A/N: Again, merely changing the chapter so there are no lyrics...but now the story doesn't even make any sense! Curse you to hell !
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Chapter 11: Saving You
Wow, this is so cool! I can't believe they wanted me to do this first, you think Raven or Cyborg would've been chosen, but nope! They chose me, BEASTBOY, to do it first!
So, uh, what should I talk about?
………………………..er…………………………..
Oh! I guess I could talk about how we totally kicked Slade's and the Viper lady's butts! Well, we really didn't kick Viper's butt, but we sure did beat up Slade! He won't be back for awhile, not unless he wants to face the wrath of BEASTBOY again! But, he did get away….Viper didn't though! She's going to a high security vault in Gotham…I think she got life or something….whatever! I personally think she should go to the Justice League or something for punishment, after what she did to Robin, but he's almost all the way better now….it's been the easiest three weeks for training ever!
We were all pretty scared though…well, except Raven, but she never gets scared over that stuff. I think she knew that Lily and Ahren were coming to help or something…and it's good they did. I like them. Kinda remind me of what Robin and Star could be if Robin gets his head out of his butt! Still can't believe I didn't see it for over a year!
But, I don't wanna talk about them, how about me and Raven! Yeah, I think we are really ho-……CYBORG! STOP MESSING WITH THE RECORDER! GIVE IT BACK!
………………….static………………
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The days in Titan Tower had finally gone back to being normal, or as normal as one can get when the house-mates are all underage super heroes, after the most grueling two month period the team had seen in a while. The infamous breakfast debate of meat or tofu was in full swing, meditation was trying to get done, musings were being done up on the roof, and physical therapy had progressed nicely for the team. Well, progressed nicely for Robin anyway, but it had given the rest of the team a break from his grueling training sessions.
Cyborg had assumed the mantle of team leader whilst the boy-wonder recovered from his near death experience, and the two newest additions to the Tower, Lily and Ahren, had stayed to make sure that Robin didn't go out on any missions with the rest of the Titans.
And, as promised, the couple informed the Titans of their most peculiar history once Robin had been able to get out of bed, with a little help from Starfire no doubt! As Robin did his morning stretches and such, his mind wandered back to those stories, for they were still new to him a week later.
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Ahren, as it had been told, was either separated or taken away from his family at a young age, so he never recalled them. He only remembered the foster home, and later, the family who adopted him. They were called the O'Brians, and they claimed to fall in love with him the moment they set eyes on him.
One of those weird parental quirks he claimed.
He lived as normal a life one could live, at least up until he turned ten, and in his excitement to open his presents, he read his parents' minds and 'heard' what they were. He didn't realize until he finished unwrapping the gifts, and saw his readings were correct, that he really did pick the answers out of his parents' thoughts! Astonished, and frightened his family would hate him for his gift, he kept his powers to himself even as they began to grow more powerful, progressing up until he could begin to move inanimate objects around just by thinking on it hard enough. His parents, knowing something was going on with their son, figured it out eventually when they saw Ahren float the remote control to himself when he was getting angry that he could not find it.
But, they surprised little Ahren and didn't reject him; they embraced his powers and began to help him learn how to control them. And in a time where those gifts earned you scorn and banishment, the O'Brians proved the stigma wrong that all humans are afraid of what they do not understand.
They discovered over a time that Ahren was sharper in the area of reading minds and such, while he was much weaker in actually moving objects with his mind, only able to move and shape simple objects. It was also discovered one day when Ahren turned sixteen, that he had visions of either the present or the future. The vision he had showed him and his family in Ireland, so his parents adhered to the foresight, and decided to move to Ireland, it was their homeland after all.
It was there that he met Lily.
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Robin stopped his stretches, and gently lowered himself to a kneeling position, and waited for Lily to come in. The girl was pretty apt when it came to methods of healing and therapy, so Robin conceded to her daily exercises, if only to rejoin his team quicker. He gave a slight smile has he remembered her story, and shook his head as he recalled learning why she was so strange.
