"Raven!"
Raven's door slid open a tiny crack, with one half lidded eye just peeking through.
"What?" she snapped.
"I um, need you to try something," Starfire chirped.
"Try what?"
"You must come with me and see," she said mysteriously.
"Starfire, if you're planning on making me the Tamaranian equivalent to milk shakes again, I'm not interested," Raven said blandly. "The last time you made those Robin nearly had to get his stomach pumped."
"No no!" Starfire giggled. "I merely have an article of clothing that no longer fits me. I wish for you to try it on, and if it fits you, you may have it."
"Really Starfire, not now," Raven sighed, starting to close her door.
"Please, Raven! You must do it now!" Starfire cried, sliding her foot in the crack so Raven couldn't shut it.
Raven raised her eyebrow. "Why."
"Um..." Starfire floundered. "Because, I need to know if it fits you immediately, I have no other time?"
Before Raven could protest about how lame and fishy Starfire's reason sounded, the alien princess had pushed Raven's door aside, grabbed the hapless empath and dragged her down the hall to her room.
"Starfire, I really don't care-"
"You must! I cannot let a perfectly good dress go to the waste!"
"Wait a minute, dress? Starfire, no-"
Starfire tossed Raven into her room, unhooked the girl's cloak and tossed it onto the bed. Then she held up the dress.
Raven's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"No way in hell am I wearing that," she stated, crossing her arms.
Starfire held a slinky red slip of material in her delicate fingers.
"Please Raven? I just want to see what you look like in it. Do not make me put it on for you."
Raven huffed. "Not happening."
Starfire's eyes narrowed. "Then you give me no other choice."
Before Raven knew what had happened, her leotard was chucked across the room and the dress was being shoved over her head.
"Starfire!" she growled.
Starfire's eyes were shining. "Oh, you look glorious!"
Raven held her hands around herself, feeling overexposed. "I don't want it."
"But Raven, you look positively luscious in it," Starfire insisted.
The dress was made from shimmery red material, tight and form-fitting, showing off Raven's curves, length to just above the knee. It featured a scoop neck that displayed a generous amount of Raven's cleavage.
"I wouldn't be caught dead in this."
"You need some shoes to go with it," Starfire mused, diving into her closet. She brought out a pair of black high heels.
"Slip these on."
"Why?"
"To see how they look!"
Raven didn't move.
"Must you make me do everything?" Starfire knelt down and physically put the shoes onto Raven's feet, almost overbalancing the girl in the process.
"Now, for a little makeup…"
Raven's eyes narrowed. "What's going on here? Why do I need makeup?"
Starfire pushed her over to the vanity table and plopped her down.
"I am giving you the makeover."
"I don't want a makeover."
"Close your eyes."
Starfire applied gold eye shadow and mascara to Raven's eyes. Then she put bright red lipstick on Raven's lips, and a hint of blush on her cheeks.
"There! Just enough without doing the too much." Starfire picked up a strand of Raven's hair. She mused for a second, then picked up her brush and teased Raven's hair until it had body and bounce.
"Perfect!" she clapped.
Raven stared at herself in the mirror. She flushed. She did look kind of pretty…maybe a little…
"Come now, I must show you something," Starfire grabbed Raven's arm and hauled her out of the bedroom.
"Starfire, wait! Let me take this thing off!"
"No time!"
--
Beast Boy was waiting nervously on the roof of the tower. His com beeped.
"Cy! All set?"
"It's a go, dude; Starfire's bringing her up there right now!"
"Cue the music," Beast Boy hissed, slipping his communicator into his pocket as Raven was shoved through the roof's stairwell door.
Raven looked extremely miffed as she dusted herself off, her nose wrinkled as she looked behind her to glare at Starfire. Starfire giggled and disappeared down the stairs.
Raven huffed and turned to look out onto the roof. Her mouth dropped open in shock.
A table was set up, a black table cloth fluttering in the warm breeze, complete with two place settings, a gourmet meal on each, and candles flickering. Beast Boy stood next to it, dressed in a tuxedo (borrowed from Robin). He grinned at her expression, beckoning her to come over. Raven stumbled forward, her heels clicking as she walked.
