robin's drink was long gone and Raven and Speedy had yet to move. Others had begun to gather around them, listening to one adventure after another. Speedy was doing most of the talking, but Raven was nodding at appropriate times, and even smiling on occasion. When Speedy got up to get a drink, Robin casually intercepted him.
Grabbing a cup, Speedy didn't notice Robin's arrival until the detective spoke, "What's up, Speedy?"
The archer glanced over his shoulder, "Hey, bird-brain. What's going on?"
"Not much," Robin answered, looking back at Raven. "What are you up to?"
Filling his cup, Speedy grinned at the table, "Talking."
He didn't believe him for a second. "Be careful."
"Aw," Speedy laughed, "I'm just playing."
"With fire."
"Come on," he argued. "It's a party. I'm having some fun with her. She's not going to blast me for that."
"It's not her I'm referring to," Robin clarified. He nodded his head to where Garfield sat recklessly on the railing upstairs talking with Mas and Herald, his expressive hand gestures and movements not affecting his natural balance in the least.
"Beast Boy?" Speedy laughed incredulously.
Robin nodded.
"Right. Sure," Speedy chuckled. "I'll beware the changeling," he joked as he left Robin's side and went back to the couches. Raven had picked up her book, but put it down politely when Speedy returned.
Robin watched them for another few minutes, his observation making Speedy bolder. The archer leaned over and touched Raven's arm when he spoke, his joke making the other Titans laugh.
"What is he doing?" a voice muttered in Robin's ear.
He didn't turn, recognizing Cyborg's voice. "Being an idiot."
"Did B see this?" Cyborg asked.
With a shrug, Robin looked up at Cyborg. "Should we tell him?"
The taller man nodded, looking irritated. The two of them headed up the stairs, almost literally running into Beast Boy on his way down.
"Hey guys," he grinned. "What's up?"
"Hey, B. You seen Raven?" Cyborg asked, cutting straight to the point.
"Yeah, she's still talking with Speedy, why?" Beast Boy answered easily glancing between the two of them.
"You saw that?" Robin asked.
"Uhh, yeah?" he laughed in confusion.
"And you're not pissed?" Cyborg replied.
The changeling frowned, "Why would I be pissed?"
Cyborg stared at him, "Dude. He's hitting on her."
"He's just being Speedy," he laughed, waving their concerns away with a casual hand.
"But she's your girlfriend," Robin reminded him in confusion. If Speedy had been acting that way towards Star…
Beast Boy's casual grin didn't hold even the tiniest hint of that sentiment. "Guys, come on. Speedy hits on everyone. He's not being serious. And I trust Rae."
"So you're not going to do anything about it?" Cyborg asked.
Beast Boy crossed his arms, an amused look on his face. "And remind me what I could do to him that a badass, half-demon, telekinetic sorceress couldn't?"
Robin and Cyborg drew up short.
"If she wanted him to leave her alone," Beast Boy continued, "he'd be long gone. She doesn't need me to get involved."
"So you're not jealous?" Robin questioned him.
"Rae and I are together," he said simply. "Speedy's crappy jokes can't change that. Why would I be jealous?"
When neither of them had an answer, Beast Boy smiled and passed them on his way downstairs. Cyborg stared after him, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Did he just act mature?" he finally asked Robin.
Robin laughed, "I think so." He looked up at the robot-man. "He's got a point. Raven's a Titan. She can handle Speedy."
"Yeah. I know," Cyborg responded. "I guess…I just see her as little sister Raven. Not witchy Raven."
Robin nodded, wondering if he would get himself in trouble with Star if he acted upon his own jealous feelings. She was twenty times stronger than he was. She didn't need him to rescue her.
Sometimes he wished he could, though.
Eventually, Robin found his way to the couches with Speedy and most of the other Titans, though Beast Boy had wrangled Aqualad and Kid Flash into a GameStation marathon. With the growing crowd, the archer had scooted closer to the empath, his arm thrown over the back of the couch behind Raven's shoulder. She didn't appear to notice or care, so Robin tried to do the same.
Caught up in a conversation with Killowat, Robin missed the setup to Speedy's joke, but he caught the punchline.
