Disclaimer: I DIS-CLAIM what I am writing. I do not claim Teen Titans. I don't even own the title; it was going to be used as an ep title.

NOTE: Whenever one of the girls is named it is referring to the body being occupied, otherwise the actual person may be specified in (these).

Chapter 8: Coded Errands

The next morning was the same as before. Raven, an atrocious alien combination, had sought out Cyborg quickly, with Starfire loitering after in need of their fix.

Cyborg swallowed hard when he bent over Starfire to inject her with her orange serum. He was almost sure she could pick up his waves of guilt now. He was bad at hiding things…

"Ow!" Starfire snapped when he accidentally pricked the needle into the wrong place. She gave him a harsh glare as he worked to correct it.

"Sorry," He muttered, implanting the needle into her vein this time.

When he was finished the girl drew her arm away hastily. Cyborg was quick to put some distance between them as well. He dropped the syringe on the medical table before taking leave.

Starfire rubbed her arm glancing across the room at her body. The changes had already started reverting and the needle prick was gone from Raven's quick healing abilities.

Starfire got up to follow Cyborg out of the room, but Raven's faint question stopped her.

"What shall we do today, Raven?"

Starfire paused with her hand on the door. "I don't know, I could go ask Robin-"

Raven jumped up from her seat, her eyes brightening. "I will accompany you!"

Starfire gave the change a contemplative glance before shrugging and opening the door. "C'mon."

Cyborg quickened his steps up toward the interrogation room. He wanted to be the first one to check on Mod in case something be amiss.

He could see the door, just down the hall and his heartbeat calmed. He was worried for no reason.

He moved to type the security code into the panel when a hand landed on top of his. He followed the green gloved hand up to Robin's frowning face. "Uh, hey Rob."

"I just checked, Mad Mod is fine." Robin took his hand off Cyborg to fold them across his chest.

Tentatively, Cyborg took his hand off the panel. He still needed to see Mod…

But Robin was looking straight at him, accusingly even. But he wasn't going to say it, he was going to make Cyborg suffer. "But I need to, um, ask Mod something." Cyborg nodded as though trying to convince himself.

"About?" Robin probed.

"How the cane's going?" Cyborg tried, though he knew it was a lost cause.

"It's fine. In fact the progress is amazing for only one person working." Robin raised an eyebrow under his mask in challenge.

Cyborg threw his hands up, quickly frustrated. "Alright, fine! I brought Control Freak into the tower! Happy now?"

"No. Cyborg, do you know how dangerous that could be?" Robin looked slightly amused.

"I have them locked up, they can't get out-"

"No I mean when Raven finds out."

Cyborg gulped, not even wanting to imagine the carnage. "You won't tell her, will you?"

Robin shook his head. "As much as I disagree with this choice, it may work out for the best."

Cyborg sighed, shoulders slumping slightly.

"But you're not keeping this secret very hidden, Raven's bright, and at this rate she'll figure it out in no time." Robin smirked.

Cyborg shrugged, changing the subject. "I need to get Control Freak in to work today."

"I think I have an idea…" Robin drawled.

"What kind of idea?" Came a voice. The bored tone made the two boys freeze; they were caught. They turned slowly, as if they were to be attacked.

Starfire had just strolled up, Raven following. Starfire looked at the two boys curiously, but her expression was just as hidden as always. Robin couldn't tell how much she had heard.

"An idea for what to do today." Robin let the lie flow smoothly, already thinking of what exactly the question might be that was coming.

"Glorious! That is what we have searched you out to inquire." Raven grinned, still frightening the rest of them with it's unfamiliarity.

Robin caught Starfire's now reverting eyes. They were green with the last touches of violet mixed in. She was looking on as though she knew something was up but didn't know what. Robin knew that for sure, she hadn't heard. He moved his head so it would seem as though he wasn't looking at her, but kept his eyes watching her.

She gave him a critical look when she though he was not looking. It made his insides itch, like she was looking for answers…

"So what is it?" Starfire asked, dropping the strange look from her face. Robin tilted his head back as if he had just looked at her.

Errands, that's what his brilliant idea had been.

Starfire gritted her teeth, a Robin-hating rage eating at her insides. He had sent her on errands and he didn't even come. He and Cyborg had stayed at the tower to organize files and make sure Mod was working.

And Starfire was stuck with Raven and Beast Boy, a foot long list in her clutches. Her fingers wound around the paper in a sort of death grip.

"What are we to get first?" Raven asked loftily.

Beast Boy walked closer to her as she unwrinkled the list.

"Food." She nearly choked. She hated food shopping. All she got was her tea, but she would have to endure all the curious civilian stares.

The other two did not share her thought; Raven merely smiled and quickened her pace, while Beast Boy grabbed her hand to tug her faster.

Oh yes, she had a special torture for the Boy Wonder…

After the three titans had left, Cyborg set the alarm to alert him if anyone was nearing the tower.

With that, he lead Robin up to where he had stashed Control Freak.

The white and black clad villain had struggled against his containment in vain. The room had been sealed and cleared of any could-be tools.

