Italics are thoughts. I don't own the Teen Titans. Get it, got it, doubt it.
Just kidding.
She watched him standing in the doorway, arms crossed, lost in thought as his friends departed. Why had he chosen to stay behind? As judgmental as it might sound, she didn't buy the story he had cooked up for the rest of the Titans. He had something else on his mind, and when he turned to stare at her, her suspicions were confirmed. His eyes were glazed over, in the manner of one who is not really seeing the world around him, but rather, is looking inside himself for something.
They stood in awkward silence for a moment before Setsuna finally decided there was nothing for it but to say something.
"Soooooo." Robin looked at her, though his eyes were still slightly out of focus. "I guess I'd better get to work if I expect to make my room anywhere near decent by the time I go to bed. With that, she turned to go. Robin watched her go, only taking in half of what she was saying. He couldn't help but notice the rhythmic swaying of her hips, and the way the fabric of her skirt mimicked her movements.
Raven had told them all how Starfire, against Setsuna's vigorous protests, had persuaded the girl to wear some of her purchases home. He'd barely been able to keep from staring when she had come in the doorway, wearing a chocolate brown crimped style skirt, and a shirt that had the words "You aren't drunk until you're falling off the floor" scrawled across the back. Finally, Robin snapped out of it in time to see her reach the foot of the stairs.
"Hang on". He sprinted lightly after the girl. She turned halfway so that she could look comfortable across her shoulder at him, one eyebrow raised to show that he had her attention. When does he not have your attention? "I'll help you. You'll be able to get done a lot faster with two sets of hands at work. And if you need help putting anything together, or hanging something on the wall, I'll already be on hand." He smiled so charmingly that she didn't have the heart to tell him that she was quite capable of doing those things herself. Besides, it's not like you'd mind having him in your room, would you? Not in the least. She resisted the urge to let a slightly wicked smile tug at her lips. She had no idea where these thoughts came from, and could suppress them about as easily as you could keep water from running downhill.
"Sure, why not. I'd really appreciate the help." And she paused a moment before sending a winning smile his direction. He melted, and for just a minute, let himself enjoy the emotion that was turning his knees to jelly. Like a gentleman, he offered her his arm, and though she laughed, she willingly slipped her arm through his.
Once they had reached her room, they set to work, opening packages and discussing where each item would look its best or have the best effect. He helped her spread out the new sheets she had gotten on her bed, and nearly died laughing when she somehow managed to get herself entangled in her new black satin covers. As they worked, they sat, companions of the same project, and talked of inconsequential things. Such as what movies they liked, what they thought of their friend's peculiarities, and their hobbies. He learned that she had been taking dance lessons since she was very young. And she didn't take just the normal ones, such as tap and ballroom dancing. She joined any dance class that she could get her hands on besides ballet. It just wasn't her style. She had been taking a few martial arts classes, although she admitted willingly that she wasn't really proficient with them. Hours passed in this way, both talking less and less as time went by. It was 10:30 by the time they finished, and the other Titans still weren't home. The two young people lay on her floor, simply enjoying the peace and listening to the wind whistling past her open window.
"Beast Boy must have dragged them out to a party or something. I hear a new club opened up downtown and it's supposed to run all night. BB will most likely be trying to impress all the girls with his macho-ness, and failing miserably". Setsuna giggled once, then continued to do so when Robin raised an eyebrow at the girlish sound.
"Hmm. I like that. It's very musical." He grinned viciously when she blushed at the comment, but it also made him wonder. He couldn't help but feel the slightest twinge of pleasure whenever he made her blush. She was such a forthright person that she rarely felt the need to blush if something embarrassing happened to her. But she certainly blushed enough when she was given a compliment, which made him think that she didn't receive them that often. But why? Anyone with eyes could tell that she was pretty, and talented as well.
As though she could read his mind, she turned to face him slightly, a faint blush still coloring her cheeks. He lay on his back at the moment, arms propping up his head while he stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. She lay on her side facing him, one arm draped across her side, the other curled up under her head, so that the side of her face wasn't resting on the floor. She somehow got the feeling that his thoughts were on her, though she couldn't imagine why they would be. You like him. Yes, she knew she liked him, but that didn't mean that he liked her. It's a possibility. Well, maybe. She relaxed a little, letting her mind drift away, towards the friends that she had made this day, and the home she had found with them.
