Chapter One
Like clockwork, every Saturday at precisely six in the morning, the Teen Titan's arose from their beds. Beast Boy needed a few extra knocks, or pounds, as delivered by Cyborg as he passed the bedroom door. The hallways that morning were bathed in their golden sheers with pleasant notes of yellows and pinks. The birds were squawking, the ocean was alive and awake, crashing in foamy white caps across the rocks. It was a quiet morning, unlike how any other Saturday started. And like clockwork, four Titans met in somewhat nervous and suspecting ways at the intersection of hallways leading towards the common room. Beast Boy seemed rather anxious to head into the main room, Raven rather passive. But Cyborg and Robin shared a look of what some would think is utter doom plastered on a hero's face. Raven crossed her arms over her chest, tilting back and forth on her heels.
"And here we are again..." She commented, her purple hair falling against the frame of her face. "Together once more to act like idiots over pancakes."
"Earth-pancakes," Beast Boy looked pointedly to Raven. "It's not like Cyborg is making the pancakes."
"I wish just once Star would let me help..." Cyborg sighed, shaking his head.
"Did we hide the bag of sugar last night?" Robin cocked an eyebrow up. "I can't eat anymore pancakes with added sugar. I won't be able to run as far."
The past two months of Saturday mornings at the Titans Tower had taken a surprising turn. Starfire had become fixated on total assimilation as a regular "earthling". And she thought the key way to do that was to learn how to make the most perfect "earth-pancakes" anyone had ever tasted. She had been persistent the last eight Saturday's and the Titans admired her spirit and desire. But as trial after trial waned on, her friend's were growing somewhat exasperated. Cyborg and Beast Boy had tried helping Starfire by finding her fun recipes online. They even printed them for her and taped them to every imaginable surface in the kitchen. Every week, however, Starfire insisted on deviating, proclaiming she would know best. The Titans were being supportive but they were somewhat weary accepting mystery pancakes every Saturday from a girl who drank mustard straight out of the jar.
"Raven, you had your door locked yesterday right?" Beast Boy's face suddenly lit up in realization. "I'll be sick all day again if she tries making us sage pancakes."
They all sighed in unison at the unexpected turn of events waiting for them on the other side of the door. Robin's belly already ached thinking about all the sugar and jams she put into the mixture, rather than on top. And Cyborg's head hurt watching her try to flip a pancake. Sure, they weren't always delicious but way too many ended up on the floor. Raven was just annoyed. She never was a breakfast consumer. She found herself feeling weighed down the rest of the day if she didn't just have her tea at daybreak. Beast Boy could never say no to food, but he cringed at the memories of the gluey paste of mixture she had made and slapped on the griddle. Raven was right, it was better to not know where his food came from. (Especially when it was a 7/11 hot dog.)
Finally, Robin squared his shoulders. "At least it's just once a week, right...? Let's just be nice and we can all throw up after the morning debrief. Deal?"
"Ugh, deal," Beast Boy shook his head miserably at the thought.
All the Titans seemed to follow in Robin's footsteps. The charismatic leader, witty martial artist, and humble hero always seemed to be the first in everything. He crept towards the door as if a demented spirit had overtaken their home. Even though it was barely after six o'clock in the morning, Robin could swear it was the middle of the night and he was approaching maniacal laughs resounding from the common room. His boot finally covered enough ground to activate the sensor on the door and the mechanics hissed as they opened. The team braced itself for anything; smoke, fire, foul odors, or even a Starfire in tears. But instead, they were greeted by an empty and silent common room. The curtains were drawn, displaying the rising sun beaming over the early ripples of the ocean. Distantly, seagulls could be heard. The kitchen was exactly how it was left the night before. A pizza pan was discarded in the sink. Beast Boy's crumpled wrapping of ramen noodles were still tossed around the counter. It was evident no one had been in there yet. With furrowed, puzzled, and perplexed faces, the Titans wandered in. Beast Boy half expected Starfire to burst from behind a counter. Cyborg even opened the fridge with hesitation, prepared for her to leap out with a kazoo. Robin walked to the back of the couch, running his gloved hand along the black satin.
