Thresholding By CidGregor

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.

This fic is dedicated to Post, for all that he has contributed to its existence. (I'M a furby?.! No, YOU'RE a furby!)

Chapter 23

'Hectic' would have been too mild a word to describe the atmosphere around Robin as he stood perfectly still, trying not to add himself to the mass of Tamaranians running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Men and women scrambled to put every last trinket and oddity in its proper ceremonial place, fix each other's outfits, and ensure the grand hall was spotless.

As for Robin himself, he was in a small preparation room adjacent to the grand hall itself. The royal handmaidens, a trio of middle-aged women, were doing a few last-minute tweaks to his formal wear, and to his annoyance none of these quick fixes involved putting an end to the itchiness of the material. He was thankful that the garments included sleeves this time – the old uniform showed off far too much skin – but that just left that much more of him itchy. He wanted to scratch at a spot on his shoulder, but unfortunately the handmaidens had each of his arms stretched out as they sewed a series of what looked like crystal marbles into the sleeves in a perfect row. Robin assumed they were as ceremonial as everything else, and didn't fight their addition; in fact, he thought as he looked closer at them, they were quite beautiful, even against the dark violet material that, although better than the bright lavender, was still not his ideal choice of color. Vaguely he wondered if he'd be able to give the jewels to Starfire when this was all over. He knew they'd look amazing hanging from her ears, or around her neck.

Starfire…where are you? he mentally sighed. He'd finished all three of the Trials of Betrothal, ensured Cyborg and the others on Earth were okay, wracked his brain over Tromand'r's suspicious scouts, and spent a good half hour standing here while the handmaidens adjusted his formal-wear – he'd jumped through every hoop laid in his path diligently and patiently – but still he had not seen her, and at last his patience was wearing thin.

Without warning, the handmaidens suddenly pulled away, their tasks apparently complete. They chattered hurriedly to one another in their own tongue, and then started pushing him toward the door behind him.

"Uhh…" Robin murmured, looking to the other door at his left. "Isn't the grand hall that way? …Hello? Do any of you understand English?"

Either they did not understand him, or if they did, they were ignoring him. Either way there was no response as they continued pushing him backward. Robin gritted his teeth, trying hard not to shove them back. Not that he actually could if he tried; Tamaranian super-strength was probably only outclassed by Superman himself.

The door at his back slid open, and the handmaidens gave him one last push inside, and then closed the door, leaving him there in the dimly lit room, alone.

Or so he first assumed.

"Impatient old bats…" he growled under his breath as he slowly turned around. "The hell are middle-aged women doing being handmaidens anyway…I swear, if I have to jump through one more of their stupid hoops, I'll--"

But then he had turned to face the rest of the room, and he forgot whatever he was going to say to finish that sentence. All thought entirely for that matter went utterly and blissfully blank, as his brain focused one the only other living being in the room.

She was turned away from him, her head hung low so it rested on her collarbone. Her hair, somehow seeming to glow even in the dim light, spilled down over her back like a blanket of silk, held back by a silver crown framing her face. The gown she wore, hanging to just above her ankles, was nothing short of sublime; brilliant, radiant white of some material Robin had never seen before but which managed to positively shimmer and sparkle as though it were a quiet, pretty little firework. Gloves of apparently the same material were wrapped around her hands and forearms, stretching up to just past her elbow. It was a modest piece – very little bare skin showed, nor did it try to exaggerate her curves – but it was incredible to look at nonetheless. Matching white shoes enclosed her feet, the delicate clasps wrapped snugly around her ankles and the heels giving her an extra couple of inches over him. Not that she needed it, Robin knew…she had always been taller than him…and he knew that because he knew who this was, who it had to be, from the moment he'd seen her.

"Starfire?"

The girl let out a quiet, startled squeak, as though she'd been lost in thought. Her hair swung in the breeze as her head spun around to face him, and for a moment as their eyes locked, time stood still.

"…Robin?"

He walked slowly toward her, taking a moment to admire the dress in greater detail. It was a dress of the sort that only had a strap over one shoulder; but not, as Robin would have guessed, over her scarred shoulder. Whoever had prepared the outfit had done nothing at all to hide the month-old burn wound; that, or Starfire hadn't let them hide it. Either way, it reminded him of what she had once told him, that her people wore their scars proudly, as a sign of the battles they have fought, and Robin knew it was the way she wanted it.

