A/N: Okay I realized after I named this chapter that it has another meaning than the intended one, I meant for it to apply to the saying "Get two birds with one stone" but as I was uploading I realized that two birds might make it sound like I was talking about Robin and Raven, you'll see that this is NOT what is intended the saying is referrinig to Beast Boy and Starfire in this case. So, before I completely ruin this chapter for you I'll leave you to enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, if I did, I would be rich and my stories would be on TV rather than here.
Raven's POV
Men!... maybe I was better off without them... why hadn't he told Cyborg yet... I decided that I'd better check the monitors one last time before cleaning up. Did they just shake hands!... Cyborg seems to be taking the news that I told him fairly well... Grrr, what is going on... are they insane... Cyborg just about killed Robin and here he is offering his hand to the big metal moron... I will never understand guys...
I had just checked the screens to make sure Cyborg hadn't decided to finish what he had started. No, they were still sitting there talking, I wish there were microphones in the training room. But from their expressions they were gonna be fine, how do guys do that?... I decided that I'd better take my shower and calm down, maybe a bath today... yes, a nice long hot bath... I haven't had a bath in a long time...,
I started the water in the tub before going to my room to get a new set of clothes, identical to the ones I now had on but clean, and a towel. I was still wondering what they were talking about when I heard Robins voice coming down the hall along with 4 feet. I quickly stepped into my room out of sight and put my ear up to the door, I know, so unlike me, but I just had to know.
"Hey, can I ask you a favor?" Robin asked.
"Sure, as long as it's not something I'm gonna pound you into next week for." joked the newly re-found friend walking beside him.
"Would you teach me to cook?" It was quiet, almost like he was plotting something and didn't want anyone to overhear. There was a small pause followed by, "Thanks Cy you're the greatest, well except for the whole almost killing me thing that is."
Cyborg just laughed as they walked on down the hall, I could just barely make out when he asked, "Can we not mention that incident to the other two?" What and let him get away with this?... I'm just gonna let Robin handle that I guess... Cyborg did almost kill him, not you... and the other two... I mean I did end up telling Cyborg, the least he can do is tell Beast Boy and Starfire... I'm evil... well, at least ornery... Oh yeah, the bath... At this thought I quickly made my way to the bathroom to enjoy the water. My leotard was sticking to me, Robin gave Cyborg and me a run for our money. He sort of had to though, Cyborg wasn't giving any breaks while I was in there, and from what I saw on the screen, he pulled all the stops once I left. As I eased my pale body into the steaming water, every thought about the situation with the two men in the other room drowned and I was left in peace, I wonder why I don't meditate here... maybe, because he can't watch you in here... well, not for a while anyways...
After I felt clean and had cleared my thoughts a little more, I pulled the plug and forced myself out of the liquid equivalent of Heaven. I got dried and dressed, grabbed my book out of my room and headed to the roof to read, but at the bottom of the stairs I decided to read in the living room instead. I was going to avoid hiding on the roof from now on, I still need my space and you better believe I'll be up there when I do, but unless I need to be alone, or 'alone', I'm going to stay inside. It was about 5:30 when I sat down on the couch to read, and since dinner is usually served (when we have time and everyone is home that is) around 6:00 or 6:30, I knew I wouldn't get but a couple chapters read before the missing Titans returned to our humble abode. And I was right, at about 10 til 6, I looked up and saw a large green pterodactyl and a little orange girl flying up to the tower.
"They're back," I warned the two in the kitchen. I hadn't been in there, but after the conversation I overheard I had little doubt that Robin was in there with Cyborg. There was a small crash, followed by a yelp from Cyborg, I'd better go find out what happened... it's not like him to drop something in the kitchen, I mean he's got oven mitts built in... Laughing at that thought I started the short trek to the kitchen, when the hall door opened to a winded Robin.
"Wh-what happened, I heard a crash." he stammered between breaths. Smooth cover, I thought. He may be older, but he still got a little bit of a kid in him... but I like that little bit... come on snap out of it...
"I'm not sure, I was just going to find out. I figured you were in there with him." Oh crap, I just slipped didn't I... maybe he won't notice... yeah, good luck with that one...
"No, why would I be in the same room as a guy who just tried to kill me and a bunch of sharp objects." came the rather short response.
"No reason, I just figured you two needed 'male bonding' time, that's all." Good save if I do say so myself... I do say so...