"Hmm..." Raven crossed her arms over her chest. "Maybe she gave up?"
"Starfire? Giving up?" Beast Boy echoed, inspecting behind the bar on the far side of the room. "I doubt it. Maybe she just slept in?"
"She's always the first one up," Cyborg slammed the fridge door and came to the counter, balling the wrappers up in his steel palms. "Maybe she's sick?"
"Just magically overnight like that?" Robin barely looked over his shoulder. "She was just fine yesterday evening when you two were playing Monkey Karts."
Raven wasted no time setting a kettle on the oven that was usually so overloaded by this time, there wasn't a burner left for her. As she readied her tea cup, she beckoned the box of tea bags from the cabinet into her hand. Cyborg watched her for a moment before he hustled to the pantry, coming back with an armload of potatoes. Robin crossed his arms over his chest, turning to the ruckus in the kitchen with a cocked eyebrow. Cyborg paused from fishing the peeler out from the drawer.
"What?" Cyborg shrugged. "I figured I'd just make some hash, y'know, so Star has a side dish to compliment her... earth-pancakes..." Robin still gave him the same deadpanned look. "Hey, if Beast Boy doesn't eat before seven, he's gonna be hangry all day."
"Yo, man, don't put this on me," Beast Boy made a face from where he sat at a barstool.
"You see? It's already starting," Cyborg said as with mechanical accuracy he began peeling the potatoes while whistling a tune.
Suddenly, the Titans morning was off to a typical weekday start. Robin watched as Raven poured her tea and got out of Cyborg's way as he began whacking the potatoes into small bits. He set a griddle on the oven, dropping his butter in and salting the potatoes. Beast Boy watched earnestly, always ready for a meal. But it wasn't quite the typical morning, still. There was no Starfire, with her bright emerald eyes, darting about and chatting with everyone. She wasn't sitting on the counter, hounding Cyborg over his earthling cooking skills. She wasn't getting an early morning start to laughing at Beast Boy's jokes. She wasn't there to say good morning to Robin. He tilted on his feet for a moment, glancing to the clock. A half past six. Their morning meeting was due to start soon. Starfire was never late.
"I'm going to find Star," Robin finally said, already crossing towards the door.
"Don't you think if she's in her room that maybe it means she doesn't want to be disturbed?" Raven lifted her onyx eyes from the book she was enjoying with her steaming tea.
"No... Starfire won't mind my knocking," Robin was determined of that. He took one last glance to Cyborg, seeing he was now slicing bacon and ham. It seemed his elation of not having mystery pancakes had inspired him to recreate a traditional English breakfast. Robin shook his head as the familiar hiss of the door rang out again and he began backtracking to the furthest corner of the Titan Tower. Starfire loved windows. It was no surprise she leapt at the opportunity of taking the corner room, destroying Cyborg's dreams of a greenhouse. He had taken his ventures to the roof after that. He slowed as he came around the corner, spying her nameplate outside her door. There was no light pouring from beneath the crack. Her curtains must have still been drawn.
The leader took a moment of pause and shuffled his feet right there. Robin listened carefully, but he heard no sound. Maybe she really had slept in? But then, maybe that would mean she's ill? He pursed his lips together, trying to formulate some coherent reason as to why he'd come tracking her down so early in the morning. The Titans usually kept to themselves and did their own things. Robin wouldn't find himself trying to find Beast Boy after a known all-nighter on the game consoles. He'd assume Raven was meditating if she didn't procure herself first thing in the morning. But he found himself somewhat worried about Starfire's absence. She never was, anyway, and that's why it jumped out at him. And of all days: earth-pancake Saturday. Finally, his hand knocked on the door, though he knew anything that would be coming from his mouth would be sheepish. Maybe she didn't want to be disturbed? Starfire was allowed to have her own day's of rest, too. Robin was beginning to think it was a foolish idea knocking on her door at 6:34am. He didn't really want the pancakes anyway. He was talking himself out of it.
