A/N: My first TT fic. I've been thinking about a story for this section
for a while... This one I may just leave as a one shot, with a little
Robin/Starfire. But I MAY decide to turn it into a fully fledged fanfic
that would have both Robin/Starfire and Raven/OC. It depends... Anyways,
enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans and co.
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Just A Little Advice
~*~
It was nearly evening at Titan Tower, the day having gone by with little mishap with the exception of a bank robbery early that morning. The lowly villains had been brought to justice within minutes of the Titans' arrival; yes it was a normal, boring day. Raven was meditating on the rooftop, with quite a view of the colorful sunset, Starfire was messing around in the kitchen, and Beast Boy and Cyborg were playing gamestation.
"Dude! That's no fair! I demand a rematch!" Beast Boy was complaining loudly when Robin entered the room.
Cyborg grinned widely. "You're on!"
Suddenly all was quiet again except for the sound effects coming from the hidden speakers and the clicking of buttons on the gamers' controllers. Beast Boy was already looking annoyed as Robin silently passed them and entered the kitchen.
"Hello, Robin!" He was greeted loudly as he entered.
"Hey, Starfire." Robin gave her a slightly lopsided smile as he sat down at the table. "What are you making?"
Starfire hopped over to the refrigerator, over zealous as usual. "I'm making a surprise for after tonight's meal!"
Warning bells went off in his head, but his face stayed impassive and he merely raised an eyebrow. "Er... what kind of surprise?"
"Pudding!" was the immediate, explosively gleeful answer.
Robin could feel his stomach already aching. "Uh... great, that sounds great, Starfire." He plastered a smile to his face. Robin started racking his brain for someway to get out of eating the pudding without hurting the sensitive alien's feelings. An idea struck him. "Hey, Star.... let's say we save the pudding for later, and instead go out for dinner tonight?"
Starfire's face lit up immediately. "Oh, what a wonderful idea, Robin! I should love to do the feasting that is dinner outside tonight!"
Robin smiled, finally, maybe he could get some alone time with her.
"I shall go inform the others immediately that we are all to go out tonight!" Starfire twirled around and left her unfinished pudding on the counter, she skipped out of the kitchen.
Robin's face fell. Just when he thought he had got it right...
He could hear Starfire telling Cyborg and Beast Boy in the room beyond about eating outside. Again, she had misunderstood; she was now telling them they were going to eat on the rooftop. Robin sighed loudly and let his head fall onto the table.
Robin stayed like that for a minute, listening to a new argument starting between Beast Boy and Cyborg that Starfire was trying to appease. He jumped up suddenly when he heard the door open behind him. He spun around, a look of surprise on his face.
"Something wrong?" Raven asked dully, raising an eyebrow at his reaction.
Robin was immediately embarrassed, but he didn't show it. "Oh, you just startled me."
"It's easy to be startled by me." Raven said monotonously while passing him. She poured herself a cup of herbal tea; then spotted the bowl of grayish slop that was supposed to be Starfire's pudding. "We don't have to eat that, do we?"
"Well, Starfire made it..." He trailed off; fearing whatever he said next would be the wrong thing to say. The best way to talk to Raven was to not talk at all, so he had learned.
The cloaked girl continued to stare at the 'pudding' a moment longer. "I think I'll pass." She said, taking a sip of her tea, and left.
Once she was gone, her presence was suddenly replaced with a happy-as-usual Starfire. "Robin! I must finish my pudding for tonight! I don't see any problem with eating my pudding outside instead, do you?"
Robin blanched, but he couldn't resist her perpetual smile... "No, of course not. We'll just have it... outside instead." He gave her the biggest smile he could.
"Wonderful!"
Robin sighed and slumped in his seat once her back was turned, knowing that he'd be expecting a bad stomach ache by later that night.
~*~
He turned over and moaned, trying in vain to find a comfortable way to lie. As expected, he hadn't been able to make himself hurt Starfire's feelings and reject her pudding and now Robin's stomach was keeping him awake. He groaned and sat up, finally resolving it was useless. But his stomach wasn't the only think that was bothering him...
The clock read 2am, too early for any of the other Titans. He yawned and got out of bed, having not bothered to remove his usual outfit last night, all he had to do was put on his combat boots and cape and Robin was out the door, in the direction of the kitchen.
The kitchen was dark, and he could hardly see anything as he made his way to the refrigerator. He opened the door and took out a half-empty milk carton, yawned again and turned around. He gave a tiny yelp, too tired to yell with his surprise. Robin nearly drew a birdarang until he realized that the shadow sitting on the counter that had revealed itself with the light from the open refrigerator was not an enemy.
