Warning: this next chapter makes full use of the M rating. I'm not even kidding. If you don't like love scenes, or are squeamish, you might end up skimming a lot of this chapter. I'm an adult and I like to read and write adult things, so I'm not gonna apologize. By the way, don't ever ask Kry for advice on torture scenes. She goes all gleamy-eyed and makes it so much worse than it should be.
Starfire clutched Robin's hand as they walked to the bridge, Alfred and Raven following behind. His hand was hurting like hell from her grip but he stayed silent, knowing she needed him to keep her grounded. She was high-strung, taut like a guitar string that was tuned too tightly and ready to snap.
A green cat came bounding down the hall and instantly was in Raven's arms, licking her face joyously. A smile alighted on Raven's lips as she lovingly caressed the feline boy in a hug. Beast Boy hopped out of her hands and grew up into his human self. He instantly attached his lips to Raven's, his hands holding the back of her head.
"Well that is quite the welcome," Alfred chuckled.
"I love her, Al," Beast Boy said in a breath, before busying his lips again. Raven had to gently push him away.
"You're making Alfred blush," she chided.
Alfred snorted. "Nothing you two do could make me blush. You forget who I live with."
"What was that?"
Alfred had the decency to pretend to look guilty. Raven could still see the humor in his eyes, however.
Batman was swooping down the hall, followed by the rest of the rescue party and several IGP officers, including the Chief.
"Master Batman, good to see you. I am very glad to see everyone has come back more or less unscathed."
"More or less," Batman grunted.
Robin rolled his eyes.
"Let's proceed to the bridge then," the Chief said.
Starfire was even more unsettled and Robin wondered what was wrong. Everything was over now. But he didn't have much time to think when Batman made his way to Robin's side, his mouth set in a steely line.
"I'm happy you're both okay," he said, his voice cutting like metal.
Robin tried not to curl his lip as he said just as coldly, "Sure. But you're more extremely angry that we were both so stupid and reckless, right?"
Batman was silent before he started in an "I told you so" voice. "Well, you did-"
"Save it Batman," Robin snapped tiredly. "I don't want to hear your fucking lecture."
"Don't disrespect me," he snapped back.
"Boys," Starfire barked at them. "You both are acting childish."
Batman stared at Starfire with his mouth open. Robin stared also, his jaw dropped that she dared to associate "Batman" with the term "boy."
Superman snickered and Alfred had an "oh snap no she didn't!" look on his face as he tried to hide the smirk.
Starfire stopped in her tracks, the whole party turning to look at her.
"Chief, I inquire as to the necessity of completing the documentation for this unfortunate event immediately or if it can possibly be postponed."
"Your reasoning?" he asked.
"Robin and I need quarters with a shower where we can get cleaned up before we discuss anything. Is there such a room on the ship?" she said in a no nonsense tone.
"Bossy," Batman muttered under his breath.
"We can most certainly accommodate you, Princess," the chief said reluctantly. "Right this way."
"Thank you," she nodded.
The chief lead them down two floors and several corridors before stopping in front of a double doorway.
"This is the largest suite we have on the ship, Princess."
"I thank you, chief. How long until we reach IGP?"
"We have about eight hours. I would like to get the initial paperwork done before we land, Princess."
"Fine. We will be on the bridge in five hours. I suggest that everyone refreshes themselves, gets some rest, and then we can focus more clearly on the details of this case."
The Chief still looked slightly unenthusiastic, but nodded his head and beckoned the rest of the group to follow. "There are some more suites down this hall for the Titans, and the Justice League if any of you have need of it," he announced as they rounded a corner.
Starfire palmed the lock pad and the doors swung open as everyone filed away.
Robin absently watched everyone go before his shirt was grabbed and he was pulled into the suite. He hardly knew what was happening until he was shoved against the wall and warm lips firmly attached to his. Hands roamed his chest, his stomach, and it only took one second before he was completely in the moment. Starfire was attacking his mouth with wild abandon, and never had he experienced a kiss so loaded with all the crushing emotions they had felt in the past day. They believed the last time they were together would truly be their last. Now they were safe and he had never felt the need to collide with her more than in this moment. He flipped them so she was now pushed against the wall and he was driving her against it, his hips pressing into hers with need.
She yanked his shirt up, her fingers digging into his defined muscles, as if she needed to physically meld with him to feel whole. He grabbed her hair in his fist and tugged so her neck was exposed to him. He grazed his lips over her pulse, pleased to feel it was healthy and racing. He sucked on the tender spot where her neck met her shoulder, her gasps and moans encouraging him on.
His body had been so weary and tired, but now it seemed the endorphins were giving him the sweetest high and he felt completely primed as he tore the remaining scraps of her skirt. He clicked her belt off.
She returned the favor by ripping his already shredded shirt from his torso. He saw a feral look gleam in her eyes as she drank in the sight of his chest, heaving from his exertion, though they had done nothing physically demanding yet. He swore he heard a growl in her throat. She licked her lips.
He had her naked in five seconds. Her neck plate was tossed aside with a heavy thump, her boots slid right off and her shirt and bra were non-existent in the blink of an eye. He wasn't sure where her panties had ended up.
He lifted her up against the wall and moved against her, not even realizing or caring that he still had pants on. He felt her reach down, attempting to dig her fingers into his waistband so she could relieve him of that bothersome barrier. Instead he picked her up fully and moved the few steps to toss her onto the bed. He watched her bounce, his pants disappeared and she closed her eyes as his body settled over her. She spread her knees for him and he was buried fully before she could draw in another breath. He pulled back and stroked forward and shivered when he heard the throaty moan pour from her lips.
He began moving in a solid steady rhythm, his hand reached up and palmed her breast, squeezing firmly. He pulled her hair again, plastering his mouth against her neck, biting the skin beneath her ear, reaching up and attaching his teeth to her earlobe. She was unable to keep quiet and every purr and moan sent his sexual fever higher.
