"…………………….."

"…………………….."

"…………………….Raven?"

I cringe.

I shudder.

I sigh with my temple pulsing and calm myself.

"What is it….Starfire?" I look up lethargically from my book.

She has been sitting across from me for the past thirty minutes in the atrium of the Tower.

Her hands are in her lap.

Her head leans gently to the side as she stares at me in a fashion that—for all I know—she's been staring at me with for as long as she's been in here.

I've dreaded the sound of her voice piercing my reading time….

But I suppose all things are inevitable.

Might as well make the use of it….

"Did you need something?" I reiterate with a half-impatient drone.

"I was curious….if……if y-you could supply me with some of your wisdom."

"…………," I raise an eyebrow. "Regarding……..?"

Starfire bites her lip.

Her green eyes cast aside as she hugs her far shoulder with her hand.

"I-I was somewhat curious regarding……issues………w-with young Terran males……."

I blink.

Thwomp! I close my book.

"This is about Robin, isn't it?"

She sheepishly smiles, her amber cheeks red. "W-Well….."

"Starfire, ever since we returned home from the alien planet, you've had nothing to talk about but Robin."

"Hehehehe….am I that similar to an earthen glass vessel?"

"…………you think you're transparent?"

"I apologize for intruding. Honestly, there is nobody on the team that I would find comfortable to ask this of besides you, Raven."

"You can't talk to Robin?"

"Robin……….," Starfire fidgets in her chair. I see her biting her lips and tracing the distant, shadowy walls of the atrium with her Tamaranian optics. "……our t-team leader requires his 'space'."

"……..," I sigh. "What is on your mind, Starfire?"

"What exactly is this 'space' that Robin is most concerned with, Raven?"

"Uhhhhh……"

"It was not until our galactic battle with the cosmic creature that I heard him utter it. And ever since our return to Earth, he has used the term 'space' to explain his………h-his need for solitude."

"Uh huh……"

"But I am confused. Space is everywhere, is it not, Raven? And the average Terran cannot exist inside a vacuum—"

"I don't think Robin meant extraterrestrial 'space'," I utter. "But you're right on the 'solitude' part. Mostly."

"But why is he so adamant about being alone, Raven?" Starfire says passionately. Her expression is strung up somewhere between a frown and a mope. "I was under the impression recently that he……..h-he enjoyed my being both a friend to him and a girl!"

"It……It all comes down to the way boys are, Starfire," I say with a slight curve of my lips. Perhaps to ease her. Perhaps to ease myself. Perhaps nothing. "Especially at Robin's age……guys just don't like to be….—how should I put it--….touchy feely?"

"Huh?" she blinks.

I wince. "Er….m-maybe that's jumping the gun a bit…."

"So…..Robin is frightened to touch and to feel. Is there an issue with his somatosensory system?"

"No, Starfire—"

"If it is an epidermal disorder that Robin requires healing of, then certainly I can be of service! The textural ointment of Galavina Prime's moons have been known for their medicinal proper—"

"STARFIRE…..ugggh…," I rub my temple with a few fingers and close my eyes as I say: "Boys do not…..get as emotionally intimate as you would think. It's all some sort of……machismo thing. It's a nightmare enough as it is to get any guy to open up and talk about the way they feel or whatnot either…."

"…………," Starfire gazes down to the floor. "I see….."

I look at her sideways.

She takes a deep, thoughtful breath. "Robin told me….back on the planet….that he is not very good at sharing how he feels. Especially about me."

"Yeah. That about sums it up."

She bites her lip. "I have been wondering if perhaps there is something wrong with me."

I blink. "Starfire—"

"And that I make it an unnecessary challenge for him to express his emoti—"

I reach a hand out and touch her forearm. "Robin's just being a guy. Trust me."

The alien girl slowly gazes up.

I manage the best smile I can….weakly, perhaps. But as honest as I can form it. "Guys have….more roundabout ways of showing that they care about a girl."