As she approached him, Beast Boy brought his hand out from behind his back, and presented her with a beautiful bouquet of a dozen dark red roses and baby's breath.
Raven's eyes watered.
"You… you did this for me?" she whispered.
Beast Boy didn't answer her, just wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her in for a passionate kiss.
"Raven, you look beautiful," he breathed, staring into her eyes, making a shiver run down her spine. "That dress, oh my God. I knew Star said it would look good on you, but damn…"
Raven blushed profusely before sweeping her hand gesturing to the table, asking "what is all this?"
Beast Boy looked down for a moment. "I wanted to tell you I was sorry. Look, Raven, I really am sorry. I hope you can forgive me."
Raven looked at him all dressed up and the table, the sun just dipping below the horizon, the bouquet of flowers in her hand. She looked back up into his face and smiled.
"I forgive you, Beast Boy," she said shyly, her cheeks blushing, arranging her roses in a vase of water on the table.
Beast Boy gathered her into his arms when she was done, about to say something beautiful and profound (for him, anyway) when at that exact moment Cyborg finally put the music on.
The thought was completely lost as Raven and Beast Boy straightened in shock, both their cheeks turning a bright red.
"Ooh, now let's get down tonight
Baby I'm hot just like an oven
I need some lovin'
And baby, I can't hold it much longer
It's getting stronger and stronger
And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine
Helps to relieve my mind
Sexual Healing baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me…"
"CYBORG!!" Beast Boy howled.
He could almost hear the hoots of laughter from the living room downstairs.
Marvin Gaye's tenor voice abruptly stopped, and a playful lilting melody began.
Raven raised her eyebrow. "This isn't much better. 'Your Body is a Wonderland'?"
"My body is a wonderland, isn't it?" he teased, running his hands over his sides.
Raven rolled her eyes with a grin.
Beast Boy's fang poked adorably over the curve in his lips. "May I have this dance?"
Raven smirked. "Maybe."
Beast Boy reached out his hand and took hers, spinning her around, then pulling her close and swaying to the music.
Raven never knew it would feel so… breathlessly amazing to sway in Beast Boy's arms, pressed up against his strong lean body, the wind gently rustling their hair as the sun faded in the distance and stars began to peep out of the darkening sky. She flushed, desperately trying to keep the fluttering feeling in her chest at bay. But when Beast Boy smiled down at her and then pressed his lips to hers, Raven couldn't help but let it soar.
After the song ended and another romantic song began to play, Beast Boy led her over to the table and pulled out her chair for her.
"Alfred made this dinner especially for us. I helped," he said, sitting down in his own chair.
"Oh Beast Boy," Raven breathed, picking up her fork and staring at the delicious meal on her plate. "You helped him make this?"
"Yep. For you, beautiful," he smiled, taking a sip out of his glass.
Raven eyed it. "Is that champagne?"
Beast Boy grinned. "Of course."
"How did you get that?" Raven narrowed her eyes. "You're not trying to get me drunk, are you?"
Beast Boy rolled his eyes and looked exasperated before smiling. "Why, can't hold your liquor? I'm kidding, Rae, I'm not trying to get you drunk. Um… Cyborg bought it for me," he said, growing sheepish at the end.
"Hmm," Raven said, still suspicious as she took a sip from her own glass, a smile in her eyes.
They began to eat dinner, chatting and making small talk, music playing softly in the background with no more embarrassing songs. They were just about finished when Alfred appeared from the stairwell with a tray.
He smiled as he approached.
"Master Beast Boy, Miss Raven," he said in greeting. "My word, Miss Raven you look absolutely ravishing," Alfred said warmly.
Raven looked down, embarrassed, and couldn't help the scarlet rising to her cheeks.
"Doesn't she, Alfred? I can't take my eyes off her," Beast Boy said, grinning and giving her a lovesick expression.
"Okay, both of you," Raven protested shyly.
"Dessert is here, sir, tiramisu."
"Oh," Raven breathed as he set a plate down in front of her. "Alfred, this looks delicious," she said.
"Thank you, miss," he smiled, withdrawing. "Have a pleasant night, both of you."
He quickly retreated, a pleased smile playing on his lips.
As Raven daintily ate her dessert, Beast Boy's eyes twinkled. Raven kept glancing at him. "What?" she asked. "You keep grinning at me."
