One Thing Leads to Another

by katergator

One thing leads to another when Starfire and Raven attend a lingerie party and Robin gets a surprise view of Starfire's new undergarment. StarxRob and RaexBB full summary inside

35. Chapter 35

Robin insisted Starfire rest and eat in the following five days before Blackfire's preliminary hearing. Other than the briefings with the prosecutor who would be handling the high profile case, Robin made sure Starfire was either quietly tucked away or getting food into her stomach(s).

The day of the hearing, Starfire put on her classic midriff top and a long clinging skirt that trailed behind her. Her warrior crown was secured over her face. Robin wore his loaner red shirt and black lycra pants with his belt, mask always in place.

The Titans and members of the Justice League gathered outside the courtroom. Starfire was extremely serious. She had not smiled once the entire morning or said much. Robin worried about her. He made sure to stay as close to her as possible without appearing inappropriate in the formal setting.

When it was time to take their seats, the group sat in the first row. Blackfire was led in, wearing a bright blue jumpsuit and heavily chained, surrounded by a hoard of very tough-looking security guards. Her face was set with a menacing frown. Starfire glanced quickly at her sister before looking away, the nervousness trickling down her spine and turning her stomach to ice.

"All rise; Judge Atves presiding," the bailiff announced.

The judge entered the room and everyone stood as a sign of respect. She took the bench and sifted through the papers on her desktop before saying, "You may be seated. Today we are here for the case of IGP State vs. Princess Komand'r of Tamaran. Princess Komand'r has entered a plea of 'not guilty.' The charges against the defendant are as follows: abduction of a member of royalty in free space; criminal intent to contribute to sex slave trafficking; and grievous bodily harm. Prosecutor, you agree?"

"I do, your Honor."

"Defense, your plea stands?"

"It stands, your Honor."

"Bailiff, please bring forward any evidence for this case."

The bailiff brought forward a Gordanian spear with dark stained tips sealed in plastic and tagged, several documents, and a video chip. He placed them on the prosecution's table.

"Prosecution, present your evidence."

Rollin stood and picked up the spear.

"On the charge of grievous bodily harm we have security footage of the defendant striking the victim," he gestured at Robin, "with this weapon. It has been confirmed by lab tests that his blood is on the end of the spear." He handed the lab report to the judge.

Robin was impressed. Who had recovered that spear out of all the Gordanian spears on that ship? He glanced at Batman. He nodded back. Well damn. That was why he was one of the world's greatest detectives after all. Only he would think in all the chaos to find the right spear and save it as evidence.

Judge Atves read the paper quickly, then handed it back. Rollin set down the weapon and lab report and picked up a stack of papers.

"This is documentation of electronic correspondence between the defendant and Korthar, leader of the Citadelians. We have recovered the verbal contract agreed upon by both parties that specifies the capture and return of Princess Koriand'r to the Citadel in exchange for rule over several planets in the Vegan Star System. We have an eye witness to attest the victims were confined to an illegal cell in the Gordanian ship."

"Quite compelling," Atves said, as she flipped through the documents the prosecutor handed her. "What do you have to say?" she said, looking to the defense.

Harlingor, the defense attorney, stood and placed his fingertips on the table in front of him. "Your Honor I move to drop the charges; this is a waste of the court's time. There is absolutely no paper trail or 'contract' between my client and the Citadelians."

"Really?" Rollin drawled. "Then I wonder why ten days ago Korthar himself showed up to IGP for a meeting to work out the terms of said contract? He was mighty angry when a Tamaranian Princess wasn't delivered to his door. The entire conference and the barbaric skirmish that followed were recorded. Korthar clearly stated the defendant promised to give up her sister. Your Honor you know as well as I do verbal agreements will stand up in court with documented evidence to prove it."

Robin tried to hold back a grin. Harlingor just got spanked.

Not much the defense could do to recover from that one, although Harlingor was very practiced and showed absolutely no chagrin. He was a slick character and one of the best defense attorneys in the star system, which was why Blackfire had hired him.

"Regardless of poorly verified alleged contracts, it does not change the fact that Princess Koriand'r and her accomplice attacked the Gordanian vessel where my client was residing. They came to my client. It was only natural for the Gordanians and the defendant to protect themselves and restrain the threat to their ship."

"They did come to the defendant, yes," Rollin shot back. "But they came to talk. Instead they found themselves in the middle of a battle for their lives. Princess Koriand'r and Robin were granted access to the ship; once they boarded the Gordanians attacked them. Anything the victims did was in self-defense. The defendant joined into the fight and stabbed this young man in the back without just provocation. Your Honor we have surveillance video evidence supporting this detail, and an eye witness to the injuries sustained and the conditions of their capture."

"Bring the witness to the stand," Judge Atves said, adjusting her glasses.

Rollin beckoned at Raven.

Raven took the stand and gave her testimony. She detailed Robin's injuries very clearly, including the amount of blood loss and his closeness to death if she had not healed him. She explained the illegal nature of the cell, described Starfire and Robin's mental and emotional states and their belief they were heading to the Citadel.

Cyborg was also called to the stand and recounted Starfire's last contact and how she relayed Robin was wounded and they were being taken to the Citadel. He verified the coordinates Starfire was located at matched with the placement of the Gordanian ship at their port, and once the ship began moving it was concurrent with a course toward the Citadelian coordinates.

"Your Honor, the spear as evidence should be thrown out. How are we to be completely sure that is the exact spear used to inflict the damage the victim sustained? The lab was unable to lift any clear fingerprints. They fought many Gordanians and his blood is likely to be found on several weapons."

"Actually your Honor, it would not. Robin received only one wound from a spear, caused by the defendant. Which we have documented on video."

The judge seemed to deliberate. She rubbed her chin, then announced, "The weapon will stand as evidence."

Harlingor looked annoyed. It seemed his ploy of getting evidence to be thrown out wasn't working.

"I believe I've heard enough," Atves said. "There is sufficient evidence present for a case; the charges stand and we will go to trial."

Blackfire's frown twisted and the Titans breathed sighs of relief.

"The defendant is deemed a flight risk and bail is denied. She will remain in confinement until the trial. Court is adjourned."

The Titans leaped from the seats, hugging each other. Starfire remained sitting however, staring at the seat in front of her. The guards were leading Blackfire away.

Starfire looked up just in time to catch her sister's gaze.

The hatred in Blackfire's eyes seared a hole straight through Starfire's heart. Her sister didn't glance away once as she was taken out the door. Ryand'r grabbed Starfire's hand and held it tightly.

Starfire released the breath she had been holding and felt her world crumbling. She placed her other hand against her forehead as the room tilted. She felt dizzy and weak and her vision was darkening.

"Starfire?"

Two hands were placed on her shoulders, her vision started to clear as masked eyes leveled with her own.

"You okay?"

"No," she said quietly. "No, I am not okay."

The other three Titans sat beside her too, and Ryand'r released his hold and placed his palm on her shoulder.

"She's going to trial, fly girl. We got her."

Starfire bit her lip and closed her eyes. "I am not sure if I wish for her to be gotten."

Cyborg frowned and Raven moved Robin aside. She took Starfire's hands in her own, kneeling in front of her.

"It's for the best. She'll only try to hurt you more if she goes free. You know this."

"I do. But she is family." Starfire's eyes began to tear. "Have I betrayed her?"

"No," Ryand'r interjected. "Not after what she did to us, Kori. I have spent nine years of my life in exile because of her. I will never get those years back, we will never get those years back. She destroyed our family."

"Oh Ry," she said sadly, leaning into him.

"Your brother's right, Starfire," Raven said firmly. "It's time she faces the consequences."

"This place and everything that's happened to us is affecting you. Once we get home you'll feel better," Robin said.

"Right," Raven concurred. "When you feel like you can stand, we better get going and face the media circus out there. After that we can go home."

The Titans formed a protective shell around Starfire and Ryand'r, moving through the mass of press as quickly as possible. Robin placed his hand on the small of Starfire's back, guiding her through the crowd of pressing bodies. He kept repeating "No comment" and Starfire shielded her face from the flashes and bombardment of questions. Eventually they made it to their private hall, where Batman, Alfred, Superman, J'onn, and Galfore were waiting for them.

"Well crew, looks like you've got yourself a trial," Superman said. "Good job everyone."

Starfire nodded silently.

"Guess it's time to pack up and go home. Does anyone know when they'll announce the trial date?" Robin said.

"They check the system and schedule dates accordingly with all the open cases. It can take a few weeks before it will be announced officially," Batman said. "They're dealing with the entire star system and the court dates have been backed up."

"Kay," Robin said, shifting. Starfire was silent beside him. It was an awkward moment, like no one was really sure what to do now.

"How about we all grab something to eat before we pack up anything we have acquired while staying here?" Alfred suggested.

There were murmured agreements from everyone.

Starfire spent a good amount of time with Galfore and Ryand'r during the meal, knowing they would part ways today. Robin felt bad for her, her eyes were misting and he knew she would miss them fiercely. Ryand'r was always welcome to come for a visit of course, and he knew at some point she might end up going back to Tamaran to see them too.

After lunch, they all separated to get ready to go home.

"How are you holding up?" Robin asked as he helped clear the room of their limited belongings. "You've barely said anything this whole morning."

"Do not ask me that right now," Starfire said. She sat on the bed, their things in a small duffle bag.

"Are you feeling okay? Like, physically?"

"I have not had any of the morning sickness yet, if that is what you are implying."

Robin's cheeks tinted. "Well, um… no, but good. I guess."

"Otherwise I am still feeling very light headed."

"Don't worry then, I'm piloting on the way home."

She nodded.

He sat beside her, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "There isn't anything you're not telling me, right?"

"No, Robin," she said, and he didn't miss the hint of annoyance in her voice.

"I know I've been asking you that a lot, but if I can help I want to know."

"I have told you everything. Please, stop inquiring!"

He pulled his hand back into his lap as she got up and started pacing.

"I do not wish to talk anymore. I want to go home and I do not ever want to come back, but now that the trial has been called I will have to. I am caught between feeling like I am doing the worst possible thing ever by pressing these charges against my sister, but I also cannot help but feel a sense of complete satisfaction that she will finally be meant to pay for the awful things she has done to me and my family. I was the breath away from returning to the Citadel twice and most certainly a horrific death, and one of those times you could have been with me and suffered the same awful fate. I was stupid and I allowed myself to make a terrible decision that almost made me the single mother. We do not know if in seven months we will be parents. I am not doing the okay! So please, stop with the asking and leave me alone! I cannot keep pouring my heart out, it is bleeding enough as it is!"

He was quiet for a moment before he mumbled, "Sorry."

She sighed and the wind rushed out of her. She crumpled to the floor, hiding her face behind her hands. "I am sorry too. You are only trying to help."

"I hate seeing you in pain."

"I hate my moment of weakness being witnessed as well."

"You've seen me in mine. You don't think any less of me, right?"

"No," she said reluctantly.

"Then why would I ever think less of you?"

"I know this, but it still weighs on me. I will get over it."

"Will you?" he asked, looking at her sadly.

She scowled bitterly. "To use your Earth expression with the religious undertones, 'we all have our cross to bear.' I will handle my own heart."

