Chapter 9

Robin regained consciousness slowly, the pain in his head throbbing in time with the beating of his heart. When he opened his eyes, he learned that looking directly into a fluorescent light did not help the situation, and he swore to himself that he'd remember to talk to Cyborg, about moving the beds, so they weren't directly under them any more. Closing his eyes again, he took stock of his physical condition, and after making sure his arms, and legs were still attached, and working, he slowly opened his eyes again, then tried to sit up, only to discover a whole new variety of aches and pains, and that his chest had been wrapped, telling him that he had picked up some broken ribs along the way.

"Hey Rob, it's good to see you among the living again." Cyborg said, as he turned, in response to Robin's soft groan, He checked the monitor displays, then started switching them off. When he turned back to Robin, to remove the wires connecting him to the monitors, he noticed that he was looking around at the other beds. "Star was just physically drained, so when she finally woke up, an hour ago, I let her go rest in her room." he told him.

Confusion, and concern wrote themselves over Robins face, as he digested that piece of information. "How long have I been out?" he asked, sitting up more slowly.

"About two hours." Cyborg replied, "I think Raven was a little confused when she called me though." he added, "She told me, that the two of you beat each other senseless, but you never laid a hand on her, did you?"

"No." Robin half spoke, half groaned, as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, and sat there a moment. "How did I get the broken ribs?" he asked, as he ran his hand over the bandages covering his chest.

"I thought you were out from that elbow to the head." Cy said softly, as he tapped at the keys on the computer, "Take a look at this." he said, turning the monitor so Robin could see it, and they both watched as Robin came up behind Starfire, then the actions she had done.

"Whoa, she really nailed me didn't she." Robin said, a small smile of pride on his face. He never saw either blow coming, the first cause it was so quick, and the second, because the first was so well placed. "How's she reacting to doing that to me?" he asked.

Cy looked at his hands for a moment, and Robin half guessed the answer to his question. "She's confused as to why she did it, and torn up that she did it." Cy said softly, "That's one reason she's not here." he continued, "Seeing you like that was tearing her up so much she wasn't relaxing, so I basically sent her to her room."

"You didn't tell her it was a punishment, did you?" Robin asked, as he pushed himself off the bed, and stood there a moment, making sure his legs wouldn't give out.

Cy shook his head. "Nah, I just told her that it would be better for her to try to relax, and her room would be the best place for it." he said.

"I take it Raven is with her." Robin said, as he put on his uniform top, and cape.

"And Doctor Benson." Cy added, "I got worried when I couldn't find anything that would have caused her to collapse, so I called her doctor, then brought her here. She's the one that wrapped your ribs."

Robin nodded, "Good call Cyborg." he said, "What's this?" he asked, as Cy handed him a CD.

"It's a copy of the security cameras view of your little to do." he replied. "I just think it'll be a good idea, for you to have it, to show her that you didn't hit her." he added.

"Thanks." Robin said, as he headed out the door. A few moments later and he could hear Star's voice coming from her room, as he door was open, and he smiled, as he recognized the words, as the poem he had written inside the get well card he gave her.

In your eyes, of emerald green
Many times, there love I have seen
I never knew just how to start
to tell you my feelings, for you in my heart
Not knowing if these feelings, for you, are returned
Not knowing if your love I have earned
I have been a fool, this much is true
for taking so long to say "Star, I love you."

"Friend Raven, how in X'Hal's name could I have done that to him, after he wrote those words to me, and everything else he's done, to show his love for me, over these last three weeks?" he heard her ask, her voice almost tearful.

"It's okay Star, you weren't yourself." Robin said, as he stood in her door way. It took him only a second, to figure out why she didn't get up and hug him, as he saw Dr. Benson, sitting in the chair by her computer.

Raven was sitting on the edge of Star's bed, and she watched as Robin came into view through the doorway, and when he caught sight of Dr. Benson, she inwardly chuckled at both him, and Starfire, as they tried to keep their emotions from showing to much, and Robin even went so far as to stand straighter, and walk more normally.

"Robin, it is glorious to see you up and about again!" Star cried, in heartfelt relief at seeing him.

Robin crossed over to the bed, and took Star's hand. "Raven, Doctor, can Star and I, have a moment, alone?"

"No." Dr. Benson replied, drawing surprised looks from the three, "Not until I've had a few words with you." she added, "Just what part, of her taking it easy for a week or two, didn't you understand?" she demanded, "and after you saying you love her, how could you fight her like that?"

