Starfire blearily rubbed at her eyes. Sleeping medication always made her extremely drowsy and unfocused when she awoke. After a disorientating moment she realized there were more bodies surrounding her than usual. Green fur was fluffed up in her face, and she smirked when she realized Beast Boy was sprawled out over her chest. Cyborg still had his arm around her. Robin was lying next to her, and Raven was snuggled up into his side. Starfire petted Beast Boy on the head and he purred.
Robin stirred at her movement, and Beast Boy stretched out his kitty limbs. Cyborg's systems detected motion and his sleep mode clicked off. Raven yawned.
Starfire attempted to sit up and Beast Boy rolled into her lap.
"Mornin' Star," Robin murmured, patting her arm.
"What time is it?" Raven asked, without opening her eyes.
"Nine o'clock," Cyborg answered. "According to IGP time."
"We only have three hours until the meeting," Starfire panicked. Beast Boy reverted back to his human self on the end of the bed.
"Don't worry Star, we'll be all right," Robin said, sitting up too. Raven rubbed at her eyes to clear the sleepiness away.
"You all stayed with me last night?" Starfire said.
"Of course, Star," Beast Boy said, patting her shoulder. "You had a bad night, we weren't going anywhere." Robin noted Beast Boy's twofold kindness of letting Starfire think they had all stayed for her and covering Robin's moment of vulnerability.
"I thank you." Starfire's cheeks flushed.
"Starfire, I need to heal the fracture in your arm," Raven spoke up.
"Oh, yes, please," Starfire said. Raven climbed over Robin to sit beside Starfire. She laid Starfire's arm across her lap and went to work with her healing power. Since Starfire's arm was significantly better it did not take as long.
While Raven was working breakfast had been sent up. The Titans ate together and chatted as Starfire became more and more quietly nervous.
Once breakfast had been consumed and Raven was done patching the fracture the three Titans left to get ready for the meeting. Raven could acutely feel Starfire's anxious emotions, and in an extremely kind gesture pecked her on the cheek and gave her a hug. Beast Boy kissed her on the cheek too, wrapped her in a big hug, and told her everything was going to work out right. Cyborg pulled her in for a side hug and spoke similar sentiments.
After they were gone she clutched Robin and buried her face in his shoulder. He stroked his fingers through her hair and held her silently, knowing that if things went horribly wrong, her fate could be decided for her today.
Starfire pulled the items she had selected to wear out of the closet. She still wore her standard neck guard, but her purple shirt was a scooped neck that showed a hint of cleavage. A wide silver belt topped her long skirt featuring slits all the way up the sides. The bottom of the skirt was lined with wide silver trim. Her wedge sandals had a modest heel and thin purple ribbons wove around her calves up to her knees.
She brushed her hair until it was thick, straight and shiny, and placed her crown against her face.
She had found black lycra pants for Robin, steel toe black boots, and a dark red short-sleeved shirt. His belt and weapons had been saved from the wreckage of his uniform, and he placed his mask over his eyes.
Once they were ready they met the other Titans in the hall. Raven and Beast Boy had washed their own uniforms; minor tears and slices from the battle with the Gordanians had not made them unwearable after the blood and grime had been cleaned.
As the clock crept closer to noon, Robin felt like he was going to see breakfast for a second time. Maybe he shouldn't have eaten this morning.
Galfore and Ryand'r appeared in the hall, and it was time to go.
ooo
Starfire was nervous. It was as plain as day to Robin, in the way that she fidgeted, her foot jiggling restlessly, her hands constantly clenching and unclenching. It was ten minutes until the big meeting, and they were situating Starfire in the screening room, which shared a wall with the main meeting hall. The door was heavily guarded by large bulky Tamaranian service men. Superman and J'onn were alerted to a crisis on Earth and had left earlier that morning, so Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, and Alfred were allowed to accompany Starfire as she watched the proceedings through a two-way mirror.
Robin was nervous too. His stomach felt like it was lined with ice, and cold shivers ran down his spine. These monsters were the ones who hurt Starfire, the ones who wanted her back so they could finish the job. He knew intimately what they were capable of. He would never let them hurt her again, over his dead body.
Galfore laid a hand on his shoulder. "It is time."
Robin nodded. Galfore led the way into the hall where the Citadelians were seated at a long table. The Chief of Police followed Galfore, then Ryand'r went after, and Robin and Batman made up the end.
Robin's stomach retched as he viewed the Citadelians in real life for the first time. The dream had nothing on viewing them in person. They had thick scaly hides, a sickening putrid green in color. Their mouths were full of jagged razor sharp teeth, and fat bloated lips curled over those teeth in sneers. Their noses were small, smushed slits in their faces. Their eyes were blood red, and some sort of strange sludge dripped from the corner of their mouths. Their clothing was heavy spiked armor, dirty and spattered with darkened stains. They were completely revolting.
He tried not to gape at them, and it assaulted his mind that Starfire had been at the mercy of these horrendous monsters for years. As they came closer to the creatures the awful odor hit his senses like a punch in the face and he clamped down on his gag reflex. He had to use all of his control not to lean over the table and vomit.
The sneers on the Citadelians' faces turned to that of confusion and then fury as they scrutinized each person who came through the door.
"Where is Princess!" one of them demanded angrily in rough and heavily accented English that literally oozed slime. He stood up and faced the Chief.
