Chapter 4: Troubled
Robin's lips against my forehead stirred me from unconsciousness. Sleep had snatched me at the latest hour and enveloped me in pointless dreams and nightmares, only darkening the circles beneath my eyes.
"Is it that time again?" I moaned, my eyes squinting as they adjusted to the light.
His face was less than an inch from mine, his masked eyes softening once mine met his gaze. "Yeah, beautiful, it's time to wake up."
I started to stretch but stopped when my chest protested. "I did not see you when you got back. Is he…contained?"
"Yeah, we won't have to worry about him anymore." He gave me an assuring smile and took one of my hands, bringing it up to his lips. "You're safe now." I nodded uneasily; though I wanted to believe him, there was a part of me that did not. "What's wrong?" He brushed my bangs out of my face, his smile turning into a frown.
"Nothing is wrong," I shook my head, denying all I could. "Everything is fine. I am doing better, and—"
"Star, I know you aren't comfortable here, but it's only temporary. I promise we'll take you back to the hotel as soon as—"
"Hello dearie!" the nurse named Cheryl cheerfully greeted me as she entered the room. She took note of the IV in my hand and frowned. "I must say, I expected a quicker recovery." She frowned and looked down at me pitifully. "I'm sorry, darling, but you'll be in here for at least two more weeks."
"Excuse me, but the doctor said—" Robin put in politely.
"Pardon me son, but your friend here is in terrible condition. The doctor will not be in today, so I will be taking care of her. If you don't want to bump heads with me, I would sit down and stay out of it." She had a belligerent tone to her voice, as if she was trying to threaten him.
He slowly plopped down on the chair next to the hospital bed, his face full of confusion and frustration. "Can you at least tell us what's wrong with her?" he asked in the same voice.
"Not yet," she responded. "Now, if you don't mind, I want you to leave while I run some blood tests."
"But last time—"
"No objections! Come back in twenty minutes." He did not move, despite the glare she shot in his direction. You could see it in his face; his neutral posture changed. His hands curled into fists and his brow narrowed in concentration. The nurse tolerated none of it, however. "Must I call security?"
"Lady, I am security," he growled, pulling himself to his feet and stomping out of the room. I saw the tip of his cape pool on the floor as he slid down the wall next to the door and heard his communicator beep once before he pulled it out and answered it.
…
The exhaustion washing over me overpowered the strength that swelled within my veins.
Robin noticed at once upon return and sighed as he sat dutifully next to me. "Hospitals not your thing, huh?" he said conversely.
"Hmm?" I mumbled.
"How much blood did she take?" he asked at once.
"I lost count after the second vial. I do not have any—what is the earthen expression?—'good vibes' from this woman?"
He took my hands in his own, rubbing them between his hands. "Your hands are freezing. Are you warm enough?"
"No, I am not. But any time I request an extra blanket, I get snapped at by the staff."
"What staff?" he grumbled. "The only staff member I've seen you in the presence of is that nurse." I sighed and closed my eyes, letting my head rest on the pillow. "Hey, don't worry. Everything will be okay."
"Robin…" I sniffled. I wiped my nose before anything could escape and stopped his hand on my cheek, holding it there. "This is not normal for me. My people are resilient when it comes to injuries and climate."
"Isn't it possible that maybe you're sleeping habits have jeopardized that? Isn't there any chance that that's the reason?"
"Yes, but it is not likely. Normally, we do not feel cold unless the temperature is below zero. And my powers are not at full use either. That nurse gives me 'the chills' and I do not feel safe around her." I was considering not telling him of my power difficulties, but I quickly decided otherwise because of how important it was. "With my strength I should have been able to stop her blood tests after the second vial, but I was not able to this time. I do not think she is who she says she is."
His eyes widened. "Since when have your powers not been working?"
"Since we confronted Daizo," I confessed, my shoulders sulking. "I—"
"I'm talking to your doctor," he interrupted, frustrated. "We're taking you back to the hotel." Clenching his hands into fists, he left the room.
…
It was not until two hours later that I saw Robin again, bringing into the room a small stack of papers secured beneath his arm. "We're getting you out of here." He opened the window and handed me the papers.
"We are?" I asked.
"Yes. I saw what they were using on you and didn't like it. Once we get you back to the hotel, I'm calling the police and suing this hospital." He held out his hand for mine and I allowed him to pull me to my feet.
"Are you sure this is okay?"
He turned me around to face him, his gaze intent on mine. "Star, I'd prefer you live through our trip here." Without anything more to say, we flew out the window and escaped the shadows of the hospital.
…
Upon being set on the bed in Robin's room, I felt amazingly relaxed and happy.
