Chapter 5

-Titan's Tower, Common Room

This doesn't make any sense! shouted Beastboy as he paced up and down the room in an irritatingly repetitive fashion. His power cells are at 70%!

If you don't sit down, Beastboy, said an obviously maddened Starfire, I will dispatch you in a most cruel fashion.

At this, Raven's glare of pure exasperation shifted from Beastboy to a look of utter shock at the violent statement that had forced its way out of Starfire. That may help, Starfire, but I don't think Robin would like it, wherever he is.

As if he had been waiting for such a cue, Robin entered the common room. Is Cyborg still asleep? He went up to look at the sun about two hours ago, he said while rubbing his eyes. I went to see if he wanted some ramen, but he was asleep. Seeing him like that reminded me of how little sleep I've had, so I went to my room.

Oh, Robin! Cyborg won't wake up! cried Starfire as she threw herself around him, sending them both spiraling to the floor.

He won't?

No, dude! It's like he's in a coma or something! shouted a twitching Beastboy.

Did you try restarting him?

Did we what?

Yeah, he was probably thinking about poetry and stuff. You know he crashes whenever he does that.

Looking sheepish, Raven flew in circles around Cyborg until finally locating Cyborg's restart button. Why he had one in the first place she could never guess, but she was still glad that he had one. Raven knew enough of computers to do what she needed, but she had neither the knowledge nor the patience to manually reboot one.

Hey! What happened to the sun!? cried a now concious Cyborg.

Dude, you crashed when you were thinking of poetry or something. Poetry may be just what I need, though,' thought Beastboy.

Oh man, I need to get updated. That's the third time I've crashed from thinking of poetry stuff this year!

Then why didn't you tell us about this? asked Raven.

Well, I only had to tell Robin, cause he was the only one who was around whenever I was looking at stuff that made me think.

Then I suppose you should leave the thinking to other people.

shouted Beastboy. That's weak, Raven! Try being more sociable, okay?

Sorry... I'm just really tense as of late, replied Raven. I'm really not used to being trapped in a tower with a bunch of people like this. I'm more accustomed to my room, she said as she walked down the hall and entered her room.

At 5:54, Raven came out of her room in search of something to eat. Rounding the corner, she was very nearly flattened by the several heaping baskets of dirty clothes; these baskets were carried by Starfire, as she hazardously stumbled her way to the laundry room.

Starfire, what are you doing? she asked, prepared for a painfully dumb answer.

The answer, however, was actually quite sound: The plan is for us all to maintain as normal and familiar a routine as possible, she said, whilst grunting under the weight of the baskets, so we experience as little stress as we can. Cyborg and Beastboy were cleaning the kitchen, but I suppose they're cleaning something else by now; confidentially, I didn't feel much stress previously, but this activity is making me feel quite... strained."

Hey, Star! Don't forget these! said Beastboy as he threw several handfuls of underpants (a few pairs of which were decorated with rocketships) at Starfire, causing her to jump to the side and drop the baskets with a cataclysmic blam.

Regaining her balance, Starfire shouted, Beastboy! Do not assault me with your ferocious pants of under! I do not wish to smell like your behind!

After half a minute of laughing himself to death, Beastboy left and continued whatever he had been doing before.

After throwing a nasty look at him, Starfire gathered up the laundry and continued on her way to the laundry room (while muttering what were definitely curses in her language).

After quickly consuming a small (but surprisingly juicy) apple, Raven chose to join Starfire in the laundry room.

Aww, Star! How much more laundry will you bring in here!? cried Robin, his hands sore from folding several wardrobes' worth of clothes. Come to think of it, how do we have so many clothes? I didn't think we all had even this much laundry combined!

Oh Robin, calm down! squeaked Starfire. This is much better than potatoing the couch with nothing to watch! Why, this even gives me a chance to learn of the custom you humans call doing laundry.' There was no such thing on my planet!

Why am I not surprised?' thought Raven. I did all my laundry last week. By the way, this plan seems to be working. Who's the genius who came up with it?

Uhh... Beastboy, said a somewhat fearful Robin.

In Raven's mind, Robin was right to feel afraid. In her experience, Beastboy was most certainly not an avid planner, and when he planned, it was one of two things: either it was a joke, pulled to get a simple laugh; or it was simply a serious plan that just wouldn't work or one that horribly backfired, after which he would say that it was a joke and laugh a quiet, forced chuckle.

Beastboy seemed to want everybody there when he revealed it, stated Starfire, but we couldn't get you out of your room. You must have been asleep. It was sort of strange... it seemed as though he really wanted you there for some reason.

But finally, he gave up and just told us the plan, said Robin as he massaged his almost numb hands.

Finally bored with laundry, Raven stalked out of the room, leaving Robin with Starfire.

Well, Robin, said Starfire, there won't be any more laundry to fold for a while...

Thank god for that... my hands are almost dead.

Um... Robin?



Blushing, Starfire sat next to him on the folding table and placed her hand on his. Robin, I...

I know, Star.

You do?

I feel the same, he said as he ran his fingers thru her hair.

Elsewhere, of course, Beastboy and Cyborg were busy scrubbing every surface in the bathroom.

B, why we gotta scrub every damn inch of this place? asked Cyborg. I hate soap! It leaves a nasty film on me!

Just shut up and do it, man, said Beastboy. It'll keep us from going postal on each other. Trust me.

Last time you said that, I ended up needing an oil change, a paint job, and a new left pinky.

Aah, shit happens.

By the way, B, asked Cyborg as he cleaned the sink with a toothbrush, why were you so intent on getting Raven out there to hear the plan?

Uh!? I... don't know what you're talking about, dude.

Liar. I saw you. You wanted her to be there a lot.

Well, I...

Go on.

Now blushing visibly, Beastboy gave up. Okay, okay, I admit it... I wanted her to be there... because...

Why, B?

... because I wanted to... impress her.



End of chapter 5