"You are so gorgeous," he said.
"Beast Boy," Raven protested again, hiding her face behind her hand holding her fork.
"It's so true Raven. Hey, are you getting cold? It's chillier now that the sun has gone down." Beast Boy got up and took off his suit coat, placing it around Raven's shoulders. The jacket was pleasantly warm from Beast Boy's body heat. Raven looked up and smiled, snuggling into it.
"Thank you." It was all so much; he was acting like such a gentleman… Raven couldn't believe it.
"Beast Boy, you've really… grown up," Raven commented.
Beast Boy waved his hand. "Aw, Rae come on. I've always known how to do this stuff, I just chose not to."
Raven looked confused. "Why would you choose not to? This is all so wonderful, if I had known you could be like this…"
Beast Boy looked sad. "Look… I'm sorry for all the jokes and stuff I've pulled on you. And I'm sorry for being like the obnoxious little brother you never wanted. I thought maybe now was the time to show you I can be a little more than that."
Raven's eyes shone. She knew why he had always acted the way he did, even if she didn't want to see it before. Everyone constructs their own mask; hers was an emotionless façade, and his was a jester.
"Oh Beast Boy," Raven said softly. "I don't know what my life would have been like without you."
"What do you mean?"
Raven looked down. "No one's ever tried so hard to be friends with me more than you. If you hadn't have acted like an annoying little brother, I would've locked myself away in my room and never have come out." She looked up and gazed into his eyes, tears beginning to rim hers. "They all left me alone because they knew that was what I wanted. I thought that was what I wanted. But you, you constantly pushed at me, and I was so angry at you, Beast Boy, I was so angry at you for constantly bugging me. But really, what I needed, was a friend…" Raven choked as a tear rolled down her cheek. "And, here you've done all this for me, all over a silly petty dispute over reading my journal that really didn't even matter that much; you shouldn't have done all this Beast Boy, I don't deserve it-"
"Rae, stop," Beast Boy said, grabbing her hand across the table, stalling her. "You deserve all the love and friends in the world."
Raven couldn't stop the tears from falling as she abruptly got up, nearly tipping over her chair as she rushed into Beast Boy's arms. He shifted her on his lap and held her tight.
They sat and held each other for awhile, Raven getting a grip over the tears that had slipped as she buried her face into his shoulder. Beast Boy stroked her hair and her back soothingly until she stopped sniffling. He gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Hey Rae? I've got one more surprise," he said, holding onto her and balancing her as he leaned down and grabbed something from under the tablecloth.
He set a gift on the table and shifted Raven on his lap so she was straddling him.
"Here," he said shyly, giving her the gift.
"Oh Beast Boy," Raven said, wistful. "You didn't have to!"
"Of course I did. I lo- I mean, I really wanted to say I'm sorry," he mumbled, looking down.
Raven delicately tore the wrapping paper off to reveal a journal with a combination lock. It was red with black and gold designs swirled over it.
"Your other one is almost filled. I thought you'd like a lock on this one, and it's a combination one, so I can't even sneak a peek with a key lock," he said, grinning. "No one else can read it, either, if you happen to forget it somewhere."
"Beast Boy," Raven fluttered, hugging him tightly around his neck.
She examined the little book, grinning up at him. "I really like it."
"Good. Oh, one more thing…"
He pulled another little gift from his pocket. Raven's eyes widened.
"Look, I know you don't wear jewelry, like at all, but I saw this and it reminded me of you. I thought you'd like it." He blushed as he handed it to her. "If you don't want to wear it, I understand."
Raven picked the wrapping paper off this one too and gasped as she opened the jewelry box.
A sliver ring was nestled inside; a sweeping sparrow shaped the top of the ring, the bottom a solid band.
"Oh Beast Boy!"
"I don't know why, I know it's not a raven or anything, but I saw this little bird and I-"
Raven cut him off with a passionate and fierce kiss.
"You like it," Beast Boy laughed.
Raven took it out and slipped it onto her right hand ring finger. "It fits perfectly," she marveled, holding out her hand to inspect it.