But suddenly, the door glided open, though there was no one there to greet him. Robin arched his eyebrows, looking into the dark room with some straining. The light of the hallway slashed across the room, falling over Starfire's feet. She was sitting on the edge of her bed with a scroll discarded beside her. She was hugging her knees and resting her chin on top. She blinked rapidly, however, when she realized the door had opened and she rubbed at her eyes.
"Robin, good morning," She darted to the wall, flicking the lights on the reveal her eccentrically purple bedroom. It was obviously her favorite color. "What brings you here, friend?" She put on a large grin in that moment. Robin only found himself standing in the doorway, gazing at her.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Starfire was motionless for only beat before she nodded her head.
"Yes, of course. I had what you get sometimes... an ache in the head." Robin glanced to her bed, noticing the wrinkled scroll. Starfire was zippy, however, and was quick to collect it, rolling it back up seamlessly. Starfire stuffed it into the drawer of the table beside her bed. "Tell me, friend, what is up?"
"Did you forget what day it was?" Robin tilted his head.
"Oh no!" Starfire slapped a hand to her forehead. "Cyborg's day of birth?!"
Robin was almost hesitant to say it. "Pancake Saturday...?"
Starfire gazed across the room her calendar, noticing the big circles she had around each and every Saturday of the month. Her face didn't react much, however. Her body didn't lift in anyway. She nodded, her gleaming red hair falling over her shoulder. "I must apologize to my friends for not being predictable," Starfire looked back at Robin. "I fear I must cancel today's Pancake Celebration."
"But why?" Robin came fully into the room now, doing a fleeting glance to make sure everything seemed in order. "Starfire, what's going on?"
She turned her attention to the hallway, tilting her chin up. "I smell... breakfast foods. Is Cyborg making breakfast?"
Sheepishly, Robin rubbed the nape of his neck. "Yeah... everyone wanted to eat before the morning debrief. But... we'll still probably have room for your pancakes afterward." He was always warned as a child that too much lying would rot his teeth out. But he still managed to offer Starfire a small pearly grin. "Come on, don't tell me you're giving up on making the perfect pancakes? That's not like you, Star."
"I am not giving up," Starfire shook her head and managed to smile. "I simply need... a break."
Robin nodded his head towards the night table. "Are you going to tell me what was written in that letter?"
"All is well," Starfire told him, folding her hands together. The leader of the Teen Titans didn't look convinced. Starfire pursed her lips. "I will need to take time to write back this evening, however. Perhaps Raven has some of that stationary that portrays the spider's silk web... Galfore said he liked that stationary." She straightened her shoulders. "The meeting, that is due to start, yes?"
"Well, yeah, but Star, I can tell somethings up-"
"Let us go eat breakfast with our friends," Starfire gestured to him, making a sharp turn out of her room. Robin sighed, placing his hands on his hips. The chatterbox, the one completely in-tune with their own emotional being, the one who believed honesty and translucence was the key to friendship... had just refused to be open and honest? Never had Starfire felt the need to push Robin's concern off. They were best friends, after all. There was very little either of them kept from each other. Again, Robin looked around the room. No backpacks laying out, no clothes stacked on a chair, the shelves were still cluttered with her knick-knacks and books. His eyes stopped on the nightstand, knowing that letter was just beyond the purple matte grain. But something prevented him from yanking the drawer open and reading the contents. It seemed wrong. Like a betrayal to Starfire. Something obviously was bothering her, but the young man hoped that when she was ready to talk about it, she would.
...
The morning debrief was typical. The team analyzed the map of dots, trying to decipher if there were patterns to the array of petty crime and larger disorders. Slade had been quiet, but that didn't mean he wasn't still watching them. Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven were very logical and calculating as they discussed the problems with Jump City. Starfire, however, only say there. Her green eyes moved every time someone spoke, but she did not offer her voice. Her mannerisms, though typically fluid and flamboyant, came across as rigid, or a state of numbness. Robin was turned, looking at the map of blue highlighted markers that indicated crimes possibly affiliated with Slade.
