They all spent the day in their favourite places together, starting with the park. They decided to play some baseball and Robin was generally forgetting all about the downside of the day which he knew was going to happen one way or another.
Starfire grabbed the bat as it was her turn and set up her own position on the field. She bent her knees and crouched slightly, throwing the bat slightly behind her head like she'd seen the others do. She waited as Cyborg tossed the ball to her, "Swing and a miss, baby girl!" He chuckled, winking in a brotherly fashion. She narrowed her eyes and awaited his throw once more. This time, she hit it full on, smashing it over head and knocking it through the stretch of trees.
They stared in amazement and Starfire began running around the pitch. Once she got all the way around, "Safe!" Beastboy shouted. She jumped and clapped her hands enthusiastically at her achievement.
Robin had been gone a little while as he was trying to retrieve the ball which was seemingly hit so well. Soon the others wondered if he was alright, "I shall go and see if he is the alright, friends!" Starfire beamed, diving into the stretch before anyone even commented. She glanced around within the trees and noticed a shimmer of black. She smiled, "Robin!" She squealed, catching him off guard and scaring him.
She giggled, "I believed that one was always 'on the guard'"
Robin smirked, "Yeah, Yeah!" He chuckled along with her. The moment swung back around and came down to them staring at each other. He loved these moments with her. Each time. Every time.
He could just stare into her big green eyes without fearing that she was thinking he was a weirdo. She did the same. Her face had a slight smile on it and her eyes shone as they attempted to entwine with his through the fabricated mask. He sighed and looked down at the grass. Starfire seemed heartbroken that he had unlinked their gaze almost allowing them to read all emotions. Her eyes glistened with unknowing sadness.
"Robin? Please friend, what troubles you?" She asked attentively, stepping closer to the boy wonder.
"I...Its nothing... It doesn't matter Star, don't worry." He replied, not allowing himself to even dare look her in the eyes. He went to take a step but Starfire was already in front of him, hands clasped close to herself. She tried to level his eyes to make eye contact but he wasn't exactly accepting it.
"Robin." Her voice wavered as if she was going to cry; Robin immediately looked up. "W-Why do you n-not trust me f-friend?" She slipped and a tear rolled free.
"Star..." He soothed, hooking her chin with his index finger to make their eyes connect again, "I trust you with my life and more."
"Then why do you refuse to tell me?" She asked, slowly removing her chin from his finger podium.
Robin sighed as did Starfire. She cuddled her arms and turned away from him which evidently Robin noticed quickly enough, "Starfire, please..." He tried to comfort, placing a hand on her fore arm.
"Should I truly be worried?" She asked,
"Excuse me?" Robin faltered,
"You said I should not worry however I wish to know if I honestly should be doing the worrying or not."
Robin paused, "Yes but at the same time, no."
"...I am confused..."
"In a way it's bad but it will be okay type of thing."
"I am frightened to know..."
"Don't be. Everything in the world happens for a reason, Star." Robin assured,
Starfire turned back to him but her eyes still screamed sadness and she gazed at the ground beneath their feet. He eyed her movements carefully. In a sharp yet gentle move, he grabbed her hands together with his and brought them up to his chest, "Please," He paused, "Starfire..."
She looked up a little.
"It's just not the right time. You know you're my best friend right?" Robin said, holding her hands tighter as he felt a pain strike his heart.
"...Yes, forever." She replied, a small smile appearing on her lips,
Robin looked down at the word 'forever'.
"...I am right...yes Robin? We shall be the best of friends forever. That is what you said; what you promised..." She said, he voice pitchy in case he was going to say no.
He opened his mouth to speak but heard a tree rustle. He instantly let Starfires hands drop from his own, "Robin, Star. Come on, we're going to eat some pizza!" Beastboy grinned happily,
"Sounds awesome!" Robin faked a smile; Starfire could tell.
Beastboy grinned wider and ran back, Robin slowly following behind. He turned his head and glanced at Starfire who simply stood there watching after him.
