As soon as Fury entered the Rec Room, he knew something was up. The rest of the Titans were standing in front of him...and they were smiling.
"What's going on?" Fury asked.
"Well," Robin began, "we have a proposition for you. How would you like to join the team?"
Fury did a double take. "You're messing with me, right?"
"Not at all," Cyborg replied. "You seem pretty good in a fight; we could use you."
"Yeah," Beast Boy added. "Besides, you know a lot about Slade now."
"Too much, probably," Fury replied. He paused. "Are you guys sure about this?"
"We would not be asking if we had doubts," Raven replied.
"I know you have your worries, Fury," Robin replied. "But I'm pretty sure we can help you with them. I think you'd make a good addition to our team, and so do the others."
Fury smiled. "I'm honoured you feel that way." His expression became more serious. "But I'm not sure it's the best course of action right now. A lot's changed in these last few months – I think I need to get out of the picture for a while." He looked around at the Titans. "Don't take this personally – it's just the way I think I need to deal with this."
Robin nodded. "Well, if you change your mind, give us a call."
He handed Fury a communicator. Fury looked at it, and it made its customary sound. He grinned slightly.
"Stylised communicators. Nice touch."
"Come on," Robin replied. "I'll show you to the door – this place is a bit difficult to navigate at times."
Robin started to lead Fury out, but as he did so he caught sight of Starfire. She was not her usual self; she had moved away from the others and seemed altogether distant. Robin tried to put it out of his mind: if she wanted to talk about it, she would. He wasn't going to force her to say anything. Still, he thought as he reached the elevator, maybe it's time I take the initiative anyway.
"You're sure about this?" Robin asked Fury as they walked towards the exit of Titan Tower.
Fury smiled. "With all that's happened of late, I need some time to think. But don't worry: if you ever need my help, I'll be back here as soon as I can."
"Isn't that supposed to be 'you'll know where you can find me?'"
"No," Fury replied. "It's probably easiest if I just turn up – I'll probably have heard about whatever it is through the grapevine anyway."
"Uh...huh," Robin replied. "Well, good luck to you out there, Fury."
He extended a hand, and Fury shook it.
"Same to you and the others, Robin," Fury answered. He turned towards the door, and started walking. He then stopped suddenly, turned around, and walked back to face Robin.
"If you don't mind me saying so, Robin, it might be a good idea for you to have a little word with Starfire," he announced.
"Why? What would I talk to her about?"
Fury gave him a slightly cold stare. "You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about."
"Oh, right. That," Robin realised, his heart sinking slightly. "Was it that obvious?"
"I wouldn't have lived to my seventeenth birthday if I wasn't observant," Fury replied. "But as I was saying, now might be a good time – considering how hectic your job is, this may be the most peace you'll have in a long time."
"I'll consider it," Robin replied. He then smiled slightly. "See you around, Fury."
Fury nodded, and walked out of the Titan Tower. Robin watched the man go, then thought about what he had just said. He had nearly lost Starfire to Slade: he didn't want to risk it happening again before he could tell her. He turned around, and headed for Starfire's room.
The door of Starfire's room was open when Robin arrived. She was sitting on her bed, staring out of the window at the city. No smile graced her face as before: her capture by Slade had obviously affected her. As he watched the young alien, Robin wondered whether this was such a good time to tell her how he felt about her. Then again, he thought, I may not get another chance. No time like the present.
He stepped into her room quietly, so as not to disturb her. As he saw more of her face, he realised that she had been crying. He felt a pang of sorrow, and sat down beside her.
"You okay, Star?" he asked.
Starfire nodded, though she did not smile.
"That wasn't very convincing, Starfire. What's wrong? You can tell me."
"Nothing is really wrong, Robin," Starfire replied. "It is just...my imprisonment at the hands of Slade was...unpleasant. He kept gloating about how you and the others had quarrelled...how you would never come and rescue me..."
"Star, we were never going to abandon you," Robin stated. "We're your friends. And even if the others weren't willing to, I would have come after you. I couldn't have lived with myself if I hadn't."
"Robin?" Starfire replied, unsure as to what he was hinting at.
