Magic in the Blood

CH. FOUR

To Starfire's dismay, Robin and Cyborg had not discovered anything through the practice of science. When she had returned on Raven's heels, they had been sitting amongst piles of paper and computer pads on the floor of the infirmary. Raven had stormed past them, but Starfire had dropped miserably to the floor next to them.

At her questioning look, they both simply shook their heads.

From far down the hall, something crashed loudly and broke. Robin winced. "I'm guessing you and Raven didn't have much luck either."

"That is not entirely true," said Stafire slowly. "We did, in fact, locate a Morgan Le Fae. She is a faery sorceress that Raven believes to be as powerful as the Queen Mab."

The boys exchanged a confused look. "So why's Raven so pissed off?" asked Cyborg.

"Morgan Le Fae has refused to help us. She does not wish to save Beast Boy." Starfire felt her heart ache in her chest at the words. It had been such a good hope, and the faery sorceress had said... "She said that if he is half human and half faery, it is better that he die."

Cyborg threw a pad across the room, and stood up to follow it with his foot, mutting obscenities. "...and bull-headed witches," he said darkly.

"Hey," said Robin, not really paying attention to him, "you break it, you buy it. Star, you talked to this chick, right? Did she just come right out and say all that?"

At Robin's prodding, Starfire pushed down the hurt in her heart, trying to think . "She does not appear to care for Mab. She referenced her as a creature. Before she knew what Raven and I wished to ask her, she was almost friendly. I suspect she is... lonely."

"Then maybe she's not a lost cause," he mused outloud. "We could... talk to her. Try to make her see."

"You can't finesse that type," said Cyborg, from where he stood over Beast Boy's inert form, his arms crossed. "BB's been tryin' to finesse Rae for years now."

"We're not trying to get in her pants," said Robin crossly.

"I do not understand. I believe she was wearing a skirt," interjected Starfire.

"He means--"

"I mean that you might as well talk to a brick wall--"

"Why would Robin speak with--"

"Just because you're pissed about Beast Boy--"

"I'm pissed because he got caught in a magic catfight--"

"He wouldn't blame Raven, that's idiotic--"

"Call me an idiot, but he wouldn't blame Raven for nothin' she ever did to him, and look where it--"

"SHUT UP! " Starfire had stepped between them, and now held them up by their shirts, Robin in her right hand and Cyborg in her right. Her eyes glowed dangerously. "You will not make this situation worse with your fighting and strange speech figures! Cyborg, I know that you are worried about our friend, but it is always better to try than not." She glanced at their sleeping teammate. "Would friend Beast Boy not say the same, as long as we are speaking for him?"

Cyborg scratched at the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess."

"And Robin, I do believe it will take something more than simply speaking with the Morgan to convince her that she should help us. She has been shunned by others for a very long time, I believe."

"Okay," said Robin, also subdued. "Star, will you put us down now?"

Starfire thought about it. "Shall you be making better decisions?"

"Aw, Star, you been watchin' Supernanny again," groaned Cyborg.

"Shall you?"

"YES."

Starfire released them, setting them gently on the floor. Demurely, she smoothed her hair back from her face and turned to Robin. "What are your orders, Robin?"

The Boy Wonder shot her a look that very clearly said he didn't buy the 'demure follower' act from the girl who had just put them in their places. "We continue with what we're doing. We track down this Morgan again, and convince her to at least come see Beast Boy. At the same time, we try to help him on our own." He began to pace back and forth. "Starfire and I will try to find the sorceress. Cyborg, I need you and Raven to try and work together. Maybe if you put your technology and her magic together, you can accomplish something."

There was a long pause before Cyborg sighed, and said, "Fine. But you gotta drag her out of her dungeon and get her down here."

Robin opened his mouth to speak, and Starfire quickly piped up. "We shall. Or I shall, if I must pick her up and carry her."

"Good," grunted Cyborg. "I'll be in the kitchen. Gotta eat something. Maybe some ice cream." Cyborg was, Starfire reflected, an eater with stress.

