Chapter 16: Season's Greetings
There was nothing better in the world than the smell of cookies baking on a crisp, late December afternoon.
This, at least, was Starfire thought as she lazed in the common room on Christmas Day. Clothed in her coziest pajamas and a sherpa throw blanket tucked around her, four mugs of hot chocolate steamed away on the coffee table before her and a tree glistened with white lights in the corner, overstuffed with ornaments and wrapped in a homemade popcorn garland. All the Titans, sans one, had joined her on the couch, Beast Boy with his arm behind Raven as she read and Cyborg snoring softly, head tilted back.
While the classic stop-motion film of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer played in the background, it was as if the city has also gotten the memo of the lazy holidays ahead. No alerts, not a crime to be had, and not a creature stirring. Even criminals, she supposed, presumably had family to see and celebrate with. Snow packing the streets, Jump seemed to still, only a few stragglers in the streets bustling to get to their next destination and jackets wrapped tightly around them as to expel out the cold. Gazing out the large panes of glass that held a view of the ice-covered bay, Starfire watched as those people scurried from one building to the next, snowflakes fluttering and spinning only to vanish out of view just as quickly as they appeared.
Compared to the relative stillness of today, the previous night had been most eventful.
Having arrived yesterday, Cyborg and the gang had insisted to come get her in the T-Ship with the weather being bad and in the spirit of not wasting any time being apart. They had talked the whole ride to Jump, sprinkling in some carpool karaoke that Beast Boy insisted on, as Starfire was practically giddy being in the comfort of old friends.
Once at the Tower, they helped her unpack what little belongings she had brought and she entered the common room to find it decorated beautifully. The theme was a winter wonderland as fake snow and foiled garland littered shelves. Fake icicles and snowflakes hung and shined from the ceiling while the kitchen counter and surrounding benches had various snowmen on them. The only thing out of place was the tree itself, freshly cut without anything on it as she went to inspect it.
"We saved it for you," said Beast Boy as he walked over, Starfire eyeing the large bins of ornaments and decorations by the tree's base. Not sure why, tears sprung to her eyes, but they quickly dissipated as she brought everyone into a group hug.
"Oh, thank you, friends!" she said as she squeezed tighter, causing groans of pain to emit from the group.
"Ok, enough sappiness," Raven grunted as she radiated out black energy that created enough space so they could all breathe. She smiled at Starfire, picking up the bin at their feet. "Let's get to decorating."
And that they did. Seemingly to overcompensate for time lost, they had bought massive amounts of stuff for the tree, so much so that when they finished it leaned in one peculiar direction.
"Ah, good enough," declared Cyborg as he waved off the structurally unstable tree. He then fished out the final piece out of the bin, turning to Starfire. "Here ya go, little lady. The honor is all yours. A star for a Star."
Starfire took the star in her hands, flying up to place it at the tree's apex. Floating at the top to admire her handiwork, the boys 'whooped' while Raven rolled her eyes, secretly enjoying the merriment, as she gave a slight smirk and shook her head as Starfire gazed down on her friends.
She had missed this. She missed the looks only she and Raven shared as she made fun of the boys. She missed the overzealousness that only Beast Boy could possess. She missed Cyborg's big brother nature and the way he swelled with pride. For a moment, she was once again content. She was whole.
That feeling only grew as they caught up over gift-giving, her friends recalling all the weeks' worth of stories and shenanigans. She had missed a lot. While she nodded and laughed in all the right places, she still felt that twinge of melancholy, but ultimately that contentment shined through, trying her best to repress negativity and starve off a noisy empath.
This year they had done a Secret Santa, with Beast Boy gifting Starfire a haphazardly made scarf and a matching one for Silkie that she adored while Starfire gave Cyborg the variety of spices and sauces she had found at the German market. Cyborg presented Raven with a homemade card that contained a gift card to her favorite bookstore while Raven paused as she also fished a card out of the present pile.
"Here," she said as she shoved it at Beast Boy. Grateful, he tore into the paper gracelessly. Two pieces of paper slid from the card which he pointedly ignored as he read the novel she had written for him on the previously blank card.
"Aw, Rae," he said, all dopey and with longing as he finished her note. Placing the card down, he surprised Starfire and Cyborg by placing a quick but meaningful peck on her lips, causing Raven to blush.
"You didn't see the best part," she got out, embarrassed as she cleared her throat and held out the two tickets for him to inspect.
"No. Way." Beast Boy declared. His mouth hung open as he plucked the tickets from her grasp, inspecting them closer. "You didn't."
Raven grinned. "I so did."
"Babe! How? These have been sold out for months!" Beast Boy jumped up excitedly, buzzing with newfound energy. He playfully jumped her as she tolerated another display of affection.
"What is it?" Cyborg questioned, craning his neck to see what the tickets said.
Beast Boy let go of Raven, saying, "Only tickets to see the one and only Harvey Codwell! He's a legend and he's going to be at the Jump City Comic Con this spring!" Seeing Starfire's and Cyborg's confusion, he continued. "He's only the greatest director of all time and the creator of Clash of the Planets."
"That's amazing, Beast Boy," Starfire said, happy he was so excited.
"Yeah! And Raven's coming with me. Right?" Beast Boy asked as he bounced on the balls of his feet.
"Already regretting this decision," she said, half sarcastically, pulling her boyfriend down so he was again sitting.
"You're the best!" Beast Boy declared.
After all individual gifts were given out, Beast Boy still having a post-present high, the gang played many games like Christmas bingo, Raven being the caller as she yelled out spaces like "elves" and "Mrs. Clause". Cyborg won most games handily, Beast Boy suspicious that it was rigged, though he couldn't prove it. They then drank a round of eggnog which all but Starfire found to be repulsive, she having a side of fruitcake to go along with it. And finally, the last activity involved Beast Boy turning into a reindeer, each of the other Titans blindfolded as to place a red nose on his after being spun. Of course, Raven won.
