Chapter Four
The Titans waited in the lounge. Robin had left earlier that day to pick up the urn that would contain Raven's ashes. It was an anxious moment for them. They had waited a day and a half for this moment. Now the time had arrived, and they were apprehensive. In a way, it was as if Raven was coming home again. The fact that she was now ashes, however, was an overwhelming thought.
Starfire was mostly concerned for her teammates. Cyborg and Beast Boy had not played a single video game since Terra had returned with her grim news. Nor had their appetites been the same. In fact, none of the Titans has had much to eat since that day. They had tried working out in the gym to alleviate their emotional pain, but with their reduced appetites, they lacked the strength to do so. Only that morning did they eat regularly, but it was without the usual gusto they displayed.
Starfire never thought she would feel as miserable as she did now. Despite Robin's reassurances, she feared that the Titans would soon experience the Rekmus. She remembered that when she jumped 20 years into the future, that the Titans' friendship broke apart. She didn't know just how long it took, but she felt that if something didn't change with the Titans now, history, future history, would repeat itself. The thought brought a feeling of dread to her.
Just then, Robin entered the room. The Titans stood up and stared at him. In his hands, he carried a large urn, mostly undecorated, and dark blue in color.
"So, that's it, huh?" asked Beast Boy, sadly.
Robin nodded. He walked slowly in the kitchen and set the urn on the counter. He then set his elbows on the counter and stared at the urn. The others joined him.
Then, Robin slumped over. It was as if someone flipped a switch inside him; he lost all self control and began to weep uncontrollably in gasping, choking sobs.
"Should've have been there for her...should've been there!" he said.
He was shivering, as if in a state of shock. The Titans look at him with pity and with tears in their eyes.
"I shall take him to his room." Starfire said.
Cyborg nodded. Starfire cradled Robin in her arms and flew into the hallway. The other Titans stood in the kitchen for a minute or so.
"What do you make of that?" Terra said.
"He's crying for all of us." Cyborg said. "All the self control and strength he's had to show during his entire time as leader here, and it all comes down at a moment like this."
He sighed. "Kid has strength greater than any of us. Any lesser man would've given up a long time ago. But not Robin. He kept going, through good and bad. He hasn't won them all. A thing like this could bring anyone down."
He walked into the lounge area and sat down like a weary man. "Times like this, I wish I was twenty-one." he said.
"I hear you." Terra said.
Beast Boy merely wiped the tears out of his eyes.
"I need a moment..." he said, walking out of the lounge. He felt that he himself was about to loose his emotional control too.
Cyborg looked at Terra. "Go with him." he whispered.
She nodded and accompanied Beast Boy.
Cyborg was left alone now. He let out a heavy sigh, and then stood up. He went to the counter and took the urn and brought it with him to the sofa.
"Wanna play a game, Raven?" he said aloud, setting up the Gamestation. "No? Well, you can watch me get high score!"
He put the urn on an end table. "Like old times, huh?" he said, completely engrossed in the game.
In the hallway, Terra led Beast Boy to her room, rather than his. He had refurnished it the day before by himself. He left the plaque he made for her in there as a gift. She liked that. The rest of the furnishings she had done herself.
Not only did she want to show off her work, but also she considered Beast Boy's room too cluttered to share a moment. He did not protest against her decision. Once the door to her room closed, Beast Boy flung himself at Terra. "Oh, Terra!" he exclaimed.
He hugged her tightly, rubbing her back and kissing her. She did the same for him. He felt as if he was shuddering to her. 'He's probably close to a breakdown, like Robin.' she thought.
She led him to the bed and laid him down. She then took off his shoes as well as her own and laid next to him. "I with you, Beast Boy." she said, holding his hands. "I'm here."
He nodded at her, sobbing.
Starfire also brought Robin to her own room. She removed his shoes, utility belt, and cape. Then, not knowing why, she also removed his shirt. She laid him on the bed and stared at him.
She felt incredibly saddened at the sight, seeing her leader, not to mention her friend, in such a broken emotional state. Her eyes were already moist from when Robin delivered Raven's ashes. Now more tears flowed down her face.
She took off her boots and got in bed with Robin. She encircled her arms around him from the back. He still was in a catatonic state. Starfire wanted to break him out of it, but was unsure what to do.
After almost a minute of thinking, she had an idea. She got out of bed and went to her dresser. From a metallic box, she pulled out a slender, metal device, somewhat similar to a syringe. She put a small vile of clear liquid into a compartment on the syringe and then held it to her arm. She pressed a button on it, which prompted a faint hissing from the device. The contents of the vile were drained. When finished, Starfire set the device on her dresser.
She waited while a tingling sensation crept through her body, starting at her arm, then working its way through her chest, abdomen and most acutely through her genitals. She shivered at the sensation, as she only used the device once before, just to ensure it functioned as advertised. Now was the real test.
Starfire walked to her bed again, and caressed Robin's body. He was still shivering and breathing rapidly. She reached over him and gently removed his mask. Setting it aside, she looked into his eyes; they were a lovely blue color, but were also bloodshot from his emotional state.
She stood up and went to the foot of the bed. Sighing, she then removed Robin's pants and boxer shorts, leaving him naked. She placed them with the rest of his uniform.
She then stared at Robin, admiring him for a few minutes. Feeling sufficiently confident, she then began to disrobe.
Once naked, she then laid in bed with Robin. "Please Robin, cooperate with me!" she whispered. She laid him on his back.
"Starfire?" he whispered. She shushed him.
"It is alright. Just trust me."
Robin stared at her. He felt aroused now, but still was in a mental fog, not totally aware of all that was going on. Starfire kissed him.
"You may be my leader, but you are still my boy." she said, and kissed him again. "Soon, you will be my man."
With that, she began to make love to him.