Chapter 8
The next two weeks went by fairly quickly for the Titans, and Robin was starting to get worried at how quiet it had been. To no one's surprise Robin didn't have to give any order to set up a schedule, so that Starfire wouldn't be left alone, as the entire team had come to that decision on their own. Robin, of course, spent the most time with her, and Raven found it easier to be there during the night, when most, if not all, of the patients were asleep.
About halfway through the second week, Dr. Benson announced that Star was healing faster than she anticipated, and would be able to return to the tower that Friday. Robin had planned on it being a quiet affair, but it didn't quite work out that way.
"Yo Robin, take a look at the island." Cyborg's voice came over Robin's radio on his R-cycle. "Looks like we're expected." he added, them chuckled when he heard Robin's groan over the air. "I hate the press." his voice said over the speaker.
From what they could see, Titan Island was completely surrounded by boats that had nosed up to the shore, and there was a small crowd by the front door.
"You up to talking to them Kori?" he asked, shifting over to the intercom system on his bike.
"It would be an easier way to thank everyone for their support during my convalescence." her voice said into his ear.
Dr. Benson wasn't very happy about Star riding on Robin's bike, rather than in the T-car, but once Starfire had made her mind up on something, it was hard to change, especially when she had planted herself on the bike, and grabbed onto where the seat joined the frame, with a death grip, and refused to let go. It was only after Robin promised, to keep his speed down, and not do any showing off, that she finally agreed, saying that although she didn't want it any time soon again, she enjoyed having Star as a patient.
They quickly went through the tunnel, parked in the underground garage, and took the elevator up to the ground floor. The five Titans went out the front door, with Robin, and Starfire in the middle, with Cyborg behind them, with his arms crossed over his chest, and Raven on one side, and Beast Boy on the other.
"On doctors orders, Starfire is going to be taking it easy today, so this will be kept short." Robin said, stepping up a few steps from the team, and getting agreeing nods from most of the reporters. "Star." he said, turning toward her, and motioned her to come up beside him.
"I wish to thank everyone, who sent flowers, and cards during my stay in the hospital." Star said, her voice carrying in the silence that was made so she could be heard. "It is good to know, that I have friends outside of the Titans. Now, if you will please excuse me, I am feeling a little tired, and wish to go and sit down." she concluded, then turned, and went into the tower.
"That's it folks." Robin said, then followed the others into the tower.
That had been three days ago, and Robin was in the large training room, waiting for Starfire to show up, for her first day of training, since she got back. The room was easily the largest in the tower. It took up two floors, and was about twenty feet wide, and thirty feet long. This was the room where they could practice coordinating their fighting moves, even Starfire and Raven's flying maneuvers could be practiced here.
"You wanted to see me Robin?" Starfire asked, as she entered the room. Robin was happy to notice that she was dressed the same way he was, wearing a white martial arts uniform.
"Always." he replied softly, then smiled at the way she blushed, "It is our normal training time." he added, "I know you've been off your feet for three weeks, but the sooner I see how well you fight, the sooner you'll be able to go on missions."
"Robin, I am ready now."
Robin looked down, and shook his head ruefully, "You didn't listen to Doctor Benson, did you?"
"I do not need a week or two to build up my strength." Star insisted.
"It's not you strength, I'm worried about, as much as your stamina, or endurance." Robin explained, "You've been bedridden for almost a month, not exercising, so we'll see how you do." he added, then tossed a wooden object to her, and picked up another one for himself.
Star looked at the object, and wondered what it was about it, that was so familiar. Ten inches of one end, was round, and had a cross hatched design carved into it, and the remaining two, to three, feet, was flat, and tapered to a point. "It has been a very long time, since I played with sticks, Robin." she joked.
"Well, until I know just how good you are, metal blades are out of the question." Robin said, in his usual serious tone.
Looking at the object with new understanding, Star realized why it was so familiar, "A Klevixya!" she gasped, recognizing the sword replica for what it was.
"I just hope I've got it balanced right." Robin said, then watched, astounded, as Star started swinging the 'sword' in, what he recognized as a warm up exercise. He watched the concentration on her face as she, gradually, increased the speed of her movements.
"X'Hal! I did not know how enjoyable that was!" Star exclaimed, after getting the weapon moving fast enough, that it's blade whistled through the air, then ending the exercise, by going through the motion of putting it into a scabbard.
"Well, so much for the basics." Robin said, after he had managed to get his jaw to stop simply hanging open, "Shall we?" he asked, bringing his wooden katana, to the guard position.
With a smile, and a nod, Star brought her guard up, and the two circled each other, warily, neither wanting to strike first.
Raven had been on her way to her room, when she spotted Robin and Star squaring off against each other, and she stopped to watch. She knew this was normally their training time, where Robin would teach Starfire hand to hand combat techniques. Occasionally they would ask Raven to join in, and the first two, or three, times it had been a crushing defeat for the girls, but both were fast learners, and now, although they didn't win, it took much longer for Robin to beat them, as the only rules were that Robin couldn't use his weapons, Raven couldn't use her magic, Star couldn't use her star bolts, and neither girl could fly.
Seeing that they both had wooden training swords, Raven decided to stop and watch, curious as to how well Starfire could handle a sword, or if Robin would underestimate her. After watching them do nothing, but circle each other for a few minutes, she spoke up. "Oh come on already, get started." she called, from the doorway.
Robin gave the dark Titan an annoyed glance, then instantly realized he'd made the mistake of taking his eyes off Starfire. Catching her movement out of the corner of his eye, he quickly brought his sword up, so it was parallel with the left side of his body, where Star's blade struck it, with a resounding crack.
