Chapter 9: Comfort
Raven yet again woke up first, but she still seemed to be in the middle of a dream; she was waking up in the arms of the person she loved. It was perhaps the most restful night she ever spent, and she had Starfire to thank for that. She smiled as she watched the sleeping Tameranean. 'That wasn't exactly how I pictured how we'd spend our first night… although it was an accident…' she prolonged her next thought, placing a kiss on the redhead's forehead. '…it just felt right.' "I love you Starfire…" she whispered in the silence of the room. "I love you…"
At that point, Starfire began to stir. Raven moved her hand away from the other girl's hair so she could move freely. The princess looked up at her secret admirer with a grin that matched no other, feeling just as rested as her friend. "Good morning Raven…" she said softly, turning around so that the back of her head laid upon Raven's chest. "Morning, Star…" the sorceress responded, not wanting this moment to end. "Perhaps we should get up…" Starfire offered, but Raven only held onto the other girl's hand even tighter. "Just a little longer…" she whispered. "It's not often we get to be together… like this… moments like these… I don't want anything more… this is all I need." Starfire allowed her eyes to close once again, enjoying the warmth she and Raven were sharing.
'She smiles so much more often now… she looks so much better when she does that. I truly feel like a princess even on this planet when I am with her… I only wonder if… if Robin will make me feel the same way… if so then…' Starfire's thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock heard on the door. Her eyes sprang open when she heard the voice from outside.
"Star, are you in there?" Robin asked curiously. Both the girls gasped, and before Raven could react futher, Starfire spoke. "I am here, Robin… we just got home late and went to bed when we got back. It was very late." Raven said, trying to sound like her normally calm self. "OK, we just didn't hear you get back. I was just checking in, sorry if I woke you up." Robin apologized, and Raven heard nothing more except for footsteps leading away down the hallway.
'That was close… if he found out that we stayed in the same room together all hell would break loose…' Raven thought in relief. "I have to go back to my own room. Robin would kill me if he found out I was in here with you all night. Later, Star…" So as not to feel as if she were forcing herself on her secret love, Raven teleported out of the room with little more than a wave. Starfire had a somewhat late reaction to the wave and simply raised her own hand almost a full second after Raven went out of sight.
'Raven… I am confused… What can I do if I fall in love with both of you? I do not wish to betray either of you…' Her thoughts were interrupted by a flashing alarm in her room. Her civilian clothes were still on, so the receivers on her uniform did not give away the trouble in the city soon enough. She quickly changed and went out to face their nemeses once again.
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Dr. Light's fear of Raven jogged in his memory as she entered the bank with tendrils flailing out from underneath her cloak. The Titans team barely had time to get their hands dirty at all this time around.. After Raven dragged the good doctor out of the bank, her eyes trailed over to Terra and Beast Boy. The green lad was scratching the back of his neck in what seemed like embarrassment, but then Terra jumped into his arms, relieving him. Starfire smiled, content in knowing the status of the new relationship blooming amidst the team.
"Starfire?"
"Eep!" Lost in thought, Starfire didn't sense Robin approaching behind her and was startled. "Sorry… but hey… looks like Terra and Beast Boy are going out tonight. You want to go, too? We can make a double date if you want." Starfire was surprised that Robin was taking his turn with her so quickly after Raven, but confusion started to take over at the latter of the bird boy's suggestions. "If I may ask… what is a 'double-date'? Does one go with two partners or…" Robin interrupted her before she began adding more and more suggestive fantasies in both their minds. "No, no its just two couples going at once, so they can talk together. It's a little more easy-going. Do you mind?" Starfire smiled at this new concept of double-dating, and nodded. "Very well, I would enjoy a group activity like that!" she added, resisting the urge to jump up and down in elation.
"Thanks, Star… it means a lot to me… let's go tell them, huh?" He asked, offering her his hand, which she took almost through reflex as they began to walk toward the other couple. Cyborg and Raven looked back from their vantage point next to the police car that was just beginning to screech away. The taller of the two Titans had a depressed look strewn across his face, which Raven analyzed quickly. "Feeling left out?" she asked, already knowing the answer. "Well, sorta… they do kinda look right together that way, I aint got no chance with Terra, Star or you. No offense of course." He said, fearing recoil from the sorceress. "None taken… you and me probably wouldn't quite fit anyway… just look at us. You're a robot behemoth and I'm a scrawny witch. Kinda two opposing sides." The two titans laughed as they watched the other head back to the tower. Cyborg opened the door to the T-Car, offering Raven a seat. "Want a ride?" He inquired out of curiosity.
