Author's note:

-schreeeeech- -splat-

That's the sound of Kry being hit by the ficken plot bus. Damn it, and I was trying so hard. So, you're not getting anything from me for maybe a week as I flesh this particular plotline out. But does mean a couple of things. You'll see.


"'You will not apply my precept,' he said, shaking his head. 'How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door, the window, or the chimney. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room, as there is no concealment possible. When, then, did he come?' (1)"

"Oooh," Starfire murmured.

"Like that?"

Starfire nodded, shifting her head on Robin's chest, tilting her head back to view him. "This Sherlock Holmes is very smart."

"The books about him are brilliant. They were the only ones Bruce'd let me read that were works of fiction."

"In a way, he reminds me of you."

Robin shifted in surprise. "Me? Hardly."

"You have more social skills," Starfire said, doodling little circles on his chest. "But surely, you can look at a person and tell their exact weak points in a battle, where you can hit them to disable and disarm?"

"Well... yes... but I can't look at a person and read them like Sherlock does. See a smudge on a collar and know they had bagels for breakfast, or a wedding ring clean on the inside means it was taken off frequently and therefore surmise the person was having an affair."

"Surely if you practiced-"

"I wouldn't like to live like that, Star. Sherlock can't bond with people because he can read them too well. It's probably why Bruce has such problems too, he aspires to be like him. I like my bonds of friendship." He squished her to him, lips to her hair. "I like my Star."

"Oh. Flirt."

"Always. Besides, in all his books, have you ever seen Sherlock dating?"

"Irene Adler."

"She doesn't count and he doesn't actually date her. Remember 'To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen... And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.' (2)"

"I love the language, so beautiful."

"It's how they wrote back then. Educated and proper. I'm pretty sure Sherlock'll be the eternal virgin."

"And you will not be?"

"Oh, low blow, Star. Besides, that goes both ways."

Starfire's giggled as her fingers danced down over Robin's stomach, heading lower. "No, this would be the low-"

He wriggled and writhed, pulling her hand away before it could bury itself inside the belt of his jeans. "Hands off the merchandise," he said, kissing her fingers. "Think of the children."

Starfire giggled again, snuggling further against him, closing her eyes so she could listen to his heartbeat. "That is why you insisted on coming to the park, yes? So we would remain decent?"

"Maybe. And maybe it was because it was a nice day, the sun's shining, the birds are singing, I haven't read to you in a while and Raven's cooking is stinking up the Tower." He kissed her forehead and caressed the skin of her shoulder with the arm that was securely tucked around her. "Why she wants to learn how to make tofurkey... I don't wanna know."

Starfire had to agree, it was a wonderful day. Everything was so warm and the sun was bright and happy as Jump lingered on the verge of summer. It was nice to relax and snuggle in the park too, lying on a picnic blanket in the shade of a tree, the remains of their picnic by their feet. They were even in plain clothes, ready to laze the afternoon away together, although Robin had his belt handy and he wore his mask. "It is most cute."

"I don't think Raven and Beast Boy are really... cute's not the word."

"I think it is cute."

"So do I. But don't tell Raven I said that. She still hasn't forgiven me for the unicorn thing."

"That was over a year ago."

"And Raven holds grudges."

"Pssh," Starfire scoffed. "Have you asked her for forgiveness?"

"No. That'd mean admitting what I did was wrong. And it wasn't." He shuffled, nudging at Starfire and she fluttered open her eyes briefly. "And just how did you get out of it, huh, missy?"

"Best friend and the eyes of the puppy, I can be most convincing."

Robin shifted his head. "Do you want me to keep reading?"

"Mmmm. Please."

"You look half asleep there."

"You are most comfortable."

"Yes, but you don't often fall asleep on me."

"If you read to me, perhaps I will."

Robin sighed and Starfire felt him shuffle. The book made a little thump as it was placed on the blanket and Robin lifted his head so he could pillow his head in his pam. He stroked at her hair with his other hand, picking up long strands and slowly allowing them to fall from his finger. "Nap sounds nice."

Starfire giggled. "I can just see the tabloids."

