Chapter 4

The anger, frustration and hurt that Robin had felt for the past week had increased ten fold that morning. The sheer nerve of Starfire to just go on a DATE with Speedy after all she had been through with him. The ever-present scowl on his face now had the company of a constant frown. His skin felt hot and prickly, as if thousands of poisoned needles were simultaneously stabbing his body. With Starfire being the one to deliver them.

"Dammit!" Robin growled, throwing his pillows aside as he sat on his bed. He buried his head in his hands and failed to think clearly.

The only things running through his mind was Starfire. And her date. He never expected having to deal with Starfire going anywhere with another guy.

Knock knock

The noise at his door made him look up, only for a second before he rolled over and hid his head under a pillow.

There was a moment of silence, before he heard the door open.

"Alright Robin, get up." Cyborg plopped down heavily on Robin's bed, shaking Robin's shoulder in the process.

Beast Boy ran inside in the form of a dog, tugged at the hem of Robin's shirt, and shook it around until Robin sat up.

"What." He said flatly.

Beast boy hopped off the bed and transformed back into himself, "Well Robin..we know you're..um.." he scratched his head, searching for the right words. When he couldn't find any, he looked to Cyborg for help.

"Look man..it's always been obvious how you've felt about Starfire, and while me and Beast Boy completely suck at it..do you..need to talk about it?"

Robin looked at his friends. They both looked really uncomfortable, but the fact that they were willing to listen made a small amount of the anger subside.

He sighed. "Uh..she's..going out with Speedy."

They nodded, indicating Robin to go on.

He did his best to keep any trace of emotion from wavering his monotone words. "I..was an idiot. In Tokyo we almost kissed. And I told her we would never be anything but heroes. I screwed up. And now she's..his."

After a mild pause, Beast Boy whined and threw his hands on Robin's shoulders, "Duuude! Quit it with the dramatics! Star's only going out with Speedy to make you jealous! Trust me. I've seen thousands of TV shows with this EXACT plot!"

Cyborg stood and developed a cocky grin, making an effort to cheer his friend up. "We've all known if Star was going to end up with anyone, it'd be you man! Come on. You..er..wear a mask! Can't get much cooler than that!"

Beast boy nodded enthusiastically. "Mhm. Mhm. A MASK Robin. Speedy's mask makes his face look fat. It's no competition." Cyborg erupted in a roar of laughter at this, and chimed in with, "Oh! Oh! I bet his mama was fat too!"

Beast Boy jumped behind Robin and squished his face together. "Look at this face bud! No way Speedy or his mama could compete with that!"

Robin realized Cyborg was having a lot more fun with this than was intended. His human eye lit up and twinkled with an ironically innocent over enjoyment as he said,

"Of course he couldn't. OH SNAP! HE MAMA SO UGLY THE ONLY DIS I'MA GIVE HER IS...DISINFECTANT!"

Robin, his face still firmly held in place, looked from Cyborg to Beast Boy and surprisingly burst into laughter. Beast boy tumbled off the bed and soon followed suit.

Cyborg crossed his arms and said proudly, "Ahh! I'm good."

Robin smirked and momentarily felt better, grateful he had such..er..persistent friends.

"Uh..Thanks guys. Appreciate it. I'll be there in a minute."

Cyborg and Beast Boy nodded and left Robin's room animatedly discussing more yo mamma jokes.

Robin sighed, his feelings still raw. He had no idea what he was going to do about Starfire. For now, he was glad he had friends to scowl on the couch with.

"Movemovemovemovemovemovemove—AWWWW!" Cyborg's face fell, heartbroken, as Beast Boy's virtual car ran his off a cliff.

"YEAH! EAT IT!" At this point, Beast Boy proceeded to jump on the table and do a victory dance. The Robot, just to add insult to virtual injury.

Robin had been sitting on the couch, strangely, having fun. It was the first time in days he'd gone without thinking about Starfire. Well, thinking constantly.

"Alright, I'm hungry." Robin swiftly jumped off the couch, and into the kitchen. As he crouched down and dug around in the fridge, he heard someone humming. Leave it to him to memorize Star's signature hums. He was hidden by the fridge door, for now. After their encounter this morning, he wasn't sure he wanted to get up and face her. He was still in his boxers and a white tee, so the cold was getting to him, however he was completely up for withstanding it until Starfire left.

Until he lost his balance, and fell. On his butt.

"Dammit." he cursed under his breath. He looked up to see Starfire glancing in his direction for exactly 2 seconds, before turning her head towards the wall.

He got up, grabbed a cold pizza slice and tried just walking away, but he saw Star give him a look. Not just any look.

A "ha-ha-I'm-gonna-have-a-new-boyfriend-who-isn't-you-and-you're-just-gonna-sit-here-Friday-nights-eating-cold-pizza" look.

Or something like that.

"What?" He snapped harshly.

She seemed to be caught off guard, however she bounced back quickly.

"Do not use that TONE with me Robin. I do not have the necessity for it, and I most certainly do not have the necessity for you." she said bluntly.

Robin glared at her, brushing off the fact that she'd just said she didn't need him. Whatever. He didn't need HER.

