Chapter 4: Trying to Heal
Deep within Robin's mind he could hear Starfire's pleas. He would hold on, but only because his angel wanted him too. The pain was great, it was better to just give in, but her voice kept asking him to stay… so he did. He tried to keep his heart beating, his lungs breathing, but it was hard.
Beast Boy had gone and called the hospital and Starfire remained at Robin's side. When she had finally convinced herself she needed to help the others, Raven stopped her.
"Star, this is weird, but I can feel Robin's… I guess you could say I can sense Robin's spirit. It's only holding on by a thread, but Star, that thread is you. Stay, tell him you're here, and tell him to hold on. Starfire, I'm not one to show my feelings, but without Robin, this team won't hold. We need him," Raven gave her a sincere look before going out to answer the door and let in the doctors.
Cyborg had removed Robin's blood stained top and bound him with cloth and gauze. They'd laid a cool cloth on his forehead as he had a raging temperature. Cyborg said the knife had been coated with poison. Starfire was blind to the doctors as they bound her ankle and cleaned out Robin's wound. Instead all she could think about was that Robin had given his life for her. She whispered in his ear as she lay by his side.
"Robin, come back, please, Robin I'm so sorry. Friend Robin we need you, I need you. Robin be well again. Robin, be undamaged. Robin, please, come back and administer the kicking of the butt to Cyborg and Beast Boy in their games of videos. Take me to the giant wheels of Farris. Robin, please, share the cottoned candies with me again. Robin come back and lead me. I'm sorry I did this to you. Forgive me Friend Robin and come back," she sobbed quietly, her voice pleading.
Robin heard her calling to him. He no longer just wanted to hold on, he wanted to come back. He wanted to do what she said. She'd said she needed him, and he needed to get back to her so he could help her. Robin had to get back and tell her he needed her too. He needed to tell her that even if she didn't have the same feelings, he loved her. Raven had been right. She was so much more than a friend. She was his everything. Robin struggled with himself, ignoring the physical demand to just stay in his warm little world. Ignored the bodily desire to remain near death. He struggled to open his eyes, to say her name.
Starfire had replaced his mask; she'd thought he'd want his eyes covered when he woke up. It comforted her to believe he'd wake up. She could care less that her ankle was throbbing or that she hadn't eaten in three days. All she knew was that until Robin woke up, she would not leave.
Starfire gazed at his face, his features drawn tight in pain. The fever had gone down but he had suffered damage to his ribs. The poison from the dagger was not fully from his system causing him to stay teetering on the edge of death. Raven had said if he did succeed in waking up she could heal him a little but most of the healing would need to be natural, for fear of some weakness showing up later on. Star trailed a thin finger up his face and stroked some hair from his face. She loved him, he couldn't die… Starfire was slowly weakening herself as she refused to eat. She was content to stay at Robin's side and many nights a Titan would slip in to find her lying next to him, asleep with one of his hands snuggled by her tear-stained face.
They all knew she blamed herself but it wasn't anymore her fault than the others. Robin had chosen on his own. Starfire now brought her finger across his soft lips and she couldn't help but let a tear slip down her cheek once more. She caressed his head and gently squeezed his hand. "Robin, I love you," she whispered and then she fell asleep.
Robin heard her. She loved him? Starfire loved him? Starfire loved him, Robin the obsessive jerk? He had heard her right… hadn't he? Robin's barely conscious mind was swimming with her words. He HAD to get back to her… NOW! Robin gave and extreme effort to open his eyes and with immense struggle he opened them ever so slightly.
"S-Sta-Star?" he rasped, his throat dry and scratchy. Starfire awoke with a jolt.
"Robin!?" she whispered breathlessly. "Robin did you say something?" she gasped. Robin gave a very stiff, very painful nod. "Oh, X-Hal Robin!" she began floating off the bed involuntarily, to overjoyed to stay grounded. Robin saw this and managed a tiny smile. "Oh, Robin I'm so sorry…" she said, coming back to earth. She had fresh tears welling up in her liquid jade eyes. As the first tear spilled out he gave a very unhappy little noise and using all his remaining strength he managed to wipe the tear from her face. Starfire gave a hopeful smile back at him. "Do you forgive me?" she asked pleadingly.
