Falling

I wasn't really sure if "falling" meant "falling in love" or literal falling so here is the first option since I thought of it first. Italics are flashbacks and thoughts.

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A punch thrown with a little too much force and suddenly she was falling. Off the cliffside and to certain doom. Where was her masked savior now? Was he still too intent on winning to notice? He had been rather distant lately. Slade, it seemed , was all he thought about. Slade, whom she hated. Slade had taken away her loved one. Thoughts crashed through Starfire's head as she fell.

She smashed her lips onto his for a long moment before pushing him away.

"If you wish not to be destroyed, then you will leave me alone."

But he did not leave her alone. He had saved her. Their first meeting, and he already proved to be both a formidable adversary and caring friend.

"I am sad for my sister."

"And for yourself?"

"I am just glad that the truth was discovered before I was replaced."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, you…everyone was having such fun with her, and then Cyborg said-"

"Look. Your sister was interesting, but she could never take your place." Robin smiled. "No one could ever take your place."

Robin, her best friend. Robin, the one who made her smile and always knew the right thing to say. Robin, the one she loved.

She was dancing with him. They were in bliss and the only sound was the peaceful waltz music. They spoke nothing because everything was already understood.

She thought she understood him. Did she really? She tried to believe she did.. But she was falling. Where was he?

It seemed there were two Robins. There was the one that she knew and loved and trusted. Robin, who smiled and comforted her. Robin, her best friend and lover. He had assured her that he–no, not he, they–were more. They were Robin and Starfire. Starfire and Robin. Or so it seemed after the kiss in the Tokyo rain.

"Maybe a hero isn't all that I am. Maybe I could be…maybe we could be…"

"Robin?"

"Starfire?"

"Stop talking."

And despite the pouring rain, their lips met together in a moment of sunshine and bliss.

After the Tokyo incident, Robin promised to save her whenever she fell. He promised he would always be there for her. Always.

"Star, I'm sorry. Dammit. I can't believe I let you fall."

"Robin, it was just the training. I am fine now."

"But what if I let you fall, and you don't come back?"

"My people are most resilient."

"It doesn't matter. I promise that I'll never let you fall again."

And he pulled her into a tight hug.

The other Robin was different. Robin, the team leader, always on guard and would stop at nothing. And when Slade came back again, it became too much for him. Everyone worried. Especially Starfire.

"Robin, please stop. You need to take the rest and do the hitting of the hay, yes?"

"Starfire, you're in my way. Slade won't rest until he destroys the city and I won't rest until I stop him."

"Robin, please."

His response was only to trudge out the door in a trance-like state.

Starfire followed him. The entire team did. If he didn't rest, neither would they. Sure, it was unhealthy but Robin needed support.

"Starfire, what are you doing here? I can handle this by myself. You don't even care about stopping him."

"I put the safety first, but that does not mean that I do not care about the mission. What if you need the saving?"

"I can handle myself."

Punch, kick, slice. A quick glance. She was still falling.

"Starfire!"

An uppercut. Robin groaned in pain.

"My dear Robin, you cannot save her. Your teammates are history and the city is mine."

Excruciating pain. Agony.

Running. And then falling. He had jumped and for a split second it seemed like they were going to both plummet.

Then a rope. A grapple. Safety. He had kept his promise. Level ground.

"Starfire, can you hear me?"

"Robin?"

"Are you okay?"

"I believe I am the O and K now. I thank you. I am truly sorry for doubting you, for believing things."

"Star, you had a right to. You're my… girlfriend. You have a right to be concerned and even angry or disappointed."

"I am concerned… Robin, Slade is gone."

"It doesn't matter. I'll deal with him another day. This fight – it made me realize that you, your safety, our friends - matter more than winning. What matters is that you're safe and that tomorrow, we'll still be a team."