A Note from the Authors: We've gotten to the Robin/Starfire stuff! Be happy. Oh and, this chapter is the reason for all of the changes. You'll see what we mean at the end.
Chapter 5
"The Next Step - Payback"
Starfire sighed as she stared at Robin over their near-finished dinners, resting her chin in her hands. Despite the somewhat less-than-perfect events of the day, spending time with him never failed to lift her spirits.
"Hey Star, anything I can do for you?" Robin asked, one eyebrow raised. She had been staring at him for the last five minutes, after all. Not that the attention was bad or anything, but it got a little awkward.
Star blushed at getting caught, "I am sorry…am I bothering you?" She rose from her seat, taking her tray to the trash-disposal.
"No, not really. I was just wondering what's on your mind." Sorry? Hah, that was a good one…
"You, mostly."
"Really?"
"Yes," she nodded, pulling another soda out of the fridge and then retaking her seat, "That is what is often on my mind lately."
"How come?" It was an ignorant question, but the easiest way to clear up some matters that had been on his mind lately.
She gazed at him imploringly, "Do you really not know?" She was sure they had been through this sort of discussion before, but perhaps Earth males were thicker than she had originally thought.
"Well, alright, I'll give you that one. I have a pretty good idea as to why I've been on your mind lately." Give a little, get a little.
"Perhaps I can clarify," she began, snapping open the soda can, "We have been…how did you put it…? …going steady…for a while now. And I was simply wondering when we will get to the place we have been 'going' to…"
His eyes widened. My, how the years change people, "You do know what that place is, right?" Now this was a gauche subject indeed.
"Yes, Robin," she nodded, showing no signs of embarrassment, "That is one thing our races most definitely have in common. I have just been waiting for you to be ready…"
"How long have you been ready?" He was beginning to feel a little like Bruce… never a good sign.
"For about a year, I suppose," she said.
There were several approaches he could take to this issue, "So…when?" The direct approach was probably the worst of his options. And he chose it willingly. Damn.
"I'm willing to wait for you," she told him, "I do not want to pressure you into something you are not ready for. I love you, Robin. I do not want you to resent me. I will let you decide the 'when'."
She wanted to wait for him, let him decide. In times like this, the old acronym WWBD came to mind (What would Bruce Do?). It had been a joke between him and Barbara, but now Robin knew exactly what Bruce would do. Was he ready? Was he willing to take the next step? Hell yes, yes he was, "What about tonight? Is that too soon?"
She smiled, but it wasn't her usual perky smile. This one was much more alluring, much more seductive. "I was hoping you would feel that way," she said, rising from her seat again and holding out her hand to him, "Come up to my room with me?"
Robin took her hand, gazing up at her beautiful, mature face, "Sure."
* * *
"I do not think you have ever seen my room before," Star said as she pushed open her door and entered, holding it for him, "What do you think?" Her room, like all of their others, was much larger inside than it appeared. The walls were plain white and in place of a bed she had what looked like a nest built of velvet pillows and satin sheets and surrounded by 70s stringed beads. Small orbs of gold floated slowly around the room, brightening themselves as she strode further into their midst. Her other furniture was made of an iridescent metal that changed colors at various intervals of time.
"It's very umm… different. But that's in a good way!" Robin began to wave his hands in front of himself frantically whilst speaking this last sentence. He had gotten this far already, why'd he have to go and say something like that?? Knowing his luck, comments like that could also make this the last time he saw her room.
But Star just smiled, "Raven said that too…Don't worry though, the Tameran adult bed was designed specifically for couples. I don't know myself…but I have heard that it aids one's performance."
'One's performance? It's like being tested or something…like a new car. Like that doesn't pack the pressure on…' "That's, ah… good to hear…"
"Not that you'll need it, I'm sure," she laughed, taking his hands in hers.
'That makes one of us.' "Interesting chair," he said, trying to change the subject temporarily as he was now unable to fidget with his hands, "How many different colors can it be?"
"All the colors of the rainbow…" she said, then drew him closer to her, "Robin…are you nervous?"
Yes. Of course he was. Why wasn't she? "Nervous? Me?" he asked, putting one hand on his chest, "What do I have to be nervous about?"
She shrugged, "I would think the loss of your innocence would be something. This is a very important moment…for both of us…There is no shame in being nervous. I assure you I am."
Good, "You're sure good at hiding it."
She blushed, "I have been thinking about this longer than you have…I suppose I have rehearsed it in my dreams, so it does not seem so unfamiliar." She leaned forward and kissed him gently, "Are you ready to live my dreams with me?"
