DEEES-CLAIMER: I don't own. I never did. I never will. I also have no claim over the products mentioned. Well??? What are you waiting for? Shoo! Read on!
The Table Of Enlightening DiscussionsRaven was out.
Not that it was unusual. Her presence at the tower pretty much consisted of reading or meditating. Or chasing Beast Boy away from her room.
The empathy had left a note on the fridge, where nobody could miss it:
Will be out the whole day. Will meet if problem arises.
-Raven
(And, of course, Beast Boy missed it. Robin later found it after Cyborg trampled it as he was trying to get a soda).
It just so happened that all the Titans were seated at a round table. It was snack time. Robin was reading the newspaper. Cyborg was seated across Beast Boy, and eating a hotdog. Beast Boy, in turn, was eating a tofu hotdog. They paused every now and then to glare at one another. Starfire was drinking mustard. She still loved the yellow condiment.
When Cyborg and Beast Boy finally finished devouring their food at an abnormally swift rate, they somehow brought conversation to the table. Starfire stopped every now and then to question, and Robin lowered his newspaper once or twice to comment. It was all a very nice conversation.
Until the topic went to Raven.
"Dude, she bought Pepsi and Coke! Who buys both Pepsi and Coke? You either buy one or the other!" Beast Boy was saying.
"She was just getting a little annoyed," Robin said in her defense. "You and Cyborg were arguing pretty long about which one to get."
"And I believe after the Cadbury and Nestle argument, she did not wish to stay any longer," Starfire supplied.
"I still say Nestle is the ultimate choice," Beast Boy said stubbornly.
"Still, that girl needs some pills sometimes," Cyborg said candidly. "Or maybe a boyfriend."
"A boyfriend?" Starfire asked. "Is that not a potential life mate?"
"More or less," Robin said, amused at her choice of words. "But lifelong companionship is not really considered unless she becomes very close to her... 'Potential life mate'."
"I fear she will be alone," Starfire said sadly. "It is difficult for her to be close to anyone."
"Whaddya mean?" Beast Boy asked, indignant. "We're her friends--!"
"But she cannot allow herself to be so open with her emotions," Starfire replied.
"You seem to know a lot..." Robin commented.
"Yes," said Starfire. "Do you recall when we switched bodies? We shared life stories to lessen complications."
"Wasn't that the day you went to the mall with her?" Cyborg thought back.
"Oh yes!" Starfire said happily. "It was, in fact, her idea. And that was where I got the beautiful dress to the prom. Raven herself—"
She stopped, clamping both hands to her mouth. The three boys were staring at her now, curious.
"Raven...what?" Beast Boy asked.
"I apologize," Starfire said. "But I have had the 'girl talk' with Raven...and I believe that such discussions are to be kept to the female side, correct?"
"Girl talk?!"
This made them even more curious. "What'd she say?"
She looked confused. "Did I not just say that I think it is for female—"
"What she say about me?" Beast Boy asked, leaning in.
Starfire giggled. "I do not think Raven would be happy if I told you..."
"WHAT? What'd she say? What'd she say?!"
"I cannot tell you what she said," Starfire said cheerfully. "Were we not speaking of 'boyfriends'? How about you, Beast Boy? Would you serve as a potential life mate?"
Beast Boy fell over. Robin chuckled. Star was not as dumb as people thought.
"I-I...Uh...b-but...but I...um...well, see...what was the question again?"
Starfire happily went back to her mustard. After awhile, she mused.
"Though she does share interests with you, Cyborg..."
This time Cyborg fell over. He had considerably more grace than Beast Boy, though.
"She was pretty cool about the T-car thing..." he said in fairness. But he sweatdropped at the though of him and Raven together.
Starfire nodded, and continued with her mustard. Beast Boy raised his eyebrow when she showed no sign of continuing.
"Hold up...what about Robin?"
Starfire choked. Robin calmly put down his newspaper.
"No!" Starfire said firmly. "She harbors no feelings of the like for him. And neither does he. Why would you even sug—"
"I'm right here, you know."
They all froze. Nervous, they looked at the cloaked figure standing with no expression on her face.
"Uh..." Robin spoke first. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Depends," Raven said, giving them the evil eye. "How long were you discussing my need of a 'potential life mate?'"
The other four knew they were dead.
FIN