"Oh, okay." was all he could come up with before the loud approach of the two absent team members broke our stare, yeah, we were staring again... he looked lost... he seems to get that look quite often lately... but he always seems happy in that 'lost' state... going to have to ask him about that...
"Hey guys, guess what..." came a high pitched male voice, but before anyone had a chance to respond continued, "there was a sale on tofu today, I got 25 lbs of tofu for a buck and a quarter a pound." (A/N- I have no idea if this is a good price, please correct me if it's way off base)
"Ugh, yeah, great Beast Boy," it was everything I could do not to hurl the contents of my stomach all over him at that point. Then my stomach reminded me with a slight gurgle that it was empty, looking at Robin I realized it must not have been as quiet as I had hoped.
"Friend Raven, you are making the noises of one of Beast Boy's movies of scary creatures. Are you okay?" confirmed my suspicion that it was rather audible.
"Yeah, I'm fine. That was my stomach growling, telling me it's about time for Cyborg to bring out some food." I said in the levelest voice I could manage. Yeah, and I hope that crash wasn't the food, because I want to keep some dignity... and I doubt Robin would want to kiss someone who just licked the floor for food... wait a minute, who said we were gonna kiss... who says you aren't... you're starting to sound like a giddy little girl... and that's bad, how... I need to get out of my head...
"I heard that," Cyborg boomed from the kitchen. I didn't think it was that loud... never mind, he meant what I said... oops, I really need to get out of my head... "and don't worry it's on it's way."
"Do you need any help in there, Cy?" Robin yelled back through the door separating us from him, "Because I'm pretty sure Beast Boy has to put away his tofu and will be in there, he can help you." I almost broke out laughing at that lame cover, but Beast Boy and Starfire, not knowing what I did, didn't think anything of it. Beast Boy made his way into the kitchen, hauling a massive bag of that stuff he calls food behind him, while Starfire excused herself to go put away her newest fashion statements, and I use the term 'fashion' loosely in her case, in her room, leaving me alone with Robin.
"Guess who's gonna have fun at supper tonight," I asked as I approached him. He just cocked his head to the side not knowing where I was going with this, "I think you're gonna have fun tonight... telling Beast Boy and Starfire what's going on, I mean we can't leave them in the dark can we? And, oh yeah, I do believe I told the cook, so it's your turn." I teased. I had just finished talking when I got to him, I waited on a response, but he just stood there.
"Yeah, but I was going to tell him. You just had to interrupt before I could get it out." It was a weak argument and he knew it, but I was willing to play along for a bit.
"I'm sure you were, from the hospital bed, that is... And besides, then you would have had to explain it to all of them at the same time." I coyly said as his arms went around my waist and locked his hands together in the small of my back.
"They might have felt bad for me and not hurt me anymore, now you might have to heal me again." He didn't look nearly as upset as he tried to sound though.
"Hmm," I put on a mock thoughtful look, "I can heal you, if they hurt me bad enough, I won't be able to focus and heal myself. Now you don't want that on your conscience, do you?" I started to pout a little there at the end, weird, I've never pouted to get what I want, and now that I'm 18 years old and I don't have to I am... and I thought guys were confusing... I can almost understand why they are as clueless as they are... almost...
Robin's POV
"Don't do that, please don't use the look that has to be bred into every woman in the entire WORLD." But she didn't move or change a thing, "Come on play fair here, there's not a man in his right mind who can say no to the puppy dog eyes... Fine, I'll do it." I said in an overdone defeat. We both knew the foregone conclusion to this discussion yet we went through all of that... and you enjoyed it didn't you... that's not the point... you didn't answer the question... yeah I did enjoy it... "Now come on, let's get the table set." I said as I slid my hands off her waist and turned towards the dining room.
Don't let go... wait, patience, once supper is over... she will be right beside you anyways... just remember not to stare till after... no, take that back, don't stare... and should I say something before we all start to eat, no I don't want our hard work to go to waste... It's exciting, I helped with supper... I'm not going to say anything though, I just want to learn how to first... what about during the meal, no I don't want people to choke on their food... that leaves after the food is gone, but before they all take off... so timing is everything...
"Thanks again for the help, and sorry I didn't make anything special Beast Boy, but one night around that stuff was enough to last me a while." is what I heard as I entered the kitchen to get the stuff to set the table.