Robin strolled in and hauled the boy up, earning a glare. "Let's go." Robin led him out, as Cyborg followed, sealing the room behind them.

They walked in silence, each left to their own thoughts.

Robin kept part of his attention on the villain and let the rest of his mind wander. He couldn't get over that look Starfire (Raven) had given him earlier. There was something so strange about it, and she had only allowed it to surface when she thought he wasn't looking…

He remembered the gaze, green and violet eyes. As if they couldn't make up their mind, just like h-

Robin coughed hard and Cyborg curiously glanced over. He was not about to think that. No, no, no. He didn't need to make up his mind about the two of them, he had Starfire.

Who was currently Raven.

Robin gave up on his mind, it was impossible to have a rational conversation in his head these days.

They arrived at the interrogation room and Cyborg put in the password. The door slipped open with a soft hush.

They were greeted again by a forest of wires and equipment with Mad Mod in the middle, hunched over something on the table.

Robin let go of Control Freak pushing him forward a bit. The villain sent back a resentful look before making his way to the table.

Only when he sat down did Mad Mod pause and look up.

"Good day, could Moddie get some food?" His glasses were tilted on his nose haphazardly.

"And something for me." Control Freak called before grabbing a bundle of wires and electrical tape.

"Mm." Robin mumbled before moving back towards the door, seeing that Cyborg had already exited.

"Wait!" Mod called suddenly as Robin was about to seal them in. Cautiously, Robin pushed the door back open but said nothing.

"Moddie needs to use the loo." He grinned widely and stood from his chair.

Robin rolled his eyes. How were they going to get this done?

Starfire wished her worst for Robin. She pushed the grocery cart further down the isle, as Raven and Beast Boy took turns finding what they needed and delivering it into the cart.

She had already received five strange glances, two autograph offers and one rude boy who continued to follow her through the store.

Her patience was…limited.

Beast Boy scuttled back, dumping an arm full of tofu into the cart, followed by Raven dropping a few mustard bottles to their already growing collection.

"Chips and salad." Raven checked off the list as the two dispersed once again. Her cart was already full and she still hadn't gotten her tea. Starfire groaned, feeling the boy continue to follow her. She would have never had this problem if she were in her body.

Raven returned with a few bags of chips, dumping them in before Beast Boy appeared with two bags of salad.

"Done here." Starfire crunched the list in her fist and pushed the card toward the registers, completely forgetting about her tea.

Beast Boy walked beside her and suddenly poked her discreetly. "You've got a follower," He hissed grinning and looking back.

Starfire gritted her teeth, rolling her eyes. She pulled up to a register, ignoring the curious look from the clerk.

SufferRobin, suffer…

When the three got out of the store (carrying much less money) ,they were weighed heavily down with bags. It didn't effect the girls as much at Beast Boy; they had the alien strength going for them.

Beast Boy had to keep morphing to keep up with their pace while carrying all the food.

"What is next?" Raven asked, a little too cheery. She had five bags wound around each arm, but carried them as though they were empty.

Starfire dug the note from her clenched fist. Her now green eyes scanned the list.

"Masks, gloves, capes." She monotoned. At least that was an easier errand.

They switched directions heading toward a small store on the edge of town that supplied everything they needed for their costumes.

Mad Mod and Control Freak worked easily in the silence. They had an organized line of work, relying on the other for certain things they were unsure about.

"A week and a half, eh?" Control Freak asked, loosening a bolt from his remote.

"Righty-o. They have some kind of party." Mod's face scrunched up as he concentrated on the switchboard in front of him.

Control Freak grinned most unkindly. In case they were being recorded the two had been communicating in Morse code while they worked and planned.

It had worked well for the two of them. It was a villain code they used to communicate and break out in jail. So old was the code, that no one had a second thought about a few taps here and there.

Mad Mod tapped his fingers in a rhythm suddenly.

Control Freak's fingers paused as he put it together in his head.

It was grand.

He went back to his work with renewed vigor. Mad Mod was certainly a crafty man.

An older woman placed a wrapped package on the counter in front of the three titans. Five masks, ten sets of gloves, and four capes (two for her and two for Robin.).

Starfire dug out the money and placed in on the counter as Beast Boy grabbed the clothing.

"Thank you." The woman crooned, before turning her back and working on something behind the desk.

The three shrugged and left the store, ignoring the dirty walls and spider-webbed ceilings.

Starfire pulled the list out again. There was only one or two more items. It was clothing for the ball that was slinking closer. Nothing that couldn't wait until after she killed Robin.

"We're done." Starfire noted. They could shop for those stupid garments later.

The two beside her nodded "May we fly home?" Raven asked.

Starfire looked at the girl, still smiling. She shrugged, uncaring.

Raven made a small noise of contentment before closing her eyes to focus the energy at her fingertips.

Beast Boy was already morphing into a huge pterodactyl, the bags clenched in giant talons.

Raven lifted herself into the air in a whirl of black power. "I shall race you home!" She called to Beast Boy. The giant green animal seemed to smile for a second as it moved its wings, easily lifting into the air.

