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).

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Not beta-ed, read at your own grammar risk.

Chapter 13: Ineloquent Part 2

It was almost 11 by the time Robin was able to convince himself to get up and go inside. It had been a long and tedious task. He didn't know how to fix his problems, either way someone was going to be effected…

He had pretty much come to terms with his… lacking relationship. If the two of them couldn't handle this little strange stint of being partners, how were they supposed to stay together?

The newness and glamour of the relationship was gone and Robin wasn't too pleased with that he had left. Starfire was beautiful, she was caring and everything he could ever want. But-

But he could never be the person for her, could he? Did he want to try?

And there laid the magic question.

Robin still didn't have an answer. Raven's words rung in his ears, if you don't know, you really are stupid.

Robin ran a hand through his hair. Yes, Boy-stupid-Wonder. He could defeat cruel villains, decode Slade's ingenious messages, but he couldn't figure out his own damn personal life.

"Dude!" Beast Boy had been standing near the door when he reentered the ball. "Where've ya been?"

Robin turned his head to look at the shorter boy, his mind in a kind of haze. "Outside, have you seen Raven or Starfire?"

Beast Boy thought a moment before his eyes lit up. "Yeah, Raven came through here a little bit ago, she headed that way." He pointed to the back of the ballroom.

"Thanks." Robin didn't look back as he began making his way through the people. Music had started up again, and the crowd had begun dancing and socializing once more.

The boy searched the throng for violet or red hair as he went. He nearly reached the back and was unsuccessful.

He sighed, annoyed at himself and most of the living world. He really needed to have a talk with his girlfriend… he couldn't just leave her in the dark about all this-

"Robin." Someone stated just behind him, the monotone of the voice send the boy turning quickly to face Starfire (Raven).

"Hey, have you seen Starfire, I really need to-" That was as far as Robin got. Starfire had suddenly grabbed his hand and was pulling him onto the dance floor.

"Woah, Rav-"

"Shut up." She hissed as they moved into the stream of dancers. She quickly placed a hand in his and another on his back. Robin tried to pull back suddenly, but Starfire had the advantage of Tameranian strength. "Stop and listen."

Robin looked at her, her face held a serious tone that made him stop trying to resist. He placed a hand on her waist, leading them across the floor just as effortlessly as before. "I'm listening."

"Do you know what you're going to say to her?" Starfire whispered.

"Not yet." Robin adjusted his hand to pull Starfire closer, it was hard hearing her faint voice over the chatter and music.

"You better figure it out now." Starfire warned, looking at him for a brief second before moving her gaze.

"Why?" Robin moved then further across the room, carefully turning with the music.

Starfire glanced quickly over her shoulder spotting a head of violet hair in the crowd not too far away. Interrupting the momentum Robin had, she moved them further away where neither Robin nor Raven would see each other.

Robin gave her a strange glance at their quick repositioning. "Because I don't want you going and upsetting her more, I know how you are with expressing yourself."

"She's upset?" Robin was now searching through the crowd. They were quickly moving back around to where Raven had just been with the up stepping tempo.

Starfire moved the hand from his back, pulling his jaw back down so he was forced to look at her. "What are you going to say?" Her eyes bore into his mask, hoping he wouldn't start looking around just yet. The last thing she needed was Robin rushing off to do what he thought was best.

"That maybe we should… rethink our relationship.." Robin was finding her behavior particularly strange. Usually Starfire (Raven) wasn't one for this technique of confrontation. She dropped her hand, returning it to his back.

And now she was giving him that strange glance again.

"What does that mean?" Robin asked, spinning her out before she slid back to him.

"What?" She asked, her face placid now.

"That look you just gave me." Robin side-stepped them between a couple.

"This is the look I always have." She added, it was unconvincing to Robin. It only made him want to continue questioning her. "But, you can't say that." Starfire changed the subject, her eyes still watching the crowd incase Raven came into view again.

"Yes I can, it's the truth."

"It's only true because you believe it to be." Starfire responded.

"Is that so?" Challenged Robin, stepping them back the way they had come and successfully messing up Starfire's steps.

"Yes." She spoke when she had gathered her composure again. "You could love Beast Boy if you believed it to be true. Emotions can be manipulated that way."

Robin snorted, a smile now at his lips. The smallest of smiled twitched the girl's lips. "I don't believe that." He offered as the song began to slow. He leaned down closer to her ear to whisper the last part. "Emotions can't be controlled."

Starfire froze with the action, no matter what body she may have been occupying, he was far too close for comfort. His breath chilled her skin and Starfire was all too glad when he pulled back.

"I advice you apologize." Starfire spoke as he let her go, sliding their earlier conversation out of her mind. She gave him a hard look, but couldn't tell if he got the impact…damn mask.

"We'll see." Robin responded mysteriously tucking a strand of her red hair back behind her ear. Starfire was so off-put by the motion that Robin was able to get away before she realized it.

