Standard disclaimers apply.

Edited (a bit): August 26, 2004

CHAPTER EDITED NOV. 24, 2004: With the insight of Aria-Angel.

GUIDING STAR

Chapter Nine - Jump

It had been the first time in a long time that someone other than Starfire was there before he was, so early in the morning. The sun was just beginning to peek out of the horizon and there were still thin patches of mist fogging the panoramic windows.

Robin stood on the elevator platform, his gaze shifting between Cyborg and the freshly brewed coffee. He was mildly surprised, but only for a few seconds. It was typical enough of Cyborg. When Victor Stone was made to sit at the helm, he took his job seriously. In this case, Robin left Cyborg in charge of the tower and any titan affairs that may come up while he and Starfire were out of town. It was comforting to know that Cyborg could be depended on.

Cyborg looked up from his magazine and grinned. "My man, you lookin' fly."

Robin grinned back, feeling slightly self-conscious as he descended the stairs to pour himself some coffee. "Last time you said that, I was going to the prom from hell." He was already dressed for the trip, two hours ahead of schedule. It just felt silly to emerge from his room in his uniform only to change out of it and get into his travel clothes.

He was in his fall clothing, resurrected from somewhere at the back of his closet. He remembered that living in Wayne Manor, he had a room full of Armanis, D&Gs, Ralph Laurens and Helmut Langes, courtesy of Bruce, of course, who didn't want dragging around a ward who looked like a Salvation Army reject. He left most of those swanky coats behind in the Wayne Manor storage closet. Jump City's climate didn't need fall coats and Robin's tastes didn't need the unpronounceable name of some designer slapped on the label of his clothing. All he brought with him from the lot were three sweaters and two coats, one of which was a leather coat in black and the other a suede coat in dark brown. The leather was something he had bought from of his own money competing in the underground motorcycle racing circuit. It was an expensive brand, but it was on sale, so he indulged. The suede was a Banana Republic, and not quite Robin's style, but Alfred had given it to him, and he always liked Alfred.

It was the suede coat he had on now, and he wore it over a beige knit shirt and loose straight jeans; and while he didn't normally go "better than his Salvation Army look" without Alfred convincing him to, there was something about looking sharp that day that kind of appealed to him, mask and all.

Cyborg chuckled. "Hoping to impress someone, champ?"

Robin arched an eyebrow as he sipped from his mug. He felt the heat rising in his cheeks, but it wasn't from the coffee. He didn't have to answer Cyborg.

Cyborg crossed his arms over his chest. "Is Babs going to be there?"

Robin choked on his coffee, narrowly missing soiling himself. He whooped, trying to get the coffee out of his windpipe. Cyborg had to pound him on the back. Of course Cyborg knew about Babs; boys mentioned that sort of thing to each other, and it was only natural for Cyborg to figure out that Babs and Bruce were connected as Batgirl and Batman, but it was surprising the way Cyborg brought her up.

Cyborg grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Was it something I said?"

"I'm not dressed up for Babs!" said Robin incredulously after he recovered. "Jeez! Don't be saying stuff like that! Someone could hear you and take it the wrong way!"

"Oh? Now who in the world would take it the wrong way?"

Robin frowned. "Dude, whoever! Every time you open that mouth of yours about girls I get in trouble. So please just shut up."

Cyborg chuckled. "Fine. So, if not Babs, then who?"

"Look, I don't have to want to impress a chick to decide not to dress like a slob. I haven't seen Alfred in a long time and I want him to think he raised me well enough to look respectable. I owe the guy that much." Partly true, as far as Robin was concerned.

"What's that I smell?" Cyborg sniffed the air and his eye widened in mock surprise. "I think the bull did something on the carpet again!"

Robin shot him a glare. "Oh, go suck on low octane gasoline, Cy." He took another gulp of coffee.

This time, Cyborg laughed, pounding his hand on the countertop. Robin didn't think it was so funny.

I'm not dressed up for Babs, he thought with a scowl. I don't even know if I'll see her. What the hell was Cyborg thinking? What if Starfire--?

His frown deepened.

Thankfully, Cyborg decided not to pursue the subject after that last shot. "So, how long will you two be gone?"

Robin eyed Cyborg dubiously before making a reply. He gave a half-shrug. "Two or three days. Four; tops."

Cyborg nodded thoughtfully. "I figured as much. I don't expect much action coming up anyway. If someone attacks the Tower, won't be the first time…"

"Nope."