"But that's the thing, you don't have to. I'm always here."

"I do not think I can explain to you how I feel. I feel very...alone. I am clinging to all of you the best way I know how but in the end this is my problem and no one can solve it for me, no matter how best all of your intentions are."

"You're right, I can't take it from you. It hurts me just as much to watch you go through all of this. I want you to remember that you have friends, and you have me. You're never alone."

"I almost drove you away too. What else will I do next to sabotage myself?" She looked up at him with soulful eyes. "I feel like the edges of my life are fraying and I cannot hold them together."

"Starfire," he said gently, kneeling down in front of her. "We've all felt like that one time or another. You'll get through it."

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs on her cheekbones. "And I'll be right here by your side. Possibly with our kid in my arms."

She couldn't help the rueful smile before she bit her lip and tried not to fall apart further. He put his hands on her ribcage and pulled her in for a hug as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Ready to go? It's almost time, we can finally leave."

"Yes. Please, take me home."

ooo

Starfire had a tearful goodbye with Ryand'r and Galfore. She promised to call often and looked forward to seeing them again soon. She thanked the Chief for all his help, and then it was truly time to leave. Robin and Starfire would take Robin's section of the T-Ship while the rest of the Titans and the Leaguers were loaned a craft. An officer would go with them and return it to IGP once the main passengers were dropped off. They were all to meet back at the Watch Tower to collect the rest of the T-Ship and go home.

It felt like years since Robin had parked in the massive garage. Starfire sat in the seat first and Robin sat in front of her so he could pilot. The arrangement was awkward but if Starfire sat in front Robin couldn't steer. She claimed she would be fine, his weight wouldn't bother her in the slightest and she would mostly sleep on the way home.

Robin didn't account for the fact that while she dozed her legs curling around his waist were rather distracting. He could feel her pressed against his lower back; it was similar to when they rode together on his bike, and it was kind of hot.

They had barely kissed in over a week, and the lack of intimacy was partially due to him. Ever since their fight, he wasn't ready to jump back in the saddle after being burned, although it seemed that biological needs were overcoming his resistance after all. Her legs were so sexy; she was wearing shorter boots and had changed into a miniskirt for traveling. He could set autopilot and maybe if they switched positions, he lean back and she sit in his lap-

Starfire shifted in her nap, almost as if she knew he was totally thinking about space sex.

A crooked smile alighted on his lips and he sank against her, just glad this time around he had her company.

Once they reached the Watch Tower, the T-Ship was reconnected and goodbyes were said. Batman and Alfred would be transported back to Gotham. Robin thanked everyone for their help.

They headed home.

ooo

"Sparky!"

Bumblebee was plastered to Cyborg in seconds, her wings buzzing happily behind her. Speedy was leaning against the couch with his arms crossed as the rest of the Titans piled into the living room. He raised a hand in a wave to Robin.

Robin waved back and clutched Starfire's hand with his other. They were both so relieved to be home he couldn't even explain it, but on the flip side it felt so strange to finally be home that the unsettled feeling nagged at his chest. By the look on Starfire's face he gathered she felt the same way.

"So what are you guys planning on doing tonight?" Bumblebee asked excitedly, her arm around Cyborg's waist.

"I'm planning on changing into some clean clothes," Raven said immediately. Beast Boy nodded.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Robin said tiredly.

"Besides that!" Bumblebee said, exasperated. "Oh, we should go out!"

Robin furrowed his brows. "Go out?"

"Yeah, to celebrate your safe return! We can go dancing at that new club. I heard they have 18 and over nights."

Beast Boy looked at Raven. Her eyes were half lidded and she looked less than enthused.

"Yeeeah. I don't do dancing."

"Oh come on Raven! You don't have to dance. You can just sit at the bar and Cyborg can buy you a drink."

"That's illegal."

"So? You're almost 21."

"Almost doesn't matter."

"Oh just get drunk so Beast Boy can take advantage of you!"

Raven's eyes widened. "What?" she sputtered. Beast Boy turned red.

"Bee, not to be a downer, but we're all kind of tired," Robin interjected. Jet lag was setting in pretty hard. It was ten in the morning Earth time, when it had been late afternoon according to IGP at their departure.

"So rest up now. We don't have to go until later tonight."

"What about tomorrow night?" Robin asked. "Is the 18 and over still going on then?"

"I think so." She considered. "Well okay, we can go tomorrow. Gives me an excuse to hang out longer with Sparky."

"That okay Speedy?" Robin asked.

The boy shrugged. "Sure. I don't care."

"Great," Bumblebee clapped her hands. "We'll go dancing tomorrow night!" She grabbed Starfire and Raven's hands. "We can still find some club wear!"

"Look at me. Do I look like I own anything remotely close to 'club wear?'" Raven said sarcastically.

"You can borrow some of Starfire's booty pants."

Raven sputtered again as Bumblebee pulled them toward Starfire's bedroom.

Beast Boy watched them go, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Quit thinkin' about Raven in booty pants, B. It ain't ever gonna happen!" Cyborg laughed. Beast Boy blushed, because he was thinking about Raven in booty pants. And he liked it.

"Apparently this means we have to find something to wear too," Robin groaned.

"That can wait. I was thinking about taking a nap," Beast Boy yawned.

"No, you were thinkin' about booty pants," Cyborg said slyly.

"I think Robin was thinking about booty pants," Beast Boy shot back. "Starfire is the one that owns them."

"And she looks damn hot in them, too," Robin winked (behind his mask, anyway) before heading to his bedroom. Speedy looked sullen and snorted, returning to the game he had been playing on the gamestation.

"Well look who's loosened all up," Cyborg whistled. "It's cause he's gettin' some on a regular basis."

"Lucky bastard," Beast Boy muttered.

Cyborg raised an eyebrow at Beast Boy. He shrugged.

"What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing," Beast Boy shook his head.

"You got problems goin' on in the bedroom, B?"

"I don't wanna talk about it!" Beast Boy said, mortified. He hurried off.

ooo

"So what appearance should we use?" Starfire asked uncertainly. "We do not wish to be recognized."

"Well," Robin said, staring at the rings in his hand which were extremely hard to acquire thanks to an inquisitive 7-foot tall half robot man, "I guess something that's completely opposite of our normal selves."

Robin was glad to see Starfire steadily improving now that they were home, although he knew it was because she was bottling everything up and putting on her happy mask. He could see right through it and though it concerned him he knew she had dealt with pain this way in the past. While it wasn't healthy, he didn't want to upset her by prodding at her again. It just seemed to make her distressed and hurt more than help. Besides, he could hardly blame her for her coping method; he was the champion of bottling emotions. It wasn't fair to do it himself and turn around and tell her she couldn't.

She had been to the mall with Raven and Bumblebee, and even though she was exhausted after they came back he was content to just curl up with her and nap. She woke up refreshed, which he was grateful for, because they had a mission.

Robin and Starfire needed to go out incognito. Robin didn't even want to think about the verbal backlash he and Starfire would receive if anyone caught wind they were buying a pregnancy test. The tabloids would have a field day splashing their "Oops!" over every headline from here to Gotham. He already knew there was some discord from parents about the fact that boys and girls were co-habiting in the tower, but it was slightly easier to deflect their concerns when he let press in once to put the tongue wagging to rest, showing how very dorm like the rooms were, girls in one wing and boys in another. Of course he and Starfire shared a room now, so did Beast Boy and Raven, and though people speculated the Titans were extremely private and no one could actually prove it.

Robin had to figure out a plan. Wigs and odd clothes didn't cut it, especially in Starfire's case with her unusual eyes and features. Dick Grayson was also easy to spot if the paparazzi were looking. He cringed to think of Bruce's reaction if he found out from a newsstand his adopted son was buying a pregnancy test. If there were any giveaway, their lives would be dissected in every rag magazine and their status as role models would be completely shot.

Robin recalled Cyborg's holographic rings, which would do the trick, however the real trick was getting them from him without having to explain why they were needed.

That turned out to be harder than the fearless Titan leader thought.

"Cy, hey can I ask you something?"

"Sure buddy, what's up?"

"Star and I need your holographic rings."

"What for?"

Robin sighed. "We have to go out, but we don't want to be recognized."

"Buyin' condoms?"

"Cy!"

"What? Why else would you need a disguise? Can't have all the mamas and the papas knowin' Robin and Starfire are gettin' down and livin' in sin?"

Robin buried his face into his hand in exasperation.

"Amirite?" Cyborg laughed. "I am! Y'all are goin' out to buy some latex! Well all right."

"Does it really matter what we need to do? It's none of your business!"

"You plannin' on gettin' lucky tomorrow tonight. The non answer and defensiveness tells me I'm right."

"Once again, does it matter?"

"Nope. But it's funny."

"Why is it funny!"

Cyborg shrugged his big shoulders. "Cause it's you. And your reaction is priceless."

"Just give me the damn rings and keep yourself out of it."

"Y'all will have to calibrate them to your body sizes."

"Whatever," Robin growled. He held out his hand.

Cyborg dropped them into Robin's palm with a Cheshire cat grin.

Robin scowled and hurried out of the garage.

"Fucking Cyborg," Robin muttered.

"What is the opposite of my appearance?" Starfire asked.

"Ugly."

Starfire giggled and then mock pouted. "I do not wish to be ugly!"

"Um, well we both dress trendy. I guess punk?"

Starfire considered. "I could do the punk."

"Would probably be less conspicuous that we're buying a pregnancy test. People would expect it of us, I guess, however wrong that is."

Robin took Starfire's hand and slipped the ring onto her finger, noticing her face flush.

He smiled lopsidedly. "That'll come someday, Star."

She eeped, embarrassed he had seen her reaction to the gesture. He took her right hand and slid on a second ring.

He twisted a dial around the ring's gem. A kaleidoscope of hair colors flashed over Starfire's person. He stopped at black, with streaks of bright purple. Another dial changed the color of her eyes. He chose dark brown, with heavy black eyeliner and bright pink shadow. He lightened her skin to very pale. The second ring determined clothing choices. He chose little hot pink shorts, a black oversized hoodie, and black skater shoes. When he was done she looked like a completely different girl. Cyborg's rings were really good.

He put on his own rings and soon enough he was blonde, green-eyed, and wore baggy jeans and his own shaggy black hoodie.

"You look so different!" Starfire exclaimed.

"So do you. I kinda like it."

"You do not like how I normally look?" she asked, her eyes wide and just a little hurt.

"I love how you normally look," Robin said hurriedly. "I just meant the change is fun for the moment."

"Oh," she said, reassured.

"Come on, let's get this over with." He took her hand and led her down to the garage.

Robin owned a regular motorcycle he liked to use when he needed to stay low-key or hide his identity. He couldn't exactly take the R-cycle or the T-car when trying to go undercover.

"So where do you want to go? Smaller drug store, where a cashier might remember us but there's less people all together to witness? Or large retail where we'd blend in but there's a lot of people around?"

Starfire shrugged. "I do not know. I am uncomfortable either way."

"Yeah, me too."

"I do not want people to look at us. Let us go to the smaller store."

"Okay."

