Birdcage

Chapter 18

Raven's gaze went back to Robin unsure how'd he react. The only emotion she could pick up was a wave of confusion. His gaze dropped from her and he was now staring down at the space between them.

"What are you doing," Starfire sounded like she would burst into tears at any moment. Raven felt a sudden wave of pure anger as he snapped his head up.

"What am I doing? What are you doing? Why are you here," he was unexpectedly already shouting as though all of this had been brewing for a while now. As though he had already thought about what he wanted to say should she show up again.

"I did not know I needed your permission to come back to Earth," Starfire's tone was surprisingly snarky as she returned his anger back at him.

"No, you don't get to be like that…" he leaped over the back to the couch in a flash to face her, "I was treated like garbage, like a second hand citizen and left to keep the peace of YOUR ENTIRE PLANET, you don't get to come back NOW and act so shocked that I've moved on with my life!" Raven stood quietly from the couch and took several steps away from the two of them.

"This seems like maybe a private conversation", she was about to teleport away when Starfire pointed an accusing finger in her direction, her eyes glowing green now.

"So you came home and what, sniles with the first gremflork you see?" Raven narrowed her gaze at the term.

"Okay pretty sure that was an insult," she muttered under her breath.

"I can't believe you want to be this petty right now, you hurt me and I was just supposed to wait for you", while Robin was yelling Starfire was yelling back at him in Tamaranean, "I mean I was practically starving for weeks and you couldn't take two seconds to accommodate me. And let's not even mention your two 'boy toys'." Raven blinked at that and decided to stay to see what Star's response would be. Starfire paused in her rantings and glared at him. "And that one word you keep yelling that starts with kruf…whatever, I know you're calling me something bad."

"They were not the 'boy toys', they were my personal servants." Robin crossed his arms and inhaled sharply.

"They helped dress and bathe you, don't act like I didn't know what was going on," he said back in an annoyingly loud tone.

"Why is everyone yelling," they all heard Cyborg call from the hallway as he and Beast boy came around the corner.

"When did you two get back," Robin turned to his metal friend and took a minute to calm down.

"We got back a couple of hours ago. Tried the communicators but got no answer," Cyborg answered as he walked further in the room. Beast boy let out a biggest yawn which confirmed that their arguing woke him up. Cyborg arched an eyebrow before pointing a finger between Robin and Starfire. "So what's this all about?" Robin rolled his eyes before crossing his arms over his chest again.

"Star just came to get the rest of her stuff, I'm sure." At that Raven moved in closer.

"You know that's not fair. She lives here too…technically," she sounded unsure.

"Well I thought I did or at least I'd be welcomed. I did not expect to find you making out with him," Star gestured to Robin. He could feel his anger rising in his throat. By now Cyborg and Beast boy were both completely invested in the conversation. Raven dropped her head in her hand and let out a groan.

"…It was a kiss, don't blow this up to make yourself feel better," Robin started before filling the rest of the team in, "As soon as we get to Tamaran, I get side lined, never see her and then after weeks of almost no contact she tells me she's been betrothed to some general higher up."

"Again?" The other three turned their attention back to Starfire. She narrowed her glare in her ex's direction.

"I could have stayed if I wanted to be her 'secret buddy' as long as we didn't get caught but we all know that wasn't an option." Cyborg cringed at that comment.

"Aw, really?" He shook his head. Robin reached back and took Raven's hand, catching her off guard.

"Raven was here for me. Things ended pretty badly Star but it's not fair to come back here and expect me to just pick up where we left off." The room got awkwardly quiet and Raven realized she was holding her breath. Starfire broke the silence as she turned away from the conversation and stifled a quiet sob.

Was she crying? This made him feel guilty. How had she managed to make him the bad guy in all of this? Without saying another word, Starfire lifted off the ground and hurried out of the room as quickly as possible. Now all eyes turned to Robin.

"What," he demanded.

"You could have been a little nicer, right," Beast boy finally spoke up.

"Oh so now you chime in? I didn't say anything that wasn't true," he glanced behind him at Raven. She dropped her gaze and seemed to be mulling the whole thing over.

"There's no point being all defensive", Cyborg stated as he lifted his arms over his head and stretched while yawning, "We're all tired and can deal with this in the morning. To be honest, what you do in your relationships is none of our business." Robin arched an eyebrow.

"Thanks?" He wasn't sure what else to say. Raven cleared her throat before excusing herself and disappearing before this conversation got any stranger. She didn't expect everyone to come back all of the sudden. Once she was out of the room, Robin let out a frustrated sound. "And now she's gonna get caught in the middle of all this," he grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Yeah so I know what I just said a minute ago…", Cyborg started causing Robin's gaze to narrow.

"But…," he slumped his shoulders as well.

"Just wondering how all that happened," Cyborg explained gesturing to the space Raven had just occupied a minute ago.

"I thought everyone was gonna go to bed," Robin reiterated suddenly noticing Cyborg making a dash for the kitchen. He grabbed popcorn and was now taking a seat on the couch.

"I'm always up for the drama," he stated with a grin. Robin sucked in a deep breath as he made his way over to take a seat. After a quick recap of the events that had happened since he'd been home, Cyborg had finished his snack and Beast boy was lightly snoring from his spot at the edge of the couch.

"Wow, I never really thought of what would happen if we all left her alone. Just always figured she liked the quiet."

"If it wasn't for Jinx, I don't know how I would have gotten her back."

"I can't believe she actually agreed to help you," Cyborg cracked a smile. Robin's one eye twitched slightly at that but realized he was too tired for a rebuttal. Stifling a yawn he wearily got to his feet.

"Like you said before-we can figure this all out tomorrow, I'm exhausted," with that he headed for the elevator.

A/N-This really is the story that never ends. Still needs another chapter. Please be kind and review.