Okay, let's see if this one is longer than the last one… LOL. This first section, by the way, is a recap. Kay?
Unbeknownst to Them
See previous chapter.
Rated PG.
Disclaimer: I only own Life of the Party and Tanya.
Unbeknownst to Them
Robin
Starfire.
One word.
Two syllables.
Eight letters.
A million different explanations.
Starfire is… Starfire. It's the only way I can explain it, really. There are so many things about Starfire that just wouldn't… wouldn't…
God, this is hard to explain. Even to myself. There's really nothing I can say that can define her, or our predicament. I guess… I can start with the basic junk. It'll help…
Okay, Starfire is the Tamaranian red-head in our group called the Teen Titans. Everyone knows this. She's pretty, strong, and a very fast learner. She is teenage, a few inches taller than me, Robin, and the only girl in our group besides Raven. Everyone knows that too.
But what everyone doesn't know is that I love her. And she loves me. She's told me so. A long time ago, actually. (A/N: Around second season.) I remember it as if…
Bah. Let's not go there.
Anyway, yeah. We love each other. And, with that knowledge, we can't exactly be casual friends anymore. That would just be… dumb. Really dumb. You don't go up to someone and scream "I LOVE YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!!!" then just walk off and expect to see them at school the next day without a change. No. Not unless you, like, fell off a twenty story building, landed on your head, and have previously married a frog named George.
And I'm sure you haven't done that.
Most definitely I haven't. So, after we basically spilled our guts, we did the only reasonable thing there was to do.
We made out.
Yeah, yeah, let's all right now do the little Mommy-shocked thing. "Robin!" Tsk, tsk, shaky finger…
I'm rolling my eyes already.
So, after that, we decided that Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy would blow a gasket if they found out, so we did the stupid thing.
We decided to date in secret.
Which is why I'm so worried right now. For some strange reason, I just can't SHUT UP. Someone asks me a question, and the words just roll off my tongue. It's just scary.
Beast Boy: "How are you?"
Me: "I feel like I jumped out of a moving bus. What do you care?"
That's pretty much how conversations are going lately. I probably just need some bed rest. My mind is fried.
I don't know why I'm telling you this. Really. I guess, you look trustworthy. You won't tell, will you? Good.
End Robin
Robin dragged himself into the living room about an hour after his "chat" with Starfire. He flopped down wearily at Cyborg's side.
"Something bothering you, man?" asked Cyborg, not looking away from the TV.
Robin glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes. "Yeah."
"What is it?"
"Starfire," replied Robin simply.
"What's wrong with her? You two have been getting along really well lately."
Robin stared at moment, a fraction of color draining out of his face. After a moment he regained his composure and spoke. "I don't have a clue what's wrong, that's the problem," said Robin. "She's just…" He thought a moment. "She says she can't just shut up, like she HAS to talk, no matter what is asked of her. I don't understand why, but it's been happening to me as well." He looked confused. "Is there something wrong with us?"
Cyborg shrugged. "I haven't a clue. You're probably both just suffering from a stroke of conscience, that's all."
"That's just it, though, I don't feel like it's 'just a stroke of conscience.' It feels like I'm being controlled."
Cyborg said nothing, but was now leaning forward with wide eyes, staring at the TV with such an intensity Robin worried for a split second that it would explode.
Robin sighed, giving up, and decided not to worry about it. He would just continue on with his life as normal, and if this "stroke of conscience" became a problem, THEN he would do something about it.
He stood up and made his way down to the training room. He could think there. When he arrived, he found Beast Boy already punching the stuffing out of the punching dummy, a mixed look of determination and elation in his eyes. He smirked, bringing up his fists, kicking the dummy, bouncing back, and delivering two rough jabs at the "head" of it. He brought around his other hand and punched it hard, before turning and back kicking it right on the target mark.
Robin smiled and silently skirted around his green friend. He took to silently practicing in the mirror, punching at his reflection and blocking invisible blows. Eventually Beast Boy halted his attack on the dummy and strode over to practice beside Robin. They moved in perfect unison, almost as if they could read each other's minds.
"Something bothering you?" Beast Boy breathed, turning to back kick his reflection before blocking a nonexistent blow to his head.
Robin jabbed, stepping forward. "Yeah. Why?"
Beast Boy shrugged, causing his to stumble in mid-kick. Robin didn't even look at him and only continued to move gracefully and swiftly. Beast Boy quickly rejoined him. "No reason," panted Beast Boy, dodging left and right before feinting and delivering a firm punch at his reflection's middle. "You seem a little spaced."
Robin slowed, slowly bringing his arms to his sides and lowering his guard. He stared at his reflection, taking deep breaths.
"It's her, isn't it?" Beast Boy said quietly.
"Both of us," Robin answered instantly. "We just haven't been feeling too well after Life of the Party did… whatever he did to us. Do you think he poisoned us?"
Beast Boy had stopped sparring and looked at Robin with his normal delicate face. He shrugged. "How should I know? That's your area."
"Yeah, well…"
"Ask Cyborg."
"I did," said Robin. "He wigged out on me. He liked his show too much."
Beast Boy hid a grin by biting his lower lip. "Did you talk to Raven?"
"She's meditating," Robin said simply.
Beast Boy nodded in understanding. If Raven was meditating, no one should EVER bother her. "Well then, mind if I take a look at ya?" he joked.
Robin nodded. "Yeah, I do," he said flatly.
Beast Boy frowned. "I was only joking," he mumbled. "Anyway, uh… what kind of 'bad' do you mean, anyway?"
"Like dread bad," said Robin. "Guilt bad. That dark, gnawing, hollow sensation in the pit of my stomach. It's been there all day, bugging me every time I talk."
Beast Boy stared. "I know," he said suddenly. "You need to see a physiatrist."
Robin gave Beast Boy a murderous look. "I'm fine," he said darkly. He touched his own cheek, which still felt icy cold from where Life of the Party had kissed it. "I know this has something to do with what Life of the Party did to me."
"Exactly WHAT did he do to you?" demanded Beast Boy.
"I don't know," snapped Robin. He took a deep breath, shrugging his shoulders helplessly and shaking his head. "I don't know."
Beast Boy fell silent.
Author's Notes: NEVER KISSED IN MEH ENTIRE LIFE!!! Duuuuuude, I'm SOOOOOO SORRY for taking so long and leaving you with such a small post! Really, I am! I'm trying really hard, but one week I had too much homework and the next I had writer's block and… meh. (head spins) Look, I'm sorry. I hope you like what I've got! Thank you so much for being patient!