Jen: Hello, hello, hellooo! CHAPTER 13! Booyah! (Cyborg: Hey…) Anyway, glad to see ya!
Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Teen Titans. But I do own…uh…erm…myself? Yes! Myself. Because I am an individual and all that. Do you like my shoes?
IMPORTANT NOTE (so important, in fact, that I capitalized it to get your attention): In recent reviews, I have noticed that a few of you would really like it if Mike and Alyssa got together. I hope I'm not reading too much into this but, it means you like my characters, right? If there was ever a book about them or with them in it, would you read it?
One last thing, to those of you who have been complaining about Michel calling himself Mike: it's supposed to be that way. His real name is Michel, not Michael. He simply goes by Mike because he prefers it to Mitch which rhymes with bitch. He got tormented a lot in Middle School when he went by Mitch so he changed it.
It's About Time
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Taking advantage of the situation, Starfire pulled Robin free and took flight. She continued to the roof of their hotel, blushing the entire way.
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Robin slid the cardkey into the lock. Two lights blinked red twice, then beeped. He turned the handle and held the door open for Star. She bowed her head and stepped in, him following her.
"Sorry we couldn't get into your room." Robin said, flicking the lights on, "Alyssa only gave us my cardkey."
"That is…understandable." Starfire commented, "She was in no position to be searching through her keys of the cards."
Robin sort of half-laughed, "So…" he gestured her ripped attire, "I suppose you'll want to get out of that dress?"
She gave him a strange look.
Robin mentally kicked himself, "Oh…oh NO! Th-that's not what I meant! I just…your clothes…the mob, they…with the…" His fast explaining lips were silenced with two fingers.
"I…understand what you…were meaning to say." She looked down thoughtfully, "I do hope Alyssa will not be too infuriated."
Star headed for the bathroom, "I will return momentarily."
Richard broke through again as Robin watched her walk away.
When she stepped into the room again, she was wearing a pair of gray sweats and a baggy t-shirt. Richard wondered where she had gotten them.
As if reading his thoughts she quickly explained, "They were in the room of bath…I did not think you would mind."
"Oh, they're not mine, I--"
"Robin?" Star was unable to look him in the eye, "We…before the fans of the Titans attacked the stretched vehicle, we were…I was…um…"
She finally dared to glance at him. Richard said nothing.
"We almost kissed." She said bluntly. So bluntly, in fact, that Richard was momentarily too stunned to speak, "But…we…were interrupted. More than once, I believe."
Richard nodded. He could've sworn he heard a faint thumping sound.
"I believe in fate, Robin…"
The thumping grew louder.
"…and I do not think it is in our destinies for us to be together…"
What? WHAT? Was she…calling it off? Before it had even begun?
Thump, thump, thump.
"Wait, but--"
"Robin, please." Starfire's face was unnervingly stony, "There is a reason. I know. The fates always have a reason."
"Star--"
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
BOOM!
"Ahhhh!"
Mike dashed inside the recently opened door, Alyssa hot on his heels. She was shouting insults left and right and making elaborate hand gestures.
"…pompous, egotistical, thick-headed--" She stopped very suddenly and looked at Robin and Starfire, "Oh. I'm sorry. Were we interrupting something?"
Richard and Robin boiled in frustration. Star was about to break up with him because of these stupid disturbances. And, technically, they weren't formally together yet!
"Yes!" Robin yelled, "You are interrupting something!"
In a flash, he stepped to Starfire and pulled her into a fierce kiss. At the brief contact, his insides churned and everything changed.
He didn't know how or why it happened. It just did.
He felt his internal organs melt as his skin prickled. Richard and Robin prickled and melted as well, fusing together into one person. His thoughts were not split anymore. His mind finally found the refuge it had been seeking in her: Starfire. Then, he was reminded of the truth. His truth that he had only just understood:
He, Robin, fearless leader of the Teen Titans, ex-protégé of the Dark Knight, so-called Boy Wonder, was in love with her, Starfire, princess of a far off planet.
It made absolutely no sense. Yet, Robin was amazed at how together he felt. No torn emotions, or split decisions--just him and her. With each other. Perfection.
Peace.
That's what it was, peace. The broken clockwork of his mind had been repaired and now ran smoothly. He could rest now. He could just focus on being with Starfire.
Robin pulled away, feeling a little dizzy. In the fraction of a second their lips had come in contact, he had settled a long raging dispute between himself on his "normal" side. He was one person again. Robin.
Robin gave her a genuine smile as he walked quickly from the room. Even with the mental breakthrough, he was terribly embarrassed that he had just kissed Starfire in front of Mike and Alyssa.
Star brought her fingers to her lips.
