Two Birds With One Stone

Disclaimer: No, I do not own the Teen Titans. No matter how well I write them. Or whatever. The term "Sister-in-God" was borrowed from Tad Williams. I did not create it.

I was dreaming when I wrote this/ So sue me if I go too fast

Chapter Five: Starfire

He'd never been this anxious to see her. Not even the time when she was coming back from a visit to her home planet. This time was different. In his wildest dreams the night previous, he'd managed to convince her to run away with him. But he knew that would never happen in his waking hours. Starfire was a bit naïve, but she was very devoted to her people.

Raven seemed to know he was expecting visitors, because she locked herself in her room after a very early breakfast and hadn't come out since. Robin was secretly grateful.

Starfire arrived a few minutes late, her husband and a bowl of "Happiness Pudding" in tow. Karras as a well built Tamaranian male, perhaps two years Robin's senior. He had the same skin tone as Starfire, and his shoulder-length red hair was pulled back in a simple pony tail. He spoke very little, only briefly answering questions. But when Robin asked him if he'd known Starfire before they were married, the young alien man launched into a story about the day they met – as children.

"Karras was my great childhood friend," said Starfire, leaning against her husband and offering him a spoonful of pudding. Robin's stomach turned not only at the overall sweetness of the story, but because he knew how terrible her cooking could be. However, Karras accepted the food without comment and smiled instead of chocking.

"I heard that another wife was determined for you," said Karras.

"Oh, yes, Friend Robin! Is she here?" Starfire bounced up and down on the couch.

Robin muttered and affirmative and followed up with "Raven."

Starfire's eyes lit up. "How I would like to meet her! Oh, Raven!" she called.

To his surprise, Raven appeared in the doorway of the parlor a moment later, narrowing her eyes at Robin. She spotted Starfire and spat, "What is she doing here?"

Starfire, obviously missing the hostility in Raven's voice, motioned her to come in. "I have come to visit Robin and to have him meet my husband, Karras. How nice it is to meet you, Friend Raven."

Raven flinched violently at the 'Friend' endearment, and Robin smiled inwardly. She came into the room and stared at Starfire. At some point, Robin was sure her eyes were glowing red.

"You have something that I want," the dark girl said finally, in the same monotone, though lined with just a bit of what Robin suspected could turn into a tantrum. He'd never seen Raven like this.

"What do you mean?" Starfire asked.

"It isn't fair," said Raven, her monotone slipping. "You have two and I have none." She sounded like a spoiled child.

Starfire looked down at her hands, as though she would find some bright little bauble.

Raven seemed to notice how unreasonable she was being. Her steady diviner's gaze returned to her, and she said, calmly and without emotion: "You will leave now. You will go far away. Take him with you." She then muttered something in a language Robin knew to be Tamaranian. The alien girl snatched up the bowl of pudding and fled, followed by her husband.

When they had gone, Robin rounded on Raven, furious. "What the hell are you playing at?" he demanded. "This isn't your house. You don't decide who leaves and who stays."

"She had to go," Raven replied. Robin hated that she wouldn't shout back at him.

"How dare you speak to Starfire that way!" He shoved her half-heartedly, trying to provoke her. "You acted like a spoiled brat!"

Raven said nothing.

"What did you mean, she had something you wanted… she had two while you had none? What was that?" He tried to keep his voice even.

"You still love her," came the reply. "She has your heart. And Karras's. No one loves me." Robin thought he saw her eyes welling up with tears. "But you were right. I should not have behaved that way."

Robin was taken aback. She said he was right.

"You said something to her in her language," Robin prompted.

"You remember what I said about Terra. I saw the betrayal in her. I saw something in Starfire, too. I had a dream about it last night."

"What was it?" His voice was completely calm now.

"Her home is in danger. She needs to defend all she holds dear." Raven turned to leave.

"Will she live?" Robin asked.

"She will. But Karras… I cannot say the same for him."

Robin felt something grow inside of him. Hope. There was hope. Though he couldn't help but feel sorry for Karras, he wondered of this meant Starfire would be his again.

"She will never be yours," Raven said quietly, having read the expression on his face.

"How do you know that?" He demanded.

"I can see it in you. Your destiny is not with her."

"Can you see things like that in everyone?"

"Yes. Everyone but myself," she answered, almost sadly.

"What if you look in a mirror?" he suggested. A second later, when she smiled, he was sure he'd said something stupid.

"It isn't stupid," she assured him. "I've tried it many times. But a mirror gives a backward image, a warped truth. It deceives."

"What do you see?" Robin asked. But he didn't expect her answer.

"I see the destruction of this world."

If the answer surprised him, shocked him, it was nothing to what she said next.

"And it gives me hope."

Writer's note: As always, thanks to all those who read, reviewed, and are now waiting most anxiously for the next chapter.

So we're past the intro stuff now. In the next chapter we'll steep further into Raven's origins. Karras dies, but Starfire has already been promised to another man. And some other stuff will go down, too, I'm sure. But I'm not sure what yet.

Go review already.

Signed,

The writer, you fools