As he ambled off, she turned to Robin. "I think, perhaps, that we should see if Raven will let us look through her books. We may be able to find something that will help us communicate with the Morgan."

"We're gonna ask to look at her books?" Robin grinned. "I don't know if you're crazy or brilliant."

"Maybe," said Robin slowly, as they stood outside Raven's door, "you're crazy AND brilliant."

In front of the door was a large pile of books, and on top of the books was a note. Robin picked it up and read aloud. "Starfire. You are allowed to look at these books if you would like. Please be very careful with them. If Robin or Cybog would like to touch them, they should wash their hands before, or suffer the consequences. PS. I will be meditating for the next few hours. If I am interrupted, I can't be responsible for what I turn you into." He blinked several times under his mask. "She's really..."

Starfire was already picking up some of the books. "She is concerned. Frightened, even."

"For Beast Boy?" Robin sounded genuinely confused.

The alien's green eyes flashed at him. "Of course she is frightened for him! He could be... " She wouldn't finish the sentence.

"Yeah, but... Raven's never... "

"They are friends," said Starfire, her voice rising slightly. She immediately muffled the tone. "Robin, she does care for him. Why do you and Cyborg disbelieve this?"

"I dunno," said Robin, shrugging and looking at his feet. "She's just not very... I'm sorry, Star. I didn't mean anything by it."

She let her posture relax as he spoke. "I am sorry as well. Emotions are very intense in a time like this. I spoke to Raven at the club, and she is very worried for Beast Boy. She cares for him deeply. It is simply unfortunate that an event like this is required to help her show it." Hugging the books worriedly, she studied Robin's face.

"I guess. I mean, it's not that I think Raven's emotionless or anything. This is just... hard for everyone."

Wistfully, Starfire said, "Perhaps I shall tell her later that it may be a sign from X'Hal."

This earned a half-hearted smile from Robin. "A sign from X'Hal?"

"Yes. That we are to better care for one another in times of peace and joy, so that we do not feel intense regret in times of darkness... " Starfire trailed off as she noted the thoughtful twist of Robin's mouth. "Do you not think so?"

Robin stepped closer to her, and her eyes widened-- it was as if all of her senses had become hyperaware, especially of his warmth, so much nearer. "I think so," he said. "I think you're right." His hand rested on her shoulder, and then her neck, warm and heavy and dizzying. "Listen, Star, I don't want that. To be regretting not saying the important things because... "

"Because you are afraid?" questioned Starfire, her pulse fluttering.

"Something like that," he said. "Starfire--"

Robin leaned in close to her, his hand gentle and caressing on her neck, the tip of his nose nudging the tip of her own nose. "Starfire," he repeated softly.

Starfire dropped her books on his feet. The Boy Wonder yelped and toppled over, much to her scarlet-cheeked horror. "Robin, I am sorry!" She immediately pulled him back to his feet, and collected the books once again. "I am sorry," she repeated, wincing.

To her surprise, Robin began to laugh. "That was... " He doubled over a moment, and then straightened. "That was perfect, Star. I guess it's another sign from X'Hal."

Starfire let out an indignant exhale. "Have I mentioned that X'Hal is a particularly meddlesome deity?"

"Nah," said Robin. His expression grew more serious. "But she's got a point. We need to... read these books, and find out how to convince Morgan to help us, and get Beast Boy better." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Our own... personal stuff... can wait."

"You do not sound convinced of that," Starfire said.

"I'm not," he answered. "But it's what we gotta do. For right now, we gotta put it on hold."

"On hold," she repeated carefully. That did not sound very bad at all. She had never cared for waiting, but the years on her own had taught her patience. "Yes. Now, let us do the reading of Raven's books."

Robin smiled warmly at her, and as he bent to pick up the last book, she could not help herself. "Robin?"

"Yeah?"

"Please remember that you are supposed to wash your hands first."

AN: This was a while in coming, but I'm still around. I dunno how many readers are comic fans as well and understand who X'Hal is-- just in case, she's the warrior goddess Tamaranians worship. Standard disclaimers apply.