Teen Titans Fan Fiction ❯ Falling ❯ The Date ( Chapter 9 )

Starfire pondered her reflection. She wanted to look perfect. She had dragged Raven all over the mall this morning and had finally found the perfect dress: a swingy babydoll with a fitted lace bodice and spaghetti straps in emerald green with a sparkly mesh overlay. She’d also spent nearly an hour at the make-up counter trying to find the perfect colors. Cosmetic application was a true art on Tameran, and different combinations of colors had different meanings. She hadn’t bothered with it much since she had arrived on Earth; she knew others wouldn’t understand the meanings, and quite frankly, she had been too busy being a Titan and learning about her new home.

She had put the last touches on her make-up nearly an hour ago. The effect was subtle: it simply enhanced her features and the casual viewer would not even realize she was wearing anything. On Tameran, this would mean that she was willing to bear her soul to whoever asked. And since she would only be with Robin tonight…

Her hair was now her concern. Hair styling was an obsession on Tameran. Some hairstyles actually required three people to complete successfully. Women and men alike could spend hours arranging elaborate curls, braids, and knots. Starfire had started and undone three hairstyles at this point. But time was marching on, and her date was less than half an hour away. She finally decided to simply curl her hair. She finished with only a few minutes to spare. She slipped her feet into the new flats she’d purchased to match her dress and headed off toward the Observatory.

--

Robin didn’t know why he was nervous. This was just dinner with Starfire; he ate with her multiple times a day. But this was a date; it was supposed to be romantic. To that end, Robin had gone out in the middle of all the preparations and bought a small bouquet of roses. Presently, they lay on the window seat in the Observatory. Robin stared out the window and pulled on the sleeves of his white dress shirt. He’d gained some height and some muscle mass since he’d last worn it; the sleeves were too short and it was a bit tight through the shoulders. Still, with the top few buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up, it fit well enough for his purposes. Matched with a navy blue pair of pants that finally fit him properly and a simple pair of loafers, Robin thought it was a good mix of casual and dressy.

Lost in thought, Robin started when the elevator door opened. He took a couple of quick breaths to calm himself before turning around...and quickly lost his breath again.

Starfire stood there looking like...like...Robin had no words. Even "angel" didn't seem right. Her dress and shoes were the color of her eyes and they both twinkled like the sky on a clear night in winter. Her hair was a cinnamon mist around her head and shoulders. The skin of her lower legs, shoulders, upper chest and arms, as well as her face, seemed to glow faintly. She seemed so...so...ethereal.

"Good evening, Robin." Even her speaking didn't break the spell.

"Hey, Star. You look...incredible."

Starfire canted her head. "What is not credible about my appearance?"

Robin laughed in relief. Even made up like a goddess, she was still Starfire. "No...no. I mean you look really, really good." He strode over to her and took her hands.

"Your appearance is pleasing as well."

"Thanks." He couldn't stop looking at her. He didn't think he'd ever seen anything so beautiful. He could feel the rest of the world slipping away; it was almost as if they were floating.

"What are we to do?"

Robin's heels landed on the floor; they hadn't been floating, but he had been on his toes. He swallowed hard in an attempt to find his voice. "Well, Cyborg's coming up with some food pretty soon, and there's supposed to be music..." As if on cue, a soft love song started over the newly-installed speakers. "Great timing, Cy," Robin commented.

"We could dance?" Starfire interrupted Robin's train of thought.

"Sure, at some point. But this is really just some time for us to spend together, so we can really do whatever we want."

"Including dancing?"

Robin laughed again. "Sure."

Starfire's attention shifted over his shoulder. "Oh! What beautiful flowers!" Leaving Robin's side, she scooped them up and buried her nose in the bouquet. She pulled back after a moment, a quizzical look on her face.

"Is something the matter?"

"Their fragrance is...interesting."

"You don't like it?"

She screwed up her lips, looking very much like a little child hunting for the right thing to say. "I am uncertain. It is...sharp." She looked up and smiled. "But they are still very beautiful. Did you get them for me?"

