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).

ART: Raven's dress, because I got bored… www(dot)img(dot)photobucket(dot)com/albums/v206/dragonslayer527/RavenDress(dot)gif

Chapter 12: Ineloquent Part 1

The two wove eloquently through the people still entering the main hall toward the small group.

Robin swallowed hard trying to suppress any premonitions.

"Ah, Robin!" Mayor Rightman greeted when the two had finally gotten within range. The man was slightly taller, with thinning black hair and a wide smile.

His greeting made the others in the small group turn their attention towards the young pair that was the at the unfortunate attention of the prominent man.

"I'm glad you could all make it." He smiled patting Robin on the shoulder before turning his attention to Starfire. "And Starfire." He tilted his head, "very nice to see you two… together."

"Thank you for inviting us." Robin replied politely, feeling Starfire move her hand just slightly on his arm.

"So these be the little hero's of Jump City eh?" A very thin, tall woman with curly blond hair asked from across the group. She was standing beside a much older man who didn't seem to be paying very much attention.

"Oh, yes. This is Robin the leader and his date Starfire." Rightman introduced before turning and shouting at someone else he had just recognized.

The woman had a sour look on her face as she moved closer. "Robin, I've heard of you… but Starfire?" She turned her dark eyes on the Tameranian.

"It is nice to make your acquaintance…" Starfire smiled brightly.

"Vandall, Rene Vandall." The woman did not return the smile, her lips stayed in a perfect line.

Starfire kept the smile in place although the woman was obviously spiteful towards her. "Tell me Rene, what is your profession?" Starfire tilted her head, asking in the syrupy voice only her vocal cords could pull off.

Rene raised one perfect eyebrow. "My husband has the profession, though he's retired now. We are thinking about becoming sponsors of the city…" She had motioned to the older man at her side (who still wasn't paying attention), as her lips turned down into a scowl. It didn't seem as though it was her idea.

"I hope you find our city desirable."

"It's yet to be seen." She sneered, looking down at the ground as though it were distasteful to her.

Starfire nodded as though the woman hadn't said something insulting. "Well I must go meet my other friends. It has been very pleasant speaking with you." Starfire nodded.

"Nice meeting you." Robin added as the two backed away.

The woman did not return the sentiment, she simply turned around and dragged her husband off.

Only when they had made it inside and off to the side did the two stop. Robin grinned widely at his date as he turned to her. "Damn Raven, when did you take acting lessons?"

She shrugged, looking down the large ballroom. "Never did."

"Could've fooled me."

"So no worries then?" Starfire turned her gaze back to the boy, her hand was still on his arm.

"Yeah." Robin sighed contently while the two of them started further into the ballroom. His worry had nearly evaporated after Starfire's performance. Who knew she was so good at being Starfire?

There was slow waltzing music playing across the room as it filled. A few people had taken to dancing, while others mingled or visited the concessions at the back. Robin was able to spot a green figure back by the food, beside a taller Cyborg. They were chatting with a small group of women.

Robin and Starfire moved through the people back towards the food table. A few people threw greetings at Robin as he nodded and waved back. There had even been a few people to recognize Starfire.

"Hey," Cyborg greeted when they made it to the food table. He was leaning against it casually smiling at them. "Surviving okay?"

Starfire moved from Robin's arm toward the food. Robin moved closer to Cyborg. "Yeah, Raven's quite the actress." The two looked at the girl, she was picking a few grapes from the fruit platter.

"Hah, so she passed inspection then?"

"Starfire couldn't have done it better herself.." Robin was still watching Starfire move further down the table looking over the food. She scolded Beast Boy who was at the end of the table chatting up a group of girls. He blushed a color that clashed with his skin and quickly moved away.

Cyborg looked down at his friend. He was still looking at his date. "So.." Cyborg started trying to call his leader's attention back. "How you going to deal with it?"

"Hm." Robin snapped his attention back. "Deal with what?"

Cyborg gave him a sardonic look and Robin raised an eyebrow. "What?" He asked again.

"Have you seen Starfire yet?" Cyborg asked changing the subject.

Starfire?

Robin looked around a second. Actually, where was she? He hadn't seen her since the parking lot.

"Precisely." Cyborg noted, still watching the boy.

Robin looked back at him. Did he know about-

"Robin." Starfire was next to him suddenly, her hand on his arm as she hissed at him gently.

"Wha?" He turned to the girl, alarmed at the way she was looking at him.

"I have been asked to dance by five guys already, including Beast Boy." She whispered scowling.

Robin looked back at her, his lips twitching slightly. He could hear Cyborg snort and move away. "And?"

"How do I stop it?" She hissed, taking a quick glance behind her.

"Usually, you have to show them your taken." As he talked, Robin took Starfire's hand gently easing her away from the back. "Care to dance?" He asked when they were almost at the dance floor.

Starfire opened her mouth to give him a sarcastic answer, but paused. Maybe…

"Miss?" Someone stepped up to the two, a man that might have been just slightly older than herself. "Would you like to dance?"

Starfire's eyes darted to Robin who was still holding his other hand out expectantly. "Sorry, I'm taken." She smiled softly and took Robin's other hand for emphasis.