Starfire was like a kid sister, despite the fact that the alien girl was most likely older than she was. Star was enthusiastic, bright eyed, optimistic, and definitely someone Setsuna would enjoy spending time at the mall with. Star was also someone who would understand her own intense joy of flight. She couldn't help the broad smile that crossed her face when she remembered just how eagerly Star had questioned her about her likes, dislikes, hobbies, and thoughts on boys. She had confessed to Star that boys were a most confusing puzzle to her. Beast Boy was most definitely the younger brother of the group. He was the best friend who would stop at nothing to make you laugh if you were down. She chuckled a little, remembering the green changelings antics, and caught Robin looking at her, trying to think of what could be so funny. She wondered how much quieter the tower would be, and how much more somber its teammates, if not for the shape shifter. Raven was a total enigma. That was all there was to it. But in time, Setsuna liked to think that they might be friends. They had at least two things in common. The first was their love for books. When she had still been living with her parent's, her favorite place to hang besides the mall had been the Books-a-million. There, she could grab something that looked interesting, curl up like a little cat in one of their complimentary chairs, and go undisturbed for hours. She also shared Raven's love for the arcane, simply because her own power, chaos, was the source of all magic. No longer, for the beings of this universe had found a way to harness it and tame it, giving it order with the use of incantations and spoken words. But the essence of magic itself was ultimately drawn from chaos. And she had seen the interest in Raven's eyes when the dark girl had been watching Setsuna spin rocks from the air on the obstacle course. Cyborg was most definitely someone Setsuna could hang with and feel just fine. She thought of him as the big brother of the group, and a spark of warmth ignited in her whenever she thought of his love for his "baby". An artist, by her opinion, was someone who put their heart and soul into what they loved, be it singing, writing, acting, dancing, or just creating. And Cy's T-car was a masterpiece.
And what about Robin?? She sighed, turning to look at him once more, and found him staring back at her. She felt startled. Had he been staring at her the entire time? She had avoided thinking about him because he caused a whirlwind of emotions that she couldn't really explain. It was similar to the crush she had once had on dance instructor, but much stronger, and much more...sincere? She wasn't terribly sure how to sort it out. But this time it was much more difficult to avoid with him sitting not but two feet away from her, looking for all the world as though he were waiting for her to take some sort of action. He cocked an eyebrow at her again, a silent question that read quite clearly "why are you staring at me?"
It wasn't his looks that really intrigued her, though he was certainly eye candy enough. With his spiky black hair and the anonymity that went with his mask, he was décor enough for any room that had ladies in it. But that wasn't it. He was a gentleman, a leader, and a friend rolled all into one. There was also a subtle hinting that he could be something more.
She suddenly jerked back as he moved right in front of her face.
"Ummm. This is about the fifth time I've asked you why you're staring at me." She brushed a lock of hair from her cheek and grinned sheepishly at him.
"Sorry. I was...thinking." Sitting up, she turned her face to look out the window to cover her confusion, and something caught her eye. In her excitement, she reached over to Robin to get his attention.
"Look! A shooting star!" She closed her eyes to make a wish. Robin could hardly form a rational thought. Most likely she had simply meant to grab his arm to make him look. Somehow, her hand landed on his thigh. And stayed there. He felt something hot and charged rush through his body, like an adrenaline rush mixed with poison, packed with caffeine, and enough stimulants to put even someone like Batman on the moon. He sat up, and when she felt the movement, she jerked. Realizing where her hand had been, she quickly drew it back. It was an honest mistake, and she saw no reason why she should be blushing, but the simple contact had sent chills up her spine, and naughty thoughts racing across the front of her eyes like wildfire. She brushed the images aside, and when she had finished, noticed that he had moved even closer to her. Uncertainly, she opened her mouth to speak.
"Uhhmm. Robin?" He leaned farther forward, the expression on his face the one of someone torn between logic and emotion.
"Setsuna, I know this sounds like we're rushing things a bit, but..." he froze, and an image flashed to the front of her mind. It was a recurring image that always came to her whenever she was about to make a life altering decision. She stood on the brink of a deep chasm. If she made the right choice, she would fall over the brink into the unknown, still alive and ready to take the next plunge that came her way. To make the wrong decision meant that a wall appeared, barring her escape, and pushing her onto the rocks below. It was a frightening image, but quite accurate. She considered Robin, waiting patiently for him to gather his thoughts.
