The stars glide by and blur into dark blue oblivion.
I am leaning my face close to the cockpit window.
Dazed by the speed of hyperspace.
I drift...drift...drift...
And my violet eyes start to close--
"Snkkkt! Psst! Hey...Raven...Cyborg...Wake up!"
My brow scrunches. I moan out through my nostrils and open my violet optics again. Frowning.
"I wasn't asleep...," I mutter into the cockpit communication speaker. "...but I was almost."
"Snkkkt! Come on, B.B.! Keep it down! Everyone's trying to sleep!"
"Snkkkt! Dude! Then who'll be flying the T-Ship?"
"Snkkkt! I told you, dawg! I've got it covered!"
Tyredly, I stand up straight, rub my eyes, and gaze about myself.
We are flying earth-ward in the T-Ship after a major battle with some...space-alien-whatever-person...
Yeah...
And I can see from my cockpit the other translucent 'bubbles' where the rest of the Team are individually located. Already I can see that Robin--of all people--is fast asleep. Starfire is dozing hard as a rock, smiling as she snoozes the cosmos away. Beast Boy is as awake as a bat at midnight, and right now he's practically bouncing around within the frame of his cockpit for some infernal reason. Cyborg--the sole sentinel on board--is piloting the T-Ship home. We're all depending on him. I suppose there isn't much biorganic material left in him to get 'drowsy'.
"Snkkkt! You just get some rest! It'll be a couple of hours before we get back home! And I'll be needing the strength of all of you to help dock this baby at bay!"
"Snkkkt! But, dude! Robin and Starfire are asleep! Now's the chance!"
"Snkkkt! Now's the chance to do what?"
"Snkkkt! To talk about them! Hehehe...you knowwwwwwwww what just happened back on that planet, don't you?"
A pause in the airwaves.
I tyredly blink my eyes.
I start to sway and wobble in my seat--
"Snkkkkt! Man, it don't matter! Now cut the chatter! Poor Rae's trying to get some shuteye!"
"I never thought I'd hear myself say this, Cyborg...," I drone. "But thank you for treating me like a four-year-old..."
"Snkkkt! Dude, I think she's nocturnal."
"...and thanks for treating Beast Boy like a two year old."
"Snkkkt! Hey!"
"Snkkkt! Hah hah hah!"
"Nnnngh," I rub my forehead and sigh. "Beast Boy..."
"Snkkkt! Yeah, Raven?"
"Just...for Azar's sake...get it out of your system so I can practice for death."
"Snkkkt! Practice for--WHAT?"
"Sleep."
"Snkkkt! Ohh...Anyways. Hehehehe...Starrrrrrfire and Robbbbbinnnn, sittin' in a treeeeee..."
"Snkkkt! Man, DUH! Freakin' duh! We all knew that from the start!"
"Snkkkt! Lovin' and a kissin' and a watchin' !"
"Snkkkt! What's your point?"
"Snkkkkt! They finally lived up to it! No denial and crap! Woohoo! Cupid's gotten a hit on Titan's Tower! I tell ya...Venus' has gotten one heck of a sniper!"
"Snkkkt! So what? It's a little too late if you ask me..."
"Snkkkt! Late? What do you mean, 'too late'?"
"Snkkkt! Well, they had plenty of chances to--ya know--admit their infatuation with each other a lot earlier!"
"Snkkkt! Liiiiike?"
"Snkkkt! When Slade tormented Robin. When Starfire was nearly betrothed on her home planet. Oh...and Control Freak zapped us to T.V. Land. Brrrrr...that was scary..."
"Snkkkt! I think it's jusssst the right timing. Hehehe...absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all!"
"Snkkkt! 'Absence'? Dawg, they gotta have each other's hearts before they can understand absence! I'm telling you, it's too late now! It's all wyrd now!"
"Snkkkt! So you're going to say that all of this time of casual, friendly buildup has had no bearing whatsoever on the kissy-kissy apex they are soon about to reach?"
"Snkkkt! Man, is there an exhaust leak back there or something? What have you been smoking?"
"Snkkkt! Hehehe...I'm a hopeless romantic at heart."
"Snkkt! You're a sexaholic! That's what you are!"
"Snkkt! Hey!"
"Snkkkt! Hah hah hah!"
"Snkkt! You're no fun! HEY! Hey Raven! Yoohoo!"
"Snkkt! Aw man, don't rope her into this!"
"Snkkkt! Raven! Help us out here. Has it been too late for Robin and Starfire?"
"Snkkkt! Come on! Give us your opinion! Should they have gotten together earlier, or is it too late?"
"Snkkkt! Raven? We're waiting!"
...
"... ... ...it's too soon."
"Snkkt! Soon?"
"Snkkkt! Huh? Soon?"
"... ... ...because Starfire and Robin confessed their love for each other...just hours before they rode home on a T-Ship... ...that was ripped to shreds by dark soul-self energy... ... ...exploding them in their sleep..."
"... ... ..."
"Snkkkt! Let's...uh...Let's let Raven sleep."
"Snkkkt! Good idea, little man."
"... ... ... ...," I fold my arms. I rest my chin on them...lean forward...and shut my eyes.
Silence...
"Snkkkt! Still, it's gonna be cute pulling the mistletoe on them this year."
"Nnnngh! Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!"
"Snkkt! ACK! MY SEAT IS EATING ME!"
"Snkkt! Heh...you're on your own, B.B."