He leaned his head down to nip a peak in his teeth as he slipped his fingers between their bodies. She instantly became louder as he massaged where he knew she liked it. He bit his lip as he watched her face, watched as her expression relaxed. Her mouth was parted and her eyes were closed, savoring the sensation of what he was doing to her. She bucked her hips against his, drawing him in deep.
He sucked in a haggard breath and in one swift motion he pulled out, flipped her onto her stomach and yanked her hips up to meet his. He plunged forward again, the sounds coming from her now completely changed into something primal. Something about this position changed the dynamic and he was diving into her, desperately needing to satiate the craving for her. They had never tried this position before but he found that he liked it immensely; the curve of her back was extremely appealing from this angle and she was gripping a pillow that barely muffled her noise. She felt completely different around him and from the way she was carrying on, he gathered it felt different in a good way for her too.
He reached around her hip and began caressing her again, which sent her into another frenzy. She pushed back against him with every thrust, desperate to feel his friction. The pressure was building and the new sensations were enough to send them right to the edge. He was holding off his own release as he could tell she was close. It took only seconds to hit the sweet spot and she was wailing so loud he was sure everyone on the ship could hear her. Her entire body shuddered around him, clenching him tight as he let himself relax against her, his own climax washing over him. He raked his hand over her back as tremors rippled through her. She fell flat onto the bed and he fell on top of her, exhausted.
They both breathed heavily, her ribcage expanded and contracted underneath him and he ran his fingers lazily through her mane of hair, getting caught in tangles. She shivered every once in awhile, signs that aftershocks were still lingering. He smiled, pleased and satiated, pleased that she was satiated too. He rubbed her back, played with small tousled stands of hair.
They spent minutes just winding down, he still resting on top of her, and she breathed heavily into her pillow.
He realized something wasn't right when her breath hitched. She emitted a small hiccup and he furrowed his brows. He reached his hand up to her face and frowned sadly when his fingers were wet with tears.
"Star?" he asked, concerned. He leaned up carefully, as he was still inside her.
Having been found out, she began to cry harder.
"Oh God Star, what's wrong?" Robin said, alarmed. He brushed the hair out of her face and rubbed her back inquiringly.
"We were so close. I did not want to die," she sobbed. "I did not want to die."
"I know," he breathed. "I almost lost you today." He leaned back down and hugged her tightly, looping his arms underneath her. His heart broke for her. She had been so strong through the fight with her sister, recovering from the battle. The sex had completely broken down her last barricade and she was emotionally raw and quivering from the grief he knew she would always feel when it came to her biological family.
She shook her head. "I almost lost you. I almost lost you Robin and I could not have ever dealt with that."
"Raven saved us baby, and we're all gonna be okay. It's all over."
Starfire seemed to cry even more.
"It is not over. I know it is not."
"She's in custody now, Star. It is all over." He rocked her, soothing her as best he could, but tears continued to leak down her cheeks.
"Come on," he said gently. "We're all sticky and we're still covered in blood. Let's go take a shower."
She heaved in a few more sobs, her eyes becoming red and puffy.
"Ready?" Robin said, preparing to slide from her.
She nodded, and he pulled away and then quickly helped her up to the bathroom. He started the warm shower spray and held her hand as she stepped over the tub wall. He followed after her and grabbed the removable shower head spray, rinsing the grime and the dark red blood away from her body. He grabbed a washcloth and used some complimentary soap and gently washed her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed as he rubbed the hot washcloth over her thighs, between her legs, and she rocked her hips with his hand. He smiled and kissed the tears on her cheeks that had mingled with the water spray. She leaned up so slightly and captured his lips in a soft breathy kiss. He kissed back, lightly running his tongue along her bottom lip. She connected more solidly and he dipped his tongue into her mouth, explored gently, slowly, pouring his love for her into every caress. She followed his every cue, matched his quiet intensity. He slid his hands over her wet soapy skin, his palms mapping her curves from her hips up to her breasts, sliding down her back to cup her behind. The drawn out passionate kiss was sending a searing hot tingle straight below and he was certain he was ready for round two. In fact it was becoming clear he was ready for another go as he pressed into her soft belly. She echoed his movements and he was sliding his fingers over her fleshy cheek and onto her thigh, pulling it up over his hip and realigning himself with her own hips.
She managed a shaky float as he lifted her against the shower wall and she wrapped her legs around his waist again. He pressed forward and slid in comfortably, his lips still attached to hers. He cupped her bottom, helping her keep afloat as he started a tortuously slow rhythm, sliding ever so gently and softly back and forth. She kept his pace, her eyes fluttering and rolling back as she draped her arms around his neck, holding him flat against her body, the slippery soap allowing his chest to slide along hers.
He felt her shift her hips so that his hardened length rubbed against just the spot she needed. He kept his slow pace, hoping she knew that with every stroke he just wanted to love and comfort her. He just wanted to show how much he cared for her, how he couldn't live without her. She often closed her eyes during because he knew she liked to focus on the sensations and limiting her sight helped her do that. He always liked to watch her face however, because it was the expressions of pleasure and the sight of her beautiful body writhing against his that always turned up the heat for him. This time she kept her eyes mostly open and she gazed back lovingly at him, their foreheads touching, their breath synced. She began to wiggle on him and he could tell she needed a little more friction. He picked up the pace and slid his fingers down. She breathed in deep and swayed against him and soon he felt her body tense in the familiar way. He knew it was just a couple more strokes and then she was rocking and moaning against him softly and seeing and feeling her completion around him set off his own. He moaned too and pushed her against the tile, one hand still cupping her bottom and the other supporting his weight against the shower wall. The rocked together, slowing down until they both felt satisfied and she slid her legs down to shakily stand.
He grinned and kissed her and murmured, "Look at what you did. Now I have to clean you up again."
A little smile appeared on her lips and she almost giggled. Another tear rolled down her cheek.
"Still crying?" he asked.
She looked embarrassed and lowered her head.
He cupped her cheek and gave her a sweet kiss. "Hey, it's all right to cry. You've been through so much. It's okay."
