The team had just parked and to their luck they had to walk, for what it seemed to be a half mile away from the actual building. Beast Boy let out a large sigh as the others joined him in the parking lot.
"I can't even see the entrance." Beast Boy cried out.
"Sorry bud, it was the only spot I could get." Cyborg explained.
"Might as well start walking, standing around won't get it to come any closer." Robin replied and the titans all started forward to the entrance. It was only a couple minutes before they could see a few shops that were lined outside, tents above them. Some sold trinkets, others flowers. Suddenly they heard Starfire cry out next to them, venturing close to one of the tents.
"Your earthly traditions are so heartwarming and lovely!" Starfire exclaimed in awe. Robin smiled nearby seeing her stare at the all the colors inside the tent to her right. Suddenly there was a shadow across the alien princess.
"A pretty flower for a pretty lady?" A gentleman in khaki pants and a baby blue shirt offered.
Starfire giggled, but before she could accept the red rose; Robin was in front of her.
"Oh, thank you. I wouldn't call myself pretty or a lady but I'll take it never the less." He stated with a smirk, snatching the rose from the man's fingers.
The tent keeper frowned at the team leader but Robin exchanged a hard glance, and in turn the man swallowed and nodded, "Of course-any time Robin."
Robin smiled and held the rose in his hands; the others behind Starfire all glancing at one another. Robin gave them a look and they all glanced at different directions, silently swearing they knew nothing.
Their leader sighed and was interrupted by Starfire who looked at him, "I had thought he was talking to me! How silly I am, I suppose I am still not used to these earthly traditions yet."
Beast Boy couldn't help it, he busted out laughing with Cyborg trying to hide his own amusement. Starfire looked up toward Beast Boy, "what is so funny?"
Beast Boy shook his head and caught his breath, "Oh you know…" He saw Robin staring at him from behind Starfire and the look was crystal clear. "Raven just said the funniest thing….right Raven?" He jabbed her in the side and Raven looked over at Beast Boy, glaring at him. Starfire looked toward her in question and Raven glanced at Starfire, seeing Robin behind her and let out a small, "heh…yeah I uh…you know what? I forgot. I mean it was something about a dog and a cat and…yeah it really wasn't that funny."
"Oh, ok." Starfire replied but it wasn't two seconds later until she saw the entrance of the mall and squealed with excitement, "oh, oh look at all the flowers, please teammates we must go see them!" Before anyone had any say so she dashed away with the rest of the team quickly following behind. As they raced toward the entrance Raven looked toward her green teammate, "thanks for that."
"Anytime" Beast Boy smirked and continued as she glared at him, "hey man I didn't want Robin grilling me tonight, it was the first thing that came to my mind."
Raven shook her head as they reached the entrance with people bustling in and out; she looked up to see Starfire smelling a variety of flowers off to the side.
"Yo girl let's go inside, there's lots more in here!" Cyborg shouted out as all four titans stood waiting on the enthralled princess.
Starfire smiled apologetically and flew over toward her friends and they all entered at once. It was busy for a Saturday, but it was even morso than what it usually was. They all stared at the people pushing around each other to get to the stores. But what was even more amazing were all the shops in the middle of the walkway set up in tents. Beast Boy counted 15 from just standing there. Most of them had various cards, flowers and candy. They were all pink and red with a few bearing other colors like yellow, white and blue. Beast Boy smiled seeing the couples that held hands nearby. He watched one that stood close to his right under one of the shops; the male turned toward the girl with a beautiful bracelet and showed her. The girl smiled and threw her arms around him, he watched her bury her face in his neck with affection. They slowly pulled apart, kissed and he placed the jewelry on her arm as they held one another. Beast Boy felt something sad dig in his heart and he had to strip his eyes from the scene.
Looking at his other teammates he noticed they were feeling similar things, it was everywhere. Whether it be mothers kissing their children or the love struck teenagers that held hands in the middle of the strip.
Starfire let out the loudest breath, "Wow."
"Yeah, man I don't think I've even stepped in the mall during this time of the year." Cyborg stated.
Beast Boy glanced at Raven on his right who was staring at a couple herself, and he smirked, "I don't think we have either."
Raven shook her head and pulled the hood over her hair, casting a shadow over her face. Beast Boy sensed something unusual coming from her, but he couldn't exactly place it.
