Chapter 25
"I was hoping to hear you say that Kori. I knew something was bothering you through the crystal, but it was Shel'b who told me what it was."
"Our faithful Lieutenant," Star said turning away from him, "Truthfully, gentha'fa, is what you told me about your talking to her the truth?"
Robin took a step backwards, stunned by her question. "Kori, are you calling me a liar? I told you that I ran into her in the hallway in the Tower, and her being the youngest also helped me make my decision," he took her by the shoulders and turned her to look at him. "If you still doubt either me or what I have said then use your bond with me and find out for yourself but let me say this first, our love for each other is what drove us to where we are now, if you can't trust me where does that leave us?"
"Confused," she said softly. "Robin I know I can trust you, and I do not mean to make it seem otherwise, but I have heard Pet'r and the others talking and I can see for myself how much like me she is in appearance. I do not want things to go with her as they almost did with my sister," she concluded softly.
"Blackfire? Kori, I told you then that no one could take your place, and it's even more true now. Yes I know that except for her eye color, she looks like you, and to be honest there are some ways that she acts that are just like you, but she is not and never will be you, the one I love, and that I know returns that love. The one that I know I can do this with, and not worry," he concluded taking off his mask. He noticed that the hand she raised to touch his face was trembling slightly, and he sighed in relief when she smiled, first softly then wider as her doubts finally vanished.
"Oh gentha'fa can you ever forgive me? It is just. . . . . "
"That you've only had to worry about competing with Raven before," he finished for her. "My love, you have never had to worry about that," he was silent for a moment, and a worried look crossed his face. "Confused? Oh no, please don't tell me. . . ."
With a mischievous grin, Star warmed up a small star bolt and launched it at him, hitting him in the middle of his chest, the impact backing him up a step. She giggled softly when he looked up at her his surprise clearly visible in his still unmasked eyes. "I still have my powers, my love, and I believe the phrase is 'tag, you are the it'," she said, smiling broadly as she floated backwards away from him.
"Oh I am huh?" We'll just see about that," he said, quickly picking up and replacing his mask. Without warning he lunged at her, which she just managed to dodge with a surprised squeal, and the chase was on. The small copse soon echoed with the couple's laughter as they continued taking turns chasing each other among the trees. Robin was once again the pursuer, and he had managed to approach Starfire from the side without her knowing it. She had no time to react as he took three running steps and launched himself at her where she hung five feet above the ground. "Gotcha!" he exalted as his arms went around her in a flying tackle. His surprise was such that Starfire didn't even think of keeping afloat and they landed in a pile of leaves that had been blown near a hedgerow. Robin had realized that they were going to hit the ground and he twisted in the air, placing himself between Starfire and the hard landing they were going to share. The momentum from the twist cause them to tumble and roll a few times before coming to rest, Starfire on her back with Robin on top of her, his hands just outside her shoulders bracing his upper body, his face mere inches from hers.
Robin looked down at her. Her hair had fanned out around her head and reminded him of a red halo. He realized that they were both breathing heavily from the game of tag they had been playing, and he saw the beat of her heart echoed at her neck. Her eyes were closed and as he watched they opened, and as usual, he found himself drawn into those emerald pools. "Star, are you alright?" he asked softly.
"Uh huh," she replied just above a whisper. "I take it this means I am the 'it'? Robin had to let his brain catch up to that question then he nodded slightly. Star smiled softly then raised her head slightly, put her arms around him, and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, "Tag, you are the 'it'."
"Game over." he said, then lowered his mouth to hers. He held the kiss for a moment, then pulled away when he felt her arms slide from being around him.
"Robin, I do not believe we should stay in this position."
"Umm. . . . . .heh. . .yeah, you're right." Robin rolled to one side, got to his feet, then offered his hand to Star to help her up. Instead of releasing his hand Star held onto it and pulled him close for a hug.
"You know, Robin, we have been doing the going out for almost a month now, and that is the first time you have kissed me. I was the one who kissed you in the hospital, and I am curious as to why you have not kissed me before this."
"I thought you would prefer, and be more comfortable with the methva."
Starfire pulled back from their hug, and framed Robin's face with her hands, "Gentha'fa, I appreciate that you learned of, and how to perform the methva, but as I told you in the hospital I have learned what a kiss is to humans and it means as much to me as the methva."
"To be honest until Mik'l, Shel'b and the others came down, the methva was kinda our little secret. I mean the only ones who knew about it was the two of us."
