Chapter four. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans or any of its characters. I simply use them to further the enjoyment of all
ooOOoo
Raven could see it plain as day, observer that she was. Granted, she tended to be a bit more perceptive to feelings than the rest of the group, but even Beast Boy could see what was going on. Robin and Starfire were drifting apart for a stupid reason, idiotic reason. The reason was called Aqualad.
No one understood why Robin didn't just throw the guy out but Raven always had a hard time understanding his methods. However, Aqualad was really getting on everyone's nerves despite his help in the park. Though she personally tended to be hard to get along with, Cyborg and Beast Boy were impossible not to get along with and they wanted him gone also. At the end of the day, the Teen Titans were a tight knit group. They cared for each other very much and when someone meddled with the happiness of another, the whole group couldn't help but have hard feelings toward the perpetrator.
Robin and Starfire were in love, the rare kind of love that you just know is going to last. However, even the strongest bonds have their limit and it was being brutally pushed. Aqualad had split them up in a way he probably still hadn't realized.
The basis of Starfire and Robin's relationship was that they were always there for each other. When ever one needed the other they were always there and there had yet to be an exception to that rule. Except Robin hadn't been there this time, though it was no fault of his own. Starfire needed him and he had failed, or at least that was the stupid way that the two of them seemed to be seeing it. Aqualad, however, had been. In Robin's mind he had failed and he no longer deserved her. It didn't matter that no one, super powers or not, could have caught her, but those things never occurred to Robin. He expected himself to be super human and perform any task because that was what he had always done in the past.
Now Aqualad was moving in and the relationship of her two friends was in serious jeopardy. Frankly, Raven had no idea what to do but she cared for her friends too much to let their relationship go to shambles over this misunderstanding. Maybe Beast Boy and Cyborg had an idea. She hoped so, otherwise Robin and Star wouldn't make it out of this one.
ooOOoo
"Beast Boy, would you please sit still for at least five minutes. I have to have a serious talk with Cyborg and you," Raven told him, exasperated. Her hood was flung back from her head and her eyes could be seen, glaring at him.
"Raven, I promise, it totally wasn't me who put the pudding mix in your tea last week," Beast Boy said again, holding his hands up. Raven groaned in frustration, wondering if he could ever have a serious conversation.
"That's not why I need to talk to the two of you. We need to figure out what to do about Robin and Starfire," she said, floating into the air and sitting cross-legged.
"Leave them be, that's what," Cyborg said from where he leaned against her desk. Raven looked at Cyborg like he was insane and Beast Boy was just as shocked.
"And let their relationship fall apart because Aqualad happens to want a roll in the sheets?" she asked in disgust. She hating thinking about that piece of slime let alone actually saying his name. Cyborg shook his head.
"That's not what I meant. Of course I care about Starfire and Robin, and I, just as much as either of you, want to see them stay together. We all should know by now, however, that if we start matchmaking we're just going to make the situation worse. We know that they belong together but if they can't see it for themselves then nothing we do or say is going to prevent that," he explained, surprising them with his insight. Raven sighed, knowing he was right.
"So what are we supposed to do? Just sit back and watch Aqualad destroy them?" Raven asked, furious that she could do so little.
"Of course not. I just said we should leave Robin and Star alone. I never said anything about Aqualad," Cyborg said, grinning like an idiot. Raven thought he looked a bit too excited about it but she couldn't help sharing a little in his enthusiasm. She couldn't deny that she wanted to send a very painful message to Aqualad.
"I totally get it," Beast Boy cut in. "We throw out death threats to Aqualad to get him off Star and Robin's back."
"Death threats?" Raven raised an elegant eyebrow. "I don't know about death threats. After all, we may not like Aqualad's romantic morals, but he does make a good ally. We start threatening to end his life and he may not be so responsive to help us when we need him."
"Raven's right, Beast Boy," Cyborg said, standing up. "Despite our personal feelings toward him, he's still one of the good guys. He fights crime and protects not only his world but our own. We can't afford to loose an ally like that."
"Dude, don't you think that he's going to get a little angry at us when we interfere with his, shall we say, wooing of Starfire?" Beast Boy pointed out. What he really wanted to do to Aqualad was a little more painful and physical but he didn't say anything. If death threats weren't welcome, he was pretty sure that beating the tar out of him would be out of the question.