"Ah man, it wasn't that bad. Besides I saw you try i..." he never got to finish that sentence because of the look he got when Cyborg realized I was in the kitchen.
"Your timing couldn't be better, Robin." He said cheerily, trying to cover his current frustration with Beast Boy and his embarrassment of trying to beat me to a pulp earlier, "By the time you get the table set, supper will be ready." Meals could be very interesting from now on, I thought as I reflected on the previous night's events.
"Alright. Hey, Beast Boy would you go get Starfire while I set the table. I think she went to put her new clothes away."
"Sure thing," he piped, completely forgetting his former discussion with Cyborg.
"So, when are you gonna tell them?" He asked raising his one organic eyebrow.
"I think tonight at supper, well after supper so they don't walk out on our food." I said softly, not knowing for sure how much Starfire had bought. "Plus, I don't want them to have any food to throw at me," I added trying to lighten the mood.
"I don't think you have to worry too much about them being angry, you do know I'm not mad at you for wanting to go out with her, I was mad 'cause I thought you'd hurt her," he reassured me, and I think he meant every word. Which is good, because I have no intention of ever hurting her, but bad because if I screw up and hurt her on accident... he's gonna kill me, and I don't know if there's enough dark magic in the known world that would stop him a second time around.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." I spoke with a nod as I backed through the kitchen door.
"Your welcome, though I don't know what I said or did." came that controlled voice I was beginning to love. Love?... yeah, I think so... I don't think I'm ready to say it yet though... could I ever say that about anybody else... no... what about Starfire?... I did and do love her, but as a friend and a teammate, things changed between us... we both matured a little... there isn't a language good enough to describe how I feel for Raven... but that doesn't mean I can't have fun in the process...
"Well, I figured since I backed through the doorway you were staring at my backside," I smirked, "and having you stare at me is always a confidence boost." I can't believe I just said that... and I can't believe it, she just blushed... wow, I didn't know that was possible... don't push it, she might return the favor...
"Do you want help setting the table or not?" she said, standing up straighter and collecting herself. I tried to stop myself before I did it, but I couldn't help but look her up and down once. Are all guys this dense when they have something this amazing in front of them... I mean, I've been friends with her for how long and I'm just now realizing how amazing she is... snap out of it, come on back to reality... "Maybe it's my turn to say thank you for the confidence boost." Okay, so she did return the favor... you liked it, so don't complain... and not getting dropped into a void for checking her out is a definite bonus...
I just handed her half the plates and silverware over the table and started to set my side, I refused to respond right then. Okay, so maybe I knew if I tried to say anything I would have went down the same path she did... how can she take words away from me...
Dinner passed without incident, Beast Boy was a little upset that he had to make something at the last minute (it ended up being an eggplant salad I think), but didn't say much because Cyborg promised if he laid off the 'meat is bad' argument, he might be able to "...throw some of that stuff you call food together again sometime."
Just as everyone was polishing off the last of their plates I felt a hand under the table ease into mine giving it a little squeeze of encouragement. I was clearing my throat when Cyborg announced that it was his turn to do the dishes, Beast Boy thought that was his cue to leave but stopped when no one else moved, aside from Cyborg who was gathering the dishes and doing a balancing act on his way to the kitchen.
"Uh guys, is there a reason you haven't got up?" with a little bit of concern in his voice, then when no one said anything right away, "is there something that I don't know about?"
"Yes, friend Robin, what is the goings on which you look like you need to speak of." chimed in the powerful young woman sitting next to him.
"Well," I began then paused before feeling another light squeeze I looked over at the beauty sitting next to me, she was so peaceful, I knew under that calm though she was laughing at me, "it's nothing bad if that's what you're thinking... In fact I'd say it's the complete opposite of bad; it's, to borrow one of Star's favorite words, wondrous." Yeah, that's what you need to do, be a comic about it... come on game face... "You see, last night Raven and I decided to see if things would work with something... And they did, or they have so far."
"Okay dude, this whole cryptic thing is weirding me out. Did you forget how to talk plain English? What things are we talking about, some wild experiment that isn't going right, and could blow up and destroy everyone around at any time? Is Red X loose in the building? What are we talking about here?" the smallest member of the team was starting to shake a little bit and look around.
"No, no. It's nothing like that, me and Raven decided to see if this would work." And with that I raised my hand, that just happened to be intertwined with hers.