K'ronta (Sapphire)

His bed has been left unkempt for the last few weeks; his covers draped against one side of the mattress with his pillows thrown on the floor. The past few nights were agonizing. When he managed to close his eyes nothing but nightmares awaited him. Scenes of Tamaran surrendering to their enemies – the royal council bowing before spears and guns – danced behind his eyelids. At this point it's become safer to stay awake, just to keep his sanity.

Sapphire sat on the floor leaning his back against the bed. He was busying himself packing and repacking his bag. His hands needed idle work to keep them from wrapping around Robin's throat.

It's been a month since Starfire first announced her pregnancy. A month since his hopefulness shattered like sugar glass. Her betrayal could cost Tamaran their safety. Now she carries a child defiled by human DNA… or at least if it were Robin's.

Sapphire slammed his fist against the floor, anger boiling from his core and rising to his neck. He could feel the heat his hatred sparked consume him.

And although he was truly disappointed in Starfire he couldn't hate her. His heart and body played evil tricks on him. When he saw Starfire his body yearned for her treasures. He wanted to release the stress, the helplessness, and the humiliation into her body. He wanted to push himself into her over and over and over again until the hatred he harbored lifted from his shoulders. He knew he wanted to use her body for selfish reasons. He craved her and yet he was disheartened by her.

Sapphire heard a knock on his door.

"Sapphire," a sweet voice on the other side uttered, "you missed dinner again. I have brought you your meal if you wish to eat alone, but you should eat."

Sapphire's negative emotions spoiled his appetite over the past few days. His stomach growled at the mention of food but he felt too overwhelmed to eat. He tried to tell himself he couldn't stomach the human food any longer but the truth was stress controlled his body.

He pushed himself off the floor and walked over to open the door. When it slid open he saw Starfire holding a metal tray with plated spaghetti, eating utensils, and a soda can; the typical human meal. The spaghetti had chunks of ground beef wedged between the noodles, meaning Cyborg cooked tonight.

"Please," she said, "you do not have to accompany us at meal time but you must eat. You must keep your strength up."

Sapphire sneered. The meal looked delicious but his arms felt no desire to reach for it.

He could feel Starfire's eyes watching him tenderly, trying to not provoke him.

"I'll put this on your desk and let you be alone." She said as she walked into his room and gently placed the tray on his bare desk.

"Starfire…" Sapphire surprised himself; he didn't mean to call out to her.

"Yes?" She asked. She took a seat at the desk chair and crossed her ankles.

Well, at least she continues some royal etiquette he thought. He walked over to his disheveled bed, cursing himself for not cleaning up before letting the princess see his room, and sat at the edge of the mattress.

For a moment he just stared at her. She truly was a beautiful creature, the image of grace and innocence. She wasn't showing yet, given she was still in the first trimester, and her petite figure made her all the more stunning.

"Sapphire, what troubles you?" she broke through his thoughts with her delicate voice.

"I am troubled by many things," Sapphire confessed, still looking at the ground, "I worry for Tamaran in my absence. I am only a mere scribe so I understand my presence isn't needed in war but still…" he trailed off as the image of Tamaran fighting against explosions and enemy ships played before him. He wasn't a fighter. He couldn't fly a battle ship. He didn't even know how to fire a gun, and yet there was guilt.

Starfire interrupted the apparition, "You think you are cowardly for remaining on Earth?" Her intuition stunned Sapphire, as if she peered into his mind.

He nodded, "If Tamaran falls by the hands of our enemies then I should fall with them." He pounded a fist against the mattress. "I should be home acting as the royal scribe, serving the royal family honorably. Instead I am here, galaxies away – useless."

He sighed through his nose, clasped his hands together, and spoke softly, "I'm not sure if my mother would be proud of me right now."

A tear rolled down his cheek when he admitted the fear that haunted him most. His mother was an exceptional royal servant and Sapphire felt honored to walk in her footsteps. The mission took that opportunity away. He spent many sleepless nights wondering what his mother would have thought of his leaving Tamaran in secrecy, having a child outside of marriage, and temporarily forsaking his position as the royal scribe.

She raised him to honor loyalty, respect, and dignity. Did he possess these things now?

Starfire leaned forward in her chair and sought, "Tell me about your mother."

Sapphire lifted his head to see Starfire's inquiring eyes. She gave him her full attention as she waited for his truth.