The man bowed his head slightly. "I see.." He moved away.

"Good choice." Robin commented as he guided her into the middle of the dance floor. The song had changed, but the music was still slow and eloquent. "Now let's see how your dancing is." He moved his other hand to her waist, moving her closer as she gingerly placed a hand at his back.

Robin stepped first, moving Starfire effortlessly around to the soft beat. She matched his footing, her dress twirling after her.

Robin watched her expression as he led them a bit faster when the music picked up. She looked calm, her eyes almost unfocused. Some strands of her hair had come loose as they danced, framing her face.

Suddenly, Robin slowed them, extending Starfire out into a slow twirl, before they resumed the dance.

Starfire was now flushed, her skin radiant, pressed close to him. The only thing he found himself paying attention to was her expression, it betrayed the body she was in.

Starfire looked at anything but her captor. He moved her across the room fluidly and nothing but the music really focused into her mind. She could feel her cheeks tinted from the movement, but kept her face serene.

After another quick twirl, she mistakenly looked across his face. He wore a slight smile and his domino mask his hid eyes. His grip tightened at her waist, pulling her a little closer as they moved between two other couples.

Starfire pushed the breath out of her forcefully, hating the way she was now… feeling. Hating the way she was allowed to feel.

The music was winding down now, the dancers now slowing their progression. At the last few melodic beats, Robin extended her out to a slow twirl before bringing her back and twirling Starfire all the way back.

The result was Starfire with her back pressed to Robin, his hands at her waist.

"Not so bad." Robin breathed against her neck before releasing her. Starfire felt an unfamiliar shiver down her spine as she turned back around.

She blinked before coming out of whatever trance she had been in. "Told ya." A small twitch came to lips, just curved enough to classify as a smile.

"So how about something to drink then?" Robin bent his arm to her.

"Sounds good." Raven placed her hand on his arm and the two made it back through the crowd toward the refreshments.

The two were so lost in thought, they missed the girl with violet hair walking off the dance floor with her partner.

Starfire finished her drink (she still wasn't sure exactly what it was) and discarded her cup.

"Much better." Robin commented beside her downing the last of his own drink and tossing the cup.

Another song had started (something by Beethoven Starfire surmised), but the couple moved over to the wall this time to sit it out.

Unfortunately there was only one free chair. Robin offered it to Starfire, mentioning something about her heels. Rolling her eyes, Starfire sat down carefully, fixing her dress. Robin leaned against the wall, his hand propped on the back of the chair.

The two watched the other couples twirling around to the beat of the music. Halfway through the song, Robin spotted Mayor Rightman, come in from outside finally.

He moved through the crowd toward a main stage where the music was playing from. Robin tapped Starfire when the music finished.

"Ahem," The man tapped the mic and motioned to someone off stage who adjusted the sound. The people who had just finished dancing turned their attention.

"Hello everyone. As you all know.. I am Mayor Rightman of this wonderful city." He grinned, looking around the crowd that had now devoted full attention to him. "I thank you all for coming for what I'm hoping will become an annual event…"

Robin's attention slid off after that. It was the typical speech given by every politician at every major event.

Instead, he let his eyes wander over all the people in the room.

"And so, in a little bit of a wrap up I'd like to introduce some of the major forces working to maintain Jump City." Mr. Rightman was suddenly handed a list.

Starfire looked up to see Robin zoning out. "Hey," She hissed and set her hand atop his that was resting on her chair.

"Hm?" He looked down at her.

"He's going to call names."

Robin looked up onto the stage to notice the mayor now had a sheet of paper, sometime during Robin's lapse of attention his speech had ended.

"We should probably go find the others." Robin whispered back.

Starfire nodded to the opposite direction. A tall boy, with an elfin counterpart were making their way through the crowd toward them.

"We're just missing Starfire." Starfire responded.

Robin looked around the crowd once again. The mayor had already begun to call names of those on the political and police force. There was polite clapping all around.

"Hey, ya seen Starfire?" Cyborg whispered as the two made it over to Robin and Starfire.

Starfire shook her head, her own eyes searching the crowd.

"Next." Mr. Rightman paused as the city's current patrons made their way off stage. "I'd like to have the Teen Titans come up."

There was a pause as the mayor looked around the crowded room for the boy in the domino mask..

The four froze, before Robin took command and started for the front, still leading Starfire. So they were missing one member, no big right?

"Ah, Jump Cities other crime fighters." Mayor Rightman introduced to the crowd before turning to the four who had just cleared the crowd. "On the behalf of the entire city I would like to thank you for all your duties."

There was the expected applause, while the four smiled politely and thanked the mayor. When he turned back to his list, the four shuffled back into the crowd.

"Okay." Starfire added in a sardonic tone as they moved further to the back of the crowd. "Whatever." She brushed off whatever awkwardness that had temporarily effected her before returning to scan the crowd. Beast Boy and Cyborg headed in the other direction in search of the food table once more.

"I'm starting to worry about her-" Robin was leading the two further into the crowd around people looking for violet hair.

Something bumped into him hard from behind and in turn Robin collided into Starfire. If it weren't for Starfire's quick stepping to counter the momentum the three of them would have made a not-so-elegant tumble to the floor.

