Disclaimer: I do not own the Titans.

Quick Note: Thanks so much to all the people that have read and reviewed! Wub you!

--Purple Wolf girl

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Day Six.

Starfire pressed various buttons on the remote lifelessly. It was pouring rain outside, and she remembered that the last time she went dancing in the rain, she had gotten a cold... and passed it onto Robin. She had felt dreadful about making him ill, but she had to admit, it was quite amusing to listen to him talk so peculiarly. Her view of it was that his nose must have been stuffed with something... gooey. She was going along the lines of chewed-up gum, but... no.

So she wouldn't go dancing today.

But on the last occasion that she had, Robin had run outside after her, screaming that she would get sick and wet. Starfire had paid no mind to this and had daintily dragged him to the center of the lawn, and began to move her feet around in tireless circles. He had propped himself up and smiled feebly at her. She supposed that maybe he secretly enjoyed dancing. Beast Boy said that Cyborg secretly loved tofu. Cyborg got very cross when he said this, but maybe the tofu vs. meat thing was similar to Robin's dancing. ...Or not. You can't always jump to conclusions— especially about something so pointless.

Perhaps they could go on a leisurely ride on the R-cycle again. But the R-cycle had no roof, and surely they would be absolutely pelted by the rain, and the tiny drops that were drizzling down from the sky would obstruct Robin's vision. Besides, the streets were very wet, and ducks were using the damp roads as giant swimming pools. Starfire could hear their quacks from the Tower. So, apparently, the fowl were having a super time.

The alien continued to flip through various channels. Nothing was on today it seemed. The lights flickered every now and then, and the power was bound to go out soon. But she'd have Robin to comfort her when her world went black. The sky had gone ebony last night when the fireworks display had faded. The night had seemed so perfect... if only he had kissed her…

Speaking of, where was he?

Starfire turned her head. "Robin…?"

No response.

"ROBIN!"

As called, Robin rushed into the room with a toothbrush sticking out of his mouth and a comb stuck in his hair. His expression was demented and, due to the toothpaste, he looked as if he were foaming at the mouth like a mad dog. Starfire restrained giggles, gaping at him in only sweat pants and a loose undershirt.

"What's... the problem?" he huffed. Starfire slapped her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"I was merely seeking your company." she peeped. Robin frowned.

"Oh." he blinked. "Well, you have it."

"Apparently so."

"Um... would you mind if the company got dressed?" He grunted, tugging at his comb.

Starfire shook her head. "Please... continue with your preparation." The boy blunder twitched slightly and ventured back into the narrow hallway. He yelped a bit, most likely because he had pulled out the comb and a good handful of hair with it. And Starfire began to titter again, but soon silenced herself, trying to be respectful of her leader. As quickly as she had stopped surfing channels, she started right back up again.

Channel 5: People kissing.

Channel 9: More kissing.

Channel 12: Pie eating contest.

Channel 33: Cartoons.

Channel 34: A naked mole rat eating nachos.

Channel 51: Animals.

Channel 113: Basketball...

Starfire stopped at that channel. What was… basketball? She had never heard of that sport before, but it seized her interest. This activity looked familiar, but she had no idea how it worked. Perhaps Robin would explain this "basketball"...

Robin's soft cursing echoed through the hallways and into Starfire's ears. She was used to his...erm...temper, and it didn't nuisance her anymore. He hurried into the room and collapsed onto the couch next to Starfire, panting. She tapped her finger on her chin with curiosity.

"That's what I look like without the effort." Robin sneered. "Not much, is it?"

Star shrugged. "No. It is just enough." He forced a grin.

"Thanks for trying."

Starfire giggled and gave herself a half-hug. "I do try." Robin grimaced suddenly. Were they... flirting?

Oh, God… why now?

"Well, Robin, I have a favor to ask of you," Starfire began, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"What is it?"

"I have been watching the vision of tele, and I have come across an activity called 'baskets of balls'."

"Basketball." he corrected.

"Oh, yes!" she chimed. "Please, can you teach me?"

"Of course. Come on!"

He took hold of her hand without a second thought and dragged her to the Tower's gym, Starfire smiling goofily every step of the way.

--Exercise room—

"Okay, so, hold the ball... no."

"What is wrong?"

"You're not holding it right."

"How am I supposed to hold it?"

"The way I am."

"But... it looks uncomfortable."

"But it's the right way."