She knew she was going to blame herself if Raven (Starfire) came home crying.

Robin slid off the dance floor, searching out the area he had noticed Starfire to be rabidly avoiding. Let no one say his detective skills ever missed a deduction from odd behavior.

It only took a second to spot the violet hair. Excusing himself through the mob, Robin headed in her direction.

Instead of calling to her (there were still plenty of people around) Robin continued pushing through until he was within range to tap her.

"Wha- Robin." There was a faint trace of a smile as Raven tried to seem cheery.

"Can we talk?" Robin asked quietly, making sure to keep both his expression and voice flat and even.

Raven tilted her head slightly, "Of course we may."

Robin waved his hand in a motion that meant she should follow.

Starfire was able to spot the two just as they went back through the exit. She sighed heavily before turning back around to look for Cyborg.

"So what is it you wish us to talk about?" Raven asked, seating down on a bench once the two had gotten a fair distance from the party. It wasn't the same bench Robin had been at earlier… but it still unnerved him.

"Well- ah." Robin grappled for how to start, wishing he had followed Starfire's advice. "This." Robin motioned between the two of them, mentally berating himself. "I know it's been kind of… different since the whole switch and- um." Robin couldn't find it in himself to look at the girl, instead he looked over the dark grounds wishing the words would just appear.

"W-what about us?" Raven's voice faltered as she watched him. Already she didn't like how the conversation was going. Robin was acting as uncoordinated as he had been when he had asked her out.

Robin exhaled a breath and sat back, leaning his head against the wood of the bench. "Honestly Starfire, I don't know. This whole thing has really made me think…"

"About us?" She watched him uncertainly.

"Yeah. And we're really not doing too well are we?"

"I suppose not." Raven looked down at her gray-skinned hands in her lap.

"Star, I'm just worried that if we're having such issues with just one problem-"

"I." Raven interrupted, placing a hand on his shoulder to make him look at her. "I do not think I understand."

Robin pulled his head back up and finally focused his eyes on her own violet ones. "Starfire, I saw you happy tonight for the first time in too long. You were genuinely, ravingly happy… but it was with someone else doing your own thing."

"Robin I was not allowed to do the hanging out with you tonight, surely if I was I would have been all too pleased." She tried to reassure him.

"No.." Robin slowly removed her hand from his shoulder and held it. "Star, I haven't seen you that happy since…since…hell I can't even remember."

"But your companionship makes me happy." Raven nodded for exaggeration. Not too far off a potted plant was swept from its ledge and crashed across the floor. Raven seemed to blush for a moment before taking a few slow breaths to focus on her center.

"I know that a lot of the time you don't understand the things I do. And while you may not understand this now… I think it may be… the right course of action."

"A-and what course is this?" Her voice trembled painfully now and Robin ached for the girl.

"I think we- we need time away from…" Robin licked his chapped lips, urging himself not to back down. "from us." He finished and turned his head from her.

There was a long pause of uncomfortable empty silence. "You wish us not to be together?" She asked meekly, her eyes downcast.

"Uh, yeah. Starfire I'm really sorry-" He went to touch her shoulder but she quickly pulled away.

"I would like some of that space." She interrupted, her eyes still on her lap.

Robin nodded, getting up. Without another word he walked back the other way, his thoughts taunting him all the way.

How could he be so insensitive to her? How could he just go and dump her because he was having insecurities.

And on the night she was supposed to get her old body back…

Robin felt a deep sinking feeling well inside him. He had been so unsure of everything, but had gone and made a definite decision.

There wasn't much going back now.

Starfire found Cyborg moving through the crowd. He was actually enjoying the night, chatting and dancing occasionally.

"Cyborg." She called when she was within range. The taller boy turned to smile at her.

"Hey dark girl, how's it going?" He lead the two of them further from the mass of people to keep their conversation semi-private.

"Super. Robin's being headstrong, Starfire's upset and he's just gone to break up with her-"

"Woah, what?" Cyborg paused her at the last statement looking bewildered.

"He's had a sudden change of heart." Starfire glared at nothing in particular.

Cyborg coughed suddenly before nodding sheepishly. "Did you try to talk him out of it?"

Starfire raised an eyebrow at his incriminating behavior. "Yeah, it's like talking to a mask."

"Well," Cyborg sighed and rubbed his neck. Her evening would become so much less pleasant when she discovered their little secret at the tower. He cringed at the visual. "You might want to go see Starfire then."

"I was, I just wanted to fill you in." Starfire's eyes flickered a glowing green for a second. "Why must men act first and think later?"

Cyborg shrugged, "It's one of our most endearing traits."

Starfire gave him a deadpan look before her eyes flickered acid green again. Wordlessly she turned and headed for the exit.

Robin was almost to the entrance when he nearly collided with Starfire. She looked troubled and flushed.

Robin opened his mouth to say something, but never got to it. In the silence of the night a loud slap echoed across the courtyard.

