Chapter 21: Reassurance

Three nights have passed since the aliens attacked the tower and the titans continued to investigate the situation. Eventually, Starfire was well enough to start fighting crime again and for the most part, things started to fall back into routine. Combat practice was at 8, lunch was at noon and our strolls in the park took place around 3. Nothing too big has occurred these past few days.

But tonight was supposed to be special.

It was Valentine's Day and Robin wanted to take her to the pier for their special evening. The two titans were slowly growing back together and this was a perfect opportunity to focus on their selves for a change.

Starfire spent the entire day getting ready. Her hair, makeup and attire had to be just right. She found a dress in her closet that fitted as if it had been designed for her. It was a simple white dress with purple flowers scattered all over it. It showed off her strong shoulders and her flawless figure. Everything about her was absolutely perfect.

Confident with how she looked and ready to go, she and Robin left to enjoy the rest of the evening. While they were gone, I decided to hang out with Cyborg and Beast boy. They played video games until the hour grew late and both of the titans fell asleep on the couch. Pizza boxes, plastic cups, and leftover snacks littered the floor. Raven came in and grudgingly cleaned up after them, leaving as quietly as she came in. I decided to leave after watching Cyborg's high score of 105,000 continuously flash on the screen numerous times.

It was a little after midnight when Starfire and Robin returned home. They both walked through the front door, chattering and laughing. After everything they've been through recently, it was good to see them enjoying the simplest things in life. For that special moment, all those horrors of Slade and the aliens faded away.

"I really enjoyed tonight" Starfire said as they walked through the door "This was truly the best Valentine's day ever."

"I'm glad you had a good time" Robin said with a smile "I wouldn't have asked for a better evening."

Starfire kissed Robin on the cheek "Well, I suppose I should head upstairs to bed" She said.

"Right" Robin said "I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight" She said as she retreated to her bedroom. I followed her upstairs and waited for her to get ready for bed. She washed her makeup off, took a shower and dressed into her nightgown. I could tell that she had a nice evening with Robin, but at the same time, she still looked a little sad. Was it because she was still mad at him? Maybe it was because she felt horrible for what she had done?

I guess it takes time to completely recover from these things. I truly hoped that she was alright.

She turned off the lights, pulled the sheets over her shoulders and closed her eyelids. I snuggled up next to her under the duvet and tried to drift off to sleep.

About 20 minutes pass, and we were both woken by the sound of knocking. Starfire's eyes flew open and she sat up on her bed. Once she had fully woken up, she flew over to answer the door. When she cracked it open, I was surprised and unsurprised to see a familiar shadowy shape standing on the other side.

"Can I talk to you for another sec?" Robin asked.

"Sure" She murmured, allowing him to enter her room.

He took a seat in one of the chairs as she sat down at the edge of the bed. I didn't have to read her mind to know how she felt with him being in her room at this late hour. Technically, the guys and the girls weren't allowed in each other's bedrooms. So it felt a bit awkward having Robin in here.

"I don't want to have this conversation." He said, perching uncomfortably at the edge of the chair "But it's something that we still need to talk about."

Now I know the reason why he came in here to begin with. He needed some reassurance from her, that everything is okay between them. He seemed very uncomfortable with bringing it up. I was surprised that they didn't discuss it during their date. But he needed to know where she stood with him. This would be their first time discussing it since it happened. She anxiously waited for him to speak, I did too. We were about to get a taste of Robin's side of the story. But I hoped that whatever he said, they'll both work things out and put it behind them.

"Star…" He said, gazing up at her "Do you still love me?"

She sighed and slumped her shoulders slightly "You should already know the answer to that" She said.

He rose and sat down next to her on the bed, tentatively reaching for her hand. She let him take it. For a long time, they just sat there in silence. Robin hesitated to open his mouth and speak. He didn't want to ruin their perfect moment by bringing up their recent ordeal. I couldn't say I blame him, ending this evening on a bad note is not what he had in mind. But if they really loved each other, they would discuss it instead of brushing it under a rug.

He gave her hand a squeeze and took a deep breath "Sometimes I wish I could just go back to the past and stop everything that just happened." He said.

"Me too" Starfire said "But it doesn't work that way. We can only take it for what it is and move forward, yes?"

She wrapped her arms around her knees and looked away from him and sighed "We almost never fight with each other" She said "in a way, it reminded me that no relationship is perfect…no matter how much we try."

Starfire paused, probably waiting for Robin to make a comment. When he remained silent she took her hand and stroked his cheek "Did it hurt when I slapped you?"

