Chapter Four: Dress
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Starfire looked around the beautiful little chapel in awe. Dark wooden pews filled the space, and stained glass windows stood tall as the building itself over thealtar. She sighed. She was getting married. Her, someone's wife! And every time she thought about it, Starfire never came up with a better someone than her own dear, sweet Robin.
Farther back, the Titans dispersed themselves into the chapel. Raven went up to the front, looking at the windows. She ran her hand over the smooth, cool glass. She liked stained glass. When you had light streaming through a beautiful picture, it just made things look so hopeful and wonderful.
"Hey," Robin said, coming up next to her. Raven smiled warmly at the team leader.
"Hey," she said back. "I hope that you like this place,because I think your fiancé has fallen in love all over again," Raven said, gesturing to the gleeful Starfire running about. Robin laughed.
"Yeah, that's Starfire," he said, wondering why he felt like cringing. DidStarfire ever stop talking? Why didn't he notice this before?
The two Titans stood at the altar, facing each other. They looked as though they were waiting for something. The light streamed in through the windows, bathing them in its after glow.
But for every light, a shadow must be created…
Starfire looked at the altar, and for a minute scared herself. Why, if you didn't know better it would look as though Raven and Robin were the ones getting married! How silly of her. The alien princess bounded up the steps to join her fiancé and her best friend. Things were so perfect right now, what could possibly go wrong?
After they booked the chapel, it was on to the reception hall. The Titans were eagerly planning the wedding, their voices babbling and talking over each other and around each other. It was mostly Terra and Starfire, but Beast Boy and Cyborg certainly had their input. Robin was forced to add a word every so often, (mostly the words, "I think that's a great idea, honey!") and Raven was perfectly silent throughout the entire ride.
The reception hall was a huge room with cream colored walls and round tables with rose colored table cloths. There was an enormous dance floor with an awesome stereo system designed to play any kind of recording device.
Starfire and Terra eagerly took to the dance floor, swinging and laughing and looking like teenage girls at a school dance. Beast Boy and Cyborg were quick to follow, and Terra was shuffled between Beast Boy and Starfire. The girl laughed as she danced.
"Hey, Cyborg, can you do the robot?" Beast Boy asked mockingly. The older boy rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yuk it up," Cyborg said as Starfire, Terra and Beast Boy laughed.
"Come, love Robin, see how you like this dance floor," Starfire said, smiling. She held her hands out, and he reluctantly took them. The two awkwardly began to dance, and after much blushing and giggling they were froced to break apart.
"Hey Raven, are you going to dance?" Terra asked the gothic girl, finally breaking away from Beast Boy. Raven frowned.
"I don't dance," she stated simply. Terra made a face.
"Aww, come on!" she begged looking at Raven with pleading eyes.
"No!" Raven said sharply. The Titans cast begging looks at her. Why couldn't Raven just have some fun?
"Come on, I'll dance with you," Robin said. Raven crossed her arms. "C'mon. As team leader that's an order," he said, smiling at her.
"Well, god forbid I disobey a team order," Raven said sarcatically, rolling her eyes as she walked over. Starfire moved away from Robin, feeling a hint of jealousy, but she quickly bit it back down. There was nothing for her to worry about! Her sweet, caring fiancé was just trying to please everyone and help her best friend. It was things like this that had made her fall in love with him in the first place.
"Here, it's a Spanish dance. It should be pretty easy; the man leads," he told her, taking her hands. Raven nodded, not trusting herself to be able to both speak and not say something completely idiotic at the same time.
As the salsa began, it became increasingly obvious that Robin was a good dancer. Starfire grinned with pride. Beast Boy and Terra simply enjoyed the show. But Cyborg, the smartest of the remaing four,wondered why they were being so close, and nervous. What was going on . . .?
Raven's breath quickened as she tried to keep up with Robin. Her legs and arms moved, and she spun and somehow managed not to trip over her own feet. This was actually pretty simple, when she thought about it. All she had to do was trust Robin.
Their bodies were very close as the dance continued, and their hot breathes were mingling in the cool air. Everything was happening so fast. They could hardly keep up with the other. At last, though, the dance ended, and Robin bowed as Raven stood there, trying to wrap her mind around what had just happened.
"See! It is fun, and easy!" Starfire said, squealing happily at Raven. The darker girl nodded faintly. Oh god, they had been so close. She wanted him back. He was so warm. . .
"Let us book this place for the reception!" Starfire declared, jumping up and down with barely-contained happiness and excitement. She grabbed Robin's hand yet again, dragging him along behind her. Again, Robin found he wanted to yank away. Her hands were so hot! Raven's had been cool and slightly moist, so refreshing against his hot flesh.
Having Raven so close felt good. Her tiny, lithe body was easier to handle than Starfire's, which felt like a big gangle of height and limbs. Starfire kissed his cheek, and he felt like he had been burnt. What the hell was wrong with him? It was now, that he found himself wondering for the first time if he was about marry the wrong woman.
Raven walked back to the car, feeling very confused about everything going on and what she was feeling. She was all but throwing herself at an engaged man. The man her best friend was going to marry. So why did she feel like Robin and Starfire were about to make a big mistake? Raven sighed. She shouldn't feel this way. She was on the verge of becoming the other woman in a perfect relationship.