Starfire's eyes grow round. "Then…..Robin does have feelings for me?"

"I…..uh…..," I fidget momentarily. I simper. "I-I'm sure of it, Starfire."

"And in what roundabout ways has he displayed such?"

"Uhm….th-the things he has done, Starfire."

"Truly?"

"…………," my eye scan the ceiling. "Uhhhh…." I tongue my cheek. I look for it…find it…then turn to speak to her again: "….on Tamaran….when you were engaged to that…..that………th-that groom. Robin climbed the Tower to your balcony to visit you in person."

"That….is true….," she nods, gazing off into space.

"And…..uhhh…..when you were going through your—er—transformation, Robin sent the team out to find you. You remember that?"

"I have a fondness for that memory, truly," she smiled slightly….a little embarrassed.

"Then……hrmm……," I gesture with my hand to roll the thought out. "….all those times he's saved you from Johnny Rancid…..Dr. Chang……Killer Moth…..Mad Mod—"

"I believe it was I who saved him from that nefarious Briton."

"Whatever," I drone. "You get what I mean."

"Heeeeeee….," Starfire cups her hands together and grins girlishly. "I do believe I am understanding." She smiles and raises a pleasant finger. "Robin shares his feelings without speaking. He would rather let his actions replace words."

"Yes, Starfire. That…..uh….," I push my stubborn strand of hair up out from my brow. "…..that makes sense. Doesn't it? Yeah….."

"Then that is the psychology of young earthling males?" Starfire leans her head to the side with a curious blink. "They prefer an indirect manner in expressing their emotions? Something of cryptic nature?"

"Heh….'cryptic' is hardly the word I would call it. But sure."

"Terran boys are certain to grow out of this mannerism, yes?"

I cough……and cough.

She raises a Tamaranian eyebrow.

"Ahem….," I keep a straight face and look at her dead-on. "…..they certainly….take their sweet time with growing up."

"…………..oh."

"Yeah."

Silence.

I take a deep breath and finger the cover of my book again….

"But I am still confused, friend Raven…."

My heart stops.

My teeth clench.

"……why is he so concerned with his space?"

"I don't know, Starfire….," I sigh.

"Truly?"

"Yes." I look at her. "Robin is a typical boy. Stubborn. Hard-headed. One-track mind."

"Yes….I-I have witnessed that…."

"He also has many secrets. Many that tie in with his occupation….his legacy as a crime fighter….is very core and being…."

"Which I do want so adamantly to find out about someday."

"And……that will take time, Starfire," I look at her. "If you're really serious about being with Robin—"

"Oh, indeed I am!" she exclaims.

I wince. "R-Right………Robin will eventually open up to you. Humans—especially male humans—aren't quite as passionate as Tamaranians, so I've seen. But trust me as an empath. Robin will come around. I am….I am just sure of it."

A beat.

She looks sadly towards the floor. Deflated. "How will I know it when Robin is doing the 'coming of the around'…..?"

"……………………….," I smile slightly. I look at her. "Because in all of my years of working with Robin….of knowing him as the fighter from Gotham City….from serving under his command and beating crime to a pulp by his side……………..I have never seen him so flustered as he has been since the day we all came back from that planet."

"…………………….," Starfire blinks hopefully.

I lean forward and emphasize: "You've broken through something, Starfire. You forced Robin to grow up a little….to grow up out of his own 'space'. And that shows something."

She smiles at that. She hugs herself and giggles. "Hehehehe….indeed I have…."

"Yeah….," I lean back. Nodding. "So….quit worrying…..and interrupting my reading and stuff."

"I anticipate 'breaking Robin' more in the immediate future! Hehehehehe!"

"Yeah….you do that, Starfire."

"His space shall experience the righteous fury of inevitable passion!"

I take a deep breath at that.

Azar, what have I done.

I open my book again.

Oh well.

"Space is a waste………"