"Ohh look at the kittens!" Starfire suddenly cried out. The titans all looked to their left to see a stand of black and white kittens with bright red bows around their necks. Before anyone could say anything she took off again. But before they all had a chance to follow the princess, Robin stood in front of the group; turning to the three remaining titans around him, "Ok guys so this isn't a real mission."
There was a consecutive groan and a loud "What are you talking about?" from Cyborg.
Robin put his hands up and told them to shush and keep it down. "Look today is Valentine's Day remember?"
The three titans looked at one another with uncertainty and then all slowly nodded with Raven piping up, "Um yeah it's like the holiday of love and all that junk… who doesn't forget that, especially when it's surrounding us?"
"Aw come on Rave, I'm sensing a holiday scrooge here."
"Beast Boy that's Christmas." Raven countered.
"Oh well, close enough." Beast Boy shrugged.
"Yeah girl, how come you are hating the holiday so much, don't have anyone to write love letters to?" Cyborg teased.
"Or snuggle watching TV shows all night?" Beast Boy offered with a smirk.
"Or kissing-"
"Enough!" Raven interrupted, "It's just not a favorite of mine, besides the holiday has changed since it was first recognized-it's not exactly all cheery."
"What do ya mean?" Beast Boy asked.
"Well for one, It's definitely nothing like what America transformed it to be..." She paused, "You see according to a legend, a man named Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl who was the jailers daughter, and she visited him in jail during his stay. Before his death, it's said that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'from your Valentine'. But anyway; they pretty much killed him by cutting off his head for treason. But it is only a story since no one knows where the tradition truly came from. There are many versions."
"That's terrible." Cyborg replied, "I actually had no idea."
"Yeah I think I like the American edition better…at least it doesn't have to be so sad…" Beast Boy replied then continued, "Like, as an American tradition of Valentine's Day; I would give a dozen roses to wake up to in the morning and then I'll take her to her favorite restaurant, and finally after the sun sets... at night we would watch the stars while I give her something really special like a necklace or a huge stuffed animal!"
"Keep dreaming little buddy." Cyborg hooted, messing with his hair, "You are a true hopeless romantic."
Raven rolled her eyes, "I don't even see the point in doing all of that."
The two boys glanced at her, "Ok, no reason to be sour about it, everyone has their rhymes and reasons." Cyborg replied with crossed arms. Beast Boy stared at her and piped up, "yeah, besides it's the one day a guy can do that and not feel silly about spoiling a girl!"
Raven stared at him and shrugged, not having a real answer, that's when Cyborg piped up.
"Oooh, I get it now; you've never had a valentine!"
Raven was taken aback and shrugged again, "Yeah so what? The holiday is stupid anyway, if you care about someone then you should show it every day; not just for one day of the year."
The two boys looked at one another and Cyborg shrugged himself, "I guess you have a point there."
Raven looked away, "Besides, who wants a bunch of chocolates and flowers that will go bad in just a mere few days anyway."
Beast Boy tilted his head but didn't say anything because Robin suddenly piped up; including himself in the conversation.
"Yes, well, I'm glad you are all aware of the holiday, but I was planning on making it a little more special with your guy's help that is."
The three titans glanced toward their leader and Raven asked wearily, "What kind of help is it?"
Robin fiddled with his cape and muttered something so low not even Beast Boy could pick it up.
"What?" Beast Boy asked.
Robin muttered again, rolling his cape in his hands.
"Speak up man I can't hear you!" Cyborg exclaimed and Robin shouted, "I'm going to ask her to be my girlfriend today!"
He slapped his hand over his mouth and all four looked to where Starfire was, but she was so busy cuddling with the cats she never noticed the outburst; though a few passerby's gave the titans a few looks of curiosity.
"Well, why didn't you just say so man? We can hook you up!" Cyborg boomed.
Beast Boy laughed at his friend's statement and replied, "Yeah we've kind of known you were up to that anyway dude."
"You did?"
Raven pitched in, "Well, Mr. obvious, you are constantly looking at her, you follow her around and I've seen you looking at every valentine's gift possible since you stepped foot in the parking lot."
Robin stared at his teammate with disbelief, "That obvious huh… has Star noticed…?"