As the other Titans trickled out, they went into the car and began to drive through the city. Starfire's voice filled the T-car with talk as they drove through Jump City, with Terra and Beast Boy chiming in to offer their opinions on various subjects. Cyborg was silent, as well as Raven and Robin. Eventually, they pulled up to the Pretty Bride bridal shop
"Hello!" Starfire shouted as she entered the pink and white shop. She finally released Robin's hand, and began to eagerly go through the dresses with Terra. Raven watched them in mild disgust.
"Shopping isn't exactly your thing, is it?" Robin said, watching the two other female Titans tear apart the store and frighten the young girl who was supposed to be assisting them.
"Ya think?" Raven said sarcastically.
"Sorry we have to drag you here," Robin apologized. Raven shrugged.
"Well, it's your wedding too," she said. "So shouldn't you be looking for a tux anyway?" she asked. Robin shrugged.
"Yeah, although if you ask me they're all basically the same," Robin informed her. She laughed quietly.
"Good to know that I'm not the only one who thinks that," Raven said knowingly. Robin smiled at her. Beneath the protection of her hood, Raven blushed madly. They watched Terra follow Starfire into the dressing rooms, and obediently went after the two.
The dressing rooms were small, cramped, white places. Robin and Raven stood in a squished hallway as Terra and Starfire debated about which dresses they should look at. After all, for this wedding Starfire needed to get the PERFECT dress.
"Excited to see your bride all done up?" Raven said, looking at the dressing room and thanking whatever gods there were that she was not in there with them. Robin shrugged.
"I'm sure Starfire will look fine no matter what she wears," Robin said. Raven raised an eyebrow, and was then surprised when Robin pulled her hood down from her face.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"I just thought it would be nice to see your face for once," Robin said, locking eyes with her. He his hand on one side of her face, and she leaned into it. So warm. . .
He kissed her.
Raven's first response was to resist, but she gave in quickly, because the kiss was so good and so sweet, and it felt so perfect and right. She kissed him with vigor and passion, because she didn't want to surrender him to Starfire. She wanted him all for herself.
Robin kissed Raven with the same fervor, meeting her exactly. Her kiss was cool and refreshing, consuming and yet not smoldering. They broke apart only when their mutual need for oxygen over powered their mutual need for one another.
"I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me," Robin said, staring at Raven as though he was seeing her for the first time. Raven held her head, and tried to steady herself. What a kiss!
"Robin . . ." she said, her voice strained. "We can't do this," Raven said, looking at him with pleading.
"Oh, no! Of course not! I'm getting married. . .I must just be nervous. . .I don't know what I was thinking.. . I'm so sorry," he apologized. Raven just nodded. Her head hurt.
"Of course, nervous," she said to reassure both of them. At that exact moment Starfire walked out, wearing a beautiful gown. It was ivory colored, and strapless. The bodice had seed pearls sewn on it, and the skirt was made of a silky material that shined with every move she made. A rhine stone tiara with a tulle veil was placed on her head, and her golden-red hair shimmered. The two titans forgot their awkwardness as they stared at their teammate, astonished.
"Well, what do you think?" Starfire asked, taking a baby step towards Robin. "Terra helped me pick it. It as the only one that we could agree on,"
"It's gorgeous. You're gorgeous." Robin said, looking at her with a wide-eyed expression. Raven nodded. Starfire was going to be a beautiful bride. The alien princess giggled happily. She stood in front of the three way mirror, observing her reflection.
Robin stood on one side of her; Raven the other, watching her with mixed feelings. For Raven, she was torn between supporting her best friend and following her heart, and for Robin, he was torn between two women and very confused about his feelings in general. The lights glared down, and Starfire was covered in the shadows created by Raven and Robin. She didn't notice as she looked in the mirror.
She was getting married!
Beast Boy, Terra, and Cyborg stood at the end of the hall, watching their three teammates and close friends. Terra put her arms around her boyfriend, and smiled at him.
"That'll be us someday," she said, nodding towards Robin and Starfire. Beast Boy kissed her.
"Maybe sooner than you think," he added with a grin. Terra's eyes lit up. He was going to propose to her? When? She had to know! Immediately the earth-mover began to interrogate him, but Beast Boy had no answer that she could hear.
Meanwhile, Cyborg was silent. He had witnessed the kiss between Robin and Raven, and was still trying to decide what to make of it. For someone who had never even so much as glanced at another woman, Robin was sure changing his ways! Still, he decided against saying something to Starfire. It was probably pre-wedding nerves. After all, this was it. The big time. If you got cold feet or made a bad choice, too bad. There was no going back after "I do." This was it.
Unable to stop himself though, when the other four went to check-out, Cyborg clamped a large metal hand on Robin's shoulder.
"Hey, what was that all about with Raven back there?" he hissed, watching carefully to see that the others weren't paying attention. Robin's face burned crimson.
"Just, ya know, pre-wedding nerves. This is it, you know," Robin said, trying not to sound nervous. Cyborg's human eyes looked at him warily. "Besides, after I saw Starfire in that wedding dress, I knew that there was only one woman for me," the team leader said confidently. Cyborg grinned.
"Hey, congratulations man," the older boy commended him, at last satisfied that Robin was not about to run out on Starfire for Raven. Robin nodded, smiling weakly and breathed a sigh of relief as Cyborg left.
I didn't lie to Cyborg, Robin reassured himself. I meant it when I said there was only one woman for me. He gazed across the room, and his eyes landed on the slightly gothic girl reading The Aeneid.
Her name is Raven. . .
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