In a whirlwind of emotion Robin rode throughout the night, still trying to make sense of everything that had happened. It was so hard to believe that within a 24-hour period, his life had completely turned upside down. To make matters worse the rain began to pour down in buckets, pelting against him as he sped out of Steel City.
This only seemed to heighten his depression even more. And for a minute, Robin actually didn't know where to go or what to do. But the more he came to his senses and thought it over, the more Robin realized that there was only one place he could go. It was the one place that held deep sentiment for him. Wayne Manor.

From the day he broke away over five years ago, Robin never thought he'd come back here again. After all, the terms of his departure were rather bittersweet. Having been raised by Batman, AKA Bruce Wayne, Robin had the utmost respect for him. From the beginning he followed after Batman, wanting to learn as much as he could from such a great mentor, and father figure. Yet the one setback was that the two of them were both alike, set in their ways and very stubborn when it came to making important team decisions. And as he grew older, it only got worse.
Soon Robin began to realize that his ability to expand as an individual hero had its boundaries. Boundaries that Batman made sure he didn't cross. For he wanted to be the one in control. And Robin knew that as long as he remained by his side, he couldn't go any further than just a loyal sidekick. This unfortunately erupted into a terrible argument, which sent Robin packing, and on his way to the independence that he'd sought after from the beginning.
Yet through it all, Robin knew that no matter what happened, he would always be welcomed back. Only. . .he never imagined it to be under these circumstances. And the worse part of all, was knowing that he'd have to explain everything to the very one he'd ran away from.
By the time he pulled into the entrance of the Manor, he was soaked to the skin. Pulling off his helmet, he set it on the handlebar and climbed off his bike. Step by step he made his way up the sidewalk, feeling as though every nerve were on edge.
Blowing out a heavy sigh, he whispered, "Well. . .Here goes nothing. . ."
and reluctantly reached forward and rang the doorbell.
As he silently waited, Robin actually began to wonder if he were doing the right thing. But by then, it was too late to turn back. Especially when the knob began to move, and the door slowly opened to reveal a sophisticated English butler, dressed in a sharp black suit. Preferably and old friend. Robin watched as his eyes lit up with surprise.
"Why Master Richard? Or my eyes deceiving me?"
"No Alfred. . .It's really me." Robin replied, actually cracking a smile.
"I can't believe it. It's been a good while!"
"Almost six years. . ." he replied, as the two of them walked inside.
"I say, that long? No wonder! I hardly recognized you!" Now Alfred noticed the way Robin's teeth were chattering, and said, "Oh, my. . .but you're soaked to the skin. Come, come. First things first. We must get you into some dry clothes."
"T-Thanks. I appreciate that." As they began walking down the long hallway, Alfred replied, "Your room is the same as you left it, with all of your clothes still tucked away." Now eyeing Robin rather hard, he added, "Although you've seemed to have sprouted up a bit since I've last seen you."
"Yeah. . .I guess you can say that. . ." Letting out a chuckle, Alfred nodded,
"Oh well, whatever the case. If your clothes are a little snug, I'm sure master Bruce will have some suitable attire. . ." At the mentioning of his name, Robin began to look up and down the corridor rather curiously. "Uh. . .Speaking of which. Where is he?"
"Oh. He's at another charity ball. But should be home within the hour. He'll be so surprised to see you. . ."
Unable to help himself, Robin snickered lightly under his breath. Shaking his head he muttered, "Yeah, I bet he will. . ."

Two weeks later. . . on Tamaran
With the top of her robe draped down across her shoulders, Starfire waited for the royal aid to sanitize her healing wound. Although she was still somewhat tender, the pain was growing less and less with every passing day. In a matter of minutes she could feel the cold compress lightly push against her incision, causing her to jerk forward a
bit, "Ooh!" she giggled out. "That's cold!" Letting out a chuckle the aid replied,
"I'm sorry. . .Forgive me, princess."
"No. . .Do not apologize. I'd rather say "It's cold," than say, "It hurts,"
Giving her a kind smile, the aid nodded and gently lifted Starfires robe back up.
"Yes, I agree. You are growing better and better by the day. . and you will be more mobile in no time at all. . ."
"That's very good to know. Thank you." Starfire replied, giving her a nod of appreciation. As the aid walked out of the room, Blackfire had made her way to the entrance. Briefly she hesitated, as though not wanting to interfere. That is, until Starfire noticed her from across the room and smiled. . .cheerful as always.
