Disclaimer: Nope..Still don't own T.T.
Mud..
Starfire rushed forward. Her arms latched around Raven. Raven gasped out, her eyes wide. Starfire smiled and squeezed hard.
"I am so glad you have returned! I shall make Pudding of Happiness! And Pudding of Friendship. And .."
"Star!"
" I shall cook a most glorious..."
"Star!"
" Feast to celebrate your..."
"STAR!" Raven couldn't breathe anymore. She could feel her face turning blue.
"Return... What?" Star pulled away and looked at Raven. She tilted her head.
"I ...can't..breathe."
"OH!" Starfire let go and stepped away. Raven inhaled deeply a few times and calmed herself. They stared at each other. Star smiling, Raven frowning. Blinking a few times, Star looked up at the sky, her hands in the air. It had finally occurred to her that it was raining out and she looked back at her lost friend. "I must look like that of a drowned rabbit. Like you."
"Uh...I think that's cat...and thanks?"
Star beamed and grabbed Raven's muddy cloak. She floated off the ground and tugged a fumbling Raven behind her back to the Tower.
"Star. What are you doing?"
"I'm taking you inside. You will catch a most unwanted cold." She looked over her shoulder at Raven. "And you are covered in mud."
Raven smiled to herself under her hood. ' Same ol' Starfire... but how will the others be? I already know what Cyborg thinks.'
Soon the two girls where in the elevator room. Starfire entered a code that activated the elevator and it opened with a ding. Starfire stepped in. Raven followed. A small trail of rain water and mud behind her. Her cloak was soggy and sagged to the ground. It's weight was becoming unbearable but Raven just settled it into a better position on her shoulders. The elevator ascended rapidly. Her head moved deeper into it's dark hood. Starfire watched raven from one side of the car. A smile still plastered on her face. Raven could sense her emotions and knew that Star was genuinely happy to see her. The elevator car stopped with another ding when it arrived at it's destination. Raven inhaled, then exhaled slowly. 'OK this is it...'
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Beast Boy was still cowering against the couch. Robin had moved to the counter and took a seat on a stool. Cyborg had stayed in the kitchen but was standing by the sink. They all stared at nothing. Lost in thoughts. The first elevator 'ding' rang out from the computers. They all turned and looked. Starfire appeared on the cameras. Raven dragged behind her.
Cyborg groaned and leaned against the sink counter. His hand covering his eyes. Beast Boy stopped whimpering but didn't move or morph out of his puppy form. Robin sat straight. He slid to the edge of the stool. His eyes were glued to the elevator doors across from the kitchen. 'She's coming....Raven..' His hand went to his hair. He ran his fingers through it a couple times, smoothing out imaginary tangles. His other hand laid on this thigh, it's fingers tapping against it. ' Calm down..you're being a fool...'
---
The first few months after Raven left had been hell for them all. She was a vital part of the team. It took them awhile to get on without her help. But they had managed. The thought of replacing her never crossed their minds. There was no replacing her. When the confusion cleared, Robin had found himself venturing down the hall that held her room. Half of the time he hadn't realized what he was doing. He missed her more then he thought he should. It confused him. Robin, like everyone else, thought he was meant for Star. But night after night he found himself standing in front of a door. The name 'Raven' carved into it's metal. He would stand there for hours staring at it. Sometimes he sat. Sometime he laid down. It stopped him from sleeping most nights. Thinking about her.
One night he found himself opening her door. He knew all the codes. He felt bad about it, that she would somehow know what he was doing. But he didn't care. It was something he had to do. The door slide open. A dark cave inside. He hesitated for only a moment before stepping in. The door slid close behind him. That night was heaven and hell for him. What lights that were left dimly lit the room. And a whole new world opened before him. He spent the whole night there. Sleeping on Raven's bed. He found rest.
For a long time he spent every night there. Wishing for her to return. He began to understand her, at least he thought so. Eventually he stopped. Not that he wanted too. But the others were catching on. And he didn't want them to know. Still to this day, he finds himself slowing his pace by her door.
---
Robin suddenly came out of his trance. All thoughts of the past faded as a another 'ding' rang out into the kitchen. All three men tensed. The doors opened and Starfire flew out, still dragging Raven behind her. She landed to the floor and stopped. Raven bumped into her back with a humph. She looked up over Star's shoulder. Everyone froze. Three pairs of male eyes rested on Raven. Hers on them. In a blink, time rushed forwarded. Star turned and tried to tug off Raven's wet cloak. Raven tried to tug it back on. Cyborg slammed his fist on the counter and glared. Beast Boy came away from the couch, still a puppy, and went near Raven, sniffing at her cloak. Robin stood and stared.
"Friend Raven. Please stop fighting and give me your cloak."
"Star..I rather not."
"But it is dripping brown goo on the floor!"
Beast Boy backed away a few times. The muddy folds being whipped out from the tugging. Cyborg slammed his fist down again and boomed out. "Just take off the damn cloak so Star will be happy!"
"Cy.. chill!" Robin moved alittle closer. Raven stopped struggling at Cyborg's command. She looked at Star, who had a worried look on her face. She looked down at the mess on the floor and sighed. "Sorry Star."
Robin came closer and eased Star out of the way. "Why don't you find a blanket or towel?" She nodded and flew off toward the bathrooms. Robin turned to Raven and gave her a light smile. She glanced up but mainly kept her gaze on the floor. He reached his hand out to touch her but quickly decided against it. He cleared his throat instead." So um..why don't you have a seat in the kitchen." She nodded, turned and flopped herself into a chair. Cyborg avoided her while Beast Boy trailed after her.
'Raven Raven...you sure know how to get yourself into a situation...' Raven looked down at the floor again. A small green puppy sat her feet. She couldn't help but smile.
"Hi Beast Boy." She whispered. And the puppies tail wagged wildly. Robin stood behind her, staring at her hooded head. Starfire flew out of nowhere with a stack of towels and blankets taller then herself. She unceremoniously dropped them on the floor, smiling. She picked up a towel and glided over to Raven as Robin moved to the pile, picking up a few more.
"Raven, would you like to remove your soggy goo dripping cloak?" Star beamed as always. Raven sighed and stood. ' And it just keeps getting worse...'
She pushed the chair out of the way, making Beast Boy find a new place to sit. She unclasped the cloak and handed it out to Star. Star smiled, taking the cloak and replacing it with a towel. Robin turned as this was happening and froze. 'Wow...' His eyes widened a bit under his mask and he looked her over. Her once short purple hair was now down to her waist. It darkened in color some. Her leotard was replaced with a black cat-suit type outfit. Healed leather boots buckled up to her knees. A familiar gold and ruby belt hung haphazardly from her womanly hips. His eyes roamed over her body. Stopping for a few seconds on her full chest. He raised an eyebrow at them. Absently he licked his lips while looking at them. Raven shivered some as she wiped the rain from her face. Robin blinked and shook his head to clear it. Moving to her side and handing out a few more towels. Turning, she accepted them and smiled lightly. "Thanks Robin."
Robin backed away, almost tripping over Beast Boy. "No problem." Beast Boy whimpered and morphed back into his human body. Raven placed the extra towels on the table and began to towel off her uniform. Star stepped forward and helped her with it. Robin and Beast Boy stood back and watched the scene. Beast Boy leaned over to Robin, jabbing an elbow into his side. "You usually have to pay to see this kind of action!" Beast Boy smiled and wiggled his brows. Robin's mouth opened and closed a few times. And Cyborg, over hearing this comment, scoffed loudly and stomped off toward the couch.