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 11: Breaking
Starfire groaned and slid out of her dark bed. Even without thinking she knew what the day meant.
It was playing someone she was never meant to be to satisfy the people of Jump City.
It could only end disastrous and there was no way around it. She grabbed the extra set of Starfire's clothes and slipped them on.
Robin stood in front of the tall windows of the tower's living room. The sun was just about to rise and start the day, it was lovely.
It was only in this moment did the boy enable himself to feel calm. This day would be filled with trouble, he could feel it in the air at his back. Cold and anxious…
There was the light padding of footsteps that were familiar to him in a strange sense. They were Starfire's steps, with the light quality that Raven's always had.
"Morning." He greeted without looking away from the window. The sun was just now spreading waves across the land.
Starfire (Raven) stopped beside him, he didn't look, he could feel her. It was so familiar as she stood there, it felt as though they should be there. Standing side by side watching the sun rise, just the two of them.
Robin felt a hand touch his shoulder. It was so unusual that he turned his head, Raven's eyes watched him.
"Are you going to be alright?"
Robin thought this question over a moment. Was he? For some reason it seemed this question was more important that it seemed.
"As long as you can dance." He settled with, the small heartwarming smile twitching at his lips.
Starfire rewarded him with a small smile. "You have nothing to worry about."
Her hand was removed from his shoulder and she left his side. But he didn't feel emptiness in her wake, he felt a sort of tranquility.
Robin stopped a moment to let the thought sink in.
This was not the way someone infatuated with their girlfriend acted towards another female.
"It's just seven to midnight, and then we can come back and try to get the two of you switched back." Cyborg tried to cheer the two girls up over lunch. The closer it got seven, the more downcast Raven began to look where as Starfire became anxious.
They hadn't found a way to get Control Freak into the room without Starfire or Raven around, so the testing was going even slower. Robin supervised and paged Cyborg whenever they got close.
But the hours passed, and even if they had gotten close to the right wiring, it wasn't good enough for human testing.
Soon, even the slipshod testing had to be stopped. They had a ball to prepare for after all.
Dinner was long forgotten by everyone beside Beast Boy (who had downed a plate of raw tofu), as they went up to their rooms.
Raven (Starfire) looked down at the box in her hand. On their shopping adventure Raven had gotten her a dress.
The dark haired girl grinned, bounding into her pink room. She placed the box down on the bed before ripping it open.
The dress she found was beautiful. Her hands roved down the delicate fabric. It was dark violet that seemed to glimmer red when she moved it.
Raven pulled it from the box and laid it out on the bed. Perfect.
Starfire got halfway into her dress before she realized something. This dress had the zipper that wasn't to be bested.
She groaned, turning for the door in her room. There came a knock at the exact instant.
Puzzled, she crossed the room hoping whoever was there could zip up the back.
It was Cyborg. He grinned at her, "Well I never thought I'd see the day."
Starfire shot him a sarcastic smile. "Can you zip it up for me?" She turned slightly to allow him.
"Sure thing little lady." Carefully he zipped the backing up.
"Thanks," Starfire breathed, turning back around. "What did you want anyway?"
"Just wanted to see if you can do this."
Starfire spread her hands out. "It sure looks like I'm doing it."
Cyborg gave her a small smile. "You picked a good dress, you look beautiful."
Starfire waved him off needlessly. "Go, go see Raven in a dress, I know you're dying to."
He grinned wider. "Of course my lady." He gave a small bow and was off before she could scold him.
Boys…
She rolled her eyes and went back into her room. Now where were those hair pins?
Raven struggled with the corset tie. She had never really tied anything before and it was quite tricky. She had pulled the red ribbon tight but whenever she went to tie it, it would loosen and cause her to have to tighten it again and attempt to tie it.
It was frustrating, even to such a kind and patient girl.
Fortunately, there was a knock at her bedroom door. "Coming!" She called sweetly, pulling the tie and holding it in one hand.
