Just Drabbles

Disclaimer: Not now, not ever.

Chapter 15: What is in a name?

Snow fell heavily over Moscow, the small Russian village the Titans were staying in, waiting out the storm. The village leader was so grateful to the young heroes for saving their village from the radiation borne monster that he himself offered his home to the Titans to lodge in as they waited for the weather to be safe enough to start repairs on the T-ship. As the small group of teenagers sat huddled by the fire, eating warm mutton stew, Starfire stepped outside, not letting the vicious weather deter her from seeking out a place to think in solitude. She took to hovering over roof of the village leader's home. Starfire stared at the snow, watching as the snow swirled around her slim form that was currently in the lotus position.

The snow fell freely, uninhibited and unburdening. Starfire amended that last thought. The snow, while it was beautiful as enchanting crystals of frozen water, it kept families in their homes and hindered their crops, pausing them in their growth. Snow also reminded Starfire of Leonid, the boy who was now free of the villagers' scorn, believing him to be the monster that terrorized their village. Leonid was also free of his curse, he no longer had a reason to run and hide away from the world. Starfire hoped he was at peace, wherever he was.

The sound of boots scrambling up the snow soaked oak whose branches draped over the roof brought the Tameranean princess out of her Red Star filled thoughts. She unfolded her legs and assumed a battle position, both her curled fists and eyes were aglow with righteous fury. "Who is there?" She called out imperiously.

A boy's voice immediately answered her. "Whoa, whoa. Calm down Star, it's just me." As Robin's spiked hair and masked eyes peeked over the roof's edge, Starfire relaxed her stance and allowed a smile to work its way across her face.

"Greetings, Robin," she chirped. A blush danced along her cheeks as the fact that she was going to attack Robin came to full light. Dropping her gaze to the wet cement, clasping her hands behind her back and

shuffling one purple booted foot she asked, "What brings you to the roof?"

It was Robin's turn to blush. "Um, I wanted to check up on you and see if you were okay. When you disappeared earlier to go investigate the monster's trail, I was extremely worried."

Starfire's eyes widened. "You were worried about me?"

Robin's blush grew, wishing that the heat would spread to the rest of his body. He forced a laugh. "Yeah, I really got on everyone's nerves. I still think they have no idea how much I wanted to race out into the storm to look for you." Looking at Starfire's sparkling eyes and noticing how much higher she floated, he coughed, desperate to stop blushing. "Well you know, it's because you're my teammate and my best friend."

Though the sparkle did not fade from her eyes, Robin saw her drop slightly to the ground and mentally slapped himself. "Way to go Boy Blunder. It's the barren planet all over again. Raven's right, you are emotionally constipated."

Starfire watched as Robin grimaced at his words. She tried to reassure him. "It is fine Robin, I would have done the same had I been in your position." Unfortunately her reassurance didn't have the desired affect as they were blanketed by an uncomfortable silence.

Starfire looked back at the snow, still gently bobbing in midair. Robin, deciding to join her in meditation, sat on the roof only to yelp in surprise as snow seeped through the material of his pants. Starfire turned to see her leader leap nearly a foot off of the roof before dancing around wildly in place trying to get the snow off of his clothes. The princess couldn't help herself. She burst into peals of musical laughter. Robin stopped and glared at her.

"Glad I amused you," he said sourly.

"Oh friend," Starfire breathed between giggles. "I am truly sorry and I am sure this will make your mood worse but you looked so silly!" Her voice became close to that of an announcer. "Robin, the courageous leader of the Teen Titans jumping around as if he were a boy in the garden of kinders."

Robin huffed and did the only thing he could think of, he stuck his tongue out at her.

Her giggling increased. "Robin that is not helping you." As her laughter subsided she held out her hands and asked, "Would you like me to assist you?"

Robin nodded and slipped his hands into Starfire's. She effortlessly lifted him into the air and held him in place so that he would float beside her as long as he didn't let go of her hands.

"Thanks Star," Robin said as he shot her a grin. "Oh and by the way it's kindergarten, not garden of kinders."

Starfire nodded. "Kindergarten," she repeated, smiling as the word rolled off of her tongue.