Robin nodded.

She smiled and hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much!"

He happily hugged her back. "You're welcome, Star."

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

The pair turned to see Cyborg with a pitcher in one hand and a platter in the other.

"No, no," Robin stepped away from Starfire, hoping the dim light hid the color he felt rise in his cheeks. "Star was just thanking me for the flowers I got her."

"Yes, are they not lovely?" Starfire held the bouquet out in Cyborg's direction. "We shall have to find a vase of water to put them in."

"I'll take care of that, Star," Cyborg said while placing the platter on the table and pouring some of the pink liquid in the pitcher into each glass. "You two just enjoy yourselves."

"Thanks for everything, Cyborg," Robin said as he took his seat to inspect the food. "The place really looks great."

"Hey, it gave me something to do today besides kick BB's butt on the GameStation." Cyborg smiled widely. "It was a nice change of pace."

Starfire took her seat across from Robin. "This is not food I have eaten before."

"Yeah, Cyborg, what is this?" Robin asked. "It looks good, but..."

"This, my young lovebirds, is the appetizer," Cyborg said with a flourish. "Toasted breadsticks with a cream cheese, spinach, and artichoke dip. The beverage of the evening is raspberry-lemonade spritzer. Enjoy! I'll be back with the main course as soon as it's ready." And with that, Cyborg retreated to the elevator and was gone, leaving Robin alone with Starfire again.

"App-e-ti-zer?" Starfire queried.

"It's...kind of a pre-meal snack. Something to munch on while the main part of the meal is being prepared." Robin dipped a breadstick. "Mmm...Hey, this isn't bad. I'm not terribly fond of spinach, but this is pretty good."

Starfire copied Robin's actions. "It is...rich yet light at the same time. A delicate blending of flavors. Only the greatest chefs on Tamaran could achieve such excellence." She heartily devoured several more.

"Please," she said around a mouthful. "What are lovebirds?"

"They're, um..." Robin swallowed, trying to think. Even inhaling her food, Starfire was adorable. "Little parrots that are popular as pets. They mate for life, and if you get a pair of them, they have a tendency to ignore everything but each other. Human couples who are very affectionate get called lovebirds."

"Cyborg referred to us as pet birds?"

Robin laughed. "No, he meant that we only have eyes for each other."

Starfire nodded. "I must admit, I often have trouble paying attention to anything but you."

Robin smiled, totally understanding. "Just don't let that happen during a mission."

Starfire nodded her agreement, licking her fingers. She then hopped up out of her chair and grabbed Robin's hands. "Come, we must do the dancing!"

"Uh, Star..." Robin tried to dig in his heels, but between his dress shoes and Starfire's strength, he was dragged to the middle of the floor anyway. "I don't really know how to dance."

"No matter. I shall teach you the ysmhp, a dance traditionally done by courting Tameranians." She turned to face him and took his hands again, placing one on her shoulder and the other at her waist. She copied the motions, putting a hand on his shoulder on the side where his was on her waist and vice versa. "Now, we begin by taking a step to the side and toward each other." She demonstrated. "You will go to the other side." Robin nodded and the pair completed the step successfully. "Good!" Starfire chirped. "Now we will repeat this going the opposite direction." The step was completed. "And then..." Starfire frowned. "I am sorry. I have forgotten. One must be able to fly to perform this dance."

"It's okay, Star," Robin said, slipping his had down her arm. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about, anyway."

Before he could say anything else, Cyborg’s voice interrupted him. “If you two are going to get cozy, let me know, and I won’t come back.”

“No, it’s okay, Cy. There will be no coziness until at least after dessert."

"Coziness?" Starfire asked.

"Affection," Robin replied, holding out her chair. "Let's see what Cyborg made for supper."