"The Princess was unable to be present at this meeting in person, however she is privy to our conversation."
Korthar snorted with contempt. "She is coward. She cannot even face us."
They heard Starfire snarl angrily through the earpieces.
"That is not the case at all. It was my decision, not hers. She would be facing you now if she had gotten her way."
"Sound like excuse to me," Korthar mocked.
"I assure you it is not. Instead the Princess is represented today by her Grand Ruler, her brother, her knotha and his father."
The lead Citadelian puffed as he assessed the four.
"The bitch has knotha?"
Robin growled and slammed his fist on the table.
The watery red eyes slid over to him. "That must be you," it slithered with amusement.
"I would appreciate it if you refrained from calling my fiancée petty names," Robin snapped, his voice sharp as a blade.
"Stupid human. It fitting for lowly mortal to settle for Tamaranian whore. She damaged goods after all."
Starfire growled in his earpiece as Robin leaped to his feet in fury. He raised his fist and was about to launch on a serious tirade when Batman grabbed his arm and pulled him back into his seat.
"If you can't control yourself, you can leave," Batman said tonelessly.
Robin wrenched his elbow away from his mentor and crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat, his wrath coming off of him in waves.
"Robin is correct however, this is an official meeting and the use of slurs is extremely unprofessional," the Chief said. "I would ask that you control yourself, Korthar."
Korthar gleamed at the Chief, pushing the repulsive sludge through his clenched teeth.
"I apologize. We get to point. We were promised Tamaranian Princess."
"You were promised one through illegal means. You have no claim over Princess Koriand'r."
"But she still ours. She escape from us seven years ago, this violate treaty with Tamaran."
"They violated the treaty while I was still imprisoned!" Starfire screeched through the earpieces. "They have no claim over me once the treaty was broken by them!"
"The Princess insists that the treaty was void after you attacked her home planet while she was still imprisoned," the Chief relayed.
Korthar exchanged glances with his underlings.
"She still should be ours. Treaty never specified Citadel could not touch Tamaran."
"They are the liars of dirtiness! I was traded as a slave so that Tamaran could have peace from the Citadel! The treaty was broken the second they invaded my home world!"
"I am not blind to your tactics, Korthar. We have the original document, signed by yourself and Grand Ruler Myand'r. Tamaran was attacked by the Citadelians two years after Princess Koriand'r was enslaved."
"It was small troop of soldiers and not, how you say… authorized by me," Korthar said smugly.
"Lies! My sister bragged to me that she was in league with the Citadel! He knew they were going to attack Tamaran, they wanted me and they wanted rule over the planet. It is impossible that a rouge sect would invade Tamaran without his knowledge!"
"I highly doubt that your army would act without your consent or direction," the Chief said.
"But that is what happen. By my account, I not violate treaty. We go to war with Tamaran only after whore escape."
"What did I say about the name calling?" Robin snarled.
"My apologies," Korthar grinned through the sludge and gleaming teeth. "I forget you feel for miserable creature. You are knotha by choice? I pity you if forced. She pathetic and weak, she tainted. Glorgathor despised her, made punishing her delightful."
Robin was ready to jump over the table and launch himself at the Citadelian in rage. Batman passively held his arm in front of Robin.
"I'd strangle him with my bare hands," Robin growled low in his throat.
"I don't blame you for feeling that way one bit," Batman murmured. "But it won't help Starfire if we lose our cool. He's provoking you on purpose and manipulating your emotions."
Robin breathed heavily in and out, and attempted to lock away the fury in his chest. What Batman had said was completely true. This was why his mentor always berated him for his passionate outbursts.
"Korthar, despite your claim that you had no affiliation with the attack against Tamaran by your people while Princess Koriand'r was enslaved, it is logged in IGP's files that Citadelians attacked on Tamaranian soil and therefore the treaty is voided. You have no claim over the Princess, and your business is done here."
Korthar leapt up with a snarl, digging his claws into the table and dropping all pretenses of being diplomatic. He was clearly enraged that the meeting was not going as planned. He landed on a thought and another unsettling smile crossed his hideous face as he sank back into his seat.
"But that not only treaty we made with Tamaran over Princess."
Galfore shifted agitatedly in his seat.
The Chief mulled over that one, poking through IGP's databases on a handheld device. "Ah. The treaty with Regent Faltaz'or after the war you instigated."
"Yes, that one," Korthar hissed deviously. "They never deliver little lowlife Tamaranian scum."
"That is because she disappeared and was officially pronounced missing or deceased," Galfore bristled.
"But clearly, she is not," one of Korthar's cohorts pointed out. "Gordanians and other Princess brat try to deliver what was promised. They not commit crime; Princess was under bounty and we entitled to our end of bargain."
Robin sucked in a breath. He remembered Starfire had told him that a regent placed on the throne after Myand'r's death had negotiated peace with Starfire as an offering again. That was when she had escaped to Earth. He really began to sweat. This could mean Starfire was still indebted to the Citadel and the Gordanians hadn't kept her illegally because she still had a bounty on her head. The Gordanians would go free, Blackfire would go free, and Starfire would return to the Citadel's house of horrors.
"But wait!" Galfore said. "First of all, the bounty on Koriand'r's head was absolved when she was pronounced missing/deceased. The Gordanians have held her illegally, and are still liable for the illegal form of containment in their possession. And for the matter of the treaty, you are not remembering all of the terms!"