Under normal circumstances, that would have sounded so very dirty. But now… "I am."
"And I am glad," she said, grabbing him around the waist and pulling him through the string beads into her nest. As the two of them sank into the pillows and Starfire pressed her lips to his once again, Robin thought with a bit of satisfaction, 'If Bruce could see me now…'
* * *
The sun was completely gone now, but neither of the pair still on the roof was much concerned with that at the moment. Beast Boy was on his back, with Raven leaning over him, their arms around each other, their lips locked. At last she broke away for air and smiled down at him. "This is real…right…?"
"Sure felt like it. Maybe one more would confirm the truth…or two…"
She hung her head, letting it fall on his chest and she laughed softly, "You…"
"Me? Or you?"
Her whole body shook as she tried to hold the laughter in. "I swore to myself…so many times…I would never give you the satisfaction of letting you know I thought you were funny…" she said, raising her head again, "Guess I lost that battle, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Don't tell the guys."
"If you insist, but it was a victory none the less."
She sighed and laid down beside him, resting her head on his shoulder, one hand tracing his chest muscles through his T-Shirt. "Speaking of the guys…how are we going to explain this to them? They've been breathing down our necks about this for so long…I don't think I could stand to listen to them gloat about being right…"
"Just do what you usually do: glare daggers at them, then mutter something under you breath about the idiocy of the universe. We don't have to tell them yet, and that's been working for you for years."
She punched his arm lightly and then rolled over on top of him, kissing him hard. "You think you'll be able to handle a secret relationship for now??"
"Hey, it's me!" he told her, raising his eyebrows at her, "I can handle anything."
"Let's hope so."
* * *
Miles away, in Gotham City, Pamela Isley pulled the collar of her rain coat up higher around her face. It had been too long since she'd walked the streets of Gotham, and it hadn't improved much during her most recent stay in Arkham Asylum. She was currently standing at the front door of the Iceberg Lounge, the last place anyone would look for her. Never before had she thought to approach the bird man, but in the pocket of her coat she had something that she was sure to catch him with. The only difficulty would be getting to him. The direct approach had always worked for her before, so why should this time be any different.
She stepped inside, refused to let the doorman take her coat and told him, "I need to speak with Oswald. You will take me to him, won't you?"
She planted a kiss on the man's lips and he nodded, "Right away, miss."
'Hypnotic lipstick…' she thought to herself with a smirk, 'never leave Arkham without it…'
* * *
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot picked up yet another finance report from his dusty, cluttered desk and sighed. He adjusted the monocle that covered his right eye, unable to believe the figures in damages in front of him. The entire "Batwoman" fiasco had led him from one disaster to another. The dollars were piling up quicker than they used to, with the repairs to his nightclub still ongoing, the cruise liner owner breathing down his neck, the city officials wanting more than he could surrender to stay away from Gotham City's Stonegate Prison, and the Kaznian threats for compensation.
'At least Bane never turned up. One less thing to pay for, after all.' Things were certainly going downhill for Gotham's richest (still!) criminal. Investment was a refined art, one that the Penguin had thankfully learned and mastered years ago. It was quite possibly the only thing that would keep him afloat until the criminal mastermind could regroup from his losses. Somehow…
His thoughts were interrupted with a knock on the door of his office. "What now?" he groaned. The door opened and a female figure in a dark brown trench coat stepped inside. She lowered the collar and her bright red hair spilled out over her shoulders.
"Long time no see, Ozzie," she said, a teasing smile on her lips and in her deep green eyes, "How have you been?"
Penguin snorted, "Better, but I doubt that's any of your business. How has that charming rehabilitation center been these past months, Ivy?" He fingered the Umbrella at his feet under the desk, debating in his head whether or not he might actually need it.
"Dismal, as usual," she said, running a hand through her hair, "But now that I'm free again, I thought I'd stretch out my roots and see what sort of business I could find."
"You'll excuse me if I'm not tempted by such a gracious offer, but I have several matters of my own already occupying my time." Oswald stood up, placing his black top hat back upon his head and placed the parasol atop his desk.
"Oh, I've heard all about that, Ozzie," she said, seating herself on top of his desk, placing one hand over his umbrella, "That's why I'm here. You see, I have a plan to make us both a bit richer, but I've never been much of a business coordinator myself. I need someone with a little more finesse in the financial world."
"Go on," though the portly figure's words were casual, his eyes focused down on the umbrella trapped beneath Poison Ivy's right hand before looking at the woman's own green eyes.
