CHAPTER 3
Robin was busy punching furiously away at the punching bag down in the gym. He had so much pent up energy inside he just had to let it out. It was only after about 20 minutes of punching that he finally stopped to catch his breath. He was finally beginning to regain his calm and he allowed his thoughts to wander as he walked over to the weight bench and laid down on it, he began pressing the bar into the air.
"How did it come to this...what happened to us?" he thought to himself.
"Yo Robin!"
Robin looked up to see Cyborg standing at the door. "Ya need a spotter?"
Robin smiled and got up from the bench and added more weights to the bar. Cyborg got behind Robin as he began his second set.
"200? Man, you're really pushing yourself today...aren't ya?"
"Just tryin...to get...stronger. Push my...limits." Robin said between reps. "What are...you doing...down here?"
"Well, I didn't see you down in the evidence room, so I thought you might be down here. Thought I might be able to help ya."
"Help...with...what?" Robin asked.
"Help you get whatever it is that's stuck in your ass..."
Robin immediately stopped and Cyborg picked up the bar and put it back on the rack.
"This really isn't any of your business Cyborg..."
"When it starts affecting the performance of my team and teammates...it becomes my business." Cyborg said.
"It's not affecting the team. We've still managed to beat every villain that's come our way."
"Yeah, but we're not as tight as we were, dog. Don't tell me you haven't noticed."
Robin sighed. He knew Cyborg was right. His quarrels with Starfire were affecting the rest of the team.
"I just don't know what's going on. It's like...I don't know...she's changed."
"The only thing that's changed is that she won't put up with your crap anymore, Robin."
"So you're on her side..."
"I'm not on anybody's side! Look, all I know is you and her need to stop this fighting and work out your differences. For you, for her, for the whole damn team. Before something really bad happens."
Robin just stared at the floor as he sat on the weight bench. "Well I can't do that if she won't talk to me."
"Look man, Star's like my little sister. She's still nuts about you, but if you keep dishin on her...sooner or later...well, you know."
Robin looked up at him. "Thanks." he said without emotion. "She still in her room?"
"Last I checked."
Robin walked out of the gym and made his way to Starfire's room. So many thoughts went through his mind. He thought of the first time they'd gone on a date so many years ago, how the mustard bottle had burst when she squeezed it too hard after Robin had whispered something romantic in her ear.
He also recalled that moonlit conversation on the rooftop after they'd been dating for awhile...
"Star, can I...uh...ask you something?"
"Of course, Robin! You may ask me anything!"
"Well, uh, I was wondering...what...attitudes were like on your planet about...uhm, huh..."
"Sex?"
Robin was floord that she had picked up on what he was trying to get at...and he could feel his face getting hotter.
"Yeah, how do the people on your planet...feel about it?"
"On my planet it's called the tak-mahnz. Traditionally, it is reserved for those who are married, for having children. But times have changed somewhat. More Tamaranians that are not, engage in the behavior."
"...and how do you feel about it?"
"I always felt that the tak-mahnz was meant to be reserved for someone special. Someone really special. When I was small, I shared a room with my sister. She was all the time...sneaking suitors into our room for the purpose of having the tak-mahnz. I never understood why. It appeared to never bring her the joy that it was intended for. I promised myself that I would not engage in that activity until I was ready...until I had met someone that I truly cared about."
"...so it's not all that dissimilar from Earth."
"It is one of the few things I believe our worlds have in common. But why do you ask me?"
Robin began to feel his face get flustered again. "Well, it's...well," Robin looked into the emerald eyes of his Tamaranian princess and decided to just let it out. "Starfire...I really care about you. A lot. And, I wanted to know...how you felt about sex, as far as we were concerned."
Starfire glanced at the ground and felt her own knees shake a little as she realized what Robin was getting at.
"Oh man, I've totally blown it" Robin thought to himself, "She's gonna think this is the only reason I've been dating her and now she'll--"
"On my planet it is cutomary to wait for at least three pars-naks before one would even consider something like that in a courtship!" she said looking right at him.
Robin thought for sure that he blew it before Star stepped right into his arms and said...
"But we are not on my planet...are we?"
She gave him a seductive smile as the two embraced into a passionate kiss.
Robin recalled just how wonderful that night was, the first night they made love. She was right, having sex on Tamaran was pretty much like it was on Earth. Her skin was very smooth, and soft. Very warm to the touch...and oh how she loved being touched. Just running his hands all over her body was enough to bring her to orgasm if he did it right. She took the time to tell him how she liked being touched. And sure the sex itself was great too, but Robin absolutely loved getting to massage his girlfriend and bring her to that state of euphoria that only came from his touch. Watching her toes clench as he ran his hands over her legs, thighs, on up towards her breasts and eventually her shoulders.
But lately things had not been so good. The stress of saving the city night after night, the increased crime wave that had been occuring lately for no discernable reason. Disagreements had turned to petty bickering...and that to full fledged arguments.
"Maybe we can work it out," he thought to himself.
Robin stopped at Starfire's door and knocked.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Star." Robin said with an apologetic tone. "Can I talk to you?"
There was no response at first. Robin waited for what seemed like a good minute and sighed. But just as he was about to turn away the door opened. Robin walked in...and the door shut behind him.
