TEACHING STAR TO READ
VigilanteCharlie317
Chapter 3
Robin was the first to look away from what their hands appeared to be doing, with her hand lying -almost naturally- in his. How did that even happen? Robin thought, What am I doing?! What do I say!? His heart was a hummingbird fluttering in his ribcage, and his stomach was turning somersaults, Starfire was still looking at him; her head innocently tilted in a gesture of naive curiosity. She didn't understand, and he wished that in a sense she did. The silence was growing thicker as the seconds ticked by, building a wall between them brick by brick.
"Robin?" Starfire began, she wasn't even entirely sure of what to say. She knew that on Earth, holding hands meant that the two people doing so were intimate… but in a way she could not wrap her head around. She'd seen people in the city parks who would hold hands, and often times this could be followed by the kissing, an act she was (quite literally) alien to.
But, she and Robin would hold their hands at least once or twice in every fight against every villain the Titans had ever faced. It was imperative, He could not fly, and often times she would fling him at the criminals from above. The strategy never failed. So why does this feel so… not normal? she thought, and he still did not respond to her, making Starfire grow even more perplexed. Somehow, Robin broke the silence,
"So Star," he picked up quickly, slipping his hand out from hers to flip through the alphabet book that lay open on their laps, "do you think you've got the alphabet?"
"Yes Robin, I do believe I have "gotten" the concept of the 26 let- erm, the alphabet." She replied. Her hand felt odd, without the warmth and feeling of his cradling it. Just as he was about to suggest what they should do next, there was a knock at his door, startling the two of them, and in seconds the door slid open without warning.
"Dudes! What have you been doing all day?!" Beast Boy cried, making entrance. Raven also peeked into Robin's room,
"We didn't know whether you were still alive in here," she deadpanned with a detectable trace of sarcasm. Immediately, Robin stood up and kicked his books underneath his bed.
"Funny, Raven," Robin said wryly, "Has it really been hours?" He looked at his alarm clock, stalling while he tried to think of an alibi for Starfire being in his room. All day. Suspiciously.
"Well, you see guys, we really weren't doing anything too great to miss out on. We were… ahm… we were just.. um.." He stammered, making the situation sound worse than it even was. He knew Starfire would be heartbroken if he told them about her… predicament. But what else do you tell your roommates instead, when you've had a girl in your room for practically the entire day?
Suddenly, coming to his rescue, Starfire stood as well and said, "Friends! Robin had asked me earlier today if I could teach him a bit of the Tamaranian language!" She bent down on the floor to gather the scrap paper that littered his floor, "Robin, do you remember what the phrase Zalworg Tobeckplizing Zorgmorke translates to?" She asked, and Robin grinned in return. Starfire could be tremendously clever right on the spot if she needed to , and this time was no exception. Now, it was Robin's turn to engage in the improv,
"Ahmmm…." Robin pondered, looked up at the ceiling, holding his chin, "trying" to "remember", Starfire covered her mouth trying not to giggle at their charade, "I can't say I do remember Star, I swear it's on the tip of my tongue."
"Are you certain you cannot remember?" She asked coyly. Now she was just messing with him, in a way that Robin thought kind, naive Starfire was not capable of. He just grinned at her sheepishly and replied,
"Positive, Star. I can't remember a thing about that one. Your language is harder than it looks…." He turned to Raven and Beast Boy, "this… is embarrassing."
"Flashcards, dude," Beast Boy said to Robin "'bet they'd help. Man, I never knew you were so hopeless at learning other langua- OWTCH!" He was cut off by a swift elbow to his rib, delivered by Raven.
"Well, obviously you two are… busy, I guess. We'll just be going. Don't... stay up here all day. Or do, I don't care." Raven said, turning to walk out the door, dragging a whimpering Beast Boy behind her.
As soon as the door closed, Robin let loose a huge sigh of relief. "That, was close." he said, ducking underneath his bed to retrieve the hidden books.
"Robin?" Starfire asked,
"Yeah Star," Robin said, gathering things off the floor, books tucked under his arm.
"I wish to thank you for not revealing my secret." Starfire said. Robin looked at her. He stood, tossing his things on his bed and walked over to her.
"Star, did you think I ever would?" he was slightly hurt she had less faith in him to keep her secret safe.
"I was not certain what exactly was going to happen when Raven and Beast Boy entered… I'd rather no one would know but you… for the moment." She said, trying to turn away, but Robin wouldn't allow for that. He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him.
"Hey, look at me, Star." Her eyes met his mask, and he spoke to her ever so gently,
"Starfire, I wouldn't tell anyone about it, I promise. You can trust me with anything you need to, okay?" She looked at him, and she just knew by the way he talked to her, she could trust him. Robin was her best friend after all. He didn't seem like one who would, who could easily break a promise.
"Robin?"
"Starfire?"
…
"I believe you."