"There no terms. Princess for peace, that was all," Korthar snarled.
Galfore was on his feet. "Then you did not do the reading of the fine print!" he rumbled. "Chief, pull up the contract."
The Chief quickly tapped in his tablet. He sped read it, scanning down the page. Then he emitted an exclamation.
"Here it is, clause number eight: 'If the Princess Koriand'r becomes betrothed to another during her exile, the right to own her as property of the Citadel is waved'."
"WHAT?" Korthar roared.
"It says so right there in the contract," Galfore said triumphantly. "And it is signed and notarized, Regent Faltaz'or and Lord Korthar."
"She is our property! Return her immediately!" Korthar howled.
"No!" Robin stood up. "I am her knotha! She is betrothed to me and that means you have no claim over her!"
"Stupid human," Korthar hissed. "She will return to us."
"She will not. We have proven without a doubt that she no longer belongs to you," Robin grinned smugly.
"We were promised Tamaranian Princess!" Korthar bellowed, enraged that he had been outwitted. "Then instead of pathetic whore give us sister. She made promise, she should keep it."
"NO."
The Chief raised his hand to his chin, considering. Galfore and Ryand'r looked conflicted.
"Did you not hear me? I said no. Absolutely not."
"But Starfire-" Robin protested.
"I will not hand over my sister to the Citadel."
"If you give us wench's sister, we promise to leave Princess alone," Korthar enticed.
"Sounds like a good deal to me," Robin muttered.
"Komand'r is still one of our own. We cannot condone that," Galfore said.
"Oh Galfore… Kom has disowned her people long ago," Starfire said sadly. "She hates Tamaran and conspires against it. But no matter what my sister has done I cannot leave her to the mercy of the Citadel. I demand that she stand trial for her crimes."
"The Princess refuses to hand over her sister," the Chief spoke.
"She foolish, stupid. We demand her, then," Korthar growled. His case was crumbling underneath him.
"You won't get either of them," Robin snapped, standing up and leaning over the table. "Starfire is no longer under your treaty and she refuses to give you her sister. You're only here because you sadistic greedy bastards thought you were going to get away with enslaving her illegally, and I bet you were planning on killing her before anyone could liberate her from you. When Blackfire was caught your little plan fell through and now you're here still trying to pick up the pieces. Well you're done; you're through. You have nothing to negotiate with."
Korthar's eyes narrowed into slits. "Your foul little mouth talk too much, human. We do have much power to negotiate with. If our demands not met, we will launch war." Korthar had stood up to meet Robin's glare.
"Are you prepared to fight an entire alliance of the planets in this system?" Robin grinned.
The leader faltered for a millisecond.
"Ryand'r has a list of nations willing to back Tamaran in a war against the Citadel regime. IGP will also aid in the fight." Robin held out his hand and Ryand'r passed him the list. Robin threw it down and slid it across the table toward Korthar.
"Read it. They all are ready and willing to toss off the shackles of the Citadel."
Korthar stared at the list with disdain.
"Considering the number of troops each planet is willing to offer up, they completely outnumber you. You may be a brutal race of tyrants but you can't match those sheer numbers. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if this war happens at some point in the future. You're overextending yourself and the whole star system is pretty pissed off at you."
Korthar sneered. "For stupid human you brave to run your mouth to leader of Citadel. This why spineless little bitch clings to you?"
"That's not going to work this time. You're backed into a corner, Korthar. Either sign an affidavit stating you will no longer harass, stalk, or attempt to enslave the Princess Koriand'r as long as she lives, or get ready for a Citadelian blood bath."
There was silence as Korthar seethed, his fellow companions brooding.
Robin heard a sniffle through his headset.
"Star?" he asked quietly.
"I am so proud of you," she whispered.
"Well? What's it going to be then?" Robin put forth.
"Me and consults must discuss, or we not agree to anything," Korthar barked obstinately.
"We will give you fifteen minutes. Meeting is in recess," the Chief declared.
He led the five out the door so the Citadelians could discuss amongst themselves, but not without four IGP officers standing guard.
"How are you doing, Star?" Robin asked.
"I am very grateful to all of you," she answered, her voice weepy.
"You should be grateful that clause was in the contract, Princess," the Chief said. "It was certainly a strange one. Who would have thought to add something like that?"
"Me," Galfore said gruffly.
They all turned to look at him with surprise.
"I was extremely angry at Faltaz'or for carelessly tossing the Princess right back into Citadelian hands. I knew she was in exile, and I prayed to X'hal every day that she would find a safe haven. There were many suitors willing to marry the Princess, so I put in the clause about her betrothal. If she ever came back to Tamaran, she could get married and the Citadel could not touch her. When she stayed missing, Faltaz'or declared her deceased and the bounty was removed."
"You are an extremely clever man, Emperor Galfore. And you were brilliant standing up to Korthar, Robin. I doubt any of us could have been in a better position to attack his plea like that. It is the fact alone that she is betrothed to you that is keeping the Citadel from owning her," the Chief said.
That certainly slammed home for Robin. A simple mistake in definitions had turned out to be their only defense against the Citadel enslaving Starfire again. If he had insisted that Starfire and he were not betrothed, she would be theirs.
Now he just prayed the Citadel would back down and wouldn't start a galactic war.
"Chief, we have a problem-!"
