Chapter 18
Galfore had a grim expression on his face as Robin explained what had happened over the past year with Starfire and Slade. He didn't interrupt or ask any questions, he just allowed Robin to continue his story through to the end.
"... and that's about it really. That was a few hours ago now." Robin rubbed the back of his neck, nervousness creeping in as he gave Galfore a moment to think about what he was going to respond with.
"Robin, you harbour much guilt about this." Galfore tilted his head slightly.
"Well... yeah. She's a member of my team and I couldn't protect her. It's on me."
"You should not hold so much weight on your shoulders young Robin, it is not good for you. I am saddened for Koriand'r, but I have faith in you, and your team. Please, if there is anything I or Tamaran can do to aid you, please let me know. I would like nothing more than to come to you and aid you personally, but I regret I cannot at this time." He dropped his gaze a little.
"That's okay Galfore, we understand. Starfire would too. But there is something you might be able to help with." Robin twisted to gesture to Batman, still stood behind him. "This is Batman, my mentor. He has a few questions you might be able to answer that will help us."
"Greetings, Batman. What is it you wish to know?"
Bruce glanced at Robin, not wanting to overstep his mark. Robin merely nodded. "We were wondering if you could give us any information on the Tamaranean healing sleep. Slade mentioned he needed Starfire to fall into one, perhaps if we knew more about it then we could figure out how he's going to use it. Secondly, do you know of any sort of weaknesses Starfire may have. If she comes back as powerful as she did last time, we may need something to help us."
Galfore pondered over these questions for a moment, before turning to speak to someone they couldn't see. Batman and Robin couldn't understand what he was saying, but Robin recognised a few small words he'd learnt from Starfire. Galfore moved back to the screen. "I will get some of the scholars to gather the necessary information regarding the healing sleep. I will send it to you as soon as I have it. Healing sleeps are very complicated processes for us, so there will be a lot of information for you."
"Thank you Galfore, we appreciate it."
"In terms of weaknesses, it is difficult to say. Koriand'r has only one allergy, to metallic chromium, which you were already aware of. On our world, because Tamaranean powers are so dependant on our emotions, they can be used against individuals, but as your story may already suggest this Slade of whom you speak has found a way around this. The only other thing I can thing of, is solar energy. If a Tamaranean is away from any kind of solar energy, their levels can be depleted to the point of death. It is not pleasant. However, if Koriand'r has had her energy levels raised as before, it will take a while for solar depletion to take proper affect."
Batman took all of the information in, nodding in all the right places. "Thank you Galfore."
"I am sorry I cannot be of more immediate help. I will endeavour to find more information on what you could use to bring her down, should it be called for. I will promptly send anything I think will be of use to you. And Robin..."
Robin looked up as his name was called. "Yes Galfore?"
"Bring her home."
"I will Galfore. I promise."
They ended the call soon after, with Galfore wanting to gather his information sooner rather than later. Robin spent a few minutes on the console, typing down what Galfore had told them. It was a start he supposed. One of the worst thing about this hero gig, was having to wait for stuff. Information. People. Waiting for bad guys to come out of hiding. Waiting for allies to get back to you. What a waste of time. But it was the best he had right now and he was not going to say no to any kind of help. He turned to Bruce who was sat down, clicking away at his own software, built into his bat suit. "Well, what do you think of that." Robin gestured lazily to the computer.
"I think the solar depletion is the best chance we have if it came to it. If she truly has no other weaknesses that might be our only option. The problem would be building something that could contain her for the amount of time it would take to deplete her energy to a normal level. And even then we would have to catch her, and try and figure out how to get her out from under Slade's control. This time I don't think Raven's powers are going to quite cut it."
"No I think you're right." Robin flopped down on the sofa next to Bruce, slouching.
"If I may, I propose that after Clark and I help you get the tower back in working order, we go to the Watch Tower. We will work with the rest of the league on creating some sort of cell that can possibly hold Starfire. The information we get from Galfore might help us with that. We will also try and obtain some metallic chromium. It might only serve as a distraction technique, but it could help us."
"Good point. Yeah her allergies are pretty volatile. They'd certainly stop her in her tracks." Robin sat up properly, his neck starting to hurt. "What about us? What do you want us to do?"
Bruce eyed him, and sighed. "Honestly nothing..."
Robin opened his mouth to protest, but Bruce stopped him. "But... I think you'd go out there looking for her anyway. So... while Starfire and I were trying to find information on Slade, we found out where his little helper monkey was hiding. If I give you the address, you can go and get some information out of Control Freak. But just be careful, because as soon as you go to him, he will tell Slade that you've been to pay him a visit."