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Lily was born in a small gathering of people about thirty miles outside of Dublin, just far away enough to be close to the ocean, and far away from civilization. They called themselves a Clan, and lived much like ordinary folk, just without technology and such. Now, why did her family live so far away from the Western world? Well, they believed that humanity was not going in a good direction, and they also were not being accepted because of their religion and beliefs.
Lily and her Clan are Pagan you see, therefore, answering some of the Titans questions has to her mannerisms and sayings. She had been brought up in a society that encouraged a 'thinking outside the box' mentality, and she used that mantra to live her life everyday.
As a young girl, her Clan's Elders had discovered that she had a significant amount of magic within her, more so than the rest of the children her age. She had a sort of gift to sing to plants and nature, and they would respond; she even claimed to understand what they were speaking to her. By a simple song, she could control trees, flowers, and other plants to do her bidding. She could create life from nothing by simply singing a plant to grow, she could fashion a defense out of branches and leaves that would prove to be formidable, and she could even strangle someone with vines if she truly wished it. So, she was trained in a different way than her peers, she was trained by the Elders themselves, and grew into a young woman with a good amount of her power's in control.
In addition to her natural magic, she became quite adept in the art of healing, most probably due to the fact that she could already heal plants by a song, so healing other forms of life just came natural to her.
There was something strange about her magic though, she spoke it in a language that no one, not even herself, knew what it was. Lily only knew how to use the words, not the literal translations. She was viewed equally in her Clan however, and that kept her from becoming some madwoman intent on punishing humanity for the imperfections. She chose to help mankind, and that was partly why she decided to accompany Ahren, a strange outsider who came to her village on the whim of a vision he had, accompany him wherever his foretellings might lead. Ahren was not that much older than the young witch, so most of the Elders did not think anything of the two youths' blossoming romance, but that story will not be told here. Ahren's parents decided to stay in Dublin, but visited the Clan often on the weekends, eager to learn more about people with gifts so unusual.
The couple took off when Lily turned sixteen, and they traveled to Metropolis to visit a man with a huge "S" on his chest, another one of Ahren's visions that seemed to be leading up to something greater. From that adventure, their exploits took them all over the Eastern coast of the US, until they finally ended up in Gotham, almost two years later, and we all know what happened next.
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Robin slowly eased himself off the wall he was leaning against, his musings now cut short as he saw the lavender-eyed Lily walk into the room, her face hidden behind a huge, ancient looking book.
" You know you shouldn't lean against the wall like that," the brunette scolded the young hero without looking up from her book. " It puts pressure on your lower back, and that is only slightly better."
At this point she had looked up to see the raven-haired boy smirking at her reprimand, and she felt her laughter already coming as she closed her book.
" You sound ridiculous trying to be a mom you know," Robin said, the smirk now forming into a grin.
Lily's giggles overtook her then, but she was able to choke out, " And how am I supposed to make you get better if you keep mocking my 'weird' methods? I can't slap on a Band-Aid and make your boo-boo's all go away!"
" Oh-oh," Robin answered as he headed over to the parallel walking bars to work out his still injured abdominal area. " But I thought Band-Aids solved all of life's problems."
" Nope," Lily said with a smile as she headed over to where Robin was, finally able to keep her chuckles under control. " That would be duct-tape. Ahren swears that it can fix anything that breaks."
" Well," Robin said with a grimace as Lily started to direct his body in a bend that stretched his very sore abs. " That's not so weird. Beastboy thinks that Windex will get rid of any cut or blemish. I think he watches that Greek wedding movie too much!"
Lily simply smiled as she guided Robin's lean frame through all of the therapeutic exercises. The rest of the half-hour or so continued in silence, only Lily's voice punctuating the quiet with her directions. After the two finished, Robin walked slowly over to a nearby bench and eased himself down.
" So," he began with a small trace of hope in his voice. " When do you think I'm ready to get back out there?"
