Starfire sighed softly as she entered the tower, her boots lightly scuffing at the cold floors. The R-cycle was already put away, Robin's helmet set neatly on a shelf. It mattered not what his mood was, he always took care to put things in their rightful place. Robin was very set in his ways. Star allowed her gaze droop to the floor as she absently trudged to her room. She hoped Robin's brooding would not last long. It seemed as if her wish were granted, for as she passed his impersonal, steel door, it slid swiftly open, and Robin stuck his head out into the hall.

"Kori, can we talk?" he asked quietly, drawing her into his room without a touch. She nodded quietly and stepped through the doorway, her eyes scanning the bare room. Again it seemed rather like an oxymoron to her, his room brightly lit and decorated in the fashion of minimalist Japanese homes. A punching bag hung from the ceiling. It seemed so like Robin and yet so unlike him at the same time. Starfire turned her eyes back on the Boy Wonder.

"You wished to talk?" she murmured. Robin nodded and raked a hand through his jet black hair.

"You need to be more careful. This time it wasn't your fault and nobody got hurt… but Kori… you just gotta be more careful," he sighed and grimaced.

"Richard. What is it? There is something else you wish to say. What is it?" she pressed lightly, voice imploring. Robin flopped onto his bed and looked up at her, his face emotionless.

"What did X say to you?" he asked quietly. Robin's eyes were narrowed critically. Starfire coughed.

"N-nothing!" she smiled hopefully. Why had she lied? Why had she hid Red X's words from Robin? Was this to say she was actually considering taking up his offer? Robin scowled. He didn't buy it.

"Kori, what did he say?" he said slowly. Starfire tilted her head nervously to the side.

"Richard… you do not believe me?" she asked. Robin sighed again. He stood and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I just don't want you to get hurt… he helped us once, but he obviously has a thing for crime. He's not on our side. Koriand'r, if he said anything that could help us put him behind bars I need to know," he urged. Starfire gave him a fake smile and nodded, her heart sinking. Of course. He didn't want her to get hurt… what a joke. He just wanted to put Red X in jail. He didn't like what Red X represented. He didn't like his mistakes running free.

"I understand," she murmured, a brief chink in her façade allowing a flash of hurt to dart across her face. Robin took note but said nothing. Starfire was grateful. The masked titan looked down at the floor. Why was she hiding things from him? Did she think he wouldn't understand? Robin frowned.

"Ok, I just wanted to make sure… is all…" he trailed off. Starfire nodded again and left his room. The door slid shut, plunging Robin back into his ponderings. Red X had been a mistake. He'd hoped it was behind him. Without the belt, Robin was unsure of what X had wanted the Zinothium for. Probably just went to steal it for kicks. Either way, he knew he would never be able to forgive himself if the criminal came between him and the team… his friends… Starfire.

A soft knock brought him back to his door. "Yeah, Kori, what's up?" he muttered.

"I forgot to confirm you will be leaving your room for lunch," she said quietly. Robin cracked a small smile. Starfire grinned back. It was answer enough. Star turned to leave, but stopped again. She turned back and brought a hand to the corner of his mask. She peeled it carefully from his face, exposing Richard Grayson. "When you are alone you do not need that. You cannot forget you are Richard. You cannot forget that Richard is Robin," she bit her lower lip and handed him the mask, her emerald eyes locked with his own cerulean pools.

Robin nodded slowly. "Yeah… but you can gimme a little warning when you're gonna take it off. The others haven't seen me. I intend to leave it that way," he snorted. Star shook her head.

"Why do you insist on remaining a mystery to them? Why do you always have to be Robin with them?" she asked,perplexed.

"It's easier. You just insist on being difficult," he chuckled, poking her in the shoulder. She nodded.

"You are welcomed. You need me to be difficult for you. Either way… I suppose you are no less a mystery with or without that mask," she mused. Starfire giggled, the light coming back to her eyes. As she headed off down the hall her voice drifted back over her shoulder. "Richard Grayson I expect to see you at lunch," she called. Robin just shook his head, a lop-sided grin plastered to his face. He slipped back into his room and moved before a mirror. Icy blue eyes stared back at him.

"So I'm still Richard to somebody…" he smiled bleakly.

Starfire headed up to the rooftop. Although her parting words with Robin had allayed much thought of the elusive Red X, she felt the need to allow the lingering contemplations to drift away on the breeze. Star sat lightly on the edge of the roof, the blue sky capturing her attention. It was a beautiful blue… like Robin… Richard's eyes. She smiled at the thought but her musings were soon drawn to the tendrils of cloud marring her beautiful blue.

They were dove-colored strands scattered across the sky in patterns most would have thought appeasing, and yet to Starfire they were like secrets tucking away the gorgeous azure beneath. Starfire felt the incomplete feeling come running back, stamping all over her spirits. The alien clucked at her own silliness. At the very least, Red X was fading nicely from her mind.

She wondered how long she would have until lunch… concluding it had to be sufficient time to venture to the park, she hopped off of the roof ledge and soared off towards her destination.

Starfire strolled through the park, inhaling the scent of crisp fall leaves and the still fading ambrosia of cherry blossoms. It was a wonder to her that the delicate trees had managed to carry their blossoms this far into fall. She gazed off towards one of the flora in question, and saw the blossoms had created a carpet of blush on the ground, speckles of brown from the wilted buds obscuring the perfection of the blanket. Her eyes drifted back to the ground in front of her, a flurry of leaves bustling across her path in a sudden puff of wind. Her gaze followed the multi-colored leaves with interest as they littered themselves over the pretty, pink, blossom carpet and over the black boots of a lone figure standing beneath the tree's slim, whitish branches.

She gave an imperceptible gasp as her jade gaze darted up to meet those of the onlooker. The young man gave a slight wave, head tilted curiously. He seemed to be waiting for her. Red X… Starfire moved gingerly towards him,hesitant in her movements. The thief chuckled as she came to stand tentatively before him.

"Why so cautious? You came here to see me, didn't you?" he asked haughtily. Starfire found herself reminded of one of Robin's flirtatious moods. The thought was scolded raucously from her mind.

"No…" she said uncertainly, an unwanted flush rising to her cheeks. X held out his hand.

"Oh. You sure?" he asked. Starfire bit her lip and stared at him through wide, unsure eyes.

"No…" she said again, placing her hand timidly in his. Behind his mask, Red X smiled.


TBC

Author's Note: Oookk. Well that's my second post this evening and my third in two days! I hope the rest of this comes out as easily as it is right now! lol. I hope you liked the chappie, personally I liked it because of the Rob/Star fluff but it lacked any humor... oh well. I hope to recieve your reviews!

Love, Princess Starfire of Tamaran