"My, aren't we jumpy today." The shadow said in a monotone.
Robin laughed nervously. "Uh... Raven... I didn't think you'd be up this late..."
He edged along the wall, nervous that he might meet more surprises in the dark. Once he found the switch, he turned on the light to reveal the kitchen and Raven sitting on the counter, a cup of tea in her hands.
"I can never sleep for long." She said in answer and taking a sip of her tea.
Robin just nodded, he always respected other peoples' business; he had had to when he had been living with Batman. He frowned at her outfit, having never seen her wearing anything other than her cape and leotard. Raven was, as usual, dressed all in dark colors. She wore a soft-looking black turtleneck with a pair of black pants that hugged the shape of her legs; apparently this was what she slept in.
Robin quickly looked away when he saw she was looking at him, her cool violet eyes emotionless yet they were saying 'It's not polite to stare.' Raven turned her attention back to her tea.
He swallowed and endeavored to pass her by in order to get to the cupboard. This occurred without any further comment from either of them, as he had hoped. Annoying Raven was the last thing he wanted, for he was already tired. He took out a cup and warmed up a glass of milk in the microwave, never turning to look at his mysterious teammate until she spoke.
"Starfire's pudding?"
"Er, yeah."
She nodded, holding her teacup in her lap. Raven cocked her head in his direction, her eyes coolly regarding him for a moment. "But is that all that is bothering you, Robin?"
Robin froze before turning away from her to remove his milk from the microwave. He took a sip, hoping that she wouldn't persist. Meeting Raven unexpectedly in the middle of the night was enough to make him nervous, now she was acting against her usual character and starting a conversation.
"I thought so," He heard her sigh. "You can talk to me, you know. I'm not the type to blurt other's secrets."
He drank some of his milk and turned to her, wondering what she had 'thought so'. Once he was facing her, he immediately regretted turning around. Their eyes met, and Robin couldn't make himself look away.
Raven studied the confusion apparent in his face before patting the counter beside her. Understanding her meaning, Robin uneasily crossed the linoleum floor and hopped up beside her.
"Now, talk." She commanded.
"Uh, well..." Robin started but stopped, still unsure.
She sighed and set her tea cup aside. "Robin, I've been sensing that you're troubled for weeks. And it is starting to get bothersome. I meant to leave you alone about it, but apparently you have been unable to fix it yourself. And I know this isn't about Slade." She gave him a sideways look before turning to her tea again and taking a sip. Raven turned back to him. "Now, what's bothering you? Since it's now come to insomnia, I'm not going to leave it along anymore. Besides, your mind has been sending out troubled signals so loud it's even been keeping me awake."
"Er, it has? Sorry about that, Raven." He said nervously, drinking more of his milk. Robin turned his head slightly to look at her, only to meet her cold stare. He shivered, even though it was a warm summer night.
She raised an eyebrow and Robin squirmed. "Uh... Raven?"
"Yes?"
"Can I... ask you a question? I mean... you don't have to answer it or anything; I just... uh... I don't mean to be intruding, but—"
"Just ask me the question already."
Robin inhaled deeply, hoping it wouldn't be his last breath. "Er... let's say there was a boy that liked you..." He started.
"Okay..."
Robin continued, sensing no threat in her voice so far. "Hypothetically speaking of course. And uh... what would this boy have to do to get you to notice him? As in, like, getting you to agree to go out on a date with him?" Robin tensed, waiting for the explosion.
But instead, Raven just chuckled lightly. A rarity in itself. "Hm... It would likely take years of persistence and a great deal of luck and devotion. And the chances of any guy even getting me to agree to anything remotely resembling a date are just about null."
"Oh." Robin slumped, disappointed. How would he ever get her attention?
"But then again," Raven said quietly. "I'm not Starfire."
Robin nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of her name. "Wha— I, I never said—"
"You needn't have said anything, Robin." Raven said, taking yet another sip of her tea.
Robin's shoulders drooped. "Am I... that obvious?"
"No." She said simply, her eyes closed. "But I could sense it." Raven opened her eyes and once again Robin felt uneasy under her gaze.
"Oh." He shifted his seat on the countertop, wondering what Raven would do next.
She turned fully to him, setting her teacup between them on the counter with the soft click of china against the hard surface. Once she had folded her legs comfortably on the countertop Raven spoke again. "You aren't getting anywhere by keeping it all a secret, Robin. Besides, it isn't much of a secret. I think Beast Boy and Cyborg have just about figured it out. Well... Cyborg at least. I don't think Beast Boy has the brain capacity to figure out something like this..." She gave the smallest of wry smiles, and Robin almost laughed. "But, if you want to get Starfire's attention, you are going to have to be straightforward with her."