"Ugh." Starfire groaned, easing Robin's weight off her when her heels became uncomfortable with the added pounds.

Robin turned around to see exactly what had nearly run the two of them over when-

"Greatest apologies dearest! I was having the freshness of air and I did not hear the announcement and…" Came the rushed voice of Raven. She looked terribly troubled and was already starting to attract a few stares from the people around them.

"Yeah…" Robin gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her a little away from the stares, Starfire followed.

"Starfire I was worried, you should tell one of us when you leave." Robin scolded the girl quietly.

"I did not know I would be needing to visit the out of doors until I tried the terran dances, they are magnificently exhilarating!" The violet haired girl gestured with her hands, grinning widely.

"You danced?" Robin questioned.

Raven nodded eagerly. "There was a very nice gentleman who was kind enough to explain the complications of this ritual.."

Robin stopped listening. Maybe he was crazy, but the thought suddenly made him feel very strange. "Uh, Star I think I'm going to get some of that fresh air." He interrupted the girl's enthusiastic speech about the kind young man.

"Oh." She bit her lip, wondering if she had done something wrong. All of a sudden Robin was turning around and making his way through the crowd back towards the exit. Raven was immediately reminded of the many times the troubled boy had pushed her away, needing his 'space'.

She did not understand this concept very well. What did he need his space for that he could not achieve in her company?

Did he not enjoy her company as much as the company of his 'space'?

"Please excuse me friend Raven, I think I need to use the room of bathing." Raven stuttered out as her thoughts continued to become much more troubling. Before waiting for an answer, she fled the opposite way.

Starfire was at a loss of thought. Robin had went one way and Starfire the other.

What exactly had just happened?

Starfire played the situation over in her head while she moved through the crowd toward the exit. Robin would be much easier to deal with than a hypersensitive demon with overactive telekinetic powers.

Robin tossed thoughts through his mind while he kept his brisk pace. His girlfriend had spent the evening fraternizing with… with another guy.

The way she spoke about him… she was so…happy.

He hadn't seen her that genuinely happy in at least two weeks.

And she had been happy without him.

"Robin?" There was the chill of a voice that froze his step. He half turned to see Starfire, stepping after him in those ridiculous heels. She stopped when she was a few feet away.

"I don't want to talk." Robin muttered, taking a seat on a small near by bench. Starfire followed him slowly and took the seat beside him.

Instead of pressing him to speak, she leaned back enjoying the quietness of what seemed to be a small courtyard. In the distance there was a stroking of a clock ten times.

After a few minutes of his own thoughts torturing him, Robin decided to speak. As much as Robin wished she would leave, Starfire obviously wasn't going to fulfill that wish. "It bothers me."

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Starfire tilt her head ever so slightly in his direction as a sign that she was listening.

"She went and enjoyed herself with someone else. And don't tell me how childish that sounds, I know." Robin kept his face forward, his expression never changing.

Starfire let a small silence stretch before responding. "You know, you did the same thing."

"But I had to, she genuinely-"

"You didn't genuinely enjoy yourself?" Starfire cut him off.

"Ra-"

"Yes or no." Her voice cut him off again, Robin could feel his annoyance rising. How could she always get to him?

"Yes." He muttered.

"So then you're angry at her for being happy around another guy while you've been doing the same thing for over two weeks."

"Do you always have to make it sound so damn stupid?" Robin finally turned to the girl, eyes narrowed at her.

She turned deep green eyes on him "You're being stupid. You're going to mess up your relationship. You need to go apologize."

There, she'd said it.

And for all the thoughts that had been overloading Robin's brain, that one came in the clearest. He was, as Raven had so bluntly put out, screwing up their relationship.

He didn't get up. "I can't."

It was Starfire's turn to glare at him. "Get over your ego and go." She bit angrily.

"No," Robin took a deep breath. "If I go in there, I have no idea what I'd be apologizing for."

Starfire gave him an incredulous look. It stayed there for maybe a second before it was wiped clean. "Do you want to?"

The words burned through the cool air. Do you want to?

Did he want to go inside? Did he want to fix it? Robin turned his gaze away suddenly, finding the dark courtyard immensely interesting.

"I don't know."

He heard Starfire get up by the clicking of her heels. She turned to give him a strange look, one similar to the two other times… but not quite. "If you don't know, you really are stupid."

She turned and started walking away. And for all the time he had been wishing she had left earlier, he didn't want her to go now.

"Wait Raven!" He called about to get up.

"Starfire." She called back, still walking away. "You should be concerning yourself with Starfire." With that she had turned and left his view.

Yeah, Robin thought miserably into the darkness, story of the last two weeks.

, Robin thought miserably into the darkness,

This chapter was so atrociously long you get it in two parts. (insert running for life here)

Thanks to everyone who reviewed (and all the people who've still been reviewing all my older works). You all get cookies.

As always, love and thanks to my wonderful beta Sara Cabbage Patch.

And you can download the episodes at the Robin/Starfire shrine, just google search it.

-Dragonslayer527

p.s. Happy 4th of July all you American readers!