As the hovering pair stared at the cascading flakes Starfire spoke, "It was snowing the last time I said goodbye to a new friend too." Robin looked at her quizzically. She smiled shyly, a new blush dusting her cheeks.

"Nightwing," Starfire said softly.

"My future self," Robin acknowledged. "Star? What...what was Nightwing like?" Robin shook his head. Nightwing wasn't a separate entity, Richard Grayson was the separate entity. Nightwing was, to put it bluntly, an upgrade. Robin 2.0.

A new persona?

Starfire furrowed her brow, her mouth sculpted into a thoughtful pout as her emerald orbs took on a slight glaze, peering through the snow and into her memories of the future. "Physically," she began. "You had a most noticeable increase in height, more than a few inches taller than me, quite possibly an entire foot. Your physique had much more musculature and your hair was quite long," She grinned at her best friend. "But not longer than mine."

Silently, Robin released his hold on one of Starfire's hands and ran his hand from the top of his head to his shoulder. "Past that," Starfire giggled. Her giggles increased as Robin wrinkled his nose then grimaced.

"We'll have to see about that," He replied. "What about me? What was my personality like now that I was no longer a part of a team?" And longer with you, He wordlessly added, his mental tone rueful.

Starfire became lost in thought once more. "You were kind to me when you rescued me from the clutches of Warp. You worked alone, in a...." She paused, hesitant to go on.

"Where did I take you?" Robin prodded gently.

"You seemed to dwell in an abandoned clock tower," Starfire dropped her gaze to her lap using her now free hand to twirl a thick strand of scarlet hair. She bit her lip before continuing. "It seemed quite similar to..." She couldn't find the courage to finish.

"Slade," Robin said darkly. He sighed also dropping his gaze. "I guess I'll never be able to escape him, huh?"

Starfire shook her head, "That is not true. I saw a future with our team dissolved. But this does not have to be!" She plowed on. "Yes, when Nightwing spoke there was an undercurrent of rue but there was still warmth and kindness! You will still be you!" Starfire looked directly at Robin. "Robin...are you afraid of losing yourself, your identity when you go by a different name in the future?"

Robin stared at his hands that were intertwined with Starfire. He tightened his hold on her hands but kept his grip gentle enough to not hurt her. "When I was little, my...my mom used to call me...used to call me..." He trailed off, biting hard on his lip trying to rein in the tears that were sure to flood his mask if he didn't quell the emotions that were surging through him.

Starfire was inheritantly sympathetic. She squeezed his hands and spoke softly. "Robin, if you do not wish to share, you do not have to. We all have things of our past we are not comfortable in sharing." She released one of his hands and gripped his chin, lifting his head to meet his gaze. "But you are not alone in feeling this."

Robin shook his head. "I've got to be able to talk about this." He gave her a small smile. "You're my best friend!" He started over. "My true identity...I'm not ready to reveal, but when I was little," His voice grew thick. "When I was little...my mom used to call me her little Robin. When my mom was still alive, Robin was a name of innocence and youth. Boundless energy and happiness.

When I became Batman's protégé, Robin became a name of comfort to the defenseless and a name of terror to the villains." Robin scowled. "Well, to some villains anyway. Others thought of me more as a nuisance, a plaything." He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "But I guess that's Night wing's job now. Robin will be no more."

Starfire placed her hand on Robin's cheek. "Robin is just a name, Nightwing is just a name. A title. I believe your Earthen playwright from so long ago, the one called William Shakespeare was correct when he said, '"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' Your name, er, superhero alias rather, will indeed change in the future, but," Starfire moved her hand from Robin's hand to rest over his heart. "But you will not change in here."

Robin smiled brightly, something Starfire hadn't seen since their time trapped on that wasteland of a planet. He pulled Starfire into his arms. "Thanks Starfire," He whispered. "I may go by a new name, but you're right. I won't lose myself." Pulling back slightly he kissed her on the cheek. Robin then laughed and wondered aloud.

"I wonder where the name Nightwing came from anyway."

*The first person to tell me in a review how Robin gets the name Nightwing, I'll let them decide the theme of the next chapter. Sorry, How Long is Forever doesn't have the answer.