"It always seems like he's closer to the industrial section... large machinery..." Robin furrowed his brow, reading the street names. "As opposed to the petty crime downtown. And the cost of reparations are always through the roof if it's Slade's doing."
"He's probably always over there 'cause he knows large machinery is dangerous," Cyborg said, pressing his elbows to his knees. "How many times have you almost been crushed to death, rolled flat, or spliced up by a machine?"
"It's that cape, man," Beast Boy laughed from behind a large glass of strawberry milk.
"Starfire's pulled me off of way too many conveyor belts," Cyborg joked, grinning towards the alien girl. He paused, however, and arched his eyebrows when he realized he got no reaction from her. "Star? Yoo-hoo, earth to Starfire." She blinked rapidly and looked to him. "Hey, are you alright? You haven't said a thing this whole time. Not even to gloat when you clotheslined Johnny Rancid off his bike last week!"
"Oh, yes," Starfire nodded, smiling at him as she resurfaced into the scene. "Those sparks were so beautiful, like little the Zorvenbugs at night on my home planet."
Before anybody could comment on the fact of Starfire's passiveness, the alarm was sounding and the computer was closing out of their analytics to broadcast an alert. On command, the Titans stood, ready to spring into action. Beast Boy chugged his entire glass of milk, slamming the damp cup to the coffee table. Raven beckoned a coaster under the glass, giving Beast Boy a side eye. Robin typed in the permissions at the console and the team stared at what confronted them.
"Really? At eight in the morning?" Beast Boy deadpanned.
It was the Amazing Mumbo who was already getting his daily fix of jewel swiping at the diamond store in the east. "Of course, the jewelry store doesn't open until nine," Robin shook his head. "He's not far from here, just off Ocean Drive. Cyborg, you and Beast Boy take the car. Starfire, Raven, and I will scout ahead to catch him before he slinks out."
"Roger!" Cyborg leapt over the couch and Beast Boy wasn't far behind.
"Alright, let's get to the roof," Robin pointed towards the hallway. The girl's wasted no time taking off beside him. The whole team was in a rush as they barreled up and down stairs. Mumbo was good at deception. He was also quite quick with his long legs. It was a tedious task for the Teen Titans to not let him get away, or to at least recover his thousands, sometimes million dollars worth of loot. He gave the local police the creeps, too, and he was like a slippery snake always sneaking out beneath their noses.
Robin burst through the door of the roof, a warm spring day greeting him. Behind him, Starfire and Raven soared out from the building. The spiky haired boy ran fearlessly to the edge, catapulting himself outward. It didn't long for Starfire to grab hold of his arms and the trio curved upward to find the scene of the crime. Distantly, the sound of the T-Car's tires squealed to the pavement, heading north to come onto the scene from the opposite direction. Robin's legs dangled as he glanced around. It was a beautiful day and already the streets of Jump City were vibrantly alive. The beach had several clusters of people already claiming stake to the sand. Bistro patios were filled with the buzzing laughter of those having an early morning breakfast accompanied by fresh mimosas. Window shopping was already happening and the roads were filled with people heading to work. All the happiness and carefree city life below had Robin suddenly very aware of the tense hands wrapped beneath his arms. Robin pursed his lips, glancing up to Starfire.
"I know it's not the best time, Star," Robin said, tilting his head back. "But I'm here to talk if you want to."
Starfire's face pinched and suddenly, the two of them were plummeting downward to the boardwalk below. Robin tumbled and let out a yell as he looked to Starfire who was now in a state of utter shock. A black platform formed beneath them and the two crashed onto it, knocking all the air from their lungs. Robin lifted his head as his eyes spun. Starfire had sat up, looking towards her hands in disbelief. Robin rubbed at his face and then his neck as he came to his knees.
"What happened?" Raven sailed closer to them, her cloak blowing in the breeze. Down below, early morning beach goers tilted their sunglasses back to see what was happening above.
"Starfire," Robin reached towards her, gripping her shoulder. "Was it Mumbo?"