Beast Boy chuckled. "I've never been so confused. Did you know fingers have sizes? The jeweler asked me what size your ring finger was; I told him I had no clue! But I said you had small slender fingers. Um… Starfire was with me. She tried it on and it fit her finger, so I was hoping it would fit yours. The guy said you'd probably be about a five or five and a half. Guess he was right!"
"Beast Boy, this is the single sweetest, nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, ever," Raven said seriously, looking into his eyes.
"Rae," he protested, blushing.
"I- I…" Raven stopped, amazed at what almost came out of her mouth. She constructed a different sentence to cover up. "I can't believe you did all this." She leaned in for another kiss.
Beast Boy chuckled. "It was lonely in the doghouse, sitting there with my tail between my legs."
Raven opened one eye and glanced at him as she felt the smile playing on his lips.
"What?" he murmured. "Thinking about what else is between my legs?"
Raven's eyes shot open at his cheekiness and smacked him on the shoulder.
"Don't think I haven't noticed the way your dress rides up your thighs while you're sitting on my lap," he said huskily, sliding his hand dangerously high up her smooth pale thigh.
"Beast Boy!" Raven squeaked.
He laughed and leaned in to kiss her again.
"It's just too easy," he smirked. "You get all flustered."
"Oh!" Raven huffed. Beast Boy grinned and laughed again as he rested his warm hands on her hips.
"So, are we all forgiven?"
"You are most certainly forgiven," Raven said.
"Good. Now… I was hoping we could take a detour to your room? I don't know about you, but I want to see how many more times I can get you to say my name," he grinned devilishly.
Raven gave him a half-lidded look. "How far are you planning on going, Garfield?"
"Oooh, pulling out my real name, that means you're angry," Beast Boy laughed.
"Not angry, just don't expect too much of me. I haven't drunk enough champagne."
"Then down the hatch, little lady!" Beast Boy grabbed the bottle and poured her a little more. Raven shook her head but accepted the glass. Beast Boy poured some for himself. They took a sip together, then Beast Boy set his down and took Raven's from her, setting it down too as he took her hand and led her down the stairs to her room.
--
The next morning Starfire sat on the couch, watching curiously as Robin fanned himself.
"It is hot?"
"Yeah," he sweated. "It's starting to get really warm out." He glanced at her. "How come you're not hot too?"
"Tamaranian bodies are extremely durable. We can survive the harsh atmosphere of space; our body temperatures constantly regulate to our surroundings. We can survive very low temperatures, or very high temperatures as well." She looked thoughtful. "I have heard your sun is extremely hot. I could not survive flying directly near it, but I could get close."
"Hey Star… there's no air in the vacuum of space. How do you breathe?"
"We do not. We essentially hold our breath; you forget that we are able to fly at the speed of light. Our bodies are capable of storing breath for an extremely long period of time. I could hold my breath for several days, if need be."
Robin's eyes widened. "Really?"
Starfire nodded. "Eventually I need to breathe again. It is not pretty when the Tamaranian body undergoes air deficiency."
"Huh," Robin said, slouching back on the couch.
The two sat in companionable silence again. Starfire was just grateful she had managed to get him out here, considering the way he had been acting lately. Robin gave in to her persuasion, simply because it was really hot in the evidence room, and he was tired of Bruce. A hot and cranky Bruce was especially not fun to work with, so Robin gave himself some time off.
Starfire gazed out at the glittering water. "The water looks very inviting, does it not?" she asked casually.
A grin tugged at the corner of Robin's mouth. "You want to go swimming, Star?"
Her eyes shined. "Why I would love to go swimming, Robin," she giggled, acting like it had been his suggestion.
Robin got up. "All right, let's go. I'll get changed and meet you here, okay?"
"Really? You will actually go swimming with me?" she asked hopefully.
"Yes, yes, we can go swimming," Robin smiled. "But only for a little bit... then I have to get back to work."
"Okay!" she chirped, zipping off to her room.
Several moments later the two met in the living room and headed down to the shoreline.
Starfire breathed in a deep breath and lifted her arms, stretching in the sun.
"Oh, it is a glorious day!"
Robin smiled. "So… what'cha got on underneath there?" he asked curiously.
Starfire tugged on the hem of her white cover-up skirt.
"Would you like to know."