"Sister! I am so glad you are here. . ." She replied as Blackfire furtively made her way forward.
"Uh. . .yeah. I was told you wanted to see me?" She asked rather uncertain.
"Yes. . .Come. . .sit!" As she made her way across the chamber, one of the guards actually followed on her heels until she sat down. Very annoyed, she shot Starfire a derisive glance and muttered through her teeth, "Do they have to be here?"
"Of course not. . ." Looking over a bit, Starfire replied, "Guards. . .could you leave us alone, please?"
"Yes, Princess. . ." he replied with a quick nod. Then without any hesitation he signaled the other guards to follow him out the door. This caused Blackfires head to slowly shake with some amusement. "I see some things have never changed. . .You still have them eating out the palm of your hand. Must be nice. " she added, raising an eyebrow with some sarcasm. Ignoring her sister's hidden animosity, Starfire cleared her throat and replied,
"Speaking of eating. . ." Looking toward the door she hollered, "You may come in, now. . ."
Before Blackfire realized what was happening, two servants quickly darted into the chamber, rolling in two carts that were covered with colorful Tamaranian dishes. Mouth falling open, she watched as one of the servants rolled one cart right in the front of her, nodded, then quickly stood off in the corner of the room.
Giving her sister a shocked glance, she asked, "What is this?"
"Your breakfast. . .I figured that you might've been hungry." Realizing what her sister was trying to do, Blackfire's gaze shifted to the ceiling, then slowly fell on Star with some irritation. "Maybe. But you really didn't have to bother. . .I could've gotten it myself."
"Oh, it's no bother at all!" she chipperly replied, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. "I believe those are still your favorite dishes?" Having about all she could take, Blackfire's eyes rolled with aggravation. "Alright, enough already! Will you stop being so nice to me?! You've been like this for the past two weeks, and it's getting to be a little nauseous!"
"No, it isn't. . ." Starfire replied, beginning to fidget a bit. "I. . .I just never got a chance to thank you. . .for saving my life." For a minute Blackfire could only marvel at her, rather surprised by her reasoning. This caused her head to spitefully shake.
"I didn't do anything major, besides give a little blood! Believe me. . .It's not that big a deal!" Hearing the cold clip in her voice, Starfire looked away from her. Putting her head down, she sadly replied, "I know. . .Which is why I'm surprised you made the effort at all. It is no secret how much you hate me. . ."
Caught off guard by that remark, Blackfire actually found herself thrown off by the bluntness of her statement. Now feeling trapped and confronted, her head shook with frustration. "I don't hate you, alright!" Blackfire irritably replied.
Gritting her teeth, she coldly blurted out, "I just can't stand you!"
Getting a lump in her throat, Starfires head slowly shook. "But why?" she whispered in a trembling voice. "Why do you have such ill feelings towards me?"
By the way her sister's cold gaze slowly found hers, Starfire knew it was finally about to spill out in the open. Eyes narrowing from a mixture of inner turmoil, Blackfire bitterly replied, "Oh, let's see now. Besides tossing me off the planet. . .and having me gamble on where to live. . .How would you expect me to feel?!" Feeling herself stiffen, Starfire glared at her and hissed with a calm, yet firm tone, "I suppose no different than the way I felt, when you attempted to do the same thing to me. . . by making me marry some. . .some. . .Thing!" she exclaimed, "And then sending me off to some swamp planet!"
"Hmm. Yeah. And it almost worked, too. . ." Blackfire cruelly taunted. "If your
nosy little friends wouldn't have interfered!"
As Stars head hurtfully shook, Blackfire leaned forward full of malice and hissed,
"I would've done anything to get rid of you! Anything! Because you were just so perfect! And you always have been! And I could never measure up to you, no matter how much I tried!" Completely stunned by her sisters answer, Starfire replied,
"Measure up to me? How? When you have been so much better at many things, making me feel inferior!"
"Oh, right!"
"It's true! Especially with my friends!" She argued, as Blackfire gave her a confused glance. "I'd been living on earth for quite awhile, before you showed up. . and still was not accustomed to their ways. Yet upon one visit, you adapted immediately, and knew everything about them! So much in fact, that you almost took them away from me!" As Blackfires eyes widened with some surprise. Starfire put her head down, and sadly added, "I. . .I almost left the team, because of you." Actually elated over this information, Blackfire scoffed then cruelly chuckled.
