I Want You to Want Me
Chapter 23: Didn't I See You Crying?
Robin was beyond words. He was torn. He wanted so badly to walk up to Speedy and beat the shit out of him and then tell Summer to get out of his life and never come back, but at the moment his mind was telling him that he had something more important to attend to at the moment. And that something was Starfire, who was crying her eyes out because someone she had fully trusted betrayed her.
He rushed past the crowd that was now huddled around the initial scene and standing around quite awkwardly at the doorway. He pushed pass everyone, including Summer who gave him a meaningful look and tried to call out to him. She grabbed his arm momentarily, to which he shrugged out of her grasp and turned on her saying, "You had better hope that you aren't here when I get back," and then moved onward to look for his Tamaranian Princess.
He tried her bedroom, which was still bare and pink. The evidence of her thought process for getting dressed was made apparent by the ten or so dresses spewed across the bed. He smiled for a moment. He always pictured her naturally perfect, but to see that she took time to make her appearance a certain way which satisfied her made him smile. It made her more…human, if that made any sense. And that was something he loved about Starfire. Her ability to be so humane when he himself was alien. He was socially awkward, unable to relax or be calm, focused on work, often times like a robot. And yet she, the girl from another planet was more human than he coudl ever be. She was carefree, fun to be around, a social butterfly and having found a balance between her work and play. He took one last glance at the lavender painted walls and walked through the opened doors.
He knew there was only one other place that Starfire would go, and that place would be Titans Tower's roof. And so he had made his way there to find her, skipping several stairs in each bound.
It was a strange thing. Betrayal. She was not well versed in it's behaviors. Sure, her sister had used it on her twice before, but other than that, the Princess was not able to fully fathom its use and why it hurt so badly.
She had trusted him. She didn't know why. Perhaps it was that smile of his. Or maybe the way he seemed to treat her like a goddess. Perhaps the fact that he paid attention to her and wasn't scared to be himself…whether in private or public.
"But it would appear that he was not being himself at all." It was true. It was a lie. It had all been a lie. A cruel joke. A prank to be played out on her special day. Well, they had certainly surprised her. She could not deny that.
She had never felt more stupid than she did now. Prancing about, feeling special and sought after because she had two handsome men in love with her. When the fact of the matter was both of them belonged to someone else.
Slowly, each tear drop fell from her emerald eyes, running down her cheeks, nose, and chin. She took in a deep sob here and there and searched the stars for the reason as to why she deserved this. She watched the lights of the city sparkle, knowing that everyone out there was happy and it only pained her more. They were all with those they loved, and here she was, crying alone on a rooftop, abandoned, betrayed, and alone. No, she had never before felt so alone. Not in a long time. She looked out again, begging someone to help her.
As if her prayers had been answered the boy wonder came forth. He crept along the shadows, drinking in breaths, relieved to have found her. She knew he was there. She always knew when he was. Perhaps it was a connection between them.
He stopped walking after a moment. He found himself instantly not knowing how to precede, what to do or say.
"I suppose I should have known that you would find me," she spoke first in a whisper, her back to him still. "You have always had a way of saving me." He smiled a small smile at that and approached her.
He said nothing. Just looked at her. She shivered slightly in the cold and he found himself removing his jacket and draping it over her slender shoulders. She was certain she stopped breathing when he moved closer to her. They stood there, the two of them, moments passing, neither saying a thing. And somehow it comforted her. Somehow, no words needed to be said.
The breeze blew again and Robin put his hands in his pockets awkwardly. She sniffed and he turned to look at her. And he didn't know if it was the way the wind blew in her hair or the way the tear streaks stained her face, but he decided in that instance that he would never let anyone hurt this heavenly creature again. He found himself lifting his mask now, wanting to see her better. Wanting to see her with his own eyes. See her pain clearly.
She tuned to him suddenly now, feeling uncomfortable for being put under the scrutiny of his gaze. His piercing blue eyes looking into her soul. Her nose red from crying, her eyes glassy and trying her hardest to cover up that she felt bad at all. She wanted to be strong around him. She wanted to impress him. But she knew that she had failed at both with the scene a few moments ago. She had been naive and stupid. She had lost someone else to Summer.
She questioned herself then, regardless of what Robin says, shouldn't he be down there now? Down with his girlfriend, hurting Roy for his betrayal? Shouldn't he be jealous now and want her back? She looked back out at the city lights again, trying to avoid his gaze.
"Robin…why are you here?"
And his brows went into a frown, and his eyes softened. He reached out a hand that for once was not covered with a glove and turned her to look into his eyes which were not covered by a mask, and forcing her to see the real him while asking a question that seemed to answer everything. His one question made it obvious that he would be here to run to her rescue if he ever saw her in pain. He looked at her with his thumb wiping away a tear saying, "Didn't I see you crying?"
Well, yet another one. Yes it was short, but the last one was longer than usual. Robin and Star will be sharing some more time alone in the next one and Summer might be catching a beat down.
That's all for now. Thanks for reviewing!
Lovin It,
LILY