"Perhaps I do not do the right way?"

"..."

"What are you confused about?"

"What you just said,"

"What is it that you are confused about what I just said?"

"Er... I don't know."

"Robin?"

"Mmm-hmm?"

"Can I not do the basketball holding the proper way but you still teach me because I want to learn but I will not hold the ball the correct way because it looks uncomfortable?"

Robin blinked cluelessly. "Uh... no?" Starfire frowned. "If you want to play, you have to play the right way." He approached her slowly and stood behind her, placing his hands on top her own. A cherry hue washed across her face. "Okay, see, you put your right hand here..." He moved it to one side of the ball. "And then you move your left hand here," Her blush deepened. "Then you kind of slouch down a bit like... there! That's it! All right. Now you squat, and kind of leap up and shoot the ball."

"Where do I shoot it?" Starfire asked, fingering the ball.

"Into the basket."

"Where is this basket that you speak of?"

"It's there..." He pointed a finger at the hoop. Starfire nodded. "I'll help you the first time."

He slid his hands onto her slender arms, and that only encouraged her rosy cheeks to turn apple red, and Robin's face was spiraling in the same direction. The way he looked at it, which he would never say, is that embarrassment is just another way of showing affection. Robin gave her arms a small push, and the ball wiggled in Star's hands. But she didn't let it go. Robin chuckled softly.

"Star, you have to let go of it."

The princess dropped the ball onto the ground. It bounced a bit.

Robin shook his head with disapproval. "Not now."

"But you said-"

"What I meant to say was that you have to shoot it when I give your arms a push."

"Ooh..." Starfire cooed, picking up the sphere. "Please, can you assist me again?" He nodded, taking hold of her with cherry cheeks. He gave her elbow a slight nudge. "Now!" Starfire threw the ball across the room, but missed miserably.

"I…did…not...make it..." she quivered. He put a hand on her shoulder, his free hand spinning the ball on his fingertip.

"Don't worry about it. That was only your first try." He handed her the orb once more. "Try again."

A mischievous glitter set off in Starfire's emerald eyes. "Robin…?" He smiled.

"Okay, Star, you want to make this shot, right?"

"YES!"

"Great. Now...concentrate on the hoop..."

"Where is the hoop?"

"It's just another name for the basket."

"Oh."

"Hmmm... Well, shoot!"

She missed again.

And again.

And once again.

Robin wiped a small trickle of sweat off his forehead. "This isn't working."

"Perhaps I am athletically challenged?" Starfire offered. Robin fell onto his back.

"Why don't you try to shoot it without me..."

"No!" Starfire cried. "I cannot do it without you!"

"It's... just a ball. You pick it up, you toss it, you make the basket," he grunted, exasperated. "Piece of cake."

"…Hmm?"

Robin's face fell, standing back up to fasten his arms behind her. "It's just a figure of speech, Star."

Starfire grinned at the sensation of his breath on the back of her neck. His face was uncomfortably close to hers now, but... neither of them seemed to care. Matter of fact, they were elated. Starfire turned her head a bit, and Robin was right there, like he always was.

Their lips brushed pass each other gently…

And Star made a basket.

They remained still. Never moving or blinking. They continued to stay in that kissing position, and felt well with that. Awkward, but okay. Robin cracked his neck as his head turned away. Starfire traced her lips, cherishing that very brief, very light touch. It didn't count as a kiss, but it was a start. She burst into a fit of hysterical giggles as she glanced at her hands and the basketball hoop. Robin smacked his forehead. Teasing against her lips wasn't exactly one of his more... clever ideas. Maybe it didn't even count as contact. And... Maybe he was off the hook. But what in world was Starfire laughing about? He glanced over at her cheering session as she began jumping and throwing the basketball up in the direction of the ceiling. Robin shifted closer to her as she let out a concluding shriek.

"ROBIN! ROBIN! I HAVE DONE IT!"

"What have you done exactly?"

"I MADE THE BASKET! I DID!"

"Um... congratulations?"

"Many congratulations to you as well, Robin!" she exclaimed, dashing over to hug him. He cringed as she threw her arms around his neck in a giant bear hug. His teeth rubbed against each other, making an unpleasant grinding sound.

"We are such lucky ducks." he droned, drowning himself in sarcasm.

She laughed and nudged at his gut with her elbow. "Glorious!"