"But, what if—"
"Yes, yes. What if!" She rolled her eyes. "If there were no such thing as 'what if' a lot of things could have happened differently. People wouldn't have been cowards." Raven said this more to herself than anyone else. "But," she began again, "trust me. Tell Starfire your feelings, tell her everything."
"Everything?" Robin fidgeted with his now empty glass.
"Yes, everything you feel for her. If you want, write a poem about it instead of talking to her if you must. That's how my boyfriend did it when he—" She stopped suddenly and coughed as a cover up.
Robin almost fell off the counter. "Boyfriend? You have a boyfriend?" But he regretted that question the moment it left his lips.
Raven jumped off the counter, grabbing her teacup. "That's none of your business!" She said angrily, starting for the door.
"Raven, wait! I didn't mean—" Robin shut his mouth abruptly when Raven turned on her heel to face him, her eyes glowing an eerie red.
He didn't dare move, and he kept his mouth firmly shut. Slowly, the glow disappeared from her eyes, but she still looked angry. "Look, just take my advice. And keep your mouth shut about my slipup, okay?"
He nodded vigorously. "Of course!"
Raven seemed to calm herself, and her shoulders relaxed. "Listen, I'm... not seeing him anymore, and I don't want you to bring him up again. Not ever."
"Oh... so, you broke up with him?"
"NO!" She screamed, her eyes glowing again and her hair going wild.
Robin flinched, but she quickly calmed herself.
Raven turned away and spoke quietly. "I didn't break up with him, and he didn't break up with me. He was... a warrior. At heart. We were separated in a battle, I know he isn't dead though. He's too strong for that." She looked at him over her slender shoulder. "But I couldn't stay to look for him, I had to keep running."
Robin was about to ask what she had been running from, but decided against it. Besides, she had already disappeared into the shadows of the post-midnight hallway.
He sighed and put away the glass before returning to his room himself. He stopped before the passage that would eventually lead to Raven's bedroom door. He smiled slightly and whispered to the shadows obscuring the hallway, "Thanks, Rae." before moving on.
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A/N: Oooo... I had fun with that fic... I MIGHT make it into more than just a one shot. Depends on how popular this fic is and whether or not I can find the time to write more for it.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans and co.
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Just A Little Advice
~*~
It was nearly evening at Titan Tower, the day having gone by with little mishap with the exception of a bank robbery early that morning. The lowly villains had been brought to justice within minutes of the Titans' arrival; yes it was a normal, boring day. Raven was meditating on the rooftop, with quite a view of the colorful sunset, Starfire was messing around in the kitchen, and Beast Boy and Cyborg were playing gamestation.
"Dude! That's no fair! I demand a rematch!" Beast Boy was complaining loudly when Robin entered the room.
Cyborg grinned widely. "You're on!"
Suddenly all was quiet again except for the sound effects coming from the hidden speakers and the clicking of buttons on the gamers' controllers. Beast Boy was already looking annoyed as Robin silently passed them and entered the kitchen.
"Hello, Robin!" He was greeted loudly as he entered.
"Hey, Starfire." Robin gave her a slightly lopsided smile as he sat down at the table. "What are you making?"
Starfire hopped over to the refrigerator, over zealous as usual. "I'm making a surprise for after tonight's meal!"
Warning bells went off in his head, but his face stayed impassive and he merely raised an eyebrow. "Er... what kind of surprise?"
"Pudding!" was the immediate, explosively gleeful answer.
Robin could feel his stomach already aching. "Uh... great, that sounds great, Starfire." He plastered a smile to his face. Robin started racking his brain for someway to get out of eating the pudding without hurting the sensitive alien's feelings. An idea struck him. "Hey, Star.... let's say we save the pudding for later, and instead go out for dinner tonight?"
Starfire's face lit up immediately. "Oh, what a wonderful idea, Robin! I should love to do the feasting that is dinner outside tonight!"
Robin smiled, finally, maybe he could get some alone time with her.
"I shall go inform the others immediately that we are all to go out tonight!" Starfire twirled around and left her unfinished pudding on the counter, she skipped out of the kitchen.
Robin's face fell. Just when he thought he had got it right...
He could hear Starfire telling Cyborg and Beast Boy in the room beyond about eating outside. Again, she had misunderstood; she was now telling them they were going to eat on the rooftop. Robin sighed loudly and let his head fall onto the table.
