A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Some fight, huh?

Chapter Fourteen: Romance

Robin rushed over to the girls and crouched. Starfire smiled weakly as she regained her feet, and Raven buried herself in the folds of her cloak. The Teen Wonder nodded to the willowy girl and turned his attention to the young witch. He approached tenderly and wrapped his good arm around her shoulders. Raven leaned into him and took a deep breath. She listened to his good, strong heart and felt his warmth envelope her.

"It's okay Rae," Robin said softly. "I've got you."

"It's not fair," she whispered to herself, and then wondered if that was her true feelings or Envy speaking. The pale girl's power fed itself on her wounds, healing her.

Star's knee buckled, but a pair of soft yet strong hands saved her from falling. Her eyes met the glowing purple eyes of her sister, Komand'r.

"You look terrible, Kory," Blackfire said as she wrapped her arms around Star.

Starfire smiled, "I am sure that is no thanks to you, you Klorbag," and returned the hug.

Blackfire laughed. "Well, yeah. I suppose I should make nice now and apologize or something."

"I would not expect it nor demand it of you, Sister," Star said tenderly.

Blackfire pulled away from Star, first making sure that her younger sister could stand on her own. She floated up, and kissed Star lightly on the forehead. Her eyes settled on Robin.

"So, is this that part where I'm supposed to give up?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm and held out her wrists, as if to be handcuffed.

Robin looked up, and a mysterious grin drew across his face. He glanced to Starfire and back to Blackfire. The Teen Wonder said nothing, but tilted his head toward the empty hallway and looked away. Blackfire chuckled lightly.

The dark haired Tamaranian smiled and turned to Starfire, "Hang on to that one, little sister." Komand'r smiled slyly, winked at Robin, and said, "See you around," before disappearing in the shadows.

Raven finally stood up and looked around. She droned in her rolling rasp, "Anyone see where X snuck off to?"

…..

The world slowly came into focus around Beast Boy. He pushed himself off the ground, his arms almost buckling from exhaustion, and looked around. The blond Titan, Jericho, stood nearby and held out his hand. The young changeling gasped his teammate's forearm and was helped to his feet.

"Aw, man," he groaned, "anyone get the name of the five trucks that hit me?"

Jericho made a sign and mouthed the word, "Sorry." The mute Titan made a simple sign for "Are you okay?"

Beast Boy looked at his shoes and took a deep breath. "No, I'm not." The diminutive Titan craned his neck to the sky. "I… I know everything I did. At least with that freak, Mad Mod, his hypno-screens wiped your brain"

"It's okay, Gar," Kid Flash said, leaning on his friend's shoulder suddenly. "One of the many gifts of superspeed: I heal quickly." He looked over to Cyborg and Argent. They just finished locking down Cinderblock. "If you're done over there, there're still Titans to rescue."

"Consider them rescued," a raspy, commanding voice said from the doorway.

Beast Boy, Kid Flash, and Jericho turned and smiled. Robin, still bandaged, walked out proudly with Raven and Starfire at his side. An ebon sphere floated behind the assembled Titans, containing the still unconscious form of Psimon.

"Dude!" Beast Boy said jumping toward Robin. "Oh man, am I glad you're okay! I am so sorry. I didn't know what was happening; I just got insanely weird or something."

"No problem Beast Boy," Robin said patting the green Titan's shoulder.

"It was the fiend, Psimon, who controlled you," Star said soothingly. "We know you would never attack your friends willingly."

"Thanks Rob. Thanks Star. You guys are the best!" Beast Boy threw his arms around his teammates.

"Can we take the bad guy to jail, now?" Raven drawled and folded her arms across her chest.

Cyborg and Argent joined up with the others, dragging the bound Cinderblock behind them. Cyborg grinned, "Well, now the gang's all here. Let's go…"

Jericho did his sign for Speedy.

Cy frowned. "Oh, yeah."

"I'll find him!" the changeling called and transformed into a bloodhound. He howled mournfully, catching the archer's scent in the air, and ran toward the woods.

"You'd better back him up, Wally," Robin told Kid Flash. "Cheshire is…"

"We know," Kid Flash interrupted before vanishing in a crimson and gold blur.

…..

The bright green hound nosed the ground, sniffing loudly as the fleet footed teen walked behind him. The two Titans moved through the woods slowly. Kid Flash looked around, measuring the heights of tree branches carefully. He plotted out clear runways and committed them to memory, just in case he needed to move at speed. Yes, he could vibrate through trees, but it was extremely draining. More importantly, Beast Boy needed the time to differentiate all the scents, locking in on Speedy's unique chemical signature.