The Chief placed his fingers over his earpiece. "What is it lieutenant?"
Everyone was alerted when there was a scream through the headset and the sound of glass shattering in the meeting hall.
ooo
Raven could tell the instant Starfire's eyes landed on Korthar. Starfire was smooth as a stone on the outside but on the inside she was a mess. Raven could feel the stab of fury and fear when Korthar entered. She saw Starfire ball her fists and fight to stay in her seat. The dream from the night before was still vivid in Starfire's mind and she had trouble disconnecting the brutish creature in the room from the nightmare.
As the meeting progressed Starfire became more confident, especially when she saw how Robin bravely stood up to Korthar and forced the Citadelian leader into a new treaty.
Starfire was nothing short of relieved when her support filed out of the room and the Citadelians were left to discuss their retreat.
She narrowed her eyebrows however when Korthar pulled out a communication device.
He uttered a short sentence in his language.
Starfire's eyes darted around the room anxiously, wondering what Korthar could possibly have meant.
"That was weird," Cyborg commented. "What did he say?"
"He said 'begin now'. Something is not right," Starfire said warily.
They heard a ruckus outside their door. Starfire whipped out of her seat. The door burst open and in flooded several Citadelian soldiers. The Tamaranian guards were doing their best to fight off more.
Starfire cursed voraciously in Tamaranian.
Spears pointed, the Citadelians charged into the small room, engaging whoever was near.
Beast Boy turned into a rhino, squishing Raven to the wall. The tridents barely pierced his thick skin and he plowed into a Citadelian with his dangerous horn. Raven ported out from behind Beast Boy and sent sharp blades of her powers at another foe.
Cyborg had a grip on a spear and was grappling with his opponent.
Most surprising was Alfred, who dodged a thrust from a trident, placed his hand on the staff and pushed it down. This motion off balanced the Citadelian, allowing Alfred to spin and neatly elbow the creature in the face. It howled in pain and dropped its weapon, which Alfred picked up to defend himself. He seemed to be just as handy with the spear as with martial art skills.
Starfire was battling the majority of the Citadelians that had made it through, their intent to attack and subdue her. She was furious, her eyes bright green as she punched and kicked viciously at her assailants. She threw starbolts in their faces, dodged a jab and a spear only to be kicked into the wall by another. Raven rid herself of her Citadelian attackers and tried to help Starfire. She used her powers to toss them away but there were enough that others replaced the cast offs. Starfire screeched as she was thrown into the window with such force that she shattered right through, the glass breaking into tiny pieces as she fell to the floor below. She sat up in a tinkle of shards and brushed them out of her hair and off of herself. She was full of cuts.
Korthar stood up at the table and grinned through his jagged razor sharp teeth.
The Citadelian soldiers followed Starfire out the broken mirror as Robin and the rest of the party burst through the doors. The Titans and Alfred appeared at the window. Cyborg jumped down and Beast Boy flew out as an eagle. Raven levitated Alfred and herself down to Starfire's side.
The Chief had called for backup quickly, and IGP officers swarmed into the room, facing off against the Citadelian soldiers. Korthar's army backed away as he strode to Starfire, hurling a massive fist at her. She roared and ducked and flew above Korthar's head, bearing down with a heavy kick. He caught her leg and propelled her back into the air. She rained her most powerful starbolts at him, satisfied when she heard his thick hide sizzle and pop.
Robin's bow staff was out and twirling as he fluidly rounded through Citadelian soldiers. Batman joined him, and for a moment the two had each other's backs, just like the old days.
Beast Boy was using his eagle form, diving and scratching at assailants. Cyborg's sonic cannon fired up and was blasting through a throng of scaly skin.
Starfire was completely enraged now. She attacked Korthar with wild abandon as the battle of officers against soldiers waged around her. Robin was attempting to fight his way toward her but all the bodies hampered his process. Raven was utilizing her powers to throw chairs and other objects at her opponents.
Starfire used her full potential, her kicks and jabs doing great damage to Korthar, who was no longer smiling that mocking smile. Tamaranians and Citadelians were mostly of equal strength, so female vs. male made the Citadelian leader naturally stronger but Starfire was quick and agile and had the advantage of long-range attacks that were vicious. It was like fighting a thick tree stump, his arms like massive strong boughs that he swung mightily.
She kept to the air, darting in an out, ducking his punches. She flew above him, avoiding a strike; he missed contact but grabbed a hold of the front of Starfire's skirt. She tugged, but Korthar grinned as he began reeling her in. She clenched her fist, the green powers lighting up her hand. She sliced through her skirt and spun in the air, drawing her legs up and out of Korthar's reach. Korthar tossed the severed fabric aside.
Alfred and Raven were doing an excellent job of keeping Korthar and Starfire's fight free of other Citadelian soldiers who might interfere. Alfred held onto the Citadelian trident and used it against them expertly. He made sure to steer clear of any actual blows, because while he was extremely skilled he was not as strong as he used to be. Raven slung a shield in front of him as a massive soldier's clasped hands descended over Alfred's head. The soldier banged on Raven's shield and Alfred was able to scoot away.
Starfire extended her leg and bore down on Korthar's head. He raised an arm and blocked. She swung her other leg against his blocking upper arm. Korthar fell off balance. As he righted himself he flung his arm around and backhanded her in the mouth. Her head snapped sideways and her body followed, a spray of blood trailing in her wake. She hit the wall and slid to the floor, bright red staining between her teeth and running out her nose and mouth. She spat the blood onto the floor, rubbed her arm across her chin and hefted herself up as Korthar was charging her.
