Quality Time

CHAPTER 4: The Beginning or The End?

A new day greeted Jump City. Though small patches of gray still occupied some regions of the sky, the sun was shining, as the storm had passed. Inside Titan's Tower, three of the teen heroes occupied the kitchen, preparing to start off a promising morning in their usual manner. With a few minor exceptions, of course.

Cyborg, discarding his chef's hat, had just settled into his seat, having made the final preparations to his breakfast. He sat down to a large stack of Belgium waffles, piled high with mounds of melted butter and maple syrup, rubbing his hands together and licking his lips in anticipation. He wasted little time, making short work of his meal, ingesting one whole waffle per bite, before chasing it down with a tall glass of orange juice. After one final gulp, he thumped his chest, letting out a monstrous belch that almost seemed to shake the foundation of the tower.

"Whew! 'Scuse me," he let out, covering his mouth from the massive burp, "I'm gonna be gettin' a fan letter from whoever was watching the Richter scale on that one," he chuckled proudly, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Robin sat opposite of Cyborg at the table, nursing a small glass of juice, still feeling the queasy and nauseous effects of the previous day's dare gone awry. His complexion was rather pale with bags drooping so far below his eyes they were visible even below his mask. It was obvious he had gotten little, if any, sleep.

Starfire sat close beside him, attempting to spoon-feed him a bowl of oatmeal. Starfire, despite earlier feelings of joy for Robin devouring her cooking whole heartedly to please her, even though it was not meant for ingestion, could not help but feel responsible. After all, her concoction was the cause of his unfortunate decline in health.

"Come, Robin," she instructed with a smile, holding out a spoonful of oatmeal, "You must replenish your strength."

Robin glanced at the spoon, finding little appetite. "No... thanks, Star. I'm... not very hungry at the moment," he courteously refused, doing his best to hold a small smile for her concern.

"Oh, but you must," she moved the spoon closer, "I do not know of many who have partaken of the eating of epidermal remedies, but I believe you should at least eat something so that it does not overtake your earthly stomach again."

Robin looked down at the steamy glob of oatmeal, now beginning to dribble off the spoon. His face shriveled at the very sight, still finding no desire to eat. He then looked up from the spoon to Starfire's, almost glowing, face. Her eyes pleaded with him, accompanied by a gentle smile.

"I really don't have much of an appetite right now, Star," he kindly refused, though hesitantly, "Uh... maybe later."

"Please, Robin. I swear on the honor of my Kanorfka that this is Earth based oatmeal," she assured him, dipping the spoon back into the bowl, stirring the oatmeal and getting a fresh scoop. "I believe you have had your fill of Tameranian cooking for a while."

Her assurance did little to further his appetite. Keeping a hand over his stomach, he took a tiny sip of juice, slowly swallowing. It was evident he was trying to be cautious of all food intake, both solid and liquid.

"Perhaps you would prefer to be fed in the Earthly manner to which I have seen on the TV, common among feeding the sick," she stated, a renewed sense of hope.

Robin looked at her questionably. 'Manner on TV for feeding the sick?'

Starfire held out the spoon, a brighter and almost sickening expression of happiness on her face. "Here comes the plane of air," she said in nurturing voice, similar to a mother feeding a small child. Starfire held out the spoon in front of her, literally flying around the room, making noises similar to an infant's impression of an airplane, executing a barrel roll and loopdy loop around the main room. Robin and Cyborg watched, bewildered by the sight.