"'Robin and Starfire caught sleeping together in the park'. I'm sure they have much better things to report on nowdays."

Starfire threw her knee over his legs. "Perhaps we should create a scandal."

"I like that the attention is finally off us. This'd be pretty hard to do otherwise."

"True," Starfire murmured.

"Did you want to do anything else today?"

"Beyond lying here with you in the warm sun and doing the 'napping'?"

"Yeah."

Starfire breathed out a contented sigh as she snuggled closer, listening to Robin's heart beat. She draped her arm across his stomach, allowed his stroking fingers to soothe her. Dapples of sunlight which trickled through the foliage of the tree they lay under kissed her legs. Birds chirped in the tree, bees buzzed around the flowers planted in little rows not far. Children laughed and screamed with happiness as they played.

"Did you fall asleep?" Robin asked.

Starfire roused only a little. "Yes."

He chuckled, bouncing her slightly, so she grumbled and poked him with a finger. "It is most hard when my pillow continues to move."

"Not my fault you decided to sleep on me."

"Then I shall move," Starfire murmured, making no attempt to do so.

"In your own time," he replied and she felt his lips on her forehead.

"Snuggles are nice."

"Yes, they are. Love you, Kory."

"I love you too, Richard."

Pleasant dreams, safely drifting, snuggled and warm and full of sunlight, soothing fingers tips against her skin, Starfire was content to doze, only rousing when Robin jostled her.

"Hmm?"

"Cramp," he whispered, repositioning his arm beneath her. "Go back to sleep."

She shifted her weight so she wasn't lying on his arm anymore, it meant she was further on his chest but she didn't think he would mind. "Oh... I did not wish to waste all our time together dozing."

"It's still quality time," he murmured, his fingers playing with her hair again. "Besides, I've not been sleeping."

"What have you been doing?"

"Watching you," he said, teasing. "All stalkerish."

"Did I do anything interesting?"

"Yup."

Starfire opened her eyes. "What did I do?"

"Not telling. My secret."

She shifted, rolling completely so they were in sort of a T shape, with her head still on his chest. It meant one of his hands could rest on her belly, or sneak higher if he desired, but also she could see his face. "Secret? I do not believe that is fair."

"Tough."

She battered her eyes at him.

"I am immune to your feminine wiles."

She lifted her head and kissed his shirt, poking her fingers between the buttons so she could get at his skin. "I know something you are not immune too."

"Oh?" Robin asked, sounding intrigued.

Starfire propped her head up on her arm, still draped over Robin's lower chest. "It possibly would not be appropriate to do here," she said coyly.

Robin developed a dopey lopsided smile. "I see. Perhaps we should go back to the Tower then?"

"Or, you could simply inform me."

"And what? You'll promise to show me this thing I'm not immune to later?"

Starfire pursed her lips together and nodded.

"Suuuuure. Right." He bopped her on the nose. "I'm onto you."

"And perhaps if you do not tell me, I shall never kiss you again."

"I know an empty threat when I hear one," Robin teased. "You couldn't last a day."

Starfire smiled. "Is that a challenge?"

"Yup," Robin said with a grin. "For the rest of today. No kisses."

"What do I win if I manage?"

"Hmm... how about... I'll bath Silkie for you."

Tempting. "And if I cannot manage it?"

"An extra hour of nun-chuck drills."

She screwed up her face at that.

Robin grinned. "Had to make it interesting and I know you don't like those things."

"You must promise you will not try and kiss me, it will not be fair if you ninja kiss me."

"Darn. Okay. I promise."

Starfire's smile was most mischevious. "Very well. My lips will touch no part of you today."

"What?" Robin narrowed his eyes. "Oooh. Cheeky girl. Somehow I think I missed out of this one more than I expected to."

"You shall never know. Shall we go for a walk?"

"Need to stretch to wake up a little, huh?"

"That, and lying on you like this is most tempting."

He brushed his fingertips along her face in gentle caresses. "Be tempted."

"Hmm... nun-chuck drills or watching you get all soapy and wet while Silkie struggles... I shall take the wet and soapy Robin, please."

Robin laughed.

Starfire giggled and sat up. Running her fingers through her hair to comb it, she stretched.

