Teen Titans – Heart's Word
Because of You –
A/N: This fan fic is the sequel to Dangerous Dance. Heart's Word explains how Robin and Starfire are getting along after the incident of the mansion collapsing on them, along with an added snitch of Beast Boy and Raven getting a few parts together. I hope I don't let all the people down who have been waiting to read this. Please enjoy, and I'll talk to you again soon.
Robin dodged a kick from the criminal he was fighting. His body still ached a little from all the movement he had to make just three weeks after getting out of the ruble from the mansion. As he found out, he had been sick with a bad case of dust pneumonia for the entire time he was buried alive with Starfire. When this news reached Starfire, however, he had his work cut out for him in order to convince her that it wasn't her fault. He eventually succeeded, but in the end, this little bit of effort had completely exhausted him—physically and emotionally. Now, though, he was mostly back to normal. His responses to moves were a bit slower than usual, still, but all in all, he was physically, his old self again.
It had been a relief to him when he finally put his mask back on. To him, it made the world easier to look at that way. It was only within the last week that the other Teen Titans had let him get out of bed, and even more recently that they allowed him to start training and fighting again, despite his constant protests to let him do what he normally did.
That was how he ended up here, on this roof top, fighting with a criminal. The rest of the team was nearby, each with two of their own criminals to fight. Not quite back to his normal kick-butt self, the rest of the team had made him take only one of the criminals. What they didn't take into account, however, was the fact that Robin was fighting the most dangerous of them all. Robin would have been glad for this if he wasn't so bellow normal in his reaction time, now.
Robin picked himself off the surface of the roof, recovering from a kick his opponent had landed by having his foot collide with Robin's jaw. He vaguely saw Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg making their way in his direction before he launched toward his opponent. As he did so, he dangerously miscalculated the distance between himself, his opponent, and the edge of the roof. He would have landed just on the edge, accept for the fact that the person he was trying to defeat, grabbed a hold of his collar and dragged him forward. This made Robin completely miss the ledge on the roof, sending him in a free fall towards the ground so many feet below, along with his opponent.
Seeing this, Starfire ran the remaining length between where she was and the ledge Robin had fallen off of. She stopped just short of the edge of the roof. "Robin!" She shouted in instinctive terror as she leaned over the side to look. Her frightened shout echoed off of everything and came back to her. Fear was coursing through ever part of her as she searched with her eyes, bellow, for a sign that he had made a recovery before he hit the ground. She saw nothing. Her heart continued to beat faster as she looked at the building across from the one she was on. Nothing.
Suddenly a sound like metal gently falling on cement drew her attention to the part of the roof next to her. It too had a ledge and led off the roof. All the Titan's attention shifted to that part of the roof as a gloved hand was thrust over the top, in their direction. They watched as another gloved hand reached over the top of the ledge. There was a small grunt of effort as Robin appeared before them, his gloved hands lifting him over the ledge. Starfire rushed over to him as he put his feet firmly back on the roof. He was slouched over on his hands and knees and out-of-breath, but he was still very much alive. The other Teen Titans took a few steps towards him, but none of them got very close other than Starfire.
Starfire had gotten to her hands and knees as well. Her right hand was resting on his left shoulder and she was asking him lots of questions, fussing over every square inch of him. After a few minutes of this, Robin had finally had enough and said sternly, brushing her hand away, "I'm fine, Star." He got to his feet without another glance at her or the other Teen Titans and walked past them. He needed some time to himself. He was glad for his mask, otherwise he would have seen the concerned, almost hurt expression on Starfire's face, and that was something that would cut into his heart, scarring it for years to come.
Robin picked up a flat rock and skipped it across the water. He was sitting in front of the water, a good many feet away from the Titan Tower. It wasn't the fact that everyone was so concerned for his well-being...most of all Starfire. It was the fact that this had been going on for a long time now—ever since he had gotten out of the ruble of the mansion. Since then, none of the Teen Titans had let him do anything that required a lot of thinking or physical effort. 'I'm just sick of being babied!' Robin thought in frustration, throwing another rock on the water and watching it skip out of view. 'It's not like I was on my death bed or anything! In any normal circumstances, they would have known that I would be right back up on the roof. Now, I have to prove that I'm good enough to do anything at all... I used to be the one who gave the orders!' He stood up suddenly in anger and threw a rock at the water with so much force, it plunged in instead of skipping.
He turned on his heel and stomped angrily away from the water, walking away from the Titan Tower. After a minute of two, he broke into a run, not really caring where he was going. After about half a mile, however, he came to a stop, out of breath. He was out of shape, he hadn't been able to start training again until the beginning of this week. By the time he had come to a stop, however, most of his anger had left him. He found himself turning around and looking back at the Titan Tower. He sighed, all his frustration leaving him, as he started to think about Starfire. 'Maybe...just maybe, I can put up with it all. They're just doing all that for my own good...after all.' Robin shrugged, closing his eyes for a moment. He hadn't realized it before because he was angry and frustrated, but the fight and his own fit of anger had exhausted him. He didn't have the endurance that he used to have. His sickness had taken that from him. To get it back, was the challenge. He sighed again and started walking slowly back to the Titan Tower. Every step making him feel more and more tired.
