Well here is another chapter! I don't know when it got so long, but it did. Please let me know who you like it! I am going to try and post weekly, but I might be splitting chapters in half.

I hadn't been able to go home with everything that happened. I called Batman to let him know why Gotham had felt so empty. I didn't immediately reject his offer to come and lend a hand, but I told him I would keep him updated if it came to that point. I was hoping that it wouldn't come to it, but having some extra help might be necessary with the quantity of villains in the area. I had camped out where I knew Red X would drive by when he drove her out of the club. It was taking longer than I thought, though I was already a bundle of nerves from today.

I didn't know where to go from here with her. I couldn't have her freaking out at me in a setting like that, which is why I left. Though I knew she was extra broken and self destructive. I remembered when we thought the explosion in Raven's dreams was supposed to be tonight. It certainly wouldn't be much of a surprise with the storm of stressors. I had to just trust in Raven's note.

We hadn't gotten to talk about everything before coming. It felt like she was just ignoring the issues and was trying to get tonight over with. I thought we might of gotten lucky with our early line up, until my reflex.

I knew I had messed up when I charged the escrimas. I had frozen up when I realized what happened, but I couldn't take it back. I should be the person she knew would never hurt her. I was able to calm her down in the meeting with the League, but could I keep being that subconscious safety if I kept messing up?

Still, I was mad at her for choosing Red X to be that comfort and pushing me aside. I couldn't do another week of her ignoring me with sticky notes and I couldn't handle it if she crossed the line with Red X even if she was not in the right head space. I tried to take some comfort in the fact she said she wouldn't betray me, but what man wouldn't feel nervous. Red X wanted her and she was vulnerable and upset. Which is why I was still waiting. If she didn't want me there at the club I could at least make sure she was safe.

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I was not in the best spot to eavesdrop, but I was at least able to see what they were doing and occasionally the wind filtered bits of their conversation. Though it appeared that it wasn't devolving into physical comfort like I thought it would. Though it was hard to tell at moments. Starfire was touchy and I knew that, but at times it seemed like Red X was as well. While it wasn't romantic perse watching him poke her nose was too familiar of a gesture for comfort. I was relieved when I saw her go into the water and continue the conversation from there. Though she seemed upset from the way her hair glowed off and on.

Though it settled as she sat across from them and just seemed to talk. I didn't know how they were finding so much to talk about. Especially since Starfire was still undercover. Though she laughed a few times and I caught that in the wind always. She was being kind of rude if I had been waiting up for her. Though I did not want to reveal myself and make another mistake. It was going to be messy if we didn't revaluate everything that happened today.

I had wondered if she spotted me, since there were a few times I thought she was looking in my general direction, but the mask made me doubt. Though I got my answer when she was looming above me in one moment and then sitting down using her feet at my hips to lift to her level.

"Are you cold?" She asked though it was monotone. Her face was blank where I couldn't tell of she was happy to see me or not. The mask took away so much of her. I saw Red X flip me off before he drove off.

"I'm fine." I answered though I was not particularly warm from the steady wind blowing in.

"I am sorry for sending you away earlier. I was not being rational and I wanted to spare you from getting hurt." She swung her legs and launched me into the air so I could land next to her. She smelt like cigarettes so strongly I wondered if she had smoked them herself. It made me feel sick. Though I was surprised she offered the first apology.

"It's okay, this entire day hasn't gone great and you needed some time. I'm sorry I made it worse. You know I won't do it again." I was trying to match her calmness so we could stay that level. I had to not screw up more than what had been done already. I knew her emotions were extreme and could take time before I was ready to handle them.

"I believe you. Thank you for giving me time, I am glad you are here even if you were not invited." I did not like her pointing out I was uninvited since her having solo rendezvous with Red X shouldn't be happening in the first place though I pushed that down. This was not the time or place to start that conversation on what I needed.

"I wanted to make sure you were going to be okay. You can't blame me for being worried." I was trying to establish the better reasons of why I was there.

"I do not. I am better now, much better now. Shall we go home so you can yell at me?" She was being so nonchalant it was unsettling. It was like she had entered the scary calm phase without anything simmering underneath

"Are you okay?" I asked and she shook her head no. Well it was a stupid question considering what had happened to her since we ate crepes this morning.