Robin got on the bike and Starfire seated herself behind him. He turned it on and revved the engine. He opened the door for the underwater tunnel which led to the caves by the shore. The Titans tried not to use the tunnel often because they didn't want people to realize there was a direct way to get to the tower without having to use a boat or an adapted T-car that skims over the water. The opening in the caves was concealed well and not visible to people passing by the area.

As they headed into the city, it was strange to note heads didn't turn and people did not notice like they did when Robin and Starfire were taking a joy ride through town. Robin was satisfied their disguises were working. They looked like two nobody kids that no one cared about.

He pulled up to a small drug store and parked the cycle in front. Starfire coolly slid from the bike and looked as sullen as possible to pull off the image, twirling a strand of hair in her fingers.

Robin put his hand in her back pocket and exaggerated his swagger as they walked into the store.

There were only two or three people perusing the aisles and the clerk was looking through a magazine. She barely noticed them.

The two headed for the feminine needs and contraception aisle.

"So," Robin said, staring at the merchandise, which included pregnancy tests. "What do we get?"

"Any of them will do," Starfire said, also staring. The nervousness spread through her stomach. It was as if touching one of the tests would make the situation they were in even more real.

"How about this one then," Robin said, plucking one from the shelf. "We want the most reliable, right?"

"I guess," Starfire said, eyeing it.

"You don't like this one?"

"I do not want to use any of them," she said with little humor.

"You have to use something," Robin said, exasperated. "You're the one who got us into this mess, remember?"

She pouted. "That one will do."

"Good." Robin surveyed the condoms. "Here," he plucked a box from the shelf. "Take these too. So we'll be prepared next time."

Starfire tried not to look hurt. "I am sorry, I really am…"

"I know you are. Don't get sad, what's done is done. Just, we'll have these for next time so even if you're, you know close or whatever, we can still be protected."

"Okay…" she said, pouting.

"Come on, don't be upset. We gotta get through this."

Starfire eyed the shelf. "These ones say 'for her pleasure.'"

Robin tilted his head in annoyance, planted the ones he had grabbed back on the shelf and tossed the "her pleasure" ones at Starfire.

"Oh, but these have ridges on them. I wonder how that would feel."

"Really? Just grab something and let's bolt."

"But these ones have a special lubricant that gets warm… oh and these have different flavors."

Robin stared at her pointedly.

"I did not realize there were so many options. We should choose-"

"Wisely? Like the box you have in your hand? Let's go, St-" Robin cut himself off and looked around warily. "-Stephanie. Come on," he hissed at her, grabbing her arm and leading her to the register.

He plunked the items down on the belt. The cashier lady looked up from her magazine blandly and took in their appearance and the irony of the items on the counter. She rung them up with one raised eyebrow and announced the total. Robin dug out his wallet and paid with cash. Yes we would like a bag. No we don't need the receipt. Have a good day now.

The two walked out of the store, both blushing.

Once they were back at Titans' Tower they took off the rings and left them in Cyborg's toolbox. Starfire clutched the bag protectively as they glanced around for any wandering Titans that could see them and ask where they had been and what they had bought.

They avoided the common room and made it to Robin's bedroom without incident. Starfire dumped the contents of the bag onto the bed.

"Well," she said uncertainly.

"Guess it's time, huh?" Robin said, the nervousness evident in his voice. "Let's see how it works."

He opened the package and a plastic strip slipped out. Folded paper directions were tucked in the box.

"Looks like you um… you know, do your thing… on it… and after two minutes lines will appear. Two red lines mean it's a positive. One red line is a negative."

"Seems simple enough," Starfire frowned. "There is a problem however. I do not have to go right now."

Robin snorted. "So drink a ton of water."

"I cannot just go on command!"

"Drink water!"

"It takes awhile to filter through my system!"

"Well try not having so many stomachs then!"

Starfire had to smile, even though her hands were shaking.

"Fine, get me the cup."

Robin crinkled his nose at her and went into his bathroom and filled his tumbler with water.

"Here."

She drank it quickly and went to refill it. After a couple of glasses they sat on the bed together, staring at each other.

"Gotta go yet?"

"No."

. . .

"Now?"

"No."

. . .

"How about now?"

"Robin please, you are not making this easy!"

"Well I wanna know! Our whole future is gonna be decided with two little lines. I wish you would just take the damn test already!"

"Oh!" she said. "I have to go."

He scrambled for the plastic strip and thrust it into her hands. He guided her into the bathroom.

"Can I watch?" he asked with a grin.

She pushed him out the door with a huff and shut it. She rested her back against the door and gazed at the little piece of plastic in her hands. Nervousness flittered through her belly and her hands trembled.

"Please go away from the door," she called.

"Aww why?" she heard from behind it.

"Because I cannot go when I know you are doing the listening!"

"Fine," he grumbled, shuffling away. "But I wanna know the instant you get a result."

She heard the bed creak as he sat down.

"Okay," she breathed. She did her business and after she was done she watched the strip intensely.

Robin knocked on the door.

"Are you done in there? What's it say?"

She didn't respond, just watched as the result slowly formed in front of her eyes. After the longest two minutes of her life she could tell it had fully appeared. She knew her answer.

And she didn't understand why she felt the way she felt.

Was she happy? She knew she should be happy. She should be relieved. But somehow all she felt was disappointment, and she didn't know why.

She unlocked the door and Robin came through instantly. He plucked the test from her hands.

"Oh thank God," he burst, whirling around and going out into his bedroom. He flopped down onto the bed, still looking at the test with amazement.

"One line Star! You're not pregnant!" he crowed.

She placed her hands on the bathroom doorframe, rested her temple against it, and looked at him with a blank face.

"That was a close one," he breathed, still enraptured by the fact that his life didn't have to change so drastically. "I can't believe it! So dodged the bullet there!"

Starfire frowned and her eyes started to well with tears.

Robin stopped uttering phrases of a relieved nature when he noticed her distress.

"Hey, what's wrong? What's wrong Star?" He placed his hands on her shoulders.

"It is nothing. I am glad we are not pregnant."

"You don't look glad. You look upset."

She shook her head. "I do not know how I feel."

"Did you actually want a baby, Star?" Robin sobered.

"No… well, no, I do not know how to explain. I feel very strange. It is just; after I realized we could be pregnant I was convincing myself that I was, so I could be prepared. I truly thought I was pregnant and I was getting used to the idea. I even… was a little excited." She looked down. "The negative makes it feel as though I have lost the baby, even though there never was a baby to start with."

"Star," Robin said sadly.

"I was thinking of names," she said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Robin hugged her to him tightly. "I'm a little sad too, honestly. It could've been fun to have a little one of us running around. But you know it just means this isn't the right time. It will be the right time soon, Star, but not now. I wanted to get married first." He kissed her on the forehead. "It'll happen for us someday."

She looked anxious, her forehead creasing. "But, what if this negative means we cannot conceive together? What if it means we are not compatible?"

"Don't worry about that now. This negative doesn't mean a thing other than I didn't slip one past the goalie this time. There's plenty of resources if we have trouble in the future when we're actually trying to have a baby, so don't concern yourself over it a second more."

"Okay," she said, not very convincingly.

"Be happy," he said, placing his hands on her cheeks and looking her in the eyes. "Be happy that we aren't rushing it."

"Yes," she said.

He kissed her fully. "We have plenty of time. We should enjoy ourselves now, cause once we have kids we're going to miss it."

"Yes," she nodded, sounding surer of herself. "You are right. We should enjoy being young while we can."

"Right. So tomorrow, I'm going take you dancing, and you're going to have fun."

Starfire smiled sedately. "Yes. I always like dancing."

"Good," Robin said. "I can't wait to see what you're gonna wear."

Starfire's smile widened and got more playful. "Your jaw will do the dropping."

Robin grinned. "I'm sure it will."

"It will do the knocking of your socks."

"You're getting me excited in more ways than one."

"You will be very excited tomorrow night."

"Star," he whined. "I can't wait."

"Well you will have to. I am tired tonight."

"You're just saying that. We could try out those new condoms," he said temptingly, leaning in and brushing his lips against hers in a feather like touch. "We haven't done anything for a week and a half."

She withdrew and fiddled with her hands in her lap. "I am not sure I am ready."

Robin's grin faded. "Okay. Tomorrow night then, we'll see what happens."

ooo

The next evening the boys were waiting in the common room for the girls to appear. Robin had put on a white button up shirt that had thread thin black stripes, with a black swirled design over the right breast. He rolled up the sleeves to his elbows. He donned a pair of dark loose denim jeans and a pair of black leather athleisure shoes. He spiked up his hair in his classic 'do and made sure his mask was in place.

Beast Boy wore a black tee shirt with a gray design of birds and a guitar on it. He also wore a pair of dark denim jeans, and black Converse hi-tops with white soles. His hair looked as it always did, like he had just effortlessly rolled out of bed.

Speedy had a white tee shirt with a green plaid button up shirt over it, medium wash jeans and white tennis shoes. He also didn't remove his mask. Cyborg didn't need to wear clothes or style his lack of hair.

Starfire came through the door first. Robin's jaw dropped open. She had on a shiny silver mini skirt that hugged tightly on her perfect hips and a white halter-top that was rouged down the sides and clung to her curves. She wore silver slim strappy shoes that crisscrossed over her feet with stilettos, making her glossy legs look a mile long. Her hair was tousled and wavy and cascaded down her back. She wore silver dangly earrings that consisted of different lengths of chain on a ring, and a long silver two length necklace that had clear beads along the chain. She also wore a round green pendant. Her makeup was dramatic and silver with a hint of blue and she had on pink lip gloss that made her lips look extremely pouty. She moved to the side and was pleased to see Robin openly gawking at her.

Bumblebee came through next and it was Cyborg's turn to stare dumbly.

She had taken out her pigtails and went for 70's fro. She had gold dangly earrings, gold makeup and bright red lipstick, and a large gold bangle on her wrist. She wore a tight fitting gold sequin tube top that showed all her taught midriff. Dark wash skinny jeans, a black belt with gold studs, and gold wide strap heels adorning her feet completed the bottom half of her ensemble.

Beast Boy was all geared up now to see Raven come through. He couldn't wait to see what the girls had forced her into. Maybe those booty pants…

Bumblebee winked at Cyborg and moved aside so Raven could appear.

Cyborg nudged Beast Boy in the ribs when Raven timidly stepped through the door.

"Oh damn," Beast Boy breathed.

She was wearing a black corset that pushed up her porcelain chest, a black choker, and dark gray smoky eye shadow. Her purple hair was brushed completely straight and shiny. She also had red lipstick, but no earrings. The corset was laced down the front with red ribbon that tied in a bow at the end, and showed a hint of midriff. She wore a black tight skirt that clung to her hips but loosened jaggedly on the bottom, falling just below her knees. The girls had forced her to wear black, kitten heel, peep toe pumps that had little red bows off the side of the toes. Her nails were painted ebony.

Raven was clearly not as confident as the two other girls, but she seemed to realize that the boys were staring at her for a reason. The look on Beast Boy's face made her stomach flutter.

"Ooh, damn you boys look fine!" Bumblebee exclaimed.

"Damn you lookin' fly, girl!" Cyborg said as Bumblebee joined him. "Check out that fro!"

Robin was mesmerized by Starfire's shining legs as she sauntered down the steps toward him, and while the heels did wonderful things to those legs and bottom, they also made up the height difference. She kissed him on the tip of the nose.