When he finally reached the Titan Tower, he made he way to the living room. When he got to the couch, he was grateful that everyone were in their rooms. He didn't want any of them to fuss over how bad or tired he looked, or to question his earlier actions. He took one look at the couch and crashed. His body met a warm arrangement of soft pillows, and all of his previous thoughts and worries left him as his mind drifted into a peaceful sleep.
When Robin awoke, the room was dark and quiet except for the soft fluorescent glow and soft sounds coming from the TV in front of him. He looked at the TV for a moment, watching a game show that was on, then frowned. He couldn't remember turning on the TV before he fell asleep, and seeing as how it was dark...he couldn't see why any of the Teen Titans would leave it on. He suddenly became aware that his neck was inclined upward. The impersistent fragrance of freshly cut violets found its way to his nose, making him want to close his eyes and go right back to sleep. He resisted this urge, however, and looked up at the person who had his head in their lap. There was Starfire; she was looking at the TV with a bored expression on his face. At this, Robin couldn't help but smile. When Starfire, slowly turned her gaze away from the TV, towards him, however, he quickly closed his eyes again. For some reason, he did want her to see him awake. Perhaps, instinctively, he thought...that if she saw him awake...she would leave; or maybe it was because he wished to actually know what it was she did when he was asleep. Perhaps, he just wanted to know what she was comfortable doing with him while he was not conscious to judge her, not like he would, but she didn't know that.
Starfire slowly put a hand down, so that it rested on his chest for a moment. Robin could feel her hand quiver slightly as it pulled away. He felt the strong urge to reach up and grab it, to make it keep touching him, but he did not. After a few minutes of nothing happening, Robin sighed mentally and opened his eyes again. Starfire looked down again at this moment, and he found himself eye to eye with her. Startled, she immediately reached down and helped him get into a sitting position, next to her.
"What time is it?" Robin asked automatically.
"Around three in the morning," Starfire answered, turning uncomfortably back to the TV. Robin could tell, even by looking at her from the side, that she was very tired. Robin stared guiltily at his feet for a moment, before something from an earlier time started to nag at him, making him feel even more guilty.
"Star," Robin said at last, breaking through the soft voices that came from the TV. Starfire looked at him and frowned when she saw him looking so uncomfortably at his feet. "About yesterday...on the mission," he said, hesitantly, "...Star, I'm sorry about the way I acted. I know you...can't help the fact that you worry about what happens to other people. That's what makes you such a good person. It's just that...I'm a little frustrated at the moment by my own limitations. I just wanted to say...I'm sorry for taking it out on you."
Robin was waiting for Starfire to say that she didn't forgive him; to say that he wasn't worth her time or effort if he was going to act the way he had. He knew it wasn't in Starfire's nature to be mean or cruel, but he also knew that he deserved whatever harsh words he got from Starfire. He waited, staring at his feet, hoping to soften the blow just a little. To his surprise, however, he felt an arm tighten itself around his shoulders. He looked up at Starfire, for an explanation. He found himself coming eye to eye again with the smiling girl. "I don't blame you, Robin," She said softly. Robin became just barely aware that Starfire's hand had found it way around his neck, "If it were me, I would have done the same thing."
Robin nodded nervously, feeling Starfire's arm release his shoulders, taking off his mask before resting her hand on his arm. His brown eyes glittered softly in the dim light. A sudden urge to kiss Starfire, came over him, just as he realized that she was leaning closer to him. Instinctively, he leaned closer as well, tilting his head slightly. He could feel his hand instinctively, reach out and wrap gently around the side of Starfire's neck, as his other hand reached for the TV remote finding the "power" button and pushing it, turning the TV off. The strong scent of violets made his eyes close as his lips finally touched together with Starfire's. Every previous worry and thought left him. He was here, in this moment, and that was all that mattered. After a long couple of seconds, he released her, feeling her release him as well, and opened his eyes to look at her. She was smiling tiredly, but looked happy all the same. There was silence for a moment, his eyes looking at her lovingly.
After a few moments of this intimate eye contact, Robin smiled, reaching up to brush away a strand of her hair that had fallen over her face. "It's late," he finally said, standing up slowly, "and you haven't gotten much sleep. You should get some." His eyes looked down at her, with a silent care in them.
Starfire nodded, standing as well, "So, should you."
Robin shook his head, "No, I've already had enough sleep to get me through the rest of today. Besides, I need to repair the rest of my equipment that was damaged when the mansion exploded."
Starfire smiled silently, taking his hand and putting something in it before she turned to walk back to her room. When she disappeared in her room, Robin looked down at what she had put into his hand. He blushed when he saw his mask folded neatly in his palm. Then turning towards the hallway, he made his way back to his own room to repair the rest of his equipment.