"I didn't." Robin said, "I never laid a hand on her." he added, then took out the CD that Cyborg had given him, "When Cyborg gave me this, I thought that Starfire was insisting that I had struck her first, but now I know better." he explained as he fed the disc into the computer. "Just so you know, doctor, there are security cameras throughout the tower, and this is the video of what happened." There was a burst of static on the monitor screen, then, for the next eight, and a half minutes, they watched, until the screen went black, after Raven reached Robin's side.

"It was a good thing you relaxed into that kick, or you might have had more of your ribs broken." Linda said softly, not seeing the shocked expression on Starfire's face, from seeing what she had done to Robin.

"I didn't relax into it, doctor." Robin said, "It wasn't until Cyborg showed me the tail end of this video, that I found out how my ribs were broken. The last thing I remember, is Starfire's elbow, hitting my right temple." he explained, gingerly touching the side of his head, which was still throbbing.

He was silent for a moment, then continued, "Not that I owe it to you, doctor, but in explanation as to what I was doing, Starfire comes from a planet with a warrior culture, and even though she isn't showing it on the outside, the attack, and it's results, are eating away at her on the inside." he explained.

"And just where did you get your degree in psychology?" Linda asked, angrily.

Robin blew out a breath, that both Raven and Starfire recognized as frustration, and they watched the subtle play of emotions on his face as he struggled to keep control. "Let's just say, a close personal relationship." he said curtly, "Even you noticed over the last week, that she's been. . .well, not quite irritable, but closer to that, than I've ever seen her." he said, and almost winced, at the pain that flashed in Star's eyes, and he quickly continued, "As a Tamaranean, being defeated, by an inferior opponent, especially without any attempt at self defense, or counter attack, would damage her personal honor, and us, telling her she can't fight, doesn't help." he paused for a moment, looking over at Star, his expression offering reassurance, "You heard her on the video, right before I knocked her sword away. . ..catina, rutha, troq." he went on, "I translated that, not for Raven's benefit, but because denying it, in Tamaranean, would have sounded to much like I agreed with her, even though she knows I would rather die than call her a troq."

"It's a word used by other races, for Tamaraneans." Raven cut in, seeing the question on Linda's face, "Its translation is nothing, but when used in that context, it describes the person called it, as worthless, and not worthy of breathing the same air as the. . . .being using that word." She paused for a moment, and Robin was a little surprised, at the vehemence in her explanation. Raven saw that Linda understood what she just said, and she also notice a lone tear, slipping down Starfire's cheek, "It's time we left, doctor." she said, as she stood, putting a reassuring hand on Star's shoulder.

Robin silently thanked Raven, as he watched them leave. Once the door closed, and he heard the lock click, he crossed over to her, taking his mask off as he went. Sitting on the edge of her bed, so he was facing her, he took her right hand in his left, his right going to her left shoulder, so they were looking into each other's eyes

Robin's heart ached, as he saw Star's eyes, bright with unshed tears, and he felt her trembling as she fought to keep them back. 'Oh Kori, my proud, lovely, warrior, trying to hide your tears, even from me.' he thought to himself. "Kori, I'm so sorry all this happened to you." he said softly.

"You're sorry? I am not the one with the broken ribs, and most likely, the head splitting ache." she whispered, not trusting her voice to speak any louder. Silently she laid her head on his shoulder, and Robin could feel her shoulders shaking, as she sobbed.

"Good Kori, let it out." he breathed into her ear as she cried, "Holding it back to much never helps, believe me."

As they headed down the hallway, Raven paused, letting Linda move on without her, and she closed her eyes, as she stretched her powers, into the room she had left a few moments ago. She sighed with relief, as she felt Star's release of her pain. 'I'm glad they found each other.' she thought to herself. 'On the surface, they're very different, Robin serious and focused, and Starfire seemingly flighty, but beneath that, they were both fighters, warriors, proud, and secretive, except to those they cared very deeply about.' Knowing that they were going to work things out, she broke her concentration, and followed Linda to the medical lab.

Robin didn't know how long they sat there like that, Star's head on his shoulder, crying her heart out, but after a while she stopped, and Robin went to pull away, so he could see her face, but with a whimpered 'no' Star clung tightly to him, almost like a drowning man to a floating object.

"My love, can you ever forgive me?" she asked, softly. "I know that you and Doctor Benson are right, you showed that to me most thoroughly, but like you said, I am a warrior, my place is with my comrades during battle, not staying behind." she paused for a moment, loosening her grip on Robin enough, so he could pull back to see her face. "What you told Doctor Benson was most correct, I have been feeling as though I was stupid, weak, a nothing." she concluded, lowering her gaze sadly, at the end of her sentence.