Beast Boy's eyes were glued to Raven's enhanced décolletage as she carefully navigated her way down the stairs in her heels. She came up beside him, shrugging shyly as he ogled.

"We takin' the T-car?" Bumblebee said. She led the way down to the garage.

When they reached the T-car they realized a dilemma.

"The car only seats five, and there's seven passengers," Cyborg said. "You and Star take the R-cycle?"

Robin shook his head. "I was working on it before we left. Something's wrong with the fuel pump."

"And I do not wish to fly with this skirt on. I do not want to give all of Jump City the sneaking of peeks."

"Ah, that skirt ain't much shorter than the one you normally wear," Bumblebee pointed out.

Starfire blushed, tapping her index fingers together. "It is possible that the underwear I have selected for this evening has less substance to it than usual."

All the boys were silent and looked at Robin, who was desperately trying to play it cool after that little announcement. Raven and Bumblebee looked at each other, smirking.

"Looks like two people get to sit on laps then," Cyborg broke the moment, raising his eyebrows up and down suggestively.

"I call Speedy's!" Robin announced cheekily.

"Hell no, dude," Speedy said vehemently, and everyone laughed at the look on the archer's face.

Cyborg slid behind the driver's wheel and Bumblebee took shotgun.

Speedy took one side, so he didn't have to sit in between both couples. Beast Boy slid in next to take the middle and Robin slid in after him. Raven frowned, because now she had to climb over Robin to get in. He grinned at her. She shook her head and started to step over him. He grabbed her hips and pulled her down into his lap and she muffled a shriek.

"Hey!" Beast Boy protested.

"I think I should get the girls tonight," Robin said with a teasing smirk. "There's room for all of them on my lap."

Raven gave him a playful smack on the shoulder and Beast Boy tugged her over onto him.

"Nuh uh, she's all mine." Beast Boy hugged her tightly around the waist. "Get your own hot girl!"

"Guess I'll just have to settle for you then," Robin joked as Starfire made her way into the backseat onto Robin.

"Settle!" Starfire said.

"I'm kidding!"

"Good thing the back windows are tinted, y'all," Cyborg laughed as he pulled out of the garage and jetted across the bay toward the city.

Robin quickly realized that having Starfire sit on his lap was super hot but also inconvenient for a rather pressing reason.

"What the hell, there's construction on this road or somethin'. It's really bumpy," Cyborg commented, irritated. Oh of course.

Starfire seemed to realize her beau's predicament and turned to look at him over her shoulder with a sly grin. Uh oh.

She rummaged through her little club purse and pulled out her lip gloss.

"Oops!" she exclaimed. Raven glanced over and knew she had purposely dropped it. She didn't even try to make it look like an accident.

Starfire leaned over to retrieve her fallen makeup, which of course evaded her by rolling around on the floor. She made sure to wiggle her bottom as suggestively as possible, which was right in Robin's face. He glanced over at Beast Boy with an incredulous look, and Beast Boy just grinned back.

Starfire finally grabbed her sneaky lip gloss and sat back up, making sure to push out her chest and flip her hair as she did so. She wiggled some more on Robin's lap, readjusting her position.

Robin shook his head and tapped his heel a couple of times, wondering how he was going to be able to leave the car without being completely obvious. It had been way too long since they had been together and while he was extremely happy to see Starfire recovering from all the drama of the past few weeks, her deliberate display was really causing a crisis downtown. She continued to rub herself against him all the way to the club. She was being flirty on purpose and though he found it amusing on some level he was seriously wondering how he could get out of the car without being noticed by everyone. Cyborg pulled into the parking lot and found a space. As he flipped off the ignition the Titans poured out of the car. Speedy left first and to Robin's relief Beast Boy and Raven went out the archer's door. Starfire pushed herself off Robin, looking back into the car with a beaming grin on her face. Robin looked down and checked himself, then gave her a teasing glare as he got out.

"You are not nice," he said, putting his hands into his pockets and pulling at his jeans, hoping this would help hide things.

"What did I do?" Starfire asked, putting on the most innocent face Robin had ever seen. If he weren't so preoccupied he would've melted right there. She leaned in and gave him a light kiss on his lips. He snorted through his nose at her audacity and she turned on her heel and swayed her hips as she sauntered off.

There was a line outside the club with a big burly bouncer standing formidably in front of the doors. Muffled bass from the music inside pounded into the night air.

The Titans headed to the end of the line, but the bouncer saw the Titan girls sashaying up and motioned for the group to cut to the front.

The club goers in the line were either awed by the sight of the Titans or annoyed at their special treatment. Bumblebee blew the bouncer an air kiss in thanks after he checked all their ids (the city, under a little duress, had allowed them to get special ones with their hero aliases to protect their real identities) and allowed them to enter the club. Anyone under twenty one was stamped on the back of the hand with a glow in the dark seal of the club's logo. It was hard to wash off and helped ensure bartenders wouldn't serve patrons that were not legal.

Starfire's eyes lit up as she looked around the interior of the club. She was no longer the timid girl that had gone to the party in the warehouse when her sister had visited. She had been so new to Earth then and did not know how to dance like Earthlings did, and she was unsure how to socially interact with humans other than her Titan friends. Now she loved going dancing and was confident in her moves.

"Oh, awesome!" Beast Boy exclaimed as he made his way in. "I love this song!"

He was already heading for the dance floor, singing along.

"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, saying ayo, gotta let go!"

Raven watched him with a smile and a shake of her head. She made a move for the bar and planted herself on a stool. She looked at the raised dance floor and saw Beast Boy already had a circle of people chanting for him while he busted his moves. He was still singing too.

The dance floor was lit up with squares that changed color sporadically. There were guard rails around areas of dance floor that were splatter painted with neon colors that glowed in the black light. Booths around the walls allowed people to sit and drink in a more intimate setting, couples tended to favor the dark corners, and the bar was black lit and splatter painted.

Raven ordered a virgin margarita and watched as heads turned when Starfire and Bumblebee made their way onto the floor. Recognition rippled through the crowd as they realized the Titans were present. Thankfully no one was tacky enough to pester them, as the sight of Titans around town was normal enough, though they didn't often come out into the nightlife like this.

Starfire grabbed Robin's hand and she started to move her hips, swaying with the catchy beat. She turned so her back was facing him and he followed along with her movements, watching the bow from her halter-top straps swing with her body.

Bumblebee was grinding on Cyborg, they had definitely missed each other.

The song blended into another one and Bumblebee crowed.

"This song is awesome! Cy, baby!"

A heavy bass line pounded throughout the club as Bumblebee made her way to the middle of the dance floor with Cyborg. She sang along with Fergie, beckoning at him that she was gonna be shakin' her hips, and he was gonna be lickin' his lips. She was gonna be the flyest chick, spreading her wings and doing her thang. Bumblebee buzzed her wings happily along with the lyrics. Beast Boy joined Cyborg and the two had fun lip-synching to the Black Eyed Pea's raps.

Robin was content to let Starfire grind on him, amused as the other Titans took the spotlight. Damn, she was good at dancing. When had she gotten so good? She must practice in front of her bedroom mirror. She sure knew how to pick an outfit too. The white shirt glowed brightly in the black light and he'd swear she was emitting her own energy because she was lit up from head to toe. He wasn't sure how he was going to get through this night without pawing her up in public.

When a recognizable melody started to play Beast Boy's eyes went wide and he grinned.

"RAVEN! This is totally our song!" he called over the floor, pointing both index fingers at her. She stared back at him.

Their song? Her cheeks went bright red and she turned around, placing a hand over her forehead and hunching over the bar. She peeked back. Oh great, he was coming over.

He came up to her stool and spun her around, his hips sliding between her legs naturally. She was still bright red, the song lyrics extremely suggesting. Were people staring?

"Ooh, baby, I be stuck to you like glue, baby, wanna spend it all on you, baby, my room is the g-spot, call me Mr. Flintstone, I can make your bed rock girl, I-I-I I can make your bed rock," he sang along.

This song contained that ridiculous pickup line he tried to use on her. Oh goodness. He was pulling their hips together and making her tingle in ways she didn't know she could. His eyes were twinkling and he was grinning, his hands curving around her bottom as he danced against her. The lyrics to the song were not helping. Every time he mentioned he could make her bed rock Raven had to sit up straighter as a pleasurable streak originated from her belly.

Starfire was getting down and dirty. The song was prompting her to grind her behind into Robin's pelvis and dip low to the floor before straightening her legs and then flipping the rest of her body up. Robin felt his knees going weak.

During the chorus Starfire turned around and slid one hand behind his neck, pressing herself along his body, swaying her hips against his.

She grinned wickedly and he knew if she kept this up, his little problem from the car was so not going to go away.

He had to admit, it was nice to see everyone finally enjoying themselves. This was definitely more fun than the banquet had been, and he was relieved to see Starfire acting like herself, even if her undercurrent of hurt was being hidden.

Bumblebee's eyes lit up when a song she knew began melding in.

"Starfire!" she called, beckoning her over.

Starfire grinned and started to sashay toward the other Titan girl, pausing in her strides and swaying with the beat of the music.

Cyborg and Robin's eyes widened and they stopped moving as the two girls met in the middle of the floor. Starfire rolled her hips and they started dancing on each other, just close enough to make every guy's temperature rise a few degrees but not enough to be slutty. It didn't help that the song they were dancing to was entrancing and she was oozing sex appeal. Starfire grinned at Robin. She just wanted him to loosen up her buttons.

On 'I'm a sexy mama' Starfire dipped low and swung herself back up, tossing her hair as Bumblebee swayed from side to side behind her. Robin had to catch the railing before he fell over. Cyborg inched his way to Robin's side and said, "Man are you seein' this?"

"Yep," Robin said, sucking in a breath. He was seeing this all right. Every time she dipped and swiveled those sexy hips he could see. He groaned, that skirt was tantalizing and all he could picture was her legs wrapping around his waist.

Beast Boy stole a wild glance at Raven and she smiled and shook her head with a roll of her eyes. She nodded at the two girls and Beast Boy's mouth hung open a little and he turned back around and watched the exhibition on the floor.

Starfire was running her hands over her sides very suggestively, her fingers just grazing her breasts as she slid them down, the Pussy Cat Dolls track continuing. When she locked eyes and beckoned at him with her finger, Robin had to pull at the collar of his shirt. In all the other times they'd come out, she had never been quite this bold. Though the tongues lolling out of the mouths of every other male in the place annoyed him, he was well aware he was the lucky one to take her home tonight. It was becoming clear he was going to be ushering her out of here sooner than expected. She was just too sexy.

Once the song was over she weaved her way back toward him and he couldn't help biting his lip. Damn it, she just didn't know the affect she had on him. Or maybe by the twinkling in her eyes, she totally did.

It had been such a harrowing past few weeks that dancing like this was such a release. It felt so wonderful to relax and not worry, not think about death, or the future, or anything other than the feel of her hips grinding against his, and wondering how they could slip away without being noticed.

ooo

"Hello."

Beast Boy heard a giggle behind him.

He turned around and a group of girls were behind him, the one who had spoken slightly out in front.

