Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.
"And just WHERE have you been?!" Raven roars.
"I was just driving around..." Robin says weakly.
"You couldn't have called?! You disappeared for five hours without telling ANYONE where the hell you were!"
Robin looks for all the world like a child being scolded by his mother. His head is drooped slightly and his shoulders are tensed up in guilt. Cyborg, watching from a corner of the main room, tries his hardest not to laugh knowing that Raven would direct her rage towards him should he do such a thing.
"Next time I expect you to tell us when you're going to be gone for that long! Understand?"
"Yes mom." Robin mutters.
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
"Uhh..." Robin takes a step back from the towering form of Raven. Her eyes glow a menacing red. "Ye- Yes. I understand."
"Good." The empath hisses, returning to her normal form. "I have enough to worry about with Beast Boy being out of commission. I don't need you disappearing on me as well."
"Hey! I said I was just fine!" The changeling in question pouts as he walks through the door, accompanied by the fastest kid alive.
"You still got cracks in your ribs." Kid Flash points out. "That ain't "fine"".
"I heal quickly. I'll be fine." Beast Boy whines. "Don't make me stay in bed more!"
"That didn't exactly work, so I won't bother trying." Raven huffs. Robin is confused for a moment before he remembers that the changeling was playing a game with Cyborg a day or two ago when Robin first learned that Kid Flash and Jinx had arrived. Which was AFTER the green teen got injured.
'Speaking of Jinx, where is she?' The boy wonder thinks to himself as he regards his arguing teammates.
"Guys."
Speak of the devil.
"There's a green comet heading towards the tower." The pink-haired sorceress says casually. "I believe it is a friend of yours?"
The Titans are silent for a moment before figuring out who it is.
"Starfire!" Robin cries. The masked teen bolts out the main door, disappearing from sight. The other people in the room share knowing glances before making their way to the roof.
"That's strange." Beast Boy remarks as they climb the stairs. "I would have expected Shadow to warn us, especially since she's coming back so soon."
###
Back in Blacksoak Shadow has finished cooking his meal. As he sits down a thought strikes him.
'I feel like I forgot to do something...' He thinks. 'Something to do with Starfire...'
Shrugging, the boy turns back to his tunacasserole. (For those of you who don't know, tunacasserole is noodles, cream of chicken, and tuna)
'I'm sure I'll remember soon enough.'
###
The alien princess flies quickly back to her home, not wanting to be away from her friends a moment longer. A streak of green energy follows in her wake as she heads directly for Titans Tower.
Even from this distance she can easily make out the figure of Robin standing on the roof. He seems to be staring at her. A moment later she can see the other Titans appear on the roof along with Kid Flash and Jinx.
It only takes a minute for Starfire to close the distance between her and her destination. She soon finds herself standing in front of her team, shifting nervously under the gaze of her leader.
Robin opens his mouth as if to say something, but nothing comes out. Emotion surges through him as he tries to say something, anything. Failing to do that, Robin resorts to plan B. The masked teen steps forward and pulls his friend into a small hug before quickly stepping back.
"W-Welcome back." He finally manages to say.
Starfire grins. "Many thanks for my warm welcome."
Robin goes slightly pink while the other people present chuckle quietly at his embarrassment. "Ye-yeah." The masked teen stammers. "It'll be good to have you back." An awkward silence blankets the roof as everyone debates what they should say.
"Looks like we came here for nothin." Kid Flash whispers to Jinx, glancing at the Titans. "Let's scram."
No one even notices when the two of them leave.
"Well." Cyborg says, breaking the silence. "I hope you two have straightened out your thoughts, cause I, for one, don't want this to go back to how it was before."
"I second!" Beast Boy pipes up, grinning. Raven shoots him a glare and he shrinks back, a sheepish smile on his face.
A few moments pass and everyone turns to stare at Robin.
"Wh-What?" Asks the masked teen shakily. "What are you expecting me to do?!"
"Something." Raven says dryly.
"ANYTHING." Beast Boy adds. "Just DO something."
"Why do I have to do something?!" Robin protests.
"Because YOU are the cause of this entire thing." Cyborg huffs. "We've explained this like, five times over the course of the story."