Robin's temple throbbed. "Um... yeah." He paused. "…Star…"

"Yes?"

"I know this is a bad time, but I have something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"It's just..." He paused, the words he was about to say leaving a foul taste on his tongue. "I've had a great time the last few days,"

Starfire gave his hand a squeeze. "As have I."

"Except for one thing." he continued.

"What is troubling you?" she panicked. "I have done wrong?"

"No. It's not you. It's me... I made a mistake, and I'm sorry."

"What was your mistake, Robin?"

Robin restrained the bitter lump in his throat. "You really want to know?"

"Yes. We are friends, Robin, and I believe that it is customary for friends to inform each other of what is troubling them."

He looked up at her sheepishly. "...I-"

A large crack of thunder set off, and the lights gave one last flicker before shutting off completely. Starfire waved her arms around wildly, knocking Robin over in the process. She tripped over his leg, and ended up on top of him in a… suggestive position.

"AH!" Starfire yelped. "Someone's hands are on my grebnax!"

"Uh... sorry." Robin gulped, flicking at her to free himself. "I'm going to go out on a limb and say the power's gone out."

"Agreed. Perhaps we should fix this problem?"

"Well, yeah. Come on, we have to find the generator." he said authoritivly. "Star, can you give me some light?"

Starfire produced a small star bolt. "Is this enough?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Where are we going?"

"Wherever the generator is."

"Do you know…?"

Robin halted himself and scrunched up his nose. "No idea."

"You have no idea?"

"Um…well, I live here. I'm sure I can figure it out."

--20 minutes of wasted searching later--

Robin tugged at his collar. "Okay, I have no idea where we are."

A small tear welled up in the corner of Starfire's eye. "B-but...where...how...I...Robin!" she wailed. "I am frightened!"

"Um…don't be-"

"It is dark and scary and my arm is getting tired from holding my star bolt up!"

"Star."

"We are lost!"

"Star."

"We may never find our way back to the safety of our living room!"

"Star."

"What is we are trapped here forever?"

"STAR."

"I miss Silkie! Where is my-"

"STAR!" he said, exasperated. "There's no reason to panic."

"Why?"

He gestured his hand forward. "Because the generator is five feet away from us."

"Uh... yes. So it is."

"Well, no all I have to do is... do something."

"You do not know how to fix it, do you?"

"I was raised in a house with a butler. When the power went out, Alfred fixed it." Robin sighed. "When the power goes out here, Cyborg fixes it. When Cyborg isn't here, Raven does something... and when neither of them are here, Beast boy hides under the coffee table."

"So..."

"I'll fix it." Robin muttered as he twisted some wires around. "You just connect the blue wire to the red...or yellow...or green…or maybe the yellow and red one..."

"Perhaps I could be of assistance?" Starfire offered. Robin twitched.

"I think I can handle a little wiring." He snorted.

"Very well, Robin. But I do not think you should connect those two," she sing-sang.

"And why not?"

"Because they do not go together,"

"Color wise or wire wise?"

"Both... I think."

Robin snorted again. "Star, I can handle this."

Starfire gaped at him. "Are you certain? Because I have read many Earth books and one said that-"

"Ow."

"I did try to explain to you."

Robin frowned at her, his hair sizzling and his face a bit black and smoky. "I'll get it right this time."

Pause.

"Actually, I'll call Cyborg." Robin flipped open the T-communicator, and Cyborg's face fizzled onto the screen. "Cy, I need some..."

"Instruction!" Starfire chimed in. Robin huffed.

"Yeah, what she said."

Cyborg turned his attention away from Bumblebee, and stared into the green-tinted picture. "What are ya'll doin' in the dark?"

"The power went out."

"Then why are you calling me?"

Robin groaned loudly. "Because I need advice on how to start up the generator."

"I knew it." Cyborg announced proudly. "You're so challenged."

"Just... tell me how to do it."

"Alright, Robbie, just-"

"Don't. Call. Me. Robbie."

"I find it rather sweet." Starfire mused.

"Yeah, Rob." Cyborg chuckled. "Its just about sweet enough to rot a tooth out."

"I am sure the dentist would be pleased."

"Just tell me how to fix the generator."

"Can't."

"WE'RE STANDING IN A DARK TOWER WITHOUT A CLUE AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS--!"

"Sparky, what's going on?" Bumblebee's muffled voice echoed through, along with her face gazing into the display at a chipper Starfire, and a murderous Robin. "Oh, hey guys!"