"Sure, why not. I'm still tired from last night anyway." She explained, getting into Cyborg's creation. As they started the short ride back, Cyborg decided to speak. "So Raven… you have a thing for Starfire yourself?" Raven's fear skyrocketed at that question, but she tried to keep her cool. "Wh-what are you talking about?" she almost demanded. The metal man merely tapped the right side of his head with his free hand, pointing toward his bionic eye. "My eye records anyone going in and out of the tower when the security system's on, even when I'm asleep. I watched it when I woke up. You guys were holding hands and stuff. Almost… flirting."
'That Cyborg and his security crap… I thought that was secret!' Raven screamed in her mind. 'Oh well, the only ones who don't know now is Terra and Beast Boy… those are the only ones that really matter.' Raven sighed and gave in to the older Titan's ingenuity. "So… is it that obvious?" Cyborg chuckled again. "Well, a little… you guys do spend a lot of time together… didn't really expect it to go this far… but hey, do whatever you want, I'm not complaining." Raven was slightly surprised from Cyborg's reaction. "Really?" she asked, wishing to confirm her theory. "Oh yeah, if there's anything that Robin taught us, it's to respect everybody except criminals, and how to keep secrets. Besides you heard me before, I got no chance with you girls now." Raven smiled again as she walked out of the T-Car, which had already gotten back to Titans Tower.
'Well, that's one thing off of my mind…'
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That night, in the city…
A motorcycle sped its way toward a restaurant in town, Starfire sitting in its newly installed sidecar. Robin grinned as he looked high above, watching Terra and Beast Boy flying overhead on a rather large slab of rock. The cycle soon found its way to a parking lot outside of what looked like a nice 4-star establishment, just under the payment level for the Titans. Terra discarded her platform and the couple landed not far away from the other. Both of them linking arms with their partners, they entered and were almost immediately sent to their reserved table. Menu's were distributed and given back quickly, as they saw a copy before coming to the restaurant. While waiting, Robin seemed somewhat uneasy, despite the relaxed atmosphere.
"So Robin, when did you and Starfire start going out?" Terra asked the preoccupied Robin. Brought back to reality, he answered only with a slight hesitation. "Well, this is actually our first date, I was a little nervous, so I asked you two to come along. I hope you don't mind." Terra seemed a little taken aback, but shook her head and waved, dejecting Robin apology. "Oh no, that's fine. I can understand. While I was traveling I dated a couple of times, but I was really nervous and kinda ditched them. This is my first actual date too. I you didn't ask I probably would have, despite what BB would think." Robin sighed, relieved to have gotten that part out of the way. "Good… that makes me feel a bit better." A waiter came by soon afterwards with their meals, spouting a french accent that was clearly being faked. "Dinner is served. Bon appetit, mes amis."
Beast Boy and Starfire began to eat their meals as if it were a contest, with Robin and Terra trying to calm them down. "Please Star… remember what I taught you about table manners… this place isn't one to forget them." Starfire was a little surprised, and looked disappointed. "My apologies Robin… I did not want to ruin our date…" Robin started to protest again, but then the same waiter that served them came onto a microphone situated a few steps above a rather large dancing floor, an elegant touch to the restaurant. A string quintet sat a few feet away, ready to kick off the festivities for the night. The waiter cleared his throat before speaking, again using a forced French accent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, to start off our dancing hours, I would like you to turn your attention to the east side of the floor. Tonight we a pleased to present a special dance from some very special guests… the Teen Titans! Come on down!" The Titans quartet was speechless, but they stood up and started walking onto the floor for their dance. The other customers applauded their local superheroes as the couples paired up and the music began. It was a slow tune, as could be expected, but not one too sappy for their ears. As Robin held his dream girl close, his eyes wandered for a moment to Beast Boy and Terra, who kissed quickly before resuming their dance. His curiosity satisfied, his gaze shifted back to Starfire's face while he analyzed his situation.
