Chapter 8
The old parking garage was abandoned and empty; the building it serviced condemned and slated for demolition later that year. It was empty, that is, until Starfire and Red X materialized in the middle of the large empty space.
"Home for the time being, Princess."
With the way that X called her Princess, Starfire almost wished he would go back to calling her cutie. 'This must be where he has been spending much of his time while I recovered,' she thought as she looked around. Over in the far corner was an area that had been screened off with the type of partitions that are used in offices. Over closer to her was another. Between the two was a table, two chairs and another laptop.
Her assessment of the place was interrupted by Red X talking. "One of the better things about this place is that it's three levels under ground so that I can use my devices and you can use you powers without the Titans picking up on the energy signatures."
"I see, but must we do nothing but practice?"
Red X was thrown for a loop by not only the question, but the tone of voice it was delivered in, and for once, he didn't have a witty comeback. As he watched Starfire lifted a hand to her head, as she shook it slightly.
"Give me a moment, to do some stretching exercises, and I will be ready to practice," she said softly, her voice practically dripping with embarrassment and uncertainty.
Red X looked over as Starfire put her foot up on the top rail beside a set of steps and leaned forward, stretching out her hamstrings. He was glad that his mask hid his expression, as he didn't want the redhead asking him what was confusing him. The answer was both ridiculously simple, and complicated. . . . .she was. He knew that he should consider her his prisoner, but that implied that he was holding her against her will, and for the last half hour she had made it clear that even if he released her from her debt to him that she'd stay.
He had been almost as surprised as the Titans had looked to be when Starfire had put her arm around his waist. Just as he had been surprised at what she had said on the video he had left on the laptop. He had planned on being the one talking, getting some verbal shots at Robin, but he had fallen silent as he listened in astonishment to what she had said. He had asked her what she had said at the end, but her simply telling him that she released him from his oaths didn't ease his confusion.
Starfire could feel X's eyes on her as she stretched. She was glad that he was on the other side of the room, as she needed the time to get her feelings back under control. 'He is a criminal, I am a Titan. That alone should keep me from having these feelings for him,' She thought to herself.
'But did not Cyborg have the feelings for Jinx when he was at the Hive Academy?" the voice in her head argued.
'That was different. He was under cover and had to blend in,' she reasoned.
'If you truly believed that, this would not be a problem.'
Choosing to ignore that last thought, Starfire straightened up and flexed and rolled her left shoulder. As she rotated it forward she felt a small twinge of pain, but nothing she couldn't handle. She took a deep breath, to steady her nerves, and turned to tell X that she was ready to begin practicing with him, and found herself face to face with him, mere inches separating them. As she looked into his masked eyes, she swallowed nervously as her mouth went dry, and her breath caught in her throat. After a brief moment she tore her eyes away, and remembered a similar incident.
It had been the first day that they had gone inside Titans Tower. She was walking in one of the training rooms, and she was looking up at a collection of ropes, and trapeze swings that were suspended from the ceiling in one corner wondering what they were there for. Since she wasn't watching where she was going, she had walked right into Robin. To keep them both from losing their balance, he had gently grabbed her shoulders.
"Listen, kid," X said, breaking her train of thought, "I pretty much know how you fight, and I'm not looking for a partner, just someone to keep the Titans off my back while I steal something. I know that the hamburger you had before was the first solid food you've had in three days. How about some dinner?"
Acknowledging the soft grumble from her stomach, Starfire nodded and followed him over to the small table and chairs.
"It's not home made, and I hope you like lasagna."
Starfire looked down at the TV dinner tray with it's slab of lasagna, and garlic bread, and was surprised at how good it looked. "Yes, I like lasagna very much. Robin made some when we celebrated the second anniversary of the forming of the Titans."
Red X heard the sadness in her voice. "If you want, I can let you go back."
"No, X, you can not," Starfire said reaching over and putting her hand on his. "It is no longer simply my word or debt of honor to you that holds me here. I know that Slade won the bidding, and he will not tolerate your going back on your part of the bargain. As a Titan, I wish to see you in jail for your crimes, not dead." she was silent for a moment, and couldn't suppress the shiver that coursed through her as X gently rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "For myself, I wish neither."
The two ate in silence for a while, then Starfire spoke again. "There are things that you can do that will make defeating the Titans easier," she began. "With Raven you can reduce her effectiveness by either making her unable to speak, or gesture with her arms and hands. Also making it difficult for her to concentrate will assist you. Cyborg can be rendered temporarily inoperable by sending a jolt of electricity through him, as it will disrupt his systems. Those same jolts of electricity, at a lower level will cause Beast Boy to revert to human form from whatever creature he becomes. Having watched you the only time we fought I am sure that you will be able to deal with Robin."
Red X, gaped at her in total shock. "Starfire, you just betrayed your friends to me. What you just told me, I can use anytime."
