(A/N)- Enjoy this last fluffy chapter, "Jewel" wound up unexpected angsty. You're all gonna hate me. XD
Disclaimer: Make Jake and Mar'i main universe canon DC. Do it you cowards.
RobStar Week 2019, Day 6 - Children
"Almost time to pack it up," Cyborg announced, stowing the last of their coolers in the trunk of the T-car. "Anyone see BB or Robin?"
Raven swept crumbs off the paper tablecloth, handing another patron a tall red plastic cup of ice water. "Beast Boy was over by the bounce houses, last I saw him."
Starfire nodded to the woman Raven had just served, offering her one of the melting ice pops from the cooler at her feet. "I believe Robin went to relieve the volunteer that was watching the playground," she said.
She stood from her seat behind the booth, smoothing out her skirt.
"Shall I go inform him?" she asked.
"Yeah, go ahead," said Cyborg. "Probably need his dexterous acrobat hands to get these monsters folded," he went on, giving the flimsy-looking fold-up table a small grumpy kick. The devices had been a nightmare to set up that morning, and the family festival had been going for at least ten minutes before the Titans had managed to get them in place and stacked high with water and refreshments for the people present.
Starfire nodded, then took to the air to float above the grounds.
Jump City Central Park had been transformed into a staging area for the annual Family Funday Festival. Multiple teams of city workers—firemen, police officers, EMTs, and of course the Titans—had pulled together a day of food and activities for the locals. There were snack shops and booths selling toys and trinkets, a face-painting station and petting zoo for the little ones, even a miniature rollercoaster and an obstacle course for the older kids. Parents and other adults had brought their own lawn chairs and chatted with each other as the community band played rousing tunes that drifted up as cheerful background noise under the animated conversation.
Starfire's eyes searched for only a moment or two before she spotted Robin's familiar red and green uniform, and descended towards him.
He was supervising a pair of siblings—twin boys it looked like—swinging wildly on the monkey bars, screaming in delight and kicking at each other with their shoes, playfighting as they dangled.
"Legs up Eli, don't let him get you!" he was laughing.
Starfire dropped to the edge of the playground area with a smile, watching the children run and jump and chase each other around the equipment. She always enjoyed watching young Earthlings play. They seemed so carefree, unburdened by anything. She envied their freedom sometimes.
Eli suddenly lost his grip on the bars after one of his brother's harder play-kicks and slipped off, falling to the chalky gravel below.
Starfire gasped and started forward, but Robin was already there, one hand on the boy's back.
"You okay?" he asked.
Eli's small face was wide-eyed and closed mouthed like he was still trying to decide that. His eyes squinched, not crying yet, only threatening tears, and his little lip trembled.
Robin held out a hand gently. "Can you stand up?"
That seemed to give Eli a bit of courage and he nodded. "Uh… uh-huh," he squeaked, taking the Boy Wonder's hand and letting the older teen stand him on his feet.
Robin brushed the dust off the boy's front, checking him over.
"Does it hurt anywhere?"
Eli pointed. "My leg."
Robin smiled at him. "All right, let's check." He made a show of looking down the child's leg with his eyes and popped back up with a cheerful. "Nope! No bleeding! I think you're okay."
The little boy giggled, face breaking into a grin.
Starfire felt her heart turn very warm, gazing at the sight.
He is so good with children, she thought. He is always so patient and kind with them.
He would make a great father.
Almost as soon as the notion crossed her mind her chest gave an unexpected wrench. She gasped softly, one hand straying up to clutch over her breastbone.
All of a sudden she ached to see it, to see Robin playing with children with green eyes and red or black hair, laughing, happy, calling to her excitedly.
She shook herself, and the ache dimmed, but her chest was still reverberating with warmth from the precious image. She composed herself before calling out to him.
"Robin?"
He glanced her way, then pushed Eli and his brother off to continue playing, trotting up to her.
"Hey Star. What's up?"
"Cyborg wished to inform you that it will be time to leave soon," Starfire said evenly, keeping the overwhelming affection she felt for him from inflecting her voice.
"All right," Robin acknowledged. He waved over another volunteer. "I'm being called back, can you take it from here?"
"Sure thing," the teen girl nodded.
He turned back and noticed Starfire beaming at him, looking at him like he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.
He flushed a little, self-consciously. "What?" he asked.
A contented sigh emanated from her. "Nothing," she said. "I just… enjoy watching you interact with little ones," she told him. "You relate so well to them."
He grinned, waving that off humbly. "Ah, you pick up a few things when you work with Batman."
"Oh?" Starfire voiced in surprise.
"He might be terrifying to criminals, but he's… actually really good around kids," Robin explained. "He's really gentle with them." His eyes got some faraway look behind the mask and his voice dropped lower. "Makes them feel safe," he finished.
Starfire waited patiently until Robin pulled himself out of whatever memory had been brought to the fore and held out his hand with a smile.
"So, ready to go?" he asked.
She paid one more longing look at the young Earthlings running all over the playground and then slipped her hand into his.
"Yes."