"Yes," Raven interjected, "but if the world needs to be saved, he probably won't refuse to help because we put a hole in his ego. Underneath all his bad morals, he still fights for the greater good."
"I agree," said Cyborg. "If we just talk to him about staying away from Star, make it perfectly clear that he's not to interfere anymore, it's not going to affect anything if we need his help saving the world."
"So, ummm, what do we like, do to get him to stop?" Beast Boy asked. He was fairly certain that asking him to stay away from Starfire wasn't going to work.
"What any other self-respecting hosts would do," Raven answered, a slight grin on her face. "We kick him out."
ooOOoo
"Hey Starfire."
Starfire looked up from the book she was reading so see Aqualad standing over her and she suppressed the urge to groan. She really didn't feel like talking to him right now, and even less like talking politely to him, but she did anyways. It wasn't in her nature to be rude.
"Hello, Aqualad," she answered before reverting her eyes back to her book.
"What book are you reading? Is it any good?" he asked, looking over her shoulder.
"It is called Dangerous Liaisons. It is very good. I am almost finished," she said, hoping that he would get the hint and leave. He didn't.
"I was hoping we could go out somewhere."
"That would be fine, Aqualad. Why do you not find everyone else while I finish?" She really wanted to finish the last chapter, intent on seeing what happened to the characters.
"I was actually hoping that just you and I could go. As a, you know, date kind of thing," he stated more bluntly. Starfire looked up at him in disbelief.
"Aqualad, you are very bold," she told him annoyed, closing her book. It looked like she wasn't going to get to finish it after all. "I am dating Robin, not you. It is Robin I love, not you and Robin knows not to bother me when I am about to finish my book! So if you will excuse me, I am now going to go to my room… alone." She stood up and brushed him aside. A few seconds later a door was heard slamming in anger.
"Looks like your plan is failing."
Aqualad spun to see Raven standing in a corner. He hadn't noticed her standing there before when he had made his move on Starfire. He wasn't surprised to have overlooked her. Raven could be nigh invisible when she wanted to be but it certainly put another hitch in his plans.
"Raven, good to see you," he said politely.
"Don't give me that bullshit," she warned him. "I'm onto your little ploy and I'm here to give you one last warning. Stay away from Star. She and Robin belong together and I think she has made it more then obvious that she doesn't want your company." Raven got right in his face, scaring him more than Aqualad would ever admit. Raven was easily the most powerful Titan and her powers reacted to her emotions. He didn't really want to see what would happen if he made her truly angry.
"She'll warm up to the idea," he said with more bravado than he felt. "They always do once I get my hands on them."
"You lay one slippery hand on her and you'll have more problems then you could ever imagine. I don't make that good of an ally but I make an even worse enemy. You don't want me to be an enemy, Aqua-boy."
"Aqualad."
"Whatever," she told him. Aqualad scowled.
"Why are you getting involved? It's obvious that Robin doesn't want to be with Starfire. That makes her free game," he told her. He wasn't going to let Starfire slip through his fingers after all the work he had put into getting her to want him.
"No, that makes it one day instead of two that you have to get out of here and never come back."
ooOOoo
Aqualad was fuming as he watched the retreating back of Raven. Who was she to get involved? It had absolutely nothing to do with her or the rest of the team, since he suspected they were also involved. Raven was just the scariest. It was between him and Starfire now that Robin was out of the picture.
Speaking of the little bitch, he couldn't believe that he had once again been rebuffed by Starfire. It was personal now. She had pushed him too far and all that mattered was that she was taught a lesson, one that he was sure he's more than enjoy teaching. No one in this stupid tower was going to stop him from his ultimate goal. He'd teach her, just as he taught ever girl who had ever dared go up against him. Sure they fought a little at first but in the end every woman submitted to him and always came back begging for more. Then he'd really teach them, never taking the same girl twice. He'd never had they been as innocent as Starfire, though, and he'd really enjoy breaking her and then rubbing it in Robin's face.
ooOOoo
"Robin?" came a voice from the hall. Robin looked up from the punching bag he was pummeling. He had been imagining he was punching Aqualad and it was making him feel at least a little better. He spent as much time as possible in the training room because of the fact that Starfire hardly ever came in there. If he avoided her then he would never have to hear that she was leaving him for Aqualad. He didn't think he could handle hearing that, especially from her mouth.
