Chapter 2: Movies

I lay like a log underneath the table, starring at everyone's feet, waiting for someone to drop something, a crumb, a scrap, anything. I'm not allowed in the dining area during breakfast, lunch, or dinner, because they think that I'll mutate and turn into a giant moth again, which is stupid. I have sat under the table eating their scraps ever since I started living here. Starfire lets me out anyway and she's the only one who knows I do it..I think, but no one has ever said anything or yelled at her for not keeping me locked in her room. Then again, Starfire's innocence lets her get away with anything, especially with Robin, he probably wouldn't even care.

Then Plop! Plop! Crumbs of delicious bacon, and beef, scattered all over the floor as everyone ate. I make myself stand, my stubby legs wobble and one of them has fallen asleep but it doesn't take more than a few seconds of pacing to bring the feeling back to it. I scarf down the crumbs like a vacuum cleaner.

I watched the ground like a hawk, waiting for any more, someone has dropped a whole bacon strip, I think it was Starfire; she may have done it on purpose for my benefit. I wolfed it down and nudged her foot in thanks. After a few minutes, everyone started to leave the table; she bends down and gives me a belly rub, then scoops me up in her arms and walked back to the sofa.

Truth be told, I'm not really allowed in the living area either, because I like to chew the sofa, or at least, I USED to not be allowed. At first, they always got mad at Starfire if I'm even near it, but now they really don't care. I only chew the sofa if she forgets to feed me, but she's real good at keeping me fed, so I haven't done it in ages.

She lay down and closed her eyes, occasionally opening them to look at me. She smiled and pulled me closer to her, and then she turned toward the couch falling asleep. I tried to wiggle my way out of her arms, but they were holding onto me tightly. I didn't bother fighting her anymore. I hear her moan as she settled in the cushions and I felt her heartbeat pounding against my body. We laid there for a few minutes when I heard Cyborg and Robin coming back in the room. The two titans were talking about the mission they went on today.

"I'm telling ya man!" Cyborg shouted "If Plasmus breaks out of Jail one more time, then we definitely need to do something about it"

"Plasmus is strong enough to break through anything" Robin said "even a thick wall of steal can't hold him"

Cyborg went over to the kitchen, and pulled a soda from out of the fridge "its crazy man" He muttered taking a sip from the canned beverage.

I sensed Robin walking over to the couch as his voice became broader "Well, it's our job" He said "he's broken out of jail a thousand times, and we've kicked his butt a thousand times"

"Correction!" Cyborg stated "a thousand and one after today!"

When Robin walked to the couch he saw Starfire laying there with me half asleep. I noticed that she was gasping for air again, and she even coughed a few times before he came over. He bent down and shook her shoulder. She snapped awake and turned around, so that she was lying on her back. She started clutching onto me, while half awake.

"Star...?" Robin said with a concerned voice "Are you sleeping?"

She sat up, letting go of me, I jumped out of her arms but I didn't leave the couch. "Yeah" She said as she struggled to sit up "I'm real tired..."

I started to wonder why she crashed with me on the couch to begin with; she's usually energetic and wide awake at this hour. Robin felt her forehead and I saw a curious look spread across his face.

"You feel a little warm." He said "You better get to bed!"

"No, Robin" Starfire protested as usual "I feel fine..."

Robin sighed and shook his head "Star" He said "You have a fever"

"But I want to stay!" She shouted "I don't feel that sick..."

Robin just starred at her quietly. She looked up at him, with her feverish, innocent eyes.

"Alright" he finally said "go change and I'll bring you some blankets."

She smiled, giving him a small nod, and flew back to her room to slip into her pajamas. She wasn't gone for long. I patiently await her return.

She lay back down, and I climbed on top of her, nudging her face. It really did feel warm which is so unusual because I don't remember the last time she got sick.

As a matter of fact, I don't think I've seen her sick at all. Starfire's not from this world. She is immune to most of earth's germs and bacteria. She can't catch the flu or any other human virus. From what I've seen, she's probably the healthiest of all the titans. I wonder how she got sick in the first place, and then it hit me. It was probably because she didn't dress warm when they fought Plasmus earlier.

Robin returned with a blanket and covered us up, he stuck a pillow behind her head and helped her get comfortable. I stuck my head out from under the covers and notice that she's about to fall asleep at this point. Robin sat down next to where her head was and scooted close to her, so she's leaning against him.

The other titans gathered and sat on the sofa with us, it was Beast boy's turn to pick a movie tonight. Raven didn't look too pleased; she crossed her arms and leaned back.