She heaved in a sigh, then eyed his body.
"You are still not completely clean. Give me the washcloth."
He handed her the cloth and she applied some more soap. She turned him around so his back was facing her. She began to wash all the remaining blood off his back, moving her hand in slow circles.
He rolled his head, her soft touch soothing. When she was finished he turned toward her, enveloping her in a tight hug. She hugged him back just as tightly, burying her face into his shoulder. It was good to be alive.
ooo
Cyborg was sitting in his own room, talking to his arm.
"So how's it been goin'?"
"Just fine, Sparky. The Speedster and I are hanging out in yo crib, while Water Boy and Mas y Menos are chillin' like a villain at home."
"Cool, cool. Had any problems yet?"
"We had a little run-in with Dr. Light but he's such an idiot we dealt with him right away."
"Hey Cyborg!"
"Speedy says hi."
"Hey, 'sup Arrow Boy?"
"Nothin' much. I'm so bored I had to snoop around. Would this by chance be Starfire's?" Speedy held up a black lacy bra and raised his eyebrows up and down. "From Bee's lingerie party?"
"Aww you are so dead," Cyborg said, shaking his head.
"Yeah I know, Robin'll kill me, right?"
"No. But Raven will."
Speedy's face lost the mile wide grin and went ashen. "Raven?"
"Yeah. Where'd y'all find that?"
"In the laundry room... I just assumed..."
Cyborg chuckled. "I'd put that back exactly where you found it and never speak of this again."
Speedy looked extremely worried and ran away. Cyborg snickered and poked at his arm, saving the video.
"Should I be concerned you actually know who that belongs to? Is it really Raven's?"
Cyborg snorted and shrugged. "I really don't have a clue, Bee. I just wanted to see the look on his face."
"You so bad, Cyborg. Teasing him like that."
"Aw girl, you shut yo mouth."
Bumblebee grinned at him.
"I miss you, Sparky."
"Miss you too, Bee."
ooo
"Soooo… Raven," Beast Boy waggled his eyebrows. "We have five hours to do whatever we please."
"And?" she drawled.
"Just call me Mr. Flintstone, cause I can make your bedrock."
"Oh wow. Just for that, you're not touching me."
"What? Come on! That was golden!"
Raven snorted.
"That's like the best pickup line ever!"
"There are better ones."
"Really? Like what?"
"How much does a polar bear weigh?"
"Um…" Beast Boy screwed up his face. "I think…" he turned into a polar bear and lumbered into the bathroom to see if there was a scale.
Raven smacked her forehead.
He turned back into himself. "There isn't a scale in there. But I think it's roughly 350-600 pounds, depending male or female."
Raven stared at him.
"What?"
"Let's try this again. How much does a polar bear weigh. And the average person who cannot turn into one would say…" she gestured with her hand.
"Oh! Oh… ah… I don't know?"
"Just enough to break the ice. My name's Raven."
Beast Boy's face was blank until the light clicked on and he laughed. "Hey! That was a good one! Where did you hear that?"
Raven shrugged. "I go on the internet too, you know."
"Nice legs. What time do they open?" Beast Boy said slyly.
"Do you have any raisins? No? How about a date?" Raven retorted.
"If I follow you home, will you keep me?"
"You better know CPR because you just took my breath away."
"Roses are red, violets are blue, how would you like it if I came home with you?"
"Let's make a fabric softener and snuggle."
"Are you a parking ticket? Cause you got fine written all over you."
"Do you have sunburn, or are you always this hot?"
"I'm not really this tall. I'm sitting on my wallet."
"Life without you would be like a broken pencil. Pointless."
Beast Boy's mouth opened. "Aww, that's the perfect one for you, Rae!" he exclaimed.
She smiled a little.
"All right, I got one more. I bet you twenty dollars I can kiss you without my lips."
"Okay," Raven said.
Beast Boy leaned in and pressed his lips to Raven's sweetly, lingering as he ran his tongue along her bottom lip.
"Oops, I lost," he said, unable to attach himself from her. He pulled her closer, running his hands over her hips, up her back, and then down to her backside. He cupped her rear and pulled her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, levitating slightly to take her full weight off of him. He slid his fingers under her leotard, slipping over the softness between her legs. He smiled as she sucked in a breath against his mouth. He began tugging off her cloak as a finger slid up, and she began sporadically helping shed clothes. She removed his shirt.
She could sense his animal instincts going wild as he pulled the zipper of her leotard down her back, his fingers grazing her opalescent skin as he did so.
She slid off of him and stepped out of her leotard. He reached around and unhooked her bra with one hand. She raised her eyebrows, impressed. He grinned at her and slicked the bra off her arms. She undid his belt, he kicked off his shoes and she helped him get his pants off. He slinked her panties down and she had a thought, wondering where all this was going.
He picked her up and tossed her onto the bed and he was on top of her before she could blink, his lips reattached to hers. She raised her knee up and he placed his hips in between her legs naturally. She gasped when she felt him touch her underneath and she put a hand on his shoulder.
Her wide purple eyes looked into his fearfully.
"What's wrong?" he slurred.
"Not ready yet," she whispered.
"That's fine," he said, kissing on her neck. She felt his fang prick her skin.
"Just make sure you don't get too close. I can still feel you under there."
He slid his hand down instead and she took in a sharp breath.
"How's that then?"
She could only respond with a moan. He worked his fingers over her flesh for a minute and his senses reeled as the scent of her arousal spiked.
"Rae," he groaned in her ear and a warm tingle spread through her belly. He was still pressing against her, moving his hips in a natural rhythm and she felt exhilarated and terrified all in one. All it took was one slip-
And he did, just slightly. She gasped and attempted to sit up and he pulled away quickly, sputtering apologies.
"It's okay," she said shakily. She wrapped her arms around herself.
"I'm so sorry Rae. It's just you felt so good and I wasn't careful enough." His ears drooped.
"It's not your fault. It's easy to accidentally line up like that, that's how it's supposed to happen."