Robin cupped her chin in his hand, pulling it up so they were face to face again. "Kori, you saw the video, you are nether stupid, weak or a nothing." he told her, "You handle a sword better than anyone I know, and I can personally testify, that you've learned, very well, what I've taught you." he added, then groaned, as his head throbbed, and he rested it on her shoulder.

Star slid her arms around Robin, as he rested there. "Now who is holding back, gentha'fa?" she asked softly. "While Doctor Benson was here, you did an excellent job, at keeping both your pain, and your desire to talk to me alone under control." she said, "You need not do that now." she added, then felt Robin relax, and his shoulders slumped with a groan.

"I hated doing that to you Kori, but you left me no choice." he said softly, the warmth of his breath on her shoulder, making her skin tingle. "But I had to prove something to myself as well." he admitted, "As the leader of the Titans, I'll have to make decisions, that may put you in danger, as we fight." he told her, holding his head up again, "I had to know, for myself, that I was right, in my decision to have you stand down, that I wasn't being over protective."

"Your concern is appreciated, but I wish you to treat me, as any other member of the team." Star told him.

Robin sighed heavily as another wave of pain washed through his head, then he looked up into Star's face, a lopsided grin on his face, "Gentha'fa?" he asked softly, then chuckled as Star's face turned bright red.

"It is a contraction of genthalas du penefa." Star told him, "One that does not exist in my language." she added, then blushed even more, if possible, "It is my pet name for you."

"I told you, whatever you decided on would be perfect." Robin said, smiling broadly. "You want to go up and catch the sunset?" he asked.

"To be truthful I am not feeling like moving that far right now." Star replied, as she swung her legs over and sat, then stood up, swaying slightly as she put a hand on Robin's shoulder, as he stood beside her, his arm going around her waist as he steadied her. "The view from here is most satisfactory." she added, and they walked over to her window, and opened the drapes.

The two stood there as they watched the sun sink into the pacific, painting the thin clouds a wide variety of colors, until it sank out of sight and the stars appeared, studding the blackness like diamonds.

"Robin?" Star asked softly.

"Humm?" Robin replied, as they turned to face each other, holding hands. They stayed like that for a few moments, gazing into each other's eyes in the last of the twilight, and just as they were moving toward a kiss, there was a knock at the door.

"Don't make me use the over ride code, and open up." Cyborg's voice came through the door. Robin quickly donned his mask, as Starfire went to open the door. "Don't worry we won't stay long." he told them as he entered the room, carrying a small folding table. Next came Raven, levitating several covered dishes, and some folding chairs. She was followed by Beast Boy, who carried a small cooler, and a small boom box.

Star and Robin watched as their friends quickly set up the table, and chairs, complete with table cloth, and candles. Soft music came from the boom box. "Enjoy your meal." Cyborg said, as he backed out of the doorway, closing the door again behind him.

"This is . . . .most unexpected." Star said softly as she looked at the table.

Suddenly Robin got an idea. "Star, I'll be right back." he said, "My head is really starting to hurt again, and I want to grab some aspirin, okay?"

Star nodded, and watched as Robin left the room, and less then a minute later there was a knock at the door. "Friend Raven what are you doing here?" she asked, expecting Robin.

"Robin's not here?" Raven asked, getting a nod from Star, who frowned at the angry look that swept over her friends face. She relaxed a moment later when Raven smiled softly. "Come here a moment Star." she said, then whispered something into the redhead's ear.

A short while later, there was another knock at the door. "Come in, please, it is unlocked." she called, and she could see Robin silhouetted in the doorway, but something was different, then the door closed, and she saw that Raven was right, Robin had changed out of his uniform, and was wearing his tuxedo.

Robin stood by the door, letting his eyes adjust to the faint light given off by the two dozen or more candles that had been placed around the room, in addition to the two on the table. "Star?" he called, not seeing her.

"Yes Robin." she said as she stepped into the light. She felt her cheeks heat up as she blushed at the way Robin was looking at her, his jaw hanging open, after the soft whistle he gave when he saw her.

"Star. . .wow." was all the Boy Wonder could manage to say. Starfire was wearing a gown, almost identical to the one she wore, when Robin had been forced to take Killer Moth's daughter, Kitten, to her prom. Only this gown was emerald green in color. Crossing over to her, he stood, just about arms length away, and drank in her beauty. "Star, you look absolutely beautiful." he told her, his admiration showing clearly on his face.

"And you are most handsome as well." Star said, then smiled as Robin stepped closer, and took her into his arms as the music switched to a waltz, and they danced.