"Raven has had her suspicions, and actually figured it out for herself. Gentha'fa, after all we have been through why do you wish to keep our relationship so secret? Is not our being together worth the price of having to put up with some friendly jests from our friends?" X'Hal Robin, they already know we are boyfriend and girlfriend."
Robin sighed heavily, and Star could feel that it was from anger and frustration, both directed at himself for being so stubborn. He raised his hands and took hers from his face, pulling them so her arms were draped over his shoulders, and he placed his in the same position on hers so that they were standing almost nose to nose. "Kori, this is what I meant by you helping me come out of my shell, by making me take a hard look at my secretiveness over my feelings and letting me see it for the foolishness that it is. I know that you feel the same about kissing me as you do about the methva, because after you kissed me you recited your half of the Oath of Bonding, remember?" he smiled softly as she averted her eyes from his and blushed. "Kori, look at me," he whispered. "At that moment you made me realize that you actually do feel for me the same as I do you. Kori, ne mathad, I would gladly lay my life down for you without a second thought or a moment's hesitation."
Star brought her hands up so one was gently stroking the back of his neck while the other entwined it's fingers in his hair. "As would I for you." Just then, Starfire's communicator started beeping, and they broke apart as she answered it. "Yes Raven, what may I do for you?"
"Shel'b and the others are back, and Mik'l just woke up as well. Stev'n want to know what we're having for mid meal."
"Rae, have Cyborg order up some pizzas," Robin spoke up, getting a nod from Starfire. "Better tell him to split it up between two pizza places so we don't overwhelm them."
"Right, I'll tell him."
Starfire closed her communicator, and they started walking back to the Tower. "You know, Kori, there was another word that you haven't told me the meaning of yet." Starfire gave him a confused look for a moment, then Robin continued, "After Thunder and Lightning helped us defeat the fire monster Slade tricked them into creating, you told Beast Boy that he wasn't a clorbag varblernelk but was actually a milnip wusserloop. Now you've explained what a clorbag is, but I've searched extensively and haven't been able to find what a milnip wusserloop is," he paused for a moment, and caught her broad smile that dissolved into a series of giggles, then outright laughter. He let her have a good laugh, enjoying watching her as much as she seemed to enjoy whatever it was that she thought was so funny. "What's so funny?"
"Oh X'Hal Robin, please do not tell me that you lost any sleep over this," Star replied, still giggling and wiping at her eyes. "I ask that you do not disclose this to Beast Boy, but there is no such word in my native language."
"What! You mean. . . . ."
"I called Beast Boy a clorbag because of the practical joke he intended to play on Cyborg, but got me instead, so I thought I would pay him back in kind, and for almost three years now, he has been occasionally asking me what it means." She smiled broadly as Robin gaped at her, his mouth hanging open in disbelief
"You mean he thinks you called him something, but it's actually a word you made up?" Star nodded and started giggling again. "Oh Star that is perfect! Just classic!" he laughed, then gave her a hug. "This is to good too spoil, so your secret about this is safe with me."
The two went into the Tower and Robin went to his room to change out of his armor and into his regular uniform, and when he met Starfire in the hall, he noticed that she had done the same.
"Dude, you guys have good timing! Cy just got back with the pizza."
"Yeah and the T-car is going to smell like a pizzeria for a month now," Cyborg jokingly complained. "I also stopped and picked up a case of mustard, just in case."
"Oooo thank you friend!" Star squealed as she gave Cyborg a hug.
After lunch Robin and Starfire went up onto the roof to watch the seagulls flying over the bay, at least that's how it started out, but now Robin was alone on the roof as he watched Starfire as she joined the sea birds in their aerial acrobatics. He couldn't help but smile as he felt her unbridled joy at flying for no other reason other than that she wanted to, and his smile grew as he heard her laughter on the wind. He watched entranced, as her maneuvers grew more and more complex as she dove and weaved among the flock.
He felt her joy fade as their communicators started beeping and flashing red. From where he sat Robin could hear the alarm sounding inside. He looked out at Starfire as she flew back, his eyes widened in surprise at the thrill of her anticipation of the coming battle. He smiled softly at her as he realized just how much she was itching to prove herself in combat, no matter who the opponent was. As she touched down beside him, meeting his smile with a blush as she realized that he had felt her emotions over the last few moments, he flipped open his communicator. "Who is it Cy? Plasmus? Cinderblock. . . . Slade?"
"You're not going to believe this Robin, but we're getting a request for help from the Jump City Fire Department."
"Why would they request our assistance? We are not firefighters."
Robin glanced over at her, not certain if she had asked that because it was the most logical question, or because she had gotten it from his mind.