"Would you like to go out with me?" Well. I didn't expect that. She nodded, trying to find the words to express the exultation flooding her mind.
"I'd like that more than I could say." She had figured that would have been the end of this trauma. He would smile, ask her where they should go, tell her what time he would get her, and that would be that. So why was he leaning even closer to her. Involuntarily, she leaned back, glad that she wasn't in a cross-legged position. When he finally came to a stop, he was on his hands and knees, and she was leaned back with her legs curled underneath him.
He felt the want swarming all other thoughts under, but he would never, could never, force himself on someone. He could see curiosity warring with uneasiness in her eyes, and knew that if he ever brought fear to those delicate features, he would hate himself for eternity. Knowing that if he did this much longer, she might begin to grow worried, he leaned over until his lips brushed her earlobe. Her breathing hitched, causing even more pressure as her firm, curved chest rose with her sudden intake, taking away any distance between their bodies.
"Can I kiss you?" His voice was hushed with longing, but the air crossing her ear and neck sent a chill down her spine that nearly immobilized her. What?!? I definitely didn't expect this! Wordlessly, she nodded, and his hand slid slowly up her side. Crimson eyes widened in sudden understanding. He was the one that had trailed ice up her side that night! She had been sure it was a dream, but his touch removed all doubt from her mind. His muscles slid against hers as he drew back a little, but when he finally had her fully in his sight, he hesitated. Her eyes shone with excitement, and apprehension. He wanted to banish that look from her face. To make her sure that she never had a need to be apprehensive around him. That she could trust him with her life, and more.... Somehow, he instinctively understood what she was feeling in that moment. There was no denying the way he had seen her watching him. But after what she had told them, he knew. She was eager to explore something that she had never experienced before. It was her nature to hold the world in wonder, and every new experience was a treasure. But it was also her way to cause other people as little pain as possible. And she was tired of being left. Tired of being abandoned by people she thought she could trust. She was worried that she might fall, and no one would be there to stop her. She was afraid that if she let things go to far, he would abandon her like everyone else had.
"I would never. I will never." His lips brushed hers with a tenderness that she hardly recalled seeing. Often on her rambles through the city, one of her friends had brought their boyfriends with them, and she had watched their make out sessions with curiosity if nothing else. They hadn't exactly go out of their way to avoid the public when they "got lost in the moment". What she had seen from them was nothing like this. They had mashed their lips against each other, mouths roving everywhere except where they were supposed to be, hands groping, tongues lashing. There was no gentleness to it, and to tell the truth, it had somewhat unnerved her. Was that what love was supposed to be? No. She refused to believe it. And she was glad, because Robin was nothing like them. The pent up emotion in his words, his desire to put her at ease, and the warmth of his body. They were intoxicating in a way that made it near impossible for her to restrain herself. His words only enhanced the already tense atmosphere. Her movement was as sudden as a cat pouncing, evidence that she'd had no luck restraining herself.
His mind exploded. It was like fire! It was nothing he had ever experienced. He was drowning the sea of emotions driven by his own sexuality. He knew it was his hormones trying to drive his thoughts, but in this moment, he didn't want to worry about it. It was only his need to show Setsuna that she could trust him that kept him from giving in to the fire burning in his veins. He wanted to clutch her to him and crush her lips to his. He wanted to...............NO! I won't frighten her. This is too soon. We haven't even gone out yet! Slowly, carefully, he broke the contact. One kiss. One kiss had brought Robin, the leader of the Teen Titans and one of the most composed people in the world, crumbling. Sweat ran down his forehead as he fought his desires. He had never experienced anything this...............violent, before. She leaned back beneath him. All he would have to was lean forward and let his emotions spill over her. But then she might never open up to him. Only one kiss. A smile broke the pensiveness of his thoughts. She's blushing like a schoolgirl.
And indeed she was. She had never been kissed before. Not even casually. She was what her mother had used to call a late bloomer. Guys had loved having her as a friend, because she could be one of the guys and still listen to their problems. But this? None of them had seen her as capable of something like this. This could be addictive.
"Well." Robin stood in one fluid motion and held his hand out to her. She gratefully took it, if only to keep him from seeing the trembling in her legs.
"Yes?" She didn't see why he was being so awkward. She couldn't help but smile at him, which seemed to wipe the worries from his mind. He stepped forward and placed the lightest of kisses on her forehead.
"Goodnight. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."