Robin stayed like that for a minute, listening to a new argument starting between Beast Boy and Cyborg that Starfire was trying to appease. He jumped up suddenly when he heard the door open behind him. He spun around, a look of surprise on his face.
"Something wrong?" Raven asked dully, raising an eyebrow at his reaction.
Robin was immediately embarrassed, but he didn't show it. "Oh, you just startled me."
"It's easy to be startled by me." Raven said monotonously while passing him. She poured herself a cup of herbal tea; then spotted the bowl of grayish slop that was supposed to be Starfire's pudding. "We don't have to eat that, do we?"
"Well, Starfire made it..." He trailed off; fearing whatever he said next would be the wrong thing to say. The best way to talk to Raven was to not talk at all, so he had learned.
The cloaked girl continued to stare at the 'pudding' a moment longer. "I think I'll pass." She said, taking a sip of her tea, and left.
Once she was gone, her presence was suddenly replaced with a happy-as-usual Starfire. "Robin! I must finish my pudding for tonight! I don't see any problem with eating my pudding outside instead, do you?"
Robin blanched, but he couldn't resist her perpetual smile... "No, of course not. We'll just have it... outside instead." He gave her the biggest smile he could.
"Wonderful!"
Robin sighed and slumped in his seat once her back was turned, knowing that he'd be expecting a bad stomach ache by later that night.
~*~
He turned over and moaned, trying in vain to find a comfortable way to lie. As expected, he hadn't been able to make himself hurt Starfire's feelings and reject her pudding and now Robin's stomach was keeping him awake. He groaned and sat up, finally resolving it was useless. But his stomach wasn't the only think that was bothering him...
The clock read 2am, too early for any of the other Titans. He yawned and got out of bed, having not bothered to remove his usual outfit last night, all he had to do was put on his combat boots and cape and Robin was out the door, in the direction of the kitchen.
The kitchen was dark, and he could hardly see anything as he made his way to the refrigerator. He opened the door and took out a half-empty milk carton, yawned again and turned around. He gave a tiny yelp, too tired to yell with his surprise. Robin nearly drew a birdarang until he realized that the shadow sitting on the counter that had revealed itself with the light from the open refrigerator was not an enemy.
"My, aren't we jumpy today." The shadow said in a monotone.
Robin laughed nervously. "Uh... Raven... I didn't think you'd be up this late..."
He edged along the wall, nervous that he might meet more surprises in the dark. Once he found the switch, he turned on the light to reveal the kitchen and Raven sitting on the counter, a cup of tea in her hands.
"I can never sleep for long." She said in answer and taking a sip of her tea.
Robin just nodded, he always respected other peoples' business; he had had to when he had been living with Batman. He frowned at her outfit, having never seen her wearing anything other than her cape and leotard. Raven was, as usual, dressed all in dark colors. She wore a soft-looking black turtleneck with a pair of black pants that hugged the shape of her legs; apparently this was what she slept in.
Robin quickly looked away when he saw she was looking at him, her cool violet eyes emotionless yet they were saying 'It's not polite to stare.' Raven turned her attention back to her tea.
He swallowed and endeavored to pass her by in order to get to the cupboard. This occurred without any further comment from either of them, as he had hoped. Annoying Raven was the last thing he wanted, for he was already tired. He took out a cup and warmed up a glass of milk in the microwave, never turning to look at his mysterious teammate until she spoke.
"Starfire's pudding?"
"Er, yeah."
She nodded, holding her teacup in her lap. Raven cocked her head in his direction, her eyes coolly regarding him for a moment. "But is that all that is bothering you, Robin?"
Robin froze before turning away from her to remove his milk from the microwave. He took a sip, hoping that she wouldn't persist. Meeting Raven unexpectedly in the middle of the night was enough to make him nervous, now she was acting against her usual character and starting a conversation.
"I thought so," He heard her sigh. "You can talk to me, you know. I'm not the type to blurt other's secrets."
He drank some of his milk and turned to her, wondering what she had 'thought so'. Once he was facing her, he immediately regretted turning around. Their eyes met, and Robin couldn't make himself look away.
Raven studied the confusion apparent in his face before patting the counter beside her. Understanding her meaning, Robin uneasily crossed the linoleum floor and hopped up beside her.
"Now, talk." She commanded.
"Uh, well..." Robin started but stopped, still unsure.
