Robin slowly made his way down to the kitchen, cursing Raven with every tired step. All the adrenaline that coursed through him a couple of minutes ago seemed to fade away, leaving him at an alarmingly fast rate.
"This…is…so…unfair…" Robin muttered angrily under his breath.
With his eyes barely opened, the grumpy teenager began to pour himself some hot water for tea.
"Friend Robin?" A cheerful voice inquired. "What is the 'unfair' and I know I am new to Earth, and some customs are still strange to me, but I am pretty sure I have never yet seen anyone pour the hot water onto the floor before…it is dirty? We need to clean it?"
Robin's eyes jerked open, not only because he had just found out he was not the only one awake in the Titan's Tower, but because he was now beginning to feel a burning sensation course down his leg.
"Shit…" Robin grabbed a rag and bent down to mop up the spilled water.
"Starfire…"
"Yes friend Robin?" The Tameranean princess asked happily.
"Why…why are you up so…early?"
Starfire blushed a pretty shade of pink, and hung her head, as if ashamed.
"Is something wrong?" Robin asked, concern and worry coursing through his words.
"No, it is nothing!" Starfire sighed. "Just a 'mare of the night.'"
Robin's brows raised, but then he smiled warmly. "You had a nightmare?" He said, emphasizing the word so next time, he hoped, she'd get it right. "You wanna talk about it?" He said in a gentle voice.
Starfire blushed an even deeper color and bowed her head, so it was now looking down at her feet. "No! That is ok!" Starfire said in a tiny voice. "It is quite alright! I do not wish to trouble you with my—EEP!"
Starfire let out a small squeak as a gloved hand came down and cupped her chin. Robin raised her so she was back to her normal height, and lovingly stroked her cheek with his thumb.
She was surprised, yet pleased at this new show of emotions and let Robin walk her over to the couch.
A half asleep Robin sat down next to Starfire on the couch. All his energy had been wasted on Raven earlier that night, and now, he felt like he was literally walking in a dream.
He watched Starfire talk and motion to him about her horrible nightmare, but nothing really clicked. Everything flew in one ear and out the other.
'Starfire smells pretty too. She smells different then Raven though. Her hair looks so soft…I want to—
"And that is what happened in my 'mare of—no…my nightmare!" Starfire said with a smile, happy that she learned a new word. She looked at Robin and gasped in surprise as she watched his outstretched hand draw closer and closer to her head.
"Friend Robin? Might…might I inquire what you are intending to do?"
Robin's hand reached its destination and rested on the back of Starfire's head, stroking her soft, silky hair.
With the last of his energy he pulled the Tameranean princess closer to him, and finally fell asleep surrounded by her scent, with his head resting on her shoulder.
