Chapter Eight:

Written By BetaTester

Yeah it's been a while since I last updated, work and other things in the way. I am working at PKI the number ONE seasonal theme park IN THE WORLD! Yeah home of the "Beast" and the "Son of the Beast" the two wooden record breaking coasters, (One of which is the ONLY looping wooden roller coaster in the WORLD.) Anyway back to the story…

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Robin was in deep thought, his body absentmindedly moved rhythmically along the strung out lines of the kick-drum base beats, and the mentally entrancing waves of synthesized chords from the 303-baseline machines. His only outer conscious function was his eyes. They continued to remain glued to Starfire. It was obvious that he had managed to drone out his hate of the music for the time being. The music dropped, down to a low subtle vibrating line. Robin's mind flared in thought in its one chance to think.

Just do it. You've seen others do it so easily; hell they're doing it all around now. Why can't I let it go? Why am I holding myself back? I know this feeling inside won't go away unless I act upon it, but… I guess I'm afraid. I don't know what I am afraid of, I just am. I can't pull myself to go through. It feels like someone's wrenching my heart out.

The beat rose up brilliantly in a parade of cheers, cries, and whistles. Robin's mind was focused now though. He was able to think through the blistering volume. Starfire in the mean time had been slowly drawing nearer to Robin. He finally noticed that she had. His heart jumped up into his throat once again. Anxiety rose in his blood.

Its simple, all you have to do is kiss her, simple, easy, painless, right? The only problem is it isn't painless, not if it goes wrong. Afraid of the pain in rejection; is this my fear?

It wasn't like Robin to act so indecisive, but when it came to love, it wasn't something one could simply take up and win over so easily. Confidence was failing in Robin's mind; Starfire had recognized this as she moved closer to him hoping to finally break through to him.

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Beastboy sat in the stall; his mind was numbed by the rhythmic beats as his eyes stared strait into the ceiling. The doors busted open as the music blasted into the sealed gas chamber. It quieted once again as the door sealed shut once again. Footsteps shifted across the room forming a moving shadow against the floor near Beastboy's stall. There were two of them, two young guys who were obviously enthralled by the enormous party. Their voices boomed loudly through the room, snapping Beastboy out of his trance.

"Whooh! This party is awesome!"

"Yeah mind blowing right!"

"So you seen that one girl in the Wonder Woman costume?"

"Yeah, she's a sweet one. Wouldn't mind getting her alone, if you know what I mean."

"I hear ya man!"

Beastboy's mind and gut burned. This was Raven they were talking about, as though she were some common whore you picked up from the streets. He tensed up his fists, but remained reserved and fought against the temptation of pummeling the two kids.

I don't care what my feelings are for her; she's still my friend. I hate when people make stupid comments about her. They have no idea who she is. Why should they judge people so quickly?

Beastboy paused his thought as he realized the hypocrisy in his thoughts. He quietly subdued them and remained silent as he waited for them to leave. The two boys mumbled something about the letter "e" before leaving the unnoticed Beastboy alone once again, alone to his indecisive, inconclusive, and incomplete thoughts.

He decided that the bathroom wasn't the best place to be hanging out. The rank smell was starting to overwhelm his senses, as his eyes began to water in pain. He stood finally from his stagnant seating position. His legs were stiff from cramming them into the small undersized stall. He stretched lightly as he felt the tension in his stomach recede. He decided not to think about Raven for the rest of the night, at least not until he had the chance to party with the others first. He slid the door open from his stall and made his way out into the dark abyss of the dance floor.

The music once again palpitated into his mind.

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Raven was almost bored to tears at this point, although not really tears, in fact she was almost to the point where she could have fallen asleep to the music. As dancy and trippy the music was; its surprisingly melodic chords soothed Raven into a subconscious state, not quite asleep, but not quite functioning in the physical plane.

That is, until Cyborg decided to meander out of the crowds for a drink. Slamming his hand flat onto the hard marble tile he sat down on the stool besides Raven. Raven's elbow was jolted out of place in the process as her head slammed into her arm. She bolted up and glared at the source of the intrusion, Cyborg. He smiled back at her with that smile that looked like a devil trying to fake being an angel.