The hound raised his head and sniffed the air. Suddenly he transformed into his human self and blushed. "I, um, found them."

"Where?"

BB pointed into the gentle breeze.

"Can you tell if he's okay?"

The green Titan blushed to his ears. "Yeah, I'd say he's okay." Beast Boy pulled at his collar and cleared his throat. Kid Flash arched a quizzical eyebrow and zoomed off. In an instant he returned, his face scarlet and his eyes wide.

"Wow, he's not called speedy for nothing…." Kid Flash gasped.

"Yeah, maybe we should let them… um…" Beast Boy said shakily, "…finish?"

"Yeah," Kid Flash agreed.

…..

One week later.

Speedy frowned as he pulled out the popcorn from the microwave and popped open the cans of root beer. He dropped them on a tray and brought the snacks to Beast Boy and Kid Flash who were both grinning like, of all things, Cheshire cats. The almost now inseparable pair were locked in on the latest Hockey game for their giant Gamestation. The young archer flopped on the sofa, scowling, and folded his arms across his chest. Raven rolled her eyes and put her nose back in the horror novel she was reading.

Starfire chewed on the end of her pencil, putting the finishing touches on the poem she was composing. The alien girl decided to write it in her native language after all, but found a greater appreciation of the introspective, somber, and occasionally depressing poems Raven seemed to prefer. The willowy girl looked around the common room and grinned as she saw Cyborg gleefully prepare the Valentine's Day dinner. She laughed to herself and continued writing about a little bird's nobility and great honor.

Argent and Jericho both sat at the stereo console, crossed legged, wearing oversized headphones. Her eyes were closed, and her head bobbed to the thunderous beat of rock music, while the blond boy listened serenely. Jericho opened his bright green eyes and nudged Argent. He pointed up and behind her. She turned, taking off the headphones. Robin smiled and handed her a small package. He had three other bundles tucked under his arm wrapped in red paper. The silver-skinned girl looked at the dedication and smiled brightly as she read the handwritten note.

TO: Argent

Happy Valentine's Day.

-R

Argent carefully opened the paper. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in surprise. She held Evanescence's concert album, "Anywhere but Home," in her hand. Bright silver ink glistened on the cover: autographs of each of the band members. She literally jumped to her feet, flew over to the Teen Wonder and hugged him hard.

"Thank you!" she cried. "You really shouldn't have!"

"It wasn't any trouble, Toni," Robin said as he cordially returned the hug.

Cyborg stopped mixing some batter and put the bowl down. "Someone's at the pier," he announced.

"I'll go," Kid Flash's voice lingered in the room after he had already left. He returned before anyone could react to his absence. "It was just another floral delivery guy."

"That makes, like, the hundredth and fiftieth one today," Beast Boy said, leaning on the countertop. "Who's it for this time? It's not like every room in the Tower is covered in flowers or something."

Kid Flash dropped the box in Speedy's lap. The young archer opened the box and found a single stem, bright yellow, chrysanthemum. It spread open and large, like fireworks. Speedy's keen eye noticed a gossamer chain wrapped around the flower and discovered it led to a small jade cat.

A soft, dreamy smile spread across the archer's face.

Raven furrowed her brow as a bright red package appeared before her. She put down her book and glared up at Robin, but his damnably disarming smile nullified her sarcasm's ammunition. She took the gift lightly in her hands.

"Valentine's Day is just a marketing tool," she spat as she opened the present. "Just designed for…" her voice trailed off. She held a thin folder and opened it slowly. "Oh wow," she said breathlessly. The young witch ran her finger across a pair of tickets to the Jump City Lyric Opera's performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni.

Raven looked around the room and couldn't help smiling. She asked Robin a silent question with her large violet eyes, and the Teen Wonder grinned and gave her a slight nod. She turned quickly and slid down the sofa, suddenly feeling completely giddy.

"Something wrong, Rae?" Kid Flash asked as he jerked his controller to the side, sending a computerized defenseman crashing into one of Beast Boy's wingers.

"No, Wallace," she said dreamily. "Everything is perfect."

Robin leaned over Star's shoulder and slid a red package before her. The alien girl's eyes brightened as she unceremoniously shredded the wrapping revealing a small certificate.

The firm script on the parchment read:

Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran,

Please give me the honor of accompanying you to the Boardwalk this Saturday for a day of diversions followed by a night of dancing. –R.

"Yes, of course!" Starfire exclaimed. She wrapped her arms around Robin and nearly squeezed the air out of him. Her green eyes flashed brightly but soon locked on the last package he was holding. Kory's keen eyes spotted the logo of a local chocolatier.

She looked up curiously, "Robin, who are the chocolates for?"

The End