'This is it… I can't believe I'm dancing with her… It's strange… even though I envision a long future together… right now… I can't picture wanting to do anything else with her… this moment… is all I need…' Robin tightened his grip on Starfire's hand as he leaned in to whisper to the Tameranean. "I love you, Star…" The princess gasped softly, taking in the Boy Wonder's simple phrase. 'Robin is truly wishing me happiness… how I wish could be sure that I could do the same for him… but… for some strange reason… I don't feel as…' Starfire's thoughts were interrupted as Robin's hand moved from her own up to her chin, where it was held in place for Robin to lean in.
'Robin… are you?... I…'
Just then, their open lips millimeters apart, the music abruptly stopped. Robin, not wanting to end his moment, simply froze while Starfire was the one to look around, half out of curiosity and half out of relief. "Aw, now isn't that just darling?" The waiter commented, but suddenly the four Titans look around to see no one in the restaurant. They also noticed that the waiter's accent had changed; instead of a snooty French accent, it became more of a snobby British one.
"Two couples, both meant to be together, having their first dance in the spotlight of destiny… too bad it'll also be your last!" The waiter quickly twirled around, discarding his disguise. What took his place was a middle-aged man with short red hair slightly brighter than Starfire's in a tuxedo, holding a cane with a red ruby at the handle. The Titans immediately recognized the criminal.
"Mad Mod!" Robin cried out, readying his birdarang sword. The couples separated, angry that their moments together were ruined, or rather, somewhat fake. "How did you…?" the bird boy began to question the reality-bending villain. "I disguised this place with my tech, my duckies. I also took the liberty of jamming your radars so you couldn't tell what I did. You should've seen your faces while you were dancing, all longing and the like… you should wait till you're older, the lot of you!" This drove the boys over the edge, growling in a rage at how both themselves at the girls were insulted all at once. Mad Mod, noticing the fire in their eyes, however, began to cower. "Um…"
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In what may have been an even quicker time than Raven's victory earlier in the day, the four Titans easily took down the cowardly Mad Mod and brought him to justice yet again. Terra and Beast Boy headed back to the Tower, but Robin and Starfire stayed behind to see him to the police cruiser. As they watched it speed away, Robin hung his head. Seeing this, Starfire put a hand on his shoulder. "Robin?" she inquired, waiting for an explanation.
"I'm sorry, Star… I wanted this… to be our… special night together… but I caved and invited the others… and now this… I must seem so… pathetic to you…" Robin explained, leading Starfire over to a nearby bench to sit down. "You are nervous, that is all Robin… just as I am. You did not plan for this to happen, and… in truth… in truly enjoyed our time tonight." Robin lifted his head slightly, wiping away the slight trace of a tear seeping from the bottom of his mask. "I believe… we were in the middle of a conversation inside…" she said, leaning in and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. Robin, a little less than shocked, simply stared at her in disbelief. "I love you Robin, but… now I am confused… I am doing something wrong…"
Snapped out of his daze, Robin turned to face her again, waiting for an answer to this seemingly unsolvable paradox. 'Starfire, doing something wrong?' "What do you mean?" Tears began to form in Starfire's eyes as she prepared to piece together her dilemma in words. "Robin… I do love you, and I so treasure the time we spend together more than this planet itself… I am comfortable with you… but now I am committing a, how you word it, taboo. I… I love Raven as well…" She then placed her hands over her face, sobbing quietly. "I shouldn't love you both, not at once! I don't know what to do…" Robin's first reaction was to hug the weeping girl, comforting her, even though he also wasn't sure what to say or do.
"Star… that's not wrong… it's normal." Still sobbing softly, Starfire didn't look up quite yet. "Loving more than one person… it happens. I'm not sure what else I can tell you… but you're not doing anything wrong Star. But… I want to ask you something." Robin waited, still holding the Tameranean as if it was the last time he ever would. Soon, her tears subsided, and she looked up to the concerned boy's face. "You say you're comfortable with me… but…"
"Who are you more comfortable with?" Starfire's eyes widened even more, realizing that her moment of truth was approaching. 'How can I choose…'
(A/N: Wow a sorta cliffhanger… please don't hate me for this! I'm planning on the next chapter to be the last… I think… please wait patiently! This is hard stuff for me… my first try!)