"Very well." Starfire took her seat as Cyborg lifted the cover from the large platter he was carrying. "Mushroom and cheese stuffed ravioli with a mustard alfredo sauce, made with you in mind, Star." Starfire clapped her hands. "And steamed and buttered asparagus as a side. Enjoy! I'll be back in about a half an hour with dessert, unless, of course, you call me and tell me otherwise." He winked at Robin and headed back toward the elevator.

Starfire heartily dove into the pasta, declaring: "This is delicious!" after several bites. Robin had to agree; the mustard gave the sauce a zing and the meal a pleasant pop.

Halfway through her pasta, Starfire turned her attention to the asparagus. “What are these strange vegetables? They resemble tiny trees.”

“It’s asparagus. The top would actually turn into a flower if left in the ground longer.”

Starfire took a tentative bite. Her eyes went wide in delight and she stuffed several more spears into her mouth.

Robin chuckled. “I take it you like them?”

She nodded. “They are woody and buttery and … and…just wonderful!”

Robin had never been terribly fond of asparagus either, but, seeing Starfire’s delight, he tried a bite. He had to agree with her assessment: it was a heady mixture of woodiness and butter. He ate several more bites before returning to his ravioli.

Starfire’s entrée was gone long before Robin’s. “Friend Cyborg possesses much skill in the preparation of food.”

Robin nodded his agreement around a mouthful of asparagus. He took a drink of spritzer, and just about spit it out as he felt something tickling his calf. “Starfire!”

Starfire withdrew her toe. “Is not ‘playing footsie’ something one does on a date?”

Robin gulped. “I…I guess. You just surprised me.”

“I am sorry.”

Robin smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.” To show that he wasn’t offended, he slipped his foot out of his shoe and ran his toes along the back Starfire’s calf. She giggled and the two began a battle between their feet. Before long all four of their feet were involved and they were both laughing hard and long.

“Stop, stop!” Starfire cried. “I cannot laugh any more!” She slumped in her chair, holding her sides. “Is that the object of ‘playing footsie?’”

Robin shrugged, still chuckling. “I don’t really know. I think it’s just a way for two people to flirt in public without being obvious.”

“Would not laughing hysterically be obvious?”

Robin shrugged again, drawing a deep breath. “I don’t think most people get as crazy as we just did.”

“Get crazy? What’d I miss?”

The pair were both startled as they turned to see Cyborg standing there holding yet another platter.

“Nothing of importance,” Robin replied, straightening his shirt.

“Well, don’t worry kiddies, this is my last visit. You can get as crazy as you want after this. As for dessert, we have my special tiramisu!” He lifted the lid off the platter with a flourish and set a plate in front of each of them.

“It looks really good, Cyborg, but I’m stuffed,” Robin said. “Put mine in the fridge. I’ll have a bite or two of Starfire’s.”

“Your loss, man.” Cyborg gathered up Robin’s dessert and the used dishes and departed.

Starfire studied her dessert. “It looks like…tofu.”

Robin had to laugh again. “No tofu. It’s custard spooned over ladies’ fingers dipped in coffee. It’s really good.” He helped himself to a forkful.

Starfire’s eyes got very wide and she pushed herself away from the table. “Ladies’ fingers! Friend Cyborg has used the fingers of ladies in our meal?”

“No, no! Starfire!” Robin grabbed her arm as she moved to get up from the table. “Ladies’ fingers are cookies!”

Starfire stared him down. “There are no female digits in my dessert?”

Robin shook his head. “Just cookies.”

“Like the chocolate chip disks Friend Beast Boy so enjoys?”

“Yeah, only these are long and thin instead of round. I think that’s why they’re called ladies’ fingers.” Starfire still looked hesitant, so Robin spooned up a forkful and offered it to her. “Seriously, Star, you have to try this. It’s really good.”

With some hesitation, Starfire opened her mouth and Robin fed the forkful to her. He watched as she moved the substance around her mouth with her tongue before finally swallowing it. “It is…an interesting combination of flavors.”

“Do you like it?”

“It is not unpleasant.”

“Here, try another bite.” Robin scooped up another forkful and fed it to her. She repeated her motions and then picked up her own fork. “You seem to enjoy it, yes?”

