Chapter Twelve: Not 'Fitting In'

Raven opened her eyes slowly. Her internal clock told her it was about time for the movie thing. She sat up and glanced around her room. Nothing seemed out of place. And yet…she frowned and got out of bed, snatching her cape from a hook and pulling it on. She walked out, squinting down the hallway to the living room, where she could see three shapes sitting quietly on the couch. She headed into the room to see the three residential boys of the Tower sitting silently.

"Alright, who's going to tell me what's going on?" Beast Boy was the first to look up at her and smile.

"Hey Rae! You're awake! We're just waiting for Starfire and Speedy, well and you, before we started the movie."

"Where are they?" she asked, glancing at Robin who didn't seem mad. Though he didn't seem happy. He looked up at her slowly.

"In front of the Tower. I think…Starfire's talking to him." He raised his eyebrows significantly. Raven nodded knowingly.

"Okay. Well, someone pop in the movie so we'll be ready when they come in. Better to avoid awkward silences." Cyborg got up and opened the movie box, pulling out the tape and pushing it into the VCR. The hush was very thick during this sequence. Raven grimaced. "Well…too late for that. How long have they been down there?" Beast Boy and Cyborg shrugged. Robin sighed.

"Um…about ten minutes." He mumbled, almost guiltily. Raven stared him down.

"You didn't do anything, did you?"

"No. I can honestly say that I did not interfere with Starfire's date."

"Good." She wondered why he seemed strange. She could tell he wasn't lying. Maybe she should go check on Starfire. Something was up. She preferred things to be…down.

"Well, Speedy. You must understand. I am very sorry. I am not interested in you in that sort of way." She was trying very hard to keep the sniffles out of her voice.

"Then why did you go on a date with me?"

"I thought that perhaps I felt that way about you. But I was confused. I am very sorry."

"You keep saying that. Are you really? Or maybe that embrace I caught you in with Robin earlier meant a little more than I was led to believe."

"Excuse me? I do not understand. I do not recall this incident."

"Oh, whatever Starfire," replied Speedy bitterly. He crossed his arms as Starfire looked down at the ground pitifully. She hadn't meant for this to happen.

"I did not mean to…cause your feelings pain."

"Maybe you should go back to your planet." He snapped, glaring at her. She glanced at him wide-eyed. "It seems like you can't handle 'human' things here. You don't really fit in here. You'd probably have better luck back on Tameran or whatever."

"But…I like it here…"

"Really? You seem have given me the opposite impression." He rolled his eyes, glancing out at the water. "Look, Starfire. I think…well thought, you were really cool. I don't understand what I did wrong, but whatever. I don't think it really matters. You seem to be jumping around with a lot of guys here. I mean, first I see you with Beast Boy in the park, then you're flirting with me, then I see you practically glued to Robin in the living room, then you go on a date with me, and really seem to have a good time. Until the Ferris wheel." The Tameranean winced. She couldn't explain about her very private memory without hurting Speedy further. She already felt terrible.

"Perhaps we should go back inside. They will be wondering where we are. We can watch the movie and eat the popcorn. Things will be better after that."

"I don't think so. I can't stay here if you're here."

"Then perhaps I should return to my planet…"

"I certainly wouldn't stop you…"

"You are not going anywhere, Star," came a cold voice. They both turned to see Raven standing in front of the water, her eyes narrowed. "I thought things would end up better than this. I should have known. Speedy, I don't believe you should stay for the movie. Perhaps you should pack your stuff and go stay in a hotel."

"I was thinking the same thing." He said, sighing heavily. Starfire hugged herself, trying very hard not to cry. The door slide shut with a slam as Speedy entered, leaving Starfire and Raven alone. The empath slowly approached the redhead.

"Starfire?"

"I…I did not mean for this to happen."

"I know. It isn't your fault."

"Friend Raven?"

"Yes?"

"I wish to be alone. Could you perhaps continue the movie without my company?"

