A/N: I would be so much cooler if I updated this more often, but unfortunately I am not! Hooray! Thanks much for the reviews, but my PS2 was having an emotional breakdown because it thought I didn't love it anymore, so that had to be taken care of. Ha ha ha! However, I do think this chapter takes some baby steps along the road called PLOT, so I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: Ergh... you know!!
Just Roommates
Chapter 5 - Sprout
Starfire drummed her fingers on the red plastic table and wished she wore a wristwatch. I guess I am early... She sat under an equally red umbrella on the second-story patio of the pizza place Beast Boy adored so much, only this time, Beast Boy wasn't with her... or any of the Titans, for that matter. They were alerted at the Tower of a bank robbery in the city and promptly moved out. The power lines outside the bank had been conveniently zapped from the storm the night before, leaving it without electronic security. After the police arrived to haul off the nameless nobody, Starfire told her team she would remain in the city while they headed back. Questions arose, but Starfire wasn't going to be told otherwise, and whispered to Raven that she wanted to talk to her when she came back. Starfire walked to the restaurant instead of flying, not wanting to draw a lot of attention to herself, which she soon discovered was not easy to do.
Her table was close to the railing, so in an attempt to look casual, she cast a look over to the traffic below. She felt awkward, as if everyone around her was staring in her direction. Discovering that she felt awkward, she felt even more uncomfortable. Just walking down the street attracted the curious glances and whispers from other people, but why? Was it because she looked different? Was it because they recognized her as a Titan? Whatever it was, Starfire didn't like it. She hoped that Dylan wouldn't be the same, otherwise he would be considerably difficult to deal with. Suddenly stricken with nervousness, she grabbed the peeling black wallet from in front of her and, tossing it back and forth from hand to hand, shut her eyes. I honestly hope he is not like that. Her phone conversation a few hours ago couldn't help her decide.
"Speak," said a masculine voice on the other line after a few rings. Starfire gulped.
"Hello... my name is Starfire, and--"
"Heeey, baby, Starfire's a funny name," the slurred voice was cut off by another and the first began to laugh. After some background noise, the second, smoother voice responded.
"Hey, sorry about that, my friends are lame," more laughing in the background, "So, Starfire, what can I do for you?"
Starfire felt more and more embarrassed by each passing second, and, with as much calmness as she could muster, began again.
"Am I speaking with Mr. Dylan Conners?"
"You're speaking with Dylan Conners, but I'm no 'mister'. Call me Dylan," he said evenly. "Did I do something wrong?" Starfire could hear at least two other boyish voices in the background roaring with laughter. She shrunk into the couch, convinced she was doing something wrong.
"No, um, Dylan, but I have recently discovered your 'wallet' in the city and found your name and telephone number within it. I assume you would like it back?" she said slowly, gripping the couch cushion. She picked a god and thanked him that her friends were not in the room as well.
"Oh yeah, I did lose that, didn't I?" Dylan chuckled. "Well, I figured it wasn't a huge loss, considering there was only, like, twelve bucks in there, or something."
"Seven," Starfire corrected, remembering Beast Boy's disappointed over it.
"Heh, maybe you're right. I don't suppose a crime-fighting chick like yourself would steal money, right? Great. Well, what'd ya say we meet somewhere so I can pick it up? You're probably a busy woman, so I'll let you decide," he said, raising his voice a little over the catcalls from his friends.
"It matters not to me... I am not busy at the moment."
"Alright," he paused, "How about the pizza place on Fifth Ave? I hear you and your pals know the place."
"Yes, I do. When shall I meet you there?" Starfire assumed the place as the one they occupied weekly.
"How about two hours? I should make myself presentable for a lady like yourself," if Starfire knew what Dylan looked like, she would imagine him to be grinning right now.
"That is fine, but how will I locate you? I do not know what you look like."
"Trust me, I'll find you. See you later."
Biting her lip, she felt childish for not being able to properly use such a common Earth device. Actually, she did use it correctly... maybe there is something wrong with the way she speaks. She decided to ask Raven about it when she returned home, which was hopefully soon, when she was disturbed from her thoughts.
