Chapter Nine: The 'date' of carnival

Starfire sat on the bed in her room, contemplating what had so recently occurred. She wasn't sure what to think now. She had left relatively soon after she told Robin that she didn't believe he killed anyone. Now of course, being alone, she wasn't completely sure what to think about Robin. He stirred strange feelings, especially when he held her but she knew she was betraying her love. Wasn't she? She was now unsure about whether her love had really died. Or even existed in the first place. But that brought on new guilt and she sighed heavily.

"Perhaps I should sleep upon it and come to a better conclusion in the morning." She lay down under the sheets closing her eyes and trying to relax. Sleep didn't come easily, but it visited the alien eventually.

Robin was also having difficultly sleeping. He sat up in the middle of the night, cursing lightly.

"I'm never going to sleep at this rate." He got up and wandered into the kitchen, poking around for possible food-type solution to his problem.

"What has got you up at this hour now?" asked a sharp voice from behind the Boy Wonder. He flipped around to see Raven looking at him with raised eyebrow. "Wait. Don't answer that. I'm sure I can answer it with a single word. Starfire." The Titan leader nodded miserably and Raven sighed heavily.

"Okay then. We need to find that memory soon. Let's start considering the possibilities."

"I've been trying to think of one for a day and a half straight Raven! I think that I was too stupid to have an emotional moment with Starfire. I just…didn't try hard enough when I had the chance."

"Wait a second…" said Raven quietly, realizing something, "The day you brought Star to me to be patched up for the first time…you two had been 'rough housing' on the roof. That…might be potent enough." Robin blinked as the memory came floating back to him.

"I'm the leader of the Teen Titans. I'm supposed to know what to do in every situation. I made that stupid promise as the leader of the Titans..." His eyes suddenly snapped open, staring at the alien fervently and she sucked in a breath. They were so pained. "Never so much did I want to be your knight in shinning armor. I just wanted to...slay the dragon and save the princess." He reached out to touch Starfire's face tenderly. "My princess."

"Robin..." She said, her voice choked with tears. He bent forward gradually, covering her lips with his own. She relaxed slightly and kissed back, her eyes flickering shut. He deepened the kiss and she shifted to give him easier access. A stab of pain went through her and she whimpered. Robin pulled back, looking at her with worry.

"Well…yeah…that's was pretty close I guess…" muttered Robin, "But didn't the woman say something about confessing?"

"Didn't you confess something? Maybe not that you loved her directly, but did you at least hint at it?" Robin thought again and smiled faintly as more of the same memory came slamming into his conscious.

Starfire and Robin sat on the roof, talking about what had happened with Slade.

"I didn't think you were the...killing type. To be honest."

"I did not think so either." She paused before continuing. "You were going to let him get away..." She whispered, "You made a promise not to harm him."

"Star, I had to. I couldn't let him..." He heaved a sigh and looked at her, his eyes clouded with emotion. "We- The Titans have been through so much. We...have to remain a team." He suddenly shook his head violently. "That was stupid. I'm sorry Star. What I meant was...I couldn't stand the thought of him hurting you any more. It was all you. Truthfully...I wouldn't have hesitated so much with any other Titan." There was silence and she searched his eyes, trying to see if he was telling the truth. "But I would not want to put any Titan in danger of course." He quickly tried to correct himself.

"I know." She whispered.

"Star...After you shot at Slade and he died, then you fainted and I thought you had died too. Raven said you lost a lot of blood. I had never been so scared in my life." He moved closer to her, his eyes locked on hers. "I can't lose you Star..." His voice was soft and low. She shivered a bit and smiled slightly.

"I am glad you feel that way...I would not wish to lose you also. We are friends Robin." His eyes suddenly darkened savagely and he leaned forward sharply, pushing her to the ground, his arms on either side. She gasped.

"Dammit! That's the problem Starfire. I can't just be your friend anymore!" His eyes remained on hers.

"Maybe I did…I don't know if it will be enough…I'm not sure…" He tried to remain composed as he remembered how violent he had been towards her. True, it had only been for a moment, but he still felt guilty about it. Though Starfire had never mentioned it.

"Well, just tell me what needs to happen for the memory to be recreated, and I'll do my best to help," replied Raven hesitantly. Robin smiled sincerely for the first time in a while and outlined his plan. It should have gone off without a "hitch". But they forgot a certain "hitch-hiker" in their tower.

Speedy.

The next morning when all the Titans were eating breakfast, Raven spoke up.

"I think that we should all watch a movie tonight."

"Not…a scary movie, right?" questioned Starfire nervously. Raven managed not to grin

"No Starfire, maybe an action or something." Everyone nodded in agreement, even Speedy before he said,

"Would I be invited?"

"Sure," said Robin quickly. He didn't want any sort of distractions. Speedy smiled and glanced at Starfire who beamed back at him. This of course, made Robin glower. But Cyborg quickly said,

"Hey, how about some superhero movie?"