"Sure Star." Raven replied, knowing Robin would be pissed. But she'd deal with that. Starfire needed to be by herself right now. The orange skinned girl flew up to the top of the Tower as Raven watched quietly, groaning. "This is going to end in bloodshed or tears. I just know it. Well, time to inform the troops." She smiled slightly and sunk into the ground.

Cyborg ducked behind the couch as Beast Boy threw the sock.

"Booyah! Missed me! You couldn't hit me if I was right in front of you!"

"Why don't you come out here and say that to my face!"

Robin sighed heavily, leaning back on the couch. How long could Starfire's talk take? Raven had disappeared a little bit ago. Maybe there was some mysterious black hole at the entrance to the Tower. He should check it out. He stood to leave when Raven appeared out of the floor in front of him. He jumped back, hitting his head on the top of the couch.

"Jeez Raven, you scared me! Use a door why don't ya?" She smiled faintly and turned to sit on the couch. Beast Boy immediately sat next to her.

"Come on, let's watch that movie."

"Wait, where's Star?" demanded Robin angrily. Cyborg crept back to the couch cautiously. Raven shrugged.

"Well, she had sort of an argument with Speedy. So he's leaving for a hotel and she's having some private time. Just leave her alone."

"Raven." The Boy Wonder hissed. She looked at him steadily. "Why did this happen tonight?"

"Sorry Robin." She said before turning to smile at Cyborg. "Okay, movie time. Let's go!" Beast Boy grinned at her as she settled back. The half robot shrugged and hit play on the remote. Robin growled and stood up abruptly, stalking out of the room. Raven rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything. Cyborg tried to ignore it. Beast Boy was already glued to the TV screen.

"Oh yeah! FBI warning! That means the previews are about to start!" said the changeling excitedly. Cyborg and Raven exchanged a glance before starting to watch with him.

Starfire gazed up at the expanse of sky. She had drawn her knees to her chest, happy that it didn't cause her wound to open. It seemed that it was finally almost healed. This day hadn't gone how she wanted at all. She couldn't even remember part of it. She was still wondering how she had ended up on Robin's lap before Speedy's date. Maybe what he said about her being in an embrace with the Boy Wonder actually meant something. And there was what he had said about her returning to Tameran.

Looking up at the sky, she tried to take comfort in the fact that her planet was up there. Her home.

Those words seemed hollow. Home. It didn't seem to apply to Tameran anymore. And yet she was having trouble saying it about the Tower. She wasn't sure where she belonged anymore. She had been rather cruel to Speedy. All she had done was apologize and tell him she wasn't interested. No wonder he'd been mad.

"I should return to Tameran. The Titans are doing well without me…I shall pack tomorrow morning and inform them of my departure." She hesitated, remembering her scant time with Robin where she hadn't tried to kill him. He'd been rather nice…she couldn't blame him for her problems anymore. It was her. Only her. She didn't fit in here. She wouldn't fit in. It was time to leave. For good.

"Starfire?" he knocked again, but still there was no answer. Robin frowned, thinking. Raven had said that Star wanted to be alone. She wanted 'private time'. "Ah! She likes to sit by herself on the roof!" He smiled, dashing for the stairs to the roof and climbing them two at a time. He opened the door slowly, peeking out to see Star sitting at the edge of the roof, gazing up at the sky. He closed the door quietly and crept forward.

"I do not belong here. I shall leave. Then I will cause no more problems." She blinked back tears, a sob escaping. Suddenly she felt someone behind her, standing silently. She whirled around to see Robin looking at her, his eyes dark with emotion. "Why are you here?"

"You aren't causing problems Star…" he said, stepping closer and dropping down beside her. She stared at him.

"Yes I am. Speedy said that I do not seem to like it here and I do not 'fit in'. He said that I should perhaps return to Tameran and be happy there." Robin scowled and shook his head.

"Speedy's wrong. You belong here. With the Titans. With me." He said firmly. She looked at him in surprise as he smiled slightly. "Star…will you let me be your knight? Let me save the princess?" She gasped and blinked as he reached out to gently touch her face. "My princess."

There was a flash of green.