Chapter 21

Always and Forever

Starfire's POV

"So, how're you feeling?"

"I am fine Robin. Please, you must stop worrying. Because Tamaranian bodies are much faster at healing themselves, and I only have a minor concussion so I shall be fine within the hour."

"I know, I know, I worry too much. Sorry, but I just want to make sure. I mean, this was my fault after all."

"Robin?" I sat up straighter and adjusted myself so I would be in a more comfortable position.

Robin got up from the chair and began pacing the entire room. "If I hadn't told you sooner then you might not have been with Speedy. And then you guys wouldn't be together and you wouldn't go on that date and you wouldn't have been hurt. But no, thanks to that stupid rule that Batman had to remind me over and over, I couldn't."

"Robin-" I was slightly unsure of what he was telling me and yet a part of me felt excited. As though I have been waiting for this moment for the past couple of years.

Robin stopped his pacing and looked at and swallowed. He quickly yet gently walked towards me and took hold of my hand. "Starfire, you know you're my best friend right?"

I nodded and he said, "And you know that I care for every single one of the Titans, right?" Another nod.

"Well, when Batman trained me, he also drilled some rules into my head and although some are useful," Robin let go of my hand with one of his and ran his gloved fingers through his hair, "Others I think are a complete lie. I mean, if he can trust Catwoman with practically everything, then why can't I do the same? It's a waste of time if you ask me."

"Robin, are you saying what I believe you are saying?" This was the moment, the moment I have been waiting for for years to hear. That is, if I was correct on what he would tell me.

"Starfire," he took hold of my hand once again, "I'm sorry that it took a trip to the medical bay for me to finally tell you this but I just wanted to say that I… Oh fuck it." I sucked in a breath but I was not able to let it escape as Robin pressed his lips to mine.

Robin's POV

I kissed her.

I kissed Starfire and to be honest, I had no regrets. I didn't know how to tell her how I felt so instead, I decided to show her. At first, she didn't do anything and when I opened my eyes to see her reaction, I saw that she had closed her own and was leaning into me. Her arms wrapped themselves around my neck and mine found her waist and held onto them, pushing her closer to me.

It was an awkward position to be in, but before I knew it, Starfire had changed the position of her arms so they were coiled in my shirt and pulled me closer her so that I was nearly on top of her. As much as I knew how much Batman would hate this, I couldn't stop. The kissing was amazing and it wasn't until I sneaked my way into her mouth and made contact with her tongue that made everything even better. She let out a small eep and that only made me smile. I dug deeper into the kiss and she reciprocated.

Our tongues battled each other for dominance and my grip on Starfire tightened as my arms started to meet each other and relaxed into her soft skin. Starfire had started to run her fingers through my hair that made me go crazy. Doing the same thing, I ran my fingers through her long, auburn hair and my fingers started to get tangled in them. But they would eventually make their way out and start all over again.

I broke apart for a split second and sucked in some air before I dove in for another kiss. Starfire seemed to do the same as I saw her mouth open as an invitation for me to kiss her again. And that was something I was not going to dismiss. We kissed again and again until I decided to do something different. I started to give her some small pecks along her jaw-line and around her face. Starfire had continued to kiss me senseless and it wasn't until my mouth returned to hers when she started to do little circular movements around my back with her fingers. It was soothing and she had seemed to find some scars that I had and was tracing the outline of them.

Time passed but I don't think neither of us knew how long. Eventually the kisses became deeper and less rushed, but that didn't mean that we stopped. The entire time we kissed, I never stopped holding her. I felt that if I let her go, then that would be my last chance of kissing her and being with her. Although I tried to push the idea of a crush on Starfire away, it wasn't until I became Slade's apprentice and was forced to hurt her when I finally accepted it. I knew that it was terrible timing for me to accept that I liked Starfire, being that I knew I wasn't allowed to have a weakness and she could be used against me, but I wasn't strong enough to resist. As the years passed, the crush I had on Starfire grew with each passing day and eventually grew into love. I had always loved her but was too blind to see it. And to think that it took a sklerch to finally knock some sense of reality into me. But I always knew that I had feelings for her, ever since she kissed me to understand English. Language transference or not, that was still my first kiss with Starfire.

"Well I'm guessing that you guys have been here for a while. And I know that you're feeling better Starfire." Starfire pulled away, to my distaste, and stared wide-eyed at Raven. Raven, who caught us making out. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, Cyborg and Beastboy came in. Who knows? Maybe they didn't know what happened.

"Finally dude! It took you like what, three years to finally kiss the girl? You may be fast out on the field but you are slow when it comes to the ladies." I swiftly got off of Starfire and stood at the foot of her bed, rubbing the back of my neck as they continued to mock me.

"Rob man, can I speak with you? Now." There was a change of tone in Cyborg's voice that was threatening and as much as I hated being threatened, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear.

"Sure. I'll uh," I turned to look at Starfire and saw that there was this glowing look on her face that made me smile. But it disappeared as soon as I saw her lips: swollen. And if hers were swollen then that was a sign that mine were the same way. Yep, we were caught and there was no going back. Still, no regrets, "I'll be right back."