"Many glorious greetings, Friend Bumblebee! Please, I am hoping you are having a pleasant trip, yes?" Starfire exclaimed.

"Hi." Robin grunted, ignoring Starfire's curiosities. "Now, Cyborg, why can't you just tell me how to fix the stupid thing?" The android shrugged.

"Because I'd have to be there to figure out the problem. It could be dozens of things, man!"

Bumblebee raised a brow. "Still, why can't you try to help?" she questioned, leering at her man.

Robin smiled maliciously. "Yeah, Cy. Why can't you help them?" Starfire clenched her teeth.

"You cannot come here? Why ever not?" she wailed.

"Um... dude, we're in the mountains."

"I'm not an idiot. I know that you're spending a week at a ski lodge."

"Yes, but you have no clue where it is, do you?"

"At a place with a snow machine where only little scraps of cotton come out?" The Boy Wonder guessed.

"Nooooo... we're in the... Himalayas."

"…"

"Please, where are the Himalayas?"

"Far, far away."

"Oh. And this is bad?"

"For you it is. For us its a life of luxury." Bumblebee smacked Cyborg on the back of his head. "And pain."

"We're sorry, guys!" Bumblebee cried. "We would come if we could, but we can't."

"The T-car might have turbo speed, but its not speedy enough to make it all the way back-"

"Don't worry about it." Robin moaned. "Just... have fun and don't worry about us. It's just a little bit of black."

"I am hopeful that the electricity will return soon." Starfire cooed. Cyborg and Bumblebee nodded.

"Us too. Cyborg out," Bumblebee coughed in the background, adding, "And Bumblebee."

The screen fizzled out. Starfire shuddered slightly, muttering to herself and griping onto his shoulder. Robin looked at her pitifully. Being afraid of the dark was one thing, but digging her fingernails into his flesh wasn't exactly a superior way to let the fear out. He swatted her hand away gently. She only latched on again.

Robin sighed as his brows leaned upward. "Are you cold?" Starfire's teeth chattered.

"Ye-yes." she breathed. Robin opened his cape up, gesturing for her to come under. She smiled gleefully while he narrowed his eyes into slits behind the mask. He could see the image of them under the cape now, both arms fastened around her frame.

"Robin?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Well, numerous things. You have saved me many times, told me about all Earth customs such as the Christ of Mas, and..."

"And what?"

She looked up at him, blushing furiously. "Putting your arm around my waist without doing the 'freaking out'."

He laughed nervously. "Er... okay. Well, we better get going on this thing."

"But... how will you work with me in your arms?" Robin smirked playfully and slipped his cape off over his head, laying it across Starfire's shoulders. "You need it more than I do."

"Many appreciations."

Robin fumbled with some wires. "Yup."

Starfire exhaled dreamily, batting her eyelashes at him when he turned his head. "You truly are perfect," she breathed quietly, and jumped with surprise when he snapped his head up and gave her a half-wink.

"Excuse me?" he mused. She tugged at the cape.

"Nothing!" she squealed. Robin made a light shrug and turned his attention back to the generator.

"If you say so."

A spark whizzed past him, and the power flipped on. Starfire threw the cape off her shoulders and did loop-de-loops in the air. Robin pinched a lock of his hair, putting out a small flame. The alien threw her arms around her...(literally) sizzling prince charming. He gagged a bit.

"Oh, Robin!" she cheered. "You have fixed the power! Now we will not be stuck in the darkness any longer!"

"Great. Now, can you...stop...choking...me?"

Starfire dropped him carelessly. "I am sorry, Robin! Are you in need of medical assistance?"

Robin rubbed his neck. "Nah. I'm okay."

"Are you certain?" Starfire fretted. "Are you positive that you do not require a pack of ice or the cardiopulmonary resuscitation?" A tempted grin played across his lips.

"Uh, thanks, but no thanks. I'm okay, really."

"Are you sure?"

He ran his hand through his hair, still maintaining his smirk. "…Positive."

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A/N: GAH! That sucked. But…like I've said before, I try not to change these revised chapters too much. If you want to read one of my better things, read one of my new oneshots: "Of Boys and Bikinis", "Under My Umbrella", "How you play the game", "Bittersweet", "Sixteen Candles" or "Fall Ball". I'm proud of those. Anyway, please review this too!

--PWG

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