Technically, it was Christmas Day.
Robin and Starfire hadn't slept so much as a wink the entire night. First they'd been too worried about their respective problems, then they'd been enjoying one another's company too much. Thus, when dawn started to peek over the horizon and they realized just how late/early it was, they decided to head inside and out of the snow. It was almost a foot high now on some parts of the island.
So they'd gone inside. Prepared and drank some hot chocolate, stirred up the fire and re-activated the heaters since Titan's Tower now had power running through it. Neither spoke much. There was no need for it. They seemed to know, on an almost instinctive level, what the other was thinking.
Thus, when Starfire happened to glance at the presents sitting under the Christmas tree...
"... oh what the heck?" asked Robin rhetorically. "The others won't mind, I'm sure."
So Robin sat down and crossed his legs before him, resting comfortably on the floor as Starfire plopped herself down across from him, the presents resting between them. By unspoken consent, they decided to only open their gifts to one another. It wouldn't be fair to Cyborg, Beastboy and (apparently) Raven to open their gifts without them being present. Starfire handed her gift, a long, thin box wrapped lovingly in green and red to Robin, and he handed his to her, a much smaller one, a tiny box no more than a foot long, high and wide the color of azure skies covered in white snowflakes.
"Who goes first?" he asked jokingly.
"I... I am not knowing," she replied hesitantly. "Does it matter?"
"Not really... you go first, Star," Robin replied.
Starfire nodded. Last year she'd torn into her gifts with little care much like Beastboy had shown her, eager to find out what was inside and tossing the wrappings aside to be discarded. This year, however, she could sense a much more solemn air to it. And thus she took apart the gift with a slow, delicate touch, well aware of how Robin was watching her. And smiling.
Finally, she tore open the last of the wrappings and found a small box within, immediately sliding that open as well. Curiously, inside lay nothing more than a single silver disk, perhaps no larger than her palm. It was covered in a myriad of strange, alien symbols, but she didn't recognize any of them. They weren't English... her absorption of the language a few years ago had included written as well as verbal versions of the language. Nor was it Tamaranian or any of the other languages she'd learned in her lifetime. She couldn't even begin to guess at its purpose.
Unless it was a rather fancy drink coaster, that is.
Curious, Starfire picked it up out of its wrappings and held it in her palm, looking at it curiously. "It is... uhm... very nice?" she asked, only half-convinced. It was rather pretty, a shiny and rather new mercury-silver look to it, covered in the runes. But she still had no idea what it was for.
Robin, expecting this, reached out and gently took her hand, letting her hold the disk before her. "It's an illusitron," explained the Boy Wonder. "Martian technology... it creates a small illusion over empty space. J'onn brought a few with these of him from his homeworld ages ago, and Wayne Enterprises recently managed to make passable copies... not available to the public, of course.," he added with a smirk. Starfire matched it. She knew well enough why. Wayne Enterprises was the secret benefactor and financial backer of the Justice League, much as the Stone family (particularly Dr. Silas Stone) was the public benefactor of the Titan's and, more importantly, Titan's Tower.
"You just push this rune here, and it activates... like so," he said, and pressed one of the runes, which immediately lit up with a soft white glow. And the disk itself gave off a soft hum as the circular side, facing up, glowed white. An image coalesced above it, so very realistic that Starfire could've sworn it was real, though she knew it was not the case.
And not just any image either.
Robin and Starfire... dancing. It was an image from the prom dance they'd shared, the one from Kitten's High School. The 'Date with Destiny.' But it was not like the photo album, an image forever set in stone. As she watched, the two figures began to dance, in a slow circle, the center of the disk. Always with their eyes on one another, never stopping, never doing anything more than dance. The back of her mind realized the illusitron must have been on a perpetual loop. But she wasn't even thinking, she was just admiring her gift.
It was... the best gift she'd ever received.
Gently, she reached out and pushed the carved martian rune that Robin had, de-activating the illusitron and allowing it to become nothing more than a silvery disk once more. "Thank you," she whispered softly. Then, remembering herself, and not wanting to appear rude or impolite, she picked up her own gift and offered it to Robin.
Like her, he took his time, wanting to savor this moment and remember it in the future. The incident with Overload had shown him just how valuable his memories were. And he didn't intend to lose a single one ever again. Especially not one of Starfire and his friends.
