Robin found himself unable to keep her gaze, and his eyes dropped to the floor. "Ok. I don't know how, but… ok," he agreed quietly. Starfire gave him a thankful smile. For the moment, she found it easy enough to forget Red X. It was so strange to her, that she no longer felt the burning indignation towards his flirtatious words like she had the very first time they'd spoken in that battle so long ago.
"Perhaps… I believe I could use a midnight snack. Although it is not midnight, the current time is acceptable, yes?" she said suddenly. Robin nodded, eager to put the seriousness of their conversation out of the way and move to a more comfortable topic. If you could really classify their brief words as a conversation… A mischievous spark ignited in his azure pools. He really didn't want her to leave, but he would avoid resurfacing his past at all costs.
"I bet we could snag something from Cyborg's chocolate stash," he said knowingly. Starfire gave him a wary glance. "What… don't trust me?" he chuckled, grabbing her wrist lightly and leading her down the hall. She gave an amused shake of her head, rustling her ruby hair about her shoulders.
Robin narrowed his eyes as they approached the rec. room, still being without his mask, he had no inclination to running into another titan. He peered carefully around the corner and then darted into the room, eliciting a tiny squeak from Star as she was tugged along. They made a mad dash to the kitchen, Starfire attempting to hold in her laughter. Robin's genuine smile chased all thoughts of Red X viciously from her mind.
The Boy Wonder opened the refrigerator with an almost childish excitement. Was this the real Richard Grayson? She decided it to be a very likable side of him, at the very least. Robin rummaged about for a while; the ghostly light cast by the fridge light bathed both him and his giggling companion in a yellow-white glow. Robin gave a throaty sound of triumph, and moments later he produced several tins. He smirked.
Starfire snorted. Well… they were sure as hell on their way to a major chocolate high… Evidently, the usually austere leader of the Teen Titans was feeling a fetish for playfulness. Star watched as he placed the tins on the counter, and flipped all four lids open with a few swift movements. Robin rubbed his hands together, feeling rather proud of himself, and earning a skeptical glance from the Tamaranian princess.
"Fudge, chocolate chip cookies, M&Ms, and… brownies," he gave a pleased grin. Starfire's eyes widened. Oh boy… Robin's hand seemed magnetically drawn to said brownies, and he wolfed half of them down while Starfire nibbled on a chocolate chip cookie.
"I believed myself to be the one wishing for a midnight snack, and yet I see you are even more enthusiastic," she laughed softly. Robin looked up from his rapid consumption of chocolate and gave her a thumbs up, his mouth otherwise occupied. Starfire rolled her jade eyes and daintily completed her cookie. Finally satisfied, Robin reluctantly returned the small amount of chocolate left back to the fridge and returned to stand by Star.
"Well that was good…" he declared. Starfire smacked her forehead. Robin gave her a look of concern and Star's eyes widened as she recognized the brownie-induced high flashing in his eyes. "Did you hurt yourself, Gorgeous?" he crooned, playfully mocking her. She shook her head furiously, but Robin wasn't satisfied. He tugged lightly on a strand of her hair. "Positive? I could kiss it and make it better," he gave a devilish grin and Starfire peeped.
"N-no, I am fine! Truly, truly fine…" she laughed nervously. Robin gave a slow shrug.
"If you're sure," he clucked his disagreement. Starfire held back a giggle. He was immensely entertaining in this state, and yet it was a little unnerving. Robin vaulted over the counter and sauntered over to the couch where he flopped dramatically down. "C'mere," he called. Starfire arched a tiny brow but did as asked, floating over.
"Yes…?" she inquired.
"God, Kori, you can at least make this a little fun," he scowled briefly. Starfire rolled her eyes again, earning a lop-sided grin. "Hey, you said you wanted to get a snack. We got a snack. You said you wanted to know the real Richard Grayson, and I'm ready to give it a shot. You wanna get to know about me or not?" he poked her arm. She laughed.
"Fine, enlighten me, oh mighty leader," she quipped. Robin nodded.
"Better. So… where to start… ah, well… er," he paused, suddenly unsure of how to go on. The boy was obviously complicated enough that he couldn't figure himself out.
"How about you just tell me a few of your favorites…"
An hour later, Starfire concluded she shouldn't try to get to know him on brownie high anymore. They'd need to repeat this whole conversation at a time he was a tad more sane… seeing as she'd learned that, evidently, Robin's favorite food was the brownie and his favorite color was red or whatever other colors got on Bruce's nerves. She found that his favorite titan was herself (whether that was the sugar or really him was yet to be seen), his favorite month was anything but Spring, his favorite hair color (she didn't dare interrupt the rampaging boy from telling her) was red, and he liked green eyes. At which point he'd stopped saying much about himself and had gone off trying to serenade her with spur-of-the moment poetry.
"Robin, as… informative as that was, I did not really gather much more than the fact you find me interesting. At the very least, tell me why you do not like Spring," she attempted to steer the young man back on track.
Robin nodded. "I was born the very first day of Spring, my parents died the very last day of Spring," …he said it too easily. His mind must have been much more fogged up than she'd originally assumed. Robin never talked about his parents. She gave a soft smile. At least she'd learned one thing about him. The rest of the information seemed fit enough to be immediately discounted.
"Ok, Richard. Perhaps I should… go to sleep now…" she said, moving away. Robin nodded vigorously.
"Of course! Damsels like you enjoy their beauty sleep! And… yet, my sweet, you are radiant without it!" he said eloquently. Star shook her head, a soft smile playing on her lips. She would need to ask Cyborg what he put into his brownies tomorrow.
As she left Robin, her mind disobediently wandered back to Red X. She groaned in annoyance. Starfire flung herself onto her bed, a sigh muffled in her sheets. She knew she loved Robin. She wanted to understand him so much it hurt. She wanted to be able to have many more evenings with him like tonight… minus the sugar high… But she also found herself rather confident she felt something towards Red X. Robin had been fun, but she really needed a serious conversation. Her eyes slid shut.
Tomorrow she would find Red X and she would talk to him. She would sort out her feelings and she would come back home. Then she would talk to Robin. She would talk to Robin and hopefully, he wouldn't avoid the subject of himself and they'd come to some sort of understanding. When she reached that understanding and when she'd sorted out her feelings for X, then maybe things would become a little easier.
Author's Note: I appologize for the incredible randomness of this chapter. If it was too completely out of place and/or disturbing I will gladly replace it with something more angsty. Still Rob/Star but more serious. I just felt like making Robin sugar high today. Don't ask. Please review!
Love, Princess Starfire of Tamaran
BTW: I promise the next chappie to be much better and more in-line with the plot. this chappie was just for fun, really.