Starfire, in a very odd aggressive action, had gone and slapped him. She went to pull her hand away quickly, but Robin's training allowed him to catch her hand first. He stared down at it, feeling his cheek burn where she had hit him.

She started tugging back at her hand and Robin finally looked up slightly stunned.

"I deserved that." He spoke, releasing her hand and watching her vibrant green eyes fade slightly.

"You're an idiot." Starfire narrowed her eyes at him, unsure of where to go from there.

Robin touched his cheek slowly, feeling the heat there. She had actually hit him. "Yes I am."

"Do you regret it?" Starfire asked.

Robin looked into her eyes through the mask. He shook his head

"So what am I supposed to do?" She asked, both displeased he didn't regret it and glad he had actually thought it out.

"I would suggest trying to comfort Starfire, use my name in vane all you like." Robin brushed a hand through his hair not feeling all together.

"I think I will." Starfire stated with her icy tone.

Nodding, Robin brushed by the girl taking the steps up to the entrance of the ball.

"Robin." Starfire called as he was at the top of the stairs. He half turned to her, signaling he was paying attention. "Maybe you should round up the others so we can go home."

"Yeah, thanks." Robin responded, not all that sure why he was thanking her. Before she could ask herself, her turned and went back into the ball.

Cyborg was staring at Robin strangely the entire walk to the car. He had gathered Beast Boy and Cyborg and slipped out. They we're just going to wait by the car for the girls.

"What?" Robin asked both annoyed and miserable when they arrived at the T-car. The full impact had just hit him.

"You just had to go and put Raven in a bad mood tonight didn't you?" Cyborg looked down at his leader, a dark look in place.

"I'm sorry, I mean I didn't think-"

"No you didn't. How are we supposed to break the news of a second villain in our tower when she's already steamed?" Cyborg sighed and rolled his shoulders.

"Carefully?" Beast Boy broke into the conversation. The other two shot him heated looks. Beast Boy ignored it, "So why's she mad anyway?"

Cyborg rounded on Robin expectantly. Boy Wonder swallowed hard. "I um, you see I kind of…"

"He broke up with Star." Cyborg interrupted seeing Robin wasn't getting anywhere fast.

A kind of strange look dawned on Beast Boy's face. Following it was a look of horror. "She's going to slaughter us!" He yelped, and wept into his hands.

"Yeah, not to mention poor Starfire…" Shaking his head, Cyborg moved to the car door to unlock it.

After a click that signaled the doors unlocked, there was a faint sound of sniffling. Robin peaked a glance while moving around the car to get in. Starfire was leading Raven toward the car, her face was still cast in shadows.

Cyborg shot Robin a look before pulling open the car door for them.

The long ride home was completely silent save for the sniffling from Raven and the soft whispering from Starfire.

As they pulled into the garage, the boys had become increasingly anxious. Starfire was going to need to know… and it wouldn't be pretty.

When the engine died, Starfire pushed open the door helping Raven out. They'd had a lengthy conversation in the courtyard, though for the most part Raven just listened.

Starfire had done her best to explain just how much of an ass Robin was being… but the alien girl only confused it with a farm animal and the metaphor was no good.

But anyway, she had calmed Raven to a point where her telekinetic powers weren't destroying the landscape, and she didn't so much blame herself for the fallout.

"It'll be okay," Starfire gently let go of the girl, making sure she could stand. Raven wiped her eyes, giving a weak smile.

"I am ready to be myself once more." She muttered as she followed Starfire toward the door that lead to up to the elevator.

"You guys better get this goin tonight." Starfire called, pushing the elevator button.

"Yeah, um about that." Cyborg locked up his car looking nervously at Robin and Beast Boy.

Starfire turned to look at them waiting for the elevator. Raven had moved over to the side, as to stay out of the conversation. "Yes?"

Beast Boy scooted back behind the other two boys. "You see we needed extra help to make the device." Robin stepped forward to try and explain.

Instantly, Starfire knew that was the big secret. They had brought in someone else. But who was it that they would desperately want to hide from her?

"Who?" She narrowed her eyes at the three boys. Cyborg smiled guiltily, Beast Boy backed away so only a green ear was visible, and Robin shifted his gaze.

"We kind of brought in Con-" Cyborg had started to say, but a ding from the elevator wiped the words from his mouth. Starfire could hear the doors swish open behind her, and she watched the three boy's plant their gaze directly behind her.

Starfire's muscles stiffened as she sensed something there.

"Don't you move a hair love." There was a voice thick with British accent, and suddenly she could feel a hard object pressing into her back.

This was a difficult chapter to write and all the hurricane craziness didn't help. You can hunt me down for a cliff like that. Hah.

Thank you everyone for reviewing, you people are just awesome.

-Dragonslayer527

Pretty in Scarlet20: Yes you can use the design if you like, you'll have to let me know if it comes out good.