It wasn't that an attack on the Tower wouldn't surprise them, but somehow, having repaired the tower a countless number of times took the edge out of the entire Siege-Fight-Survive drama.

Robin noticed that Cyborg had another magazine underneath the one he was reading, and asking Cyborg's permission, Robin took it to flip through the pages.

Cyborg went back to reading and Robin tried to make sense of the strange mechanisms featured in Electronics Monthly.

The silence was pretty much comfortable. In spite of their fights, their competitiveness and their clashing tempers, he and Cyborg shared a mutual respect for one another. For a couple of alpha males who had to live under the same roof, they got along relatively well. Cyborg was also the kind of guy he could talk to about alpha male things; things that he couldn't talk about with Stafire because—well, she was an alpha female.

After what might have been several minutes, Robin broke the silence. "Cy, I have a question for you, and you have to give me an honest answer."

The half-robot looked up from the article he was reading. There was a second in Cyborg's good eye where Robin noted a hint of recognition; that this was guy talk in the making.

"Shoot."

Robin tried to pick his words carefully. "Have you noticed… anything different with Starfire lately?"

Cyborg wasn't quick to answer. He was obviously giving it some thought. "Her other senses have improved—"

Robin shook his head. "No, no. That's not what I meant. When you look at her, does she seem—I don't know—to have improved in looks… considerably?"

Cyborg's gaze narrowed ponderously, his robotic eye dilating for a second before going back to normal. "You're asking me ifI think she's gotten prettier?"

"Maybe. I don't want to lead you. What do you think?"

Cyborg rubbed his bald pate, maybe to jog his brain for an answer. "I couldn't be sure. I see her everyday, Rob. Probably. I mean, if her fan mail's any indication, she's getting more fan boys… which reminds me, I have to go to the post-office today to pick up our mail…"

Robin waved off the mail concerns. "Forget the fan mail and the fan boys. Don't you notice anything at all? By yourself? I promise I won't tell anyone."

Cyborg looked at him in mild surprise. "Rob, is there a particular answer you're looking for? Because you gotta work with me here. I'm not getting a clear signal."

Robin sighed, drinking from his mug. Maybe I am a perv.

"How about you? What have you noticed about Starfire?"

The question jolted Robin from the peace of his coffee drinking, causing him to choke again, with perhaps as much whopping as the one induced by the mention of Babs' name. He hadn't expected Cyborg to ask the question right back at him. It hadn't been part of the plan. Cyborg was just supposed to answer, not ask. Robin felt a sense of panic rise inside him. What if he ventured to make an answer and Cyborg saw right through him? Cyborg might understand, being a guy, but it was just too humiliating; too humanizing, and in a lot of respects, Cyborg was more human when it came to emotions than Robin was, circuits notwithstanding. How would Cyborg react if he found out that their fearless leader was getting boners for a team member?

Robin composed himself, noticing that Cyborg hadn't helped him recover from choking. The half-robot merely watched him with sage patience, as if Cyborg had intended for Robin to drown in his caffeine. Before Robin could say something, Cyborg interjected smoothly. "Obviously, you have certain observations and wanted to confirm them with me."

Robin strangely felt like he had backed himself into a corner and wanted to hit himself for it. How did he think he could get away with this without having to spill his guts? He tried to process some sort of reply that wouldn't give him away—at all. He told himself he was good at this, that he was a strategist; that he could formulate an answer that wouldn't necessarily be a lie, because he sucked at lying. He wasn't ashamed to admit that if he was any good at getting away with a lie, he probably would've blurted one out already.

He didn't stammer, but he certainly took long in answering. "Oh, I was just curious. Concerned, really, but it's nothing very important." It was lame, and it was a real cop out, but he hoped Cyborg would accept that as a reply. "Forget about it."

Cyborg closed his magazine again, leaning over the counter with a smirk on his face. "Rob, you've been spending a lot of time with Starfire, haven't you?"

Robin bit back his otherwise defensive reply of, "Yeah, so?" and settled for a more nonchalant, "Yup," punctuated by a casual drink of his coffee.

"Is it because you have to, or because you want to?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"Just answer it."

Robin flashed a scowl. "I never feel like I have to."

"So you actually like spending so much time with her?"

"Why the hell wouldn't I?"

"Why the hell are you being so indirect?"

"Why the hell are you being so nosy?"