She was blonde and blue eyed and for a moment his chest panged.

"Hi," he said back stonily.

"Want to dance? You're all alone," she said coyly.

"No thanks," he said, letting her down easy. "I have a girlfriend." Nor did he want to stir up ghosts from the past. It wasn't her, of course it wasn't, but the blonde hair and the blue eyes always seemed to stab him in the heart.

The girls shuffled away, disappointed.

Beast Boy looked over at the bar and locked eyes with a violet stare. He couldn't break the gaze, but she did.

Shit. She could feel his emotions; she had to know. Sometimes dating her was complicated because she always knew what was in his heart. He couldn't hide anything from her.

The pain he always felt from reminders wasn't ever a 'what could have been.' It was too easy to fall into that trap and way too hurtful. He always sharply reprimanded himself that things didn't happen that way and they never would have and the road is closed. The ache was simply there and it would fade with more time. He suspected Raven felt the same way about a trickster dragon that had played her too.

She cast her eyes down and took a dejected sip of her drink, one foot bouncing slowly.

The sight of her looking so forlorn melted Beast Boy's heart and he had to go over and make it right. He didn't ever want her to think he was settling for her because he couldn't have something he didn't want in the first place.

"Hey beautiful," he said, sitting onto the stool next to her.

"Hey," she said. She gazed out across the crowd of club goers.

"You okay?" he asked, concerned, leaning in and speaking into her ear over the loud music.

"Are you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He smiled a little. "Yeah."

"Well, good." She frowned and twisted in her seat.

"Raven, what happened out there-"

"You don't need to explain."

"Yes I do. You're upset, I can tell."

"I'm hardly the one to be jealous about old flames, Beast Boy."

"But that's the thing," he protested. "It's not… you can tell how I feel, yeah it hurts whenever I see a reminder but it's not because I want her back or wish things had turned out different. Never. I'm happy with you, Rae. If things hadn't happened the way they did I never would have been with you."

"I know you're telling the truth."

"Then why do you look so unhappy?" he asked meekly. "I'm sorry about it, I really am. It just happens. Don't you feel the same way sometimes?"

She shrugged vacantly. "Sometimes. Yes. I'm not upset."

"Yes you are," he smiled. "I know you."

"It's more depressing that neither of us can truly shake our pasts. We have each other and we're happy, but there's always that little thorn in our sides."

"Doesn't everyone have that though? I don't ever want you to feel that you're second best or like, a replacement. You've never been that to me." He blushed and looked down. "Actually, she distracted me from you."

"What?" Raven said disbelievingly.

"Yeah. Well like, you said my jokes were funny. Remember, before the tower was built? I mean, since Robin and Starfire were always going off with each other that left you, me, and Cy to do stuff together. I kept trying to make you laugh but you got tired of me. It was a personal challenge," he grinned. "But then we just started fighting a lot and I didn't know how to tell you I liked you. And then … well, we all know the rest," he said gloomily.

"Oh."

"Yeah. So I've been hurt, so have you. We have each other now, right?" Beast Boy reached out and covered the top of Raven's hand with his own.

She smiled. "Yeah."

They shared a moment of silence, Raven willing the blush to leave her cheeks.

"Rae," he said, drawing her name out teasingly.

"What."

"Are you having fun at least?" Beast Boy asked.

Raven shrugged, fiddling with the straw in one of her empty glasses.

"It's okay."

"I know this really isn't your scene," he said.

Raven smiled at him. "But you like it, and I don't want to ruin your evening."

"You aren't. I'm just happy you're here, even if you're warming that barstool and downing virgin margaritas like nobody's business."

Raven snorted.

It was challenging when they went to the club, even if it wasn't that often. Beast Boy loved to dance and Raven didn't. It was difficult to watch the girls he stole out of Robin's fan club flock to him and twitter over him when he danced solo on the floor. She knew he always turned down many offers (case in point, the unfortunate offer he had just received) and it made her feel bad that she just couldn't be the girl up there with him. Club music wasn't much of her thing and she was too insecure to strut around up there like Starfire and Bumblebee did.

Beast Boy seemed to make his peace with it, she was grateful for that, even if he still pestered her to dance. They were opposites and this was one time it was glaringly obvious. She appreciated the little breaks he took like this to come and see her. It also helped remind all these bitches up in the club whom he belonged to. Not that Raven cared about competition. Or anything. Really she didn't. The whole sulking thing was a slip up. She sucked the bottom of her glass dry with her straw.

"You know I love you, right?" Beast Boy grinned.

She smirked and waved at the bartender for another round.

"What? No 'Oh Beast Boy I love you too, even more than life itself or waffles'?" he pouted.

"It's close. Waffles might have the edge."

"But I can turn into animals."

"You can pour syrup on waffles."

"You can pour syrup on me too," he said slyly.

"Ew," she crinkled her nose.

"And then I'll let you lick it off," he laughed.

"Make it chocolate and you've got a deal."

"Seriously?" he squeaked.

She grinned.

ooo

Robin couldn't help but smile as an upbeat song started. Starfire turned to face him with a big grin, putting her arms around his shoulders. He knew she liked this song. He pressed his lips to hers, moving their bodies together with the melody of the tune.

"Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky, they wipe away tears that I cry; the good and the bad times, we have been through them all, you make me rise when I fall," Starfire sang along, giggling. "Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling, and every time we kiss, I swear I could fly; cannot you feel my heart beat fast? I want this to last, need you by my side!"

Robin chuckled to himself; he shook his head and beamed at her antics. She eliminated contractions even while singing. It was one of those adorable quirks about her that he hoped she would never change.

Brightly colored lights rotated and swirled around the club, punctuating the rhythm of the song, and Starfire caught a glimpse of Beast Boy over by Raven's perch at the bar. She smiled; he was leaning against the counter and holding Raven close, whispering in her ear. She knew they were feeling the love too by the dopey grin on Beast Boy's face.

The changeling jumped up however when the tune ended and an unmistakable beat began.

"Sorry Rae! I gotta go!"

"I know, go have fun," she waved him off.

Beast Boy made his way over to Robin and Cyborg.

"Dude! We soooo have to for this one!"

Robin grinned and put his hands on Starfire's waist, moving her aside.

"Oh, what are you going to do?" she asked, clasping her hands. "You are going to dance?"

"Watch and see," he said, nodding to Beast Boy, Cyborg coming to the middle of the floor too.

The boys were bringing sexy back.

Beast Boy made sure a circle was cleared enough for him and went into a breaking move, kicking his feet out in a top rock display, one leg crossing over the other and circling before dropping down on his side, his arms holding him aloft.

He slid along the ground, kicking his legs back and forth before popping up onto his hands and planting his feet on the ground in an almost sitting position, extending one leg and twirling to swing up into a handstand. He spun around with his arms fully extended, his legs swinging wildly in a move called the 1990. He swung his feet back down and used his momentum to jump into a backward tuck.

After landing on his feet he was instantly on the ground again, this time spinning in a circle on his back, his legs spread wide apart in a windmill. He came out of the rotation and ended with an air chair, his elbow bent into his side holding him up, his head lifted and legs pointing at the ceiling.

"Drop it like it's hot, B!" Cyborg called.

"Check yo'self before ya wreck yo'self, dude!" he hollered back, jumping out of his pose.

The audience burst into claps and cheers. Raven had gotten up from her position at the bar and slid through the crowd so she could see.

Cyborg moved his way in, proving he could in fact do the robot and winking about letting you whip him if he misbehaves. He did a wave through his robotic parts; his fingers wiggling and the ripple continued through his shoulders into his other hand. He broke it down and his limbs became liquid, matching each pop with the beat of the song. Cyborg's metallic parts made him pop and lock like no other; it was amazing to see the control he had over the cybernetic parts attached to the nerve endings he had left. He made his whole body roll, starting at his head and wiggling it all the way down to his feet, then continued back up to his head. The crowd went wild.

"That's my baby!" Bumblebee crowed.

After Cyborg finished his routine Robin stepped up and grinned, both hands tugging at the collar of his button up shirt. He ushered the circle to part a little further.

He took a little running leap, rolling into a cartwheel, completing two back flips into a backward three revolution tuck.

Immediately he dropped into a six-step, his legs crossing over themselves so quickly it was amazing to watch him. From the six-step he moved seamlessly into a windmill but instead of completing the move he used the momentum to propel up into a halo.

"That's so sick!" someone from the crowd exclaimed.

He stopped himself short, lifting his whole body up by one hand and hopping, kicking out with his legs. Starfire couldn't help that her eyes were glued to his body as his shirt slid down with gravity, revealing his extremely toned abs. He leaned down onto his elbow, then popped back up, splitting his legs wide in the air and grabbing one leg with his free hand.

He kicked them back together and jumped up to a standing back flip, slid down to do another windmill before finishing with a hong ten freeze, his hands and head supporting him on the ground and his legs in the air, one bent backward and the other out straight to the side.

He snapped his legs together in one fluid motion as he shoved himself up from the floor back to standing. He grinned, leaned and brushed off his shoulder as the floor applauded and catcalled.

"Fucking wicked, dude," Beast Boy said, slapping his hand and clasping it.

He clapped Beast Boy on the back and set his eyes on Starfire, who was looking back at him hungrily. His display of athleticism was one of the hottest things she had ever seen him do.

There were several girls tripping and following him along in the crowd, but he ignored them all and slipped his arm around Starfire's waist and dipped her slightly for a ridiculously amazing kiss. There were many disappointed sighs.

Beast Boy was also receiving his share of attention and while Raven was annoyed she could tell he was flattered but uninterested, warranting no overreaction on her part.

Her eyes widened in surprise when he said, "Ladies, please," and pushed his way through the throng of feminine bodies to make his way to her. She blushed and he grinned that goofy smile at her with one fang poking up. He picked her up, she muffled a shriek and he planted one right on her lips, pulling her legs around his waist. He plopped her down before she knew what was happening and sprinted back to the floor, pointing at her.

"This one's for you, baby!"

He dropped right into an airflare, twirling rapidly in a circle. He moved into a back spin, and propelled into a handcuff windmill, clasping his hands behind his back. As he came out of the move he popped back onto his feet and rolled backwards and landed on his head, his legs and arms splayed. Everyone cheered as he pushed up with his hands and spun back into a superman windmill. He came out of the power move and sealed the deal with a spinning airchair, slowly turning in a circle on one hand while he held his legs up.

"Awwww yeah B, holla!" Cyborg whooped as Beast Boy landed back on his feet. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

Cyborg slapped Beast Boy a five and Raven gave him a little wave as he beamed at her, his eyes bright.

The song ended and dancers started filtering back together, working into the next rhythm.

Beast Boy approached Raven, ignoring some flirty girls behind him.

"Hey," he said.

"That was hot," Raven admitted.

"Now just imagine all that energy and flexibility used for other purposes," he said, his tooth poking up over his sly grin.

Raven blushed. "Back to the bar."

He followed along after her. "So really? You totally thought that was hot?"

"I did."

The beat throbbing throughout the club made Robin smile at the irony. He actually was entertaining the company of an alien. She wasn't like the others, they didn't understand her, and she was from a whole other world. Starfire grinned at him and slid her arms around his waist, rocking with him.

