Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. Right. Time for some time on the town for the male Titans in Jump, and Starfire and Shadow in Blacksoak.
"They are most delightful!" Kori Anders AKA Starfire squeals in joy. She watches the small machines fly overhead performing numerous maneuvers and tricks.
"They are called Hovers." Shatamara AKA The Night Shadow explains, amused by his friend's amazed expression. "A man by the name of Henry loves to show them off."
The two heroes are standing in the main festival square a bit off to one side. The noises, scents, and sights are truly wondrous to behold. It never ceases to be amazing no matter how many times one visits.
That is, if you can ignore the criminal network that bases itself here, but let's not dwell on that.
Starfire cheerily ran from stand to stand, investigating anything, and everything. She sampled some pastries, tried out a few hats, and browsed through the occasional bookstore. Her excitement was clear to all, and they responded with smiles and laughs in equal measure.
Sadly, their mirth would fade away quickly upon seeing the bubbly girl's escort. To him they directed fearful or nervous looks along with the occasional death glare or the presentation of a holy symbol, apparently thinking he is some sort of vampire.
Shadow, for his part, ignores the masses and keeps an eye on Starfire. He wants to be sure she stays happy and distracted. His own sufferings are not relevant is his own opinion.
"Shatamara, look at at this!" Starfire squeaks. Holding up a small crystal she smiles and angles it to create a rainbow.
The pale boy smiles at her innocent joy. Walking up to the counter, he pays for the trinket and directs the alien girl to another stand that he hopes will pique her curiosity.
The two spend a few hours in the festival square before moving on to the market. Filled with almost every food imaginable, Starfire's eyes light up at all the different options.
"Ohhh! This one has the purple!" The girl shrieks, picking up the fruit.
"It's called a grapefruit. I think." Shadow murmurs, looking around. "Now where is he?" He asks himself. It takes a few minutes of searching, but the boy eventually finds who he's looking for. Dragging Starfire behind him, he walks up to a stand selling apples. "Good day Mr. Dawn."
"Nice to see ya' boy. What are you doing out today? You normally don't come out here 'till Wednesday." The man speaking is rather large, he has broad shoulders and big calloused hands. His eyes are a startlingly bright green.
"Showing my guest around the city. I believe I've told you about her before eh?" Shadow says.
"I presume this would be miss Starfire in disguise then?" He says quietly, chuckling. Starfire's eyes widen but Shadow just laughs.
"No worries Kori. He is part of my network." The boy explains. "We can trust him."
Mr. Dawn reaches out and shakes Starfire's hand. Using the other hand he pulls out a small chain, in the center there is a small circle with a tiny hole in it.
"That symbol is how you know who is part of my network." Shadow explains to the confused alien girl. He points at the small circle dangling from the chain. "But that's not why I wanted to see Mr. Dawn."
"So what is it?" The large man asks.
"Kori here has... Interesting tastes; and you always seem to have something." Shadow chuckles.
Starfire seems confused. "There is only apples."
The man grins and pulls out a small drawer from underneath the stall. It's loaded with a multitude of different fruits.
"Mr. Dawn is the main supplier of my network. He keeps everyone fed who can't afford to feed themselves and passes on sensitive information that we can't risk trading through other means. The apples are just for the masses to buy." The pale boy says, smiling. "He keeps other products for me and a few others who don't like shopping around."
"I'd like to think I do a damn good job of keeping secrets." Mr. Dawn grins proudly. "I was the first contact Shatamara ever made, and it's a good thing too. If I didn't make him come here every Wednesday, he probably would starve himself."
"I thank you for looking out for my friend." Starfire bows.
"It's always a challenge." The man laughs. "What can I do ya for?"
The next ten minutes are spent looking through Mr. Dawn's numerous drawers finding things to Starfire's liking. Eventually the two heroes walk away carrying three dragonfruit, two spicy mustard bottles, and a sack of potatoes.
"I wonder where he got the dragonfruit from." Shadow murmurs to himself. "These are good potatoes... Perhaps I can make some chips."
"The fruit of dragons are most delightful!" Starfire cries. "I will try one upon returning to your home with my new mustard!"
'Dragonfruit and mustard? What has the world come to?' Thinks the pale boy in amusement.
###
'This is glorious!' Starfire thinks to herself ecstatically as she bites into the dragonfruit, mustard coats the skin of the odd fruit. 'I do not understand why friend Shadow does not wish to try one.'
The bubbly alien, now out of disguise, watches her new friend play something on his computer as the potato slices cook. It's some odd game where a man with a massive sword hops out of a bush every time you walk by and "spins to win" as Shadow put it.
She enjoyed her small tour of the main festival square. Though "tour" might be the wrong term. Basically Shadow just let her walk around and explained anything he seemed to think was interesting.