"What?"

"That night, after our argument" She said "Did I-"

"No, it didn't hurt" He said, pulling her hand away from his face "I've been beaten up so many times, I'm used to it by now."

His comment made Starfire laugh a little. But I could tell that she felt guilty for slapping him in the face. Then again, I felt like he deserved it. He needed someone to knock some sense into him.

"I've just been angry at myself" Robin said "My words and my actions compelled you to think that I didn't care about you."

Starfire nodded "I know" She said "You wanted to break up with me-"

"No!" He snapped, interrupting her "I didn't!"

He touched her face and looked her in the eyes "I didn't mean any of that."

He stroked her face with his fingers "You didn't realize how scared I was when I first found out that you were missing" He said.

He tried to say something else, but it's hard to do so when you're fighting back tears. He took a deep shuttering breath and tried to force the rest of his words out "I felt so helpless when I didn't know where you had gone or what happened to you. Every minute that passed, I was determined to bring you home where you belong."

"But when we found you in that hideout and I couldn't wake you up…" He sobbed "I thought it was too late. That you had died and left me."

I'll never forget how heart wrenching that moment was when Robin first found her unconscious in that chair. To this day, it fathomed me that someone could do such a thing to a sweet and innocent girl. Slade was truly a sick person for doing it. This was only one of the many reasons why he deserves to rot in jail.

Tears stung at Starfire's eyes as Robin continued to speak; I could tell that she tried to keep them away. Robin rarely cries, and she's a very sympathetic person.

"But when you woke up, I realized that I had been given a second chance" He said "A second chance to start over and make things right again with you."

He stroked a tear away from her face and smiled lovingly at her "I hope you can forgive me" He said.

Robin had been beating himself up over this situation. But I think the two have learned that there is no such thing as a perfect relationship. This will probably not be the last issue they'll have, but as long as they work together, their love for each other will continue to flourish.

Starfire smiled "Of course I do" She said before leaning over and kissing him gently on the lips. He froze at first, and then returned the kiss softly, smiling as his lips pressed against hers. The kiss that they shared was gentle and soft.

"Just promise me you'll never do something like this again" He said "I can't lose you, you're everything to me."

Starfire nodded and leaned against his shoulder "Don't worry, it WON'T happen again" She said "And I hope you can forgive me too...for running off like that."

"I already have" Robin whispered in her ear "I love you."

"I love you too."

Starfire lay down on the bed and gestured for Robin to lie next to her. He hesitated for a moment but realized that lying down next to her wouldn't hurt. He leaned back and relaxed on her bed. For the next 30 minutes, they just layed there side by side, holding each other in their arms, not wanting to let go.

Starfire's soft voice interrupted the sweet silence "Robin?"

"Hmm"

"Do you think they'll ever come back?"

Robin let out a deep sigh "I hope not" He said "But if they do, we'll be ready for them, just like we always are."

He met her gaze and ran his fingers through her silky red tresses "I won't let anyone take you from me again." he said.

We all hoped that they wouldn't be back, but who knows? Anything could happen. Slade had fallen into a pit of lava years ago, and yet he still came back and ambushed the titans on numerous occasions. It gets a little tedious having to fight these deadly enemies, but Robin and Starfire will always protect each other.

Starfire leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Robin looked down at her and smiled pulling the blanket over them both. He kissed her forehead and whispered one more "I love you" before closing his own eyes and drifting off to sleep.

I expected sleep to overtake me as well, but for some reason, I had a difficult time drifting off. Instead, I spent the next few hours watching Starfire and Robin sleep. A smile formed across my lips because everything seemed to be perfect again. I can honestly say that they have come a long way, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for these two. I am also nervous of the possible obstacles ahead for them. Will Slade be back? Will the Citadel be back? How will these situations unfold? Will they be ready like Robin said?

Then I realize that now's not the time to worry about such things. The most important thing to do is focus on the present. I crawled over to the two sleeping titans and snuggled my body between them. Starfire's soothing heartbeat helped me reflect on some positive things. Tomorrow will likely be another normal day. A day that consisted of long walks in the park and chasing bugs around the tower. Perhaps Dr. Light will attempt to rob a bank or Control Freak will take over our T.V again. Maybe Cyborg will order 10 boxes of pizza, and I'll get lucky with stealing few slices. As a thought about the possibilities, I finally started to feel tired. Starfire's lovely sleeping face was the last thing I saw before I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. These are the moments I cherished the most with the titans.

And I couldn't have asked for anything sweeter.