"I would," he murmured, pulling her close, but Starfire giggled and flitted away.
"Perhaps I wear nothing underneath this," she teased.
"That would be my dream come true," Robin said seriously.
"Oh, then you shall be disappointed."
"Damn," Robin snapped his fingers. "Oh well, didn't want to give all of Jump City a view anyway. Now… why don't you show me what's really under there?"
"You first," she said eagerly, her eyes gleaming. Robin sighed and rolled his eyes with a huge grin on his face.
He reached behind his neck and pulled his t-shirt over his head by the collar and kicked off his flip flops. He was left standing in his red board shorts.
"Oooh!" Starfire said, ogling his chest. "Do a spin for me!"
Robin turned around as macho as possible, and Starfire admired the view from behind.
"Glorious…" she uttered under her breath.
"Alright, alright, it's your turn," Robin insisted, grinning. "Take that top off."
Starfire was mock indignant. "Robin!"
"Come on," he laughed, twirling his index finger in a circle in front of her. "Take it off. And do a little dance while you're at it."
Starfire huffed. Then she grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. Robin's eyes widened.
Starfire gave him a wink and hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her skirt, purposely wiggling it over her hips and down her legs. She tossed the skirt at him with her foot.
"Oh. My. God."
Starfire posed and then twirled so Robin could get the full effect.
She was wearing a black string bikini with shiny purple hibiscus flowers for a pattern, a couple on the right cup of her top and some sprinkled on the bottom. The suit perfectly hugged every curve. Stringy ties with large plastic purple beads hung down her back and on each side of her hips, teasing and tantalizing Robin, just begging to be pulled…
Starfire floated up into the air. "Are you ready to get into the water, or are you simply going to spend the entire time appreciating my swimwear?" she giggled, purposely stretching and twisting in the air. Robin's jaw dropped and his eyes widened even more.
He suddenly ran for her, jumping up and catching her foot before she could fly away. He pulled her down into his arms and jumped into the bay, creating a great splash as they both dipped below the water. Starfire surfaced with a sputter, and shook her head, pushing her wet bangs out of her eyes. Robin came up next, a devilish grin on his face before he splashed her.
"Robin!" Starfire protested, laughing. She splashed him back before dipping below the surface again and shooting away underwater. He watched as ripples fluttered to the surface in her wake. She circled around before coming straight at him. Robin swam back to where he could just stand near the shore, smiling as he saw her coming. Starfire suddenly burst from the water and flew up into the sky, the sun shining on her brilliant wet hair.
Robin laughed and beckoned her to him. Starfire obliged him, swooping down into his arms. Robin rubbed his nose against hers before dipping in for a kiss.
But she didn't stay for long. She giggled and zipped off again, zooming over the surface and sending up a spray. Robin laughed as he dipped and dived in the clear sparkling water, watching as his playful girlfriend enjoyed the spring turning into summer sun.
Starfire stopped suddenly and got the most mischievous grin on her face Robin had ever seen. She dived below the water, deep enough that Robin lost sight of where she was. His eyes darted over the surface, waiting for her to appear as he treaded water.
Suddenly behind him he felt two strong hands grab his shorts and yank them away.
Robin squawked in surprise, throwing his hands under the water and keeping afloat by frantically kicking his feet.
"STARFIRE!" he howled.
--
"Master Batman?"
"Come in," he grunted. Batman was facing the window, standing silently.
"Alfred," he said in greeting as his butler came through the door. Batman turned to look at him, lowering his cowl and wiping at the sweat that beaded his forehead.
"I've brought you some coffee, sir, though I can't believe you want it on a day like this," Alfred said. "It is unusually warm out today."
"Yes," Bruce said absently. The Titans' air conditioning hadn't kicked in yet.
"It sounds weird when you call me 'Master Batman'," Bruce remarked. "On your way in, was there a little… green gecko, or other assortment of small animal out there?" he asked with an amused smirk.
Alfred chuckled. "Yes, it feels odd for me to address you that way too. Not that I saw, sir. Master Beast Boy is rather excited that you are here."
"I noticed."
"I believe the coast is clear for the time being. Have there been any more developments on the Scarecrow case, sir?"
Bruce sighed. "None. The bastard's completely slipped off the radar."