Robin eventually joined me on the bed, his warm embrace calming my racing heart. While he watched the news, his hand traced up and down my arm, which brought instant comfort as well.
I had not known our relationship was capable of such affectionate means.
I had always wanted to be more than friends with Robin, but I had not imagined us touching as we now were. I could not recall feeling as loved as I did in his arms, not ever as cherished as he led me to believe I was.
Contentment led to other things, such as my falling asleep on his shoulder-something which he was not to complain about. Beneath my eyelids, I had peace of mind; my dreams were no longer nightmares, my slumber was not a chamber of terror.
For the first time in days, I was not afraid of my subconscious.
Robin knew this, I was certain. I could tell how worried he had been; his body was tense with me against him, even as I fell asleep. His arm went rigid as soon as I stopped showing signs of consciousness.
I stared at him through foggy eyes, my lips fumbling for words to no avail. "What is wrong, Robin?"
He cocked his head to the side, resting it on top of mine. "I'm fine."
"You need to relax, Robin. Everything will be okay," I assured him, rubbing his shoulder.
"I nearly lost you," he choked. His arm tightened around my shoulders as his lips gently pressed to my forehead.
"It is the okay now," I promised him. As I lifted my chin to kiss him on the lips, a loud pounding on the door interrupted any peace we had.
Scoffing in frustration, he went to the door and opened it so he could check who it was. The annoying nurse, Cheryl, was screeching in protest at Robin from the other side of the door.
"She needs to be kept under surveillance, Mr. Robin! You have no right to dismiss her from the hospital on your own terms!"
He backed away reflexively, as if he was afraid she would pounce through the door. "Look lady, she wasn't getting the right care at the hospital. Therefore, she shouldn't be obligated by any means to—"
Before I was aware of the pinch in the crook of my elbow, my eyelids became very heavy and I passed out.
…
My blurred vision swayed as it focused on the clock next to my bed. Robin was sitting next to me, his hand holding mine and his other one resting in his lap. He was watching the news, which concerned the rescues of the day. Apparently a puppy had been trapped in a sewer and a firefighter had to rescue it.
"What has happened, Robin?" I croaked.
"We came to an agreement with the nurse," he explained. "You are permitted to stay here, provided the nurse and her team can check up on you every day."
"That is wonderful!"
He pursed his lips, eyeing me carefully. "I suppose." He leaned over and kissed my nose, resting his forehead against mine. "I promise you, we will take you home as soon as we can free ourselves of these relentless Japanese medical staff."
That brought my thoughts to our first night here. Could we not just leave Tokyo and return to Jump City? "What happened to our ship? Could we not simply fly home tonight?"
"I really wish you wouldn't have brought that up…" he muttered.
"Why not?" I demanded. "Is it not a matter of my business as well? Am I not to rely on that transportation to get me home?"
"Star, please, just—"
"Robin, no, it is a matter of-"
A knock at the door caused him to hold in his response as it reached his throat. "What do you want, Cyborg?"
"Rob, man, we need to get ready for that banquet tonight. The mayor called just now and wants us there."
"Cyborg, we're not going. We can't just leave Starfire here by herself while that nurse can come at any moment and—"
"Cheryl told me she wasn't coming back to check on her until tomorrow," Cyborg explained. There was an abrupt clicking noise as he picked the lock and opened the door. He stepped inside, his frown prominent across his face. "Robin, we need to go. Maybe we can ask if they can help us get home." When Robin did not say anything, Cyborg went on, "Maybe Raven can stay behind with Star because of what happened this afternoon."
My brow furrowed as I put the pieces together. "Robin, what is going on?"
It appeared no one heard me, because the next thing I knew both of them were face to face, arguing with barely a foot of space between them. "Cyborg, she is my priority right now, not a Japanese banquet! If we go, she might not still be here waiting for us when we get back!"
"Well maybe we can find out why the doctors are treating her like this! If you're too scared to leave her side, we may never find out," he argued. "You are going, Rob! No questions asked."
"But Cyborg—" Robin protested.
In a rush that left me dizzy, I sprang from my position on the bed and wedged myself between them, my eyes focused on Robin. "Robin, you will go to this and—"
"No, Starfire," he muttered, grabbing me by my arm and pulling me toward the bed, "you will rest while we—"
I doubt they noticed the only reason I went along with Robin's force is due to my state of dizziness.
Cyborg eyed me with concern, immediately blaming Robin. "Don't treat our Star like that, Rob. She may be your girlfriend but she's not a rag doll." He walked over and raised an eyebrow. "You okay, little lady?"
"I am the okay Cyborg," I smiled at him. "I wish that you enjoy tonight's banquet."