She reached into the pocket of her trench coat with her left hand and pulled out a small plastic vile filled with a glowing green liquid. "Want to know what this is?" she asked, and then continued on before he could object, "It's a serum I developed after countless hours of experimenting behind the walls of Arkham. The ridiculous fools thought I was simply keeping myself occupied raising plants. Not that that wasn't the excuse I gave them, of course…Curious as to what it does?"
"Not especially, but I suppose I don't have a choice in the matter do I?" Penguin took a step backward, reaching for the wooden chair behind him that was placed against the wall. He sat down, eying the bottle suspiciously. Knowing Ivy, no good would come from such an object. Not that that couldn't be profitable in its own way…
"It's a special mix of chemicals that, when injected into a human being, shuts off everything but the very basic survival instincts," she said, twirling the vile in her fingers playfully, "and heightens the strength of the amygdala, which is the piece of the brain connected with detection of predators. Ever been to a dog fight, Ozzie?"
He chuckled a little, "I have associates and colleges that like me to place bets on such things for them from time to time (for a fee, of course) but I rarely partake in such events myself," The Penguin raised an eyebrow curiously, "Have you?"
"No, actually," she admitted, "Personally, I think it's a rather cruel thing to do to animals, but as I prefer plants over people anyway, I never really gave it much thought…until a few months ago." She crossed one leg over the other and continued, "I got a hold of a newspaper and couldn't believe what a fortune people waste gambling on such things, and then there was this lovely editorial that posed the question 'Where will it stop? First dogs, then what? Humans?' And that got me to thinking…"
So the rumors of a bust were true, "I hardly believe that to be a sign of good fortune for either of us."
She frowned and ignored him, "I have reason to believe that there are enough sick, twisted people in this city that would pay good money to see an uncontrolled fight between men to make us both very rich," she told him, "It'll be the gladiators all over again, but with less honor and nobility bullshit. And this," she held out the vile, "is all we'd need to set it in motion."
Cobblepot nervously adjusted his already-comfortable monocle again, "This entire city is nothing but sick, twisted individuals. How long does it last?"
"That's the problem," she sighed, "I haven't gotten to test it yet. There was no way to do it without getting caught while still in Arkham. According to my data, the serum should run its course after about two-weeks, so much more of it would have to be produced, but that won't be a problem." She pulled a small piece of paper out of her pocket, "I've got the formula here, and here," she pointed to her own head.
"How will producing such a potentially, shall we say, risky substance in large quantities not be a problem?" Penguin grinned, imagining the scenario in his head. This was beginning to get interesting, but a business man had to go into a partnership with full knowledge of the other's facilities.
"Surely you've got enough money left to buy me a small greenhouse," she said, lying on her back across the desk, staring up at him, "That's all I'd need…and of course the arena to hold our little show. You can manage that much, can't you Pengy?
"Then I trust you'll compensate me for my expenses."
"We'd spilt the profits, naturally," she said, "Fifty-fifty sounds fair, doesn't it?"
"Fifty-fifty?" The criminal mastermind chuckled, "Tut-tut, Ms. Isley. That would be fair, if you were to front fifty percent of the fees for purchasing your buildings. But, since you are not, I believe seventy-five percent of the profits will go to me, and you'll receive your plants, your greenhouse to store them, and the other twenty-five percent." Penguin ticked off the items that Poison Ivy would receive on his fingers, smiling broadly.
Ivy frowned and rolled over onto her stomach, "Sixty-forty."
"Seventy-thirty."
"Fine." She held out her hand towards him.
Penguin accepted her hand, then leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin, "So… you've never tested it before, you say?" Just with a single glance, one could practically see the wheels inside the Penguin's head turning rapidly.
"No, I haven't," she said, resting her chin in her hands, "Do you have someone in mind to be the first test subject?" she asked, grinning.
"I should very much like the Bat to be the first victim, I daresay," the man shook his head slowly, "But such a task would prove rather difficult, and it seems a bit uncouth anyways." He leaned forward, looking Ivy in the eye, "The Batman's protégé has taken it upon himself to spread justice into a city of his own as of late. Tell me, Ms. Isley: What would be better qualifications for a test subject than a healthy, teenage male?"
"I can't think of anything better," she said, smiling broadly, "To drive a bat insane…Oswald, your genius never ceases to astound me."
Cobblepot just smiled.
The Authors speak again: So behold we introduce the villains of this story! Basically, we don't really like any of the TT villains (except for maybe Slade) and have decided that some dimension-splicing needed to be done. All the background stuff about the Penguin comes from the "Batwoman" movie. Yes we know that young Robin was in the "Batwoman" movie, but his part was so small that it could have been omitted and the plot wouldn't have been effected at all, so for our purposes, he just wasn't there.