"Having fun Raven?" Cyborg bellowed.

"Define fun." Raven replied in her usual taunt and sarcasm.

Cyborg didn't reply, he knew by now that replying to a loaded question like that was not the best thing in the world to do. He got the bar keepers attention and received a large glass with coke in it. He drank quickly from it as he usually would in his attempts to rush life. "Raven, you should at least try to have fun?"

Raven remained silent. She was once again resting her chin lightly in her hand as her arm was propped against the cold tile. Cyborg quickly gave up on his ephemeral attempt to get Raven to open up. He promptly returned to the floor without any more attempts to help Raven.

Alone again, Raven was contempt, although annoyed that her slight trance had been broken. Now her conscious was fully aware of the scene around her. She caught a glimpse of a green boy just entering the dance floor. Beastboy. He had been staring at Raven just prior to his entrance into the arena, Raven had noticed this, but hadn't the faintest clue what it was for.

He's probably trying to think of another way "coax" me into joining them. Typical, that's all Beastboy ever does, he never quits at trying to pull me into his idiotic games.

Raven's thoughts traveled into a different direction though as she recalled the one night Beastboy was crying in his room.

But he has a side to him that even I had overlooked. For all his jokes, games, tricks, gags, as idiotic as they seemed on the surface, they really were a cover up to his deeper self. He hid it so well too. I had forgotten how hard it must have been for him to lose his parents at such a young age. Although I hadn't really grown up with either of my parents so I can't say I know what the feeling is like.

Raven paused her train of thought. Her visual thoughts imagined the scene when Beastboy was in his room, when Raven had come to help him. She never admitted it to him, but she too had felt a closer connection to him that night.

But I could never allow my emotions to go there. It's too dangerous. They all could be hurt by my emotions, all of my friends.

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Robin's mind was melting in the heat. His heart throbbed in exceeding pain. Its Starfire, Robin, you can do this. You know she likes you, there's no reason for you not to. Battling his hidden emotions he placed himself as close to Star as possible without knocking into her. Robin was throwing every thought that came about his mind away, clearing his mind. Waves of gut wrenching tension threw itself about in Robin's mind, plaguing him so.

He lifted his quivering hand, gently brushing the hair from Starfire's face. In doing so she placed her hand upon his shoulder, slowly tensing her grip lightly about his neck. They were inches, no centimeters apart, inching closer with every beat. It was as though each pulsating beat of their hearts pushed them ever so slightly closer to one another. Closing his eyes Robin forgot his fears.

The next moment Robin finally realized their lips had already met. The gut wrenching pain no longer flowed through as a wave; instead it blended with the pure pleasure of his unity, a pleasurable pain. Feeling more confident now, Robin wrapped his free hand about Starfire's waist, gently caressing her back. Starfire's hands likewise rubbed gently against the bare skin of Robin's back. It sent an unfelt tremor down his spine.

Had this really been what I was afraid of?

Things would have continued, but the need for air arose as they finally separated once again. They stared at one another, each breathless, and radiant with joy. Robin's heart pounded from the excitement, as he quickly tried to regain his air, and his focus. The two had been leaning in close to each other once again, preparing for a second kiss.

"I see you too are having fun!" Cyborg bellowed from above obnoxiously. Both Robin and Starfire jumped back several feet in shock.

Robin stared, wide eyed in annoyance and disheartened, at the hybrid robot. "How long have you been watching us?" Robin questioned him eerily awaiting the response.

"Oh, long enough," Cyborg calmly responded as he began to turn to walk away, "just checking in on you two, that's all."

Starfire chuckled lightly at her friend, Cyborg, and his childish motives. Robin could only stand there in utter astonishment of all the prior events.

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I edited it again. It's longer, now it's an average chapter. I must thank Rhichi, my editor, for the inspiration on some parts of this entire fan-fiction. Once again, Review! I will try to get chapter 9 out shortly. We'll have to see how many work hours I get.