It was a night that Starfire would not soon forget. Though an extremely important part of the group was missing, a certain chuckle and sternness that came out when things got out of hand absent, the three other Titans had constantly kept her moving and involved, something she was aware of but also grateful for. The heart of the group was temporarily gone, but it would return, with or without her presence. That was a given.
The timer dinged, bringing her out of her rumination. Reluctantly, she stood from her cozy nest so she could make her way to the kitchen to pull the gingerbread cookies out of the oven, throwing her blanket to the side and picking up her hot chocolate.
"Here, I'll help you, Star," Beast Boy volunteered. He jumped up, skirting around the coffee table, and met her in the kitchen. As he dug out the oven mitt, Starfire busied herself with starting on the frosting and placing it into piping bags. Bags and metal tips in hand, all that was left was to find the spatula.
"Beast Boy, have you seen—"
Starfire's voice died in her throat as the doors to the common room slid open.
Think of the devil, and he shall appear, the Earthen phrase coming to her mind as her eyes laid upon him.
Robin stepped through the doors, not acknowledging her or the others at first as if in a state of deep contemplation, a slight frown marring his features. His hair flopped uncharacteristically in front of his eyes, he going for a more relaxed appearance compared to his usually immaculate spikes. The look was accompanied by a blue sweater that fit him perfectly along with a snug pair of black pants, his mask firmly in place the only scrap remaining of his normal uniform. He set his bags down by the door with a thump, that stoic expression revealing nothing on his face. Robin only swiveled his head toward the kitchen in acknowledgment when Beast Boy finally creaked the oven door open and then slammed it shut, the cookie sheet in his mitted hand.
"Hold on a sec, Star. My hands are full," Beast Boy answered, biting his lip in concentration, oblivious as his back faced the door.
As Robin continued to look over in her general direction, Starfire immediately went to try to preoccupy herself with finding the needed utensil, averting his gaze and glancing at Raven on the couch as she did so.
"Robin," Raven said tightly, snapping her book closed and standing up in greeting. "You're home early."
Robin, reluctant to look away at what felt like a ghost before him, turned his head to Raven, nodding absentmindedly.
Beast Boy turned around then. Glancing between Starfire and Robin repeatedly and biting his lip now in worry, he watched as Starfire shuffled through various kitchen drawers, her face flushed and movements flustered. "Yeah, dude. I thought you weren't supposed to be back until after New Year's."
"There was a change of plans," Robin said. He immediately strode past Raven and the couch, where Cyborg continued to snore, reaching the stations at the front of the room and leaning over to type in the mainframe computer. "Batman had to leave off world unexpectantly."
At that, Starfire paused her fiddling momentarily and her brow furrowed, cocking her head to one side at this new information.
"For what reason? What system?" she asked, barely above a whisper as her curiosity got the better of her. She turned around, her gaze penetrating his turned back.
There was a noticeable hitch in his typing for a second but didn't glance back as the clacking of the keyboard continued. "Sector 1313. Star System: Pergaron. Planet: Xanshi." The movie above paused as he pulled up this information and more onto the overhead screen. Exact coordinates and location within the system, types of inhabitants, and omitted mission details all scrolled past. "He was called in as a favor along with the rest of the Justice League. As for specifics, I wasn't told much. Probably universe-ending stuff. The usual."
Starfire knew him, knew him enough that she could spot a lie. And his bluntness hurt but didn't let it show as she only said, "Green Lantern?" Starfire now walked toward the screen as well but stopped at the back of the couch, taking in all the information that she could. She had heard of the planet but had never visited. A planet of bird-like beings, vast and desert-like in appearance, much like Tamaran, as the model of the planet spun before her on the screen. Like sorting through thousands of compartments within her mind, she placed the language as well. Guttural and deep in tone.
"The one and only," was Robin's only reply. He pressed a particular button, the printer at the top spewing out reports, geographical maps, and other vital data. Once complete, the overhead screen zapped to black, the movie once again playing as Robin scooped up his papers, shuffling them on the desk to get them orderly.
"And what are you going to do with all that?" asked Raven, she too analyzing his movements, as he made his way back to the door to retrieve his duffle and backpack.
He slung the straps over his shoulders. "I'm to be on call until further notice. Help in any way I can from the ground should Batman need it."
"Need any help?" Beast Boy chimed in, munching on a warm cookie and looking on with unfeigned interest.
Robin didn't look at anyone as he turned toward the door, already hitting the control panel. "No, I'm good." Thinking better of it, he turned around before walking away, facing his team and… Starfire. A short pang was felt in his chest at that thought and the many others that threatened to tear him apart just by looking at her. He breathed out before saying, "I'll let you all know if anything changes. Promise." He addressed the last part to Raven and before anyone could question further or offer more assistance, he was gone, striding down the corridor, unseen and wanting to be undisturbed.
"Merry Christmas to you, too," mumbled Raven to the closed door. Arms across her chest, she sighed. She then looked pointedly at Starfire, sensing the tension in the room was still present. "You, ok?" the empath asked her.
"I am fine."
Less than a half-truth. One that anyone could see even if they didn't have empathic abilities.
It was a strange feeling, seeing him again like this. The unexpectedness of it all was laced with sadness and nerves, of misplaced longing, even when she was met with his iciness and all-business attitude. And now the guilt settled in as a realization occurred to her.
A week. She was going to be stuck here with him for a week.
Plans of healing and inward searching were thrown out that moment he stepped through that threshold.
Starfire felt that a week could change everything. A week could ruin everything.