Starfire pulled herself from Robin's grip and stood. "Raven, can you take us further on the platform?" The dark girl complied silently and darted ahead, the platform trailing behind her on its mental leash. "We have no time to waste."
Robin pulled his combat wand from his belt, extending it outward to its full length. He stared ahead as Raven began closing in on the area. "Should you be coming to this fight, Star? This is Mumbo we're talking about. You know, the fool of deception? It's happening again, isn't it? The same thing that happened when we crash landed?"
"I am still strong," Starfire told him, not even looking at him.
"But you can have your starbolts and flight back if you just tell me what's going on," Robin turned to her, the gusts of air nearly flattening his voluminous dark hair. "You always say that honesty is key. Well, somethings eating you up and you need to be honest right now, Star, before somebody gets hurt! Everything was fine last night. What changed?"
Starfire curled her hand into fists. "I do not wish to discuss this with you."
"Uh, you guys..." Raven pointed down below towards the broken glass scattered all over the sidewalk and street. They could hear the droning of the alarm. Quickly, Raven shot down, swinging her platform around. Starfire and Robin leapt from it, their boots crunching into the glass. Raven zipped towards the side of the building, swinging her arm and pulling two dumpsters up against the fire exit in the alley. She then perched above on the roof, gazing onto the street where Starfire and Robin had readied themselves.
"Alright, Mumbo Jumbo!" Robin shouted over the blaring sirens. "You're surrounded. Put the jewels down on the counter and come out. There's no other way to do this."
"Oh-ho, could it be?!" Mumbo's head, with his sickly blue skin and jagged white hair appeared in the blown out storefront window on the right. "Oh, yes, it really indeed looks to be!" Unknown to human speed, his head popped out from the window on the left. "It's my buddies, my sidekicks, my sideshow pals!" He giggled in his forced showmanship way. "It's the Teen Titans, hooray, hooray!" Mumbo burst out from the front doors, holding his arms upward like he was on a stage pooled in the spotlight. His short cape waved behind his shoulders and he grinned from ear to ear. "Have I got a special show for you kids today! Your parents must have always told you to never play with fire. Let me show you why!" He lifted his gloved hand and snapped. The right of the store suffered an explosion. The ceiling caved in and the sound of the display boxes being smash and crushed rang out. It burst through the roof in a fiery display, launching Raven backwards. "And one more reason why!" Mumbo turned his attention on Starfire and Robin. He tilted head forward and snapped again. Two more explosions rocketed from the front windows and Mumbo spun into the smoke, promptly disappearing. Starfire and Robin were sent backwards, rolling into the curb on the other side of the street.
Robin sprung to his feet, his combat pole skirting against the street and sending sparks behind him as he ran into the burning building. He held his weapon outward, slanted, ready to crack a skull, and brought his cape up around his mouth to avoid the smoke. The store was in ruins. As Robin carefully stepped through the glass, he noticed the crushed display cases had already been swiped clean. He heard the sound of rings clattering together and leapt onto a sturdy display case, bringing the end of his wand to Mumbo's chest. "Give it up, Mumbo," Robin squinted into the smoke. Behind him, he noticed linen bags filled with jewels so heavy, it was sagging over. Robin swung his wand, nailing Mumbo in the neck and sprang forward, landing in front of the jewels. Mumbo staggered before correcting himself and held his own wand up.
"Maybe it's too hot in here for you," Mumbo smiled. "They always say, if you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. The same goes for show business, kid!" He brought his hand forward and a cold blast of air came over Robin. He ground his teeth together and tried to move forward to attack, but couldn't. Perplexed, Robin looked down to see his shoes iced to the ground. Mumbo strutted forward to collect the jewels when a display case was shattered over his head. Starfire picked up a remnant of split wood, bringing it up, but Mumbo quickly sank into his hat, disappearing into the smoke again. Robin's eyes darted all around for the villain. Angrily, he brought the combat pole down, shattering the ice that gripped his ankles.