Robin turned to face him properly. "Alright. Send us the information and the team and I will go and see what he has to say for himself. But Bruce, you don't have to spare me. I'm well aware that I'm going to spent a while waiting for Slade to come to us. Again. I mean I'm not at all comfortable with it, I have no idea what he's going to do to her, but we don't really have a choice unless we find him first. It's what we do in the meantime that I'm not sure about. I want to be ready for him."
"Just do your job Robin. Respond if there's an alert. Be present in the city. Do your usual patrols. And try not to let it get out that Slade has Starfire, you don't want to cause panic amongst the people. You need to be seen by Slade as being the strong leader you are. That as much pain as you're in emotionally, that you're still going to save those who need saving. You need to show him that you're better than he thinks you are. He's expecting you all to go after him, full force and emotionally drained. What he won't expect, is for you to leave it well enough alone until the time is right."
Robin pondered for a moment, before running a hand down his face. "No I suppose you're right actually. I just don't want to feel like I'm not doing enough for Starfire. That I'm wasting time that could be spent on getting her back. I can't let her down, I promised I'd protect her."
Bruce studied his son for a moment. He had never heard Dick speak like this before, about anything. "You really do love her don't you?"
Robin smiled a little at the question. "Do you even need to ask that? You sound so surprised."
"I am a little, I thought it was a phase." Bruce's eye glinted a little with a hint of cheek.
"A phase?! What like some kind of crush that I'd get over in the next few months and move on." Robin couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.
"Well yes, I mean, I know Tamaranean love is eternal, but really as a human your emotions are just chemicals. Besides it's not like you've had a lot of experience dating..." Bruce trailed off as he realised Robin was staring at him, wide eyed. "What?"
"Is that true?" There was a slight stammer to Robin's voice, and his hands had become inexplicably clammy.
"Is what true?" Bruce raised an eyebrow at Robin's unusual behaviour.
"Tamaranean love is eternal?"
Bruce's eyes widened a bit as the penny dropped. Crap. "Oh... well. This is awkward. I thought you knew." Robin just wordlessly shook his head. Bruce pursed his lips as he thought on what he would say next. Oops. "Starfire and I got talking one day about it. I might have been berating her about you. I was only trying to look out for you. She explained to me that Tamaranean love is eternal. Once they fall in, they can't fall out."
Robin sat back, a puff of air escaping him as he digested the information. "I mean really I should be over the moon, no matter what I do she'd still love me. But realistically that's a big burden."
"I wouldn't count your chickens just yet Robin. To say she loves you eternally, doesn't mean to say she can't also love someone else. Tamaranean love is eternal, but it works the same way as ours does. You develop a bond with someone over time. If that person then leaves for whatever reason, there's nothing stopping you from developing a similar bond with someone else."
"Oh." Somehow that didn't make Robin feel any better. "So she could still leave me if she felt the need."
"Just don't break her heart, son."
Robin just stared at him, unimpressed, not wanting to carry this conversation on any further. Though that revelation would plague him a little until he could finally talk to Starfire. Eternal love. Wow. Though if he really thought about it, he knew that his love for her would hold up just as much. He loved her more than anything. He loved everything about her. Even down to her funny little eyebrows. What's not to love. She's so passionate about everything, and full of an amazing amount of joy, despite everything she had been through in her time. Honestly, she was incredible. But Robin also knew that his love for her came with the same price hers did for him. If he lost her, in any way, it would break him. If she left him. If she betrayed him. God forbid if she died.
No.
That was not going to happen. He was going to bring her home no matter what. It would be a long and difficult road, but he was going to have her back safe in his arms, no matter what it took.
XXXXXX
A few hours later, the Tower was back to its former glory. Superman and Cyborg had replaced any broken windows and infrastructure. Raven and Beast Boy had cleared away the messes. And Batman and Robin has swapped any and all information they could, forming some kind of starter plan for what was going to be a long, drawn out operation. Once Batman and Superman had left, the team flopped down on the sofa, their fatigue evident. Robin looked around his broken friends, each one staring into nothing, unsure of how to feel.
"Come on guys. It's getting late. Let's go to bed." None of them responded, and Robin didn't wait for any of them before standing and leaving the room. He headed for bathroom, wanted nothing more than to brush his teeth, and crawl into his bed, hiding away under the duvet.
"Robin."
He stopped. A cold shiver passing through him as the voice delicately brushed his ears. He twisted to look behind him to find no one was there. Of course.
"Robin."
He snapped his head back forward, the voice sounding so close yet so far. It couldn't be. Could it?
"Robin!"
Robin gingerly walked on, passing the bathroom, and his own room, before coming face to face with another door. Starfire. Her door. He knotted his eyebrows together, before pressing his ear to the door. Maybe he was just hearing things. It had been a terribly long day, and he was exhausted.
"Robin."
It was enough to convince him to open the door. It slid open in front of him revealing Starfire's room. Just as she had left it. The covers were a bit crinkled where she had been sat on the bed before Slade attacked. Everything else was in perfect condition.