She didn't allow him time to pull another punch; she darted into the air and spun gracefully around, nailing Korthar in the head with a roundhouse kick, then pulled a combo and used her left leg to kick him in the face. She grinned when she heard his sunken nose break.
He roared and covered his face with his hands, black sludge oozing out of his nostrils. As he recovered he threw punches at Starfire with wild abandon. She attempted to flit higher out of his way but he caught her ankle and smashed her to the ground. The back of her head cracked against the floor. She managed to kick her feet out of Korthar's grip and scooted away dizzily. She felt the back of her head with her hand and was dismayed to see it come back coated with blood.
Korthar was lifting a foot to stomp on Starfire when Robin finally reached her side. He roundhouse kicked the side of Korthar's knee and sent the Citadelian sideways. Starfire used the distraction to crawl away, her head rattled.
Korthar aimed his mighty fists at Robin, who was even more agile than his female counterpart. Robin jumped onto the table, ducked a punch, and hopped onto Korthar's head. As he leapt off behind Korthar he twisted in the air and tossed an exploding disk at the Citadelian's head, which detonated on impact. Korthar howled as the minor blast pitched him forward. He swung around to face Robin, growling and snapping like a vicious animal. He swiped for the Titan leader, but Robin was too quick, dodging every strike and answering with the business end of his staff or a well-aimed kick.
A Citadelian soldier who had managed to shake loose any opponents took the opportunity to throw his spear at Robin just as Korthar was coming in with a forceful punch.
Robin had to throw himself forward to evade the spear, allowing Korthar to wallop him in the shoulder. The hit tossed Robin several feet backward, and he hit the wall.
"Fuck," he grunted in pain, his right hand gripping his opposite arm. The blow had dislocated his left shoulder. He attempted to quickly set it, holding his elbow and turning his arm away from his body to relocate the bone back into place. He had dislocated his shoulder plenty of times, and Batman had taught him how to correct it himself in the middle of battle, but the severe pain never got more tolerable. He bit his lip, hissing when it wasn't working.
Korthar was lumbering toward him. He scrambled to get up, still trying to get his shoulder set.
Just as Korthar was in striking distance a starbolt hit the back of his head. Korthar turned around, his attention gotten. Robin sighed in relief as his shoulder finally popped back into its socket and he could circle his arm.
Starfire was hovering in the air, her hand raised and glowing, ready for another strike.
Korthar took this opportunity to taunt.
"You are bloody and broken princess. The sight of you pleases me," he grinned, leering at the rapidly developing bruises and bloodshed. "I like recalling the session with Fuan'a and Gregfor. They were the Tamaranian ambassadors we captured were they not? Your sister gave you the message. We had so much fun with them; you remember, you were there. I was hoping to repeat the experience with you and your brother."
"You will never lay your hands on us," she retorted angrily.
"I could have even more fun with you and your knotha. I want to see the look on his face while he watches you serve me," Korthar grinned deviously.
"Go do the fucking of yourself and die," she spat at him.
"I love it when you talk dirty to me," Korthar growled.
Starfire screamed and aimed a starbolt at his face. He blocked with his arm, sacrificing the limb to take the hit. She flew in and it was an all out brawl, the kicks and punches melding into a blur as she made her fists and heels come into any sort of contact with the creature as she could. One well-placed kick broke Korthar's right arm and Starfire floated in the air, unable to contain the beam on her face when she saw him in pain. He rocked back and clutched at his arm. One of her ribbon shoes was torn and dangling so she shook it off her foot.
As she watched Korthar back away a Citadelian soldier snuck up behind her and jabbed at her with his trident, thinking she was distracted. It was a bad move on his part, because Starfire dodged the attack, whirled around in the air in a blink and wrenched the spear away from the guard. The shock on the soldier's face was almost comical but Starfire didn't take the time to appreciate the humor and stabbed the minion in the shoulder. The creature went down like a sack of bricks, black sludge leaking through its fingers.
While she was sidetracked with the soldier Korthar was advancing on her from behind. Starfire flipped again and kicked a surprised Korthar in the chest. He fell back against the wall and quick as a wink Starfire threw the spear and pinned Korthar's right arm to the wall. She slammed her hand on his throat and smashed his head to the surface, pressing an upraised foot against his fractured left arm. A distressed hiss croaked from Korthar's constricted throat.
Just as Starfire secured Korthar Batman and Ryand'r took down the last standing Citadelian soldier. Korthar took in the scene and realized they had been defeated. He seemed ready to talk.
"You learn some tricks," Korthar gargled. "Those green things new."
"Given to me by the only other beings in this universe as cruel as you," Starfire snarled at him, her hand glowing with power, causing Korthar's throat to burn.
"You are extremely foolish, Princess. If not today, we will have you one way or another," he growled at her in Citadelian.
Starfire roared and jerked her hand against his throat, slamming his head into the wall again. She answered in Citadelian.
"Do not underestimate me, you despicable monster. I will slay you right here where I stand."
"For such a weak little girl that is a big threat," Korthar sneered. He lost the sneer when Starfire tightened her grip and he made a choking noise as her hand compressed his windpipe even more. Her fingernail pressed up under his jaw, his pulse beating wildly under the pressure of her thumb.