"Well," Sapphire began, "she was an extraordinary woman. She was kind, soft-spoken, and took life in stride. She taught me valuable lessons in how to be an impressive servant to the royal family. She gave them her utmost respect and led me to do the same." A smile crossed his lips as he recalled his mother. "She was also very beautiful. She had a thin physique, like you, and large lilac eyes. Her short red hair framed her face with natural waves. She was the pinnacle of beauty." Sapphire lost himself in the memories that flooded to his remembrance. She kissed his forehead when she tucked him into bed. She sang to him with her soothing voice as she dressed his wounds. She would fuss with him until he gave her hug before she left for work. He remembered feeling embarrassment at times when her love made him feel childish. Now he looked back wishing he could hug her one more time.

Her illegal affair with their Grand Ruler was forgiven in his eyes for he couldn't hold such a thing against her. How could I be angry with the dead?

Starfire shifted in the chair making the seat squeak underneath her. Sapphire saw something brewing in her mind, a question she wasn't sure how to ask.

She stilled herself, took a deep breath, and asked, "Was I right to crown Galfore as our Grand Ruler?"

Sapphire saw tears spill from her eyes. Her sadness wrinkled her nose as more tears poured.

He remembered when she gave up her place for the throne to Galfore. His mother informed him Blackfire, the evil empress, was banished from Tamaran and Starfire's k'norkfa was crowned. He knew Galfore served as a surrogate father for Starfire after her parents passed in grief.

"I wish I had the opportunity to see him serve as our Grand Ruler," Starfire surprised Sapphire with her confession, "He was an honorable man. He was worthy of the crown."

Sapphire couldn't bear to see the princess crumble in grief. Her strong shoulders convulsed as she tried to control her crying. She took short raspy breaths. He watched as she gave in to her moment of weakness.

An invisible force inside him pushed him toward her. He wasn't sure if it was sympathy or something more dangerous; something like love. He wrapped his arms around her fragile body and held her face against his shoulder. He felt her warm tears stain his shirt.

Starfire whimpered, "I felt my world fall apart the day my parents passed in their horrible death. The royal doctor said they died of a broken heart." She nuzzled herself deeper into Sapphire's shoulder, "They sent away their only son because he betrayed them – he betrayed Tamaran."

Sapphire remembered Wildfire's act of treason well. Wildfire was originally sent away to preserve the royal blood line when the Gordanians attacked. The Tamaranians couldn't risk losing the only male heir in the time of war. When the Gordanians were successful in ravaging their land Tamaran learned Wildfire revealed their weaknesses to the enemy. The betrayal crushed the royal family. Starfire's parents couldn't manage the pain and their carnal hearts tore.

"Galfore raised me. He gave me love only a father could give. He vowed his life to me, to keep me safe, and to stand by my side when I ruled as our Grand Ruler." Starfire confided.

Her words were bittersweet. She'd forsaken her duty to the throne to reside on Earth but she spoke fondly of Tamaran – as if she missed it.

He lowered his mouth to her ear and said, "He led Tamaran with greatness. He was destined to be our Grand Ruler."

Starfire lifted her head and pleaded, "Did he suffer in his death?"

Sapphire gently shook his head and responded, "No my princess, he passed peacefully in his sleep. He felt no pain."

She allowed herself to smile in relief. Sapphire looked down upon the woman; her eyes tinted red, her cheeks glistening with tears, and her lips pursed. What he felt for her wasn't pity; it was something that ran deeper. He felt sorrow.

Before he could catch himself – before he could think twice – he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Her skin was warm and soft. He felt her hand grab the back of his shirt in a tight grip. He knew he shouldn't press further.

Sapphire silently cursed Robin for not standing in his place. If he truly loved her he should be here consoling her, not me. What Starfire desired in Robin remained a mystery to him. Robin has proven himself to be an envious lover, a selfish human who sees no wrong in claiming others as his own.

Could I be… jealous?

The thought struck him in the chest. Sapphire also held feelings for Starfire but he excused them to only run skin deep. He reasoned they were selfish desires and nothing less. Now his mind ran frantic, wondering if he misjudged his feelings. Do they in fact run deeper?

Sapphire shook himself loose of the confliction and decided to focus on his weeping princess. He continued to hold her as he sang the traditional Tamaranian song for sadness, all three hundred verses. As his voice followed the notes he rocked Starfire in his grasp, the same way his mother did when she sang to him.

Author Notes: Hey guys, thank you following my story.

I have to be honest, I feel this story going in a different direction than I planned. I was originally going to let it be a cliche but this new direction will give it more depth, more drama, and will hopefully make the characters more 3D. This story idea has so much potential and I want to do it justice. I'm not going to change the dynamics of the story just tweak the story's future. I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to review :).