"It seems they have a fire in a high rise office building and their high level snorkel truck is broken down."
"So why do they need us?"
"Because, Robin, the equipment they have on hand will only reach to the sixth floor. The fire is on the tenth floor and there are people trapped on the four floors above that."
"Alright, I'll be right down," Robin said, then closed his communicator, then he and Star sprinted for the stairs. A few moments later they were standing behind Cyborg as he rapidly typed commands into the computer, ordering it to tie into the security cameras in the area. One of the monitors was showing a live newscast from the scene.
The dark haired woman was in the foreground and over her right shoulder the building could be seen with thick black smoke pouring out of it. "It is unknown what sparked the blaze, and according to Chief MacLarity the entire ninth floor is involved and the fire has spread to the tenth cutting off any escape for the twenty confirmed office workers on the floors above. The firefighters you can see behind me are doing what they can, but a key piece of equipment is not available and the nearest replacement is already on its way, but isn't expected to arrive for over two hours." Just then the camera shook, and the reporter ducked reflexively as an explosion rocked the area.
"Titans, go!" Robin shouted and they headed for the garage.
"Shalocfa, what do you wish us to do?" Mik'l asked from the doorway.
Starfire looked at Robin in astonishment for a moment as she felt him shift into 'Leader Mode' for the first time. She looked around to see if anyone else had noticed her expression and found Raven giving her a quick soft smile.
"First time feeling him like this?"
"Yes, at first I thought he was blocking me, but it is only because he is so. . . .focused."
Raven gave a small grunt of amusement. "You think this is bad, just wait until Slade is involved or someone threatens you."
"Starfire, you and the other Tamaraneans will fly out together. Because of traffic congestion around the scene, you will probably get there first. Star, you will be in charge and your first priority is getting as many civilians out from the floors above the fire. Mik'l I know you are the commander of my Guard, but Starfire has more experience on Earth, is recognized by the people of the city, and is your princess. She's the best choice to lead this team."
"Understood, and agreed, Shalocfa."
Raven noticed that it wasn't Mik'l who was going to protest, but Starfire herself. Concentrating her empathic powers on her for a moment, she felt her friend's uncertainty at her ability to handle commanding this mission, but she was confident that Starfire would do just fine.
"Robin, Raven and I could both fly with them."
"Yes you could, Beast Boy, but we'll need to be at our best when we get there. I'm not sure what all we will have to do, or for how long. Your flying that distance would tire you out, and Raven can use the time in the T-car to meditate and center herself."
That said the group broke up, Starfire and the rest of the Tamaraneans including Sher'l left through the window while the remaining Titans headed for the garage.
"There is our destination." Starfire said, pointing to a column of dark smoke in the distance. With her at the point they formed a 'V' shaped formation and headed out.
As they approached the scene Mik'l flew up to her. "Highness, it looks as though it would be best if Robin and the others circled around and approached from the south."
Starfire nodded, and passed the information on to the T-car and R-cycle. As they arrived on the scene, she thought some of the people on the ground were waving at her, but then she noticed that they were frantically pointing at the building. "Mik'l!" she called seeing what they were trying to show her, "fourth floor from the top, third window from the right!"
Mik'l hovered for a moment, and looked where her directions indicated. Seeing what she meant, he quickly flew to where a woman clung to the windowsill in her desperation to escape the fire and smoke.
"Shel'b, Sher'l, Stev'n circle the building and look for others," Star ordered. "If you find any bring them to those white vehicles over there."
"Yes, Highness," they chorused and flew off.
"Diet'r, Shar'n, we are going inside the floors just above the fire. Do not open any windows, we do not want to give the fire any more oxygen than necessary." They nodded their understanding, and followed her inside.
"You are safe now, and these people will take care of you." Mik'l told the woman as he lay her on one of the ambulance gurneys. He started to turn to return to the building, but he felt a light tug of a hand on his arm. He turned back to the woman and she gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you for my life."
Mik'l nodded, his fingers lightly touching his cheek where she kissed him, then he flew off.
"I have found one!" Diet'r called, and was echoed a moment later by Shar'n.
"As have I!" Starfire called, and met the others at the window that they had entered the building through. "We will take them to their healers, then return to search for more."
Robin on his R-cycle was next to arrive as he could maneuver through traffic easier. He took off his helmet, and could hear Starfire and a man he assumed was Chief MacLarity engaged in a . . . .discussion.
"If the fire is not extinguished soon the upper floors will collapse and the others will follow in a cascade reaction." he heard Starfire explain, her tone of voice indicating her frustration.