Slowly, he opened up the package Starfire had presented to him and peered inside. A stern face peered up at his. A face only an inch high, sculptured out of some sort of strange material. Curious, Robin reached inside, brushing aside some protective fluff to keep the figure safe and pulled it out. It was some sort of alien (Tamaranian, likely) warrior not unlike an ancient Aztec figurine. A warrior dressed in ancient and ornate Tamaranian battle-robes and bearing a long-haired, dark-eyed look. It was intricately designed, so much so that Robin suspected it wasn't quite as old as the figure depicted therein. It would've taken lasers to make such precise cuts.
"Wow," he murmured in appreciation.
"You... you like it then?" asked Starfire.
"I do... who is it?" he asked, curious. He didn't know all that much about Tamaran's native history or culture (though he knew a heck of a lot more than Beastboy, Cyborg, and Raven put together). This could've been anyone, really.
"That is the likeness of Risholfor, from the Legend of Dariand'r," she replied with a bright smile. "One of my favorite stories. The figure is said to bring luck to warriors and heroes... I could think of no greater gift for you, Robin," she replied shyly.
She did not add that the image of Risholfor bore a rather striking image to someone she knew. Someone she'd met once, after a nearly disastrous Blorthog and having been swept into the future. Someone she was starting to see more and more of every day she was around Robin. And so she'd been truthful in saying she could not have thought of a better gift for Robin.
Risholfor bore a rather striking resemblance (barring the costume, of course) to Nightwing.
"Can you tell me about this Legend of Dariand'r?" he asked, managing not to stumble over the strange alien name. None of the other Titans had managed to catch the subtleties of the Tamaranian language, but Robin might've been a native. He didn't know many actual words (except a few curses Blackfire had taught him) but he got the nuances right, at least.
Starfire nodded at his request. "Dariand'r was a brave and valiant warrior and the leader of her tribe long, long ago. Her people where under attack by a great and terrible enemy and prayed for deliverance. She was given a vision by X'Hal centuries ago and undertook a quest to gain great power and save her people. Risholfor, whom she later married, was her second-in-command and the most valiant warrior ever to stand at her side. Risholfor and Dariand'r saved one another's lives more times than could be counted. They and their companions fought against the evil for many years and finally drove it from the land, bringing peace to Tamaran."
"That does sound quite epic," he replied with a smile. Reminded him of some early Earth myths, actually. "So this thing brings luck to warriors?" he asked, holding up the figurine with newfound respect.
She nodded. "It does, it works much like the foot of rabbit, or so I am told," she replied. "There were four other sorts of figurines too, one for each of the companions."
"Companions?" he asked.
"Oh yes! There was Dariand'r and Risholfor, of course... and Hallos'ar, the outcast who had lost his people and found solace in the wilds, and became a great master of beasts... and then there was Randl'ra, the mystic who interpreted Dariand'rs dreams and aided them with her prayers to X'hal... and the final was a great weapon smith who forged the great arms that allowed Dariand'r and Risholfor to conquer their enemies. Though history never recorded his name, they say he was lame in his left leg, and had crafted a replacement for it himself."
Robin smiled, holding the figure protectively close. "Thank you Starfire... I'll take good care of Risholfor here. I promise. I hope I can hear more about that Legend later... it sounds interesting."
"I could translate the Tamaranian text, I brought a copy with me after our last trip to Tamaran... since I might not be returning home again. Or, rather... because I am home."
"And we're glad to have you," he replied.
Their tender moment, was, fortunately, not interrupted, though it was not as private as the Boy Wonder and the Tamaranian Princess might've realized. Hiding in the shadows of the hallway, three pairs of eyes were watching the two lovebirds exchange their gifts. One was a wide pair of mischievous green eyes. The second, just above them, were half-closed with either boredom or weariness and were a lavender shade. The third, the highest above them both, were a mix-matched warm brown and cold red.
"They look like they're having fun," remarked Raven in her monotone but not uncaring voice.
"Let's not interrupt then," replied Cyborg.
"But what about -our- presents?" Beastboy whispered up at them both. And of course was immediately rewarded by two glaring pairs of eyes. He immediately shut up. In fact, he slipped away from them back down the corridor, morphing into a snake to aid his quiet movements. He had his own way of celebrating he wanted to take care of. Starfire and Robin were still making goo-goo eyes at one another when he returned about twenty minutes later, and Cyborg and Raven hadn't noticed Beastboy yet. Perfect. Carefully, he maneuvered himself into position, readying his most spectacular plan yet. One that was sure to make her smile.