"I see my wallet is in the perfect condition I left it in," said a familiar voice. Starfire's eyes darted up to who must be Dylan. He smirked down at her from behind his wire sunglasses with not-so-white teeth and a healthy tan. His hair was dirty blonde and tousled, long enough for it to fall onto his forehead. He folded his arms over a red shirt that emphasized his chest muscles, which was half tucked into a pair of faded blue jeans with torn-up knees that didn't seem to go with the tasteful brown belt he had chosen. His shoes must have been white, but it was impossible to tell because of the dirt and perhaps oil all over them. All in all he looked considerably stylish and handsome, minus the terrible odor of smoke.
"I am sorry, this is the way I found it," Starfire stood up and handed him his belonging. Dylan's smile just broadened and Starfire wished he wasn't wearing sunglasses. It made him seem unreadable.
"I was being sarcastic, sweetheart, and where're you going? Let me buy you lunch as a 'token of my gratitude', you know?" he sat down on the bench opposite hers and motioned for her to sit. Starfire opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke first. "Pretty please? I'm seven bucks richer now."
He was insisting, and Starfire didn't want to seem ungrateful for his way of showing thanks, so she nodded and resumed her place. Dylan caught a waitress's attention and ordered them two sodas. After the woman left, he turned back to Starfire.
"So... Starfire, huh? You're much more beautiful in person than I've seen in the news. Tell me about yourself," she thought he seemed honestly interested in her. This was turning out a lot different than what she was expecting. Instead of just handing him the wallet and going back to the Tower, here she was, having lunch with an attractive boy who wanted to know more about her. After all, her teammates did seem to tire of Tamaranian festivals and customs. I guess he is different. She found herself blushing and hoped the combination of the umbrella's shade and Dylan's sunglasses would conceal it. Unable to find a reason not to, Starfire asked if he'd ever heard of a planet called Tamaran.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Nothing better to lighten your mood than some nice butt-kickin', Beast Boy liked to think. He strolled back to his bedroom, towels around his waist and shoulders, feeling considerably better than this morning. That criminal in the city was a joke, but still a great excuse to get out and do something. He called dibs on the bathroom before they even got back and took a refreshing shower. He had almost completely forgotten about the previous night's argument until he found a neatly folded paper sticking half-out from under his door. Curious, he snatched and unfolded it as he hipped his door open. Switching on his overhead light and kicking the door closed behind him, he flopped onto the bottom of his bunk beds and scanned the letter. It was on plain loose leaf; the handwriting was a very neat print in black ink and read as:
Beast Boy--
I'd talk to you in person but I'm afraid of what would happen. This isn't like me, I know, but writing this won't cause anymore innocent take-out cartons to meet a sudden impending doom. Look, I won't beat around the bush, but I'm probably as equally upset as you are over last night's issue. That is, if you're even upset at all. Whatever, it doesn't matter, I'm apologizing anyway so we can clear this up and have peace of mind. Or something.
What you said... it's not that I don't want to be your friend. It's not like I hate you. It's not like I even think all of your jokes are foolish... only most of them. It's hard to maintain relationships and my powers at the same time. However, if you're thinking of Starfire, we have a mutual understanding of each other. She is aware of my need for meditation and emotional balance and I am aware of her need for friendship and conversation, so things ended up working out. There is no reason why we can't be friends, Beast Boy, but I think you can admit we make it difficult for each other. I don't think we understand one another.
I'm sorry for what I said. I do mean it. Guilt is not an emotion I'm used to dealing with and I'd like it to go away as soon as possible. If you're willing to start over I'm willing to listen.
-- Raven
P.S. Tell anyone else about this and I'll personally rip your vocal cords out.
Beast Boy dropped the note over the side of his bed, slightly shocked and mostly delighted. After thanking fate, karma, and Lady Luck, he grabbed the letter off the carpet and reread it. Sniggering, he tucked it under his pillow, then scrambled around his room looking for clean clothes.
