This one was by far the hardest to write. I don't even know why. I love Robstar, but this was just so friggin' hard to type. This one isn't my favorite but whatever.

DISCLAIMER: NOPE.

Koriand'r escaped to Earth so she could hide from the Gordanians. She didn't plan on staying long, she just needed to lay low for a while. Maybe X'hal will be in her favor and let her escape back to Tamaran.

Except, she did not belong there anymore. Her sister sold her to the Citadel, she could no longer return to her home.

Where was she to go now?

And then the human intercepted her. He spoke in growls and threats that she could not understand, oddly contrasting his bright outfit. She wanted to tell him that she meant no harm, she just wanted to break her hands free-

But he couldn't. To him, she was just an alien threatening his fellow humans.

She fought back, but she couldn't keep up with her arms weighed down so heavily, and her starbolts were weaker because of her cuffs. She was going to die by the hands of a human before the Citadel could catch her.

Perhaps… perhaps this was for the best. It was better to die a warrior than a slave, right? But she didn't want to die, she wanted to see Galfore again. She snarled as the human neared. She will not die weak, she will die fighting to her last breath-

The weight on her arms dropped.

She tried to conceal her shock and confusion as the human kept talking in a strange tone she could not comprehend and using words she could not understand.

In a spur of the moment, she initiated a knowledge exchange. All at once, information flooded her mind. Once she had enough, she pushed him away and gave him a warning before she flew away.

That was supposed to be the last she'd see of the strange cute human, but it was not. He kept coming back to help her, and eventually, she let him. He was offering to help her fight the Gordanians, "being nice" as he'd said in his strange human tongue.

Nice? She was not rutha. She was brave, strong, a warrior-

Oh. He did not mean rutha. He meant kindness, he meant friendship. He wanted to be her friend? Without knowing her?

What a strange human.

But then they defeated the Gordanians, and he saved her from being captured again. How many times has he saved her already? Why was he so willing to save her without a cause? Just because they were friends?

He did not need a reason. He explained to her later on the strange tiny land (island, her new knowledge said) that friends did not need reasoning, simply trust.

She dared to believe him. Perhaps she could find a place for herself on Earth after all, with her strange new human friends. They all risked their lives unquestionably to help her, maybe she could trust them back.

Especially the cute one that seems to also find her flattering, if her new knowledge was accurate in saying red cheeks meant "having the crush" on someone.

And since then, she could not have dreamed of a better life. She had a new home with friends that cared for her. She had a new life, and a chance to simply make it her own without worrying about her duties as Princess Koriand'r.

She could just be Starfire, a Teen Titan that protected innocent people alongside her wonderful friends and her v'lorkna* Robin.

She felt so happy here on Earth, but if she were to contribute her happiness to one thing, it would be Robin. She had friends, but Robin was the one that started it all. He freed her. He welcomed her. He trusted her.

He loved her.

That night in Tokyo, the day Robin finally became her friend-who-is-a-boy ("Star, you can just say boyfriend."), is one of her fondest memories. She was so happy, she could not stop floating for a week afterward.

She could never forget the look on his face when she explained why she could not float down. He had blushed in that cute way earthlings do and, though he tried to seem unfazed, he smiled that soft smile that he only ever wore around her.

Robin would never know how much he's changed her life for the better, how much his love has made her happy.

Still, there was one thing that's been nagging her lately. Robin has said on multiple occasions that he trusted her, and she believed him, but she could not help but wonder why he always covered his eyes.

They were "dating" now, did she not have a right to know?

So, she asked him.

"V'lorkna Robin, why is it that you hide your eyes?"

Robin had looked startled when she asked him that. She almost regretted asking him because she feared he would do the "shutting her out", but he only remained silent.

He kept his gaze on the ocean, but Starfire has known him long enough to tell that he's simply thinking. Finally, he said, "I guess it's because… because this is all I am now."

"Please, I do not understand," Starfire cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

Robin smiled at her, and though she could not see his eyes, she knew he was looking at her the same way she looked at him. With love. "I've been Robin for so long, I've forgotten what it's like to be… normal. I can't go back to who I was before Robin, and wearing a mask at all times helps with that."

