"Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for, and the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more." - Unknown

Later that evening, after combat practice, Robin eyed Starfire and Raven. Both had been very quiet during training. Nothing unusual for Raven, of course, but Starfire had barely said three words to him. When he thought about it, they both had been acting strangely lately, not saying much to each other, or to him. Warning bells were going off in his head. Robin never liked being out of the loop, all part of the detective mentality. Even now, after dinner, Starfire would usually be at her most talkative with everyone in attendance. Instead, she seemed to be deep in thought about something, and that something seemed to revolve around himself and Raven, who herself was avoiding talking to Robin even more than usual. Whatever it was, it seemed to weigh heavily on them both. And two teammates acting oddly was something he couldn't ignore.

"Starfire, are you…feeling alright?"

At the mention of her name, Starfire looked around and focused on Robin, almost nervously. Out of the corner of his eye, Robin could see Raven tense – she was reading a book, but he could tell all her attention was on them. He also caught Starfire's tiny glance towards Raven.

"I am fine, friend Robin. Why…do you ask?"

Starfire was a horrible liar.

"You've just been very quiet lately. Is something the matter?"

Starfire lowered her head slightly, but Robin still saw another glance go Raven's way before she looked back at him.

"I…think I may have 'the cold.' I…have just not felt very active lately."

And even Beastboy could have caught that one. Robin stood and walked over to her. She seemed to almost shrink away from him. When he raised a hand and placed it on her forehead, he could feel her shake. She was trying to keep a straight face, but looking into her eyes, she looked like she was on the verge of panic.

"If you're not feeling well, maybe you should turn in early."

Robin looked over to see Raven's hand's gripping her book tightly. The second he shifted, Starfire sprang out of her seat, taking the long way around the couch to avoid brushing past Robin.

"Y-Yes I think that might be best…"

"Would you…like me to bring you some tea later?"

"Yes…please."

With that, Starfire disappeared out the door. Robin tried to appear nonchalant as he sat down in front of the t.v. with BeastBoy and Cyborg, processing the exchange in his head. Starfire was nervous about something, that much was clear. It involved him, and Raven knew about it. She had to. Not counting her innate empathic abilities, and the spells she knew that could diagnose any affliction, magical or mundane, Starfire had ran off to her once before. Now, Raven had given her an excuse to get away from him, and given herself an innocent excuse to see Starfire in private later on. Robin waited for what seemed like forever, watching what was on and talking to Beastboy and Cyborg, until Raven rose from her seat, made some tea, and quietly but quickly headed upstairs. After a few minutes more, Robin slipped out after her.

Raven gently knocked on Starfire's door, and after a few moments, the door opened slightly, and Starfire peered out. Seeing Raven, she wordlessly opened the door and quickly shut it once Raven was inside. Raven set the tea onto the nightstand and turned to have Starfire wrap her arms around her.

"Are you alright?"

"…"

Raven reached out, one arm around Starfire, the other reaching up to run fingers through her hair. She stood silently, waiting, hoping, and a part of her cursing herself for putting the girl through this.

"Raven…"

"Yes?"

"I love you. I…want to be with you."

Without another word, Starfire pulled her towards the bed, lying down next to Raven. Holding her tightly, Raven threw her cloak over them both, and let Starfire nuzzle into her neck.

Outside, Robin approached Starfire's room. Trying miserably to convince himself that finding out what was wrong was for the good of the team, he pulled a tiny device from his belt and attached it to the wall, another device going to his ear. Nothing. No sound at all. He pulled another device from his belt and flicked it on. It showed Cyborg and Beastboy were still in the common room, and Raven and Starfire were right next to each other in the middle of the room. Setting it on the floor, he watched the dots that were the Teen Titans flicker silently. Getting as comfortable as he could while spying on a teammate, he adjusted the device in his ear, and waited. He didn't have to wait long.
"I think…it is much like you said. I think…I always felt this way, but believed one feeling to be another. No, I am certain."

Raven merely smiled, moving both hands to Starfire's back, kneading out the stress she felt in the muscles. Starfire sighed and returned the favor, running her hands up and down Raven's sides.

"Then here's to certainty."

Raven leaned down and gave Starfire her best passionate kiss.

Mmm…Still a little clumsy…but that'll pass with practice…lots and lots of practice…

The moment was slightly spoiled, however, by the look of sadness on Starfire's face when she pulled away.

"Starfire?"

"I…do not know how to tell him."

"Robin."

"I…cannot just tell him I do not like him anymore. Nor can I say nothing and prolong this by simply declining whatever gestures he makes."

"Trying to ignore him, dragging this out, will make it even more painful. He doesn't show it, but he has a great deal of pride. This…isn't going to be easy, however you choose to handle him. I'll be there with you when you tell him, we'll try to get him to understand. This is love we're talking about."

"Thank you, Raven. I hope he will understand my feelings in this matter. But, just a little later…"

"Yeah…later…"

Outside, Robin slumped against the wall, the receiver in his ear dropping to the floor.

"Starfire? In love? With…who?"

As he whispered to the walls, he noticed the dot marking Cyborg coming in his direction. Scrambling in practiced silence, he gathered his equipment and was off in a blur of motion. Back in the safety of his room, he fell into a chair, the pieces of the past few days' events fitting neatly into place.

"Starfire…has feelings for someone. She's in love with someone."

Robin slammed a fist onto his desk, looking at his hand in surprise before his face hardened again.

"She went to Raven for advice. She's been her usual self around Beastboy and Cyborg. So who? No, there's no guarantee he's a Titan. She has been heading into town more than usual lately with Raven...Raven!"

Robin jumped from his chair and reached for a disk. Opening the files on his computer, he went over the report he made about Adonis' appearance at the club that Raven had supposedly invited Starfire to.

"The Desert Rose. There is no way…no way…Raven wouldn't go within a half-mile of a place like that. She was…covering for Starfire. So Starfire could see…whoever it is."

Robin began to pace. Fast. In a short while, perhaps the very next time they saw each other, Starfire would officially dump him. And he didn't even know the guy she was dumping him for. He stopped, standing stock-still in the middle of the room, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"I don't know who he is…yet."