Cyborg chuckled. "Rob, you're not the first person in the world to start wanting more from their 'best friend'."

The words hit Robin like a mallet to the head and it took every ounce of his practiced poker face to keep his panic from surfacing. His mind was screaming: Oh God, he knows! But he stuffed it away and managed to calmly say, "What are you talking about, Cy?" He scoffed for effect. "I don't know what you're talking about. You're not making any sense." He scoffed again. Maybe he didn't have a very good poker face, but he felt he deserved an A for effort.

Cyborg's eyebrow arched. "Listen, Rob. Raven, Beast Boy and I; we've talked about keeping our noses out of this, but I could only stand by and watch you sit around on your ass for so long."

Robin swallowed a lump in his throat. Raven! She did know, and she's told them! That—that witch!

At that term of endearment, Robin had to reassess his reasoning. Raven may be a witch, but a gossip, she wasn't. There was no way Raven would go out of her way to tell anyone about something she probably considered ridiculous. She may have confronted him about it, but only insofar as he was "splashing around" in her "sea of calm." She certainly wasn't going to concern herself with his problems when she probably had enough of her own.

So what exactly was Cyborg saying?

Robin could only pray it wasn't that. There were no proper words he could possibly say to that that would save his dignity, in any way.

Perhaps noticing Robin's silence, Cyborg went on. "I just have one question, man: What are you waiting for?"

Robin blinked. "Excuse me?"

"What are you waiting for? You know—deep down inside of you—what it is you want from Starfire. Why don't you just go for it? What's the worse she could do?"

Robin stared, trying to process Cyborg's words. Go for it? Now Robin was certainly hoping Cyborg didn't know a thing about what he had been going through, because if Cyborg had the slightest inkling about his raging hormones, then Cyborg's advice was seriously messed up.

They were both reasonable men, so Robin willed himself to consider Cyborg's advice and the intent behind it.

So what was it that he wanted from Starfire? His body had answers, he knew, and his mind was some kind of accomplice to it, but there was certainly a part of him saying that Starfire deserved more than his cold shower worthy fantasies, and he tended to listen to that part of him. He was sure he was going in the right direction; he respected Starfire; she was his best friend; and she hadn't a single clue about what she could do to him. Which brought him back to the same question: What did he want from Starfire? Was there anything he wanted from her at all?

He could come up with a reply so full of horseshit that it would stink up the entire tower for the better part of an entire week, or he could take a coward's retreat. He wasn't a coward, so the alternative was forthcoming. He had to try lying. He had to make up a lie so dazzling that its ethereal essence would leave Cyborg awestruck; make him forget that they were having this silly conversation.

Robin scratched at his ear. A stalling technique, of course, but it gave him the two seconds he needed to compose himself and blurt out the fabulously dazzling lie with bardic grace. "Go for what, Cy?"

It was sheer poetry. He may not be a coward, but he knew the virtue of living to fight another day.

Cyborg did not look the least bit pleased. In fact, he looked terribly annoyed. "Don't make me shoot you. You know exactly what I mean. You and Starfire—"

"What about us?"

"Come on, man. Us?That should be obvious enough. You always want to be with her, especially lately; you treat her special in most things we do; your actions, whether in life or in battle, revolve around your relationship with her and you're hella jealous when other guys try to zero in—"

Robin glared at him. "What other guys? She didn't tell me about other guys."

"You see?"

"I'm not jealous!"

"So what if you are? That's my point! What's the use of denying it all? What are you so afraid of?"

Robin's eyes flashed. "I'm not afraid of anything!"

"Well then prove it!"

Robin was getting frustrated. They were back to this mysterious "thing" and it was driving him crazy. He pulled at his hair and growled. "Prove what?"

His voice had taken on a fair amount of volume, and of course, he didn't expect Cyborg to take it sitting down. Cyborg took a visibly deep breath. He was definitely going to yell, but what he said was something Robin didn't exactly expect:

"That you're not afraid to tell her how you feel!"

Robin's eyes widened as Cyborg's words echoed through the room. It ricocheted off the walls and back into his ears, bouncing inside his head in violent percussion before it settled to a lazy roll at the center of his thoughts.

He was shocked. He didn't know exactly why, but he was shocked, and perhaps it showed in his face because Cyborg suddenly didn't look so adamant.