"Daaaamn," Robin breathed, his eyes on her. "Yeah... I lucked out."

"Perhaps you should refrain from challenging me with things that effect you as well."

"I'll remember that for next time."

They packed up their blanket and food contained into the backpack Robin had brought. He shouldered it and took her hand as they wandered toward the footpath. "Shall we go see what flowers have bloomed in the green house?"

Starfire nodded. "That would be most pleasant."

"Are you ready for the retreat this weekend?" Robin asked as they strolled down the winding stone pathway.

"Oh," Starfire said. "I was meaning to speak to you about that."

Robin lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Beast Boy has claimed that it is a 'man against the wild' trip. We will have to 'live by our wits' and 'cook what we find'. On Tamaran, such hunts were conducted in... um... a very traditional manner which I did not believe humans would do."

"Very traditional," Robin said, skeptically. "...You mean 'naked and with bare hands' traditional, don't you?"

Starfire nodded.

"As much as that might be fun," Robin said with a grin. "I don't think the other Titans would approve. No, it's tents and food brought in, things like that. We will have to collect our own wood and boil water. I have all the camping gear already sorted, don't worry, but you'll need to get things like... um... any feminine stuff you might need. There's no showers there but there's a lake to swim in, so you'll need a swim suit. And your uniform, I have plans for an obstacle course too."

Starfire nodded. "I did expect that we would be conducting some training."

"It's more team building, that sort of thing. We'll be running teams, not against each other. I have a spare backpack so you can pack what you need. Confine it to... ahh, I was gonna say what you can carry, but just try to confine it to what will fit in the bag."

"I see. Okay."

"Anything else?"

Starfire hesitated. "Jinx... said that she and Kid Flash were sharing a tent..."

Robin nodded. "Yeah, he already approached me about that. I'm not their mother or their keeper, so I said sure, as long as they were discrete. I have a couple of different sorts of tents ready, a twelve man for all the guys, a five man for you girls and a few doubles and four mans. Bumblebee already asked if she and Herald could share. So any Titan over eighteen gets to chose where they stay for the night. Argent and Kole are in Raven's tent with you. Pantha's already proclaimed she's going to den mother them to protect the girls from all the guys."

"I see."

Robin gave her a sharp look. "What?"

Starfire hesitated then decided she would just say it. "Could we not share a tent?"

Robin's ears went a little pink. "Um... well... it... probably wouldn't be very appropriate seeing I'm the leader. We need to set a good example. And I need to keep the guys in line so they don't get too rowdy."

Starfire wondered at the excuses. "We are both over eighteen."

"Yeah, but, we're not having sex, which is the reason why KF wanted to share with Jinx."

Starfire tilted her head at him, "So, you do not wish to conduct the making out at any stage during this weekend?"

Robin rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Well..."

Starfire waited, but it seemed Robin really didn't have an answer. "Very well," she said, disappointed.

"Star, we've never deliberately spent a night together," Robin said in an attempt to explain. "We don't know what'll happen."

"Yes we do," Starfire said. "We have been getting very close." She considered him. "You do not wish to?"

He turned evasive. "We haven't really talked about sex yet, Star."

"So, let us do that now."

"Um... don't take this the wrong way," Robin said. "Maybe we should talk about it when we get back from the weekend."

"I would like to share myself with you completely," Starfire said.

Robin stopped walking, releasing her hand. Starfire stopped as well, turning to face him, curious as to why he stopped. She clasped her hands together as she watched him.

He ran his hand through his hair. "I know. And I want you too, but there's a lot of things we need to talk. After the weekend."

"What is there to talk about?"

"Um... quite a lot actually... and I'd... rather..."

"We could do that now."

"After the weekend," Robin said, standing firm.

Starfire sighed.

Robin rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Look... um... there's a couple of personal issues, I'd rather not..."

Starfire grew worried. "Personal issues?"

"You're not going to wait, are you?" Robin said rhetorically. He shoved his hands into his pockets and paced in a tight circle. "I shouldn't have left it... I should've said something when we started getting a little more... adventurous... but... it's... well... not embarrassing, but I don't know how you'll react, especially with what you told me on our first date... I should've said something then."