"…so the bartender looks up and says, 'You're a real asshole when you're drinking, Superman.'"
All the Titans around him laughed.
All the Titans.
Raven smothered it quickly, but Speedy glanced over at her, a pleased and surprised look on his face. He started with another joke, clearly trying to make her laugh again. She smiled at her lap, but when she raised her head, it wasn't aimed at Speedy.
Robin hid his frown, trying to follow her gaze. He couldn't see anyone other than Kid Flash and Aqualad on the GameStation.
"So, anyway, I was in Russia when I ran into-"
"Could you pass me my drink?" Raven asked him, leaning over to nod at the table.
Speedy stood up to grab it, shooting a smug smile in Robin's direction as he continued, "-this gorgeous redhead who-"
The archer failed to notice a miniscule green fly buzz behind him, morphing into a muscled green teen who sat on his heels on the back of the couch.
Speedy leaned back without looking, jumping when he knocked into Beast Boy's knees. Not missing a beat, Beast Boy grabbed Raven's drink before Speedy stumbled back and fell, presenting it to his girlfriend with a grin.
Looking entirely unsurprised at the changeling's appearance, Raven took it, her eyes dancing as she glanced at the Titan on the ground. Robin eyed her, wondering if she had been part of that set-up.
When she glanced at him and smiled over the rim of her glass, he knew she had been.
Speedy got up from the ground, staring at the changeling. Perched on the edge of the couch, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands dangling causally, Beast Boy smirked. Despite the grin, he oozed danger and confidence.
Robin wished he had half of Beast Boy's self-assurance.
"Watcha doin', Speedy?" Beast Boy asked him, that smile doing nothing except make Speedy more uncomfortable.
"I was – nothing!" Speedy answered, straightening as he glanced around the room for help. His eyes latched onto Raven. "Right?"
"Right," she murmured quietly. "You were just…playing."
Speedy blanched and Beast Boy chuckled, sliding off the edge to take Speedy's seat, his arm sliding over Raven's shoulders. "I like to play." His eyes flashed as the Beast rose up for a moment.
With a forced laugh, Speedy shook his head, "That's all right. I'm gonna turn in."
His comment was met with groans and gentle ribbing, but the party had begun to wind down anyway. As the Titans began to fly, teleport, drive, and dimension-hop back to their homes, Robin managed to catch Speedy, lurking by the door.
"I tried to warn you, man," Robin muttered, watching his team get in the car.
"Has he always been like that?" Speedy hissed.
"Like what?"
Speedy was still staring at the car, so Robin followed his gaze. Beast Boy was holding the door for Raven, but staring back at Speedy. He grinned, his teeth flashing in the darkness.
"A scary, badass Titan?" Speedy muttered.
Robin chuckled and clapped Speedy on the shoulder. "Yup. 'Night, Speedy."
The archer hurried back inside, shutting the door behind him.
Hours later, the Titans had arrived back home and straggled off the bed. Performing his usual round of the Tower before bed, Robin happened across Raven and Beast Boy's room, the door cracked slightly. He couldn't help but overhear.
"…wasn't doing any harm," Raven murmured.
"He was hitting on you," Beast Boy argued.
"That didn't bother you earlier. I know Robin and Cyborg talked to you about it."
"How'd you know that?"
"I'm observant. And Robin needs to work on his subtle staring. You're avoiding the question. Why did you suddenly have to make a big deal about it?"
Beast Boy muttered something unintelligible.
"What?"
"Speedy made you laugh," Beast Boy repeated louder with an exasperated huff.
"And?"
"And!" he shouted. "You laughed! And I…that's what…" he trailed off, getting a little quieter, "I'm supposed to do that. It's kind of my thing. I make you laugh when nobody else can."
"Beast Boy…"
"I know. It was stupid to get jealous. I'm sorry."
"No, it wasn't stupid. I appreciated the interruption. And…"
"And?"
"Speedy…he may have made me laugh. Once. But you make me happy all the time," Raven told him quietly.
"Ugh, so much pressure," Beast Boy groaned, the smile apparent in his voice.
There was the sound of Raven's magic before the changeling yelped. "Kidding! I'm kidding, Rae!"
Robin shook his head with a smile and turned away.