“Yes. It’s one of my favorites.”

Starfire collected a forkful. “Then you would like some?” She offered it to him.

Robin let her feed the dessert to him, and, even as full as he was, enjoyed it immensely. “Mmm.”

Starfire put her fork down. “You wished to speak to me of something earlier?”

Robin gulped, but nodded. He reached across the table and took her hand. “You’ve mentioned several times how structured the Tameranian mating process is, and well, we’ve been bicuias for some time now, and I was just wondering what the next step was and what we’d need to get to it.” He heaved a breath. That was easier than he thought it would be.

Starfire smiled brightly. “I have not found a good time to tell you. We have been drysfus for several days now.”

“Drysfus. How is that different from bicuia? And when did we get there?”

“We became drysfus the evening we captured the creature.”

“Because our friends found out?”

“Well, no.” The color in Starfire’s cheeks rose. “It was because of the ‘making out.’”

Robin smiled and repeated his question. “What’s different now?”

“Well, the main difference is that we are exclusive to each other. It is not uncommon to have several bicuias at once, but one can only have one drysfu.” Starfire screwed up her lips, pondering. “Other differences include the fact that time spent together need not be so public, and affections can become more…intimate.”

“In…intimate?” Robin felt his voice squeak for the second time in six weeks.

“Similar to the ‘making out.’ Xioykrw may not happen for two more stages yet.”

Robin nodded slowly. “That’s…good. I’m comfortable with that.” He squeezed her hand. “The night is young…why don’t you teach me the rest of that dance you started before?”

“But Robin, one must be able to fly to dance the ysmhp.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

Smiling and holding hands, the pair took to the floor, Starfire doing her best to explain the seemingly strange dance to Robin. Thankfully, the actual flying part was small, and between having Starfire carry him and a couple of athletic leaps on his part, they were able to manage most of it. The dance ended with the two of them holding each other close, their faces very near to each others’. Robin took advantage of the situation and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with much feeling. He felt a warmth spread from his belly to his fingers and toes as she enthusiastically kissed him back, pushing herself against him. He wound his fingers into her fiery curls as he felt her grind her fingernails into his back. They parted minutes later, panting.

“Starfire,” he breathed against her ear. “Do you know how happy you make me?”

Robin felt her smile against his cheek and her eyelashes brush his skin. “I hope as happy as you make me.”

It was only when he moved back to look into her eyes that Robin realized that they were floating several inches off the floor. He smiled and shook his head. “Starfire…”

“I told you, I cannot help it,” she replied as she lowered them to their feet.

He took her face in his hands. “Star, if I could fly, we’d be on the moon now.”

He kissed her again briefly before leading her to the window seat and snuggling with her there as they looked out over the city.

--

Some time later, Robin had found himself starting to doze off in Starfire’s arms. He jerked himself awake and suggested they call it a night. Starfire seemed somewhat disappointed, but didn’t argue. They walked hand in had back to her door, where Robin kissed her goodnight as he had so many times before.

“I had a really good time, Star. Maybe we can talk Cyborg into doing that again for us.”

“I would enjoy that.” Starfire opened her door. “Do you wish to enter? It is permissible for drysfus to be in each others’ sleeping chambers.”

Robin felt his ears get hot and his breath catch in his throat. “Uh…not tonight.” As his discomfort passed, though, a thought occurred to him. “Wait a minute…what about that night you came into my room?”

“Um…” Starfire’s cheeks got very pink. “I should not have done that. On my world, if we had been found out, we would have had to agree to be drysfus immediately or we would not have been allowed to see each other again. But…I was concerned.”

Robin ran his thumb over her cheek. “I know, Star. I won’t tell anybody if you don’t.”

She smiled. “It will be our secret.” She kissed him quickly and backed in through her door. “Good night, drysfu Robin.”

He smiled back. “Good night, drysfu Starfire.”

This was just an excuse for major fluffage. It was fun to write.

Soon: Chapter 10: New Words