"Robin, what is it?" She wished she could see his eyes, hidden so carefully behind the mask.

Robin sighed and looked at her. "I'd like to wait."

Starfire blinked. "Until when?"

"Until... we're sure..."

"Sure of what?"

"Each other."

Starfire shook her head. "I am sorry, I do not understand."

Robin sighed, glanced around nervously, then said, "I want to wait until marriage."

Starfire blinked. "You wish to marry me?"

"No," Robin blurted, his body jerking in surprise.

Starfire reared her head back. "No? You do not wish to marry me?"

"No. Yes. I mean, I don't know. We're still young, we have a lot of growing to do as people and a couple. Look, it doesn't mean I don't want to do all that other stuff with you, I just don't want to go all the way."

"I do not understand," Starfire said, her brow furrowed.

"It's a choice, Star. I don't want to be Bruce."

Starfire blinked again. "I still do not understand."

"He never allows himself to be tied down, not a one woman man. He'll do anything that moves so he can keep his cover alias. I actually think he's a little addicted to random sex. He doesn't feel anything for the women he sleeps with. I can't become like him. My parents instilled in me a moral compass and I want to keep that. I don't want to have sex with you just because I can. When we do, I want it to be for the right reasons."

"And loving each other is not the right reason?"

"It is..." He shuffled. "Okay. Look. Where do you see yourself in five years time? Do you think we'll still be together?"

"I hope-"

"I need more than an 'I hope'. I want us to be sure. That's why I want to wait."

Starfire wasn't sure what to say. This notion was quite unfamiliar to her.

"We could change, Starfire. You could decide I'm not what you're looking for in a life partner. I could decide... we could grow apart. Most humans go through the most changes at this point in life, it's entirely possible we could drift. Like your... what do you call it... rekmas?"

Starfire nodded.

"If that happens... I don't want sex in the balance. I want us both to be sure."

"You do not see me as a life partner?" Starfire whispered.

Robin gave her a startled look. "Oh, no, Star, it's not like that." He went to her and rubbed her arms in long strokes. "I see great potential for us. I'm being honest. We could change. I'm pretty sure I will, we have some life decisions we have to make, what we want to do with our lives, if being a couple was part of that decision or if we want to go it alone. I'm just trying to be realistic here."

"But... this is not a normal human notion," Starfire said, still confused. "Kid Flash and Jinx-"

"It's a normal notion, just not a very popular one. Sex changes a relationship and I want us to be committed to each other first."

Starfire frowned. "You doubt my commitment to you?"

"No."

"Then you doubt your own commitment," Starfire reasoned.

"No."

"Then I truly do not understand."

Robin sighed. "Sex is a huge deal-"

"No, it is not. It is the greatest expression of love possible-"

"That's one interpretation."

Starfire raised an eyebrow. "Interpretation?"

"Star, this is what I want-"

"What about what I want?" Starfire asked. "We have done everything the human way-"

"Exactly. You told me you wanted to have a human relationship. This is part of it."

Starfire wrapped her arms around herself.

Robin sighed. "Clearly, we need to talk about this more. After the weekend. I'll think of a way to explain it better and you're bound to have questions. I'll clear my schedule for Tuesday."

Starfire nodded numbly.

"We're not sharing a tent, Star."

"No, because we must do everything your way," Starfire muttered.

Robin stared at her. "What?"

"We have been doing the dating for nearly two years now. All this time I have been waiting for you to request so we could advance our relationship. I have been most patient and willing to do everything the way you wished for and now I find that you refuse to even consider it until we are married?"

"Star-"

"Robin, this... ideal... is most alien to me. I do not understand it."

"How'd we get from going camping on the weekend to a conversation about sex?" Robin muttered.

"It does seem a logical progression. Did you think we would never discuss it? Why have you waited so long to talk to me about it?"

"You never raised it either."

"On our very first date, I told you the expectation a Tamaranian would have. You could have mentioned it then."

"On a first date? Hardly. Look. We'll discuss it on Tuesday. I promise."

"What if we cannot be married?" Starfire asked. "What then?"

