Ahhh! It's been a really crazy week for me. But. I finally have this done so I really hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. I'm doing my best to update and write between homework and all of that, so thank you for sticking with me! Please, R/R.~ Love, Sam.

Sprezzatura

Gone

"Not till God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust?"

Back in the Titans' Tower, the five superheroes were getting ready for yet another celebration.

But this party would be much much different than the friendly, easy going affair they held at the tower. No, Richard Grayson, Koriand'R, Rachel Roth, Garfield Logan, and Victor Stone had all been formally invited to a ball held by none other than Bruce Wayne himself.

Truthfully, the whole gala was to celebrate yet another successful mission done by the three titan men. But all the titans would be wearing their holo rings and appearing in civilian clothing in order to blend in with the rich elite of Gotham City.. Fancy civilian clothing was required of course, which was exactly what Starfire and raven were arguing about in Starfire's bubblegum pink room.

"If you think I'm going to wear blush, you've got another thing coming."

Tubes of lipstick, bottles of perfumes, and about a million different compacts filled with eye shadow, foundation, blush, and bronzer lay scattered across Starfire's pink vanity counter haphazardly. And in front of all of that, sat one pissed off empath.

With her arms crossed rebelliously in front of her, she sat like a child put into time out. And for all she knew, this was in fact, a punishment. Starfire had ignored her completely, putting a light dusting of pink powder on the apples of her pale cheeks. While Raven's frown grew, Starfire took the time to check herself out in the vanity mirror one more time. Of course, the resident alien looked stunning. She had done her own hair, piling her fiery red locks into a complex updo. Her makeup had been done hours ago, and now that she had grown considerably better at it, she looked flawless.

"Oh! You look the hot, friend Raven!"

Starfire had switched her attention back to Raven and now she stood back, admiring her work for a few moments with a satisfied smile. With the holo ring, Raven's hair had been changed to black, and her gray skin had turned ivory with a light blush hiding in her cheeks even before the added makeup. Raven studied her reflection in the mirror, before letting out an exhale.

"I guess, it's not too bad."

Starfire took that as a positive sign and gave herself another look over.. Her skin was a little less orange, her hair had become a darker red, and her eyes weren't as green, but overall, she looked very much like Starfire. Especially with her bright smile and natural radiance; she was definitely the same person. Her gown was (shockingly) pink, a stark contrast to Raven's wine colored dress.

"I do hope boyfriend Robin likes the dress that I am wearing," the alien mused as she smoothed down the silky pink material around her torso.

"I'm sure he will, Star. It's Robin, for crying out loud. He'll think you're gorgeous even if you decide to come in a garbage bag."

"Yes but…" Starfire trailed off before sitting on the edge of her bed, picking up the impossibly high heels that lay by her bare feet. her fingers fidgeted absentmindedly with the glittery straps for a moment before she continued. "It is just that boyfriend Robin is always so quiet."

"It's much better than Beast Boy, who's loud and obnoxious," Raven muttered the last part under her breath, huffing as she picked at a strand of her curled hair. "And he only uses his mouth and his brain to tell stupid jokes."

Starfire giggled at her friend's obvious frustration with the changeling, even when he wasn't present. "I believe I would like boyfriend Robin to be a little more open. He is always so closed off from everyone. But!" Starfire stood up once she had slid her feet into her gold heels. "It does not change my love for him in the least."

"I'm glad one of us gets a chance at love, but it's not going to be me."

"Friend Raven, you must have hope! You will find the special someone, I am sure of it."

"I don't ever want a relationship, Star. That's all."

Raven couldn't help but smile at Star's emotional transparency as she stood up herself in modest black heels, effectively ending the conversation. But even through her usual monotone, there was a hint of something else in her voice. Their conversation had pulled forward a memory that she had pushed back into the recesses of her mind, but now she could recall every detail like it had been just the day before.

-Flashback-

"Fine! Go!" She screamed at him with everything she had in her, her small form pulsing with each of her deep breaths. Raindrops streamed down her pale cheeks, soaking into her leotard and dripping off the ends of her slick, violet hair. But despite the fact that she was drenched in water, her eyes raged with fire. "See if I care!" And before she knew what she was doing, one of her fists hit his chest. Her knuckles connected with a low thump and she knew it must have hurt by the way his muscles tensed beneath her hand and his lips pulled down to hide his grimace. "See if I care that you're gone!" Her fist connected with the faded band t-shirt that clung to his well-toned chest because of the pouring rain and she hated him for taking it. She hated him for this.

So she hit him again.

And again.

And again.

She hit him until exhaustion settled in and she fell into his arms. Her tears bled into his shirt, Her body shaking with her quiet sobs, but he held her fast and strong as if he would never let her go again while muttering comforting words into her ear until her body stilled and his shirt was stained with nothing but the rain that fell around them. They stood like that for an indefinite amount of time before Raven fell asleep in the safety of his arms up on the roof on the Titans' Tower.

He must have carried her down to their room because the next thing she knew, she was sitting up in bed, staring at the empty place beside her.

That was the last she saw of him until three years later.