"Your idea is impossible. It can't be done."
"Starfire, report."
"All but five people have been evacuated and are under medical care. I have tried to explain to this. . . .venache a plan that will allow him to extinguish the fire, but he will not listen."
Robin smiled inwardly. Chief MacLarity must be trying Starfire's patience for her to call him an idiot. "What's your plan?"
"Cyborg said that this equipment will only reach to the sixth floor, yes?"
"Yes that's right. My twenty five hundred series pampers will pump water up six floors with enough pressure to fight a fire, but there is no way to suspend twenty tons of fire truck over a hundred feet in the air without a crane!"
"Star that's brilliant! Mik'l, Shar'n, Pet'r, Shel'b!" the foursome floated over in response to Robin's call. "Starfire has a plan, and she's going to need your help to carry it out. Star it's your plan see it through, although I have one thing to add."
"What is it?" Starfire asked, pleasantly surprised that Robn was letting her stay in command.
"Raven can you levitate that cage with two men inside with some hoses?" Robin asked, indicating a small elevator like car that was normally lifted by a crane.
"No problem."
"Good, get together with Star, and she'll tell what she needs."
"Are you sure this will work?"
"Yes, Chief, I am. I happen to know that one Tamaranean flipped a car up on it's nose with one foot, then kicked it a block and a half, then she lifted a city bus over her head and threw it about the same distance."
MacLarity thought that over for a moment. "Murphy, O'Rielly, get together all the soft four and a half we have and use it to connect from engine eight's discharge to engine twelve's intake, then use hard line to connect engine eight to that hydrant, and make it quick. Peterson, Wallace, get suited up and grab an extra tank and six hose packs each and put them on that lifting cage."
Robin and the others watched as Starfire set things up and Mik'l, Diet'r, Shar'n and Stev'n each took a position on the ends of the bumper of the fire truck they wee to lift. On her signal Raven levitated the cage while the four Tamaraneans lifted the truck up to the sixth floor. Raven then levitated the cage up to the tenth floor so the firemen on it could spray the interior of the building with water to put the fire out. After a few moments the firemen on the cage directed Raven to put them close enough so they could enter the building. A short time after they had moved inside the black smoke changed to first a grayish then to white as it changed from being smoke to steam as the water was brought to bare on the fire.
"Chief, this is Peterson," a voice said over the loudspeakers on the fire trucks on the ground a half hour later, "Fire is out and we're cleaning up a few hot spots."
At the end of the message a cheer went up from the gathered crowd, and a group of young men off to one side shouted, "Way to go Starfire!" causing Robin to raise and eyebrow as he looked over at her and saw her blushing. "Sounds like you've got some fans."
"There is only one here that interests me," Star said, then walked over and put her arm around his shoulders, drawing some disappointed groans from a group of young women in the crowd. "Sounds like I am not the only one with the fans," she commented as Robin smile and put his arm around her waist.
"Chief, something's wrong. Pete and Wally are bugging outta there pretty fast," a fireman said as the two that had been in the cage climbed back into it and almost frantically motioned for Raven to lower them to the ground.
"Chief, we gotta problem, a big one," Wallace reported. "The support columns on the ninth and tenth floor have been damaged by the heat. If they let go it'll drop the eleventh through the fourteenth onto the supports for the eighth, and they're not gonna hold it."
"The whole building will pancake down," the Chief said softly, then turned to the gathered group of firemen. "Alright everybody listen up! We've gotta evacuate every building within a two block radius of this place. When that building comes down it's gonna send up a huge cloud of dust and debris!"
"Chief, there's still five civilians unaccounted for and we're certain they're inside," Peterson reminded him.
"That's our job," Robin said. "We'll get them out."
"Right," MacLarity said, then walked over to where Starfire stood. "Vidi'an Koriand'r," he began and the Titans' blinked in surprise, "I owe you an apology young lady. Your idea was a stroke of genius, and I'm sorry I didn't hear you out," he told her as he held out his hand.
Starfire shook his hand warmly. "Thank you. Why did you call me that?"
"Well it's what they all call you, except for the Titans, so I assumed it was your name in your own language. Now if you will excuse me, I've got an evacuation to carry out. I'll leave five ambulances so they can transport the ones that are still inside if they're injured."
"Okay, Diet'r, Mik'l, you and Cyborg take the eleventh floor, Shar'n and Shel'b, you take the twelfth, Stev'n, Sher'l, you and Beast Boy, take the thirteenth, Raven, Star and I will take the fourteenth. Titans go!"