"It is not an empty one. I will kill you, but first I will seer your eyes right out of your skull." She demonstrated by using her eye beams to burn a hole in the wall right next to Korthar's head.
"Such a display of bravado does nothing to my confidence." Korthar's face suggested otherwise, however.
"Maybe if I was feeling merciful I would leave you alive and donate your blind helpless body to scientific research. The Psions are the only other race who rival your sadism and ruthlessness."
Korthar was trying to keep up his bluff. "You would not kill me Princess, not here."
"I would dispose of you here and now. Remember," she crooned, "I have killed before. I dispatched your precious little confidant like it was nothing."
Korthar's face snarled. He switched to English. "You kill Glorgathor out of fear. You nothing but worthless coward."
Starfire lost it. She roared and drew her charged hand back ready to strike a fatal blow.
Robin caught her arm on the down swing.
She jerked, snarling and snapping at the Citadelian leader, reminding Robin of a feral jungle cat.
Korthar seemed to share Robin's observation, as the fear on the Citadelian leader's face at the close call was not lost on anyone in the room.
Robin moved Starfire over just slightly so he could talk to Korthar.
"I think we all just saw an example of what kind of position you're in, Korthar. Either pledge that you will never bother Starfire again, or I won't catch her arm next time."
"Stupid human, I will have her," Korthar hissed at him, still attempting to provoke Robin.
"She belongs to me. She will never be yours," Robin retorted.
"Want to hear what I will do with little troq?"
"Have at him, Star," Robin said, removing his hand.
Starfire screamed again and raised her hand for another vicious strike.
"Wait, wait!" Korthar warbled in defense. "I yield. I agree to terms."
Starfire yanked her hand away and Korthar slumped.
"One condition, you allow us to leave with no hassle. We promise to leave Princess alone."
"You brought more soldiers than you stated and attacked a princess and my men in our own territory. You are officially an enemy of the IGP force and we will do everything in our power to see that you are treated as such," the Chief declared. "Get Debbral, we'll draw up the papers and straighten out this mess right now."
"How did they manage to sneak in so many soldiers?" Batman asked the Chief.
"Apparently they sent small groups to several check-in bays, and since it was logged in the system that Citadelians were arriving today it didn't flag as suspicious. They spread out so the security surveillance wouldn't notice how many of them there were. Korthar gave them a signal to storm the meeting hall when we recessed. He figured out Princess Koriand'r was behind the glass mirror."
"Unfortunate," Batman said.
"Indeed. I'm going to be having a talk with our security so this doesn't happen again," the Chief said grimly. "Princess Koriand'r, let him down now."
Starfire stared at Korthar frigidly as she yanked the spear away. Korthar yowled and shook out his injured arm.
Starfire and Robin were turning away when the Citadelian sneered and jumped. No one had time to react; Starfire whirled around just as he pushed her shoulders down onto the table. She fell on her back and Korthar landed over her, his teeth flashing as he bit down on Starfire's defensive raised arm. Starfire screeched, the razor teeth sinking into her flesh and mangling her forearm. She flashed her strongest eye beams right into Korthar's face just as Robin was twirling his bo staff to bring down over Korthar's spine. The Citadelian roared and reared back, his hands rubbing furiously at his burning eyes. She lifted her leg and kicked him off of her. She stood up and primly wiped off her skirt, then inspected her arm, which was now bleeding freely.
Korthar was kneeling on the floor, rocking in pain. She snapped her fingers and some IGP guards came and restrained him.
Raven was coming to her side but Starfire shook her head.
"I will slay a thousand slaves in your name when I return to the Citadel, you sniveling little bitch!" Korthar raged.
Starfire knelt down to his level. "You can rant at me all you like, you can boast the things you will do in my name, but we all know that without your sight there is little pleasure in torturing others."
"Bitch, I can still hear their screams!" he raved.
"But you cannot see their faces. Admit it, you lust for the look of defeat. You lust for the sight of blood running like rivers over your table. You cannot torture your slaves when you are groping around, trying to find their weakest point. They already know yours. You cannot break them, even in death they will know they are better than you."
Korthar roared like a savage animal and flung his arms out wildly, attempting to snatch Starfire. She flitted out of the way, a strange smirk on her face.
"You have lost, Korthar! You have become what you despise the most!"
He thrashed about with his claws, the guards backing away, unable to subdue him.
"Tell me, what jealousy will you feel when your subordinates have the pleasure of sight, when they can see the destruction and damage they do to their slaves and you cannot? Will you allow them to carry on, when you are so deprived? You, the leader of all the Citadelians, and you cannot even see!"
"Bitch! I would tear your eyes out with my teeth!"
"I dare you to try! That is if you can catch me, you pathetic creature."
Korthar was snarling and snapping his teeth, thick black sludge-like blood oozing down his face from his empty sockets. He growled in Citadelian and two of his henchmen came to his side and helped him stand.
"Ready to sign that affidavit?" the Chief said, amused.
"I sign nothing! I hunt bitch until she is dead!" Korthar howled.
Robin twirled his staff and jabbed under Korthar's jaw, right at his pulse.
"That is not a wise decision," he said coldly.
Korthar bared his teeth and raised his chin to alleviate some of the pressure.