"Could you be of assistance to me?" She asked, opening the door to see Cyborg. He smiled and nodded.
"Well sure." He took the ribbon and nimbly tied it in a hanging bow.
"Many thanks!" Raven smiled, twirling around once in the dress.
"It looks good Star."
Raven paused to look across the room at the mirror, the dress certainly did fit her perfectly. "It does, Raven herself picked it out."
Cyborg nodded taking in the sight of the last likely person in a dress. For someone who had banished themselves from anything of that kind it seemed strangely fitting. And she was beautiful, Cyborg watched as Raven gave another twirl, laughing to herself.
"I've got to go get ready myself, see ya later Starfire." Cyborg added before turning back down the hall.
"I shall!" Raven called, twirling once again in front of her mirror and laughing.
Beautiful.
The boys were the first to be finished dressing. Tuxes didn't require much effort in dressing. They waited in the living room as it struck seven.
"Where are they?" Beast Boy whined exasperated, pulling at his dark green tux, an unappealing match with his skin.
"They're probably planning how to kill you for wearing that tux." Cyborg called.
"Hey! I am stylin'" Beast Boy winked and straightened his jacket.
"On what planet, because it certainly isn't Earth." Cyborg retorted.
Beast Boy stuck his tongue out at the taller boy before crossing his arms.
There was a noise and the three boys turned to see Starfire descending the stairs. The dress fit her, swishing as she moved, and she had completed it with slightly heeled white shoes. The small pinning stars glimmered, as a delicate smile moved onto her lips.
Starfire had pinned the long red mess of hair up, leaving small pieces curling down. She looked every bit the radiant Tameranian princess.
Robin nodded at her as she moved closer to him, the other two boys were gawking.
"That really you Raven?" Beast Boy joked.
Starfire shot him a bitter look that left him cringing.
"Yup, I'd say so." Cyborg smiled.
Starfire moved to stand beside Robin. "You look nice." Robin commented.
Starfire nodded, wondering why his 'nice' sounded so hollow. Wasn't Starfire his dream girl? Granted it was her inside, but didn't Starfire get a bit better than 'nice' anyway?
Her thoughts were interrupted as the sound of footsteps. Everyone turned to see Raven, descending the stairs.
There was an air of pause as everyone took in the image. Raven had half pinned her hair, leaving the majority down in slight curls. Her dress was accompanied by a black necklace with a small raven and dark healed shoes.
Where Starfire had been radiant, Raven was elegant, the kind that commanded those around to stop and look.
Robin was slightly gaping, before he caught himself. But shouldn't he be allowed to gape at something that unexpected?
His thoughts from earlier erupted through his head as if to push the idea home. He had given 'Starfire' a nice, and gaped at 'Raven'.
And as wrong as it seemed, Robin could only keep remembering standing at the window earlier…
Raven smiled when she reached the others. "It is good?"
Beast Boy took a moment before picking up his jaw and grinning in confirmation. "You look… uh… you look…"
"I think he means you look hot." Cyborg ad-libbed. Beast Boy blushed, getting ready to retort.
"I am heated?" Raven asked confused, looking down at her dress.
There was a pause before Cyborg snickered and patted Beast Boy. "Just let it go."
Beast Boy looked torn between defending himself and not making the situation worse. He settled for keeping his mouth shut.
"We ready?" Robin interrupted, pushing his thoughts aside. There were nods all around. "Shots?" He eyed the two girls, they couldn't have them going into changes while in public.
"Oh yeah," Cyborg turned around to the coffee table and grabbed a small syringe filled with purple liquid. "Raven's good for another six hours." He motioned Raven (Starfire) forward and took her arm. Carefully he injected the fluid. "And now Star's good for another six."
"Alright, and we're all going in the t-car." Robin dictated. Raven brushed her hand over the pinprick that was already quickly healing over.
Robin started for the garage, the others following. Starfire on her way, caught up with Beast Boy who was still ogling over Raven in a dress.
