Title: The Leap of Faith

Author: Nacata

Rating: PG-13 (T). It could actually be PG, but it's placed under PG-13 already in the Happily (N)Ever After series, and it is better to be on the safe side.

Summary: Takes place after the events in "Masks". Starfire doesn't think Robin trusts her anymore. What desperate lengths will he go to in order to prove her wrong? (Kids, don't try this at home.) I suppose you could call it an AU or an alternate ending. A short One-Shot.

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. Yet. That is right. When you least expect it, I will strike. I borrowed Beast Boy's gerbil army, and we all know /nothing/ can stop that. Cower before the almighty gerbils.

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And you did not trust us…

The words echoed in his head as he watched her sit on the edge of the roof, knees folded up to her chest, staring out at the sunset. This was a common ritual for her when she was especially upset over something, or needed to clear her mind. He glanced uneasily at where she'd chosen to sit on the roof, and closed the door loudly behind him to announce his presence.

"Hey," He said quietly, leaning back against the door, crossing his arms over his chest. "Everything alright?" He knew the answer was no before she turned to lie to him.

"Yes, everything is wonderful." A wave of déjà vu washed over him; this was strikingly similar to the conversation they had during Blackfire's reign on Titans Tower.

"That's getting a little old…" He smiled gently at her as she patted the spot beside her, motioning for him to come sit with her. He shook his head and waved for her to come stand beside him. In response to her questioning look, he felt a tinge of crimson enter his cheeks as he admitted, "I'd rather we stay away from the edge…heights sorta' spook me."

This was news to Starfire, who immediately stood up and approached him. She cocked her head to the side, unsure of what to say. "But you have never expressed fear when you were lifted drastic distances from the ground in battle." Her eyes still shimmered with that unspoken sadness he knew she possessed.

Robin shrugged his shoulders in response. "Not like I can prevent you guys from picking me up. Besides, I trust you and Raven not to drop me." The word trust slipped, and her face fell.

She turned away from him, looking out at the ocean again in silence, crossing her arms over her chest. It didn't take long for the Boy Wonder to realize what was still bothering her. He reached out his hand to her shoulder, ignoring the sensation suddenly crawling through his veins.

"I know you wouldn't drop me," He stated softly. He offered her his arms in an attempt to show her he was willing to let her take hold of him and fly. She shook her head, turning away.

"I-I cannot," She whispered after a moment, shifting her weight uncomfortably. She was so…disappointed, in both him and herself. In him for not trusting her, and in herself for caring so much that he didn't.

"Sure you can Star, we've done it plenty times before," Robin tried to be comforting, his voice low and soothing. It caused a warmth to flow through her chest, though she simply pushed it back down.

She turned to face him, eyes grave for once. "I cannot fly, Robin." Her voice was hoarse and drained, as though emotion had taken a physical toll on her. "I cannot. I cannot grasp a happy memory—things are not well between us, I am not feeling the unbridled joy that is my flight." She turned from him again.

There was a long silence, in which he retracted his hand from her shoulder, hanging his head. "Star…" His voice was pleading of her, begging her to hear him out. He had so much to tell her, and yet she wouldn't hear it. It was hard for Robin to connect with his feelings. He attributed this to his being trained by the Dark Knight. Still she was so close to him…caring, understanding, and usually forgiving. He felt ashamed, and wished the damn feeling would just go away. He didn't like guilt. This was nearly driving him mad. Not being able to touch her, hold her, speak to her…

His thoughts were shattered when she turned on him again, her movement still slow and graceful. She raised her eyes to look up at him: hurt, betrayed. "Why do you not trust me? Have I done something to cause you to believe you had misplaced your faith in me?"

Robin shook his head immediately. "No. No, Star…if you'd just listen." He paused, and she didn't interrupt, still staring at him with those piercing eyes. He took both of her hands in his own and gazed down at her. "I trust you. I trust you with my life."

"You do not…" She shook her head, but didn't pull away. She looked as though she may cry.

"I do!" He insisted.