Lily canted her head in thought for a second and finally answered, " Honestly? Probably another week and half, and even then you still couldn't do all what you used to boy-o. Your body is healing magnificently for someone so grievously injured, but you're still human. Give me just a little bit more patience, and I promise you that you'll get better and be able to defend this dump again."
Robin shot the healer a repugnant look at calling his city a dump, but quickly dropped it, and heaved a big sigh. " I just can't stand having to sit here all day! My team needs me, and here I am, all gimped up and pathetic."
Lily gave the boy a wan smile and answered, " They are doing fine…Ahren is filling in for your vacancy, and Cyborg is proving to be a fantastic leader. They all just want you to get better, and if I let you head out there now, you won't. Now, buck up and get yourself out of the pity-barn! You're to strong to succumb to self-pity, and it won't help you get any healthier."
" I know, I know," Robin said, shaking his head free of those weakening thoughts. He pushed himself up, sore as he was, and both of the gifted teens headed up to the common room for some breakfast.
As Robin finished his Cheerios, he saw the Titans and Ahren walk into the room, looking as if they would've much preferred to stay in and slept, then woken up in the middle of the night to stop the never ending cycle of crime for a moment.
Lily walked over to Ahren, gave him a quick peck, and then led him over to the big brown book she had been reading earlier.
" So," Robin asked casually, anything but what he felt inside. " Anyone interesting last night?"
" Do ya mean morning?" Cyborg answered snappishly as he and the rest of the Titans all collapsed at the table Robin was seated at. " I mean…dang man! Don't ya think that these guys could try to commit their crimes in the afternoon or something? I'm getting sick of these constant midnight raids!"
" Yeah!" Beastboy said indignantly. " I mean, how am I supposed to get my beauty sleep when I have to be at raid from 12 am to 6am, and then have to argue with Cyborg about my tofu needs?"
Everybody just looked over at Beastboy for a minute, before they all burst out into laughter. Beastboy looked annoyed at everyone laughing at him, but joined in when Raven leaned over and gave him a small kiss on the cheek, and smiling at him.
After they all calmed down, Cyborg and Beastboy immediately went to their ongoing struggle to see just who is the better racer in their video game. It was one of those weird male things of who is the most superior organism.
Raven and Jinx made their way over to Lily, who was now alone reading her arcane, ancient book, and sat down beside the girl. They were interested in learning new spells and potions for future use, because both Lily and Ahren made it quite clear that they were not going to become Titans, it just didn't feel right to them.
Robin got up, and slowly walked over to the elevator that led to the roof, but was stopped before he got in by Ahren, who had mysteriously reappeared after disappearing from Lily's side.
" She's up there you know," the brown-eyed youth said to the Boy Wonder. " She went up there right when we got back, and hasn't come down since."
Robin gave a nonchalant shrug, trying to feign as if he didn't care. He didn't like how Ahren was so upfront with his knowledge that Robin cared for the alien princess.
" So," Ahren said with a smile. " What are you going to do about it?"
" I don't know what you are talking about," Robin answered testily. " I'm going up to my room to see if I can track where Slade might have gotten to."
" Are you now?" Ahren retorted. " Well, then by all means go and do something so utterly pointless rather than comforting the woman you love, and who cares for you back. That's a smart move, I'm sure you'll be much happier with your articles than your best friend."
Robin was taken aback by how caustic Ahren had spoken just then. The telepath's eyes, which had hardened as he spoke before, now softened and Ahren placed both of his hands on Robin's shoulders and let out a slow breath.
" Let me tell you something Robin," he began. " And this is something I want you to think about as you enter that elevator. You shouldn't fear something that hurt you in the past, because then all you're doing is hiding who you are from everyone who loves you at this moment. None of these beings broke your spirit, left you when you were lost, or lied to you for some obscure reason. Your falling right now kid, and what you are doing right now is making you fall longer. Your room doesn't hold the key to your healing, it really doesn't. No matter what how many villains you take down, your parents won't come back, and that's a hard truth to live with, but you have to. It's how you live in the first place. And, I'm telling you right now, there is a very special soul you just might make you realize that."