"What is it, Beast Boy?" he asked. He hated being interrupted. There was also a part of him that was hoping it was Starfire but she had been avoiding him as thoroughly as he was her.
"Well we were going out for Pizza and kind of hoped you would come," Beast Boy said. His faced showed how concerned he was for his friend. Robin and he had been friends for years and they were closer than most people knew.
"No thanks, I'm not that hungry," he said, returning to his punching bag.
"Robin, you haven't eaten all day, dude."
"Don't worry about it. I'm fine."
Beast Boy sighed in defeat. He turned away, then hesitated. He knew he shouldn't say anything but…
"Robin, why are you avoiding Starfire?" A fist hit the punching bag a little too hard. The bag pulled free from the chain holding it in the air and hit the floor with a loud thud. Beast Boy hadn't been planning on asking but Robin was obviously hurting and he couldn't stand to see his friend in such despair.
"Who says that I'm avoiding Starfire? I'm not avoiding her."
"Right and you just killed that punching bag for kicks," Beast Boy retorted.
"Look, what happens between me and Starfire is none of your business," Robin snapped at him. Beast Boy shook his head. If Robin would just open his eyes he would see how stupid this whole thing was.
"Whatever you say, Robin. Are you sure that you don't want to come eat with us?" Beast Boy asked again. Robin sighed in defeat.
"Alright, I'll come. Just stop bugging me okay?" Robin said, grabbing a towel off the bench. Beast Boy beamed at him.
"Okay, now c'mon! I'm starving!"
ooOOoo
"Come in!" came a call from inside the door. Raven stepped almost silently into Starfire's bedroom. "Friend Raven! I am so glad you are here! I have finished the book that you had lent me. It was most enjoyable." Starfire walked over to her nightstand to get the book that Aqualad had prevented her from finishing earlier.
"I'm glad you liked it, Star. You must be hungry after all that reading. I mean you've had your nose in that book for a good three hours." Raven resisted the urge to cringe at her lack of subtlety. Raven wasn't good at acting and if she hadn't been the only one who could talk to Starfire without suspicion, she would never have agreed to do it. Luckily, Starfire tended not to notice.
"I am quite hungry. Why do you ask?" Starfire handed the book to Raven and Raven took it as she answered.
"Because all of us are going out for pizza and I figured you'd want to come."
"Raven, you are joining with everyone for pizza?" Starfire was shocked. Raven hardly ever came out with them unless it was for a battle.
"Even I get hungry. Since you are the only one around here who seems to be able to cook, if you decide to go with everyone it means I'd really have nothing to eat." Raven smirked and Starfire couldn't help but laugh. As sad as it was, it was also true. There weren't a lot of chefs in the house aside from Beast Boy and he made tofu everything. Ever since Starfire started cooking they had been spoiled in terms of the quality of their meals and now couldn't stomach the things that they used to eat.
"Well, if you would rather I can stay and cook," Starfire offered.
"Don't worry about it. You deserve a day off."
"Alright, I shall join all of you for pizza and soda."
"Good. But um… Starfire?"
"Yes, Raven?"
"Let's not drink the mustard this time okay?" Raven laughed as she deflected a small Starbolt.
"I drink the mustard one time and no one ever lets me live it down."
ooOOoo
"Starfire is going?" Robin had showered and saw her with the group, all waiting for him in the foyer.
"I have need of nourishment too, Robin. Why would I not go to dinner?" she asked. Why should it matter if she were going anyways? Before a few days ago it had never been a problem.
"I just figured you'd be staying home and cooking for Aqualad," he practically spat at her, hurt and anger clear in his voice.
"I do not cook dinner every night. I also do not cook specifically for Aqualad. Nor should I have to." She was getting just as angry at Robin already felt and she was seriously contemplating if hitting him with a Starbolt would help the situation. If nothing else, she would feel better.
"You're right," he conceded though he didn't sound like he actually thought she was correct. "I think I'm going to stay home though. I'm not as hungry as I thought I was."
"Are you not going because I am?" she asked, tired of these stupid games. She couldn't figure out what the problem was, why he was so incredibly angry and why he just refused to talk to her.
"No, I'm just not hungry," he answered stubbornly.