Robin had to figure out at which point in the conversation the words "how you feel" ceased to possibly mean his raging hormones and began to mean something else infinitely deeper.

Cyborg coughed loudly at the stretching silence, though he kept the disapproving scowl on his face.

There was a hiss from the elevator platform and they both turned to look.

Starfire emerged, humming softly to herself as she stepped out of the elevator. She paused at the platform, as if to assess her surroundings.

Robin could only stare, his thoughts jumbled.

Like him, she was already in her travel clothes. Jeans, a square-collar ribbed shirt and a black, goth-patterned thigh-length coat. The coat was a loan from Raven. Starfire, as a Tamaranian, didn't exactly feel the nip of cold as easily as humans did, so she had no need to keep a stock of fall clothing, even if she had some old articles for winter, but awed by the prospect of meeting Bruce Wayne, she wanted to look "Earth presentable", as she termed it. Raven's most un-Halloween-ish coat was the one Starfire wore now. Her outfit, with a nice pair of heeled black boots, made her look slightly more dressed up than Robin, who had on sneakers.

But most of it was lost on Robin who was still reeling from what Cyborg had just said.

Starfire's smiled. "I love the smell of coffee. It is strong and distinct. Cyborg, were you yelling?"

Robin's his mug toppled on the breakfast counter and the remaining coffee in it spilled on Cyborg's magazines. Cyborg was terribly annoyed. "Dammit Rob!" while Starfire looked worried in background.

"Are you alri—"

"Fine!" said Robin, grabbing a paper towel to wipe the mess. He cursed under his breath, peeved that he had gone from Fearless Leader to Bumbling Klutz.

Cyborg didn't even yell. He just shot Robin such a meaningful glare that Robin couldn't summon the nerve to glare back.

Starfire frowned, probably because of the all the early morning cursing, but she made her way down the steps without a word, her movements more fluid now after constant sensory training and almost two months of walking the tower sightless.

Walking past Robin, she gave his shoulder a squeeze, perhaps to calm him. His gaze followed her as she went to the cupboards, carefully feeling her way for a mug. She was almost always capable of serving herself with ease, after one or two mishaps in the first couple of weeks, but Robin always watched her, just in case she needed help.

He felt a nudge from Cyborg. Scowling, Robin mouthed, "What?"

Cyborg jerked his head in Starfire's direction, mouthing, "Help her!"

"Why?" asked Robin soundlessly, palms splayed upwards in a gesture of frustration.

"Because!" Cyborg reached over and shoved Robin towards Starfire.

Robin didn't know what Cyborg was getting at, and he didn't know why he was letting the half-robot push him around. He may have left Cyborg in charge for the meantime, but that was only until Fearless Leader left for Gotham.

Still, it didn't mean Cyborg couldn't be overpoweringly strong. Robin found himself crashing right into Starfire with a yell, almost causing her to nosedive into the brand new George Foreman Grill. He caught her around her shoulders to prevent the accident. Starfire would never forgive him if he knocked her teeth out.

"Robin! What in the name of X'hal--!"

"Sorry! Sorry! I slipped!" He looked over his shoulder and shot Cyborg a malignant glare. He quickly refocused his attention on Starfire who was still trapped between him, the chopping board and his embrace. He eased his grip away from her and reached up to pluck a mug from the shelf. He suddenly found himself taking his time, liking the smell of her shampoo, and he thought, for a split heartbeat, that Cyborg had something going with this idea. Robin took her hand and gently placed the mug in it. "Here."

The flush that rose in her cheeks as she gave him her thanks made him flush as well. She turned to make her way to the kitchen counter, only to end up bumping into him. They awkwardly stepped out of each other's way and Robin had to stifle a groan, slapping a hand to his face. He couldn't believe he had done that and suddenly Cyborg wasn't such a genius anymore.

Cyborg had the sense to be the one to help Starfire pour her coffee, perhaps thinking that Robin was in no condition to help anyone.

Starfire made no mention of what she heard Cyborg say. Robin didn't think he could handle it if she began to ask questions. He still thought he hadn't been given enough time to absorb the implications of what Cyborg had said, so he hoped he didn't have to deal with it until he was clear on things.

"You ready to head to Gotham, Star?" asked Cyborg when it was clear Robin hadn't the sense to start light conversation.

She smiled. "Oh, yes. I am looking forward to meeting Robin's Gotham family."