"I am aware of this. What I have just told you will also enable you to do what you want with minimal injury to them."
"What about the two Tamaraneans that they have with them now?"
Starfire thought for a moment. "For during the two times that you wish me to assist you, there is something that I have at the Tower that I will require."
That drew a chuckle fro Red X. "You expect me to let you simply return to the Tower? Once you're among your friends you'll stay there."
"No, I will not. They will not be there because you will distract them."
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When the Titans returned to the tower, Raven pulled Robin off to the side. "You have three choices," she told him. "Get eight hours of sleep, which would be best for you, Azar knows."
"What are my other choices?"
Raven's only reaction to the annoyance in his voice was a slight hardening of her expression. "You can meditate, with me, until I say you've had enough, or you can practice your tai chi exercises."
"And if I refuse?"
With an exasperated sigh, Raven crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. "Robin, you're under a lot of stress. More than from Starfire's being in Red X's hands," she reasoned. "You're still adjusting to her being your wife, and Nie'l being your son. Not to mention what was on that video."
Robin glared back at her, and after a moment realized that in his present mental state that he wouldn't win this staring, or more correctly, glaring match. He looked away with a frustrated sigh. "Okay, Raven, you win. If I decide to practice tai chi, I take it you won't let me do it in my room?"
"With your computer there, not likely, Boy Wonder."
"If anyone needs me, I'll be in training room five," he announced as he stalked from the room.
Robin didn't do exactly as Raven had said. When he got to the training room, he changed into his martial arts outfit. When he stepped into the room he took a moment to study his reflection in the mirrored wall. He slipped off his mask and grunted when he saw the dark circles under his eyes. He knew Raven was right, and that he really should get some sleep. He put his mask on and gave his reflection a lopsided grin. "It's a poor substitute, but it'll have to do." Taking the lotus position, he did as he had been taught, concentrating on his breathing. In, hold it for a moment, then out. He concentrated on that until everything else faded away. After a while, he shifted his awareness to his heartbeat, slowing it little by little. A few moments later, if Doctor Benson had been there with an EKG, she would have been very concerned at how slow his pulse had gotten.
He didn't know how long he stayed that way, but Robin eventually opened his eyes and stood up. After a few stretches, he began performing the elementary motions of his tai chi regimen 'I must be worse off that Raven thinks. These movements should be as natural to me as breathing.' he thought as he found that even concentrating on the moves, he was still dong them wrong. With a groan of frustration, he stopped and began again.
He had just restarted for the third time when he saw Beast Boy walk past the door. He quickly crossed over and poked his head into the hallway. "Hey, Beast Boy! Got a minute?" he called surprised to see that he was walking with Raven and they seemed to be talking quietly. He was even more surprised when the green Titan turned to Raven, seeming to ask if it was alright.
"Sure, what's up?"
"I want to apologize, again, for the other day. I really acted like a jerk."
"Let's just say it wasn't one of your better moments." They were silent for a moment, and Robin began the slow motion movements that were tai chi again, and was surprised to see Beast Boy copying him. Beast Boy caught the look, and grinned sheepishly. "Rita taught me some when I first joined the Doom Patrol. My Morphing ability hadn't fully developed, and she said I needed some way to defend myself. It's been a while since I've done them though." After a few more moments of silence, Beast Boy spoke up again. "Oh, and don't sweat it. I seem to remember my acting like you did when Terra was Slade's apprentice."
"But you didn't slam me against a wall."
"As if I could," the green changeling chuckled, then shifted his position to more mimic Robin's. "But I did take the verbal shot, reminding you that the rest of us didn't give up on you when you were his apprentice." He relaxed from the stance and faced Robin more squarely. "Robin, none of us are going to give up on her, even if it wasn't caused by something messing with her head." He looked around as he thought over what he was going to say next. "Listen, I know you already know this, but she's something special. Way to special for Slade to have anything to do with. We'll get her back, Robin, then Vern'a can give her that cure, and everything will be back to normal. Just don't give up on yourself."
"What?"
"Robin, if you've got someone or some thing to fight, you never give up, but when something happens to one of us, you beat yourself up over it."
"I'm the leader, Beast Boy, it's my job to worry about you guys."
"I know that but, dude, everything that happens isn't your fault. I'll even bet that you think it's your fault Starfire's in the situation she's in now."
Robin froze, and gave Beast Boy an angry glare. "Try that again?"
The green titan shook his head sadly, knowing he had hit on at least one thing that was bothering Robin. "Dude, it's not your fault she got hit by that radiation."
"If it wasn't for me she wouldn't have been aboard that ship, returning to Earth."
"Yes, she would have, Robin. Yes, she was returning to be with you, her husband, but she was also returning to the rest of us, her friends, and the closest thing she's had to a family. So quit taking all the blame on yourself and realize that accidents simply are that, accidents, and out of your control."