"I am confused and upset, but I think that you feel that way too. We need to fight and discuss everything, I am in a better place to do that now." She said and I wondered what they had discussed to make her this calm. She was often blunt and to the point, but she seemed oddly collected. Like fighting was just something off a to do list.

"Is there something I should be fighting with you about?" I was scared since there was plenty I was sure happened outside of my sight once I left.

"I hurt you." She said and looked down. "My anger for how everything that happened today was pointed at you and I sent you away to avoid it, but I still hurt you." She sounded heartbroken and I couldn't stand it.

"Will you feel better if I do yell at you?" I asked since I was trying to understand. I put my arm around her shoulders as I tried to figure out her mind right now.

"I think I will feel better if we talk. There is so much to say about the club and everything else." This made me feel sick with fear of rejection and worry of what had happened.

"Everything else?" I wasn't sure what she was meaning. I wanted that bluntness of hers to return.

"I thought you might have questions."

"I do…what did you and Red X talk about?" I couldn't keep that question in since it had bubbling since her first question.

"He is not returning to the club, so we talked about that along with trivial things. He confessed his feelings, but I rejected him." I did feel slightly better about hearing the rejection part. The not coming to the club would complicate the chance of winning, but it was low on the totem pole right now.

"Thank you." I didn't know what to say as a proper response.

"You have no threats in my heart, if only that was the case elsewhere." She sighed and stood up seeming restless. "Lets go home."

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I was relieved when I remembered Raven wasn't home. I knew she would likely be sick with the emotions of both me and Starfire being so mixed. I was still not happy with the entire situation, but I did not understand it. I hated having missing pieces, but Starfire said she wanted to talk so I hoped she'd fill in the blanks.

"I think we are dealing with a bigger threat than I prepared for." She said when we made it up to the room and went straight to the board where we had been brain storming. She updated point totals and striped the jacket off herself and tossed it in the corner by the door. Apparently it was a smell that bothered her too.

"What are those?" I was astonished to see red marks across her sternum that honestly looked suspiciously like hickeys.

"Acid marks," She said quickly and touched one. "Gizmo has been getting creative, he made an Mech suit designed to neutralize me. It utilized chemical based weapons and heat resistant materials. He was my original opponent tonight, but they changed it for some reason."

"Likely to try and make you beat me up or get you mad at me. So they wanted you and I split up tonight." I was quickly in detective mode as she started plotting observations and other things in a notebook she kept here.

"Miss Friday wanted me to mingle and be open to suggestion. She tried to push me to name a price, but I did not. Though I start whatever they want on Monday." That was soon and I didn't have a great feeling about letting her go. Though there was something in her tone that made me think more happened between them.

"What do you mean push?" I was worried at what Starfire would see as a push.

"Threats and continued questions. She is still being very generous with me, but these" She tossed me a bangle. "are made from the same metal as my handcuffs from when I arrived. She did not seem to know the significance directly, but I worry someone above her does."

"How rare is this metal?" I was trying to figure out how much it could be a coincidence, but it was hard to find a way to justify bangles and handcuffs not being related.

"It is not in your solar system." Okay not a coincidence. "She also threatened directly Red X's safety and yours less directly."

"Is that why Red X is quitting?" I was actually concerned about the suit falling into someone else's hands. He might be annoying and trying to steal my girl, but the person in the suit could be made of worse morals. He didn't kill and had done some good. If the suit fell into someone more malicious I don't know what I would do.

"He was already tired and I did not give him a reason to stay." She leaned over to the jacket and pulled something out of the pocket. "Though he gave me this as a present." She handed me a little flip phone. "Full disclosure." I was grateful she had taken the chance to show me the phone. If I had found it without an explanation, I would have likely exploded.

"So you have a way of contact. Do you mind testing it?" A phone would only make sense if he actually picked up.

"I can." She said and then wrote a few more things down. "I do not know how to use a normal phone." She said and I realized with her only having a communicator this was a little intimidating. I opened it up and saw only one number saved. He made it user friendly.

"Just press this button and you're good." I said and handed it back to her and sat on my bed making it clear I was going to listen. "Press the button below after he picks up." Speaker phone was going to be easier to listen to. She did what I said with the phone at her ear for a few rings. Then it must of dropped.

