Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. I luffs it, but I don't own it. Bill Gates is free to buy it for me.
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Robin kept his eyes straight ahead throughout his entire journey through the sea. He knew exactly where he was going, and refused to sway himself from it. While he detested the idea of asking Aqualad for any kind of help, he knew he could not become a gentleman without it. He had been thinking of an excuse throughout the sea as to why he would suddenly come to Aqualad for such a strange request, and had decided to tell him that the Teen Titans were temporarily teaming up with the FBI and needed to seduce a lunatic. This sounded like a very strange excuse to Robin, even stranger than his request, but he couldn't tell Aqualad the truth. Robin didn't know what Aqualad thought of Starfire and Raven, and if it were anything more than platonic, Robin would be refused.
As he came upon Aqualad's cave, several fish swam away at the nearing submarine. Robin would have been engulfed in the darkness of the cave had the sub not had headlights to light the way. More fish that had gathered in the darkness hurried away as the headlights revealed their hiding spots. Quite suddenly Robin came to a dead end, and he changed his course to rising to the surface he knew to be Aqualad's entrance. No one was there when he started unbuckle himself, but moments later he saw Aqualad hurrying out, surprised at the arrival.
"Robin!" Aqualad said as Robin opened the top of the T-sub to get out. "What are you doing here?"
"What, no 'hello'?" Robin said sardonically.
Aqualad changed his next words with a wry smile. "Hey. Now what are you doing here?"
Robin jumped down onto the stone floor. "I've come to ask a favor of you. Do you have time?"
Aqualad looked quizzically at Robin for a moment before nodding and leading him to back of the cave wall where a portion of it was absent to make a doorway. Through here was a very distasteful living room, littered with furniture that clashed. Aqualad motioned toward a chair, and Robin gratefully took it. After seating himself across from Robin, Aqualad spoke.
"So what's this favor of yours?"
There was a beat of silence while Robin took in a deep breath. "I want you to teach me how to be a gentleman."
There was more silence, only this one much longer. "Excuse me?"
"Teach me how to be a gentleman," Robin repeated, almost irritably.
"Why on earth would you need me to teach you that?" Aqualad said. He was slouching forward, his arms resting on his knees. His face didn't hide the confusion and uncertainty he was feeling at Robin's request.
Again there was another beat of silence. "The Teen Titans are temporarily teaming up with the FBI, and I have to go undercover."
"And you need to be a gentleman."
"Yes."
"You need to impress someone."
"Yes."
"How does Starfire feel about this?"
Robin's face was suddenly more colorful than it had been a moment before. "What d'you mean?"
"Starfire is just letting you go try and impress a woman?"
"I never said it was a woman."
"Isn't it?"
"Maybe."
"Robin."
"Yeah."
"So she's just letting you?"
"It's for a good cause."
"And who is this woman?"
"Just a criminal."
Aqualad took a moment to stare. "Why aren't you catching her instead of impressing her?"
Robin paused here, trying to make his face look as though he were debating whether or not to tell Aqualad. In reality, he was working on an answer to the question. "We know she's a criminal, but we don't have proof. We need someone to go undercover and get the evidence."
"And just what do you think this woman has done?"
Again Robin paused. "Steal?"
"Steal."
"Yeah, steal."
"What did she steal?"
"What does it matter? Are you going to help me or not?"
"When are you going to tell me why you're really here?"
Robin glared. "This is why I'm here! I need to learn how to be a gentleman!"
"Oh, I don't doubt that," Aqualad said, brushing his words off with a wave of his hand. "Why ask the favor if you don't want it? It's the reason for this favor that I'm doubting."
"You don't believe me?"
"Not in the slightest."
Robin stood up, his temper flaring. "Fine! I don't need your help then!" He turned on his heel and stomped toward the crevice in the stone wall.
"Robin!" Aqualad said, causing Robin to pause at the door. "Your first lesson is that a gentleman never loses his temper."
Robin's gaze fell, and a small smile placed itself on his face in an I-should-have-known way. "Thanks."
Aqualad smiled back, with much more warmth in this gesture than Robin's had. He stood up and clapped his hands together. "All right! So what sort of scenario are we talking about?"