"Ooooooh Raven," he sing-sang ever so cheerfully. "Look where're yoooou're standing....!"
Raven's eyes opened wide as she turned, already realizing exactly where she was standing... under a mistletoe... next to Beastboy. A mistletoe held in his hand, carefully held over her head. And there was no way she could react in time, no way she could obliterate the stupid little plant or knocked Beastboy away either physically or with her powers. She was helpless...!
But all he did was kiss her, really. Not even on the lips. He must've known she would've killed him if he'd kissed her on the lips. Instead his lips brushed feather-light against her cheek. She couldn't really kill him for just one harmless little peck, now, could she?
She -could- throttle him to within an inch of his life though.
"BEASTBOY!!!" she roared.
Starfire and Robin's heads both snapped up in an instant to watch the rather comical display of a green rabbit bounding into the living room and right past them, being pursued by an angry sorceress hurling black energy bolts after him. Which, for some peculiar reason, never seemed to hit. Beastboy always seemed to know the exact instant to jump as he bounded to the other side of the room, Raven in hot pursuit.
"It was worth it!" shouted Beastboy, briefly shifting into his humanoid form to proclaim his statement before reforming into a frog and continuing to bound about the room, dodging Raven's black energy bolts. He sprang out of the room, and Raven zoomed after him with fire in her eyes.
"Beastboy!" she roared after him, the call echoing throughout the Tower.
"Oh man," remarked Cyborg, coming into the room (no real point in hiding anymore, Starfire and Robin had both spotted him) and scratching his head. "BB sure has guts, I'll give 'im that..."
"Just how long have you three been there?" asked Robin. He folded his arms across his chest, trying to look menacing, but a happy grin had been perpetually glued onto his face since the events of last night. He failed utterly.
"Long enough, man... long enough."
"Well I suppose we should stop Raven before she decapitates Beastboy..." remarked Robin.
"Yeah... any volunteers?" asked Cyborg.
"Uh..."
Starfire's sudden laughter interrupted both of them, and they turned to see her standing by one of the windows, peering down at something neither of them could see. Curious, Cyborg and Robin joined her, peering down at the snow-covered Titan's island to a most peculiar display.
That is, if you happen to consider that Beastboy was shifting forms, gathering up snow, and hurling it at Raven in a bizarre manner of a snowball fight and Raven was, equally peculiar, playing along, hurling back great boulders of snow with her telekinetic powers. She still sounded very angry though, and her throws were a little rough to be just friendly play.
If you consider that peculiar.
"Huh... don't see that every day," remarked Cyborg. "But my main man's in trouble... 'scuse me," he said, reaching out and tapping a button on the side of the large window. Instantly it slid open, allowing a cool breeze to penetrate the room. Cyborg immediately leapt out and down alongside Beastboy, grabbing up a pile of snow and hurling it playfully at Raven, who knocked it aside with a black energy shield.
"Shall we join them?" asked Starfire, glancing over at Robin.
Robin dared a look over the edge of the window. It was rather a long way down, and he still hadn't recovered his utility belt from the previous evening. However, his problem was solved when Starfire offered him his hand.
"Sure," he said with a smile, taking her hand. She floated them both down into the snow, where he joined the boys and Starfire teamed up with Raven, and the Teen Titans had the snowball war to end all snowball wars. Not quite an Epic, but they sure had fun.
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It seemed like hours later that the Titans had finally managed to finish their war (the outcome was a mixed story, depending on who you asked) and headed back inside to get warm, drink hot chocolate, gather 'round the Christmas tree, and open presents.
Raven tore open her latest gift as the others watched her, the five Titans seated in a loose circle to see how the others liked or hated their presents, each amassing his or her own pile near where they sat. So far Raven had some meditation incense from Robin and a few hair ornaments from Starfire, and now was opening (with more than a little dread) Beastboy's present. She could only imagine what he'd got her. Something childish, something overly romantic, something downright creepy. Steeling herself, she made a final gesture, and the box was engulfed in a black aura briefly before it opened up, revealing its contents.
A scarf.
A simple red and green Christmas scarf covered in white snowflakes. Curious, she lifted it up out of the box, holding it out before her, then glanced curiously at Beastboy, raising an eyebrow. There had to be some sort of catch, knowing him.