"We'll do our best, Star," he assured me, placing a hand on my shoulder. With a skeptical glance at Robin, he turned on his heel and left the room.
Robin frowned at once, his masked eyes narrowing. "Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" He sat down on the bed opposite mine, folding his hands together in front of him.
"I will be fine," I told him.
He looked at the floor and the rose to his feet, kissing me on the cheek as he padded over to the bathroom. "I'll check up on you before we go," he called, closing the bathroom door behind him.
As soon as the shower water started running, I collapsed on the bed, my breath escaping in a heavy sigh. In the minutes that followed, I fell into a daze and thought about the obvious concern presented by my injuries; after all, it was because of them I was to spend a majority of my time confined to this room. Tamaraneans were not easily weakened, so how was it possible for them to rob me of all my strengths, just like that? Even in the presence of Slade, I was not ever rendered an easily defeated adversary.
Things changed, regardless of how much I did not like them, and that made me wonder if they had changed for the better. Although I was always Robin's weakness, did that necessarily mean I had to become the weaker one?
I became bored with waiting for Robin to exit the shower, so I took to looking gazing out the window, only to be joined by him when he was finished. His hands massaged my shoulders and his arms engulfed my waist from behind. "I want you to stay in the room until we get back," he whispered gently in my ear.
I leaned into his embrace, his breath against my neck making me lethargic. "Or you could stay with me."
"I can't," he said bluntly, the gentleness from his voice gone.
"And I do not think it is right for me to be restricted to one room for the duration of our stay. Can I not accompany you as your date?"
"Star, c'mon," he groaned. "You know why—"
"Is your mind readable?" I snapped. "You expect me to be left here by myself without a method of defending myself."
His brow furrowed in confusion. "So—what's your point, Star?"
"I think instead of confining me like a prisoner you should be bringing me with to the banquet. How are you to know if I am in any danger?"
"You'll still have your communicator," he responded matter-of-factly. He moved away, his lips tightly held together in a line. "You're not leaving the room, end of discussion." With that, he began getting dressed for the dinner. He had acquired the tux and the black dress shoes, which made me curious because I did not know where he could make such purchases in this city. Then again, he was not confined to a hotel room like I was.
"What's the matter, Star?" he asked. Without waiting for me to respond to his inquiry, his eyes scanned my face, he released a sigh and then he left the room.
His attitude made my heart sore. Was I truly that much of a burden now that I could not defend myself? His actions lead me to believe it was so.
The site before me left me breathless, but not in the good way.
Pieces of the T-ship were scattered and they were charred from being burned. In the background, my communicator beeped incessantly, to the point that I took it out of my pocket and turned it off.
I noticed droplets of blood scattered on the ship and immediately took several samples. After all, that was the purpose of the modernized vials Robin had given us. I was just about to return to Robin's hotel room when I overheard two male voices. Instinctively, I flew to a higher branch that was well-camouflaged by leaves and other branches. It was good that I had; just as my weight settled on the branch, the men were directly beneath me. Fortunately, I was still able to overhear their conversation.
"Are you sure they didn't take samples of the evidence?" the first one, a husky middle-aged male asked.
"Positive," the second one reported. "The spiky-haired one didn't have enough time because we scared them off, remember?"
"I don't really think sending a laser beam toward them qualifies as scaring them off," the first one drawled.
"It does because it got rid of the sorceress."
"You know, you might get in trouble with the boss because he said only to harm the redhead."
"Don't you realize we're only making his job easier? He wants revenge on all five, not just the naïve alien."
"True, but he also plans to carry out part of that revenge at the banquet tonight. He wanted all five present so he could have them all in one place. Are you sure you heard him right?"
"I honestly don't care. He gets what he gets."
The accomplice paused, obviously checking the time based on his response: "We need to go get ready for the banquet, Bill. He wants us there in ten minutes."
"Says who, Joey?"
"Says me," Joey growled. "He wants us stationed properly so we can get the titans where he wants them."
"Whatever you say," Bill mumbled under his breath. No other words were exchanged between them, and before I knew it, the two men were gone. As quickly as I could, I flew out of the forest and landed, immediately checking my communicator. The banquet was to begin in twenty minutes. That explained why they did not linger behind to discuss the scene of the crime any longer. Either that or they suspected a member of the titans to show and expose everything.
Regardless, if they were going to the banquet, that meant my friends were in grave danger. Though my mind raced because of my new anxieties, I knew this could not wait. I realized that the only way to conquer the real enemy was to confront him, face to face—even though I knew not who it was. I was not so sure he would be surprised, but I was absolutely certain of one thing.
I was going to the banquet.