"It really was an accident, honest."
"I know it was."
He flipped his feet over the bed so he was sitting on the edge. He hung his head in his hands. Raven bit her lip and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't want to push you. This should happen when you're ready for it. But I think you'd be ready if you weren't so psyched out about it. Is it me? Do you not want me?"
Raven's eyes widened. "No, Beast Boy, no. It's not you at all. I appreciate so much that you're waiting for me to figure myself out like this. I don't know why I can't take that step, I'm just... scared. I don't know." She looked down, frustrated and upset. "You know me. I just can't let people in like others do."
"Hey Rae? What if maybe we take it little steps at a time?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, well what happened just now. What if I like, just ah... you know, I hug you, and press into you a little, and we just hold still? And you can get used to the feeling?"
Raven looked dubious. "We'd hold still?"
"Yeah. And the next time I'd go a little farther, and then eventually we'd get to moving, and then to the real thing."
She was still uncertain. "Maybe..."
"Could you handle it, if you knew it was coming?"
"You mean right now?"
"Yeah."
Her eyes widened.
"I'll be gentle. You can trust me."
He pulled her in for a hug, kissing her softly. He nuzzled on her neck and laid her back down onto the bed. She hadn't verbally assented but he knew that her nonresistance was her go ahead.
Her face was still worried however and he did his best to kiss away her fears. He pressed against her again and was proud of her when she didn't flinch. Finding his way, he barely slid inside and Raven's breaths were quicker. He held completely still, wanting her to be able to trust him completely, wanting her to see how good it could feel. After a moment her muscles relaxed a little, and she leaned up to kiss his bottom lip. He returned the lip lock before she could lay her head back down and just like that she was calmer. He could literally feel the tension leaving her body, her arms and legs went slack and she seemed to envelop him. Every nerve in his body wished desperately that he could move, could sink all the way into her and get lost in the sensation but he held his position for her sake, knowing that someday when she was ready it would be worth it.
"How are you doing?" he murmured into her ear.
"Fine," she replied. "This... this actually feels really good."
"I told you it would." He kissed her cheek.
They stayed entwined for a little while longer, nuzzling and being close, until they were both ready to get up. Raven wanted to take a shower and Beast Boy figured he should too. She padded to the bathroom and he followed, smacking her on the butt as he slipped past her.
"Hey!" she exclaimed.
"You have the hottest ass," he laughed, turning on the shower water. She couldn't help the grin that tweaked her lips.
"By the way, I want my twenty dollars."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"You bet me twenty that you could kiss me without using your lips, and you lost."
Beast Boy looked stunned for a moment. "You actually want me to give you twenty dollars?"
Raven shrugged. "There's a new book I've been wanting to get at the mall."
Beast Boy crinkled his nose and found his pants, pulling out a slim wallet.
"Gold digger," he muttered playfully as he tossed a twenty dollar bill at her.
She grinned. "Don't ever make a bet with me."
"You're worse than a bookie. I'll remember that for next time," he said with a chuckle, heading to the shower.
ooo
Starfire folded a towel securely around her body and pressed the call button on the intercom.
"Chief speaking."
"Chief, we were wondering if there were any spare clothes on the ship? Our uniforms have been mostly destroyed and we do not wish to put them on again after getting clean. Is there any possible way to send some up?"
"We may have something you could use, Princess. I'll let you know."
"I thank you."
About a half an hour later there was a knock on their door.
Starfire answered.
"Oh, hello Alfred!"
"Hello my dear. I've brought you some clean clothing."
"Thank you so much," Starfire said eagerly. If Alfred noticed her red puffy eyes, he was wise enough not to say anything.
"They are very basic, the ship mostly has spare uniforms and the like."
"Anything clean and not ripped up will do," she said cheerily. Alfred raised an eyebrow, wondering why she was putting up so much of a front.
She seemed to realize her facade wasn't needed with Alfred, and calmed a little. "How did you know our sizes?"
"I used to tailor Master Bruce's family. I already know Master Dick's size, and I guessed from Mrs. Wayne's sizes for you."
"Wonderful," Starfire said, giving him a more sedate smile. She leaned out the door and gave him a hug.
"Would your friends also like clean clothes? Miss Raven and Master Beast Boy?"
"I could call and ask them," Starfire said. She disappeared around the door. After a moment she came back.
"They said they would like clean clothes as well," Starfire reported.
"Very well, I will get some for them too," Alfred said, turning away. "I'll see you on the bridge in an hour."
"Thank you Alfred."
Starfire shut the doors and tossed Robin his new clothes. They were very simple, a white polo and black pants, black boots. Starfire had a white short-sleeved shirt, v-neck, and a black mini-skirt, with knee high black boots.
"Are you ready for the briefing?" Robin asked.
"I am very tired," Starfire said. "But I know this is important, and many things are going to have to be done before Blackfire's trial."
"I want nothing more than to go home right now," Robin said.
"Me as well," Starfire agreed dejectedly.
ooo
They all arrived on the bridge at the designated time, Raven and Beast Boy wearing similar outfits to Starfire and Robin, only Raven had a long sleeve white t-shirt and Beast Boy had on a white short sleeve tee.
The Chief called for everyone's attention and one by one the Titans and Ryand'r related the story, beginning with Blackfire's assault on Earth. The massive man-made structure that was the IGP hub was in view when they finished the details.
After landing, the Titans and the Justice League were given rooms. Starfire, Robin, Ryand'r, and Galfore were given the same suites they stayed in previously. Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy were given rooms in the same no-press allowed hall. Batman, Alfred, Superman, and J'onn were each assigned a room in another secured area.
The Titans were hungry, so they all went for some food before separating for the night.
Starfire was grateful for the closet of clean clothing as she picked out some pajamas for her and Robin. The IGP hub was essentially a small planet. The officers and their families lived in the residential areas, and many survivors of the Citadel chose to live on IGP for the peace and feeling of safety. IGP imported food, clothing, and various items from many different planets so their assorted officers still had their cultures. There were retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, bars, clubs, and all other components of functioning cities for every culture. The hub was like an entire melting pot, just like America had been on Earth, welcoming people from every nation and taking a culture cue from each.