Mike's jaw had dropped to the floor long ago, but all Alyssa could do was smirk, "Heavens." She said, "It's about time."
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"No."
"Please?"
"Leave me alone."
"Please?"
"Go away."
"Please?"
"Beast Boy." Raven deadpanned, "I refuse to tell you if I think Mike is better looking than you."
"I saw you staring at him!" BB accused as they neared her hotel door.
Raven paused for the briefest moment, "Why do you care?"
Beast Boy hesitated, "I-I…don't." He clarified, "It's just Mike…he's--"
"Sleazy." Raven finished for him in a cold tone, even for her, "Look, if you don't," he could've sworn he saw her wince, "care about me, then you have no business asking me what I think of boys."
Raven instantly noticed her mistake and hoped Beast Boy didn't.
His super animal hearing was not easily outdone, "Boys? Boys? As in other boys? You think about boys in general?"
"That's none of your business." Wait, what? Why was she dragging this argument on? Why didn't she just say no and terminate this pointless conversation?
"What boys?" Beast Boy demanded as Raven rounded the corner, headed toward her hotel room.
"Must I repeat myself?" Hold the phone. Arguing over her love life, his jealous tone, their slightly playful banter…oh no. It couldn't be. Raven swore she would never ever degrade herself so. And yet…a nagging voice in the back of her mind kept repeating the horrid word.
Flirting.
Azar. This was Raven's way of flirting. She didn't bat her eyes or giggle like other girls--she got in arguments and purposely gave them fuel, building and building she finally felt a small spark of emotion. Emotion that she usually couldn't feel.
No wonder some people called her weird.
"Yes!"
Raven forgot, for a moment, that she was still talking to Beast Boy, "Excuse me?"
"Yes, you must repeat yourself."
She was about to retort, about to slam him into concrete for daring to order her to do something, but a very red Robin stepped quickly by, knocking into her shoulder. He mumbled "sorry" without stopping and continued down the hall.
It was a small distraction, but it was enough. Raven swiped her cardkey and disappeared behind her door, all before Beast Boy could even turn to face her again.
The telekinetic leaned against the wall, her heart beating slightly faster than normal. All of her emotions were laughing and crying and screaming and shouting within the dark caverns of her mind. And wasn't it her luck, Love broke through long enough to utter a single sentence:
You love him.
Simple. Only three words, right? Wrong.
Bambi's bed exploded, a lamp melted, the windows shattered, all in the span of two seconds.
Those words…that sentence…
Raven sunk to the ground as the entire door blew off its hinges. "No." She whispered.
Emotions. Her emotions were spiraling out of control. She could not feel, she'd kill them all. She had the power to destroy the world, her friends…everything. What she lacked was control. Her so-called gift was currently annihilating her hotel room.
Raven shut her eyes and willed herself to calm down. If she could regain control it would be okay. "Azarath, metrion, zinthos."
She heard a crackle of energy. It wasn't working. Why wasn't it working?
"Raven."
She lifted her head and saw him. Beast Boy had run through a hole in the wall her powers had created and grabbed her shoulders. Raven saw the worry painted on his face and came to a very interesting conclusion about her situation.
That voice, the one she had locked in the back of her mind, Love, she had begun calling it, was…right.
Everything stopped. She gained complete control in an instant.
Those three words were true.
Raven stood up carefully before whacking Beast Boy's hands away, "You touched me."
"What? Well, yeah, but you were just--!" He was silenced with her kiss. An innocent peck, but a kiss all the same.
She smirked at Beast Boy's utterly confused look, "Returning the favor." Raven whispered. And with that, she straightened her cloak and stepped from the room, it billowing behind her. Before things progressed any further, she needed to explain her destroyed room to the front desk.
Beast Boy just stood there, love struck, for a good forty seconds before shouting, "Raven! Wait up!"
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Robin felt his already high spirits lift higher as he heard the roof door swing open and the gentle sound of slight wind as Starfire floated over to him. He enjoyed watching her move through the air hovering in front of him eye-to-eye. His legs dangled off the edge.
Robin smiled sheepishly, "Hey."
Starfire leaned in very close to him, "Why?" She asked.
"I'm sorry?"
"Why…did you bestow the gift of a kiss on me?" Her tone was not demanding nor urgent. It was so innocent, so sweet, so…Starfire.
"I've been thinking." Robin admitted, and smiled when she tilted her head, "About you, mostly." Her look brightened.
"What have you…been thinking," Star's blush was obvious, "about me?"
Uh-oh. Here came the part that Robin wasn't so good at. Feelings. "I…you…I mean, on the plane…um…" He took a deep breath, "Look, I wish I could give you a big romantic speech about how I feel towards you, but…I'm not very good at that sort of thing." Robin secretly cursed Bruce for training him to be such an emotionless blockhead, "All I know is I can't…I think about you a lot and…"
Robin ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Why was this so damned hard?
