Disclaimer: I do not own the teen titans or the words to the song The
Fine Art Of Falling by Boysetsfire
Hand in Hand
Chapter Sixteen: The Fine Art Of Falling
Robin gave one final wave to Aqualad before the atlantian jumped back into the ocean, to go for the night. He closed the door to the tower and expelled a breath. A grin found its way onto his face and he turned around and singled out Cyborg. He extended his hand and beckoned to his friend, "Pay up."
Cyborg pouted but pulled a note from his wallet, grudgingly he handed it over.
"It was ten not five. Come on now." Reminded Robin gesturing again.
Cyborg grumbled and pulled another note from his wallet, leaving it virtually empty of all cash, "I can't believe the T-Car lost the race." He shoved his wallet back into the pocket of the jacket that he had hung up behind the door. "This sucks."
Robin grinned and pocketed the cash, "You were the one that made the bet remember. I told you not to underestimate the bike."
##I could lie here all day,
Tongue tied and outclassed,
Never missing the world that used to be my life##
Cyborg turned his back on his friend, "Yeah, yeah rub it in." he moved over to the kitchen, he looked over his shoulder to glance at them, "I'm gonna warm up some left over pizza, anyone want some?"
"I do!" yelled Beast Boy from the couch where he sat cuddling Terra and flicking through the channels. "Bring me a couple of slices!"
Robin shook his head and wandered over to the table where Starfire was sitting writing in a small book, "Your appetite astounds me BB." He said sarcastically.
Beast Boy grinned, "Well, I am the best pizza eater in the world." He stated and turned back to the television.
Robin shook his head and slid into the chair opposite Starfire, he tried to see what she was writing but her arm was in the way. Finally he gave up, "What're you writing in?"
She lifted her head and grinned at him, "It is my portable calendar I am writing a note to remind myself that I must make a happy pudding on Christmas day!" she made a noise that resembled a squeak, smiled wider and continued writing.
##And I can't remember what it was,
That I wanted,
But it should have always been,
This rhyme and this reason,
Not withstanding...##
Robin looked up as a shadow fell across the table. Raven stared down at him. He wasn't sure but he thought that he saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
"Everything alright Raven?" he asked trying to keep his tone neutral, he had told himself that it was only brotherly love that he felt, now if only he could make himself believe it... His off kilter thoughts were giving him problems and he really wished, no he hoped that Raven wouldn't try and read his thoughts anytime soon. He continued to watch her for a moment as she stared down at him, her purple hair was windswept, but he couldn't remember her being out in any sort of wind. He forced himself to keep smiling.
Finally she spoke, her tone was quiet and dull, but her eyes held a warning, "I'm going to my room. I do not wish to be disturbed. By anyone, for anything." As she finished there was a finality to her words that made Robin suspect that something was up.
But he would respect her need for privacy so he merely said, "Okay. We'll steer clear from your room tonight."
##Folded into beauty,
And if I hold this here forever,
I will never fall down,
And when I loose my ground,
I can always remember...##
For a minute her murderous stare intensified but then emotion left her face and she nodded. "Thank you." She spun on her heel and proceeded up the stairs to her room.
Robin scowled after her; he wondered what made her want to be so secretive all the time. Shaking all thoughts of her from his head he turned his attention back to Starfire who had finished writing in her little reminder. Robin decided he would rip that page out of her book as soon as he got the chance. Star put down her pen and looked up. She positively beamed at him.
"Is it not wondrous to have someone who cares for you as much as you do me and I do you?" she asked the happiness evident in her face, "I cannot believe that you asked me to be your girlfriend!" she reached over and clasped his hand, "I cannot wait to begin the rituals of courtship!" her cheeks blushed red as she said the words.
Robin intertwined his fingers with hers, she really was beautiful. "It's gonna be fun." He agreed, "So where would you like to go on our first date?"
She squealed at the idea, "Perhaps a private ritual of hanging out at the mall? Or a private trip to the movies to watch a poultry brush."
"Poultry...oh you mean a chick flick." Robin laughed
Starfire nodded eagerly, "Yes I believe that is what they are called." She pushed her two index fingers together and looked at him shyly, "Where would you like to go?"
##This is my reason,
You are my reason to stay,
I have shed this dry hard shell,
Traded its comfort for your eyes##
He began to think about all the possible places that he thought Starfire would like to go. She was a fun person to be around and would obviously enjoy going somewhere that was fun, bright and full of happy things. He frowned. Raven was much easier to please, she liked gothic clubs, dark café's and quiet places...he smacked the side of his head with the palm of his hand. Always his thoughts came back to Raven. Stop it! He scolded himself; he knew it was extremely inappropriate to be thinking of other girls while he was dating another.
##I played with denial,
Then denied my own defences,
It's no longer a part of me##
"We could always go to the zoo." He said slowly, "Or the water park."
"Oh yes! They sound fabulous!" she agreed squeezing his hand.
Robin grinned back at her and brought his other hand up so he held her hand between his. Her skin was so smooth and sun kissed...not at all like Raven's...he knew he had to stop thinking about her. He had to. He wasn't with Raven he was with Starfire now.
"Well you have to have fabulous places to go with a fabulous girl." He said slyly watching as she blushed and giggled and then turned her head away.
Starfire. Raven. He didn't know what he wanted. But he had Starfire...but was that good enough. He didn't even know if Raven liked him like that. He had received no inclination... He knew Starfire... she was safe and predictable.
Robin smiled on the outside and scowled on the inside. Starfire was the safe choice. But did he want safe? Or did he want dangerous? He wasn't sure anymore.