Cyborg wiggled an eyebrow, grinning. "So am I. Listen, think you could get Batman to sign my Batman figurine? I'll give it to you later, before you leave. I'll give you a silvertip pen for him to sign with, too. Rob, you think he'd have a pen in his utility belt? Anyway, Starfire, just bring the pen, to make sure."

It made Robin snarl, but Cyborg and Starfire ignored him.

"I am sure he will oblige me. He sounds like a kind enough man to sign an autograph for a silly young girl." She giggled and it sent Robin's teeth to gnashing.

It annoyed him to hear Starfire giggle whenever she said Bruce Wayne or Batman. "I'll have him sign it, Cy. Starfire has other things to worry about over there."

Starfire waved his suggestion away. "It will be no trouble to me, Robin. It will only take a few seconds."

Cyborg scoffed. "Yeah, let Starfire do it. If it's Starfire asking, Batman will surely make it look nice. She's got the charms to do that, eh?"

Starfire giggled again. All Robin could do from growling at Cyborg was to pour himself more coffee.

"I've kept a journal of Batman, you know," said Starfire.

Robin caught his elbow on a corner and he cursed vehemently, perhaps more than the corner deserved.

Starfire continued. "I used to clip articles and pictures and a lot of them were articles from before, from when Robin was still his partner. They were lovely pictures, Robin."

Robin muttered his acknowledgement, drinking from his mug.

"And then there were pictures of Robin with Batgirl too."

For a third time that day, Robin choked on his coffee.

Starfire seemed startled but Cyborg assured her that Robin was fine; just that something got caught in his throat.

Though looking uncertain, Starfire went on. "Do you know her personally, Robin? As in, her true identity? Is she very pretty? Of course I only saw her with her mask on but she seemed like she would be quite attractive."

"Yeah—um—" Robin composed himself. "Barbara Gordon? She's okay. Cute."

"Cute?" Starfire was not so familiar with the use of "cute" in terms of people. To her, "cute" was something she called a furry little kitten. "Well, is she a very nice person?"

"Er, yeah. Say Starfire, care for some breakfast? I'll make you some French Toast."

She looked mildly startled. "Um—certainly. That would be nice."

"While you're at it, make some for me, too."

Robin shot Cyborg a glare as he swiped out the bread knife. Cyborg flashed a shiny grin, unperturbed.

Robin was just glad most early mornings didn't have Cyborg in them.

Robin saw the Wayne Airfield up ahead from his seat on the T-Chopper. Bruce's sleek blue and silver private jet, with the Wayne insignia splayed on its fin, was ready for taxiing. Robin could make out a few people in suits waiting to meet them at the landing area.

Cyborg, maneuvering the copter, gave Robin a thumbs-up sign. "Nice ride," he said over the shortwave radio.

"Always, when it's Bruce Wayne," was all Robin could say. He looked over his shoulder at Starfire who had a shortwave radio of her own. If she heard their conversation, she made no indication of it. She had been relatively silent most of the way. She only once asked how much longer before they arrived at the airport, after which she said nothing more.

They'd left Beast Boy and Raven at the tower. Beast Boy merely said that he'd have a bunch of movies ready for Starfire when they got back and promptly returned to playing his videogame. Raven's goodbye was more…

Disturbing, was the word Robin used to describe it.

They were heading up to the rooftop, just about to climb the steel staircase leading to the helipad when Raven stopped Starfire at the threshold.

Unmindful of Robin who was guiding Starfire, Raven handed Starfire a tarot card, with a strangely dressed man. "I did a reading of you, because you were leaving."

Starfire chuckled. "But I will return in a few days."

"I know, but the results were… significant, and it is best told while it remains fresh in my mind. The Fool was your Major Arcana, of course, but it was flanked by the ace of cups."

Robin didn't know what it meant, but Starfire blushed so deeply and in such a becoming manner that he could barely take his eyes off her.

Raven squeezed Starfire's shoulder. "That is only the beginning. The Fool was crossed by the Emperor of five swords, though beneath it was the World. It's very vague, but unnerving, more so when the Hanged Man presented itself in one of your paths."

Starfire didn't say anything for a moment. When she spoke, she gave Raven an embrace, perhaps surprising Raven herself. "I feel that is a long way from now. At this time, I will take the Fool as it is. It is most meaningful."