"Please X'hal. Please do not be what I fear it to be." She prayed to her tamaranian God.
Later on at the tower, things had gotten quieter and quieter since after pizza. They watched a horror which made them a little more hyped than before but they still didn't seem completely great. After the movie ended, Beastboy stood up, "So! Next one!?" He grinned,
"Actually Beastboy, I..." Robin stopped and gulped as his friends watched him. Raven strangely didn't even notice Robin talking and she continued to read her book without even moving her dark eyes in the slightest.
Starfire held back some tears. Of course she didn't know anything about it but he had said she should be worried. She wasn't sure what or how to prepare for whatever he was going to say.
"What's up Rob?" Cyborg asked,
"Yeah, spill dude." Beastboy pushed.
Ravens eyes now narrowed towards the ebony haired boy.
Starfire bit the inside of her lip.
"We have to talk because something is happening. You guys wont like it and will disagree with my reasons but I am the leader of this team and I've made this decision because I think its time." Robin explained, quietly.
"Robin... Stop keeping them in suspense. Just tell them already." Raven blurted. Robin quickly realised, Raven had read his mind and his decision.
"...Tell us what...?" Beastboy said slowly.
"Because crimes a minimum and can be handled by Police...We.." He paused, "The titans are dispanding."
"What!?" Beastboy, Cyborg and Starfire gasped,
Starfire felt tears prick her eyes sharply. She tried blinking them away but it wasn't working and they began falling from her innocent eyes. Her breathing became quick and forced. Raven appeared beside her and put an arm round her, allowing her tamaranian friend to cry on her shoulder. Raven hushed her slightly.
"Robin are you crazy!?" Cyborg asked,
"No. I just think it's best." He became cold as he realised it was the only way to make them see sense, "We've grown up. We're not kids anymore. We're hardly even teens anymore. We can't be teen titans. It's not in the cards anymore guys."
"He's right you know..." Beastboy piped up,
"Shut up BB." Cyborg hissed,
"No! He is. Sides, we all knew that this day would come. We knew that the titans coluldn't last forever. It had to end one day. Change is hard guys, but we gotta accept it if we wanna continue to help anyone in this world in the future." Beastboy explained.
They all, except Starfire stared at him in awe at his wise words.
"I agree." Raven spoke up. Starfire cried harder into the empaths shoulder before standing up.
"Starfire?" Raven whispered, although Starfire knew their eyes were on her. She looked up to one face in the room and her words were harsh and icy.
"It is. Just life, yes?"
Robin gawped at her words and then felt himself nearly wanting to weep too.
With that, her eyes shimmered with tears for a last time and she left the room slowly as she walked, not flew.
Robin hung his head and looked at the ground below. Beastboy turned into a kitten and ran out of the door before it closed as he just felt like crying and going to sleep.
Cyborg stepped closer to Robin, catching his attention, he raised his head again.
"When you committing to this decision?" He asked,
"We all have to get rid of the tower and be gone the day after tomorrow." He informed him.
Cyborg slowly nodded and held eye contact with him a moment longer before breaking it off and walking away into the hall way.
Raven stood and placed a hand on Robins shoulder, "You're making a good choice Robin."
"Why does it feel like I'm screwing with everyones head then?" He asked, bluntly.
"Its just shock and sadness. We're friends Robin; a family. It just hurts a little but it's not as if we're just never gonna talk ever again. Its right. Just weight it out a little while." She nodded,
Robin did something out of the ordinary and leaned in and hugged Raven close and she gladly returned the gesture as she could almost mirror his feelings and thoughts. After a few moments, Raven bid him goodnight and left the room to go to bed.
Robin sat alone in OPS and for the first time in a very long time, he cried.
He cried and cried silently to himself. He knew it would be more helpful to move on but he did realise how it was hurting everyone and himself...and Starfire. He knew it but he couldn't change things. It wasn't 'in the cards' for them anymore...