Starfire was getting ready to slide into bed when the wall comm beeped. She dropped the covers on the bed and walked over to answer.
"Princess?"
"Yes?"
"I realize you are exhausted and want to retire for the evening, but I received a communication and we must discuss it immediately."
Starfire's whole body sagged. "Immediately?"
"Yes. It is most important. Please come to my office."
Starfire raised her eyebrows and assented. The Chief buzzed off and she lethargically began pulling her boots back on.
"Wonder what that's all about," Robin said.
"I am guessing we will do the finding out," she said, flicking the lights off as they both entered the hallway.
Once they arrived at the Chief's office, Galfore, Ryand'r, Batman, Superman, and J'onn were waiting for them.
"Princess Koriand'r, Robin," the Chief greeted them.
"Hello, Chief. What is this about?" Starfire asked curiously.
"You're not going to like it, unfortunately, Princess. It was called to my attention that a transmission from the Citadel was received while we were on route home."
The look on Starfire's face clearly showed how much she didn't like the news. Robin could literally see the effort it took her to steel her features.
"And what was the message?"
"Korthar, leader of the Citadel, has requested to meet to negotiate terms."
Starfire's face flickered before she schooled her expression blank again.
"And what do they wish to negotiate?"
"They wish compensation because your sister never delivered on her promise."
"What my sister promised was illegal."
"The Citadel is taking a stand. We must negotiate with them or risk the outbreak of a war. While IGP fully supports your cause, it is not immediately prepared to undertake those consequences should the Citadel forces mobilize."
Starfire looked unhappy at this. Robin wanted very badly to take her hand and squeeze it, but it wasn't appropriate in the situation.
"Surely they could not be so foolish? We have a whole list of planets willing to be allies," Galfore spoke up. "They would not dare challenge."
"They have called for a meeting in neutral grounds. We can only work out the terms," the Chief said.
"Have they appointed a time they wish to meet?" Starfire inquired.
"Tomorrow, at midday," the chief responded.
Starfire absorbed this news.
"They work fast," Batman commented.
"The Citadel does not mess around, that's for sure," Superman agreed.
"You have no idea how much they do not do the messing around," Starfire said, deadly serious.
The Chief continued. "We are firm that the Princess will not meet with them openly. We will have two-way headsets, so the Princess can communicate. This leaves no room for the Citadel to pull anything."
Starfire started to protest.
The Chief held up his hand.
"It is non negotiable, Princess. It is only for your safety. Your Grand Ruler, your brother, your knotha and his guardian will stand in for you."
Robin's eyebrows rose. He would stand in for Starfire?
"I will not look like a coward!" Starfire said stubbornly. "You must let me take care of my own business."
"You are anything but a coward, Princess."
"That is what they will think of me should I not appear."
"What they think of you should hold no value with you. I am sorry Princess, but you have to understand the safety concerns."
"I do not like this, Chief."
"It is the only way we will agree to this meeting."
Starfire's mouth pouted in a flat line.
"As you wish," she said flippantly, very unhappy.
ooo
Robin and Starfire relayed the dismaying news about the Citadel to the other Titans before heading back to their room. Robin felt very troubled as he watched Starfire restlessly flit around. She discussed what he should know when he went into the meeting for her. Finally she was unable to concentrate any longer and she tossed off her clothes, heading for the shower.
He leaned against the door frame as she turned the water on steaming hot and stepped in.
"Are you sure there's nothing else you want me to know?" he asked again.
She sighed in the shower, letting the hard spray pelt her.
"I have told you my list of terms. There is nothing else."
"Star," he said gently. Her eyes darted at him before they closed as she dipped into the water. "It'll be okay. We'll make sure of it."
"I know you will. But I cannot help but be nervous."
He pushed the glass door over a little and slipped his hand in to take hers.
She gave him a small apprehensive smile.
After she got out they slipped uneasily into bed, Robin wrapping his arms around her tight.
ooo
There was a slow drip on her face. A steady pat. pat. pat. It was warm, liquid, that caressed her cheek and rolled under her chin.
The only thing she could hear was her own breath, haggard gulps. She was unsure where she was. She had woken up from darkness. Still the room was dim, the rod cells in her eyes would not adjust as she peered down the length of her body, lying prone on a rough hard surface.
Where was she? How had she gotten here? Her memory was blank, sinkholes of time as she tried to remember what had happened before this, before waking up restrained to the familiar table.
A vision popped up unbidden and she recalled being taken with him to a chamber. They were hooked to a device that held a current; they would be shocked if they did not do as told. They were forced to mate as entertainment, until their captors grew tired of the exhibition.
They were given to the leader, were taken to another place. She was pushed to her knees, the rocky floor scraping them raw. She was naked, her hands bound with chains above her, and he was standing in front of her, his blue eyes wide in terror. They pressed a thick cat o' nine like whip in his hands, and a wide sharp blade pressed into his back. They told him to strike her in their brutish voices.
His hands were shaking, his shoulders curving back to relieve the pressure of the point in between his shoulder blades. Still he would not raise his hand with the whip. He was struck with the blade, his blood spraying from the wound. She pleaded with him, told him to whip her; she could not stand to see him take the punishment that was meant for her. They urged him more, crooned the things they would do to him if he did not lash her. Again he refused. Again he was cut down. They wanted him to beat her into a quivering bloody mass of flesh and he could not do it, she saw it in his eyes, he could not do it to the one he loved.
They slashed him down again and again for his disobedience, and she cried out as he fell to the floor with a groan. They dragged him away, his blood leaving a trail on the floor and that was the last she had seen him.
Tears flowed down her cheeks.
The leader was leering over her. And she knew.
She was dying.
After all the pain and suffering, she was finally dying.
The leader ensured that it would not be any sort of peaceful death. No, he was going to make her suffer until her very last breath.