I started to walk out of the room with Cyborg leading the way but before I completely left the room, I turned and said, "Take of Star for me." The last thing I heard was Beastboy muttering, "Obviously not the way you'll take care of her." It was decided: laps around the track for Beastboy.

Once we were outside the medical bay, I looked up at Cyborg and saw the dark and menacing look in his eye. His arms were crossed and he was looking down at me. Never show fear Robin, never show fear. I copied his stance and crossed my arms across my chest. Using my leader voice, I asked, "So what's this about Cyborg?"

"Oh I think you know what this is about. You know, there are cameras in the medical bay."

"So you were spying on Starfire and me?"

"No, Beastboy was spying on you and Star. I was just about to force the little guy off until I witnessed you on top of her!"

"Oh um," my habit of running my hand through my hair came back, "how much did you see exactly?"

"Enough. But by the looks of it, I'm guessing that you two were going at it for a little while." I gulped and looked down but after a sigh from Cyborg, I felt a hand lay upon my shoulder. I looked up and saw that Cyborg had a part-menacing and part-heartfelt look in his eye.

"Listen Rob, I care for you like I care for everyone else on this team. But I consider Starfire like my little sister. And if whatever I saw in there leads you to to being together, then I want you to know that I'll be happy for the two of you." Just as I thought that that was the worst part, Cyborg leaned in close to my face and spoke in a low voice. "But if you ever hurt her, then I'll be forced to knock some sense into you. Hard."

As much as I hated being talked to like that, Cyborg had a point. I considered Raven like my sister and I knew that I would hurt anyone that hurt her. So before I said something that I knew I would regret, I saw it in his point of view and simply nodded. "Understood."

Cyborg stood upright once again and gave me the smile that comforted everyone. "Good, glad to see that we're at an understandin'. But please don't make me catchin' the two of you like that ever again. It was…disturbing." He shook his head and walked back into the medical bay, leaving me in the hallway.

As much as I was relieved that that was over, a wave of anxiousness still flooded my thoughts. I was planning on telling Starfire how I felt but I never found the right words to say. If everything went well, then maybe she would become my girlfriend, but if not…then at least I wouldn't forget what had just happened between the two of us. But before I felt more anxiety, I remembered what we just did. We kissed, no not kissed, we made out. That had to mean something, didn't it? No, of course it did! With a wave of confidence washing over me, I marched back into the room and saw that Starfire talking with Raven and jumping up and down while still managing to sit on the bed.

Raven kept sneaking glances at Beastboy who was doing the same thing and talking to Cyborg. Cyborg had the same look in his eye like the one he gave me after our…agreement. Beastboy nodded curtly and sighed after Cyborg looked like himself once again.

"Did I miss anything?" Three pairs of eyes landed on me but mine only found Starfire who was blushing and looking away.

"Not really. But the real question here is: did we miss anything? I mean, we looked at the surveillance cameras and found that you two were locking lips. That has to mean something. Are you two together now? Are you guys in lo-o-ve?" Beastboy stretched out the word "love" and pouted his lips while batting his eyes. I think I'll add in another five laps.

"Out. Now." Cyborg was the only one who took the hint and started to leave the room but Raven seemed to wait for Beastboy. I had an idea but I would have to look into that later.

"Oh come on dude! We've all been waiting years for you guys to finally be together! Don't tell me you're going to chicken out and do something stupid! I mean, I already told Raven about my-GAH! RAVEN!" Raven grabbed Beastboy's ear and started to drag him out of there but before she left, I saw her smile and blush. Something was definitely going on between the two of them. Before I was completely distracted by their reaction, I heard a voice inside of my mind.

Don't screw this up Lover Boy. And forget about what Beastboy was saying.

I'll try my best. You know me, Boy Blunder and all. And of course I'll forget. Until I ask Beastboy about it the next time I see him. Bye Raven.

As quickly as I felt her presence in my head, I mentally prepared myself so that she wouldn't come back in. I knew for a fact that I didn't want her in my mind meanwhile I was talking to Starfire.

"Robin?" Starfire! I almost forgot about her! I turned and faced her with her hair all roused up and standing out in nearly every direction of her face. She looked gorgeous.

"Yeah Star?" I walked closer to her until I was sitting back down on the abandoned chair that was next to her bed once again.

"Would you like to know what friend Beastboy was speaking about earlier? Regarding him and friend Raven?" Her eyes met my masked ones and as eager as she wanted to tell me by her facial expression, I could tell by the look in her eyes that she wanted to talk about something else.

"Maybe later." I stared down at my gloved fingers that were twiddling with each other. "Uh, Starfire? About earlier, with the whole kiss thing,"

"Oh yes, you need not worry. I understand." My head was brought back up.

"You do?"

Starfire nodded her head and began brushing out her hair using her fingers. "I understand that the Batman has taught you many of the rules and I know that you go by them. I know that you were going to explain to me why you could not be with me. At first, I did not know if you had the feelings for me but after that kiss," Starfire blushed and was nearly done with fixing her hair, "I now know. You do not wish to be involved in a relationship with me for the fear of one of us becoming hurt in the process. I understand completely Robin." As almost as convincing as that was, I could see that she was truly hurting on the inside since her eyes were glazed with tears.