He still couldn't believe they were finally home, finally safe, dancing to this silly song. She was in his arms, he was watching the way her beautiful body moved with the music the entire night and he wanted her. He couldn't keep his hands off her. The club accented the feel of Katy Perry's ET with strobe lights and she was intoxicating as she swayed herself provocatively in front of him, the flickering effect making her seem even more supernatural.

Robin did as the lyrics suggested and kissed Starfire, pulling her close and stopping her from moving. He slid his hands over her, mapping her curves and leaning into her. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, slightly floating off the ground. He felt enveloped by her taste, her touch, her sweet smell.

"I don't ever want to let you go," he teased.

"Good. We can just stay here, holding onto each other until the club closes and it is the morning."

He laughed. "I have other plans for tonight."

She perked, her eyes sparkling. "Oh?"

"Yeah. And it doesn't involve standing here until the place closes."

"What do your plans involve then?"

He leaned in and brushed his lips on her cheek, his tongue licked just slightly, his breath hot in her ear.

"Oooh," Starfire melted and he had to support her weight as she stopped floating and her head lolled back.

"Good plan," she murmured, a grin spreading on her lips.

ooo

It was getting later into the evening and Starfire was beginning to feel exhaustion creep up on her. Her trip to the mall with Bumblebee and Raven had helped cheer her up, and though she still felt the twinge of weird relief mixed with disappointment over the non pregnancy, she finally felt like she could breathe again. The thought of her sister still weighed on her heart however; she felt raw, exposed, and it was difficult to keep stuffing her emotions away. Robin's company had been truly wonderful tonight and she smiled because he could always make her feel better. And the fact that he was so completely turned on for her made her body ache for him in response. It had been too emotional and too long since they had tangled in the sheets… or shower. No need to be picky.

Starfire murmured into Robin's ear and excused herself to go to the ladies' room. He nodded and leaned against the wall to wait for her return.

Starfire looked around for Bumblebee or Raven, to see if they would go with her, but Raven was sitting on her bar stool talking to Beast Boy and Bumblebee was all involved in Cyborg. Starfire shrugged and went by herself.

While she was in a stall she heard the door open and two giggling girls entered. She didn't pay any attention to them until she heard them talking about Robin.

"Seriously, he's so hot," one of them said. "Did you see when he was break dancing? Oh my fucking God."

"I know. It was amazing," the other sighed wistfully.

"It's not fair he's dating that weird alien slut. She looks like she used eight bottles of fake tan."

"Her eyes are freaky. And she looks anorexic."

"What does he see in her? Apparently fake tan and weird bug eyes are his thing or something."

"I don't know. He doesn't come out into the city like this very often. Maybe he just hasn't had a chance to meet anyone else?"

"Think I should wait till she's gone and make a play at him?"

"They haven't been apart the entire night. I don't think you'll get a chance."

"I'm way hotter than her. I should just push her out of the way and make him see what he's missing. She should go back to her weird alien planet and leave the hot Earth boys to us. Either that or go find a job on Jersey Shore."

That was it. Starfire finished up in the stall and slammed open the door, going to the sink to wash her hands. She didn't even glance at them.

The two girls hushed in almost comical silence. One of them snorted cruelly and the other one stifled a giggle. They obviously felt no remorse.

Starfire tossed her hair and went out the other door so she wouldn't have to pass them.

Once outside the bathroom however, she leaned against the wall and put a hand over her mouth, trying not to feel how much those girls' words had hurt her.

She was always hyper aware that her appearance was different than humans. At first it was just a given, she was new here and she still identified herself as a Tamaranian, but the longer she stayed the more she wanted to fit in. She picked up very quickly that humans placed much value on physical appearances. Robin had always made her feel like her features were beautiful and exotic. These girls made her feel like a freak.

She drew in a shaky breath and tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to get a handle on it, worried of ruining her makeup.

"Well look who's all alone," a voice sang. It made her shudder and she looked up warily.

A group of boys who appeared older than her were standing around and blocking off her view of the club. The bathrooms were in an alcove and the second girls' door led out next to the men's room.

"Please, do not bother me," she said tartly. Dealing with these clowns was the last thing she felt like doing after the incident in the bathroom.

"What'chu got goin' on, baby? She a hot piece of ass ain't she, boys? She's sittin' out here just waitin' for me. You should be smilin' baby girl. I can put a smile on your face." He leered and leaned in, reaching for her chin. She jerked her head, snarling and lighting up her eyes. She could smell alcohol on his breath and the others were snickering, closing in.

She really didn't want to punch this guy's lights out, but if he came any nearer she was caught in just the right mood to lose it. He put his hand on the wall over her shoulder and she hastily shied away, but another boy flanked her to the right and she had nowhere to go.

"I am warning you," she said threateningly, lighting her hands to make her point. She could take out this whole group without exerting any effort at all, but they didn't seem to be concerned about that. She really should shed the squeaky clean image; this was getting tiresome. She was a damn warrior princess after all.

"Ooh, look at her gettin' all feisty," the main instigator said, reaching for a strand of Starfire's hair. She growled and slapped his hand away, scratching at him with her nails. "I like a lady who's a little freaky. Think she's this feisty in bed?"

"Like a wildcat. But you'll never know."

Starfire flicked her head over to look past the group as they started parting.

Robin stood there, his arms crossed. He was not amused.

"I didn't think anyone was stupid enough to hit on my girlfriend."

"Oooooh, I'm so scared," the guy taunted. "It's Robin." He waved his hands around while his cronies snickered.

Robin rolled his eyes to the side and tilted his head with a suffered sigh. Starfire scooted through the boys and went to stand behind him.

"No one touches my girlfriend and gets away with it."

"Really? She looked like she was into it. Come on fucker, let's see what you got," the idiot said, brushing the back of one hand on his nose and beckoning with the other as he crouched into a fighting stance.

"Seriously?" Robin said, raising an eyebrow. "I think your brain is sloshing around in a sea of inebriated grandeur if you think you can take me."

"Listen to the pretty boy and his big words. Let's go asshole, fight me."

Robin stayed where he was while the other boy advanced. He started throwing out sloppy punches and Robin merely moved his head to the side or just shifted his shoulder, each one missing by a mile.

"What's the matter tough shit? Afraid to take a hit?" the other boy jeered.

He threw a jab right for Robin's face. Robin flicked up his hand and caught the guy's fist, crunching it hard and twisting. The boy shrieked in pain.

"I only take hits from people who are skilled enough to land one on me," Robin said, swinging the guy around and planting an elbow on the back of his upper arm, forcing him down. "Now run along and next time I swear I won't hold back if I see you even glancing in her general direction again." He shoved the guy away.

One of his buddies came flying in with a wild punch behind Robin. He ducked and spun, using the boy's momentum to cast him aside. Several other cronies started for Robin and he dodged them all, pushing their fists away and leaping through their attacks. One actually managed to brush the fabric of Robin's shirt, and he received a punch in the gut for his efforts. The problem with leaving them unharmed is they kept coming back. Time to shut this shindig down.

All it really took for any of them was a well-aimed hit and they were incapacitated.

Soon two boys remained, one buddy and the jerk who had started all the trouble.

As Robin was punching the pal in the solar plexus, the guy who had leered at Starfire was going for a hit to the kidneys. Starfire darted up and socked him in the jaw. The kid went down like a sack of bricks.

"That is for being the hole of ass!" she said to him primly, her hands on her hips. Robin had to grin.

The group of unruly boys were staggering to their feet and groaning, slinking away with what little dignity they had left.

Robin pulled Starfire into a hug.

"You okay?"

She nodded and sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"I'm sorry. I should've come with you." He tilted her chin up. "Were you crying? Why do you look so sad?" He brushed a small trail of mascara off her cheek.

"It was not them so much as the girls in the bathroom."

"The girls in the bathroom?"

Starfire looked away, chewing on her lip.

"They said I look funny. That I have the eyes like a bug and that my skin looks like the fake tan." Her bottom lip trembled. "They said they did not understand what you see in me, and that I should go back to Tamaran, or to a place called the Shore of Jersey." She sniffled and wiped a hand across her nose.

"Oh," Robin smiled with a chuckle. Starfire frowned at his reaction. "They're just jealous, Starfire. You're incredibly gorgeous and they can't hold a candle to you, so they say mean things to make themselves feel better."

"I do not understand," she said. "How does slandering me make them feel better?"

"It's bullying 101. People say something mean about someone else so they can feel better than the other person. What those girls said is completely untrue."

"But my skin is a funny color compared to Earthlings."

"Yeah, well some people think skin color matters. It doesn't, especially not to me."

"My eyes are also different," she pouted.

"Your eyes were the first thing I noticed about you, so you really shouldn't worry."

"Really?" she said, smiling just the slightest, looking up at him through her lashes.

He laughed. "Yes. I thought they were beautiful after you finally stopped glowing at me."

She giggled.

"Wanna know what I noticed next?"

"What?" she asked.

"Your hair," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist and pushing her against the wall, nuzzling into her neck.

"My hair?"

"Yeah. It's red."

"You have the thing for the red heads."

"I sure do. And then I noticed this hot, sexy body," he said, running his hands all over that hot sexy body.

"Do go on," she said playfully.

"I can tell you're feeling better."

"Maybe. I am getting there. Tell me more," she giggled.

"How about I show you?"

"That would work."

He leaned in, closing the distance between their lips and molding his body along hers. She sighed in contentment through her nose and placed her fingertips on his hips.

After a moment she disconnected and smiled. "I am thirsty."

"Well I can fix that. Let's get a drink then. Come on," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her back into the main room. He scanned for Raven but she wasn't sitting at the counter anymore although there was a pile of glasses where she had been. He snorted. Good thing they weren't alcoholic. She probably had to take her own bathroom break.

"Oh," Starfire said, half turning away and frowning as she viewed the bar. "Those girls are the ones from the bathroom."

"Which ones?" Robin asked.

"The two with the blonde hair."

Robin crinkled his nose. "Those types of girls are a dime a dozen. Like they have anything on you."

"I do not wish to approach them," she said, looking away.

Robin shook his head. All his hard work at getting her to feel comfortable in her own skin and living among humans and two stupid catty girls tore everything down in one go. Thank God she never had to endure high school.

"All right," he said, taking her shoulders. "You stay here. I'll be right back." He pecked her cheek.

He went up to the bar, noticing the girls were staring at him and giggling. He ordered two virgin cocktails, and was waiting for the bartender when the girls sidled up to him.

"Hey," one of them said.

Robin raised an eyebrow and barely looked at her.

"Ah… hey."

"I've always wanted to meet you," she said, batting her eyes.

Oh gag me with a spoon. It left Robin nowhere to go conversationally and he just nodded and jiggled a little, hoping the bartender would sure hurry up.

"My friend and I know about this awesome party," she said, twirling her hair. "It's seriously hooked up and we like to have a good time, if you know what I mean." She grinned at him. "Wanna ditch this place?"

"Sorry, but no."

"Aww come on. I bet you like to have a little fun, and this party will be really awesome. It's in my friend's mansion and he can mix any drink you want."

Robin sighed. He couldn't count the times he had encountered girls like these in Gotham. Fake, shallow, self absorbed, and only interested in his fame and money. And definitely not as pretty as they thought they were. "Not impressed."