He watched as Star gracefully stepped back, away from him, a smug smile on her lips. Giving his sword a couple of twirls in his left hand, he gave her the 'come on' gesture with his right, "Let's do this." he growled.
Giving Star the briefest moment to get ready, Robin quickly went on the offensive, raining several blows, that he was surprised to see her block, with apparent ease.
Raven leaned against the doorframe, entranced, as she watched the two duelists. She knew they both held swords, but they were moving so fast, that the only evidence of that fact was the clacking sound of them hitting each other. She figured that Robin would know how to handle a blade, but Starfire's prowess surprised her, as she watched them in their macabre dance. Just then she saw Robin smile faintly, and she wondered why.
'Man she's fast.' Robin thought, at the end of his offensive run, 'and agile too.' he added to himself, as Star side stepped his next blow, then found himself on the defensive. After a few moments, he noticed two things, and couldn't repress the small smile it gave him. First, he noticed that Star was already breathing heavily, proving that he was right, and she did need some time, to work herself back to fighting trim.
The second thing he noticed, and what caused his smile, was that Starfire had a pattern. She'd throw four of five, truly random blows, that he had a hard time blocking, then swing at the left side of his body, followed by a swing at his right, then a head shot. 'The next time she does it, I'll have her.' he thought as he blocked a series of shots she threw at him. 'Right, left, and now!' he thought as he blocked the pattern of blows
Robin ducked under her sword, and used his right leg to sweep Star's feet from under her, and she landed hard, on her back, dropping her sword, as she fought to keep her balance. He jumped over, and stood over her, the point of his wooden katana, pointed at the center of her chest. It was then that he saw just how heavily she was breathing. He also learned, that she may be down, but she wasn't out, or about to surrender.
Raven watched, stunned at how quickly Robin had gotten the upper hand. She was about to cross over, and congratulate him, when she saw Starfire scissor her legs, sweeping Robin's feet from under him, and he landed on his right side, next to her.
Instinctively Robin rolled, almost as soon as he hit the mat, and he heard Starfires' elbow strike where his head had been, leaving a deep dent in the foam padding. He barely had time to realize, that If he hadn't moved, he'd be unconscious, or worse right now, before Star flew up, off the floor at him. He grabbed her right wrist, just behind the fist she had planned to hit him with, and fell backwards, planting his feet against her midsection, and flipping her backwards, then regained his feet.
"Robin! Down!" Raven shouted, and he flattened himself to the padded floor, and felt the whack of air, as Star went through the space he had been standing in. After three more passes, that Robin managed to dodge, Star gave up on the aerial attack, and touched down, about five feet in front of him, then quickly closed the gap, almost continually throwing punches and kicks.
As Raven watched, her confidence in Robin's well being was quickly eroded, as Robin passed up several opening to strike back. It was then that she realized what he was up to. 'He's not fighting her, but letting her exhaust herself, to prove she's not ready to go up against a criminal yet.' she thought to herself. She winced as she watched Star's right hand slip by Robin's guard, and strike a glancing blow to the side of his head. She saw it staggered him, as he shook his head, to clear it.
Star pressed hr advantage, and swept Robin's feet out from under him. Robin rolled with the fall, and quickly regained his feet. When he looked up, he saw that Star had retrieved her sword. Noticing that he was standing next to his own, he crouched down and picked it up, never taking his eyes off her.
"Aaaarraaagghhh!" Star shouted, giving her battle cry, as she charged at Robin, her sword raised.
Robin parried Star's cut, and side stepped, letting her momentum carry her past him. He turned to face her, and stood there in a non-aggressive stance, his arms down at his sides, his sword down, it's tip almost reaching the floor. He warily watched Star as she stood there, her sword up, gripped with both hands, he shoulders now moving as she struggled to catch her breath. "Shu tarkan. . .catina. . . .rutha. . . .troq!" she gasped.
Raven only understood two words of that sentence, and was stunned to hear one of them come from Star's lips. She was also astonished at the savage power behind Robin's three sword strokes that followed. The first knocked Star's sword aside, the second knocked it from her hands, and the third hit the sword in mid air, sending it ten feet through the air, where three inches of the tip buried itself in the foam padding of the wall, where it stuck, quivering.
"Starfire, I think you are neither, stupid, weak, or a. . . .troq." Robin said crossly, and seeming to have trouble speaking the last word, "But you are standing down, until either I or Doctor Benson says otherwise." he added, and Starfire turned her back to him. He came up behind her, and put his hands on her waist. "Star be reasonable, we've only been at this, for a little under ten minutes, and you're exhausted." he reasoned.
"Rrrah! Haa!" Star cried, as she snapped her right arm back, her elbow catching Robin in the side of his head, then she did a spin kick that threw him ten feet through the air, where he landed on the padded floor, and rolled to a stop five feet later.
"Sweet Azar!" Raven gasped, seeing the first blow knock Robin unconscious, "Starfire, what have you done!" she demanded, as she quickly flew over to Robin. Finding Robin to be only unconscious, she turned her attention to Starfire.
"Robin." Star said softly, as if in a daze, then her eyes fell on him. "No. . . I" she gasped, then took a step toward them. She tried to take a second step, but simply fell face first onto the floor.
Using her telekinesis, Raven lifted them both off the floor, and headed for the medical lab.
Cyborg, who was currently beating Beast Boy in a video game, suddenly heard Raven's voice in his head. 'Cyborg, I need you in the med lab right now.' her mental voice said urgently. 'It's Robin and Star,' she continued, 'they've beaten each other senseless.'
Throwing down his game control, Cyborg quickly went to the med lab.