"Starfire," I breathed, "that is right and wrong." Gently pulling her no longer occupied hand towards mine, I took the other one and grasped them. That brought Starfire's attention to mine. "Listen Star, Batman has taught me rules but I realized that they're his rules, not mine. Now that I'm no longer part of the 'Batman and Robin' deal, that means that I can make up my own rules. And although he never allowed relationships with anyone, that doesn't mean I have to do the same. I'm deciding for myself and the first rule I'm allowing myself is to let myself love you, without any regrets because I know that if I'm with you, then there will be none.

"Robin-"

"Please, let me finish. I only just started telling you what I always wanted to say." After Starfire nodded, I continued, "I'll admit that when we first met, I wasn't that happy to see some hot chick messing up the town. Okay, well I was happy that there was a hot chick but that's besides the point right now. After you kissed me, I felt a spark there and I always forced myself to stop thinking about you. But then we became the Teen Titans and that became even harder. Some time passed and I finally allowed myself to admit that I had a crush on you. But it was more than that and I knew it, well I always knew it. After we were stranded together on that hostile alien planet, I caved in and admitted to myself that I cared for you. Damn it Starfire I care for you so much that it hurts. I love waking up every day, knowing that I'll be able to see your smiling face. I love how you can make even the worst situation better again. I love relying on you and knowing that you can bring me out of the deepest corners of my mind. Starfire, I love everything about you and albeit, it hurts knowing that something bad may happen to you but as long as we're together, we'll be okay. We've been in situations where a villain has used you against me but I always manage to bring you back. So before I say anything else that could possible screw up our friendship," I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, "I love you Starfire. I always have and even though you might not feel the same way, I wanted you to know. And I hope that this doesn't hurt our friendship because that is the last thing I want: a lost friendship between the two of us." I silently let out the breath and opened my eyes once again. Starfire had tears in her eyes and her lip was quivering. That was perfect, I had made her cry thanks to me telling her how I felt.

"Star, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset." I brought Starfire into a hug and held her there. At least I knew how she felt about me.

"No Robin, these are tears of joy not sadness." My eyes widened and I pulled away from her to look her in the eyes.

"Starfire?"

"Robin, I have always loved you as well. I knew that you were originally with the Batman before the team and I eventually learned that you had been raised by a set of rules. Once I had heard about the rule about there being no form of a romantic relationship with anyone, especially on a team, I was distraught. I had believed that we would never have an opportunity to be together and throughout the years I have tried to push away the thought of us being a couple because that would only remind me that you could not. I led myself to believe that if I had discussed with you about the rule, then you would have been angered with me and done the cutting of me out of your life. However, I knew that it was better to be your best friend rather than not having any kind of friendship at all. But after you kissed me, I was left confused and yet so very happy. I believed that you merely wished to forget your feelings for me and did so with that kiss. As though as if it was closure. But after all of those things you said, Robin," Starfire sniffled and tightened her grip around my neck, "I am filled with joy."

I lightly pushed her away from me and held onto her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. All so many emotions at once but what they all rotated around the main feeling: happiness. And that had made me grin. "Robin, I love you, so very much." Without thinking, I pulled her into another passionate kiss.

Once we stopped, our foreheads rested against each other's and I said, "I love you two Starfire. Always and forever."

Sorry about the late arrival of this chapter. At first I had writer's block and as soon as I got an idea, my mom decided to take away my laptop for a few days thanks to my sister. So I was technically punished for something that I didn't even do. Anyway, as soon as I got it back, I turned on my laptop and it wasn't working. Meaning that the internet, Word, music, and everything else that I use for important reasons (fanfictions, YouTube account, and fun stuff, etc.) wasn't available. I was finally able to get in a few paragraphs yesterday and today I was close to giving up and starting over on the chapter but it worked and I finished the chapter. It was technically only Word that worked but at least I finished it! I don't know how I'll get the next couple of chapters updated from my stories but I know that I'll find a way. Depending on whether or not I use my dad's computer (where everything works) it may take a while for me to get some things done. I will try the best of my ability to get everything done but please give me time. I'm going to take it to Best Buy and hope that they can fix it but I'm a little scared. The two-year warranty ended about a year or so ago so I have no idea if this'll cost me money or not. If you are a tech wizard then please give me advice on how to fix it.

Moving on from my problems: Please tell me if this chapter was sufficient enough for you guys. I don't know how I did on the whole kissing scene so please tell me how to improve in the future.

Please review, follow, fav and all that other good stuff! I don't own anything but Warner Bros. and DC Comics do!

Always yours,

light is in the dark

P.S. This may or may not be the final chapter but it depends on whether or not you guys want the final farewell of everyone. And if you don't want the final chapter, then please tell me how to improve so I can make my other stories better! Thank you for reading and I seriously appreciate the support! That is in case there isn't a final chapter