He stopped when he was standing right beside her on her right, facing a large curtain. Before now, he'd managed to grow a little until their height had evened out, but now, in her heels, she had at least a couple of inches over him again. Not that he put any importance on that. She was perfect no matter how much taller she was than him.

He smiled up at her. "You….you look incredible…"

Starfire said nothing in response. It looked as though she was trying to smile, but there was some clear nervousness tugging it away from her, twisting her expression until she almost seemed frightened of him. But at the same time a look of excitement battled for control as well, something that made her eyes light up with some kind of fiery passion.

"Is everything okay, Star?" Robin asked. He hadn't forgotten the way she'd acted the last time he'd seen her, before the trials had begun. This nervous mix of fear and excitement was strangely similar; which meant, Robin deduced, that her anxiousness then had been about more than just the trials.

"It is…as well as it can be, Robin," she said evasively. "Come here, the ceremonies are about to begin and I must instruct you…"

"Instruct me? On what?"

"Your role in the proceedings. Hurry, we have only a few moments…"

"Star, are you sure you're okay?" Robin pressed, not entirely distracted from his curiosity.

Starfire waved her hand dismissively. "Robin, I will attempt to explain after the ceremony, but at this moment it is imperative that I inform you--"

From behind the curtain, an alien tune suddenly began to play, and a low chant started.

Starfire squeaked. "It is starting!" she gasped, and went on in a rush. "Robin, when the ceremony begins, the Grand Ha'atoan will perform a ritual called the Glarnip Blessing, and then she will speak to you directly in our tongue, expecting a response from you. You must remember these words carefully: 'Mi'hal, Robin du Earth, ritka vertas de Koriand'r du Tamaran, en nama de X'Hal.' These are your vows, Robin. You must not forget them."

"Mi'hal, Robin du Earth, ritka vertas de Koriand'r du Tamaran, en nama du X'Hal," Robin repeated to himself, committing the phrase to memory. "I think I can remember all that…"

"Do not merely think you can, Robin, you must remember these words. Once you have, I will speak mine, and--"

But before she could finish, the curtain began to draw open, and with another startled gasp she straightened up, faced forward, pushed Robin over to her left side, and put a nervous smile on her face. Robin instinctively matched her posture, just in time for the curtain to completely reveal the Grand Hall, where at least two hundred Tamaranian warriors stood at rigid attention, quietly singing what sounded like a traditional betrothal chant in perfect harmony. They formed a corridor across the hall, carpeted in red, leading to a raised platform. Tromand'r and Galfore stood on either side of this platform, while right in the middle was a third Tamaranian, a woman, dressed in elaborate decorative robes of a pale lavender color. This, Robin assumed, was the Grand Ha'atoan Starfire referred to.

Robin tried not to let his nerves get the better of him as he kept pace with Starfire down the walkway. He was in completely alien territory, literally and metaphorically, with no idea what to expect or what was expected of him. He was entirely at the mercy of Starfire's direction, and he didn't like it. It wasn't her fault, of course; he loved her and trusted her, yes, but still it unsettled him knowing that he had absolutely no control over the situation. He'd feel the same no matter who he was following the directions of.

As they reached the raised platform, Robin watched Starfire turn to receive a fatherly embrace from Galfore, while Tromand'r caught Robin's attention by gripping his hand firmly as though he were going to arm-wrestle.

"Congratulations, Robin," he said under his breath, and released him.

Robin nodded to the Captain and looked back to Starfire, who was now facing him again. He began to raise his hand to take hers, but she almost invisibly shook her head the moment he moved, and mouthed the words 'not yet.' Robin paused, realizing it was probably again part of tradition, and simply stepped up to the platform beside her.

The Grand Ha'atoan greeted them there with a smile to each of them, then extended both of her hands. Starfire laid her right hand in the woman's left, and Robin mirrored her quickly. The chants of the onlookers fell silent, and the Grand Ha'atoan began a chant of her own.