"Oh well." I said trying not to be annoyed that it was a dead end. "He might be feeling your rejection right now."

"I was nice about it…" She seemed a little upset, but went back to the board. "Do you have any questions?"

I had her tell me what had happened after I left play by play, Control Freak apologized, Catwoman approached her, Miss Friday, and her fight with Gizmo. I wasn't pleased she'd picked up an extra fight, but I knew it was probably the reason she was so calm now. She had already been destructive in a safe way. Robots were fair game and she knew that. Though she paused and I was curious why.

"Did something happen before you left?" I asked when she paused and looked down.

"Just some calling of the cat. Gotham's villains are old, which makes it more unsettling. The Joker…" She trailed off and my heart sank. The Joker what?

"Come here." I said and she settled herself next to me as I squeezed her tightly. I understood that the Gotham villains were a different breed than Jumps and the Joker was a whole different level. I couldn't imagine what could of come out of his mouth. Though she was safe now. It was better just being able to offer some comfort now since I didn't earlier. I did what I could with the list, but damn the creeps. "I'm sorry you had to be within a mile of him."

"Harley slapped him after, but I really did not like that he touched me. I know he gives you nightmares, so I am sorry to bring him up. It was really hard being there and knowing everyone in there had hurt you." She was hugging me to her now.

"I wish I had the foresight to take the club down tonight." That would have been so many people locked up. So much accomplished.

"You did not know." She said simply and let out a long breathe. "I overheard they were going to Steel City next. Though it came from the Riddler so I could have interpreted wrong."

"This could be a chain." The thought hadn't occurred to me that this could be more than a one location thing. It would make sense a rouge had tagged along if they had already been to Flash's neck of the woods.

"You need to let the League and other Titans know. I think this is big. If Raven's vision was me…tonight I would have wiped out the majority of villains. Interesting…" I did not like where her head went. It was exactly what made Batman fear her. I had to remember she was often still in wartime mode of thinking. It perplexed me she hated chess yet had that strategy coded thinking sometimes, though I guess when you identified as a pawn…

"It's a good thing you didn't. Raven just left a note saying it wasn't you so that's something else to worry about." That was just another thing…

"I would not put civilians in danger, it is just something I will think about now… I could have been close if you had not respected my space and I did not have a Gizmo punching bag. Scary." She seemed pensive in her phrasing. Scary indeed.

"Well you didn't which is important. Though we will have to make sure we figure out how Ember and Fallen will work if we go back next week. If they know its you… Monday could just be a big trap. We just have to see where it will go from there." I didn't know if she was being paranoid due to memories being stirred up, but we would have to figure it out step by step now see what other clues we were given.

"I wish I knew who was behind everything. I feel like I am being played with my moves planned out without my knowledge. It is unsettling." I could agree with her this had become more ominous after tonight. It could be a big villain mixer, but I felt like the brain behind this had to be known and respected.

"I wish I could do more." I said and squeezed her again. It did sting to be so purposefully ignored and disrespected every chance given. I wasn't wanted there and I guess it was getting less subtle.

"You do so much, Robin. Do not doubt your value just because evil people do not." She said and started to shift. "I need to shower. Would you wish to accompany me?"

"I don't think that's a good idea for right now. Though go ahead." I didn't want to add anything more physical than what we had already done into a night like this.

"I understand, I shall see you when I smell significantly nicer." I suspected the smell had been bothering her too. If her nose could sniff out her allergy, chromium, so far away I suspected it was annoying to smell like cigarettes, liquor and whatever else coming up off of the club.

I wasn't sure if now was the best time to make calls since I didn't know how to make them. I had been lying to the Titans for so long it would cause a scene. The League was still fresh with their wariness of Starfire. I wanted to leave it up for a problem for future Robin.

I was still unhappy with her choices, but I think it was fatigue with a mix of relief that kept me sane. I had not been confident she could stay after her episode. We had a year at least, I wanted to spend the year with her. I just needed that year to feel like five.

I also couldn't bring myself to yell at her knowing she had been touched by the Joker and threatened just because I couldn't stop a reflex. She had to resist her battle reflexes all the time. I knew she wanted to chuck a starbolt at me when she told me to leave. The fact she didn't slap Jokers head off his body when I knew she had that ability had to be difficult.