"So, he may not even be in Jump City anymore?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that, Alfred. He's here, he's got to be. I just can't find any evidence to track him. He's covered well."
"Master Dick has not been able to find anything either?"
Bruce grunted. "Nothing."
"No doubt he is trying very hard. You two have not been fighting, have you?"
Bruce rolled his eyes. "He does his best to ignore me."
Alfred chuckled. "You did rib him quite a bit when you arrived. That may not have helped relations much…"
"Fighting with him five years ago didn't help relations much," Bruce said tonelessly.
"Well, but you can hardly blame him, Master Bruce…"
Bruce cast a side glance at Alfred. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well…" Alfred didn't want to offend his longtime employer, but someone had to mediate the situation.
"I think he was rather offended when you kicked him off the team, after the incident with the Joker."
Bruce shook his head. "You know why I did it."
Alfred smiled kindly. "Yes, but he didn't, and I still don't think he understands. The boy is rather… stubborn sometimes, don't you think?"
Bruce snorted. "Stubborn is an understatement."
Alfred chuckled. "With Master Dick, yes. But," Alfred's eyes twinkled, "I think he gets it from somewhere."
Bruce turned around to give Alfred a half lidded look, then gazed back out the window at the glittering bay.
"Master Bruce… I think now might be a good time to maybe set things straight between the two of you."
"There's nothing to set straight."
"Oh for goodness sakes," Alfred huffed. "You two have been tiptoeing around each other or bickering at each other for these past few days. I know apologies don't come easy for either of you, but one of you has to step up and be a man." Alfred's eyes flashed as he set the coffee cup down on Bruce's dresser. "I am sorry for that sir, but sometimes things need to be said." He stiffly turned to go.
"Alfred," Bruce called, softly.
Alfred stopped and turned.
Bruce clenched his fists. "I've felt so guilty for… for all of it. Do you remember when we got back from that mess with Harvey Dent, and that judge, Watkins?" Bruce shook his head, looking down. "It's amazing the kid can function at all."
"Master Dick is resilient, just like his father," Alfred said kindly.
"All of Gotham must seem like a horrible nightmare to him. A nightmare that I'm a part of."
There was a fleeting glint of sadness in Bruce's eyes for just a moment, then it was gone.
"There are many things I would have done differently."
"I know, sir," Alfred said.
Bruce crossed to the window and drummed his fingers on the sill.
"Fate has a funny way of twisting everyone's lives around. But I've regretted that fight ever since it happened. Dick was a good kid, is a good kid."
Bruce sighed as he said this, looking down out the window. Then he started in shock and his face went red. He stared for a moment, eyes wide, then shook his head to clear it as he darted from the window.
He rubbed a hand over his face.
"That was so much more of him than I ever wanted to see…"
--
Starfire burst up out of the water, dangling the shorts teasingly from her thumb and index finger.
She giggled hysterically, unable to contain her laughter as she pressed a hand to her lips. She twirled the shorts around her finger, flying too high for Robin to jump and catch her without revealing anything.
Starfire giggled again. "Why boyfriend Robin, does something trouble you? You look most irritated."
"Starfire," he hissed. "Give 'em back!"
Starfire stretched her arms and turned her face up to the sun.
"I believe my energy stores are low. Perhaps I could recharge while you get the tan. Can you not come and sunbath with me on the shore?" She grinned devilishly at him.
Robin's eyebrow twitched. "Come on, Starfire. Give them back!"
"Why Robin, I did not realize you enjoyed the dipping of skinny," Starfire laughed again. "I shall have to make sure I observe you every time you go swimming!"
"Somebody's going to see me, Star," he said warningly.
Robin swam until he could stand and hide on the rocks surrounding the shore line, sinking low into the water until only his narrowed eyes behind his mask and the top of his head peeked above the surface. His cheeks were flaming.
Starfire flew a little closer, teasingly.
"What is the matter? The inhabitants of Jump City cannot see us from out here, plus we are swimming on the other side of the island. Can you not give me a show?" she grinned, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Robin rolled his eyes. Then suddenly he jumped for her, tackling her and wrenching his suit away from her in the process.
Starfire eeked in surprise and fell into the ocean. Robin quickly pulled his shorts back on.