She scowled, annoyed her flirting wasn't working. "Why not? Think you're too good for us common people?"

"That's not it at all. I'm here with my friends, and I don't know you. I have no interest in going to some random mansion to get trashed. Plus, I'm not on the market. I have a girlfriend."

"Oh yeah, her," the girl said with distaste. "You could do so much better. Like me for example."

The bartender finally came with their drinks. Robin was angry as he took both glasses in his hands and turned to the girl. He knew he couldn't really let her have it, because he had a reputation to uphold, but enough was enough.

"You know, I tried to be nice. But I'm sorry, I'm just not attracted to dyed blonde hair and 'stuck up bitch.' Now if you will excuse me, I need to get back to my incredibly hot girlfriend."

Robin was ashamed to admit he felt a wicked streak of satisfaction as the girl's mouth dropped open in shock as he headed back to Starfire.

Starfire looked unsure when he approached, holding out a cocktail to her.

"What did you say?" she asked, eyeing the two at the bar, who looked furious.

"I shut her down," Robin said with a vicious smile. It was the same smile that had graced Dick Grayson's face multiple times in the same situation.

Starfire took her glass and swirled the little straw around, clinking the ice cubes.

"Oh, well good."

He set his glass down on a drink table. "Hey. Cheer up. Don't let two stupid girls ruin our evening out."

Robin sighed. This reminded him of the damage control he had to do after Val-yor's little visit. Prejudice was one thing Robin absolutely couldn't stand. He was extremely angry with himself that he had been too awed and wrapped up in Val-yor's apparent coolness and hadn't noticed what the man was doing to Starfire. That same surge of anger flared up as he recollected when Cyborg clued him in; the name Val-yor had been calling her the entire time had been a severe slur to Tamaranians. He was so proud of her and the way she ended that mission, but after the bastard was gone he remembered how many times she cried on his shoulder and he tried to offer comfort. It was bad enough other species in the galaxies didn't respect her; humans cast their prejudices on her too. She knew she was attractive to her own people but when it came to everyone else she was so insecure.

"Hey, Starfire?"

"Yes?" she said, looking up and sucking on her straw.

"You're beautiful," he said earnestly. She stopped drinking and looked at him with bright sad eyes.

"Thank you, but your attempts to make me feel better are the transparent."

"You don't understand. I've seen a lot of girls in my line of work, as both egos, and there's not a single girl on this Earth who is like you. That's the best part."

Starfire's cheeks dusted red. "You are doing the trying too hard," she said, waving him off.

"I didn't believe in soul mates until I met you."

Starfire frowned and put down her drink.

"Kind of funny to think that my other half wasn't even on this planet."

"You really do feel this way?" she asked.

"I do."

A sweet smile spread across her lips. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I believe in the soul mates too."

A lilting hint of accordion filled the club's atmosphere as Edward Maya's Stereo Love began. They finished the last of their drinks and he took her hand.

"I do not know if I am in the mood to dance anymore," Starfire informed him morosely, being tugged.

He turned around and pulled her close. "I'll get you in the mood," he said, breathing in her ear and making her shiver.

Robin led her to a corner and the let the music meld them together, she straddled one of his legs, their hips pressed tight and his mouth just barely touching hers. His breath fanned over her lips as she slid a hand behind his neck, grinding closely.

Starfire closed her eyes and tilted her head back as the dark beat pulsed in her chest. She felt the connection, felt his heat pressing into her, their proximity and the intoxicating sounds sending them into a surreal haze.

He flipped them and pressed her against the wall, attaching his mouth over hers, his hand wandering over her side, down over her hip and thigh, around to her bottom, over the small of her back. He wanted her right now. She was smirking against his lips, and he knew she could tell just exactly how much he wanted her by the impressive bulge pressing into her belly.

She put her hands on his shoulders and sank down, her palms sliding along his body on the way. He groaned and rolled his head back, then blinked as he looked down at her bright green eyes staring back up at him from his midsection. Yeah, that wasn't suggestive at all. She rose back up, swinging her body from side to side along with the music and he pulled her to him.

"How are we going to get out of here?" he asked, his lips fluttering against her ear. Starfire smirked and slid her hand in between them, brushing against him and enjoying his sharp intake of air.

Some of the Titans had congregated while Beast Boy was waiting for Raven to come back from the bathroom.

"Where are Robin and Starfire?" Bumblebee asked, glancing around the club.

"Oh, they're over there, practically having sex in that corner," Beast Boy pointed.

Bumblebee looked. "Good lord," she uttered.

Cyborg snorted. "He sure has gotten over the p.d.a."

"I think they forgot other people are here," Beast Boy grinned.

"I give em' a half an hour at most before they mysteriously disappear," Cyborg said.

"I call fifteen minutes," Bumblebee challenged.

"Ten," Beast Boy nodded.

"Oooh! I love this song!" Bumblebee exclaimed. "Come on, Sparky!" She pulled Cyborg back to the dance floor.

Raven ghosted up behind Beast Boy. "Hey."

"Raven," Beast Boy said brightly. He gave her a hug.

"Five."

"What? What are you talking about?" Beast Boy asked.

Raven nodded to the two in the corner. "Five minutes."

"So, you gonna dance with me?" Beast Boy asked slyly, pulling her hips in and swaying her.

"No."

"Rae, come on!" Beast Boy whined.

"No. Going back to the bar. I broke the seal, so now I have to reload." Beast Boy snorted as she sauntered to her seat. When he turned back, Robin and Starfire were gone. Huh. Raven won the bet.

"You owe me twenty dollars," she called over her shoulder.

"But, what?" Beast Boy said, aghast. "We didn't even bet with money!"

She gave him a sassy smirk.

ooo

Robin and Starfire were giggling as they stumbled together up to the roof of the club. Once topside, Starfire tugged at her skirt and grinned.

"How am I to fly us home without giving Jump City the sneak peeks?"

"Well, maybe if you hold your arms around me and you're on top and we go really fast… aw who cares, let Jump have a show. Just get us home."

"Okay! Let us go!" She scooped him up around his ribcage, his back pressing to her stomach and zoomed them toward the tower.

Robin couldn't help laughing as she raced through the sky faster than she'd ever taken them. Even through the mask tears poured out of his eyes and it was hard to catch his breath as the air sucked past them. She set them down on the roof of Titans' Tower and he staggered away, taking off his mask and wiping at his eyes, still chuckling. They both had wind blown hair.

"That was amazing!"

Starfire jumped and kissed him and they made their way down to his bedroom, kissing and giggling the entire way, only stopping when he pressed her against the wall for a moment to get lost in each other.

They made it to his door and he gave her a playful shove inside. He made sure the lock was coded just incase the others came home early too. Then he reattached himself to her, moving them toward the bed.

He pushed her down and she fell backward onto the mattress with a laugh. He fell on top of her and proceeded to nibble on her neck. She squealed and squirmed.

"That tickles!"

"It tickles? Really?"

"No no! Do not do the tickling of me!" she shrieked. He ignored her plea and his fingers were everywhere. She belly laughed and rolled, trying to get away from him but he was too dexterous.

Finally he caught her feet and slipped her shoes off. "Are your feet ticklish too?" he grinned.

"No," she giggled, wiggling her toes at him. "They are the only place that I am not the ticklish."

"Hmm," he said with humor, tossing her other heel over the side of the bed. He slid his hand up her calf and over her thigh. Starfire's eyes widened as his hand kept going.

"Oh," she breathed as his hand slipped all the way up. He leaned down and caught up her mouth, his tongue mingling with hers. His fingers massaged and kneaded inside her and she jumped as he found a place that felt really good, this thumb caressing her on the outside.

He smirked against her lips. "Look at you, you're getting your panties all wet."

"That is because someone was the hasty and did not take them off," she said slyly.

"There's barely anything to them."

"That is the attraction, is it not?" she giggled.

"I think I need to see just what these look like," he said, removing his hand and wiggling her skirt off her hips.

"This is in the way too," he complained, making her sit up so he could untie her top.

She leaned back down and he stared.

"Oh yeah, that is much better."

She wore a white string thong, which had glittery sparkles and a metal butterfly clip on one of the sides. She had worn white adhesive cups on top so her back would be strapless, but the cups were decorated too, with little rhinestones along the top edges.

Robin swallowed.

"If I had known this is what you were wearing underneath, we never would have made it to the club in the first place."

"Surprise," Starfire said cheekily.

A grin leaped onto his face as he leaned down again.

At that moment Silkie chose to slug up happily, his crushed soda can in his mouth. He burped and plopped it onto Starfire's pillow. He grunted with his wide toothy grin and flailed his legs.

"Not now, Silkie," Starfire chastised, giving him a gentle push away.

He grunted some more, nudging at the can.

"You're cock blockin' me, little man," Robin said playfully. He picked up the soda can and threw it. Silkie squiggled away to retrieve it.

Robin shook his head with a grin as the little larva came right back.

"Trying to get laid here," he said pointedly at their pet worm, who was holding his toy in his mouth, looking back up at the two with expectant hopeful eyes.

Silkie was booted out the door with his soda can.

"Okay, now that he's gone," Robin laughed, diving back onto the bed. "We can get started."

"What is the 'cock block'?" Starfire asked. "I have not heard this expression."

"Ahh…"

Starfire looked at him curiously.

"Having to explain it would feel like a cock block in and of itself," Robin snorted. "Let's just keep going, okay?"

She frowned but nodded and let it go. He slid off the bed.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

He pulled open his nightstand drawer and took out a box.

"Oh," she said, eyeing the packet in his hand. "You want to use one? We would not need one at this time…"

Robin scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I know. It's just ah, well I think I'll probably want to use them for awhile, just to be on the safe side."

"Oh." Starfire tried not to frown and looked away. It seemed there were still some issues lingering from their fight.

He tossed the packet onto the bed and crawled up beside her.

"Hey, come on," he said, turning her chin toward him. "I love you."

"I know this," she said, hugging her arms over her chest. He pulled them apart and placed them at her sides.

"Then smile for me."

She complied, albeit a little unsteady. He trailed his lips over her cheek and nibbled on her ear, one hand sliding to the cups covering her breasts. He peeled one away, then the other, tossing them over the side of the bed.

He looked down, a smile playing on his lips, palming her in his hands. "Perfect."

"How come I am almost naked and you still have your shoes on?" she complained.

"Because no one's tried to take my clothes off yet," he said.

"I must remedy that immediately then."

He kicked off his shoes while she went for the buttons on his shirt.

He shrugged out of it, and she slid her hands along his stomach and chest as she helped take off his white undershirt.

He watched her eyes dilate as she eyed up his chest, her fingers tracing the grooves of his muscles.

"This is perfect," she echoed.

"We're skipping foreplay, right?" he grinned naughtily.

She crinkled her nose at him. "What is that expression Cyborg said? 'You must first warm up the frying pan before doing the tossing in of the bacon.'"

Robin laughed. "So you're saying you want foreplay. Okay okay."

"Is that too much to ask?" she challenged him playfully, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "Here I went through all of the trouble to wear the thong for you and you want to skip the foreplay and everything will be over in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes! Oh come on, at least give me fifteen, jeesh!"