"Oooh, yeah…" said Beast Boy from his spot next to Raven. "Like…Spiderman or something!" Everyone agreed, though it could be a recent Disney for all Robin cared. (A/N: oh, burn! Sorry…I think most of the more recent Disney's have bombed. Not Pixar Disney. Just Disney. The stupid crappy sequels and stuff. Sorry…I'll shut up now)

She had spent about an hour now, sitting with Speedy on the couch and talking to him about various things. The young red clad honorary Titan seemed flattered, and smiled at Starfire frequently. This of course, did not please a certain member of the Titans.

"How long is she going to sit there with him?" demanded Robin angrily, Raven rolling her eyes as Beast Boy cowered back. Cyborg was in the basement working on the T-car.

"Goodness, Robin, it isn't that bad. She's just talking to him."

"For now, but next thing you know, she might ask him to walk with her in the park." He glared at Beast Boy for emphasizes and the changeling sighed. Raven took a sip of the tea she was holding.

"Well, there's nothing you can do about it. Just wait until tonight. You'll have your chance, Boy Blunder." Beast Boy managed to exchange a smirk with Raven before Robin growled and stalked out of the room.

"And that is why I must make sure not to watch movies of horror while Raven is about." Speedy laughed and Starfire smiled in return.

"That's quite funny Starfire. Man, sometimes I wish I could stay here with you guys."

"Well, perhaps you may visit more frequently. I believe this is your first visit, is it not?"

"Yeah. I'll definitely have to stop by more often." He looked her over quickly, appraisingly, though she didn't notice because her gaze had fallen on Robin as he stalked out of the back of the room. She felt disappointed for a strange reason, but frowned immediately, ignoring it. She turned back to Speedy.

"That is good. You are staying for how long?"

"Hmm…maybe longer than I expected." She smiled at him widely.

"Okay. That sounds very nice."

"Hey…um, Starfire?" said Speedy unsurely. She tilted her head at him.

"Yes Speedy?"

"Would you…like to come with me to a carnival this afternoon?"

"Would it be an adventure that included only the two of us?"

"Yeah. If that's okay?"

"I would enjoy that very much," said Starfire, a brilliant smile gracing her face. Speedy grinned.

"Great! We'll leave in two hours?"

"I will go get ready then!" she jumped up abruptly as Speedy blinked.

"Um…do you need…two hours?" But it was too late, she had disappeared and had also somehow nabbed Raven on her way, as the goth was absence and Beast Boy was staring wide-eyed down the hallway the two girls had gone.

"Guess so…" muttered Speedy.

As soon as Starfire and Raven had entered the alien's room and the door slide closed behind them, the half-demon wrenched herself from the Tamerean's grip and glared at her.

"What is going on?"

"I need to speak with you about my emotional state."

"Alright, Star…" she crossed her arms agitatedly "What's up?"

"I…have not 'been with anyone' since my love. But now I am to go on a…'date' with Speedy to a carnival. I am not sure. Is this wrong? Is it betraying him?" Raven hesitated. She knew Robin would be furious when he found out, and there would be a good chance that Speedy would no longer be an honorary Titan, if he was even alive. And yet…it might be good for Starfire to realize that she could have fun with a guy. And it wouldn't hurt to show Robin that Starfire wouldn't be horribly maimed by going on a date with another guy.

"It isn't betraying him Starfire. I think it might be good for you. You will make sure you're back in time for the movie tonight, right?" The redhead beamed in response.

"Of course I will. Thank you very much friend Raven!"

"No problem. But next time, try not to drag me away to your room. Just ask politely."

"Yes. I am sorry." Raven smiled slightly and shook her head before leaving her to decide what to wear. And she had to tell the Boy Blunder too. This was going to be fun…

"What?" cried Robin, spinning around in his chair to face Raven. She stood just inside his room and rolled her eyes.

"Yes Robin. She is going on a date with Speedy."

"This is worse than her asking him to go to the park!" He quickly stacked the files he had been looking at and got to his feet.

"Robin, you must let her go. Do not try to convince her otherwise."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm not. I'm just going to kill Speedy." He stated calmly, heading for the door. Raven moved to block his path.

"Speedy believes that Starfire is single. And technically, she is. Beast Boy said that the archer thought her and BB were together. Fortunately, he corrected Speedy on that matter. It never even crossed the poor guy's mind that you had 'claimed' her. Good god Robin, she's been trying to kill you for three days now!"

"I don't care if it has 'crossed his mind'. He is not going on a date with her!"

"It'll be quick. Tonight, we'll put your plan into effect. By tomorrow morning, everything should be back to normal. Just let this one thing happen. She needs it. Her mind has convinced her to grieve over someone who is basically you. She needs this very much. Her emotional state is still…unstable. Especially with her displaced anger towards you." Starfire's masked knight paused before sighing heavily.

"Fine. But I'm going to watch. Make sure that nothing happens."

"I would not recommend that, but something tells me I won't be able to convince you."

"You would be correct."

"Alright then. They leave in about an hour and a half."

"Thanks Raven. I owe you."

"I know." She melted into the floor and was gone. Robin sank back into his chair and put a hand to his head.

"This is just getting worse and worse."