"Yeah? Well I* don't have the NECESSITY for you either. Go and have Speedy have the necessities for you!"

Stafire's voice escalated, "I think the saying is, 'mind your own business' is it not? Speedy is MY 'business' Robin. You are not!"

Cyborg and Beast Boy looked up from their game, Robin and Starfire increasing in agitation. They had their own sidebar about the ascending fight before them.

"Uhh..dude? Think we should intervene?" Beast boy leaned towards Cyborg, watching as Starfire threw her mustard sandwich on the floor.

"Man..If we do, they're gonna end up using US as ammunition. I'm good. Let's watch!" Cyborg grinned.

However, his radiating grin quickly disappeared when he realized the quarrel was getting out of control.

Robin's arms were flailing in every direction possible, his mask threatening to jump off his face and his face gradually getting redder by the second.

"...and why don't you just go kiss that Japanese guy again huh? I'm sure he'll LOVE it! Kiss Speedy! Kiss Aqualad! Hey! Kiss Bumblebee while you're at it! Just go kiss kiss kiss! Date date date! Neh neh neh!"

At this point Robin knew his maturity and logic had gone out the window.

"Oh goodness Robin! Have you suddenly decreased in age as well as intelligence? You are most infuriating! You are lacking in courage and must do the 'growing up'! UGH!" Starfire's eyes were flaming. She'd had enough. She flew out of the kitchen before Robin had the chance to respond.

He was still in battle mode, so he let her have it. Making sure she heard, even from her room, he roared,

"YEAH? WELL...WELL MUSTARD'S GROSS!"

"He causes such..such aggravation!" Starfire slowed down and walked in her room. She threw herself on the bed and sniffled.

"Mustard is most certainly NOT gross."

Knock Knock

"Raven if it is you come inside please. Robin if it is you, you may go jump off the roof yes?" Starfire buried her head in her pillow, upset she was quarreling so much with her once best friend.

Raven slid in, in her pajamas, surprisingly sans dark hood."Uhh..Star it's me. What was up with all the commotion?"

Starfire mumbled something into her pillow.

"Yeah you're gonna need to pick your head up."

Whining, Starfire sat up and said, "It is Robin. We are arguing so much. And he angers me. And hurts me.."

Raven walked over to her friend's closet and began picking through it.

"Well forget about him for now Starfire. Speedy will probably be here in a few hours and you need to get ready."

Starfire looked away.

"I do not think I'm in the mood to continue Raven.."

Raven walked over and sat down on the bed and sighed. "Star..I know how sensitive you are. I know how this must be affecting you. But I don't want you sitting in your room moping around waiting for something to happen with Robin.."

"What if nothing does happen Raven?"

Raven looked thoughtfully out the window. "Well..then you can move on."

Starfire winced. She had truly wanted the moving on the be a last resort. But here she was. The longing in her heart only increasing. However, she had committed to spending a night getting to know Speedy and she was going to follow through. Robin was now at the back of her mind. She didn't even care if Robin portrayed jealousy or not. She was in too much distress.

She sighed and grabbed a long, dingy black dress from her closet. She held it up to Raven.

"I shall wear this. It is an earthly custom to wear the dark clothing in mourning correct?" she said with a sad monotony.

Raven took the ugly dress from Starfire and threw it in a corner.

"Star pick something you'd actually look attractive in. At least look nice. You'll feel better, I know you."

Starfire looked out the window, she had seemed distant, but Raven when she turned to look at her, she noticed a sad smile on her face.

"You are a good friend Raven. I will look nice tonight and give a true..er..romantic effort to the date with Speedy. I will try to..have the fun."

Raven was unsure if Starfire was just hiding her hurt feelings again.

"Star? Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly.

Starfire clapped her hands together, "Of course! Let's look for appropriate clothing! Oh this is most enjoyable. I feel as I am playing the dress up. In Tamaran I had grown accustomed to..."

Raven's mind drifted to Robin, and back to Starfire. Was Star actually going to go through with this date? Had Robin actually pushed her that far?

She wasn't anything close to a "romantic" but...these were her best friends. They were meant for each other.

The thought of these two people that loved each other ending up forever without the other, it made even her tactical heart ache.

"Raven? Hellooo?" Star waved her hand in front of her face, before she had the chance to stick her finger in Raven's ear and have a look, she snapped out of it.

"Oh! Uh. Sorry Star. I drifted off."

Starfire smiled excitedly, holding up a too large pile of dresses as she ran to the bathroom.

"Come! You must tell me which of these looks best on my figure!"

Raven gave her a sympathetic half smile, and followed her. Whatever happened, she was going to try to keep Starfire in good spirits. Robin or no Robin.

Heh. Hello again! I got some food in mah tummy and finished up this next chapter :D

I hope it's good. I really wanted Robin and Starfire to be able to be angry at the other, without either feeling guilt. I'll probably write 2, maybe 3 more chapters after this to wrap it all up as perfectly as I can.

As for Speedy,ahh I like him, so any "bashing" was all on Cyborg and Beast Boy attempting to cheer Robin up. Well. TRYING to :D

Thanks so much for reading! Reviews always welcome!