The drips kept a steady rhythm on her face; she tossed and turned as he sunk his claws into her thigh and the liquid rolled into her mouth, tasting bitter, coppery.
He forced himself on her first, his bulk blocking view of the room she was imprisoned in. He fully allowed his spines to extend completely as he entered her, the sharp spikes shredding her to ribbons inside. The spines were brutishly designed to incapacitate a female so she could not mate with another, and the male's offspring would be assured. She did not possess the same durability the female Citadelians did, so the spines damaged her. She bled out between her legs.
She screamed and screamed, but it only excited him more.
He silenced her screams by taking her chin roughly in his hand and forcing himself into her mouth. She gagged and choked as his motion slashed the inside of her throat. Her mouth filled with blood; it ran down her chin and spattered her face as she coughed, gasped for air.
He climbed off her table, licking her blood off his fingers. She continued to sputter, her mouth ripped, blood clogging her throat, the drips persistent on her cheek.
He blocked her vision again, enjoying a little work with a razor, slicing patterns into her skin. She tried to shriek but her shredded tongue made the sounds more like distorted gurgles. As he moved, the drips came steady, a metronome, she began counting with the beat in her head.
One, two, three…fifty six, fifty seven... two hundred three, two hundred four...
He slammed his fist into her face.
Her head snapped sideways, the bones in her skull giving way, caving with a lurching crunch. Her face sunk in, her cheekbone smashed, her nose broken. Both eyes were blackened; her face was one entire bruise. Her pallor was becoming more ghastly as she kept losing blood.
He demanded her to open her eyes.
Drip. pat.
She could barely obey. He gripped her jaw painfully, squeezing her shattered cheeks, his fingers slipping on the liquid that had been falling on her face. He forced her to look above, toward the ceiling.
Look.
She couldn't help herself.
Her whole body arched off the table, pulled at the straps restraining her wrists and ankles. She screamed and screamed, every noise she could make to convey her agony and horror. Her swollen eyes wide as possible, everything she had in her died before her body gave out in that instant. She was broken.
The steady drip, drip, fell from the ceiling. Fell from the body staked to the ceiling. Fell from the gaping wound that had gutted the body like an animal.
She tried to make her ruined tongue say his name, form the words, but it came out in a garbled mess.
The glassy blue eyes were dead.
He enjoyed the ample parts of her body, bit out whole chunks of flesh and muscle, scratched with his claws, used different tools, each with a different type of blade, each designed to administer a different sensation of pain. She was full of holes and cuts and slices; her body was mutilated beyond repair. He had savored each wound he made, drew out the pain of each cut, so she would feel every second of suffering he put her through.
He slid his hands through the blood that was pooling underneath her. He slithered his hands from her breasts to her hips, coating her with her own redness. This excited him again, so he climbed over her and used her once more.
She was incoherent. Her sight faded in and out, one eye had lost all vision.
He growled something derogatory to her and she spat mostly blood into his face. In response he lifted her hand and bit down on her index finger. She screeched as he severed it clean away, chewing with his dagger teeth before spitting it back in her face. The sound of his guttural laughter at her pain made the sense of hopelessness stab inside her chest. Who would save her now? Her only savior was nailed to the ceiling.
She was going to die. She was going to die and she didn't care. She already felt dead. She had done this; she didn't protect the one who mattered most, and he was subjected to them. They did to him what they were doing to her. It was all her fault; she deserved this, it was only right.
She lost a toe, bitten off.
She was only half conscious now, her synapses shorting out as he took a dull blade to her other finger, sawing away.
Her throat was in tatters and she couldn't produce a scream any longer. Peace flowed into her body searing hot, sparks fired at every nerve as everything faded away and all she could see was one light in the darkness. All she had to do was cross that step and it all would be over. She just had to make her broken body leave.
She was being pulled, sucked away from the light. She snapped back to clarity as he pulled her hair and sneered into her ear. He told her she would die the same way she killed her previous master. She slid her bloody eyes up to the blank face, to the glassy blue irises, staring down at her from the ceiling, willing his face, not that of her torturer, to be her last image.
He took his claw and started at her sternum, slicing it open down her body to her navel. He plunged his hand inside the cut and began scooping out strings of her entrails, plopping them onto the table.
ooo
Raven bolted awake and struggled over a startled Beast Boy before staggering to the bathroom. Beast Boy scrambled out of bed and immediately ran after her. He gently combed back her hair as she retched into the toilet, noting that her hair was getting longer, past her shoulders. He soothed her as she gasped between choked cries and experiencing dinner in reverse.
"Another nightmare?" he asked softly, rubbing Raven's back.
"It-" she coughed. "It was-"
She couldn't even finish her sentence before she had to lean over the bowl.
After she was finally done she shakily stood up, supported by Beast Boy, and rinsed her mouth out with water. She grabbed a towel and wiped her face, drying the stream of tears on her cheeks.
"We have to go to Starfire," Raven said quickly, enveloping Beast Boy in a swirl of magic.
They rose up into Robin and Starfire's room. Starfire was already hysterical, curled up tight into a fetal ball, sobbing in Robin's arms. Raven fell onto her knees on the bed and enveloped Starfire into a firm hug.
"That wasn't real," Raven whispered. "That wasn't real."
Starfire was so distraught she could only dry heave, no sound coming from her constricted throat.
"He's right here, he's right here, Starfire," Raven said, barely comforting because she was just as distressed. Starfire lifted her head and placed both hands on Robin's face, resting her forehead against his chin, still the odd sobs made her ribcage shudder. She sniffled and tried to compose herself enough to speak. She was unsuccessful.
"Starfire, that wasn't real," Raven tried again, her voice frantic and cracking. "You're right here, Robin is right here, that was not real."
She shook her head, her sobs convulsing her entire body as she trembled. Robin's face was pale and ghostly as Starfire clung to him.
"Why would you dream something like that? Say something, anything," Raven pleaded as she petted Starfire's stringy damp hair, attempting to be soothing. "It's okay, it's not real. You're worried about the meeting with Korthar tomorrow and your imagination is overreacting."