"Tsk. . .tsk. . .tsk. . .Oh. . you poor little thing!" she sarcastically mocked, causing Starfire to glare at her. "Let me tell you something little sister! Being ignored by your friends is nothing compared to being ignored by a whole world! From the time we grew up together, I always felt second to you! And it didn't matter that I was the older sibling, or first in line for the throne. . .You were still spoiled! Everybody always catered to you, and I was sick of it! So. . .I figured, that maybe things would've been better, if you were out of the picture!"
"Oh, I see. . .So that explains why you always set me up, or tried to get rid of me!"
Sneering at her, Blackfire spitefully replied, "Exactly. . .Let's just say that I was trying to even the score!"
Now beginning to grow angry, Starfire added, "Which makes me wonder as to who is really the spoiled one!" She sharply replied, as Blackfire looked away and folded her arms. "At least I never lashed out at you, or hurt anyone the way you have! And I am sick of you blaming me for your reckless behavior! You deserved to be cast off this planet! What you done to the people of Tamaran, and to me was totally uncalled for!"
Defensively Blackfire stood up, now just as angry as Star. "Well it never would've happened if I'd gotten the respect I deserved! That's all I ever wanted!" She hollered at the top of her lungs. Slowly standing to her feet, Starfire gave her sister an earnest glance.
"And all I ever wanted. . .was to be close with my sister, and to have her love me the same way that I've always loved her. . ."
Thrown off by her torn remark, Blackfire could feel her defensive guard slowly drop.
Now for the first time in nearly six years, the true root to all of her indignation began to surface, causing tears to uncontrollably well in her eyes. This in turn made her even more angry. For the last thing she wanted was to show weakness, and get upset. Especially now! This caused her eyes to tearfully narrow, until she was glaring at her sister full of painful ire. "It's. . .It's too late for that!" She sharply replied, in a voice that now cracked with emotion. Full of determination, Starfires hand reached out and clasped her by the arm, stopping her from going any further. Gently she turned her sister around, now stunned by the tearful, bitter expression on her face. Suddenly she realized that Blackfire inwardly cared a lot more for her than what she realized.
The very thought of this now had Starfire breaking into tears. Slowly shaking her head, she looked into her sisters eyes with such desperation. .such yearning.
Sniffling, she tearfully whispered, "Is it really?"
Her question had Blackfire glaring at her with animosity. "Yes!" She snapped, angrily yanking her arm away. "Why don't you grow up! I mean after everything that's happened, what do you expect from me now?! Hugs and kisses?! Forget it!"
Beginning to grow frustrated through her grief, Starfire angrily replied, "Well, if that's the way you really feel, then what are you still doing here?!"
Caught off guard by that question, Blackfire roughly wiped her eyes and glared at her out of pure spite. "Good point!" she snapped, quickly spinning away from her. "I'm out of here!" As she began to walk away, Starfire was at her wits end. Unable to bear it any longer, she shouted, "Well. . .if you're leaving, then so am I!"
Her angry declaration actually had Blackfire freezing in her tracks. Turning back around, she stared at her sister as though she'd lost her mind. "What did you say?"
More adamant than ever, Starfire repeated, "I said I am going home! I don't
belong here any more than you do!" Still not believing that she was serious, Blackfire let out an amused scoff. "Are you crazy?! You can't fly all the way back to earth in your condition!"
"I'm well enough to try!" As she stubbornly attempted to pass her by, Blackfire actually found herself blocking her. "Stop being ridiculous! You're not going anywhere!"

Stiffening with defiance, Starfires arms slowly raised until bright green auras surrounded her tightly clinched fists "Why? Are you going to stop me?!"
Actually thrown off by her sister's spunky challenge, Blackfire could only marvel at her with surprise. But before she had a chance to do anything, Galfores massive form emerged out of nowhere literally blocking the entire exit! Giving her sister a peevish glance, Blackfire scoffed and said, "No. . .From the looks of it, I won't have to!"
"What is going on in here?!" he gruffly demanded, as they looked away from him. "I could hear the shouting from inside the thrown room!"