Raven looked at her, watching Starfire's face, as if Raven suspected that Starfire knew something, but moments later, she nodded, handing her an oddly shaped turquoise stone and folding it within Starfire's grasp. "Bones of the soil doth magic hold; by the fire, water and earth, made whole; to heal the flesh, to ease the soul." Their hands glowed black.

Starfire smiled. "So mote it be."

Raven turned and left.

Robin had looked at Starfire funny while he guided her up the stairs. "What was that about?"

Starfire held the stone and card to her heart, blushing again. "Most of it is—complicated, but I suppose one could say that it is the closest thing to 'girl talk' as Raven could get. As for this stone, it is blessed with healing, mostly for the eyes, but it seeks to heal the soul first, which I think is more important than anything else."

Robin had found it perplexing then, and forty five minutes later, nearing the Wayne Airfield, it was still confusing. He saw Starfire holding the objects Raven had given her and his curiosity grew. He would have to ask Starfire about them later.

Cyborg lowered the copter to the landing area, and when they were safely settled on the ground, Cyborg threw the electronic doors open. "Welcome to the Wayne Airfield in San Diego."

Robin grinned, pounding fists with Cyborg to supplement a handshake and giving him some last minute instructions, after which he gave his thanks before he turned to assist Starfire off the chopper.

"Thank you, Cyborg," yelled Starfire over the din of the blades. "Until we return."

"Word to the Bat!"

"What?"

"Nothing!"

Laughing at the exchange, Robin handed Starfire over to the capable hands of an airport attendant.

Robin grabbed a sturdy backpack from the small pile on the floor and draped it over one shoulder. It would be his hand carry, just because he wanted to make sure it didn't get lost in transit. The rest of their bags were taken and rushed to the baggage compartment of the BW Jet.

The copter doors closed and minutes later, it lifted off. Cyborg waved and Robin waved back, the sound of the blades dying as it flew higher into the distance.

The roar of the plane's engines replaced it and taking Starfire's arm, he led them around the plane to its boarding doors.

Robin could barely contain his surprise when a familiar face was there to meet them at the foot of the stairs.

"M' man, Alfred! I should've known Bruce would send a babysitter with the plane."

He was in his butler's suit still, his white hair as thick and as well-groomed as ever. There were a few more wrinkles crowing around his eyes and mouth, but he still had the kind eyes and the quiet dignity that always left Robin in awe of him.

Alfred flashed him one of his restrained smiles. "Master Robin, it is very nice to see you again." His refined, British accent was just as thick as always.

Starfire giggled and Robin knew it was because of the "master."

Robin felt himself redden. "Alfred, this is Koriand'r, better known as Starfire. She's our VIP for today."

"Most honored to meet you, madam," said Alfred, giving Starfire a crisp bow. It was, of course, completely ruined—but maybe pleasantly so—by Starfire going up to him to give him a warm embrace.

"Robin always speaks so well of you, Alfred. You have been a great influence to him so it is I who is honored."

Alfred was surprised, but he smiled and returned the hug, although rather stiff at the arms and shoulders.

Robin cocked a smile.

When Starfire released him, Alfred immediately tucked Starfire's hand in his arm to lead her up the plane. "Had Master Robin told me that his company was so amicable, I would have brought my best tea and crumpets."

Robin rolled his eyes as he followed them, grinning. "And when did you become such a flirt?"

"Ah, I always have been, Master Robin only, few have been so charming as to summon such behavior from me."

Starfire chuckled, giving Alfred an affectionate lean.

Robin shook his head, pretending to disapprove.

Starfire was led to one of the more comfortable seats where a flight attendant immediately supplied her with pillows and a blanket. As she was being asked what beverage she preferred, Robin set his hand carry aside and took the seat beside her, watching her surprise when someone came forward every few minutes to offer them all sorts of comforts and luxuries. The interior itself looked nothing like any of the commercial planes. There were perhaps only a few seats for take-off and landing purposes, all of them first-class types with a lot of space, full recline and leg rests. The rest of the cabin looked like a luxurious lounge, with a bar and kitchen at the end, couches, coffee tables and a two-player table for games like chess, baccarat and checkers. Most of the floor had soft, fluffy carpeting. There was a sound system tucked into a custom made panel and if anyone wanted to watch a movie, a plasma TV could be unfolded from the ceiling towards the front of the cabin so everyone could see.

It never ceased to impress Robin.

The doors were pulled and turned shut, allowing the plane to taxi.

When finally, the fuss over them settled, Starfire turned to Robin.