Starfire shook her head. "It- it- is- real," she coughed, tears still draining down her cheeks.
"No it's not. You and Robin are just fine."
"Another-" she coughed again, "-couple. A- a Tamaranian one. I was forced to witness."
Raven sat back and looked shocked, sick. She placed a hand over her open mouth.
"That actually happened to someone?"
Starfire nodded, wrapping her arms around Robin's neck tighter. "Blackfire insinuated Korthar would do similar to me if I were enslaved again."
"No, that can't be," Raven said. "When was this, when did she ever say that?"
"That is what Blackfire said in Tamaranian on the day she came to kidnap Ryand'r and me."
"So that is why you half fainted."
"Yes." She was attempting to calm herself down, though she could not stop the hiccups or the sniffles.
The door slid open to reveal Cyborg.
"Heard some noise, was there a party and no one invited me?"
He took in Starfire and Raven's faces and the smile quickly vanished from his.
"What's going on?"
"Starfire had another nightmare," Beast Boy said sedately, sitting by both the girls.
"Aw, I'm sorry Star." Cyborg came and sat on the bed too. "Listen little lady, we're gonna get this all straightened out and there ain't no way in hell that we'd ever let them take you away," he said firmly. "I'd fight off all the Citadelians myself if I had to."
Starfire looked at him with a grateful yet remorseful smile through the tears. Cyborg took her hand and she squeezed his back.
"Me too, Star. I'd fight them all for you too," Beast Boy said earnestly.
"We all would," Robin added.
Raven nodded and brushed some of Starfire's wild mane out of her wet face.
"You need some sleep," she said.
"I cannot sleep now, Raven," Starfire shook her head disjointedly.
Raven looked over at Cyborg. "What can you hook me up with?"
"Just a second, I think I have some sleeping pills," he said, patting at himself. "Real strong stuff, too. I always got somethin' around up in here…" he opened various compartments on his body.
"But Earth pills of sleeping cause me to do the knocking out," Starfire hiccuped, her eyes worried.
"Exactly," Raven said.
Cyborg found them. "Here y'all go, extra strength," he smiled.
"I fear I am too upset to sleep, even with pills," Starfire quivered. "If I close my eyes all I see-"
Raven knelt next to her and placed her glowing hand on Starfire's heart.
"Oh," Starfire breathed, leaning into Raven, the anxious creases on her face melting away. Cyborg handed her a cup of water and two capsules. Starfire swallowed them down in one gulp. After two minutes she was sedately loopy. She murmured things to herself as her eyes drooped close. Robin helped lay her back onto the bed. She was out like a light.
"Thank you, Raven," Robin said appreciatively, glancing over the sleeping Starfire. After a pause he continued. "Um, is there any way you can tell us what she dreamed? I've never seen her that way, even during the previous times. She was petrified."
Raven paled to a deathly white. Her wide purple eyes looked tired and haunted and she instinctively reached for her hood, which wasn't there on her loaned clothes.
"Remember Raven, you need to talk about it too," Beast Boy said quietly.
Raven swallowed. "Korthar wants her for his personal sex slave and he wants to kill her through torture." She sucked in a breath.
"Oh God," Robin whispered, grabbing Starfire's hand tightly.
"She was… she was mutilated… she was just bleeding…" Raven shut her eyes. "Her body wasn't even recognizable anymore."
The three boys looked sick.
"Do you know of... of... that Chinese torture method, the death by a thousand cuts?"
Beast Boy clamped a hand over his mouth and Robin looked extremely grim.
"Well it was even worse than that. He had so many... tools..."
Cyborg's face was completely blank, the look he got when he was so overcome with anger he couldn't see anything else.
"He finally killed her the same way she killed her master. He smashed her face in and then gutted her."
"Why did you keep repeating that I was okay too?" Robin asked, after finding his voice.
Raven couldn't look at him. She closed her eyes, willing the bile to stay down.
"Raven? Was I featured in her dream again too?" he sounded worried. He should be. "Raven answer me." His voice was shaky. "It's bad, isn't it?"
Raven could only nod, staring at the floor.
"How bad?"
She could barely get the words to come to her tongue.
"Raven how bad?" Robin was getting frantic now.
"They made you two... in front of all the...well, um... they tried to force you to beat her. When you refused to, they tortured you first. The same as they did to her."
Robin's breath escaped him in a quick puff of release.
"Only..."
"Only what?" Robin asked. "That wasn't it?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"They... they staked your dead body to the ceiling over Starfire while she was being tortured to death. Kinda like the posters on the ceiling at the doctor's office, only instead of cute little kittens it was your mutilated body," Raven rambled, unnerved.
Robin gaped at her. Beast Boy looked seconds away from being ill.
Cyborg was disgusted and livid. He regretted Robin's code of no killing at that moment as they looked at Starfire sleeping soundly.
Robin got up and paced, unable to sit still.
"I need to see it."
Raven stared at him. "See what?"
"What happened. I need to see it."
"No, you don't," Raven replied.
"Yes I do. I need to see what she's up against. I need to see what she's seeing."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Robin," Raven warned.
"We still have that bond thingy, right? You can show me?"
"I really don't want to do this."
"Do it. I need to see what I'm up against."
"No. I won't do it. I told you what happened, I don't need to see it again and neither do you."
"Raven, I'm asking you. Do it. I need to know."
"Why? Why do you need to see? Isn't what I said enough?" Raven's eyes flashed.
"It gives me an idea, but I want to know what I'm dealing with. I have to meet these monsters tomorrow and I don't want to be in the dark. I want to know what they're capable of."
"I just told you what they're capable of."
"Raven, quit being so difficult! I'm ordering you, as your leader."
Beast Boy gulped at the look of anger on Raven's face.
"Fine," she snapped. "You asked for it."
"I can handle it," Robin said confidently.
Raven shook her head and sighed. "You're too stubborn."