With that, Ahren turned away from the stunned and teary-eyed masked youth, and headed to the couch where Cyborg and Beastboy were.
Robin walked backwards into the elevator, shut the doors, and stared at the keypad for what seemed him like an eternity. But, in what was actually five seconds, he pushed the up key, and chose his path.
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Starfire had been sitting up on the roof for a long time, she knew that, but the calming sensation of the breeze and the rays of an autumn sun brought her a sense of peace that she had not been able to feel for quite a lengthy period of time. Her gaze was focused on the City Park at the time, where she saw a children's soccer game, something so pure and innocent she could not bear to tear her eyes away from it. The laughing, the jumping, the hugging was all so beautiful to the Tameranean at a time where her eyes had a hard time finding the beauty life held.
Even as she tried to stay lost in the game, or in the breeze, her thoughts kept going back to that horrible moment that occurred three weeks ago. She knew that he was almost well, and she knew that he didn't want anybody to worry about him, but Starfire found that she just couldn't help it. Her nightmares were filled with images of Ahren carrying a very pale, very dead looking Robin and she couldn't do a thing to help him. She remembered arriving to the Tower, she remembered rushing Robin to the medical wing, she remembered Ahren saying that it would take a miracle for Lily to save him, that no one survived that kind of wound without some kind of enhancement.
But somehow, he did survive. He survived only to be in a comatose state; a state that no one, not even Raven, was sure if he'd wake up or not. So, Starfire sat vigilantly beside the dark-haired boy who'd inadvertently captured her heart and tried to give him the miracle he so desperately needed.
' X'Hal must have been watching him too,' Starfire thought to herself as a smile broke through on her tear-stained face. ' That or maybe the walking pigs did fly.'
She stayed lost in her thoughts on that rooftop ledge, not really caring she had spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon on the roof, when she suddenly heard the rooftop door open and close behind her and she saw Robin there, a basket of food in tow.
" I thought you'd be hungry," Robin said strangely as he motioned the basket of food in his other hand. A basket of food that had mysteriously appeared in the elevator when Robin had pushed the button to go up.
" Oh! I thank you," Starfire exclaimed as she started to ravenously eat the food Robin had brought, suddenly realizing that she was very hungry. As she ate her fill, Robin very carefully sat beside the alien princess, and smiling, watched her eat the food in the traditional Tameranean style.
Finishing her meal, Starfire and Robin just sat on the ledge and talked of inane subjects, both just reveling in the other's company. They didn't even realize how late it was until they saw the sun start to lower itself from the sky, letting it's brother the moon take over the horizon from here.
" Robin," Starfire began cautiously. " Are you ever going to be able to open up to anyone and tell us about who you are? I do not mean to 'snoop' however, I am very worried that you will hurt yourself further if you do not let someone in."
" You've been talking with Ahren or Lily haven't you?" Robin asked with a smile.
Blushing furiously and twiddling her thumbs she answered, " And what if I have? They do make an excellent observation. And, I trust that hey would know more about these earthly customs than I would."
Robin didn't answer her, he just stared out over the ocean, which only caused Starfire to let out an exaggerated sigh and rest her head in her palm.
Raising her head from her palm, Starfire rose from her seat and floated off the ledge, her arms wrapped protectively around her body to ward off the autumn night chill.
" Star," Robin asked as he too rose from his seat, though much more slowly than she. " My past is not something that I parade around because it's not something that's all that pleasant. Why would I want my teammates to pity me if they knew my parents were murdered in front of me when I was nine? Why would I tell people who look up to me that my old mentor was so disappointed in how impulsive I am, that he didn't hold many objections to my leaving? Why would I tell you that sometimes I really want to kill the evil we fight to ease the pain my parents' deaths left with me? I'll tell you why Star, it's because it lets everyone in on a big secret that was inconveniently revealed that night with Viper. I'm human, plain and simple. When it comes down to it, I'm not nearly as strong as anyone on this team, and that fact is known when the mask is off. I really wish I could be as strong as you or Cy, or as determined as Beastboy, or as controlled as Raven and Jinx, or as…free…as Lily and Ahren, but I can't. I just-"
" Yes you can," Starfire interrupted suddenly, her voice radiating a calming aura around the two. " The mere fact that you are human is why myself and our friends respect you so much. I lost my family at a young age as well, but the Titans became my family, your family, and we have had so many mirthful times yes?"