The three of them looked at one another and Cyborg replied, "Nah, you kidding me, she was so excited to be here I thought she was going to pee in the car."
Raven slapped a hand to her face, "That was an image I didn't want to see."
"Yeah dude, tmi." Beast Boy agreed with a laugh.
Robin shook his head, "Ok… good, then here's the plan: Raven you will go with Starfire and take her around the mall-keep her away from us, go into a few stores and distract her for a while."
"And why would I do that exactly?" Raven inquired.
Robin scuffed his shoes for a moment, "I kind of, sort of... forgot to get her a valentine's gift..."
"But its valentine's day dude!" Beast Boy exclaimed throwing up his arms in exasperation.
"I know, I know-I just got busy with work and it just slipped my mind…"
"Typical guy." Raven sighed.
"Heh; never mind that….Shhh, shh she's coming be quiet!" Robin quickly turned around, watching the Princess head their way.
Everyone glanced at one another as Starfire flew toward them with a ball of fur in her arms.
"Oh Robin look at him, can we keep him? Please?" Starfire pleaded with the little black and white kitten snuggling in her arms.
"Sure anything you want." Robin exclaimed and the three other teen titans glanced at one another with sly smiles. Starfire squealed with delight then gave it to Robin for a moment and flew back to pay the man for her new tower pet.
"Girls and kittens, I will never understand it." Cyborg muttered.
Beast Boy laughed, "Who doesn't like an adorable kitten?"
Cyborg glanced at him as he turned into a kitten himself and let out an squeaky "mew."
"Wow I didn't see that one coming." Raven stated as Beast Boy transformed back to himself. Robin turned toward the team, his eyes still on Starfire who had raced to the next booth down the line.
"Here take this."
Robin pushed the little kitten in Beast Boys arms who in turn grabbed it with an uncomfortable "um…" Beast Boy held up the kitten who batted at his nose with soft black and white paws."Look, I know I can turn into animals and all but why do I have to take care of him?"
The little kitten stared at him with wide blue eyes and let off a cute yawn, his tiny fangs showing and tongue lolling. He closed his mouth and blinked up at Beast Boy with a "mew."
"Oh…oh that was so cute, I'm going to call you mittens because you have white paws and a black coat, just like wearing little itty bitty mittens." Beast Boy decided with a smile, his voice lowered to a baby talk.
"You know when you name it, you start getting attached." Raven stated nearby. Beast Boy glanced at her from the side and used his free hand to cover up Mittens tiny ears; "Shush, don't hurt his feelings, he was abandoned, scared and lonely; and I'm going to be his new dad!"
"Oh here we go. The crazy train has parked in my best friend." Cyborg muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
That's when they noticed their leader had taken off toward Starfire and was looking back at them from where they stood.
"Next stop-crazyville number two." Raven sighed, staring at Robin as they made their way toward the duo. When they were closer to Robin and Starfire he heard their leader exclaim; "Starfire! Raven has asked me if she could show you a few places here, I think it would be a wonderful idea, don't you agree Raven?"
"Delightful." Raven droned, arms crossed as she stood nearby next to Beast Boy. She saw him smirk as he held the kitten with gentle hands, cooing at Mittens with soft words. She thought about using her powers to trip him up, but lucky for him, he had an innocent creature in his arms.
Starfire looked at Robin then her friend and smiled, "Oh Raven that sounds most wonderful! But what of the mission?"
Robin swallowed for a moment and continued casting his glance toward the rest of the team; "no worries Star, it's all a part of the plan…"
"Oh ok." Starfire replied, glancing at her teammates who gave away nothing.
"Ok then I'll leave you girls be-titans go!" Everyone stared at him and he let off an embarrassed cough, "I mean, come on guys lets go check out the west side for some…clues."
"Yeah clues!" Beast Boy agreed, looking up from Mittens and Cyborg smirked beside him, "yeah some red and pink clues…" Beast Boy laughed, continuing the joke, "and maybe some scented clues and oooh tasty clues… can we look for those?"
Robin shook his head, "yeah, yeah of course, come on guys let's go, time never waits for anyone!"
Starfire stood in confusion as she watched Robin whisk away their two male teammates, leaving her alone with Raven who stood nearby quietly.
"That was… strange."
"You have no idea." Raven replied, watching the boys turn a corner and vanish from their sight.