Chapter 2
As her train pulled into Jump City station, Starfire's stomach was in knots. She stepped off the train into blinding and accusing sunlight, greeted only by the smell of hot tarmac. Shielding her eyes, she lifted her bag onto her shoulder and moved towards the exit, people bustling all around her. She passed an aging poster with a picture of her and all the other Titans on it. Above their heads was written "Jump City, home to the Teen Titans". Starfire just averted her eyes and walked a little faster. At the door she hailed a cab, slid into the back and told the driver where to take her.
Standing on the shore opposite the T-Tower, Starfire seriously considered turning around and going away, this time not telling the Titans where she was going. Her eyes fell on Robin's bike, propped up carelessly against the door and only just visible in the distance. Suddenly her mind was filled with sweet, tingly memories of him, followed inevitably by the memory of their brake-up…..
Blackfire was back in town, and had come to see her. Starfire of course had turned her away, wanting nothing more to do with her sister's criminal activities, so Blackfire had gotten nasty.
"Oh, you don't want me intruding on your and Robin's happiness, is that it?" she said, her eyes narrowed to serpentine slits.
"It is not that, it is the fact that you are a criminal. You tried to frame me for your crimes." Starfire had replied, trying to remain calm.
"Don't lie to me, sister. Anyway I don't know why you bother, you know he doesn't love you. He's only with you so he doesn't get bored, as soon as someone better comes along, he'll drop you like a rock." Outraged, Starfire slammed the door in her sister's face, but she could feel the seed of doubt nestled deep in her belly.
Later that night, she had had a huge and bitter fight with Robin, fuelled in part by what Blackfire had said. They both said some horrible things, all she wanted to do was hurt him as much as she could. Things escalated, but they definitely finished when Starfire threw starbolts at him.
Starfire rushed to her room in tears, but once she'd cried herself out and found she couldn't sleep, or stand one minute more letting Robin think she hated him, she had gone to his room to apologise, only it was Blackfire who had opened the door. She was wearing Robin's cape around her shoulders, covering herself, but only just.
"Blackfire? Where is Robin? What have you done with him?" she said, her voice rising.
"Oh sorry sis, Robin can't come to the door right now, I seem to have exhausted him." replied Blackfire innocently, full of sweet smiles and doe-eyes, but the malice was there, lurking beneath the surface like a cobra waiting to strike.
"If you have hurt him I'll-" Starfire had pushed past her sister and stopped dead. Robin was sitting on his bed with his back to her hastily pulling on a pair of trousers.
"On the contrary, he seemed to quite enjoy it." said Blackfire, victory seasoning her voice and ringing in Starfire's ears until she thought she might go deaf as the horrifying truth became clear. Robin turned to look imploringly at Starfire.
"Starfire, I-"
Starfire never heard what he said next because she'd turned on her heel and ran, tears streaming down her face. She could hear Robin running after her but she quickly found the nearest window and dove out of it, only just managing to stay aloft as her heart silently screamed her agony.
She snuck back in a few days later to collect what she needed, then she left Jump City for good.
Starfire re-adjusted her bag on her shoulder and flew over the lake separating the Tower from the rest of the city. She touched down silently right in front of the door, and she rang the bell. She stepped back while she waited for someone to answer the door. In the end it was Cyborg who opened it. He stood blinking in the doorway before saying –
"Starfire? Is that really you?"
"It is, Cyborg." Starfire gave her friend a hug, which he nervously returned, before stepping inside.
"Man, Raven told us you were coming but we didn't think you'd actually do it, not with Robin here and everything." he said, amazement clear on his face. Starfire's face, however, fell.
"Yes, Robin's presence here is regrettable, but I have come to help my friend Raven and I have decided that my past with Robin shall not get in the way of my friendships anymore." she said, her uneasy English returning with the stress she was under like a stutter.
" Good for you, Star, we were all getting tired of not having you around anyway. Come on, let's go see the others."
Cyborg led Starfire into the living room. Beastboy was playing video games and had his back to the door, Raven was sitting in a chair next to him reading, her pregnancy already showing, and Robin was sitting oblivious at the kitchen table going over newspaper clippings and blueprints, presumably working on some new villain. Raven was the first to notice Starfire, she looked up as soon as she came in and smiled, it was a small smile but a smile none the less. It made her look a bit like the Mona Lisa.
"Who was at the door, Cy?" said Beastboy, twisting his body to match his car's movements in a futile attempt to go faster.
"See for yourself, man" was his only reply.
Beastboy turned around quickly then did a double take.
"Star? Oh my god." he said in astonishment. Robin's head shot up to stare at Starfire, which she saw but decided to ignore.
"Hello friend Beastboy" Starfire said and she went over and hugged him. "And hello to you too, friend Raven" she said, her English reflecting her frantic heart beat and manic interior, though she looked at ease on the outside. She hugged Raven too, who stayed sitting down.
"I didn't think I'd see you here again." said a resentful voice behind her. Starfire turned and found herself face to face with Robin, who was standing just a little too close for comfort.
"Hello Robin, I did not expect to be here again. I came because friend Raven asked me to, to help her with her pregnancy."
"Hey, what about me, Rae? I am the father of the child, you know." interjected Beastboy, looking hurt but puffing out his chest with pride.
"I know, I know," said Raven stoically, "but I felt I needed female company" she continued on a cheerier note, widening her eyes suggestively, but neither Robin nor Starfire noticed. They appeared to be having some sort of staring contest, and not in a nice way.
"Starfire, let me show you to your room." said Raven trying to brake her and Robin up. "It's just your old room" she said as she began trying to get up. Her plan worked and Starfire pried her eyes away from Robin's to look at Raven.
"Oh no, remain seated, friend Raven, if it is the same room as I used to have then I can find my own way there." she said with a smile.
"Wow Star, are you sure? You've been gone so long…" said Robin in mock concern but each word was bitter and spiteful. Starfire only shot him a hateful glare as she passed him to go to her room.
In her room, she sat on her bed with her head in her shaking hands, reflecting on how big a mistake she had made in coming back.