"Fine. Fifteen minutes. And then you will become sleepy and roll over and start the snoring."

"I do not snore!" he said indignantly.

"Yes you do!" she laughed. "Because you always do the falling asleep afterward and I am always awake!"

He growled teasingly, grabbed her hips and yanked her down underneath him so she was flat on the bed.

"Fine. Foreplay, fifteen minutes of sex, and I promise I won't fall asleep afterward."

She giggled. "Pinky swear promise?"

"Pinky swear."

"Okay," she nodded. "Commence with the foreplay."

His hand slid right up into her and she gasped, rolling her head back. His fingers teased, kneaded and hit places that made her body react, curling up against his hand. She seemed to respond the closer he pressed in a certain area. He wondered if her anatomy was like a human woman's. It was possible; she possessed all the correct external characteristics. Based off that, he guessed that right about, there…

Starfire sat up and clutched his arm.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Oh," she said, breathless. "What was that?"

"Think I found it," he said smugly. "We never really tried, I wasn't sure if you had one, since you're not human. But I think you do. And I think it's right… here."

Starfire released a long moan and lay back down. "I agreeeee. Keep doing… ooh…"

He took his fingers away for the split second it took to slide her thong down her legs and toss it over his shoulder.

He wasn't sure how this would happen, but she seemed to lose herself the longer his fingers manipulated and prodded against her. He knew the right button to push so to speak on the outside; that was pretty easy. Internally however was different, it wasn't simple to find and he could only gauge by her reactions if he was close. Her eyes were rolling back and she couldn't keep still, her body writhing back and forth against his sheets. Her chest was heaving she was panting so hard. The sight of that compelled him to lean down and lavish attention with his mouth, biting a peak between his teeth and she voiced her reaction, "oohs" purring from the back of her throat when he changed his teeth to tongue. Her hands held firmly on the back of his head, pressing him to her softness.

He was getting close to something, he could tell by the noises she was making. She was dripping all over his hand and her body was tensing. He kept working but instead she sat up in one swift motion and flipped them, he laying on his back and she now sitting on her knees over him from the side. He realigned his hand and she practically tore his pants off in her haste to remove the rest of his clothing. His eyes widened as she leaned down and he couldn't help the sound that escaped his lips when she took him into her mouth. His eyes rolled back in his head; her tongue felt magical.

The sensation was so incredibly good that he lost focus on what he was doing to her for a moment, his lusty blue eyes half lidded as he watched her. She turned her green orbs up at him and he shuddered at the intensity in them. She pulled away and he lamented the loss of contact. She was slinging a leg over him and when he realized what she intended he hastily grabbed for the forgotten packet and tore it open. She waited impatiently while he quick rolled the latex barrier on and then she sank down, impaling herself on him and he groaned, words garbled as he watched her dip with concentration above him.

New favorite position. By far. He thought seeing her back curving out in front of him had been provocative, and it was but this, to use one of her words was glorious. Her messy bed hair was wild and cascaded over her shoulders, her perfect breasts bounced with every movement she made. Her flat sculpted stomach and cute little navel melded into perfectly rounded hips which were encasing his own. He could see everything. If she was going to pull this, then ten minutes was more accurate because there was no way he could hold out longer. Especially with her little mouth distraction minutes earlier.

She was dipping and swaying on him, using the control this position offered her and he could only accent her movements by pushing up, by groaning and watching the emotions flit across her face. Her eyes were lost into the green hue and he was momentarily confused by the frustration he could see in her features. She was trying something different, and he realized she was trying for what he had been attempting to accomplish earlier.
Oh, nope. She was thinking too hard about it now. It wasn't going to happen that way, not when she was getting upset.

He stopped her hips and she leaned down and pressed their bodies together.

"I do not know how," she said mournfully.

"Cause you're thinking about it too hard," he said softly into her ear. "It's not gonna happen right away. We only just figured out you had one in there. Come on, sit up."

She did as he told her and he slid his hand to where they were joined, knowing he could easily get her there the normal way. She moaned and rolled her head back again. Well that always felt good. She rocked down, placing a hand on his headrest to brace herself.

The look of pure attentiveness on her face and the sight of her tensing was undoing him. This position changed the feel of her body surrounding him and the way she was moving those sexy hips was blissful. He wasn't doing all the work this time, he was just absorbing the absolute pleasure of seeing and feeling her above him and it took only moments as she started grinding harder for him to completely lose it.

He saw her eyes flit to him and he knew she could tell the signs of his release, the way his back arched and the sounds he made changed. It seemed to be the last push for her and she tightened around him, shrieking a stream of gargled ohs and writhing around like she was riding a mechanical bull. Fuck. Me. Well if that wasn't the hottest thing he'd ever seen.

She flopped over him, her whole body panting as her hand clutched his shoulder.

Yep. New favorite position.

Oh and that totally was longer than fifteen minutes, so there.

---

Hey kids! Guess what time it is? Sex-ed with Kater time, yay!

Kry put a very important public service announcement at the end of one of the chapters in Masks and I started panicking because I realized I could be responsible for a bunch of people getting pregnant, so now I realized I should put in a disclaimer.

I know I have a lot of younger readers and when I was your age I was guilty of this too. We learn about sex from the things we read and the things we see on movies, tv, whatever. The problem is absolutely all of this is idealized, glorified, completely unrealistic.

I'm guilty of writing idealized sex too. Mostly because no one wants to read about what it sounds like when two bodies are slapping together (it sounds funny, let's just put it that way) or how it can go from pleasure to pain in one motion, or the stupid things we say while we're in the middle of it, like "Ouch, you're on my hair." "Well fine you get on top. Oh now your hair is in my face." "Deal with it." "Move… no… move your hips a little. I fell out, put me back in." "Ow, that's my cervix." "Seriously dog, get the hell out of here." If you have a pet, you can bet that your dog is going to be sitting on your bed or the cat's suddenly going to be interested in what you're doing.

Anyway, why am I making a point about all this? Because you're reading my story. And you're getting ideas about sex from my story, and because this isn't the stuff school will teach you about and your parents sure as hell aren't going to talk to you about this stuff, especially ploys like "Just the tip."

Imagine my surprise everyone, when I watched Wedding Crashers and there's Vince Vaughn with his little rant about the awkward "ass-out" hug and then maybe they play a little game called "just the tip, just for a second, just to see how it feels" and then the "ouch ouch you're on my hair." I seriously had an epiphany moment right then and I gave hubby a good smack. Guess who fell for "just the tip"? –raises hand- I didn't even realize it was a recognized ploy, or that it was a ploy at all until I saw that movie. You just don't get taught about this stuff until it happens to you or you're lucky enough to pick up a reference somewhere before you fall for it.

I wrote a scene like it because it's real, it's a thing guys will try, yes even good guys who end up being your husband. You need to be safe about it. If his thing is anywhere near your thing unclothed, there's a possibility for pregnancy. Like Kry said, if he's up he's producing sperm. There's pre-ejaculate, it's just a little drop, but it contains sperm. If he's inside you, even 'just the tip' you need to wear a condom. Don't listen to his bullshit about "oh I know when it's coming, even the little stuff beforehand." No he doesn't. And even if he does, WEAR A CONDOM. Don't take the chance. I know we all do things, I'm not giving you a lecture on abstaining. All I'm saying is be smart about it.

I realized I was remiss, because in my scene no one had worn a condom or done anything to prevent pregnancy, and I was all "Oh my God someone's going to get pregnant if they read this and think this is okay!"

This is fiction. It is completely and totally not real, and I understand that, so why should it matter, right? Because there are younger people out there who have zero experience, and they're reading this and getting an idea of what sex is like from this. I know it because I did the same thing when I was younger too. I was very surprised to find out real sex is nothing like the idealized junk everyone writes, including myself.

So, well in the story I totally got around the condom thing with Robin and Starfire because she's an alien and I can make up whatever I want with her. But as you can see there's still chances because she didn't tell him and she made a mistake. Beast Boy and Raven though, omg. I panicked, he should've worn something and she shouldn't have let him do that, and I even implied there were more times! Good lord, don't do that in real life!

I've been in a committed relationship for a very long time and I'm on birth control now, so I kind of forget what it was like back when you're first dating and everything is new. You have to wear condoms when you do stuff like that! Even if he's going to pull out, seriously the withdrawal method is completely unreliable because of the pre-ejaculate stuff. Don't you dare ever think withdrawal is a reliable form of contraception. And yes everyone, you can get pregnant in a hot tub. My husband was a physical education major with a health minor, so he taught sex-ed. I learned many interesting things.

Anyway, after all that… wear condoms. Be safe. This is fiction. Educate yourself about sex. I'm twenty six and I've never been pregnant because I've been smart about it (although pregnancy scares suck… condoms can slip off and then it's very scary, let me tell you). I try to inject a little realism here and there, but it's still idealized. I know I have plenty of adult and experienced readers too, so you guys can ignore all this, haha. This is for all you 12-15 year olds out there reading my story, because I know you are.

Anyway, end of sex-ed time with Kater. I hope that wasn't too awkward for all of you, but hell if you're reading sex scenes you should be able to handle a candid talk about it. I'm not trying to get all after-school special on you guys, but seriously. Please don't get pregnant because you saw my non-condom use sex scene and think it transfers over to real life, because it doesn't. (Kry would like me to note that if she gets pregnant again she's blaming me because my story wasn't realistic. –smacks Kry upside the head-)

Side note, Kry and I have combined forces once again and are collab-ing on a collection of drabbles called "Boy Flounder". On this next post is one called "Realism." Check it out. It's cute cause it's so true!

For the benefit of you Aussies (haha Kry) and anyone who doesn't know what this expression means: p.d.a: public display of affection. Also, "breaking the seal" is a drinking expression which means the first time you have to go, you "broke the seal" and it means you're pretty much going to have to pee every ten minutes after that. It would be funny if it didn't suck so much trying to tipsily find your way to the bathroom.

If you're curious about any of the songs I was referencing you can ask and I'll be a total dork and tell you.

This chapter took so ridiculously long because there's only so many ways you can describe someone dancing. Adding in song lyrics gets too song fic-y, and I wrestled with pretty much the entire thing. I'm tired of it. I'm never completely happy with it but here you go, I'm sick of looking at it.

Next up: Good lord I just keep stringing you poor Beast Boy and Raven fans along, don't I? I was gonna try and get their big moment into this chapter, but it's already 36 pages in word. Yeah. So next chapter, the conclusion to the night out, and Beast Boy and Raven finally have their moment. And the morning after.

Suicide King and One Eyed Jack: Since you have your pms disabled I couldn't reply to you. I am not a law student by any means and while I tried to do my research it seems I didn't do it well enough. Possibly "voluntary manslaughter" would be more accurate but because Robin didn't die it's not actually a manslaughter charge, hence the "attempted". I had found a definition that said: An attempted manslaughter would be someone attempting to kill another (and failing) in the spur of the moment without planning. That is exactly what Blackfire did. I should take into account you can't always trust what you find on the internets. –sigh- I'm changing the charge to "grievous bodily harm" which still defines the crime. Attempted homicide makes it seem premeditated, which it was not, and that's why I went the manslaughter direction in the first place.