Chapter Title: Discretion
Word Count: 1,636
TTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Robin studied Starfire as she rolled a small writing utensil back and forth across the small tray table in front of her. The aftermath of last night's ambush still remained in Starfire's quarters. She had quietly called on Navi'a that morning who promised to attend to the matter as quickly as possible, though Starfire had assured her not to rush and to remain discrete at all costs.
The discretion was for Robin's benefit, allowing him to carefully study the many faces in the rowdy arena to assess surprise at Starfire's well-being today.
He had tried to no avail to get her to return to Earth with him that morning, but she dismissed him with a 'it is not the first attempt on my life, nor will it be the last.' which did nothing to reassure the boy wonder. Of all the times he'd worried about her on Earth, he thought he had a comprehensive understating of how deep that perturbation could run. But this was a whole new level, and he felt utterly useless in his minor offers of assistance. Moreso when he took into account the fact that none among them even displayed a minor cloudy facial reaction at seeing the princess unharmed today. Which meant that whoever unleashed the swarm had been watching them during the attack.
"Please tell me today's challenge isn't a physical one," Robin nudged Starfire carefully.
"It is not. Today is another diplomacy matter – it is akin to an interview format in which the competitors must respond to a panel's questions before the crowd." Starfire's voice was clinical, but not quiet. A small way to hold onto her powerful image when he could tell she just needed some time to escape it all. Free flight wouldn't be something she could do on the planet until the offender was caught though, so for now she was confined.
Given the questions were all in Tamaranean, Robin didn't understand much, but he watched Starfire's rankings on the small parchment in front of her. Confidence, accuracy, and dedication to serve were all categories she was actively paying attention to. It was clear that this challenge mattered to her in determining a successor who would put the people first and be an honest and strong leader.
As the competitors returned to their seats in the arena following their interviews, a wiry older woman with auburn hair from the panel of judges spoke up.
"It is non-traditional, but our Princess has been gone for some time, so it feels important that we open the floor to questions for Princess Koriand'r to answer."
Robin studied Starfire carefully, her face betrayed no emotion. She stood and turned to him with a gentle hand placed on his shoulder.
"You will be alright here? They wish to ask me some questions…" Starfire asked though Robin felt it wasn't much of a question, but rather a request.
"I'll be fine Star." Robin reassuringly replied. She was the one walking into the unknown. She should be more worried for herself and, yet, her concern was always on others before herself.
Robin started a small recording from a device on his belt. While he doubted the perpetrator would actually ask a question, the questions and answers surrounding Starfire would give him more insight into motives and reactions once he could run the information through the new translation software Cyborg sent. The lag was small on the software so it wouldn't be real time, but by the end of the afternoon he would have all that he needed.
The competitors also watched intently. The floor was open to them to ask questions as well, but it could add or detract from their scores and neutrality was better than carelessness in such cases.
The auburn haired woman stood once again as someone approached the asking podium, "No questions from the press; just citizens." She chided leaving the stout man to saunter back to his seat defeatedly.
A young man considered handsome by the culture standards who hadn't been a participant took to the podium.
"Where is Wildfire?"
Though Robin couldn't understand, the tone of the question was curiosity driven and not malicious.
"I do not know. It is for his safety that Blackfire and I were not informed."
An older woman, scarred and wearing little fabric suggesting her fearsome warrior status took to the podium next.
"Why have you taken on an Earth Concubine?"
Robin recognized the word Earth and the undeniable dripping judgment in the elder's voice.
"You suspect he is weak, but he is a fearsome warrior on his planet and has fought at my side many times. We find our partners in battle, do we not?"
Rutha. Weak. He knew that word. He'd known that word from the day she arrived on Earth, the remainder of the reply remained unknown to him though the defensiveness in Starfire's voice was that of a guarded lioness.
A tall man with flaming red hair and dark facial features took to the podium and asked the question Starfire knew was coming, but hoped would not be asked.
"Why have you banished Princess Blackfire?"
Starfire collected herself a moment, studying the fraction of faces that clouded slightly at the question, the stadium so quiet a tiny noise could seem as an explosion.
"Some things must be done for the good of the people. My sister has proven on multiple occasions to put her own needs ahead of our people. If she was allowed to stay, she would try and take the crown once more."
While her answer satisfied most, a handful in the crowd remained unconvinced with steely gazes and pursed lips.
"If you do not think you are fit to rule, what makes you think you can select who is?"
Finally one of the competitors took to the podium. It was the unknown woman in heels, and she came out swinging.
"Your question is valid. I have been trained my entire life in the ways of our people – the traditions, diplomacy, and battle techniques are a part of who I am, but I also acknowledge that my heart is split between my beloved Tamaran, and my life on Earth. It is not fair to our people to have a ruler so divided in interest and thus my duty to my people brings me here, but my heart cannot fully remain. I am aware of this for myself and it will help me select an interim ruler who is wholeheartedly for our people and what is best for Tamaran."
"And with that I think we conclude for the day's portion of the tournament." The wiry auburn haired woman spoke directing Starfire back to her booth.
TTTTTTTTT
"Before you panic," Starfire started calmly as they returned to her still mostly decimated quarters, "There is no Tamaranean word for boyfriend."
"What do you mean?"
Robin's perplexed reaction to her unprompted statement led her to explain.
"The closest is lover or husband, though some of my people refuse to recognize an off-world marriage and thus one of the women referred to you as my...I think the proper translation is 'concubine'?"
"Ah...okay then…" Robin blushed clearing his throat, "Star? Maybe we have more important things to worry about?"
"It is just...you have the translation capabilities now so I did not want you to be offended or worried." Starfire shot him a small grin. "I suppose now would be a good time to tell you that my people think we are married."
"Cyborg mentioned something about that a few days ago...Can I ask why they think that?" Robin asked carefully weighing his words.
"Because I told them we were." Starfire nervously tapped her fingers together in a small display of anxiety. "It was the only way you would be allowed to stay in my quarters."
"And I'm guessing that document from Galfore isn't just a blessing on the relationship, is it?" Robin deduced with a sigh.
"It is a marriage blessing. It adds to the line of reasoning that he feared for his life. He knew you would follow me if I was forced to return."
"Got it…" Robin trailed off quietly.
"I do hope you're not upset, it seemed safer to not tell you, but given you now have the ability to translate...It no longer seems wise to keep you uninformed."
"Maybe we can just inform me of the plan from the start next time?"
"Your flushed face is why I did not. It is difficult to tell the guards we should be allowed to sleep in the same bed if you cannot look me in the eye after being told we are fake married." Starfire laughed.
As uncomfortable as the current situation was, it was still nice to hear her laugh. There hadn't been enough unbridled joy since they returned to Tamaran.
"Anything else I should know?" Robin groaned.
"Yes actually. While I do not recognize some of the competitors, they share enough familial features with families I know, however the man with dark facial features and bright red hair is unlike any family I've met. Tamaranean genetics predispose us to combinations of light hair and light features or dark hair and dark features, but not a combination of both unless one was extremely sick in childhood as Blackfire was. I do not know of another family that suffered such illness."
"Then our search begins with him." Robin declaratively stated.
TTTTTTTTTT
I've been gone for a bit. I fell into a pattern of work life I told myself I wouldn't for the past several months, but now I have free time once again. I'm hoping to give you all more consistent updates in the coming weeks. Hope you're still enjoying this – there's still quite a bit of story to be told.
Review if you'd like!
- FWFT