By the silence and their teary, sulky expressions, Galfore knew from years of raising them as children, that the two girls apparently had a bad argument. Looking from one to the other, he replied in a gentler tone. "Come now. I want to know what's going on. . ."
Glaring up at him, Blackfire pointed at her sister in an accusing manner,
"Why don't you ask her!" She hollered, as Starfire actually attempted to pass him by.
"Wait a minute, Princess! Where are you going?"
"Back to earth!" she tearfully exclaimed, as a frightened expression crossed over his rugged face. "What?! But. . .but you have not completely healed!"
"I have healed enough! My friends need me. . .Robin needs me!" It was as though hearing that name caused Galfore's worried gaze to twist into one of disgust. In an instant he turned to the devious expression on Blackfires face, and angrily barked out,
"I thought I ordered you not to say anything about him!"
Actually frustrated over being accused, Blackfire threw a hand up and shouted,
"Hey, don't look at me! This time, I had nothing to do with it!" Immediately catching on that something wasn't right, Starfires teary eyed glare narrowed into a suspicious gaze. "Nothing to do with what?! What are you hiding from me?"
From the side, Blackfire watched as Galfores tough exterior, suddenly dissipated
in an instant, when he realized that he had actually given himself away!
Eyes widening with alarm, he desperately tried to think of something to say.

Enjoying the way he began to squirm, Blackfire decided to help him along. After all. . .he accused her. . .so why not? Slowly folding her arms, she sneered at him and muttered, "Yeah, Galfore. Why don't you tell her? Tell her how you made Robin feel so guilty, and worthless, that he wanted to leave. . ."
Eyes widening with horror, Starfire looked from her sister, to the now very troubled expression on Galfores face and asked, "What? Is. . .Is this true?"
From the side, Blackfire watched as his tough front, actually crumbled in defeat before her very eyes. Although very brute, and grating on the outside, this big Norfka always did have a soft spot in his heart where her little sister was concerned. And this time. . .it was going to cost him dearly. Barely able to look Starfire in the face, he replied,
"Yes. . ." Realizing his motives of deception, Starfires head slowly shook with hurt disbelief.
"Oh, Galfore. How could you do such a thing? How could you make him feel so terrible?" Looking down at her out the corner of his eye, he said,
"I only spoke the truth. He is not best for you. . ." Already emotional, Starfire now began to grow very defensive and very angry!
"Best for me? Galfore, you have no authority to decide what it right for me! I am not a little Bumgorf anymore!"
Beginning to grow defensive, Galfore angrily asked, "He did not defend you in battle? What kind of a warrior is he?!" This question caused Starfires head to slowly shake.
"He would've been a dead warrior, had I not intervened in time. I did what was needed to save his life. Because I love him. . ." Hearing her finally confess her feelings for this earthling had his eyes rolling with hopelessness.
"No. . .Love him? At what cost?! Look at the price you have paid!" Giving him a rather serious stare, Starfire nodded and replied,
"Oh, I see. And the scars that you have all over your body, including the loss of an eye. Were they not for the love of your people?"
"That was different!" he justifiably barked.
"No, it wasn't. You had them in battle, while protecting your loved ones. I too was in a battle, while protecting somebody I greatly care for. . .You did not back down. And neither did I. . ."
Knowing deep down inside that she was right, Galfore let out a tired sigh.
"You have apparently been by me too long, it seems. For some of my habits have indeed rubbed off on you. . .Habits that I'm not sure I like." Knowing she was beginning to win him over, Starfire softened up a bit.
"Galfore, please understand. . .Robin has always protected me, and risked his life for me on several occasions. But in this one instance, he needed my protection. And I was there. And I want to be there for him now. Please. . ." she asked, gently gripping onto his massive arm. "Let me go. . ." Growing more and more urgent for her, Galfore pled,
"But. . .but. . .You are still in no condition to travel that far. . especially alone. . ."
"She won't be. . ." Now in an instant, the two of them turned to the sober expression on Blackfires face, giving her a rather questionable glance. This caused her eyes to roll in an awkward fashion, until she muttered. "At least. . .not without a babysitter. . ."
From this mocking statement, Starfire watched as her sisters gaze slowly found hers, and a tiny smile crossed over her lips. This in turn caused her to smile back, as well. For she realized that with Blackfire actually making an effort, that perhaps, there might be some hope for them after all.