"When I saw Slade capture you – when I saw you being carried away, and there was nothing I could do about it – I felt just as bad as when my parents died. It was as if someone had drained all the joy out of my life. I wasn't prepared to abandon all hope and leave you...not when I hadn't told you how I truly feel."
At these words, Starfire turned and looked Robin in the eye. Her face showed a mixture of anticipation and surprise; Robin figured she could guess what he was about to say. As it turns out, he was right.
"Robin...are you...in love with me?" Starfire asked hesitantly.
Robin found himself unable to speak, a lump forming in his throat. He simply closed his eyes, and nodded.
"Robin..." Starfire started, her voice trailing off for lack of words.
"I know," Robin replied. "I don't expect you to feel the same way about me, Star. It's just..."
"But Robin," Starfire interrupted, smiling slightly, "I do share your feelings."
At this point Robin simply stopped. He certainly hadn't been expecting that. She was his best friend, but he never knew that they had grown that close. Or maybe I was just ignoring it.
"You...you do?" Robin finally replied.
Starfire nodded, although she appeared slightly saddened. "I have felt this way for a long time. Almost as long as we have known each other, my friend. But I did not feel it was right to tell you. Your world contains stories of how two people who love each other can still cause each other great pain; I did not want to do that to my best friend. I did not want to lose you, Robin."
It was as if Robin had opened his eyes for the first time in years. He finally understood the offhand remarks Starfire had made, when they were alone, finally realised what the countless interrupted sentences may have ended with. Okay, maybe not QUITE that, but I'm understanding a lot more now. He looked at Starfire, and noticed that tears were forming in her green eyes. He wiped them away, and looked right at her.
"Star, I would never walk away," Robin replied. "Whatever happens, I always have been and always will be your friend. That's never going to change. Neither will the way I feel about you now."
He took Starfire's hand in his own, and felt her fingers wrap around his hand.
He could not think of anything else to say, so he moved in closer to her, tracing the line of Starfire's jaw with his free hand. He lifted Starfire's head up to the same level as his, and she moved her face closer to his, closing her eyes. Her lips brushed against his, and they kissed, and at once Robin felt, for the first time since his parents' deaths, truly at peace.
Outside the still-open door, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven watched their friends finally confirming what they had suspected. Raven smiled slightly, Cyborg smiled as well and put a hand on Raven's shoulder...but Beast Boy looked on the verge of tears. Both of them looked at the youngster, puzzled. He looked deeply moved by the scene.
"Dude..." Beast Boy said to Cyborg, wiping his eyes.
"Yeah?" Cyborg replied, still confused.
"...you SO owe me ten bucks," he finished, a wide grin on his face.
"Aw, MAN! I thought you'd have forgotten that by now!"
"You put a wager on Robin and Starfire's relationship?" Raven asked, half surprised and half angered.
"It was just after she joined," Cyborg explained. "Beast Boy was convinced they'd get together, but I wasn't sure." He scowled at Beast Boy. "You know, I wish you'd forget these damn wagers at times!"
"Oh yeah, go Beast Boy!" Beast Boy started his usual dance routine, "you got ten bucks! Go Beast Boy!"
Raven put a hand over his mouth to stop him disturbing the couple. "I'll deal with him," Cyborg announced, picking the green boy up. "Now, where did I put my wallet..."
Raven could hear the two guys bickering as they walked away, Cyborg obviously trying to get out of the wager. Raven shook her head slowly. Men. She then turned back to the open doorway. Well, Raven mused as she looked at the two lovers, at least they're not hiding anything anymore. She walked off in the direction Cyborg and Beast Boy had gone in, to see whether Cyborg would actually pay up.
Meanwhile, Robin pulled back slightly, breaking the kiss. Starfire opened her eyes, and looked at him, concerned.
"What is wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," Robin replied. "It's just...if we're going to make this work, we can't hide anything from each other."
Starfire nodded. "I understand."
"So..." Robin continued, reaching up for his mask, "...I don't need this anymore."
Starfire watched as he removed his trademark mask, for the first time revealing what the rest of his face looked like. He had light blue coloured eyes, and fairly long, black eyebrows. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, her face lighting up. She took the mask from his hands, and placed it beside her. She leaned forward towards Robin, and they kissed once more, letting the feelings they had withheld for so long be released as the sun started to set on Jump City.
FIN