Finishing off her snack, Starfire sits back contentedly and ponders the events that have taken place since the morning. Cyborg and Beast Boy managed to get her a trip in less than a day, she left without informing Robin, and ventured around Blacksoak City's main festival square for a few hours.
Robin... He is the reason for this trip in the first place. Was he mad that she left without saying goodbye? Did he miss her? Or had she not been gone long enough?
No. She came on this trip to get some time away from Robin. She would worry about this later, and maybe perhaps Shadow would be willing to give advice at some point.
For now, she would just relax. She would just sit back and enjoy...
"Ding!" goes the oven.
... and eat potato chips.
###
"I totally won." Beast Boy brags.
"No way, I did." Cyborg protests.
"We didn't get to see the scores. The machines broke remember?" Robin sighs.
"Yeah... Probably was a bad idea to turn into a hippo." The green shapeshifter says sheepishly.
"I forgot I was too heavy for the machine." Cyborg chuckles in embarrassment.
"The circuit breaker shut mine down after you two broke yours." Robin mutters. "We're lucky that they didn't press charges, and that's only because we're heroes. Batman is gonna flip when he hears about this."
Beast Boy and Cyborg share a regretful glance. They didn't want to stress Robin out more than he already was, but it seems they failed.
"Though... That was fun while it lasted." Robin admits. The other two Titans grin in satisfaction, they didn't completely fail after all.
"Seeing as we never had lunch, how bout we get some pizza?" Beast Boy suggests.
"Works for me." Robin shrugs.
"No arguments here. Can't go wrong with some good old za." Cyborg agrees.
"What are we waiting for then? I want some mushrooms and peppers!" The changeling says cheerily.
Robin and Cyborg share a disgusted glance at the mention of Beast Boy's favorite toppings, God forbid he could actually have decent taste when it comes to things aside from chips and pop.
"I'm just going with meat lovers..." Cyborg mutters, trying to keep his appetite as he steps into the T-Car.
"Cannibalism!" Beast Boy shrieks as he joins Robin in the back seat.
"It ain't cannibalism cause I can't turn into the most delicious things in the worldwide you can." Cyborg teases.
"You don't know what you're missing out on." Robin comments.
"Actually I do." Beast Boy mutters. He turns to look out the window at the buildings passing by. "Before I became... This. I ate meat just like everyone else. It was only after I became everyone's favorite shapeshifter that I gave it up."
Robin stares at the changeling in surprise for a moment. Cyborg continues to watch the road, but seems slightly shocked.
"Plus, mushrooms are a million times tastier."
The tense air shatters immediately. Robin grins and shakes his head. "Like hell they do, I've had mushrooms before and I know that the only time that they sometimes taste good is in gourmet meals."
The friendly banter continues all the way to the pizza parlor. Robin and Beast Boy step out first, arguing about what mushroom-involved foods taste best. Cyborg follows along a few steps behind, happy to just stay silent and let his friends enjoy their banter.
###
"Perhaps I should make us a proper meal..." Shadow muses out loud. "Mustard-covered dragonfruit and potato chips don't really count from what I know."
"Yes! We forgot the glasses of mustard and to add mustard to the chips of potato!" Starfire cries.
"Not exactly what I was thinking," The pale boy mutters. "But hey, to each their own." Raising his voice, he continues to speak to the alien next to him. "I'll make us something substantial. Feel free to use the television or read a book, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave my computer alone."
Starfire nods so quickly Shadow worries her head neck will snap.
"I will do the watching of the fungas show!" The orange-skinned girl announces. She turns around and skips over to the television, just missing Shadow's shudder of fear.
"I'm never going to look at mushrooms or moss the same way ever again." He whispers to himself as he flips through the cupboards for ingredients, eventually settling on simple grilled cheese. After buttering the pan and slapping on the actual food, Shadow turns to watch Starfire who is enamored by her revolting show. Her wide eyes sparkle and she has a smile on her face. "It's nice to see she isn't worrying." The pale boy muses. "I would hate for her to be worried only a few hours after arriving."
The clock, reading seven o'clock, informs the boy that it is actually dinner time.
'Wow, I didn't think it was so late! I would have made a proper dinner if I had known.' He thinks to himself, feeling somewhat guilty. 'Hopefully she doesn't mind.'
Taking another look at the television, Shadow realizes that his fears are probably unfounded.
'She thinks that mustard is an appropriate topping for anything. It'll be fine.' He smiles, shaking his head once more. 'Though perhaps I could stand to try one of her meals. Who knows? I might even like it.'
Remembering how his adoptive big brother mentioned that Starfire's food has a tendency to eat other food makes the pale boy reconsider his last though.
Chapter 4 complete. Sorry bout the long time for uploads, exams and stuff. Hopefully this doesn't become a habit, and if it does than just yell at me until I do something about it. I'm trying to focus on Robin when I'm writing about the Titans in Jump, but failing miserably. Beast Boy is just so much easier to write about!