A/N: Yay, this chapter's finally done! Yay! Yay! I snigger with Beast Boy! Coming up next: Starfire's afternoon with Dylan and Beast Boy confronts Raven. I know I'm looking forward to it! Reviews make me dance dance dance with glee!
Disclaimer: Ergh... you know!!
Just Roommates
Chapter 5 - Sprout
Starfire drummed her fingers on the red plastic table and wished she wore a wristwatch. I guess I am early... She sat under an equally red umbrella on the second-story patio of the pizza place Beast Boy adored so much, only this time, Beast Boy wasn't with her... or any of the Titans, for that matter. They were alerted at the Tower of a bank robbery in the city and promptly moved out. The power lines outside the bank had been conveniently zapped from the storm the night before, leaving it without electronic security. After the police arrived to haul off the nameless nobody, Starfire told her team she would remain in the city while they headed back. Questions arose, but Starfire wasn't going to be told otherwise, and whispered to Raven that she wanted to talk to her when she came back. Starfire walked to the restaurant instead of flying, not wanting to draw a lot of attention to herself, which she soon discovered was not easy to do.
Her table was close to the railing, so in an attempt to look casual, she cast a look over to the traffic below. She felt awkward, as if everyone around her was staring in her direction. Discovering that she felt awkward, she felt even more uncomfortable. Just walking down the street attracted the curious glances and whispers from other people, but why? Was it because she looked different? Was it because they recognized her as a Titan? Whatever it was, Starfire didn't like it. She hoped that Dylan wouldn't be the same, otherwise he would be considerably difficult to deal with. Suddenly stricken with nervousness, she grabbed the peeling black wallet from in front of her and, tossing it back and forth from hand to hand, shut her eyes. I honestly hope he is not like that. Her phone conversation a few hours ago couldn't help her decide.
"Speak," said a masculine voice on the other line after a few rings. Starfire gulped.
"Hello... my name is Starfire, and--"
"Heeey, baby, Starfire's a funny name," the slurred voice was cut off by another and the first began to laugh. After some background noise, the second, smoother voice responded.
"Hey, sorry about that, my friends are lame," more laughing in the background, "So, Starfire, what can I do for you?"
Starfire felt more and more embarrassed by each passing second, and, with as much calmness as she could muster, began again.
"Am I speaking with Mr. Dylan Conners?"
"You're speaking with Dylan Conners, but I'm no 'mister'. Call me Dylan," he said evenly. "Did I do something wrong?" Starfire could hear at least two other boyish voices in the background roaring with laughter. She shrunk into the couch, convinced she was doing something wrong.
"No, um, Dylan, but I have recently discovered your 'wallet' in the city and found your name and telephone number within it. I assume you would like it back?" she said slowly, gripping the couch cushion. She picked a god and thanked him that her friends were not in the room as well.
"Oh yeah, I did lose that, didn't I?" Dylan chuckled. "Well, I figured it wasn't a huge loss, considering there was only, like, twelve bucks in there, or something."
"Seven," Starfire corrected, remembering Beast Boy's disappointed over it.
"Heh, maybe you're right. I don't suppose a crime-fighting chick like yourself would steal money, right? Great. Well, what'd ya say we meet somewhere so I can pick it up? You're probably a busy woman, so I'll let you decide," he said, raising his voice a little over the catcalls from his friends.
"It matters not to me... I am not busy at the moment."
"Alright," he paused, "How about the pizza place on Fifth Ave? I hear you and your pals know the place."
"Yes, I do. When shall I meet you there?" Starfire assumed the place as the one they occupied weekly.
"How about two hours? I should make myself presentable for a lady like yourself," if Starfire knew what Dylan looked like, she would imagine him to be grinning right now.
"That is fine, but how will I locate you? I do not know what you look like."
"Trust me, I'll find you. See you later."
Biting her lip, she felt childish for not being able to properly use such a common Earth device. Actually, she did use it correctly... maybe there is something wrong with the way she speaks. She decided to ask Raven about it when she returned home, which was hopefully soon, when she was disturbed from her thoughts.