Robin's smile left. "Scenario?"
"Yeah. Are we talking a date for your criminal, or a business meeting, or an accidental-on-purpose meeting in the street? I'm assuming you know the basics."
Robin paused, trying to figure out how to properly answer this question. "Uh, can we start with the basics and then go forward?"
Aqualad rolled his eyes. "All right. Let me make you a list… the basics are really obvious, minor things that actually aren't so minor at all. They make a huge impact on a girl in the long run, so don't forget a single one of them."
Robin nodded as Aqualad exited through another doorway, returning moments later with paper and a pen in his hand. He sat down in the same chair he had before, and again motioned for Robin to take his previous chair. Robin did so as Aqualad removed the pen cap and titled his list, immediately starting on number one in his small, sharp handwriting.
Robin preoccupied himself by going through Aqualad's living room more thoroughly. It was a surprisingly large room, holding three chairs and two couches, along with two coffee tables. Some of the furniture was cushioned, others were leather, and others looked so hard to sit on Robin would've sworn they were made from the cave itself. Everything was rather tacky in appearance, especially crammed together in this one room where nothing matched. It was, however, home to Aqualad, and so Robin made no comment.
Aqualad finally handed Robin the sheet of paper he had been taking notes on, smiling at his friend. "There you go. The basics to getting a girl."
Robin read the sheet of paper, his surprise showing with each new number.
Aqualad's Guide to Getting a Girl: The BasicsTreat her with respect – every girl likes to think she's better than you, so make her think that
Don't overcrowd her – let her have her space; if she thinks you're invading, she'll start PMSing even if she isn't
Don't undercrowd her – if she thinks you're trying to keep your distance, she'll get offended
Sweet talk her – lie to her if you have to, but tell her she's the most beautiful thing you've ever laid eyes on; compliment her often on anything that may deserve it
Just talk to her – girls like to think you can become vulnerable around them; it makes them feel a bit more in control
Don'ts – don't curse, smoke, drink, or do drugs around her unless she is; it turns them off if they don't do it too
Make physical contact – it makes her think you're interested in her; hold her hand, give her hugs, kisses (mouth or cheek) if you think she'll let you
Not too much physical contact – too much will make them shy away and think you don't want them for who they are but what they are; don't touch them anywhere they don't want to be touched either
Make eye contact – if it makes her blush, you're well on your way to making her yours; if you get no reaction, try more physical contact
Pay attention – if she's talking, listen to what she says; girls notice when your eyes glaze over, and that makes them angry
Don't anger them – don't say anything stupid, don't do anything stupid, don't even think anything stupid or they'll get mad
Find something in common – if you can't find anything, pretend you're interested in something they love; if they really love it, they'll do most of the talking
"I have to do all of these?" Robin asked.
"Every single one," Aqualad said. "Makes the girls go nuts."
"How am I supposed to remember this stuff?" Robin asked.
"Memorize it," Aqualad said. "Practice it. Make it a lifestyle. And these are just the basics."
Robin closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. "The basics. There are more."
"Of course," Aqualad said. "There are even more things you have to be weary of, depending on where you're going for a date."
"But I'm just trying to impress a girl," Robin said, his eyes flickering open again.
"Most of the basics there still apply," Aqualad said. "But you can at least stop pretending it's to impress some villain. At least admit you plan on going on a date."
Robin didn't say anything for several moments. Finally, he quietly let out, "What of it?"
Aqualad smiled. "So come back later and I'll take you through the basics of going on a date."
Robin's eyes grew several sizes. "There are basics to the specifics?"
"Of course," Aqualad said. He smiled and waved Robin off, signaling that their conversation was over. "Have fun seducing Starfire!"
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A/N:
Yay, another chapter written! I don't understand how authors can have different stories running at different times. I have to switch from story to story or I lose track of what's going on with one. Then when it's time to go back to it, I have to reread everything to figure out what's going on! I'm dreading going back to TMIH, because that one is complicated with all the people I have in it. Sixty-four campers and then however many councilors… I'm learning more about Inuyasha than I ever thought I would!
Thankx for reading, and do review, won't you?
Riles