Starfire considered his answer. So it was not because he did not trust her, it was because he simply saw himself as Robin and nothing more.

"A hero is all that I am."

Realization dawned on her. She could not tell if that saddened her or not. She had never known the boy under the mask, but she could easily say that she fell in love with Robin because he was Robin, not because he was a hero. Because he saved her. Because he freed her.

Was that not the same as loving the boy under the mask?

"Forgive me," She took his hand in hers and held it softly, afraid to put too much strength into her grip. "I never knew you before you were Robin, so to me, Robin is normal."

His cheeks flushed a little, but he was also smiling bigger now. He placed his other hand on hers, and he squeezed. "Thanks, Star."

"I am simply saying the truth," she smiled in return. "I do not need to know who lies under the mask because your mask is no longer a mask, it is who you are. To me, at least."

"You know, normally that would have a negative connotation," Robin grinned. "But I get what you mean."

"Good, because I do not wish to hear more of this self-doubt. You are Robin, my v'lorkna, and nothing can change that."

"And you're Starfire, my girlfriend, and nothing will change that either."

Starfire moved to lean closer to kiss him, but he stopped her. She looked on in confusion as he raised his hand to his face, no, his mask.

"Robin-" she started.

"No, I need to do this, Star," Robin insisted. "I don't know if I'll ever tell the others, but you at least deserve to know, both as my girlfriend and my best friend."

"If you are certain," she uttered softly. Then, she reached out and pulled away his hand to replace it with hers. "But may I do it?"

Robin's smile was response enough.

She tenderly peeled off the mask, holding her breath. When the cloth finally fell away, she heard herself gasp softly as she stared into the startling blue eyes of her beloved. Like the sky above them, clear and so, so blue.

It took her breath away.

Robin laughed softly at her awed expression, but it froze in his throat as her hands softly caressed his face, so unlike her alien super-strength. "Starfire-"

"They're beautiful," she breathed. "So very beautiful."

A lump formed in his throat, but he swallowed it down as he stared into shining green, so full of love. All of that love was directed at him. What did he ever do to deserve this beautiful alien?

Her lips met his before he could respond, and his eyes closed on their own accord. The touch was soft and chaste, as were all their kisses, but Robin has never had the urge to push farther than that. He loved their soft kisses because they signified something more than attraction: love.

They didn't pull away until they needed the air. Robin leaned closer, pressing his forehead to Starfire's tenderly. Starfire met him halfway, and they stayed like that, just staring into each other's expressive eyes as they smiled like a pair of dorks.

Finally, Starfire giggled. "You are so very cute when you're shy, i'vael*."

"Hey, I am not shy," Robin protested lightheartedly. "I am the boldest man you'll ever meet."

"Oh, yes, definitely," she was still giggling.

"Why, you," Robin could not even pretend to be annoyed at his girlfriend, not when she was so happy. A smile graced his features without him even noticing. That happened often around Starfire.

Starfire paused when a hand grabbed hers tenderly. Then, she watched with orange cheeks* as Robin pressed a chaste kiss to the back of her hand, almost like the way Galfore did but better. This wasn't out of respect, this was purely an act of love.

"Dick Grayson at your service, my fair lady," he said with an exaggerated accent.

She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her. This was a side of Robin that she only saw around her, the side that goofed around and smiled dopily, and she loved it when he was like this.

"I am Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran," she said, playing along. "What makes you think you are worthy of a princess of my status, Mr. Grayson?"

Robin smiled when he replied, "I am not, and I never will be. But I hope that you will still grace me with your love."

Her heart nearly exploded, but she held it in and simply inhaled. How did Robin do these things to her without trying?

She wrapped her arms around his neck at the same time his arms wrapped around her waist. She leaned in close and whispered against his lips, "I'm sure you can convince me."

Robin grinned and closed the distance.

Nothing has ever felt more freeing than their lips touching, their hearts bare as they loved and loved and loved.

V'lorkna: an abstract word meaning lover or partner, but much more at the same time.

I'vael: beloved.

Yes, I made those up. Author's privileges, suck it up.

*I think starfire blushes orange in the cartoon, but I'm not sure. either way for her to blush red would make no sense so orange it is!