"Uhm... thank you?" she inquired. Honestly, first hair ornaments then this? What was she, a Barbie doll?
"It's for winter, wouldn't want you to freeze your cape off," he said jokingly. Then, gesturing at the item in her hands encouragingly, he added "put it on."
"Perhaps later," Raven replied, placing it aside.
"Oh come on Raven, put it on... its Christmas tradition!" whined Beastboy, turning to the others for support.
"Oh yes friend Raven, do try it on, you would look so..." Starfire started to babble, but stopped by the next word. Raven did not enjoy being referred to as 'cute.' "... nice?"
"No," replied the gothic sorceress, levitating her next gift and sending it around the circle to its new owner. Her latest victim being Cyborg, who tore open the package and tossed things aside to eagerly see what lay within. Already at his side rested a video game (Robin) and a music CD (Beastboy) that he'd already acquired. His new gift, however, was rather curious, and he pulled it up out of the box to see what it was. A series of chains looped around one another. Heavy metal chains.
"Uh..."
"Snow tires," explained Raven. "For 'your baby'," she added with a smirk.
"Oh wow awesome... hadn't even thought about that. We could really use these for off-road with the T-Car."
"My thoughts exactly."
"Well alright," said Cyborg with a smile, placing the chains aside with the rest of his acquired gifts. Then he grabbed up an extra-big box, and placed it down on the ground beside Robin, who peered up at it in surprise. It was nearly bigger than he was sitting down, and that was quite a feat. "This is from both of us, Rob," said Cyborg, indicating himself and Raven. "Little personal project we worked on in November. Ya'll would be surprised just how gifted our little Rae is with technology."
"Oh really?" asked Robin, standing. Made it easier for him to unwrap his gift. And, very curious to what had been crafted by two so vastly different people, he tore it open quickly, opening it up to a large brown box. He opened that as well. Its contents surprised him, however, and his eyes widened behind his mask as he peered inside.
"A computer?"
"State-of-the-art," replied Cyborg with a grin. "Fastest connections, uploads like you wouldn't believe, big enough to hold every mp3 ever invented... anytime... anywhere..." he stated dramatically. Raven, by his side, gave a nod.
Robin whistled in appreciation. "Wow... where'd you get this?" he asked, carefully closing up the box. He could unpack it later in his room. After he tossed out his old crime computer, which was five years out of date and riddled with viruses.
"Didn't... we made it," stated Cyborg proudly.
"'We'" asked Beastboy, looking at Raven in surprise. Raven gave a knowing smirk.
"Told you little Rae was good with technology," remarked Cyborg.
Warm laughter accompanied that remark. No one could say why, nothing terribly funny had been said. But it was Christmas, when laughter flowed freely from the soul. Even Raven gave a quiet (a brief) little chuckle.
"So whose next in the barrel?" she asked sarcastically when the laughter had died down.
"There is a barrel?" asked Starfire, glancing around in some confusion.
"An expression," said Robin. "I'll explain later."
It turned out the next present was Beastboy's, and he eagerly accepted a gift from Starfire, who'd worked very hard in acquiring gifts for all of her friends that they would enjoy. And she'd gone along with Beastboy to the mall when he'd gotten a gift for Raven, so naturally she'd gotten something similar for him. An overly large and entirely tasteless Christmas sweater. Beastboy sweat-dropped as he held it up. Although he didn't say so aloud (no one did) it was hideous.
And of course Raven just had to have her revenge, and with a deliberate motion lifted up her scarf and wrapped it around her neck, giving Beastboy a wicked grin, knowing full well that if she was going to look silly then he would look ten times worse. But, with little fuss, he shoved his head into the ugly sweater and pulled it down over his upper body, the sleeves dangling over his arms. Starfire had apparently misjudged Beastboy's size. His next gift, a DVD from Robin (Wicked Scary III: Too Wicked for TV) managed to mollify the changeling a little. Besides, at least Raven was now wearing his gift. His final gift, from Raven, gave him a little pause however. 'Guide to Etiquette.' And all the Titans burst out laugh as Beastboy felt humiliated and angered by Raven's insulting gift...
... until...
... he noticed she'd included a bookmark with the gift. And when he opened up to the page it marked... the chapter title was "Courtship." Beastboy's eyes went wider than humanly possible, and he glanced down at the book and then up at Raven. Who was, as usual, completely expressionless. It was impossible to decipher her feelings or motives. The bookmark could've been left there by accident or by design... regardless, Beastboy couldn't have thought of a better gift, and he smiled as he tucked it away with the rest of his acquired goods.