"Don't pick something stupid like Ninja showdown 8" She said "because If you do, I'm leaving.."

Beast boy glared at her "Relax Raven, we just watched that last week" he said "I'm going to pick something we haven't watched in a while!"

It usually takes an hour for them to decide on one movie, we have so many to choose from but it's so difficult to choose one that everyone agrees to watch.

Starfire is the one who says yes to everything, so there's really no opinion from her. Beast boy went through a whole stack when he finally pulled out a movie called Clash of the Planet Apes

"Beast boy. No." Robin rejected "anything but that."

The green teenager frowned "aww come on" He said "you got to give things a chance dude!"

Cyborg grabbed the box from his hand and examined it "Clash of the Planet Apes?" he asked "I forgot we even had that, what it is about?"

"It's about a herd of apes being born and raised in outer space!" Beast boy said with an excited tone "and then they try to invade the planet and take over the world!"

Robin wasn't persuaded "That sounds like the dumbest thing ever!" He shouted

"Alien Apes?!" Cyborg said "Sweet! I vote yes! Come on Robin!"

"No, I am not wasting 2 hours of my life watching prime apes destroy each other"

Starfire lifted her head and spoke up "I think it sounds like a great movie!" She said softly "I want to watch it. Can we please watch it Robin?"

He let out a sigh of uncertainty. Oh boy, there it was. Robin's weakness has gotten the best of him. Five seconds ago, it was the worst movie ever made and he didn't want to waste any time watching it, but I can make predictions, he's going to want to watch it now, only because she wants too. He'll do anything to make her happy, he wants to impress her, be the best boyfriend ever, and since she's sick as well, he definitely can't say no anymore. He was silent for a moment, and that's when the moods changed, the soft and approving Robin took over the strong, disagreeing one.

"Ok" He finally said "I guess it wouldn't be so bad, I'll give it a shot..."

Beast boy and Cyborg exchanged glances and snickered, probably thinking the same thing I was, but they didn't say anything more.

Cyborg popped the popcorn, and Beast boy set up the movie, then we all sat in the sitting room to watch the apes blow each other up on television. It was real interesting, but a little on the bloody side as well. Movies like this scare Starfire, even though she's seen worse in real life. She scooted closer to Robin for protection, squeezing her eyes shut through the scary parts. After the movie ended, Beast boy pressed the remote to turn the television off. "See? He said "That was awesome!"

Cyborg stood up and stretched his mechanical legs "Ehh, it was alright" he said "the sequel was a lot better..."

"Dude! There's a sequel?!" the green teenager asked in excitement.

"Yeah, it's called attack of the milky way cows" Cyborg said "ten times better than what you just saw!"

"Aww man, space cows? Like the ones we fought a long time ago?"

"Yeah! Except these cows actually take over the planet! Unlike the apes did!"

"Would you two please shut up already?" Raven said, annoyed with the conversation "I think I've seen and heard enough of this for one night."

She slams her book shut, and puts it back on the coffee table. I wonder if she even payed attention to the movie. Cyborg and Beast boy awkwardly stay silent for a moment. Raven's temper is usually the best to end conversations quickly. I'm glad she did, because even I got tired of hearing about it. After the awkward silence, Cyborg and Beast boy snickered, and started to clean up the area. I rolled over to my side as I felt Starfire's weight shift.

She looked dazed as she sat up. I think that the stress of the day and fighting crime has worn her out, but she still didn't look so good.

Minutes pass, and the titans have cleaned up, said goodnight, and departed to their rooms. She quietly sat there as Robin felt her forehead again.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asked her.

"No" She said "I'm feeling a lot worse actually"

Robin sighed and shook his head "Now you see Star, this is what happens when you don't bundle up in weather like this." he said "You really should have worn something warm while fighting Plasmus today"

"But Robin"

"I'm just saying, you lived here on earth for so long that you might have gotten used to our climate"

Starfire remained silent then let out a series of wet coughs, "maybe it's a good idea if I get some rest.."

"Yeah" Robin said softly "come on let's get you to bed."

Starfire struggled to stand on her own two legs, she firmly held onto the blankets as she slowly started to walk out of the room, but she stumbled forward, and was about to fall down. For the second time today, Robin rushed over to catch her.

"Starfire!" He shouted "what's wrong?"

Starfire trembled as she had almost hit the ground "I don't know" She stuttered "It's like I can't support my weight…I don't know what's happening to me..."

I was starting to get scared. She was so sick that she couldn't even stand on her own two legs. She panicked as she tried to stand back up, but Robin picked her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way.