"Star?" Robin stepped into the room, feeling very unsure of himself. His voice was quiet, and he fought the urge to clear his throat. The door closed gently behind him, dousing the room in darkness. Fumbling for the light switch, he flicked it. When the light came on, his knees buckled slightly as he took in the sight before him. "Star?!" She was there. Right in front of him. She looked sad, her arms wrapped around herself.
Robin took in the sight of her, the rips in her uniform. The purple stained with a deep red. There were cuts across her arms, and small graze on her cheek. She looked just as she had when Robin had last seen her. As Starfire went to take a step towards him, she buckled, and he was with her in an instant. He steadied her to stop her from falling, grabbing her shoulders and standing her up. "Star, we need to get you to Raven." He went to pull his communicator from his belt but her delicate hand stopped him.
"Robin."
He looked up to meet her gaze, her green eyes shining. She looked awful. So tired, and broken. He pulled her into a hug, holding on to her for dear life. Feeling that if he let go for just a second she would disappear. He felt her hug him back gently, her head making its way into his shoulder. "Oh Star. I'm so sorry."
"You did not protect me, Robin." Her voice was small, and hoarse, but he heard exactly what she had said. His heart broke a little with the words, and he held her tighter.
"I know. I'm so sorry. I really tried."
"But it was not good enough." She pulled away from him slightly. His eyes widened at her words. She blamed him. Her delicate hand came up to his face, and she cupped it gently. He put his hand over hers, holding her in place, not wanting the warmth to leave him. Her other hand came up and she delicately pulled his mask away from his eyes. She held a small sad smile on her face, before her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "You failed me, Robin."
"Star," he grabbed for her, wanting to pull her closer. Wanting to show how truly sorry he was. She gently grabbed his arm, placing it back by his side. "I'm sorry. I don't know... I didn't..."
"You were not good enough, Robin. Look at the mess you have created." She gestured down to her own broken body. The wound in her shoulder still dripping with blood.
"I..." his voice cracked, and he had a lump in his throat.
"You are not a hero, Robin." Her face turned nasty. She glared at him, and crossed her arms over her chest. "You did not stop Slade from taking me. You promised he would not get to me if he came. You are a failure."
Her words ripped into him, his heart breaking with everything she said. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You will never be as good as the Batman. You will never live up to him, and you will never make him proud." Starfire moved over to him, cupping his face again. He didn't move, just staring at the floor, the weight of her words crushing down on him. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted her to know. But he couldn't form the words. She lifted his chin, forcing him to look into her eyes.
"I loved you, Robin." And she kissed him. After his initial surprise, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as possible. She pushed him back, and he let her until his back hit the wall. They fought for a little bit, Robin trying to get some control back of the situation, but she was too strong. Too passionate. She gently pulled back from him, a small smile on her face, her eyes dark. He leaned his head back against the wall, confusion still rife in his mind. They stood for a moment, just staring at each other. He reached for her hand, grasping it tightly in his own.
"Star, I'm so sorry. I know I've failed you. But I promise I was going to do everything I could to bring you back." He brought her hand up to grab it with both of his, he leaned towards her slightly, his blue eyes bearing deep into her own. "I couldn't live without you, Star."
She chuckled slightly. A deep, obnoxious noise that Robin had never heard before. "That is sweet, Robin." She pulled her hand out of his grasp. "But perhaps if you really cannot live without me..." she ignited her hand, lifting the starbolt between them. Her eyes flashed over with her green energy before she smiled at him. "I should make it so you do not have to." She reared her hand back, ready to strike him. Robin's eyes widened, before he braced himself for the impact, pulling his cape around him as a barrier. The green light spread across his vision, blinding him as it got brighter.
Robin sat up in a sweat, his breath heavy. In a panic he looked around, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He noticed, he was still in Ops, and it was dark outside. Oh that's right, he remembered now. He had sent the rest of the team to bed, before telling a worried Raven that he would be going himself not long after. He must have fallen asleep on the couch. Someone must have also been in to check on him at some point, as a blanket was draped over him. He sat up properly, bringing the blanket with him. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to go over the events of the nightmare he had just had, but wanting to forget about the entire thing. He knew it wasn't Starfire that had said those things, it was his subconscious. They were things he thought about himself.
Robin pulled his mask off as he felt his eyes starting to sting, rubbing them with his palms. It was okay now, he was on his own. There was no one around he could disappoint, no one to ridicule, or tell him he had failed as a leader. Robin pulled the blanket up to his chin as he pulled his knees up to rest his arms on them. And he cried. Letting out all of the fear, the pain, and the anguish from the last few months. Most importantly from the last day. Sure, he was a hero, and hero's didn't cry. But right then, at that moment, he was Dick Grayson. And Dick Grayson had a heart that could be broken.