Cyborg, in addition to the snowtires, CD and video game, got some fuzzy dice from Starfire, once again proving just how little taste she had in Earthly customs. Still, this one wasn't actually all that bad, and unlike Beastboy (who shoved his sweater into the deepest, darkest corner of his room and forgot all about it) he actually did hang up the fuzzy dice in the T-Car over the rear-view mirror.
The former Princess and former Empress of Tamaran counted herself truly blessed by the gifts she received. Though the one she treasured most was of course Robin's illusitron (and the image it contained), she was overjoyed for a copy of 'Meditation for Dummies' (Raven), a new collar for Silkie (Beastboy) and an extra-large pack of mustard. (Cyborg).
None of the Titans could have recalled a more joyous occasion in any of their pasts, and after the gift-giving they spent the entire day together, talking, laughing, enjoying the new games and presents they'd all received, enjoying one another's company in their home, enjoying the holiday.
And the two Titans enjoying one another's company the most were Starfire and Robin, of course. Always the best of friends ever since they'd met, they'd grown even closer after the events of Christmas Eve and now Christmas Day, and they were growing closer with each adventure and misadventure that life put them through. So it was that while Beastboy was busy hiding his sweater, Cyborg was fixing up his car, and Raven had left to meditate, the two of them found themselves outside the Tower in the snow, making snow angels. And that one simple moment seemed to stretch into an eternity, as neither wished it to end, they were completely content with each other's presence nearby and a beautiful Christmas morning.
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Author's Notes:
Illusitrons were mentioned in the Justice League episode 'In Blackest Night,' and were a last-minute change on my part, I'd initially planned to make it just a photo or a video of the dance. I claim no ownership of The Legend of Dariand'r, that is expressly the property of Happy-Raven from her story 'It's Relative.' I did, however, spice it up by adding Randl'ra the mystic, the unnamed weaponsmith, and making Hallos'ar into a beast-tamer. For obvious reasons. I hope everyone liked the gifts I had the Titans exchange, I hope they're as in-character as the Titan's themselves. Wicked Scary was the movie from 'Fear ITself' and Silkie was of course introduced in 'Can I Keep Him?' (as well as seen in a number of season three episodes). Well, that's it. Hope you all got good presents too and enjoyed the Human Holiday of X-Mas!
Clueless90: As you can see, one final chapter. This is it, however. Maybe next year I'll torment Raven and Beastboy. Or by then maybe I'll have a new show with new characters I can torment.
Todd fan: Glad it touched you. Poor Forge though. If you were gonna get a human shield should've used the Blob.
Ray1: You're assuming that Robin is Tim Drake, right? I don't think Batgirl and Nightwing ever met in B:TAS. I could be wrong, I never watched it as well as I'd like. And of course Starfire's happy she did it.
Jadedea: Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
Tigress419: Well there are Raven's and Beastboy's gifts. What do you think? And also everyone else's. I admit some were tough to think of so I had to do generic stuff. I admit my surprise wasn't all that surprising to those who follow my stories, many saw it coming, but I'm glad you did too.
Katergator: I understand the super busyness with finals and all, got plenty of that myself. See why I wrote it all out in advance? Glad you enjoyed it and the warm fuzzy feelings.
Gecko Osco: There you go, quick as I could. Glad you're enjoying all the fluff.
ViciousAssassin: Ah, I was wondering when you'd be along. I admit I considered some alternate shockers to try and throw people off, one of them was Starfire pushing Robin but it never made it to print. Perhaps that is why. Other alternates include her slapping him and her kissing someone else to shock him jealously. As you can see, I went with the simple method. I'm glad you enjoyed the story so far and the most recent chapter.
Titansfan: I agree, though I tend to watch anyway and just work on my comp during scenes I don't like. Every episode has at least one good point in it. I'd considered ending it here too but I wanted to finish up the story properly for the X-Mas season.
Yomiori-Wolfdemon: Nononono you didn't listen, the link does not come through because reviews destroy the link. I can't put such links in my stories either, or e-mail addresses. But glad you're enjoying the story. And I have my own ways of finding cheap stupid amusement. The antics of Homestar and StrongBad are plenty for me.