He exhaled and tried again, "I like you." Okay, good start. "And…I feel…I feel…" And he lost it. Robin almost growled before realizing he needed to stop beating around the bush.
He gestured for Starfire to come closer. She complied just as Robin whispered, "Wanna know something?"
She nodded her head.
"I love you."
Robin did not even get a chance to see Star's tear filled eyes before she flung her arms around him and captured his lips in a kiss. He made a mental note of her reaction and remembered to repeat those simple words that meant so much to her over and over again until she forgot there was ever an emotion apart from complete and utter love.
Her lips were warm and gentle. He caressed and enjoyed them, relishing in the taste and feel of Starfire. Robin could not remember ever feeling such happiness.
For the briefest moment, Robin thought of how cheesy their scenario was: kissing under the stars in Hollywood. But then, a sudden and overwhelming sensation of bliss overtook him and his brain simply refused to allow him the privilege of coherent thought.
Besides, Robin liked cheese.
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In the days that followed, Robin began to notice the little things about Starfire. Every detail about her.
He realized, for instance, that he loved the way she said his name: in that silky voice of hers, drawing out the o just a count longer than anyone else ever did. Nobody said his name like Starfire.
Robin also took special pride in getting her to say it as many times as he could. Hearing her say "Robin" while looking at him and only him, having her undivided attention almost gave him shivers.
He made sure to remember how to get her to say his name. "I love you" always worked, plus he just liked speaking that out loud and getting the same response in turn. She would gasp and squeak out, "Robin!" whenever he paid her a compliment. But the best way, and the most rewarding, was when he kissed her in public. Star would blush in the cutest way, smile, and say his name in a slightly reprimanding tone. Then, when they finally got a moment alone, she would give him her own kiss. Ah yes, a smooch from Star and the hearing of his name: a winning combination.
The park would have been lovely. The birds were singing, oh yes, the bees were buzzing, but there were about a million flashes every time Robin or Starfire moved. The paparazzi had caught on to their newfound relationship and were getting as many pictures as they could of the two of them together.
Robin was just praying for a distraction. It was bad enough that Alyssa had insisted that she and Mike accompany him and Star on a simple walk through the park, but the fact that they couldn't get any privacy at all was taking a toll on his nerves.
Apparently, God was on his side because as Mike moved in to get a better feel of an attractive camerawoman, Alyssa tugged him by his ear toward her, and began to chastise him. Loudly. With elaborate hand gestures.
This attracted most of the camera's attention and allowed Robin enough time to say, "Come on." to Star. They began to flee, but were blocked by a group of small children who had long since abandoned their monkey bars and sea saws in favor of meeting Robin and Starfire of the New Teen Titans.
The two celebrities turned from them, only to run into a blonde reporter and her, you guessed it, camera complete with man.
"Robin and Starfire, an honor it is." She said in a false happy voice, "Tell us, what brings you to our modest park?"
Robin and Starfire glanced at each other, "Oh, well--"
"If I may interrupt," the blonde said, "Rumors have it that you and Starfire are actually an item. Robin, any comment?"
Alyssa and a now bruised Mike appeared behind them, "No!" Alyssa hissed into Robin's ear, "A girlfriend is bad for your image. Robin, you're single."
The Boy Wonder looked from the microphone shoved in his face, to the blonde, to Starfire. Her look wasn't happy, but it stated clearly: I understand.
Robin looked into the camera, "No, no comment."
Alyssa let out a breathy sigh.
Robin gestured for the camera to follow him as he walked up to Starfire and planted a innocent kiss on her lips. Her cheeks reddened as she scolded him, though a smile was on her face, "Robin…"
"That answers your question, right?" Robin said to the reporter.
She looked like a bloodthirsty predator who had just made a kill, "Definitely." She turned to the camera, "You heard, or rather saw, it here first. Ready for that promotion, this is Beatrice White, channel four." When the cameraman removed the camera from his shoulder, she squealed and hugged him, shouting about how channel two could take that and shove it where the sun doesn't shine.
Robin laced his fingers through hers and cracked a grin, "Shall we?"
Later, after they had returned to their hotel, Starfire pulled Robin aside. He was expecting her to ask questions, to wonder aloud why he had just insured the entire world knowing that they were together, but she didn't. She merely smiled and rewarded him with the softest kisses he had ever received from her.
Robin had recently discovered that the best parts of her skin were the areas he rarely got to see. Her skin, in general, was amazing. But her neck and shoulders, her breast plate covered them, were positively gorgeous. He remembered the time he had noticed how beautiful those parts of her were.