"Robin, I can hear your stomach grumbling. If you are to act so childish about it, I will stay home. At least I have enough ability to cook my own meal." She began to stalk towards the kitchen but turned when she heard his voice. She noticed that all of their friends had left conveniently.
"Starfire, you can't stay home. You like going to these things with everyone," he reminded her, some of the anger leaving his voice.
"As do you, Robin, but ever since we fought Gizmo's gizmo you have avoided me like the plague. I am tired of guessing what is wrong. Tell me what did I do wrong?"
"You didn't do anything," he answered honestly. Why couldn't she see that he was just trying to make the situation easier on everyone? He was sure the last thing she wanted was him hanging around her and Aqualad.
"You are lying to me! What happened to we would never lie to each other?" She screamed at him and Robin was surprised. He didn't think he had ever heard her scream before.
"I'm not lying!" he yelled back, angry that this was happening. "You didn't do anything wrong. Just because you chose someone else it doesn't mean you did anything wrong," he explained. He had finally said it out loud and it hurt about a thousand times more than he thought it would. Starfire looked at him bewildered.
"Chose someone else? You think that I chose Aqualad over you?"
"I think that you've made it obvious that you have, Star."
"And tell me, Robin the genius, where did you get that idea?"
"You've been looking at him all starry eyed since he caught you. You didn't even say a word when he called you Cutie," Robin reminded her.
"So you are the only one who is allowed to call me cutie?" She knew it was unfair to throw that in his face but she couldn't help it.
"Yes!"
"Well, that is stupid. I do not care who calls me it." Also not true, but there was no way that she was going to let him think that reacting like this, just because of what Aqualad called her, was acceptable.
"You used to. You used to get mad if anyone but me called you that. Ever since Aqualad came around it suddenly doesn't matter, kind of like how I suddenly don't matter."
"Where you come up with these outrageous ideas?"
"Is it that outrageous Starfire? Why don't you go throw yourself into his arms?"
"Maybe I will! At least I know he will catch me!" Starfire regretted the words the instant the came out of her mouth. Even through his mask she could tell how much she had hurt him. "Robin, I… I didn't mean-"
"No, you said what you meant," he interrupted, holding up his hand. "I hope he holds onto you when he catches you and doesn't decide to drop when everything starts to ache." He turned away and stalked into his room. Starfire watched him go, her heart heavy.
"So I take that to mean he's not coming to get pizza with us?" Beast Boy commented from their hiding spot in the hall. Raven smacked him.
"Shut up, Beast Boy."
"I do not think that I will be joining you for pizza either," Starfire told them. She took off for her room before anyone could object.
"I told you it wasn't going to work!" Beast Boy said when he heard both doors slam.
"I didn't hear you coming up with anything better," Raven retorted.
"You shot down all my ideas!"
"Because they were stupid!" she yelled at him. It seemed that it was infectious after the display they had just witnessed from Robin and Starfire. Neither noticed Cyborg slip out of the room. He wished that everyone in the tower would just tell the other what they were feeling. It would save him from hearing a whole lot of arguing.
"Stupid huh?"
"Yeah, like dropping them on a stranded island until they agree to settle their differences?" She made a face and scoffed at him.
"Hey, it worked in the movies."
"This isn't the movies; this is real life and in this real life two of our best friends are about to make the biggest mistake of their lives by letting some jerk like Aqualad get between them!" she yelled, her patience wearing thin. Beast Boy stared at her. "What?"
"I've never seen you get so upset about something," he said, his voice suddenly calm.
"I'm not that upset."
"Dude, Raven. Did you or did you not notice that you just blew up that plant behind you?" he asked, pointing. Raven turned around and sure enough the plant by the door was chard and in pieces. She sighed, her frustration getting to her. It had been almost a year since that last time she had lost control of her powers. It was something that didn't happen often and something she didn't like when it did. It meant she was too involved. She took a deep breath, bringing in her emotions and thinking about it rationally. It wasn't worth losing control.
"I guess they just weren't meant to be," she told him, her voice neutral. "Stuff happens and sometimes life just gets in the way."
Beast Boy couldn't believe the complete one eighty she had done. "What do you mean 'stuff happens'. You know damn well that this isn't their fault. Why the hell did you suddenly decide that this wasn't a worthwhile goal?"