Robin, now noting how close he was to Starfire, merely gave a smile as he recalled all of the great moments the past year and a half had brought him.
Starfire taking hold of his hand, closing the small gap between them even more broke him from the reverie.
" I think I have now understood something that as been plaguing my mind these past weeks," Starfire said in a quiet voice, now knowing what people had been trying to explain to her meant. " I have been very confused for quite some time on why you act the way that you do. I have inquired to many people this query, and none have been able to find a suitable answer. But, I believe I may have figured it out on my own. Robin, you have this, obligation of sorts, that I think compels you to make up for your parents' deaths. It is a human folly to constantly to berate and blame yourself for something that is entirely out of your control, something that you could not have prevented by any means. You save, and save, and save the nameless faces to make up for something that you believe you have blame for. But do you not comprehend that this path will not heal you, it only maims you further. And I believe that you have been hurt enough in your life, so I have decided that I will be the one to save your life this night."
The passionate Starfire then caught the lost Robin in utter shock when she leaned in swiftly and placed her lips over his.
As quickly as it had happened, it was over, and Starfire's brilliant emerald eyes looked straight into Robin's masked azure ones. The two stood still for a moment, their entire pasts with each other passing in their minds.
" I understand what love is Robin," Starfire whispered in his ear. " And I know that is what I feel for you. I love you Robin, mask or no, and nothing you could possibly do can change my mind. I believe you need me, and I know I need you so, what do you say now?"
Robin looked at her while his soul in a tumult of confusion, but one emotion showing through the most, fear. " Are you sure Star? Are you sure?" he asked quietly.
Starfire then reached up and took off the mask that hid the boy she loved from the world. Her breath caught as she saw his eyes, two deep pools of blue that seemed to echo the tempest of the ocean itself. She smiled enchantingly at him, and ran a hand down the side of his face whispering, " Yes, I'm sure Robin. More sure of anything in my life."
He entwined his hand with her free hand, all inhibitions lost to the starlit sky, and said, " Fine Star, you win. I love you with anything that my heart as to give."
He then reached behind her back with his free hand, and brought Star to him again, capturing her lips in a kiss, and she ran her free hand through his jet hair. All of the ardor betwixt the two broke threw then, and they lost themselves in each other. The touches, the feelings, the moment was all as perfect as it could be for the two lovers, and it caused Starfire to fill with her boundless joy, and she and Robin both started to raise off the ground.
But, neither was paying too much attention to that small fact as the stars and the moon continued their dance in the sky, happily shining for the two lost souls that had finally found each other.
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Back in the Tower, both Ahren and Raven looked up all of a sudden to the roof, and then glanced at each other, a secret smiling passing between them. The other Titans and Lily looked at the two and their confusion turned into comprehension and they all let out a huge sigh of relief. The couples all slid closer to each other then, feeding off the purely beautiful vibes radiating from the roof.
" So," Jinx asked the two oldest in the room. " What happens now?"
While Lily just shrugged and Ahren said, " Who knows. This chapter is over, but there will be more, and I believe you'll all tackle those when they come."
" For now," Raven said, adding on to Ahren's thread. " Just be happy we don't have to try to play matchmaker anymore with those two. I don't know about any of you, but I was getting just about as crazy as they were."
As the friends all laughed, and the two on the roof reveled in their newfound bliss, they couldn't help but think it'll all be okay.
But that was what they had to trust, that life would be all right in the end.