When Starfire's head bobbed above water, it was to find Robin swimming out farther into the bay. Starfire grinned and followed. She swam up next to him.
"You are not mad at me, are you?" she asked, pulling as meek a voice as she possibly could under the teasing tone.
Robin rolled his eyes and refused to look at her, his lips twitching to keep the smile off of them.
"Robin," Starfire said, hurt, "I was merely playing with you. Please do not be angry, surely no one saw you but me."
Robin kept swimming, Starfire stopping short and flying up into the air, worriedly clasping her hands near her chest.
Suddenly she panicked as Robin slipped under the water and his hands began flailing just above the surface.
"Robin!" Starfire shrieked as she frantically dove for his submerged form.
She scooped him up and held him. Robin coughed and sputtered.
"Robin, are you okay?" Starfire asked, frightened. Robin coughed some more and reached his hand around her back. Starfire's eyes went wide as saucers, then narrowed. She screeched as she pressed Robin to her chest, he now holding her bikini top and dangling it teasingly with the biggest grin on his face.
Starfire crinkled her nose angrily, then dropped him into the bay, quickly covering herself and zipping into the water.
Robin laughed as he surfaced. "Got ya!"
Starfire held her hands around herself protectively. "That was a mean cruel trick! I believed you to seriously be in trouble!"
Robin twirled his prize through the air, all the while the grin plastered on his face.
"Hey Star, I think I'd be interested in getting that tan now. Wanna go lay on the shore?"
Starfire humphed and turned her nose up.
"Who knew a girl like you goes skinny dipping? I think I like this version of your swimsuit even better," he teased.
"You are mean," she said, sticking out her tongue at him.
"Oh! So you can dish it but you can't take it. Come'ere," he laughed, chucking her swimsuit top onto the shore and pulling her close, despite her protests and angry exclamations over her top now being completely out of reach.
"You can get it later," Robin murmured, running his hands over her skin underneath the water. Starfire stopped her struggling.
Robin perched himself on a rock under the water and sat Starfire on his lap, the water just lapping over their shoulders.
He gently kissed her neck and shoulder, tasting the salty water, before he made his way up to her lips. At the same time he kissed her his hand found its way underneath the remainder of Starfire's swimsuit. Starfire gasped as his lips pressed against hers and he simultaneously slipped his finger inside her. His other hand crept up between them to fondle her bare skin.
"Oh!" Starfire breathed, leaning her head back as Robin showered kisses on her neck. It was such a magnificent and foreign feeling, being under water and touched in that way. Starfire moaned and pressed against Robin the more his fingers touched and teased.
"I love you Star," he whispered into her ear, grinning at the effect he had on her.
"I- love you too," she breathed, her voice hitching when he found a particularly sensitive spot. "Oooooh… oh I love you too…"
--
Robin and Starfire came back up from swimming, grinning and holding hands, nudging each other and giggling.
"Master Robin, may I have a word with you?" Alfred said, sounding somewhat severe, his normal more lighthearted tone not evident.
"Sure Alfred, what is it?"
Alfred cleared his throat. "Master Batman wishes me to depart a message: That you need to be setting an example; it would be prudent to control your behavior at all times and recall there are windows in the tower. It is not wise to display certain 'secret identities' in more public areas."
Robin's mouth dropped open in utter shock. He dropped Starfire's hand as his face first drained of blood, then it came rushing back to flush his cheeks bright red.
Alfred gave a nod with a frown, then turned around to hide the huge grin that spread on his face. He fought his best not to chuckle.
Robin said nothing, wheeling around numbly and stumbling for the door.
"Robin?" Starfire called after him, confused as to why he was acting so strange. Robin passed through the sliding doors and went to his room to bury his face into his pillow, absolutely mortified that his father had seen all of that.
Another chapter for you all, simply because I suppose it's ready. I should be doing massive amounts of homework right now, but how is that any fun?
Who wants to see Robin get depantsed?!! -waves hand wildly through the air- Thought I'd throw all the ladies a bone, and well hey, Starfire got what was coming to her for all you boys out there too!
Songs mentioned were Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing and John Mayer's Your Body is a Wonderland.
Next chapter: Batman does some teasing. Okay, a lot of teasing…