"…Prove it." Her voice was still weak and trembled when she spoke, leaving her seeming vulnerable.

Ideas flashed through Robin's mind. His eyes landed on the edge of the roof. He pulled away from her, a small, cocky smile coming to his lips. That infamous little grin of Richard Grayson usually meant that his mind was at work, and some ingenious plan was brewing.

He pulled his hands away and in a swift movement he'd leapt to the roof's end. He turned to look at her, saluting her briefly. He took away his grappling hook, tossing it to her and removing his utility belt as well. He let it drop to the roof and smiled at her one more time.

Realization dawned on her features and she cried out, throwing the hook aside and racing towards him. "Robin, no!"

But she was too late. In an act of blind faith, desperate to get her to believe him, he flung himself from the rooftop. He felt the air whip his cape up around his muscular form and waited for her arms to secure around him.

Panic stricken, Starfire leapt from the roof as well. She was falling mere seconds after him, and with a little push, she managed to close the gap between them. Her slender arms entangled themselves around his chest, and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and concentrating. Feeling him secure in her arms was enough of a boost to get her going.

When she opened her eyes several seconds later, his feet were dangling a few mere inches above the ground. She was holding him up, eyes wide, levitating as well. She let out the breath she'd been unwittingly holding, and gently put his feet on the sand. She dropped beside him, staring at him in utter shock for several seconds.

Finally, she flung her arms around his neck and held him tightly to herself. Robin returned the embrace, breathing deeply into her shoulder. She eventually pulled back from him, breathless and still shaken by his little escapade. "You are undamaged?"

Robin nodded calmly, "I'm fine." Leave it to Robin to treat the entire ordeal like a joke. He'd tossed her his life lines and dove, and yet he was acting as though he'd been safe the entire time. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for another hug. "I knew you'd catch me…" He murmured into her ear. His breath was hot, causing her to shiver slightly and clench at his uniform, trying to find a sliver of self control as she let herself go limp in his arms.

She was still a tinge frightened, she had to admit, but she felt safest here. Knowing they were both unharmed, and he had in fact proven his point to her, she allowed herself to laugh against his shoulder. Both savored the moment as he grinned, feeling her chest heave against his own in a fit of giggles.

After another moment, they drew apart so they could sit on the sand, both of their legs too unsteady to hold them up for much longer after the adrenaline rush.

"Robin?"

"Mm?"

"…You are aware that had I not caught you, you would have plummeted to your death, correct?" Starfire looked at him, still taken aback that he'd done such a thing. It wasn't like Robin to be so…reckless.

Robin shrugged coolly, drawing closer to her. "I knew you wouldn't let me fall. You never have before." She smiled and blew at a stubborn piece of hair straying in her face. He brushed it away nimbly with his fingers and grinned at her. Both drew yet another inch closer and silence blanketed itself over them once more.

Starfire's eyes roamed up and down his face. Her hands slowly made their way to his mask. She hesitated before her fingers gripped the edge. "It is alright? You are sure?" She confirmed.

Robin nodded slowly and continued to smile, enjoying their close proximity. "Yeah. Trust me."

Another smile, this time from her, and the mask fluttered to the sand. Her voice was light and carefree when she replied.

"I do."

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A/N: Aww…would you look at that? A bunch of cliché fluff. Would you look what the Disney Princess within me has produced? I beg of you not to pull a Robin and jump off of a roof. It was not at all meant to be a comparison to suicide, just an act of trust. Please excuse it if it seemed a little OOC. The idea occurred to me after watching 'Masks' and I wrote this. Unfortunately I never posted it. shrugs What can I say? I'm lazy, and I know it. I suppose it seems a little like Stranded…but I swear to you this was written long before that. Probably why the quality is so horrible. Review, please, or Robin may actually throw himself off a roof. Wouldn't that be a pity? You know it would. So click that little grey-blue-purple button in the left-hand corner, Starfire is begging it of you. And the almighty gerbils I /know/ you were cowering before earlier command it of you.