She floated up and crossed her legs into her meditating position. Her eyes went white and her raven soul materialized out of her and dove into Robin's body. He had removed his mask to sleep so his blue eyes went white as Raven's soul possessed him.
It was eerie for the several minutes as Raven and Robin's bodies were stone still. Beast Boy and Cyborg watched them, both antsy for it to be over.
Raven's soul screeched out of Robin's body and merged back with her own. Robin fell backward, reeling as though he had been struck. He fell to a knee and tears began pouring from his eyes.
"I told you," she said softly.
Robin was completely still, unable to move. Beast Boy and Cyborg were shocked at the amount of tears falling from his face. They had never seen Robin cry even a single tear, and now he was silently sobbing.
"Sorry about the emotional side effects. The dream was in Starfire's point of view, so you received all of her feelings as well."
"Yeah, I see that," Robin choked out, covering his mouth with his hand. He made a gagging noise, indicating he was close to being sick.
"Take a minute to recover," Raven said.
Robin shook his head and held out a hand.
"It was so- real," he coughed after a long minute. "It was like you're actually there, the sounds- the smells... the pain... the-" he gagged again, covering his mouth with a fist.
"I know," Raven said sympathetically.
He finally stood up, wiped at his eyes. His voice was hoarse when he could attempt to speak without feeling sick.
"This actually happened? She mentioned another couple."
"Yes. Apparently this happened to a Tamaranian couple and she was forced to witness. I'm guessing they wanted her to see what they were doing to her people while she was powerless to stop them. Blackfire must have told her Korthar was going to torture her in a similar way. She probably meant it for Starfire and Ryand'r at the time, but seeing as how you almost went to the Citadel with her she substituted the two of you in for the other couple in the dream."
Robin shook his head again and wiped at his eyes some more.
"I don't know if I can stand in tomorrow. I'll kill them myself," he murmured.
"I'd like nothing more than to assist you, but you have to do this, for Starfire," Raven said. "She can let go of this, if she can just put the Citadel behind her. If she can alleviate the threat they've always held over her, she can heal. You've got to do this for her."
"You're right, I know I know," he said absently, pacing restlessly back and forth.
"You're going to have to talk to her again about this one, Robin," Raven warned. "Remember, she felt like your situation in the dream was her fault entirely and that she deserved everything that was being done to her."
"How could she ever feel like she deserved to be tortured to death!" Robin exclaimed, wheeling around. "This is so more fucked up than it should be."
"She was overcome with guilt that you had suffered and died because she couldn't prevent what happened to you. She felt she should have protected you better."
Robin scoffed. "Her protect me? I have to protect her! They don't actually want me, they want her. God, how are we going to straighten this out... both of you are going to see a trauma counselor after we get home."
"What do you mean 'both'," Raven said skeptically.
"You're just as affected as she is, you've been through all of our memories. I'm pulling rank, you're going."
"I think it would be a good idea for her," Raven said stubbornly.
"It also would be a good idea for you."
"We'll talk about this when we get home," she said tactfully.
Robin shook his head in exasperation and went back to the bed, scooping up the slumbering Starfire and hugging her tight in his arms. She didn't even stir.
Raven sighed.
"All right, let's try to go back to bed, Beast Boy," she said, getting up.
"No, don't leave me," Robin pleaded. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
The three other Titans looked at each other. Beast Boy and Cyborg exchanged glances, wondering just what Robin had seen and how bad it had been. Bad enough to prompt him to beg they stay, because he couldn't handle being alone. Robin always wanted to be alone. Without a word Cyborg got onto the bed beside Starfire and put his arm around her. Raven lay down beside Robin and snuggled next to his shoulder and he pulled her close. Beast Boy turned into a cat and spun around three times on Starfire's pillow before curling up by her head. Robin grabbed one of Starfire's listless hands and held it tight.
Kay, couple things:
I've noticed the site is being a bitch again and getting rid of my double dash dividers, throughout the whole dang story too, so I've started using the "ooo's". I also noticed it got rid of my "interrobangs," meaning the punctuation of a question mark and an exclamation point together. Annoying as all hell, I don't know why it won't format those. Anyway, just to let you kids know why I switched it up.
Also, the little section with Speedy is kinda inspired by Shyro Foxfeather's "Are These Yours?" Hilarious little one shot, you should read it; it's in my favorites. I didn't ask for her permission but I am crediting her for the idea (oh gosh, assuming Shyro's a girl). Seems like something Speedy would do, haha! Remember everyone, please, to credit where your ideas come from if they aren't completely your own.
Something a little different for Raven and Beast Boy. Not everyone has sex the same way, first times are not always spectacular love fests.
Sorry for the wait, guys. I'm working diligently on the next chapter, but we all know me and my track record with updates. I've got tons of ideas and I'm doing pretty well getting them all down. Another thanks to Kry for helping me beta some parts I needed some constructive criticism on. And you can thank her for her idea of having Robin pinned to the ceiling in the Citadel. She scares me sometimes. Love you Kry!
edit: From some of the comments I've been receiving I just wanted to make something clear. A beta is someone who proofreads over a rough draft of someone else's work and offers comments on what could be improved. Betas in no way are supposed to write sections for the author, they are just a soundboard. I sometimes use Kry as a beta for sections of my story that I think could use a little work, or I'm unsure if it reads the way I want it to read to fresh eyes. Most of the time my chapters are as much of a surprise to her as they are to everyone. The torture scene was one such section that I sent to Kry because I couldn't tell if it was gruesome enough, because I had gotten desensitized to it after writing it and reading it over a few times. Since we all know Kry, she suggested that having Robin included in the scene would make it even more terrible. She said ooh ooh what if he was hanging over her on the ceiling? And that was her input. I wrote the entire scene, I planned out everything else that happened. I just wanted to clarify because I know people know we are close but she has never ever written any part of my story and I've never written any part of her stories, though we have bounced suggestions off each other for years. I'm super happy (and so is Kry) to see all the horrified reactions to this scene, as that was completely the intent!
Next up: the meeting with Korthar.