"This service… is common in Inter-Earth flight?"

Robin chuckled. "No. Very few people could afford to provide this kind of flight service. Bruce Wayne is one of the few."

Starfire nodded. "Who will fly this plane?"

"Er—the pilot?"

She frowned at his smartass reply. "And do you know this pilot?"

Robin had to smile. Starfire didn't have to ride a lot of planes in the past. She had the strength and stamina to fly long distances by herself and she could have flown to Gotham with twice the speed and half the ceremony it took to take off on a private jet, but circumstances were different now.

Possibly her first time in a plane, she had to deal with the fact that she would have to trust her life to a complete stranger. Flying with Cyborg was different. She trusted Cyborg; knew him. This pilot was someone she knew absolutely nothing about.

He took her hand, which was only slightly cold. "Don't worry, Kori. Bruce Wayne only employs the best. We're in good hands."

"Do you trust this pilot?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Then that is enough for me." She settled on her seat a bit further.

He was surprised when he felt her leaning on his shoulder, her other hand idly stirring the straw of her iced tea. It felt nice to have her so relaxed against him.

"Master Robin."

Robin looked up at Alfred.

Alfred leaned over and softly said, "Master Bruce would wish for you to call him before take off."

"Oh, right." Robin dug into his coat, careful not to move Starfire so much, and fished out the Bat Communicator. He flipped it open and activated it, waiting for someone to pick up at the other end.

A woman answered, but the voice was different from the one he heard before. Again, Robin sat there, totally perplexed. What's with all these women taking Bruce's calls?

He frowned. "Um, this is Robin…"

The woman gasped. "The Boy Wonder? Omigod! This is so awesome! I'm Supergirl, but you could call me Kara. I love your costume! It's so tight."

He could hear her grin through the speaker and Robin's eyes hovered to Starfire, hoping that her enhanced senses weren't picking up on any of it. She lifted her head, mumbled something about glemporks then fluffed his shoulder painfully before she snuggled back against it.

She heard. He was in a bit of pain, but he somehow liked the notion that she was being—well, jealous. He smiled at that.

"So whazzup, Boy Wonder?" asked Kara.

That snapped him out of his daze, and he was about to ask for Batman when there was a sound from the other end that made Kara whine in complaint.

"Thank you, Kara. That'll do." It sounded like Bruce in the background. There was a brief moment of silence before Bruce's voice came over the communicator more clearly. "Robin. Ready for take-off?"

"Yeah, we are." Robin smirked. "Supergirl, eh? Sounds like she's a little too young for you, Batman. Can you say felony?"

"On a good day, yes. Suffice it to say, it isn't like that."

"Maybe you should tell that to Diana."

"It isn't like that, either. So long as you're ready to leave, Dick, you should buckle up and enjoy the flight. I'll see you in six hours."

"I could hardly wait."

"I bet." The line went dead.

Robin supposed the call was just for the sake of Bruce's information. The guy liked to be on top of things. It was also possible that Bruce was nowhere near Gotham, and Robin's call would be his signal to head on back. Typical of a billionaire superhero with a tight schedule.

A flight attendant stood up front and demonstrated the usual safety measures. Robin knew the routine, but Starfire listened intently. The demonstrations finished with the flight attendant informing them of their travel time.

The attendant finished with a, "Please sit back, relax and enjoy the flight."

Starfire sighed, "What is one to do for six hours in an enclosed space such as this?"

Robin smirked. "Oh, read; maybe listen to music. Sleep…"

It made her sigh again. "Perhaps I will try to sleep. If I could not, I ought to meditate."

Alfred came up to them, telling them in a soft voice that they should get ready for take off.

Remembering the flight attendant's instructions earlier, Starfire leaned back on her seat, leaving his shoulder.

Robin suddenly wished Starfire hadn't paid that much attention, watching her as she settled more comfortably on her chair. He sighed in disappointment.

He found Alfred looking at him, eyebrow arched.

Robin gave Alfred a "What?" expression.

Alfred glanced once at Starfire and then back at Robin pointedly before he left to take his own seat.

Robin pretended he hadn't understood. He stole a glance at Starfire as the plane started its take off. The jets roared in his ears and he could feel the speed pressing him back on his seat. He felt the plane leaving the ground and Starfire giggled at a particularly quick rise in the altitude.

He smiled. Suddenly, six hours didn't seem bad at all.

To be continued…