##These questions of security,
You will always be the most magnificent creation##
Hand in Hand
Chapter Sixteen: The Fine Art Of Falling
Robin gave one final wave to Aqualad before the atlantian jumped back into the ocean, to go for the night. He closed the door to the tower and expelled a breath. A grin found its way onto his face and he turned around and singled out Cyborg. He extended his hand and beckoned to his friend, "Pay up."
Cyborg pouted but pulled a note from his wallet, grudgingly he handed it over.
"It was ten not five. Come on now." Reminded Robin gesturing again.
Cyborg grumbled and pulled another note from his wallet, leaving it virtually empty of all cash, "I can't believe the T-Car lost the race." He shoved his wallet back into the pocket of the jacket that he had hung up behind the door. "This sucks."
Robin grinned and pocketed the cash, "You were the one that made the bet remember. I told you not to underestimate the bike."
##I could lie here all day,
Tongue tied and outclassed,
Never missing the world that used to be my life##
Cyborg turned his back on his friend, "Yeah, yeah rub it in." he moved over to the kitchen, he looked over his shoulder to glance at them, "I'm gonna warm up some left over pizza, anyone want some?"
"I do!" yelled Beast Boy from the couch where he sat cuddling Terra and flicking through the channels. "Bring me a couple of slices!"
Robin shook his head and wandered over to the table where Starfire was sitting writing in a small book, "Your appetite astounds me BB." He said sarcastically.
Beast Boy grinned, "Well, I am the best pizza eater in the world." He stated and turned back to the television.
Robin shook his head and slid into the chair opposite Starfire, he tried to see what she was writing but her arm was in the way. Finally he gave up, "What're you writing in?"
She lifted her head and grinned at him, "It is my portable calendar I am writing a note to remind myself that I must make a happy pudding on Christmas day!" she made a noise that resembled a squeak, smiled wider and continued writing.
##And I can't remember what it was,
That I wanted,
But it should have always been,
This rhyme and this reason,
Not withstanding...##
Robin looked up as a shadow fell across the table. Raven stared down at him. He wasn't sure but he thought that he saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
"Everything alright Raven?" he asked trying to keep his tone neutral, he had told himself that it was only brotherly love that he felt, now if only he could make himself believe it... His off kilter thoughts were giving him problems and he really wished, no he hoped that Raven wouldn't try and read his thoughts anytime soon. He continued to watch her for a moment as she stared down at him, her purple hair was windswept, but he couldn't remember her being out in any sort of wind. He forced himself to keep smiling.
Finally she spoke, her tone was quiet and dull, but her eyes held a warning, "I'm going to my room. I do not wish to be disturbed. By anyone, for anything." As she finished there was a finality to her words that made Robin suspect that something was up.
But he would respect her need for privacy so he merely said, "Okay. We'll steer clear from your room tonight."
##Folded into beauty,
And if I hold this here forever,
I will never fall down,
And when I loose my ground,
I can always remember...##
For a minute her murderous stare intensified but then emotion left her face and she nodded. "Thank you." She spun on her heel and proceeded up the stairs to her room.
Robin scowled after her; he wondered what made her want to be so secretive all the time. Shaking all thoughts of her from his head he turned his attention back to Starfire who had finished writing in her little reminder. Robin decided he would rip that page out of her book as soon as he got the chance. Star put down her pen and looked up. She positively beamed at him.
"Is it not wondrous to have someone who cares for you as much as you do me and I do you?" she asked the happiness evident in her face, "I cannot believe that you asked me to be your girlfriend!" she reached over and clasped his hand, "I cannot wait to begin the rituals of courtship!" her cheeks blushed red as she said the words.
Robin intertwined his fingers with hers, she really was beautiful. "It's gonna be fun." He agreed, "So where would you like to go on our first date?"
She squealed at the idea, "Perhaps a private ritual of hanging out at the mall? Or a private trip to the movies to watch a poultry brush."
"Poultry...oh you mean a chick flick." Robin laughed
Starfire nodded eagerly, "Yes I believe that is what they are called." She pushed her two index fingers together and looked at him shyly, "Where would you like to go?"
##This is my reason,
You are my reason to stay,
I have shed this dry hard shell,
Traded its comfort for your eyes##
He began to think about all the possible places that he thought Starfire would like to go. She was a fun person to be around and would obviously enjoy going somewhere that was fun, bright and full of happy things. He frowned. Raven was much easier to please, she liked gothic clubs, dark café's and quiet places...he smacked the side of his head with the palm of his hand. Always his thoughts came back to Raven. Stop it! He scolded himself; he knew it was extremely inappropriate to be thinking of other girls while he was dating another.
##I played with denial,
Then denied my own defences,
It's no longer a part of me##
"We could always go to the zoo." He said slowly, "Or the water park."
"Oh yes! They sound fabulous!" she agreed squeezing his hand.
Robin grinned back at her and brought his other hand up so he held her hand between his. Her skin was so smooth and sun kissed...not at all like Raven's...he knew he had to stop thinking about her. He had to. He wasn't with Raven he was with Starfire now.
"Well you have to have fabulous places to go with a fabulous girl." He said slyly watching as she blushed and giggled and then turned her head away.
Starfire. Raven. He didn't know what he wanted. But he had Starfire...but was that good enough. He didn't even know if Raven liked him like that. He had received no inclination... He knew Starfire... she was safe and predictable.
Robin smiled on the outside and scowled on the inside. Starfire was the safe choice. But did he want safe? Or did he want dangerous? He wasn't sure anymore.
##These questions of security,
You will always be the most magnificent creation##