I still was uneasy with her running off with Red X and having such a good time. I understood she had close established relationships with some of the male Titans, but Red X was a whole different story. He had been an asset and helped her, but he wanted more from her and Starfire was still naïve when it came to advances sometimes. I also was going to have to deal with her sadness when we had to arrest him. She had already expressed she was unlikely going to be able to bring him in herself. It just was an added complication.

The burner phone started to ring which caused me to face my stressor. She had left the phone when she went to shower which made sense, though I couldn't answer it. Though I did want to see what he would have to say so I picked it up and made it quickly from the desk to my bathroom door. She hadn't locked it so I was able to scurry in.

"Red X is calling." Was my only warning to the shower curtain before answering and throwing on speaker.

"Hello?" I heard from behind the curtain as the water was turned off. I wasn't sure if she had heard me, but I hoped she had at least enough sense to understand the situation.

"Hey…" I heard from his side and noticed it was not his edited voice. "You called earlier, everything okay?" A hand reached from out of the curtain asking for the phone and I gave it. I had heard it before of course while he ate and talked to her it just felt like it was reckless.

"I just wanted to make sure you got home okay. You seemed tired and I would have wondered all night." She switched on her Ember voice really well and once again I felt uneasy with how she could fall into this act.

"I'm fine Nurse Ember, though I don't see many raves in my immediate future. Are you good?" He asked back seeming to have some concern.

"I am as okay as I can be." She said in response which was smooth for how she'd been.

"Is Fallen eavesdropping on our conversation?" he was quick to be suspicious. I didn't know what kind of excuse she would come up with or just tell him the truth. Either would likely cause him to hang up.

"Well he is not in my shower so I do not know." She could not see from behind the curtain so I guess she could say that with some sass. Though I felt like it was unnecessary to share, I'd have to discuss that bit of phone etiquette.

"Ah I see." He said and then he gave a low chuckle. "Stripping and talking about being in the shower is kind of unfair if you want me to just be your friend."

"Sorry, I forget humans are prudes." He laughed at that statement while I was checking his statement to her story. "Though it sounds like you are trying to get me in trouble if he is listening."

"I'm still pro-punching him in the face. It's not like you did your typical show in the ring. Was he eavesdropping our whole conversation earlier?" He asked and I wondered what he was concerned with me knowing.

"He was too far away, I think he just was being overprotective." She said and turned the water back on a little.

"You could of at least let me know." He said and I knew I caught some annoyance.

"Sorry, I forgot he was in a new suit and I was not sure at first." Yeah I had not considered what could of happened if Starfire attacked since I was in a less familiar suit. That could have gone quite poorly. Though she also didn't promise to tell him next time.

"Am I interrupting your shower?" He sighed and I thought I heard some thing click on his end. She had turned the water back on in full.

"It is okay I do not mind talking to someone, my hair just takes a long time. Though if you stay on for too long you might be subject to my terrible singing." It was weird hearing her Ember voice still, it just seemed like she was comfortable.

"I would not want to front your shampoo bill, Rapunzel." She laughed at that.

"A different friend already calls me that. You should stick with the ones you have." I had heard Speedy call her that before so I assumed that was who she was referring too. He was another one who threw out nicknames until they stuck.

"I guess that's fair, Gorgeous. On a scale of moderately good at karaoke to make my ears bleed is your singing? I wouldn't mind a lullaby" He asked and yawned.

"It is not very pleasant to hear, X. My vocal cords are scarred, I can talk normally, but my singing is not very fun for anyone besides me." I had not heard that part of why she couldn't sing. It had been a running joke through the Titans and she had just laughed along when someone brought it up.

"Well than I shall let you have fun, I'm half asleep anyways, Cutie. Can you call me tomorrow just so I know you didn't end up poisoned and this isn't a weird dream?" He asked with another yawn.

"I can do that, goodnight X." She said in response and I was happy she didn't include a sweet dreams.

"Night Ember, don't die." He said and I heard the phone click shut and a hand shoot out to give it back to me.

"Is now the time you are going to yell at me?" I heard her ask back in her normal voice. She poked her head out from behind the curtain with a tilt. I didn't know what was written on my face, but I was surprised when her hand shot out to cup my face. "Are you sure you want to listen in on our conversations? They seem to bother you every time." Her thumb ran along what must have been a wrinkle on my forehead.