The Titans leader shuffles his feet a bit, feeling exceedingly nervous. He knows what he should do, but the doesn't want to. He's afraid.
'This must be the "fear of love" Shadow spoke of.' Starfire muses while studying the fidgety boy. 'Perhaps he needs a small shove?'
"Dude. Just kiss her or something. We all know you like her, but you're just too damn stubborn to admit it." Beast Boy says bluntly.
Everyone turns to look at the changeling for a moment before returning their gazes to Robin. The poor boy is sweating profusely, unsure weather he should take Beast Boy's advice, or just jump off the tower and save himself the humiliation.
"Uhh... Maybe we should leave for a moment..." Cyborg mutters.
"NO. He's made us deal with his problem for MONTHS and you just want to let him off the hook?! There is no way in-" Raven is cut off when Cyborg puts and hand over her mouth and drags her inside. Beast Boy follows, but shoots Robin a teasing grin before closing the door.
...
"S-So... How was your time with Shadow?" Robin asks weakly.
"It was good." Starfire replies, carefully keeping her voice neutral. "He showed me around his city."
"That's... Good." Robin's voice is obviously strained as he tries to come up with something to say.
Starfire sighs in amusement before deciding to help out her flustered friend. "Robin. I will make this very simple. Do you enjoy my company?"
"Yes." Robin answers immediately.
"Do you consider me a good friend?"
"Yes."
"Do you feel fear when I am in danger?"
Robin doesn't respond for a moment. Not for lack of knowing his answer, but more so out of surprised at the odd question. "Yes."
"Am I your closest friend?"
"Yes."
"Do you consider me family?"
"No." It takes Robin a second to realize what he said. "I-It's not that I don't like you! I-It's just that- Well... I-I..." The boy wonder flounders for a way to explain.
"Is it because you love me? You do not wish to consider me a sister?"
Silence...
Then.
"Y-Y-Yes." Robin's eyes immediately fall to the floor after his confession.
More silence...
"Robin?"
"Y-Yes?"
"As Beast Boy would say: "It took you long enough"." Robin raises his eyes, stunned, to look at the grinning tamerainian. "Could you not have said that earlier and saved us all the trouble?" She teased.
"I was afraid..." The boy wonder whispers, shifting side to side. "And still am."
"Why so?"
"You never mentioned if you return the sentiment." Robin says, looking away once more.
The masked Titan suddenly finds his head turned back around and his mouth pressed up against Starfire's. A buzz permeates his body as the kiss continues for several seconds. Eventually, Starfire priest herself away from the stunned boy.
"Does that answer your question?" She asks, grinning like a maniac.
"Yeah..." Robin replies dreamily, staring at her with a goofy smile on his face.
"No more concealing your emotions from me?"
"Of course not."
"Good. Now if I remember correctly it is well past midnight. We should be going to bed." The alien girl points this out with a tinge or irritation. She wanted to have more time to speak with Robin. Fluttering over to the door, she turns to look back at the masked teen with a sunny smile. "I will be seeing you in the morning!" And with that, she disappears down the stairs.
Robin looks at the spot Starfire occupied a moment before, his mind still reeling from the events of the last few minutes.
This was a change. One that should have happened long ago. He wasn't sure if he was ready for it, but he had procrastinated long enough. He'd be dammed if he ended up like his mentor because he couldn't come to terms with his emotions. He didn't even have to worry about blowing things up when he let his emotions surface, so he really had no excuse to deny the change any longer.
But first he needed sleep.
Robin departed from the roof and closed the door quietly behind him. He moved swiftly, but quietly to his room, knowing his teammates were probably asleep by this point, even if it had only been minutes since he saw them.
Sliding I to bed, Robin planned what he would do tomorrow. He obviously would need to speak to Starfire. Now that there was no doubt (the really hadn't been any before, but he was accepting the fact now) he could start pursuing a serious relationship with her.
Tomorrow would change his life just as much as this night had.
For once, then thought of change didn't fill the Titan leader with fear. Nervousness? Yes, but joyous anticipation as well.
The boy fell into a deep sleep, and dreamed of his future life.
Chapter 8 complete. Story complete. Honestly, I'm happy to have this over with. I really screwed this one up. I haven't been updating much, and I have no inspiration. Life sucks sometimes eh?