Robin hushed his volume but lost none of his deadly serious tone.
"She could wage war against your people and win, but it will be I who takes you out, if you ever dare try stealing her away from me again." He pushed his stave to make his point loud and clear.
Korthar snarled low in his throat like a rabid dog for a few moments, before finally giving one minuscule nod.
Robin did not remove his weapon but turned and beckoned at the Chief.
The Chief poked at his touch pad and Debbral's placid face filled the screen.
"Hello Chief, what can I do for ya honey?"
"We are in need of your secretarial services. Please report to meeting hall 4380 immediately, and bring your printer."
"Yessir," Debbral chirped. "Do I need a translator?"
"Uh, is written Citadelian one of your many talents?"
"Citadelian... oh them nasty critters. I got ya. I'll bring the translator. Ain't nobody in all the known universe would wanna learn their language the easy way, like them Tamaranians do. Can I get you anything else? Coffee?" Debbral asked.
The Chief considered. "Sure, I could go for some coffee. Anyone else?"
The Citadelians looked at each other, baffled. One raised its hand tentatively.
"Bring the pot. Oh! And those nutcakes you made from home. Those are great."
"Will do, honey!"
Raven examined Starfire's head, the wound causing Starfire's hair to become stringy with blood as it trickled down her back. Head wounds bled a great deal even if not serious, so Raven gently took Starfire's arm, trying to heal the bite, which was deep and bleeding far more. Starfire wrenched her arm away. "It is fine. Do not heal it."
Raven's eyes widened in shock.
"What was that for? She's just trying to help," Robin chastised her.
"I do not require fixing. It is fine the way it is."
"Don't be silly, it's bleeding pretty bad. You're going to faint if she doesn't."
"Leave it," Starfire snapped.
She flew out the door as fast as she could. Robin dashed after her.
"Starfire, wait!"
He caught up to her in the hallway and grabbed her non-mangled arm.
"Let go of me," Starfire snarled at him.
He was taken aback. "What's your problem? Raven was just trying to help you, you didn't have to snap at her like that."
"Sometimes I do not need healing! Sometimes the pain does not need to be cured," she insisted, her eyes glowing.
"Oh Star," Robin said sadly. "Just because you hurt on the inside doesn't mean you have to leave the cuts on the outside."
"It is a battle wound. Do not take that away from me."
"I won't. But why did you run away?"
She turned away, clasping her hands, which were trembling violently.
"You're shaking. Are you okay?" He came round to face her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
She looked him right in the eyes. "I would have killed him. If you had not caught my arm, I would have torn his throat out."
Robin studied her for a moment. "I know."
"On Tamaran, my sickening display of mercy would have been considered pathetic and weak. There would be rumors circulating that I am unfit to be Princess of Tamaran, whispers of my inadequacy to dispatch my enemies quickly and ruthlessly. Especially a Citadelian, the leader of the Citadelians no less! Tamaranians despise the Citadelians! We are to kill them on sight!" she wailed.
"I understand, Starfire."
"No, you do not!"
"Stop it," Robin snapped. "I almost let you do it."
She stopped her frenetic pacing and stared at him.
"You what?" she said weakly.
"I said I almost let you do it."
"But, you..."
"Yeah. I know. The only reason I stopped you is because I knew how you would feel about yourself afterward. Everyone in the room would be watching you; you'd regret it, even if it were that twisted sadistic bastard. I know what he would've done to you, the horrible death he would've given you," Robin said, his voice cracking in his throat.
Starfire's face was going pale and she was dizzy. She found her legs couldn't support her anymore. She slowly sank to the floor. "But how can that be?"
"I made Raven show me. She didn't want to, I ordered her."
Starfire stared at the floor before sitting up against the wall, hiding behind her drawn up knees.
"I wanted nothing more than to see you punch him in the face, see his face cave in the way he made yours in that nightmare. But you'd feel terrible about it; you know you would. I couldn't stand to see you feel guilty because of something that was in your nature to do."
"I am a warrior, and I always will be," she said, looking up at him. "I try not to take a life, but it is something that was ingrained in me since my training on Okaara. We are trained as assassins, as soldiers. But I am not a good one. I am always swayed by my emotions. I am a coward," she said bitterly.
"How would you ever figure yourself as a coward?" Robin asked.
"You and the Batman, you never take a life, even the most terrifyingly cruel and dangerous villains you face, like the Joker. You leave him alive to strike at any time. You are brave to let your enemies live, because they most certainly will not show you the same courtesy. But me, I wanted to kill Korthar so I could have peace. So I could no longer wonder where he was, if he was plotting against me. It is cowardly of me to rid myself of him so that I may live the way I wish."
"I think you have it backwards, Star... I can't tell you how many times Bruce and I have discussed the issue of leaving the Joker alive. He has murdered so many people and every time he breaks free he slays even more. The only reason Batman won't finish the job is because it means we have to stoop to his level. The Joker knows that if Batman kills him it proves his point."
Starfire drummed on her knees with her fingers.
"It's the same thing here. If you killed Korthar, you would be no better than him."
"I damaged him beyond repair. He will be blind for the rest of his life."
"Good. He deserves it. If you ask me, you gave him a better punishment than death. He will have all his life to suffer."
"He said he would slay a thousand slaves in my name," Starfire looked up, her eyes like round wet saucers. "I cannot stand thinking he will harm others in my place. I would rather take a thousand beatings than let someone be hurt in my stead."