"I don't know. I would like them not to exist, but I also don't want to feel like you're hiding something from me." I answered trying to stay level. "You are being… yourself with him though which I don't know is the best idea. I think what I like that the least is that you're giving him information I didn't know." She popped back behind the curtain.

"What did I say that bothered you?" She asked and I had the desire to say everything. It felt like she was being shady and flirting with Red X, but I was in this case physically enabling and encouraging. She wasn't a good liar so she had to stick to the truth, but it sounded like she liked him.

"I didn't know about your voice." It had made sense she wasn't good at something, but I didn't know there was a darker side to it.

"Robin… It would have only made you sad to know and everyone would have stopped having fun when we do karaoke or do other singing. It was not something important or hurt me when jokes were made. I did not have an impressive voice to begin with so it is not a great loss." I heard her sigh. "It was not something I was hiding, but did not see a benefit to sharing."

"I still want to know things like that, Starfire. Even if it's something hard to talk about I want to listen. I should be your friend and boyfriend. You shouldn't have to go to Red X." Ah my mouth had figured out what I had wanted to mean since he start.

"I talk to you when I am upset, I talk to friends when I am upset about you, Red X was the only option when my hair is this color. He isn't my first choice, but he said many things I needed to hear to calm down." I had to acknowledge that I was probably not the right choice in this specific circumstance that would not happen again. "Though I do have things to share with you I should have earlier." That statement caused my brain to go into over drive trying to figure out what.

"Why don't you finish up your shower? So we can actually talk face to face." I said as I went back to the bedroom. I was likely going to work through my issues later in the bar room so I changed into clothes meant for that. I didn't know what I was going to do. I was right that starting up a relationship with Starfire would make things more complicated, but I didn't know what was the best way to simplify things. I didn't want her talking to Red X, but Starfire wouldn't abandon someone she saw as a friend without a valid reason. I either had to figure out a way of dealing with my feelings or convince her that Red X wasn't her friend. The first option was likely a more healthy choice.

Though it did take Starfire time to wash her hair, it felt it was really taking some extra time. Was she just wanting extra time to avoid the conversation or had something gone wrong? I decided to add my own thoughts and comments on our shared work. I would want to make a spreadsheet and summary before contacting the League with as much information possible. It probably would be best to contact them before Monday just so there was wariness if it was a trap, but I wanted to sleep on it, goodness knew when that would be.

Starfire came out of the bathroom, wet. Normally she could instantly dry like she did when I handed her the phone, but either she chose not to or something was wrong. All things considered something was probably wrong. She had wrapped herself in a towel, she had packed most of her things which included her clothes so I knew she had likely swiped any spare clothes and most of her favorites of mine. Her eyes were wet...she had been crying.

"Starfire." I started, though I wanted to let her get it out. I couldn't imagine the toxic emotion that this day had brought her. She was forcibly made to relive her past, had her episode, and then had to deal with an extra awful night at the club. I still wasn't happy with her choices, but I never wanted to see her cry.

"Robin." She said in response. It looked like she was done crying, but I didn't know if this was just a temporary damn. "I am scared." This was a bit of a curveball since that was not something she would throw out unreasonably.

"It's going to be okay." I wasn't sure if I could make it possible, but with Starfire we took turns. Our fight in the ring before my screw up had been a demonstration. She pushed when I pulled, I picked up her slack, we caught each others stumbles. I could be the strong one when she was weak and visa versa. Though right now she seemed pitiful and I didn't know I had the energy to pull her up to normal.

"I am going to tell you a story and it will not be pleasant, but I do not think you can trust me fully without it. You said you wanted to hear the hard stuff." I was curious and worried what she could have to tell me that would require a warning.

"If you feel like you need to tell it, I will listen." I didn't want to force her into destroying herself more, but ever since the meeting in the Watchtower she had been off. Maybe this would help her click back into place.

I listened to how she had fought in the war at twelve with her full might, where in any other fight the Tamaranians might have won based upon sheer will and skill, the losses were too devasting. Though she fought to the final battle, surrender had been necessary. It was a conditional surrender with Tamaran keeping some of it's valuables and forfeiting others. Her father had given her up for his reign to remain in his control. She phrased it in such a way I knew it still hurt. She told me how the time in prison was worse than I could imagine and I should not try. It had been her 5th escape attempt that had lead her back home and betrayed by her sister.