"Paws off." Starfire whispered, in a warning tone.
The changeling gave her a quiet look before adding an apologetic smile.
"This is a party for the city, yes?" Raven called as they drove on. She sat in the backseat on the door side.
"I suppose." Starfire answered, seated beside Raven.
"The mayor said he would be trying to put on an annual party for fundraising and recognition of those helping in Jump City." Robin wrung his hands in his lap, seated on the other side of Starfire.
"Charity ball." Cyborg shook his head, taking a smooth turn. "Didn't know Jump City needed the money."
"With all the criminal destruction and constant rebuilding?" Came Starfire's voice, monotone and dry.
"True." Cyborg noted.
The rest of the drive was silent (besides the radio Cyborg had clicked on) and it slowly agitated Robin. This would be his first real public affair with his girlfriend and it truly wasn't her.
He was worried. How would Raven deal with these people? They were probably the cities finest, rich enough not to care how they treated people. And Raven…she wouldn't tolerate anyone's snobbish attitude.
She wasn't even naive enough to miss if they said anything.
And though the thought of her sarcastic quips was amusing, the patrons probably would not think so.
His worry must have been obvious, because Starfire suddenly placed a hand down on his. He stopped wringing his hands. "It'll be fine." Starfire whispered, giving him a quick glance.
Robin exhaled slowly. He nodded, maybe it would be fine…
"We're here." Cyborg called, pulling his car into one of the last available spaces. The party was going to be held in one of the larger ball room areas of the city hall.
Already they could see groups of people, all dressed finely, making their way up the steps and into the hall doors. The front was decorated for the occasion as well. There was a large banner hanging above the double doors, streamers and festively colored balloons took residence on either side.
String lights lined down the stairs, drawing people into invisible paths toward the party.
Robin opened his door first, stepping out before lending a hand to Starfire, the perfect gentleman. The rest of the titans got out, while Starfire took his hand letting herself be lead out to his side, the perfect lady.
Robin bent his arm, Starfire gently laying a hand there to be lead. They turned to the rest of the team.
"You two might just survive this." Cyborg added with a smile.
"Wanna bet on that?" Beast Boy called following Cyborg as the two started toward the front.
"I wish you two… the best of luck." Raven smiled largely before making her way past them following the other two boys.
Starfire couldn't help but wrinkle her nose at how fake the whole thing was.
"Ready?" She took a deep breath, squeezing the boys arm lightly. Robin looked at her a moment, still hidden behind the mask.
"I think so." His voice was light, he had been thinking about the look Raven had just given him. She had tried to seem so happy, but her smile was a second too slow.
What they had… was breaking.
The two followed their fellow titans toward the entrance, nodding at couples occasionally. They smiled the entire way despite inner feelings.
Robin was able to spot the chief of police and his wife, the city's secretary, and a few large stock holders he had met on occasion.
And then they were at the entrance stairs. Robin slowed in case Starfire had difficulty with her heels. In fact, she didn't. She made it with firm footsteps, her hand stayed on his arm.
They were just about to cross the threshold when a voice stopped them. Someone was shouting for Robin over the crowd of people now mulling into the hall.
The two stopped as Robin looked across for the person who had called him. They called again, louder this time.
Robin saw the person, they were motioning him over.
Robin swallowed as Starfire followed his gaze to… the mayor. He was surrounded by a small group who were chatting amicably.
Stuck, the two had no choice but to weave through the crowd and toward the waiting patrons.
Filler! The dance will be the next (extremely long) chapter. I understand there hasn't really been much romance or whatnot, but I'm a big nitpick with setup. We have to have gradual steps from going out with Starfire to liking someone else.
The wait won't be I vain.
Props to beta Sarah Cabbage Patch, because she's awesome!
And yes, because of my non-tv self I downloaded from prophesy-the end part 3. They're so good!
Review!
Dragonslayer527