Here we go! The second installment of "What is...." This time it's a lesson in beauty tips, so pay attention girls. I'll skip my silly banter. You don't want to read that anyway.

Standard Disclaimers Apply

What is. . . Make-Up

"I wonder if they sell tofu here?"

"Man, no one's gonna sell your nasty tofu!"

"It's not nasty! Eating poor, defenseless animals is nasty!"

"This is a pointless argument!"

Robin walked a few meters behind the others, fidgetting with his sunglasses haphazardly, watching his friends have the same argument they've had since what seems like forever. Silently, he wondered what had convinced him to join his teammates on their trip to the local Wal-Mart. Suddenly, a soft persuasive voice sounded from in front of him.

"Please friends! Let us not be angry on such a joyous outing as this!"

That was why. That morning, when Starfire had appeared at his door, asking him to join them on their trip to the "mart of walls", he couldn't find the strength to tell her no. So, with a begrudging sigh he changed into a pair of jeans, and joined his friends on their "joyous outing". Which was what had led him to where he was now: following his friends down a crowded aisle while they had the same argument they had had over breakfast. He surveyed his teammates, and found it quite ...interesting to see Cyborg, Beastboy, and Raven in street clothes. But on the Tamaranian princess, the clothes were very becoming. The hip-hugger jeans and emerald tank top was a nice change from her uniform. Her red hair was pulled into a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck, giving Robin a nice view of the soft, tan area.

He instantly caught himself, and quickly shook the thoughts from his head. Star was his best friend and teammate. Nothing more.

"Robin?"

It was then that he noticed that the others were gone, leaving him and Starfire alone in an empty stationary aisle.

"Where did everyone else go?" He asked, his hands institutively adjusting the sunglasses, a nervous habit he had picked up somewhere along the way.

"They all decided to go off in search of their own items that they wish to purchase." A sudden tearful look had taken over her. "Do you also wish to go off on your own, Robin?"

He smiled softly.

"No. I don't have anything to pick up anyway. If you don't mid, I'll just walk around with you."

He tried not to laugh as she forcefully stopped herself from floating off the ground, her cheeks bright with red. It never ceased to amaze him at how such a small gesture could bring her so much joy.

The pair turned and continued down the aisle. It wasn't very often that they were left alone, but then again, it wasn't very often they went to wal-mart either. Starfire took the opportunity to question the boy wonder on some of the random objects that caught her eyes, all of which fascinated her endlessly. And without a hint of impatience Robin explained it all to her.

Raven had actually pointed out to the him (and the rest of the team) that when it came to criminals and Starfire, Robin's patience was about as reliable as a penguin in hell. Oh, how he loved Raven's humor.

Silently, he watched as Star inspected a pack of bic pencils. She turned the package over and made a quick scan of the back before placing them onto the rack again. Then she turned gracefully and headed towards another aisle.

And Robin blanched.

She was heading towards the aisle that Robin had successfully steered her away from their past two trips into the damned store. But there was little he could do as the Tamaranian princess stepped under the lights, that for some odd reason were brighter than the others, and for the first time since her trip to earth came face to face with make-up.

She glanced at a group of younger looking girls who were giggling amongst themselves, holding different packages against one another's cheeks. Beside her, another girl carefully pulled what she needed from the shelves without a second glance. Feeling slightly overwhelmed, Star bit down on her bottom lip (something Robin knew her to do when she was nervous). She looked helplessly to Robin, hoping he could explain this earthly ritual that seemed to be very important to the girls around her.

Pushing his pride aside, he walked towards Starfire with about as much attitude as a dude in the make-up section could have...which isn't very much.

"Robin, I am confused..."

"I could kind of tell, Star."

"Please, tell me, what are all these girls purchasing?"

This would have been so much easier for Raven to explain. Well, scratch that. Robin knew that on occasion the goth girl would use some of this stuff, he could always tell when she did. But Raven lacked the patience that she claimed he had for their alien friend. No, this was a job for a girly girl. An image of a fire haired bat flashed through his mind, but he quickly shook that thought away as well. No sense in making things worse by bringing Barbara Gordon into the mess as well.

"They're buying make-up..." He told her with a wave of his hand.

"Make-up?" She let the new word fall off her tongue. "What is it for?"

"It's for..." he trailed off, his mind still searching for the right words to use. Star, sensing this, took the time to look around once more. Her eyes once again landed on the younger girls, and she slowly took in their flaxen hair, crystal blue eyes, and clean, white complexion. Not white like Raven's, but soft with just the smallest hint of life. A stark contrast to her own almost orange skin. Casting another look around at the brightly colored packages, a realization seemed to come over her.

"Robin...is this make-up used to make girls...more attractive?"

She was fingering her hair softly, her head slumping forward ever so slightly. Memories of her transformation came back to him, and it broke his heart to think she could feel that way again. Could she honestly think those girls were better looking than she was?

He stopped himself before anymore thoughts like that popped into his head. Taking a deep breath, he turned to answer her question.

"That's what some people think make-up is for. A lot of people actually," he added bitterly to the end, Barbara's face once again flashing through his mind. "But I think it's just used to hide blemishes and other such things."

"Blemishes?" Another new word.

"Uh, pimples and wrinkles. Older women like to use make-up a lot."

"But those girls over there, they are younger than I am, yes?" This wasn't going very well.

"Yeah, well, some girls like to wear make-up because they think it makes them look better." She nodded at this, but still didn't seem too convinced.

"Robin?"

"Yeah, Star?"

"Do you think make-up would make more attractive? Like those girls?"

He blinked a few times, not quite processing her question. Could she honestly believe that those girls were better looking than her? Now he was really getting himself in deep. This conversation was crossing over into an area Robin was definitely not comfortable with. Taking his prolonged silence as bad news, Star held in a sob as she turned away.

"Star...it's not that they're better looking. You just look...different."

"But are not they," she motioned to the now retreating pre-teens, "what men on your planet consider beautiful?"

Yeah, if you're a pedophile, he thought sardonically to himself.

"Everyone has a different opinion of what beautiful is, Star. But you don't need to worry about looking like them, or wearing make-up. You're perfectly fine without it."

This answer seemed to satisfy her, because she nodded with a smile and a blush towards Robin.

"And what, oh great leader, is your opinion of beautiful?" Robin gritted his teeth at the booming of Cyborg's voice behind him.

"Or should we ask whom?"

He turned and shot a warning glare at Beastboy, before it aiming it at his other two teammates, who at the current moment were trying to stifle their laughter.

"Let's just go," he muttered, leading the others towards check out.

"I am confused. Why is Robin upset at the question of beauty?"

"We'll explain it later, Starfire."

"Come on, Rae, I think Robin should explain it now."

"Shut up Beastboy!"

More laughter came, followed by another question from Starfire.

They were never coming to wal-mart again.

END!

Sappy, I know. But wasn't it cute? Now, go review!!!