Robin looked over at his reflection in the wall to ceiling mirror that was the wall he was facing. With an effort he relaxed his stance ending with unclenching his fists. "Beast. . . Garfield, thanks for reminding me of that. I'll try to keep it in mind."
Beast Boy shook the hand that Robin held out to him. "Just remember you have friends that care about you and want to help."
Robin nodded then watched Beast Boy leave, surprised at how much better he felt. With a sigh, he began again and was surprised again when he found he was now performing the moves the way he should.
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Robin had finished his tai chi exercises and was actually feeling much better. Now he had gone to his room and was working at his computer when he heard a knock at his door. He looked up from his monitor screen and rubbed at his mask. He had been searching for any leads on X, Slade, or Starfire, with no luck. "Come in," he called, realizing it wasn't one of the Titans, as they wouldn't disturb him in his room. He stood and stretched the kinks from his back as the door opened.
"Robin, may I have a word with you, in private?"
"Sure Chr's. Come in." Robin motioned for the warrior to take a seat in his computer chair while he sat on the foot of his bed. "What can I do for you?"
"Robin, I understand your being upset about Koriand'r being with Red X and appearing to prefer him over you, and I know how you feel. If it were not for several things, I would have challenged you over Shel'b."
"Huh?"
"Robin, over the last three months you have been around her almost constantly, far more than I have. She was a member of your Guard when you were Koriand'r's Shalocfa, and filled in as a Titan while the Empress was on Tamaran. Because of that, the two of you have built a strong friendship which enables you to work well together. I have seen the way that you look at her at times, until either she speaks, or you notice her eye color. That is the main reason I have not challenged you, because it is not Shel'b that you are seeing, but Koriand'r."
"I hope that another reason is because you trust her."
"And you as well, Robin. Shel'b has told me much concerning yourself and Koriand'r. She did not break her oath, and violated no trusts between you. With what she has told me, and what I have heard, I can think of nothing that would cause you to violate the trust and devotion of your shamata." He paused for a moment deciding how best to proceed. "But this is beside the point. Shel'b and I have noticed that you are not as . . . .focused as you were before you learned of the Princess's condition. Kim'r has also noticed that since you have learned the nature of Koriand'r's affliction that you seem. . . . .preoccupied about something between you. She feels that you would talk with me more easily than you would with herself, and if it is what I think it is, she is correct."
"I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"Robin, having been here on Earth for the last month and talking to Shel'b, I understand your reluctance to discuss it so I will put it plainly. Vena shu senava que Koriand'r?"
Robin felt his cheeks burn as he translated the question. "That's. . . . ." he began, but let the protest that it was none of his business, die on his lips. "It's not. . . ." he tried again, but couldn't bring himself to discuss it.
"Robin, it is expected. You are shokala e shamata, husband and wife. Is it that you regret. . . "
"No," Robin answered quickly, then paused as his mind raced back to the evening Starfire had returned from Tamaran, narrowly escaping being killed in an accident that had destroyed the ship she had been on. What had started as him massaging Starfire's neck on the Tower roof, became so much more for them both, when they moved to his room so he could give her a back rub. "I certainly don't regret it."
"I am glad to hear that, but your unease does center around that, does it not?" Chr's watched, as Robin stood and began pacing. "Robin, it was her ultimate expression of her love for you." Chr's wasn't sure why, but this stopped Robin in his tracks. "This should not be a concern for you."
"What! Do you mean that I. . . "
"My apologies, Robin, that was a poor choice of words." Chr's closed his eyes, emphatically wishing that Kim'r had talked Galfore into having the conversation with Robin. "I understand that your feelings for Koriand'r are strong, and it is obvious that she returns them equally as strong."
"I know that. It's just that this condition would make her revert to her baser instincts and wants. How can I know it wasn't that. . . ."
Chr's gave a relieved chuckle when he realized what was bothering Robin. "Robin, your bond through the crystal would leave you with no doubts of her feelings. Ask yourself if it felt right to you or not. Did you feel anything but her love for you? Answer that, and you have the solution to your problem." he stood and went to the door. "I will leave you to sort things out on your own."
Chr's turned towards the door, and it hissed open. "Chr's," Robin called, stopping him from leaving. "Thanks."
"I was glad I could be of help."
"Just out of curiosity, are you and Shel'b bonded?"
"No, Shel'b does not reach the age where she can marry for a few more months yet. While we were on Tamaran, we did announce what you would call our engagement. The ceremony is identical to you and Koriand'r's declaration, except that it was done only in front of our families. As the Empress is to you, Shel'b vat ne mathad, e genthalas du penefa. Shel'b and I would be honored if you and the Empress would witness our taking of the Oath of Bonding."
"It is we who would be honored, Chr's, and our pleasure."
Chr's opened his mouth to say something, but the trouble alarm started sounding. Robin flipped open his communicator. "Robin, it's Red X. He's broken into a warehouse on the far side of the city," Cyborg reported.