"I see my wallet is in the perfect condition I left it in," said a familiar voice. Starfire's eyes darted up to who must be Dylan. He smirked down at her from behind his wire sunglasses with not-so-white teeth and a healthy tan. His hair was dirty blonde and tousled, long enough for it to fall onto his forehead. He folded his arms over a red shirt that emphasized his chest muscles, which was half tucked into a pair of faded blue jeans with torn-up knees that didn't seem to go with the tasteful brown belt he had chosen. His shoes must have been white, but it was impossible to tell because of the dirt and perhaps oil all over them. All in all he looked considerably stylish and handsome, minus the terrible odor of smoke.
"I am sorry, this is the way I found it," Starfire stood up and handed him his belonging. Dylan's smile just broadened and Starfire wished he wasn't wearing sunglasses. It made him seem unreadable.
"I was being sarcastic, sweetheart, and where're you going? Let me buy you lunch as a 'token of my gratitude', you know?" he sat down on the bench opposite hers and motioned for her to sit. Starfire opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke first. "Pretty please? I'm seven bucks richer now."
He was insisting, and Starfire didn't want to seem ungrateful for his way of showing thanks, so she nodded and resumed her place. Dylan caught a waitress's attention and ordered them two sodas. After the woman left, he turned back to Starfire.
"So... Starfire, huh? You're much more beautiful in person than I've seen in the news. Tell me about yourself," she thought he seemed honestly interested in her. This was turning out a lot different than what she was expecting. Instead of just handing him the wallet and going back to the Tower, here she was, having lunch with an attractive boy who wanted to know more about her. After all, her teammates did seem to tire of Tamaranian festivals and customs. I guess he is different. She found herself blushing and hoped the combination of the umbrella's shade and Dylan's sunglasses would conceal it. Unable to find a reason not to, Starfire asked if he'd ever heard of a planet called Tamaran.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Nothing better to lighten your mood than some nice butt-kickin', Beast Boy liked to think. He strolled back to his bedroom, towels around his waist and shoulders, feeling considerably better than this morning. That criminal in the city was a joke, but still a great excuse to get out and do something. He called dibs on the bathroom before they even got back and took a refreshing shower. He had almost completely forgotten about the previous night's argument until he found a neatly folded paper sticking half-out from under his door. Curious, he snatched and unfolded it as he hipped his door open. Switching on his overhead light and kicking the door closed behind him, he flopped onto the bottom of his bunk beds and scanned the letter. It was on plain loose leaf; the handwriting was a very neat print in black ink and read as:
Beast Boy--
I'd talk to you in person but I'm afraid of what would happen. This isn't like me, I know, but writing this won't cause anymore innocent take-out cartons to meet a sudden impending doom. Look, I won't beat around the bush, but I'm probably as equally upset as you are over last night's issue. That is, if you're even upset at all. Whatever, it doesn't matter, I'm apologizing anyway so we can clear this up and have peace of mind. Or something.
What you said... it's not that I don't want to be your friend. It's not like I hate you. It's not like I even think all of your jokes are foolish... only most of them. It's hard to maintain relationships and my powers at the same time. However, if you're thinking of Starfire, we have a mutual understanding of each other. She is aware of my need for meditation and emotional balance and I am aware of her need for friendship and conversation, so things ended up working out. There is no reason why we can't be friends, Beast Boy, but I think you can admit we make it difficult for each other. I don't think we understand one another.
I'm sorry for what I said. I do mean it. Guilt is not an emotion I'm used to dealing with and I'd like it to go away as soon as possible. If you're willing to start over I'm willing to listen.
-- Raven
P.S. Tell anyone else about this and I'll personally rip your vocal cords out.
Beast Boy dropped the note over the side of his bed, slightly shocked and mostly delighted. After thanking fate, karma, and Lady Luck, he grabbed the letter off the carpet and reread it. Sniggering, he tucked it under his pillow, then scrambled around his room looking for clean clothes.
A/N: Yay, this chapter's finally done! Yay! Yay! I snigger with Beast Boy! Coming up next: Starfire's afternoon with Dylan and Beast Boy confronts Raven. I know I'm looking forward to it! Reviews make me dance dance dance with glee!