"Ellica namun'namen achu'machu ellica namen…Ellica namun'namen achu'machu ellica namen… Ellica namun'namen achu'machu ellica namen…"

Robin listened with rapt attention to the strange chant, which he assumed was the Glarnip Blessing Starfire mentioned. Though he could not understand what the woman was saying, the rhythmic melody of her words was strangely captivating. It reminded him of the myth of the Siren's Song, so engulfing the chant became; he almost wished he could just listen to the strange-but-beautiful tune indefinitely.

It took him a moment to realize that she had stopped singing after perhaps three or four minutes. At the end of her song she brought her hands together so that his and Starfire's were joined, and Robin understood why Starfire had told him not to take her hand before; just another part of the tradition.

Once their hands were joined, the Grand Ha'atoan looked at Robin and said something that sounded like a question, and Starfire visibly tensed. Robin took this as his cue.

"M-mi'hal, Robin du Earth," he began, his voice catching a little, "ritka…ritka vertas de Koriand'r du Tamaran, en nama du X'Hal."

Starfire relaxed again, and he knew he'd gotten it right. He breathed his own silent sigh of relief; the ceremony was going quicker than he expected. Perhaps they had cut it short in order to save a bit of time…

The Grand Ha'atoan meanwhile turned and addressed Starfire with a question as well that sounded almost identical to the one he'd been asked, and as he would have expected, her answer was also nearly identical.

"Mi'hel…Koriand'r du Tamaran…ritku vertis de Robin du Earth…en nama de X'Hal."

She said these words with her eyes closed, but as she finished and they opened again, they were swimming. She did not let tears fall, but it seemed a near thing. Robin himself was dry-eyed…but then, he hadn't cried since the death of his parents. It wasn't how he expressed himself. Still, he could understand how Starfire felt…especially considering the history of the royal blood to which she belonged. Against all odds, she was here, marrying someone she loved and working to save both her peoples in one swift blow. This was an incredible moment for her. And even he had to admit, he was rather overwhelmed too.

Her hand that was holding his slid up his arm and over his shoulder to come to a rest on the side of his face. Her other hand joined it a moment later. Instead of drawing him forward as he'd expected, however, her fingers brushed the edges of his eye mask, before feeling their way under the black and white fabric.

Instinctively his own hands shot up to clutch hers, stopping her. Was she trying to take it off? In front of hundreds of strangers? Didn't she know how vital it was that he kept his identity a secret? Surely she did…he never took it off, ever…surely she understood why it always had to stay on…

But then she whispered to him, so quietly he had to strain to hear, "Trust me."

Robin's eyes widened in surprise. She actually did want him to take it off? That was something easier said than done. He never took off his mask for anyone…if someone knew who he was, what he was…it'd be just a stone's throw away to figure out his mentor's secret as well, and blow open the entire secret legacy of Batman. He couldn't risk that happening.

But what if, he realized, by keeping the mask on, he was breaking some tradition that would throw the whole wedding ceremony into turmoil? It was very possible, judging by Starfire's sudden tension and the strange look the Grand Ha'atoan was giving him. He knew that protecting lives was more important than a secret identity, if it came to a choice between the two, and the whole point of the marriage was to give Earth and Tamaran an alliance that would save many lives for both peoples…if that was thrown off now, at the last possible minute…who knew what the repercussions could be.

The choice wasn't really a choice at all. The wedding had to go through in order to save lives. He had to finish this, and hope no one present could ever recognize who he was…

His hands eased, and slowly helped Starfire's to peel away the sticky fabric. Without a struggle the mask came off, held in both of their hands, and Starfire gazed into his eyes for the first time. They were a brilliant shade of blue; lighter than Tromand'r's, almost like the Earth's sky. She saw, in full view, the month-old scar between them, running over his forehead and down the bridge of his nose. For a moment she was lost in those eyes; they were like a window into his very soul, and Robin knew it. Perhaps it was because, behind the mask, he had never bothered to train his eyes to hide his inner self…but whatever the reason, he could no longer hide behind a mask…he was exposed, his very essence suddenly laid bare for her to see and judge.

Then before he knew it, their hands had returned to each other's cheeks, their eyes fluttered closed, and they slowly drew forward, until the tip of their foreheads rested against each other in the Tamaranian expression of love.