It was some time nearing dinner, Starfire noted, watching the clouds cover the sun. She could hear the whirl of the two flying off to race each other.

She was still unsure if she would be able to sustain flight all the way home. She had flew before though, quite efficiently.

What had she been thinking?

She recalled the memory of the fight just before.

Starfire had been thinking of changing back. Her old body so familiar…

She closed her eyes and concentrated. The ground stayed firmly underfoot.

Annoyed, she tried to think harder. She had flown before because there had been something joyful she had latched onto. She tried to imagine Starfire and Beast Boy never talking again…

Gravity was still in effect.

Damn.

What else could possibly be joyful?

Reading…tea…mediation…her happy emotion…

Nothing.

"I give up!" She hissed to the darkening sky. She would be walking home. Stupid Robin sending her out for his errands. She would surely strangle him..

And then, she couldn't feel the ground. Bewildered, she looked at the space between her feet and the ground.

Hurting Robin had been a joyous thought?

Starfire didn't dwell on it as she moved herself higher into the air. Happy thoughts were strange like that.

Cyborg blinked as his eye began to burn red. Someone was approaching home.

"Robin!" He called and began to dash upstairs to get Control Freak. They had to have fit in a good five hours of work by now.

Robin was at the top of the stairs as he took them up toward the room. "I'll stall." He called as Cyborg ran past and up another stairwell.

Robin moved down toward the door hoping to catch them first.

Cyborg made it to the room huffing. He hit the password quickly and jarred the door open. The two still sat at the table in work.

Without words, he crossed the room and pulled up Control Freak from his seat. The villain seemed to have been waiting for it, because he made no struggle.

The two hurried back through the door, locking it behind them before moving in search of the holding room.

Robin plopped down on the sofa. Both villains had been fed and allowed…restroom time. They had gotten some progress, or at least he hoped. It better have been worth it for the anger Starfire would be bringing back. The list he gave her was not a friendly one.

The door opened, two huffing titans pulling grocery bags in appeared. The first thing Robin noticed was the missing one.

"Where's Raven?" He asked, standing up to help with the bags.

"She was…right behind us?" Raven looked unsure.

"I beat Starfire racing home, so Raven's probably a little behind." Beast Boy boasted and dumped his bounty onto the floor. Raven (Starfire) scowled at him. Hadn't she beaten him to the tower?

At that note, there was a loud pounding of a door being thrown open, drawing the titans attention.

Silhouetted by the falling sun was Starfire, arms full of groceries, and a scowl on her face. The shadows played dastardly across her expression.

"Ohh Robin," She called and dropped the bags.

Robin swallowed, trying to make himself move away, but his feet were uncooperative. His eyes were stuck to her as she loomed closer. She had a gift for this sort of thing.

Raven and Beast Boy could sense this change in Starfire (Raven). They used the time to quickly hasten out of the room with the excuse that Raven needed another shot.

Starfire continued forward, but Robin held his ground. She had to give him credit for never backing down. "What was the meaning of sending me out on grocery errands all day?"

She had gotten close enough that Robin could see her raise one eyebrow, a classic Raven expression on Starfire's facial features.

"Someone had to do it." He added coolly, a quirk to his lips.

"I suppose." Her frown deepened as she stepped forward again

Robin tried to steady himself. He wasn't sure what she was up to, but he wasn't going to back down or give away a thing.

Starfire was unsure exactly what she planned to do as she drew closer, but something was up. He was hiding something…

"Hey Robin, he's put away-" Cyborg had suddenly rounded the corner taking the stairs down talking when his eyes fell on the two in their showdown. He knew instantly he was in trouble.

Starfire tilted her head only slightly toward Cyborg to signal she had heard him, still keeping her eyes on Robin.

"Who's put away?" She challenged, stepping closer once again.

"Mad Mod." Robin supplied before Cyborg could mess it up anymore.

"Why was he out?" Starfire drew closer again, to where there was maybe a foot left of distance.

"Bathroom." Robin added, very aware of the space left. She wouldn't be able to step forward anymore, and it made him nervous.

Starfire seemed to pause a moment. She was folding over the information, searching for a loop hole. Finally her eyes shifted away from his and the spell was broken. She turned her back on Robin quickly, to retrieve the groceries.

"Next time choose someone else." The alien added picking up the bags.

This relit a small smile to Robin's mouth. "Did you get everything on the list?"

"Everything but the last." She still wouldn't look at him as she moved into the kitchen.

"Well then," Robin sat himself back on the couch as he could hear the footsteps of Cyborg retreating. "You'll have to go out again sometime to finish."

He heard an angry shuffling of plastic grocery bags and a cabinet slamming rather hard. Robin ran a hand through his hair and smiled to himself. She was defiantly going to maim him.

I have always wanted to do a shopping scene. Muwhaha. Next chapter will be a little jump in time. We've got to get to the good stuff soon. I think I've left enough hints everywhere for things to move smoothly.

Thank you all for the flood of reviews after so long! And a thousand thanks and praise to my beta Sarah Cabbage Patch!

Please review, it makes me write quicker…and you know you want quick chapters…

Dragonslayer527