She sighed and set her tea cup aside. "Robin, I've been sensing that you're troubled for weeks. And it is starting to get bothersome. I meant to leave you alone about it, but apparently you have been unable to fix it yourself. And I know this isn't about Slade." She gave him a sideways look before turning to her tea again and taking a sip. Raven turned back to him. "Now, what's bothering you? Since it's now come to insomnia, I'm not going to leave it along anymore. Besides, your mind has been sending out troubled signals so loud it's even been keeping me awake."
"Er, it has? Sorry about that, Raven." He said nervously, drinking more of his milk. Robin turned his head slightly to look at her, only to meet her cold stare. He shivered, even though it was a warm summer night.
She raised an eyebrow and Robin squirmed. "Uh... Raven?"
"Yes?"
"Can I... ask you a question? I mean... you don't have to answer it or anything; I just... uh... I don't mean to be intruding, but—"
"Just ask me the question already."
Robin inhaled deeply, hoping it wouldn't be his last breath. "Er... let's say there was a boy that liked you..." He started.
"Okay..."
Robin continued, sensing no threat in her voice so far. "Hypothetically speaking of course. And uh... what would this boy have to do to get you to notice him? As in, like, getting you to agree to go out on a date with him?" Robin tensed, waiting for the explosion.
But instead, Raven just chuckled lightly. A rarity in itself. "Hm... It would likely take years of persistence and a great deal of luck and devotion. And the chances of any guy even getting me to agree to anything remotely resembling a date are just about null."
"Oh." Robin slumped, disappointed. How would he ever get her attention?
"But then again," Raven said quietly. "I'm not Starfire."
Robin nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of her name. "Wha— I, I never said—"
"You needn't have said anything, Robin." Raven said, taking yet another sip of her tea.
Robin's shoulders drooped. "Am I... that obvious?"
"No." She said simply, her eyes closed. "But I could sense it." Raven opened her eyes and once again Robin felt uneasy under her gaze.
"Oh." He shifted his seat on the countertop, wondering what Raven would do next.
She turned fully to him, setting her teacup between them on the counter with the soft click of china against the hard surface. Once she had folded her legs comfortably on the countertop Raven spoke again. "You aren't getting anywhere by keeping it all a secret, Robin. Besides, it isn't much of a secret. I think Beast Boy and Cyborg have just about figured it out. Well... Cyborg at least. I don't think Beast Boy has the brain capacity to figure out something like this..." She gave the smallest of wry smiles, and Robin almost laughed. "But, if you want to get Starfire's attention, you are going to have to be straightforward with her."
"But, what if—"
"Yes, yes. What if!" She rolled her eyes. "If there were no such thing as 'what if' a lot of things could have happened differently. People wouldn't have been cowards." Raven said this more to herself than anyone else. "But," she began again, "trust me. Tell Starfire your feelings, tell her everything."
"Everything?" Robin fidgeted with his now empty glass.
"Yes, everything you feel for her. If you want, write a poem about it instead of talking to her if you must. That's how my boyfriend did it when he—" She stopped suddenly and coughed as a cover up.
Robin almost fell off the counter. "Boyfriend? You have a boyfriend?" But he regretted that question the moment it left his lips.
Raven jumped off the counter, grabbing her teacup. "That's none of your business!" She said angrily, starting for the door.
"Raven, wait! I didn't mean—" Robin shut his mouth abruptly when Raven turned on her heel to face him, her eyes glowing an eerie red.
He didn't dare move, and he kept his mouth firmly shut. Slowly, the glow disappeared from her eyes, but she still looked angry. "Look, just take my advice. And keep your mouth shut about my slipup, okay?"
He nodded vigorously. "Of course!"
Raven seemed to calm herself, and her shoulders relaxed. "Listen, I'm... not seeing him anymore, and I don't want you to bring him up again. Not ever."
"Oh... so, you broke up with him?"
"NO!" She screamed, her eyes glowing again and her hair going wild.
Robin flinched, but she quickly calmed herself.
Raven turned away and spoke quietly. "I didn't break up with him, and he didn't break up with me. He was... a warrior. At heart. We were separated in a battle, I know he isn't dead though. He's too strong for that." She looked at him over her slender shoulder. "But I couldn't stay to look for him, I had to keep running."
Robin was about to ask what she had been running from, but decided against it. Besides, she had already disappeared into the shadows of the post-midnight hallway.
He sighed and put away the glass before returning to his room himself. He stopped before the passage that would eventually lead to Raven's bedroom door. He smiled slightly and whispered to the shadows obscuring the hallway, "Thanks, Rae." before moving on.
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A/N: Oooo... I had fun with that fic... I MIGHT make it into more than just a one shot. Depends on how popular this fic is and whether or not I can find the time to write more for it.