"Where'd he go?" Robin looked all over. Another gust of air came over the duo and they turned to spot Mumbo near the fire exit, holding his hat forward. The jewel bags, though heavy, began to tilt in the direction of his vacuum hat. Without even thinking, Robin threw his combat pole like a javelin, managing to knock the hat from his hand. Starfire did a front hand spring, bringing her leg down forcefully to Mumbo's head as he knelt to collect his hat. Robin pulled a sharp Birdarang from his belt, frisbeeing it to slice right through the fabric.
"My hat!" Mumbo exclaimed and his face became pensive. "Your showboating has gone too far!" Mumbo swung his leg, taking Starfire off her feet. As he scrambled up, he caught the young girl, pinning her up against the wall with his wand to her neck. "Be a good little boy and stop interfering with the show!" Mumbo hissed. "Or your pretty little girlfriend's neck will turn into a spring!"
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Darkness encased Mumbo's chest and he yelped as he was hurled across the room through several more display cases. Raven stood at the entrance, holding her hands up.
Just outside the shattered windows with dark smoke pluming out, the T-Car swerved up. Cyborg was out in a moment, his arm already shifted into his cannon. Robin ran to the window. "We have to stop the fire!"
"On it!" Beast Boy flashed him a thumbs up, morphing into a round elephant. He curled his trunk back, inhaling deeply, before blowing water in through the window. Raven levitated upwards, the hem of her cloak already sopping wet. She lifted her hands and the bags of jewels went up and out the window. They were set beside Cyborg's steaming track tires. The water washed through like a rampant river around the perimeter of the spacious room. Mumbo let out another howl as he was flooded towards Starfire, who grabbed him by his coat and lifted him up as if he was no more than a sack of feathers. The water rushed against her ankles, glass and wood swirling through the powerful wake. Robin snagged the magic wand from the water, snapping it in two.
"No! No, no,no! You ruined my show! It takes hard work and lots of practice to put these on, y'know!" Mumbo thrashed about as slowly, the ghastly blue color drained from his skin and his long hair receded back to its thin and wispy state. He was now just an old man dangling off the end of Starfire's hands.
Robin discarded the broken wand onto the now soggy and debris filled floor. He and Raven inspected the soot and charred walls, the soaking wet handwoven rugs, and the destroyed cases that had left damp and glittering glass shards everywhere. The jewelry store was toast but the gleaming jewels remained, at least. It wasn't long until the police showed up to take the old man away, who luckily did not give them the creeps. The owner appeared and the jewels were collected and the entire team watched as a grown man sobbed over the destruction of his business. Cyborg pressed the remote for the car, listening lovingly as his baby chirped.
"Well, alright," Cyborg nodded. "Mission successful, good work, Titans. Just in time for lunch, too. Who wants pizza?"
"Ah, dude, you don't even have to ask," Beast Boy grinned, patting his belly. "My stomach's still the size of an elephants!"
Robin glanced over his shoulder, noticing Starfire a few feet away. Her eyes were watching the inconsolable business owner as, with slumped shoulders, he resigned to his car, broken dreams and way too many insurance papers on his mind. Robin came to stand beside her, giving her a gentle nudge.
"Hey... are you OK? You don't have any glass stuck in you, do you?" Robin asked. Slowly, her green eyes gazed up and down her bare arms.
"I am unharmed," Starfire said, looking to him.
"Starfire, I..." Robin pursed his lips. "I've been worried about you all morning. We should talk. Why not over pizza? We can try the cheese with banana, if you want."
"You should go with them to get the round bread," Starfire told him. "Enjoy a fun afternoon with our friends. I should go home and start composing my letter."
"Something bad happened on Tamaran, didn't it?"
Starfire glanced towards the destroyed building beside us. "Many could argue it's just as good as it is bad." And with that, she began down the sidewalk to walk the six miles back to Titan's Tower.
"Hey! Star!" Robin called after her, but she didn't even look back.
"Star's not coming?" Beast Boy looked over his shoulder from pulling the passenger door open. "She's just gonna walk home?"
Robin was silent, only watching where she had disappeared from. This Saturday morning was unlike any other the Titans had experienced.