"Because I just did okay?" She turned and began to walk away, the only way she knew to keep her anger from rising once again. She didn't know how Beast Boy did it but he always seemed to know just what buttons to push. Beast Boy grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"Don't do this, Raye. Don't disassociate yourself."
"I don't know what you're talking about." She tried to free herself but his grip was surprisingly strong.
"Yes, you do. You think you're too emotionally involved so you're separating yourself from the situation. You're willing yourself not to care. Don't do that."
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because you should care, Raven, that's what makes you a good person; it's what defines a person. Caring is what makes you human. Otherwise you might as well be helping Aqualad."
Raven just stared at Beast Boy. Since when had the group clown become so insightful? And how was it that he had known exactly what she was thinking? Did he really know her that well?
New feeling swelled up in Raven, something she had never felt before. She wasn't even quite sure what it was but she only seemed to feel it when Beast Boy was around, doing all the things that drove her crazy. She groaned inwardly, suddenly having a good idea of what it might be. She couldn't deal with this, couldn't deal with him. Maybe some day but if she was loosing control just by seeing Starfire and Robin's drama, she knew she could never handle her own.
"You're right. We need to do all we can to help them."
Beast Boy looked at her stunned. "Did you just say I was right?"
"Yeah, don't let it go to your head. Law of probability says it has to happen eventually."
"Gee, Raven, don't hurt yourself with the complement there."
"Ok, I won't. Now let's go; we've got a lot of planning to do."
ooOOoo
Aqualad watched the whole seen from an unseen corner and knew it was time to make his move. He'd go into Starfire's room and take her there. No fuss, no muss; he'd be gone by morning. For all the trouble she was causing, he sure hoped she was worth it, but the innocent ones always were. The girls who had been around knew all the tricks to his seduction, so not only did it take longer but in the end it wasn't as much fun. The girls who saved themselves were more fun but were too easy really.
However, Starfire was something new. Not only had she been hard to seduce, but she gave the added excitement of an untouched girl. Now it had all finally fallen into place. Starfire and Robin weren't even looking at each other, let alone acting as if they were together. She was officially single, and with Robin out of the picture there was no excuse for her not to completely forget about him. Aqualad would have to leave in the morning though, before everyone awoke. If the rest of the team found out while he was still around, he knew he would be in a lot of trouble. They were oddly close. Of course teams always seemed to be close, but this team even knew the other's identities, something unheard of in virtually any team. Very few had that amount of trust in each other. He didn't even trust anyone enough to be on a team let alone tell everyone about his life.
Aqualad walked toward his room. He hoped this didn't hurt the trust of the team. Despite the fact he was doing all he could to break up Star and Robin, the teen titans were a crime fighting force to be reckoned with. These days it seemed like the good guys were always out numbered and having a good team split up wasn't something that could be afforded.
Thinking about it for a minute he figured they'd be fine. If anything this would make them stronger. In fact, Starfire and Robin might even get back together after he left. Yes, the ordeal will make them stronger. Oh sure, they would all have a blind hatred for him. The only thing that would probably spare his life is that they were all on the same side crime fighting wise. It wasn't good publicity to go killing off the good guys, but the team would get over it. If not, well, he shrugged. They were still powerful individually. It's not like they would stop fighting crime, just stop fighting as a team.
Feeling good about the situation, Aqualad packed the last of his things. If he wanted to make a clean get away, he needed to do this now. He couldn't waste time in the morning. He had to leave before anyone had the chance to see him.
"Leaving us so soon, Aqualad?"
Aqualad spun around to meet the cold eyes of Raven.
"You scared me."
"Really? Well my day is looking up then," she answered, leaning against the doorframe and smirking.
"You don't make a very good hostess you know."
"You don't make a very good guest. Now we're even. I hope your packing because you plan to leave, soon." She emphasized the word soon.
"Of course. I think I'll be leaving first thing in the morning. You won't even notice that I left."
"I get the feeling, Aqualad, that every one of us will notice that you've left."
ooOOoo
One chapter left. This one has actually been a lot easier to revise than the others (some of my revisions have been pretty horrific). It was pretty cohesive and descriptive to begin with so editing it has been decently easy. There are some that, even with the revisions, are still really awkward and need a complete over haul. Enjoy!