Raven and Cyborg, strangely enough, were the first ones to wake up the next morning. Cyborg had disappeared into the gym, and Raven was meditating in her room, leaving the tower fairly empty. It was not long before Beast Boy was up, however, and the house held the noise that was considered so normal for the Titan Tower. Beast Boy had resorted to cooking tofu in the kitchen by the time Starfire had finally woken up. It was almost noon now, and the Titan Tower was still pretty quiet. That was, at least, until Beast Boy figured out that Robin and Starfire had been the last ones that hadn't appeared in the Titan Tower for some reason.
"So...what happened last night between you and Robin?" Beast Boy asked just after he had swallowed an entire package size of tofu. Starfire had just made her way into the kitchen looking very groggy. She looked in Beast Boy's direction with a tired expression, "I do not know what you are referring to, Beast Boy."
"You know...the reason you both are the last ones to get up. I mean, usually I would understand why Robin isn't up yet. He's still not over the bug yet, is he? But, he was asleep when we went to bed last night. So...what happened?"
"Nothing happened, Beast Boy," Starfire answered sleepily, taking some orange juice out of the fridge. She started to walk away from the fridge when she looked down at the container she was holding, and stared at it for a moment. Slowly she shuffled back to the fridge and shoved the orange juice back in, wondering why she had grabbed something when she didn't even know how it tasted.
"You're—in—love," Beast Boy started singing behind her.
Starfire blushed a deep crimson, but kept her eyes on the fridge. "I am not. I may like him as more than a friend, but no...I am not in-love." Starfire knew better than anyone else that this was an outright lie, but she couldn't tell Beast Boy that. He would never quit bothering her about it.
"No? Then why did you just grab Robin's favorite drink in the morning, just now?" Beast Boy teased, he chuckled slightly at the idea.
Starfire opened her mouth to protest, but just sighed, grabbing something that looked good, out or the fridge and closing its door. There was no denying it...he was right. The one time he could make her life miserable beyond belief, Beast Boy was right. "You win, Beast Boy," Starfire said unsmilingly, "I do love him."
Beast Boy had a sudden look like Christmas had come six months early. He jumped off his chair at the table and ran down the hall, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Starfire loves Robin! Starfire loves Robin!"
Starfire dropped what she was previously holding, onto the table and ran after him screaming, "Beast Boy! Stop! Beast Boy! I wish for you to stop! Beast Boy!"
It was about this time that Robin, who had fallen asleep in a chair in his room, opened his door just in time to see Starfire take flight past his room. He blinked and looked down the hall to see Beast Boy with a wide smile on his face, shouting something he couldn't make out, due to someone else shouting something. By the sound of it all, Beast Boy and Starfire had gotten into a really big fight, most likely starting by Beast Boy's teasing, judging by the look on his face. What he couldn't understand is why Starfire seemed to be so angry. Usually, she enjoyed Beast Boy's company and his jokes. What could have made her so angry this time?
When Starfire started to land, however, he could read what she was going to do, having seen her accomplish it on so many criminals before. It was then that he decided it was time to intervene. He got to her, just as she started running forward. The way he saw it...he had two options: either he would have to jump in front of her and take the blow for Beast Boy—she would never forgive herself for this and he knew it—or he would have to tackle her. So, reluctantly, he chose to tackle her. When he got close enough, he put his arms around her waist and threw his weight on her, forcing her to meet the floor. As they hit the floor, he vaguely saw Beast Boy run past them, back to the kitchen, he was laughing again.
It was a good moment before either of them started to move. Robin rolled off Starfire, allowing her to get up if she wished. Within seconds, Starfire was on her feet, and started yelling again, "You should have let me kick him...it's the least he deserved!" Starfire was just yelling blindly, not really seeing anything.
Robin pulled himself into a sitting position and stared at Starfire for a moment, "Star..." he said, mostly out of surprise and shock.
"—for all his yelling!" Her anger seemed to melt away when she noticed Robin on the floor. "Robin!" She strode forward and put herself into a kneeling position, checking to make sure he was okay. Fussing over every inch of him, once again.
Robin caught one of her hands, jus as it was about to tilt his neck to the side to see if he was injured there. This made Starfire look at his face, allowing him to look into her eyes. It was clear that she had a very guilty look on her face and she was about ready to cry. Robin let go of her hand and rose to his feet. Starfire did the same, finally putting her hands down to her side.
"Have I hurt you?" She asked.
"No," Robin answered, shaking his head, "but you almost did a number on Beast Boy. I was the one who tackled you."
"I know," Starfire nodded. Then after a moment she quickly put in, "Excuse me...I must apologize to Beast Boy." She turn quickly away from Robin and started in the other direction, but Robin was too quick. He firmly put a hand on her shoulder, which kept her from walking away. "No, Star...I don't think that you need to apologize to Beast Boy just yet." He gently spun her back around to look at him, but when he saw her face, he wished that he had just let her go to where ever it was she wanted to go. Tears were falling from her big green eyes, making his heart ache worse than it ever had. He looked at her for a moment before gently putting his arms around her and allowing her to bury her face in his shirt. As far as he was concerned, there wasn't anyone else in the Titan Tower at that moment...just him and Starfire.