"Of… course…I do…" he labored and she gasped.
"Robin… please rest now, no more speaking," her concern was written plainly on her face but a small spark was still evident in her eyes, Robin had forgiven her.
"Starry… my Starry… I… love you too…" Robin offered another tiny smile before drifting back to sleep. Starfire's eyes widened and she smiled radiantly at the sleeping Boy.
"My Robin… I will find friend Raven now and she will heal you… my Robin," she murmured and then with that she floated out and down the hall to the living room very quickly to fetch Raven.
"Raven, Robin has woken and you may now commence healing him, yes?" Starfire inquired demandingly. Raven looked up from her meditation a little startled but quickly regained her composure and replied with her apathetic voice.
"He's awake? I honestly didn't think he'd make it. Well, Star, I'll see what I can do for him," she led the Tamaranian back towards Robin's room. He was sleeping when they got there and Raven lifted a brow. She thought Starfire had said Robin was awake… before she could state this Starfire was gently shaking Robin's shoulder. Raven watched as the Boy Wonder woke up groggily.
"Star?" he asked hoarsely. Starfire nodded and stroked his cheek. Robin proceeded to blush at her touch and go an even darker crimson when he noticed Raven was watching them. He smiled weakly and Raven rolled her violet eyes. Go figure, he was half dead and hadn't been awake for more than five seconds but was already set to go have a make-out session with Star… Raven simply shook her head.
"Starfire, you may want to stay just a little out of the way while I do this," Star blushed and moved out of Raven's way. She watched with concern as Raven's hands glowed an icy blue and hovered over Robin's chest. He gave a tiny groan of pain but was content to allow Raven to continue. He soon relaxed and when Raven's hands dimmed Robin was breathing much better and he seemed relatively better.
"Wow, thanks Raven… I don't feel anything," Robin's voice was still a little raspy from not drinking. He tried to sit up with his new found energy but was soon consumed with a coughing fit and lightheadedness. He laid back. Obviously, this had only removed the pain, not the actual wounds. Starfire produced a much needed glass of water and Robin drank it greedily. She smiled. "Thanks, Star," he said softly, his voice sounded a little less scratchy. Raven quirked an eyebrow and then silently left the room, they obviously had some things to talk about. "Star, I really meant it when I said I loved you…" Robin looked at her carefully.
"As did I," she replied blushingly. She smiled softly and then sat on the bed by his side.
"Star, would you be terribly upset if I kissed you?" he asked tentatively. She shook her head and closed her eyes as she felt the touch of Robin's soft lips against hers. They stayed in their position a moment and then reluctantly broke the kiss and she smiled at him.
"I did not dislike that at all," she murmured and he laughed softly.
"I liked it too," he leaned in for another kiss and she complied. They blushed and smiled at one another. Starfire saw Cyborg approach and she blushed a deeper pink and got off the bed.
"You should get some rest, Robin," she said softly.
"And you should too, Starry," Starfire pretended to pout at the pet-name but tousled his hair and left smiling softly. Cyborg looked a little cocky.
"I knew things would pick up speed sooner or later," he winked at Robin who simply scowled but after kissing Starfire it was quite impossible to stay unhappy.
Author's Notes: Review! Good, bad, ok… tell me. I just thought I'd give you guys a preview of some upcoming stuff I'll be posting.
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I'll finish posting this story and writing Under the Mistletoe (my Christmas fic if you didn't know) I'll post the sequel to this story, Of Black Spells and Green Magic, which is mainly focused on the BBxRae relationship but has some VERY important SxR fluffiness. I'll also start working on another BBxRae called The Third Quadrant. I'm still thinking of my next SxR. I'm thinking… Something that is "Betrothed" related. Give me your ideas on that one. Well, like I said… R and R!