"Robin?" Whoa, there she was, saying his name again.
"Just c'mon Sweetheart," Mike said irritably, "You don't need your boyfriend's opinion on everything."
"Oh hush, Michel." Alyssa ordered as she shoved past him to Beast Boy, "What did I tell you? Wear the red pajamas."
"I look like a Christmas tree!" Beast Boy whined.
Alyssa had told them that there was a fundraiser down at the local high school. All the students involved were having a massive sleepover in their gym. The assistants decided the Titans needed to go and forced them into ridiculous pjs.
"You always look like a Christmas tree." Raven informed Beast Boy with the slightest smirk on her face.
To Robin's surprise, BB smiled back.
"Robin?" Starfire repeated, her head sticking out from behind the bathroom door, "I am not so confident about these Ps and Js…"
"You look beautiful no matter what." Robin assured her, "Come on out."
She gasped and said his name once more in response to the compliment before stepping into view.
It was then that Robin saw his newly found favorite part of her. Emily had implored that she wear baggy plaid pants and a solid pink tube top. The top exposed the hollow of her stunning neck and perfect shoulders. Robin was very, very close to throwing caution and ego to the wind and planting kisses on every inch of that glorious skin.
"Robin?" Starfire said for the third time.
After Robin got over the fact that she had said his name again, he snapped back into reality, "S-see? Beautiful, like I said."
She graced him with a smile.
"Robin!"
His responsive grin turned into a frown when his mask met Alyssa's frustrated face. "What?"
She gestured to his wife-beater and blue sweatpants.
"So?"
Alyssa rolled her eyes, tugged his pants down around his hips, and nearly ripped the shirt off him, "Bad boys do not wear shirts to bed."
Mike sniggered.
"Oh, be quiet Michel." She said loudly, tossing the article of clothing at him, "Immature moron." She added under her breath.
Robin had heard once that nice feet on a woman was a big turn on for some men. Apart from the fact that he found that slightly creepy, Robin had decided long ago that he didn't like feet period. That is, until he saw Star's.
Robin could not get over it. How could someone's feet be pretty? What was wrong with him?
But as odd as it was, her toes, how they wiggled when she was nervous, the arch, which showed the most when she was in the air, her ankles…lord help him, he found intensely attractive.
Starfire laughed as Beast Boy missed another volleyball. Raven sighed from her spot on the other side of the net.
"Beast Boy, I can't believe you dragged me away from Angels and Demons for this."
"Aw, come on, Rae." Robin noticed, that for the first time, she didn't correct him, "We're at the beach!" Beast Boy gestured to the sand, sun, and fun around him, "You can't read at the beach."
"Says who?"
"Me!"
"You?"
"Yes, me."
"You?"
"Yes."
"…"
"…"
"You?"
Beast Boy burst out laughing and Raven even let out a miniscule chuckle.
They had been acting differently around each other lately and Robin had been meaning to ask them what was going on. He was about to, but something caught his mask.
Starfire had gotten bored with the game and was lying down on her purple beach towel. Alyssa had forced her into a pale pink bikini with a floral design.. Robin let his eyes travel over her shiny red mane and tour downward, over the curve of her spine, past her tiny waist, south of her calves, landing on the bottoms of her feet.
He had the sudden urge to grab hold of them and tickle her. He pondered his situation. He had no barriers to stop him such as shoes or the line between friendship and more. So why not? Robin took hold of her ankle and tickled.
Starfire caught on almost instantly, giggling and squirming, but he would not let her go. Soon it was an all out tickle war. Cyborg joined in first followed by Beast Boy, who was bold (or stupid, depending how you look at it) enough to try to give Raven's ribs a tickle. He was rewarded with a powerful blast of energy that sent him flying into the ocean. But hey, he tried.
That day had ended with laughter.
There were so many other things Robin loved about Starfire. Normal things, of course, the hue of her hair, her eyes, lips naturally…her body. But then, there were a million tiny things that he had never thought of before they got together. How she always put her index finger to her chin when she was considering something she was slightly skeptical about, the way she moved when she fought villains (Robin found her butt-kicking side amazingly alluring), and how she kissed him.
Oh yeah, Robin was in heaven.
Great girlfriend, great friends, great job. Plus they were going to leave Hollywood that night. Finally, they could go home.
Whoever said a celebrity's life wasn't perfect?
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Jen: THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER. I repeat, THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER. There are still a few more to go.
I tried to make Robin and Starfire's relationship really sweet and innocent. But, uh, I'm not very good with relationships. Anyway, I just hope this chappie was of satisfactory to you.
Well, you know what comes next. Review please, thank you.