Chapter 3- Robin's Gift
Star passed out gifts to each titan and returned to her place on the couch. Beast Boy tore into his package first and Raven rolled her eyes.
"Dude!" he exclaimed with wide eyes. In his hands lay a pre-released copy of Mega Monkeys 5 (he "played" Mega Monkeys 4 in the episode "Crash") after drooling on himself for several minutes he was able to reluctantly place his gift down to watch the others. Cyborg shook his gift up and down a few times and unsure of what could be inside he opened his present and tossed the shiny green paper to the floor.
He beamed. Inside his package was leather seat covers for the T-car as well as a gift card to the all-you-can-eat steak lover's buffet. Beast Boy visibly cringed. "It's not all-you-can-eat man, it's eat-all-you-can!" he declared. Beast Boy recoiled.
"Star! Why'd you go off giving him a gift card for meat?" The green titan whined. Starfire laughed in that way of hers, the kind of laugh that reminded Robin of little silver bells and he felt like he was going to melt on the spot. Raven looked over and lifted a brow. He felt heat rise to his cheeks. Why did Raven have to be able to sense all his emotions? Robin sighed and went back to watching the others. Starfire was speaking.
"Friend Beast Boy, I am most terribly sorry but our dear friend Cyborg seems pleased with his certificate of gifts to the meat buffet…" she gave Beast Boy an imploring glance. Truly her vegetarian friend must understand her reasoning… Beast Boy groaned.
"Well, friend Cyborg is gonna start chomping on MY arm the next time I have to turn into a pig or something thanks to that meat buffet," he grumbled. Cyborg quirked his brow.
"Dawg, the next time you turn into a pig, gimme a call," he said skeptically. Robin saw Starfire's hurt face.
"Beast Boy, Cyborg, enough. Star, it was a great gift. Don't pay attention to Beast Boy, Cyborg loves it," he said comfortingly. Cyborg nodded. Starfire smiled again and Robin felt relief wash over him. Raven turned and frowned.
'You're seriously messing with my inner clam. Get a grip. I swear you're like a massive bundle of hormones right now,' Raven's voice entered Robin's head and he flushed for what seemed like the eightieth time that day. It was Raven's turn to open a gift. She unwrapped her package, daintily laying the paper on the floor. She looked at the gift. It was a set of three novels, a trilogy it seemed. There was A Dark Light, Consumed by Black Silk Claws, and The Ebony Eye. A small smile played on Raven's lips. It looked like Star had found something Raven would really like.
"I thought they sounded a little on the morbid side and thought you might…enjoy them," she spoke sheepishly. Raven nodded.
"Thanks, Star," Raven allowed a very small, smile to flicker across her face in order to humor her friend. Starfire beamed, picking up on the small gesture with utter enthusiasm.
Robin opened his carefully and smiled fondly at the red-head when he saw what she'd given him. She'd decorated a frame with a picture of the Titan's in it with beads and sequins. Starfire had been giving Robin bunny ears and Beast Boy had been trying and failing to make Raven look like she was smiling. A small note lay on top that simply read 'To my dearest friend.' Star moved over and embraced him. "You truly are my dearest friend," she said adoringly. He felt heat seep into his face and only through incredible self control was he able to keep from locking lips with her then and there.
Beast Boy leapt up and picked up three sloppily wrapped packages and one that was sloppy but seemed to have had considerable effort put in. Star opened her gift first and giggled. Sitting in her lap was a little pink, stuffed kitten with wide blue eyes. Robin inwardly cursed. He should have just gotten her something normal like that. Raven sent him a curious glance. He gritted his teeth. Could Raven just stay out of his mind for a little bit?
Cyborg opened his gift and clapped Beast Boy on the back. "Thanks dawg," he said amicably. He had received a new controller for the game station to replace the one he'd broken when he had smashed it in rage after being thoroughly kicked in the butt by Robin. Robin opened his gift and choked back a laugh. Beast Boy had taken one of his many, many, many capes (he was neurotic when it came to wearing clean uniforms, capes, ect.) and hot-glued on fake jewels and sequins.
"It's your clubbing cape," Beast Boy announced causing Robin and Cyborg to both burst out laughing. Starfire looked perplexed. Robin wished to club people while wearing a glittering cape? She observed that it was some form of joke and made no comment but simply pretended to find Beast Boy's comment amusing. The young, green boy looked at Raven, all giggling aside his face was uncharacteristically solemn. "Raven, I just want you to know that what you'll read in there… I really mean it. I really, really do," he said it with such conviction that Raven was almost afraid to open the obviously precious gift. Almost afraid, but not really.
Raven opened her gift primly, being careful not to show any emotion as she did so. She had to hold back a small gasp as she saw the contents of her present. It was the little heart-shaped box he'd given to Terra. She opened it, trying hard to make sure Beast Boy couldn't tell how… touched she was. In the box was a little note which had some painfully written words on it. She read it quietly to herself.
Raven,
I'm guessing you recognize this box. Well I don't mean to be rude by giving this to you after giving it to someone else first but… it means a lot. I guess you don't know how much thought it took for me to make this gift for Terra… being as smart as you are and all. Well I just wanted to tell you, I don't really know what you're going to do with it, but you've got my heart in your hands now. It's ok if you get mad at me but I really wanted to let you know that you're the only person I think I've ever actually loved.
All of my heart,
BB
Raven swallowed hard and instinctively pulled up her hood. A light bulb shattered down the hall. "I-I do understand… it's not rude at all. Thank you, so much. I know what it meant to you. And… back beneath the mistletoe, it wasn't that bad," The fact there was actually a little emotion in her voice as she spoke was enough for Beast Boy. He smiled while the others looked on. They were unsure of what Beast Boy had written but had obviously been very heartfelt.
The rest of gift opening was uneventful. Cyborg gave them all gift cards and cash, Robin gave everyone new laptops he'd gotten Bruce Wayne to pre-release to him. Robin looked at Star now, his face serious. "This… is your gift," he said quietly handing Star the little package from his pocket. She looked at him, her eyes wide before unwrapping her gift and producing a white gold locket. She gasped. Robin suddenly found his shoes very interesting. He heard a small click as Star opened the locket and he bit his lip, looking intently at a speck of dust on his gloves. He heard Starfire sniff. Was she crying?! He looked up and indeed she was, staring at the little picture he put inside. It had been one of just him and her at the park last year when they'd been left at the tower alone. He got up and gave Star a mournful look.
"I'm so sorry Star… I shouldn't have gotten you something like that…I don't know what I was thinking," he rushed hastily from the room and she heard the door to the roof slam shut.
"Robin…" she called after him. Raven rubbed her temples. Why did Robin have to be such and idiot? There was no reason for Star to get upset. She'd been crying because she thought it was beautiful. That stupid dolt! Hadn't he ever heard of tears of joy? Starfire stood. "I must… go speak with Robin. I believe he may have gotten the wrong impression…" she trailed off as she followed Robin's path up to the roof.
Ok Guys. One Chapter to go. I'm sorry this sounded a little weepy towards the end but I just wanted to show that Robin is very sensitive when it comes to his relationship with Star and he was afraid she wouldn't like his gift or get offended or something. I know there wasn't as much BBxRae fluff as I'd planned but you guys will get a little more next chapter. If you really like BBxRae fluff I have a story called Of Black Spells and Green Magic being posted that's really concentrated on their relationship.