Chapter 4
Robin sat in the uncomfortably large study, on an uncomfortably large sofa. He felt like he was about to be swallowed up. The door opened and a butler came in.
"Some tea, Master Richard?" He asked. Robin nodded.
"Thanks Alfred. Is he going to be long?"
"I really couldn't say, Master Richard. You know him. But if you're worried about the journey home I can have a driver take you."
"No, I have my R-cycle. I was just wondering." Robin said, taking the hot cup. Alfred smiled kindly.
"It's good to have you back, Master Richard."
"Thanks Alfred." Robin smiled as the butler left.
In truth, he didn't like the mansion. The ridiculously large rooms were cold and haunting. He could understand why Bruce had wanted him to come back, even if it was only for a short time. Robin watched the large fire flicker.
The door swung open and a powerful looking man strode in his. His jet black hair was tinted with a few streaks of grey and although he looked powerful, lines were imprinted in his face. He smiled at the boy.
"Robin."
"Bruce." They shook hands. Bruce sat down in an armchair, pouring himself a drink.
"How are you?" He asked as he did so.
"You mean, since yesterday? Pretty much the same." Robin said wryly. Bruce smiled.
"I know, I'm sorry for dragging you all the way out here. It's just that…"
"People get lonely at Christmas?"
"Exactly. I'm not as young as I used to be, you know. I like to see what's happening outside of Gotham occasionally."
"Well, Beast Boy hasn't stopped cooking since yesterday. I don't know who's going to eat all of that food. Cyborg managed to get the car started this morning and Raven and Starfire were going shopping this afternoon. So things have been getting better."
"Plans for Christmas?"
"I think Beast Boy's cooking for us. So it'll be some kind of tofu." Bruce laughed and downed his drink.
"I'll send you a hamper. Something of the non-tofu variety."
"You don't have to do that. Although… if you wanted to come over, you and Alfred. Unless you already have plans…"
"I'll have to see." Bruce said. He eyed Robin.
"So… how are the Titans getting on together? It can't be easy, a group of teenagers living together."
"It's cool. We each play a role and it kinda balances everything out. Cyborg keeps everything running smoothly. Beast Boy cheers us up. Raven makes everything real. And Starfire… Starfire is just positive about everything." A pink tinge touched his cheeks. Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"How old are you now, Robin?"
"Sixteen."
"And Starfire?"
"A hundred and forty two." Bruce gaped. "Oh, that's in Tamaranian years. Starfire's sixteen too."
"Oh… I see." Bruce swilled his drink and put the glass down.
"Have you told Starfire how you feel about her?"
"What?"
"Don't look so surprised. It's obvious." Bruce eyed him and Robin shifted nervously.
"You know Robin, I think it's time we had a little chat."
"About what?" Robin asked nervously.
"Well, usually it would be a father's place to talk to you about this but since we're both here we might as well. There comes a time, in a young man's life-"
"I gotta go!" Robin said, jumping to his feet and running out.
Bruce grinned. Never failed to make someone uncomfortable.
Robin took off his helmet and went into the living room of Titans Tower. As he walked in, Raven pushed past.
"What's her problem?" He asked. Beast Boy grumbled,
"The problem is that Raven is ruining this for everyone!"
"What happened?"
But Beast Boy had run out. Robin looked at Cyborg who was sitting in the middle of the floor with a bag of mail, sorting it into piles.
"Whoa. This for us?"
"Yeah. That's yours." He pointed at a large pile. Robin picked up the top parcel and opened it. To his embarrassment a pair of silk underwear fell out. He picked it up gingerly, as if it might explode. Cyborg stared at it for a moment and then rolled over laughing.
"Geez, man!" he giggled hysterically. Robin glared at him.
"Shut up, Cyborg."
"Underwear? I can't wait to tell BB!"
"You don't tell anyone about this!" Robin threatened.
"Friends, I have returned!" Starfire called in a cheerful voice. Robin gasped in horror and turned as Starfire came in, holding lots of parcels. Her eyes fell on him and then, inevitably, to the silk underwear in his hand. Her eyes widened and she went red.
"Oh! I-I am sorry for intruding." She ran to the door before Robin could move.
He sank onto a chair in despair, throwing the underwear as far from him as possible. Cyborg looked at him.
"You should go and talk to her."
"What am I going to say? She just saw me holding silky underwear. Even Starfire knows that silky underwear is not good."
"Come on, she'll understand. She's so into you she wouldn't care if you were wearing the underwear and dancing around to Britney Spears." Cyborg said, still sorting mail. Robin shook away the disturbing mental picture and stood up.
"OK… I'll go and find her."
Starfire sat on the round bed in her room, still red with embarrassment. She distracted herself by putting the presents away and tidying her room.
There was a knock at the door.
"Starfire? It's… it's me. Robin. Can I come in?" Starfire replied in shrill voice.
"Robin! Yes, please enter." He came in, looking as red as she felt.
"Um… Starfire, what just happened… it wasn't… I mean, I didn't…" She watched him with enormous green eyes. He sighed.
"That underwear. It's not mine. Well, it was sent to me. But it's not mine."
"Who would send you such a peculiar parcel?"
"Um… fans, I guess. People are weird, Starfire. But the point is that I'm sorry you had to see that."
Starfire smiled in relief.
"I am merely relieved that you were not wearing such an… unusual item of clothing."
"No! Never. I would never wear anything like that!" Robin assured her hurriedly. Starfire smiled.
"I am glad. Shall we partake in some entertainment so we may forget the whole ordeal?"
"Absolutely, I am ready to forget."
"Then come! We shall play the videogames or watch the television!" She seized his hand and pulled him out of the room.
Robin grinned as they sped down the hallway. At least she didn't think he was pervert. That was a good start.