The prisons were bad but the lab was worse. They experimented on both of them, but Blackfire had their trust and privilege to correct her. She explained that Blackfire had hated her first and then loved her second which confused Blackfire's heart and mind. I didn't know if that was true or if that was what Starfire believed to cope. I learned that she had done terrible things under the influence of the scientists working on her and had lost time and memories. She felt terrible she couldn't have the whole story to tell, but I grew to understand that she felt like telling me this was the darkest part of her.

She was confirming Batman's fears and telling me the parts of herself she didn't like. It was a risk and obviously hard for her to speak at certain parts, but she wanted to give me a part of her she didn't share with willingly anyone else.

She also spoke on why she was so hesitant to return to Tamaran since she had been treated so cruelly for their safety. She did not want to be a pawn to the Council that had seized power after her parents demise. She explained that she feared her freedom being taken away once again in the name of her title. She did have affection for her people, but she felt like she had given them so much, she didn't want to forfeit what she had left. That she had more people she loved on Earth, alive. That she would likely be forced into an expectation filled marriage which presented all of us being taken away from her.

"If every moment between us is borrowed, I intend to dive deep into debt. I cannot make promises with the same ease you do, but know what I want is your happiness and to be the cause. Though I understand if your feelings are shaken." It was a lot to process at such a late hour, but it was like putty fixing so many cracks in the stories I knew about her. She had apologized that she hadn't taken this step earlier and I had to see it in such a jarring way.

"I just am sorry I couldn't be there for you earlier." I didn't know my own feelings, but I knew that this was the same Starfire in front of me that ate mustard from the tube and was ticklish to the slightest things. I wish I had known all this earlier, just because it would have made me feel more secure in my understanding of her. I could have reached out to get her help earlier if I knew how deep scars ran.

"You have been even without knowing, you have saved me in ways no one else could. I do not know how to conquer my memories or the future struggles ahead, just know you are the one who I want at my side, Be'tak." My top sheet had become a dress she had made around herself and she was facing me parallel on my bed as we had both sunk. She didn't touch me while telling her story, but her hand shifted to touch mine.

"Can I ask that you keep opening up like this? I want to know even if it's not easy to listen to. I want to know you, not pushed away." This was good this had to cathartic for her and my brain was too exhausted to freak out anymore.

"I regret pushing you away." I did not know immediately if she meant tonight or before.

"I am guilty of the same." I knew that it was likely my own secrets and behavior that had faltered her resolve at sharing. She had caught my hand, but had closed her eyes. I knew she had to be drained and completely out of the adrenaline she had running off earlier.

"Please don't leave for Gotham tonight. Please stay." That felt random until I realized the last time she had shared a dark story of her life before Earth…I had ghosted her. God no wonder she was scared to tell me things. I hadn't left because of what she said, but I hadn't really left notice so she knew and understood.

"I have no plans to." I said and she let out a deep sigh. "I'll stay right here." I was likely tired enough from this conversation that I didn't need the bar room. I didn't think my legs would listen to me anymore anyways. I was tense and honestly could be easily swayed by one of her back massages. Though I wasn't sure anything physical happening would be the best choice.

"This is your room. I should leave if this is not okay for tonight." I found her eyes open again and she seemed a little unsure of asking for my permission.

"I would rather you be here than anywhere else." If she was here, I knew she was with me. There was no what ifs, she was okay if she was in my arms. "Though you have kinda become part of my bed, anyways." Her hair was still slightly damp and was wavier than I normally saw it. Though it wasn't that much of a surprise she had turn my bedsheet into a fashion statement.

"Thank you, I do not want to be anywhere else. I may be a little clingy…Robin?" She said and I felt her head come to rest on my shoulder.

"Yeah?" I asked since she didn't continue.

"Are you okay?" I had not expected her to ask me that in her current state.

"I am better than you in this one circumstance." I said and hoped she would let my evasion slide.

I didn't think I had fully processed everything which was certainly in my favor tonight. I knew the alarm would let me know if there was any trouble so I should just let this moment exist. She brought my hand to her hair and gave me free reign to play as she curled into my side. There would be a lot on future Robin's plate.