"It is done…" Starfire whispered to him, the joy in her voice almost choking the words. "By X'Hal, it is done…"

Unlike a wedding on Earth, however, no resounding cheer followed it, only a respectful silence.

At least at first.

Clap…clap…clap…clap…

Robin opened his eyes with a vague frown and broke away from Starfire. Something didn't sound right…but in the grand hall, he could not pinpoint the source of the slow clapping.

"Congratulations, Oh-Royal-Princess…quite a man you've bagged yourself there…"

Robin's ears burned with recognition, and judging from Starfire's reaction, so did hers. They knew that voice.

Through a gap in the line of Tamaranian warriors, she strode into view. Her heels clicked and clacked as she slowly marched toward the pair, drawing more than a few stunned stares. She brushed them off with a laugh that sent ripples through her sheet of black hair and made her violet eyes sparkle with amusement.

"…Sister?" Starfire said, stunned. "Why…How did you…when did you…"

"Get here?" Blackfire filled in. "You know me, my dear Starfire…I go wherever I please. As for why…surely you wouldn't tell me I'm not allowed to come see my dear sister at her wedding?"

Before Starfire could respond, however, Robin stepped forward, his mask already back on his face. "What's your game this time, Blackfire? You here to screw up the ceremony? Make Starfire's life miserable again? What is it?.!"

"Temper, temper, Robbie-boy," she admonished. "Mmm, he's a fiery one, just like my sister…you two should make an excellent pair…I can just imagine the s'lor…"

"You be silent!" Starfire said rapidly, cheeks slightly red. "You are not welcome on Earth or Tamaran, and you shall leave here at once. Whatever trouble you have come to cause for this planet, I shall not let it come to pass!"

"Oh, dear Starfire, you misunderstand me. I want nothing to do with your precious little foster planet here. I came to see you on your special day, nothing more."

Starfire hesitated. "…That is all?"

Blackfire smiled her casual smile and nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't miss this day for the world. I promise, I mean this planet no harm."

Robin wasn't buying it for a second, and from the looks of it, neither was Starfire…but she wasn't doing anything to attack anyone. After all, she was surrounded…no way for her to succeed, even if she did try anything…and for a moment, he allowed himself to relax.

And in that moment, he heard a loud thud behind him, and a sickening squelch immediately after.

"Him, on the other hand…he seems very interested in this planet…"

Robin and Starfire spun around in unison, and saw to their horror an enormous, eight-foot tall alien, blue-skinned and reptilian. A spear was poised in its hands, the tip pointing at the two Titans and dripping with blood…for its shaft was impaled straight through the chest of the Grand Ha'atoan.

The woman's mouth worked soundlessly; a moment later she coughed up blood, and fell to the floor, sliding clear off the end of the spear.

Robin could not help but be paralyzed with horror. The Gordanians…they were here…and where there was one…

B-BOOOM!.!.!

Dual explosions rocked both ends of the Grand Hall, sending more than a few bodies flying and screaming. Through the holes in the walls formed by the bombs, several dozen Gordanian warriors spilled into the room, weapons hacking and slashing into the crowd of Tamaranians.

Robin sprang into motion, ready to fight, but he barely got a few inches before an enormous blue hand snatched him around the waist, and the Gordanian who had killed the Grand Ha'atoan lifted him up to snarl at him face to face.

"ROBIN!" Starfire shouted, moving to help him, but a second later she was forced to twist out of the way as a blazing violet star-bolt flew at her head. A second later, a gloved hand clutched her around the neck like a vice, and Starfire was forced to look into Blackfire's smug, sinister face.

"Sister…what…have you done?.!" she demanded through forced breaths. "You have…allied yourself with the Gordanians! You lied to me, again!"

"Oh, don't mistake me, Starfire…" Blackfire corrected her. "I may be helping the Gordanians a bit, but I was telling the truth. I care nothing for this 'Earth' of yours. I don't plan on touching a hair on any of their heads."

Her fist glowed violet. "All I want, dear sister…is you."

The fist soared for Starfire's face, and it was all she could do to brace herself for the hit.

WHAM!