Part 16

[All standard disclaimers apply.]

Starfire looked up as Robin entered the medical bay. She had hoped not to see this room for a long, long time. Fate seemed to have other ideas.

She watched as he gathered a few supplies. When he was ready, she silently offered him her arm. His face was carefully blank as he began cleaning the wound.

"You should have told me about this, Star," he said, finally breaking the silence. "You told me you were okay."

"I am the okay, Robin," she said.

"This says otherwise."

She sighed. "Are you chairing me again?"

"Benching," he corrected. "And, no, I won't be benching you."

"Robin?"

He kept his eyes on her wound as he began to wrap it in gauze. "I think you'll be fine by tomorrow, given how quickly you heal."

"Yes, it should be healed by time for our practice," she agreed.

He finished her bandage. "There. All done."

"Robin?"

He still did not look at her as he cleaned up. She waited while he returned his supplies to their proper place. But it was soon clear that Robin wasn't going to talk to her.

"I will see you at practice tomorrow, Robin." She hopped down from the exam table. "Pleasant evening."

"Combat practice is canceled for tomorrow," Robin announced, still not looking at her.

"Excuse me?"

"No practice tomorrow."

"Oh, I heard you," she said, temper flaring. "There is nothing amiss with my hearing. I demand to know why."

"You're injured. I'm not going to take the risk of further injury."

"Further injury! It is a scratch, Robin," she protested. "You yourself said that it will be healed by the morning."

"No practice, Starfire."

"Robin!"

"That's an order, Starfire," he said as he left the room.

scene change scene change scene change scene change scene change

Robin sighed as he studied the stars. He kept replaying the scene in the medical bay over and over in his mind. He knew that he had over-reacted to Starfire's injury.

He ran a hand through his hair. He should have listened to Cyborg. He should have taken a moment to collect himself before going to the medical bay. Or better yet, he should have sent Raven.

Instead, he had gone in, emotions highs, and made things worse.

"I'm an idiot."

"You shall get none of the arguments from me."

He whirled and found himself face-to-face with the object of his thoughts. "Starfire."

"Forgive me for intruding on your privacy."

"The roof's public space," he said with a shrug.

They stood awkwardly, looking at each other. Robin fought the urge to fidget. "Um, Starfire, was there something you wanted?"

"Oh, yes!" She crossed her arms as she suddenly glared at him. "I wish to discuss the cancellation of our combat practice tomorrow."

"Starfire," he groaned.

"Robin, you are doing the over-reacting to a minor wound. A mere scrape. There is no reason to cancel combat practice."

"Practice is canceled. I've made my decision."

"Then I request a transfer to Titans East."

"What! Now who's over-reacting?"

"You seem to have lost confidence in my abilities as a warrior. A transfer to a different team would mitigate this impasse."

Robin gaped at her. "Star...Starfire, do you really want to leave?"

"No, Robin, I do not wish to leave," she said, "but I believe that maybe I should."

"Wait, let's talk about this," he said quickly. He reached to take her hand but she pulled back.

"I think that the time for talking is past."

"So, that's it? You're just going to leave?"

She sighed. "What would you have me do, Robin?"

"Stay," he pleaded. "Talk. We can work this out."

"What would be different?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "But stay. We'll figure it out."

"I do not think that anything will change," she said, her tone sad. "I do not know what has brought on this...this conflict between us. Nor do I know how to repair it. I sincerely wish that I did, Robin."

His chest hurt as her voice broke on his name.

"Stay," he asked softly. This time when he reached for her hand, she let him take it.

"I cannot. We cannot continue like this." She gave him a sad smile as she squeezed his hand. "Please, talk to Bumble Bee and make the transfer."

He felt a sense of panic as she walked away. He couldn't let her go. Not like this.

"Starfire!"

She stopped but did not turn back to him. She reluctantly let him turn her around to face him.

"Star, please, wait."

"Robin," she sighed.

"I don't want you to go."

"Do not make this harder," she begged. She wiped at a tear. "I do not wish to go either."

"Then don't go."

She shook her head. "I cannot stay. Not with things like they are, Robin."

"You want combat practice? Fine, we'll have combat practice. I'll even add an extra week if that's what you want."

"That is not the point."

"What's the point?"

"You do not trust me anymore," she explained. "I cannot stay on the team in such circumstances."

"Don't trust you? How could you think that I don't trust you?"

"Just this evening you were willing to cancel our practice over a minor scratch that will likely be healed by morning. So it is clear that you did not believe me when I told you that I was in fact the okay. You do not trust my judgment regarding my health or my skills."

Robin sighed. "That's not it, Star."

"Oh? What is it then?"

"I do trust you. You're my best friend."

"Your actions have said the otherwise."

"I know. I've been a jerk. But you don't have to go to another team, Star."

"But Robin, if I stay, we still have this...this difficulty between us."

"I promise that I will do better."

She studied him for a moment before shaking her head sadly. "I am sorry, Robin, but that will not be enough."

"What do I have to do to get you to stay?"

Again, she shook head. "I do not know."

She turned to leave again. His sense of panic rose as she started to walk away. He couldn't let her walk away. "Starfire."

She stopped but did not turn around. "Please, Robin. Enough."

"No."

She spun to face him. "Excuse me?"

"I don't want you to go."

"Robin, I ..."

He cupped her face with his gloved hands and kissed her. She made a small squeak of surprise before pressing closer. Robin let himself relax as she returned his kiss.

Her lips were soft and warm against his. He caressed her cheek, wishing that he had taken off his gloves. With a sigh, he moved his hand into her hair.

After a long moment, he reluctantly pulled back. He rested his forehead against hers. "I've been waiting to do that for a long time."

She blinked at him. "Truly?"

"Oh, yeah."

"What have you been waiting for?"

He chuckled ruefully. "I'm an idiot, okay?"

"No, Robin, I do not think ..."

He kissed her again, cutting off what she was going to say. He smiled against her lips as she melted against him. But all too soon he had to move back for air.

Starfire blinked at him for a moment before frowning. "You are not playing fair."

"All's fair in love and war," he quipped, running a hand through her hair.

"I believe that I am beginning to understand that expression much better," she said as she continued to frown.

"Star?"

"Is this a ploy to make me stay, Robin?" she asked, unable to meet his eyes as she stepped back.

"What? No!" He took her hands in his and again cursed his gloves. "I've cared more for you than a friend for...well, for a while now. That's why I've been such a pain. Seeing you hurt made me a little crazy."

"You care for me?"

He freed one hand and used it to tip her face up to look at him. "I love you, Star."

"Oh, Robin," she whispered. Then she suddenly gave him a beaming smile. "I love you as well."

Before he could say anything, she pulled him to her and kissed him. He urged her closer. He was thrilled when she complied.

They were both panting when they separated. She kept them in a hug. Robin played with her hair.

"This is nice," she said.

He hummed his agreement. "So, are you staying? No more talk of leaving?"

"Yes, I will stay. But we must work on the over-protection you have been doing."

"I'll try," he promised, "but it won't be easy. I'll still worry."

"I do not expect the miracles, Robin."

He stroked her cheek. "Cheeky girl."

She grinned back at him. Then her stomach growled. The noise was loud in the quiet of the roof.

"Hungry?" he asked. As she nodded, he began to lead her to the elevator. "I think that there's some pizza leftover. Sound good?"

"Wonderful."

Still holding hands, they went downstairs.