A while later two of the missing people had been found and the search teams had swapped out what floor they were searching. All the others had finished checking their floor, and they watched as Starfire came out of a window on the twelfth carrying another survivor.
"Robin and Raven are checking the inner section where Raven seemed to think she felt a presence." They watched as the ambulance drove away, and suddenly Starfire's head snapped around toward the building. "Robin," she said softly, then pulled her communicator out and called him. "Robin, respond please." Getting no answer she called Raven.
"Room full. . .of smoke. . . .can't see. . . . .hard to breathe. Robin. . . .can't see him.
"Shel'b, Shar'n, grab one of those air tanks the firemen left behind," Starfire ordered and the three of them lifted into the air.
"Remember, Highness, the two civilians take priority," Shar'n said softly as they approached the building. She flinched as Starfire whirled at her, stopping in mid-air, her eyes glowing.
Starfire saw the shocked look on Shar'n's face, and regained control of herself. "You are correct Shar'n. Let us proceed. Raven said that she thought the survivors were toward the center of the building, near the stairwells."
"X'Hal this smoke is thick," Shel'b said as she coughed, then she stopped as her foot bumped into something. She quickly knelt down and reached out with her hands. "Highness I have found three people, not just two."
Shar'n and Starfire quickly followed Shel'b's voice and they each took one of the people. "We must make with the haste, this one is barely breathing," Starfire said as they reached the window.
"We'll stay here with this last ambulance for when you find them," one of the paramedics said as the people Starfire and the others just rescued were put into the other.
"Thank you," Star said and turned back to the building. She was just about to lift off when there was a dull boom and a twenty foot gout of flame came from every window on the floors above the eighth. "ROBIN!"
"RAVEN!"
Cyborg barely had time to react as he placed a restraining hand on Starfire's shoulder, and his other reached out and grabbed the legs of a green colored falcon as it started to fly. "Both of you are staying put. It's too dangerous up there right now."
"For Beast Boy I agree," Star said tensely, tears streaming from her eyes. "You know better about me, friend. You have seen me in space without a space suit, and the radiation from Red Star did not harm me. Now release me or you will accompany me to the twelfth floor."
"Star I can't let you do it. Even for you it's too dangerous, and Robin would kill me if I let anything happen to you."
"Forgive me friend." Star said softly as she hit Cyborg with a star bolt, throwing him several feet away.
"Starfire get back here!"
She ignored that call and swiftly flew up to the twelfth floor, and as she neared the building she noticed that Shel'b and Sher'l were on either side of her, each carrying an air tank and mask.
"We are not here to stop you, Highness, but to help."
"I thank you Shel'b. He is still alive, I can feel it, and he is with Raven."
The trio entered the twelfth floor, and spread out. There was little smoke as the flash fire had consumed most of the flammable vapors that made it up.
"Highness, over here!" Shel'b called out from where a desk lay on it's side.
"Oh X'Hal, Robin!" Starfire gasped when she saw where he lay. She had been correct when she said that he was with Raven. The dark Titan was curled up in a ball and covered with Robin's cape, it's heat resistant properties protecting her from the flash of flames. Unfortunately it was not large enough to cover them both. Robin lay on his side, his back to Raven, giving her complete use of his cape but leaving himself exposed. His arms were covering most of his head and were red in spots, his hair had a little singing as well. "We must get them to the medical people quickly," Star said, and gently slid her arms under Robin to lift him from the floor. As she did he rolled onto his back, and his face came into view.
"X'Hal no!" Shel'b gasped. "Highness, go! We will be right behind you with your other friend."
Star jerked from her frozen state of shock, and quickly went to the window and flew to the nearest gurney. "Please, what hospital are you taking him, them to?"
"Saint Mary's miss, Mercy is filled up right now with the other victims."
"Thank you." she said, then noticed Cyborg and Beast Boy coming over to her. "Friends I know you mean well and wish to cheer me up, but I need some time alone right now," she told them and flew off.
"We will stay with her Titan Cyborg, near, but not close enough to interfere with her privacy," Shel'b said as she and Sher'l few off after her. They watched as Starfire flew to the garden section of a park then float over to some trees where she landed, and dropped to her knees. Even before they landed they could hear her heart wrenching sobs.
The held back for a time, until she had nearly cried herself out, then Sher'l went to her side. "He will get better, Highness," she soothed as she put her hand on Starfire's shoulder. "Those burns should heal with little to no scarring."
"It is not that Sherana, it is that it is my fault that he was injured."