"Starfire, we're not having sex in some tent, separated from the other Titans by a piece of cloth," Robin said sternly. He sighed and softened his voice. "I love you," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "I really do, but let's not do this here."

"It is a simple matter regarding penetration of my genitalia by yours-"

"Starfire, stop it-"

"How is that different from having your fingers inside-"

"Stop it," Robin snapped, gripping her upper arms firmly. "Right now. This isn't the place."

"Robin-"

Robin took a deep breath. "I know. Look. For me, sex is something really special. A deep emotional connection with someone. Someone I'm certain I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. There's plenty of other things we can do, Star. It's not that I don't love you or that I don't want you. I just want to wait a few more years until we're certain we're going to be together."

"Years?" Starfire whispered.

He tugged her a little, coaxing her head down so he could rest his forehead against hers. "I don't know, Star," he said, placing his hands on her hips. "Maybe. Sex can complicate relationships. I like dating you, I like kissing and touching and cuddling. We don't need to complicate it just yet. I'm not saying no, I'm just saying not now. Not yet. Please understand."

Starfire considered. "And you are certain there is nothing wrong with you? This is normal?"

"It is. No, there's nothing wrong with me, I do have a libido, if you're worried about that. God, sometimes it's so hard to pull away from you. Sex... is meant to compliment a relationship, not be the focus."

"Hard to be a focus if we cannot have sex."

Robin sighed. "Star. You're bitter. I know. I should've said something and I'm sorry. Give it time. We'll talk about it more. Maybe you can understand."

"And if I cannot?"

"I don't know. You don't want to force me into a sexual relationship, do you?"

"Of course not. I just... I assumed it would be a natural evolution."

"And it will be. Eventually. When we're really ready. I mean, it's not like either of us has had sex, we don't know what we're missing out on. It should be easy."

"That is true."

"Just think about it, okay?"

Starfire sighed and nodded. "Very well."

"Thank you."

"As long as you consider my side."

"Your side?"

"I am Tamaranian," Starfire said. "I have my own set of morals from my parents."

Robin narrowed his eyes at her. "And yours says?"

"It is the ultimate expression of love."

"I believe it is too, I just believe it shouldn't be shared frivolously."

"And you think I do?"

"No. Please stop twisting what I say."

"You are the one saying it."

Robin gave a frustrated growl. "Look. Okay. I'm not ready for sex right now. That's pretty simple to understand, isn't it?"

That particular comment made Starfire indignant. "And now you are implying-"

Robin grabbed her face and kissed her, hard and bracing, his fingers held her still. Their teeth clicked as he forced her mouth open, deepening the kiss, making it passionate and demanding, as if he was trying to show her something. "You are so frustrating sometimes," he muttered, diving back in for another strong kiss. "I love you and you know that. We will talk about this, but not here, not in public. And you have an extra hour of nun-chucks."

"You ninja kissed me. That was unfair."

"You let me."

Starfire huffed.

"Okay, fine, I'll let it slide. Just this once."

"Hmmm."

"I love you," Robin prompted, obviously hoping for reciprocation.

Starfire sighed. "I love you too."


Author's Note:

This means more BBRae (especially since it's third person). KFJinx. Possibly some Hotgent. So, I'll figure this out in more depth and then post it ^_^.

And no. I haven't done this to spite anyone or to keep it T. Canonly, NTT Robin was excatly like this, Starfire eventually wore him down. Does that mean I'm going to do that? Maybe. Maybe not.

Waiting until marriage is a completely personal choice and a lot of people who make those sorts of choices aren't understood by their peers and can be ostriscised by them. There can be any number of reasons why they chose to wait, religious ones are only one factor. Starfire has a problem with it because she didn't know such a mentality existed and she's confused. Yes, Robin possibly could have told her before, but honestly, it's a hard thing to mention and usually only gets discussed once you're getting close to the deed. This is the first time they've actually discussed sex.

Cites

Written by Sir Athur Conan Doyle:

(1) The Sign of the Four, ch. 6 (1890)
Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of the Four (Doubleday p. 111)

(2) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
Dr. Watson in "A Scandal in Bohemia" (Doubleday p. 161)