Robin knelt down in front of her. "He won't do it," he consoled her. "He said that to get a rise out of you, because he knew that would hurt you. It was a bluff."
"I sincerely hope you are correct."
He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "He's all talk, Star. He won't back up what he says." He held out his hand. "I know it's a matter of pride for you, but maybe you should let Raven heal that. It could get infected from whatever nastiness is in that creature's mouth. You might need stitches, and I need to look at your head. Plus, you're bleeding all over everything."
"Give Raven a rest. You can do the stitching, sanitizing, and bandaging of my arm." She took his hand and he helped her stand up. "You are comfortable with me?" she asked, clarifying one last time.
"I felt the same things you felt Star. I almost didn't catch your arm. His death would have been on me just as much as it would've been on you. I don't blame you in the slightest, not after I saw your dream. Don't worry yourself over it a second more."
"Okay," she said, placated. He walked her to their suite where they requested antiseptic wash and other medical supplies. He parted her damp hair and concluded the same as Raven; while it was very bruised and the laceration looked nasty, the bite needed attention first. Robin was carefully sewing the wound on her arm closed when the Chief informed Starfire through the intercom a half an hour later that the documents were signed and she did not have to see Korthar's face ever again.
ooo
Robin dipped his fingers, swirling them around and creating little whirls of current. Strands of Starfire's hair caught in the motion and twirled around his fingertip. She was floating on her back, her hair fanning out around her, eyes closed. Robin reclined next to the deep wide tub, resting his chin on his arms, which were draped over the side. Starfire held her stitched and bandaged arm over the edge of the tub. She was completely still, not even breathing, and then in a wave her whole body shuddered and she sucked in a shaky breath, clasping Robin's hand like he was saving her from drowning. He whispered that it was okay, and she lapsed back into stasis.
He drew his fingers softly along her skin, letting her know he was here for her; he admired her. He traced her ribs, the curve of her breast, the line of her collarbone, smiled when she shivered.
She finally opened her eyes and glanced at him, and he thought he'd break into millions of tiny pieces when he saw the raw pain in her eyes. Korthar was taken care of but she had yet to face her sister's indictment.
"What can I do for you, baby?" he asked despondently.
"There is nothing anyone can do now," she replied, just as hopeless.
Robin frowned sadly at her.
"I could lift the charges-"
"No. Don't you even dare think about it," Robin cut her off. "She deserves everything they sentence her."
"I do not feel right... I feel the guilt for taking my own sister to trial. She will not be sentenced to death, not likely, but I am sure a life sentence will be 'on the table'."
"Good. Then she can't come back to harm you again. She may be your family by blood, but we're your true family, Star. We're always here for you now. You shouldn't feel guilty; she was going to give you to the Citadel again. She will never earn any forgiveness or compassion from me. She is evil and the trial will prove that to everyone."
"You truly think she is evil?"
"You saw the malicious glee she got out of telling you what Korthar was going to do to you in the Citadel. I saw your dream. If that really is what she was saying on that day she came to get you... Yeah. She's evil."
Starfire lowered her head. "I do not understand. It hurts me to hear you speak that way about my sister."
"Of course it does. She's your family, and you've always protected her. She's a part of you, a reflection on you. You hate the things she does to you, you hate the way she acts, but when other people talk about her you feel the need to defend her, simply because you're compelled to be loyal to the only blood family you have."
Starfire's bottom lip quivered. "Yes," she whimpered.
"The thing you have to realize is she's poison, Star. She's killing you. Literally. She's eating away at your insides and she's trying to mutilate your body. Let her go. Get angry. Don't let her waste you away."
Starfire looked as though she were going to cry. "I understand," she choked out.
"Star... I don't mean to be harsh but it worries me if you're thinking about dropping the charges. She needs this, baby. She will never realize the great extent of her actions if she doesn't have to suffer the consequences."
"I know this," Starfire said with a tremor.
"You're doing the right thing."
Robin brushed her bangs out of her eyes and stood, grabbing his shirt by the collar and tugging it over his head. He kicked off his pants and boxers and stepped into the tub. Starfire sat up, her wet hair plastering against her shoulders. He lay down on his back and she slithered against him, resting her cheek against his chest. She placed her palm on his pectoral and listened to his heartbeat as he kissed the top of her head and stroked her back.
Yay! That chapter kinda sucked to get through. Why do I keep writing all these action scenes?
So I got a new job. It was extremely hard to leave the old one, because I had worked there for seven years, people. And my husband and I met there and he is still employed there. But this new job provides a way better opportunity for me (and more money, yay!) but the downside is now I have to get used to a completely new routine and since my husband and I won't see each other at work all day we're going to have to work out how we spend our free time again. So once again my life throws me a curve ball and opportunities for writer's block. It'll be interesting to say the least, but basically just expect the random updates months apart like usual! I don't know why I'm telling you all this, cause you're all like "Oh, so you're saying that you're not going to be updating more frequently, like every other one of your author's notes?" Yes. Yes that is exactly what I am saying. I'm just telling you the new excuse. =)
By the way, I did add something to the author's note of the previous chapter in response to some reviews I was getting. If you didn't see it.
Next up: a banquet to celebrate, Blackfire's indictment, and maybe the Titans finally go home? (maybe... cause I haven't written that far yet!)