"Guilty."
Starfire breathed out.
"On the count of intent to contribute to sex slave trafficking, we find the Defendant… guilty."
Starfire wrung her hands.
"On the count of grievous bodily harm, we find the Defendant… guilty."
The audience in the courtroom began to talk loudly amongst themselves. Starfire sat stock still. Atves pounded her gavel and called for silence.
"I sentence Princess Komand'r to fifteen years for grievous bodily harm, thirty five for abduction of royalty, and five for attempt to contribute to sex slave trafficking, to be carried out consecutively in the Intergalactic Police Force Penitentiary Planet. Parole is set at thirty five years."
Blackfire leaped up with a snarl. "You can't do that! It's complete overkill!"
"You should've thought of that before you went down that road," Atves said mildly. "I also decree that while incarcerated Princess Komand'r must receive psychotherapy help. She is a danger to those around her and is an emotionally disturbed individual. She needs some guidance and some help."
The courtroom burst into a buzzed tension as the guards stood on either side of Blackfire and took her chained arms. She struggled and hurled insults at them bitterly, her eyes glowing purple with rage. Starfire looked down at the floor.
"Wait! Wait!" Blackfire screeched as her escorts tried to take her out of the room. "I challenge my sister to the Galhnak du'tal Mortu!"
Starfire gasped and snapped her head to Blackfire in shock. Ryand'r and Galfore also looked horrified, as did the other inhabitants of IGP aware of Tamaranian culture present in the audience. The buzzing exploded into a full roar.
"What is that?" Robin said. "What does that mean?"
"Sister, you cannot!" Ryand'r exclaimed.
"Order! I will have order in this courtroom!" Judge Atves exclaimed, pounding with her gavel.
Starfire stood up.
"Princess," Galfore said sadly, his big hand clamping her arm.
"What did Blackfire challenge, Starfire?" Robin demanded, but she was not listening. "Starfire!"
"It literally translates to 'fight to the death'," Ryand'r said numbly.
"What?" Robin snapped, now standing too. He grabbed Starfire's other arm. "You're not- you can't-"
"The challenge has been issued," Starfire said blankly. "To back down would bestow great shame and dishonor upon me. I would forever be considered an unworthy warrior to my people and to the inhabitants of the Vega system."
"Um... so? You live on Earth."
"That is of no consequence."
"No consequence?! You live on Earth with us, Starfire," he scolded. "Your home is Earth. You're not doing this."
He called her name angrily a few more times while she vacantly ignored him. The guards were looking to Judge Atves for their cues, should Blackfire be released or should they continue taking her back to the holding cell. Atves stood up from her perch on the bench.
"Is this even allowed in the courtroom?" Robin asked, bordering on panic. Starfire was no help, numbly disregarding his angry tirade. "Galfore, can't you stop this?"
The big Tamaranian Ruler shook his head. "I cannot. No one can. It is a very serious rite in our culture. She cannot back down, not without great shame and losing everything."
"Losing what?" Robin said bitterly to himself. "A throne she doesn't even want?"
"These are my people, Robin," Starfire snipped at him, finally giving him a reaction. "It is my rightful place. I am still a Tamaranian Princess, no matter how long I stay or how poorly I integrate myself on Earth."
He was slightly stunned at that, his mouth dropping open.
"This court upholds and honors the traditions of the people who make up its constituents. The ancient Tamaranian challenge has been issued," Judge Atves announced. "The fight is complete when either opponent is rendered totally disabled or killed. Both opponents must battle only each other and receive no assistance from an outside party. If there is any interference, the match is considered immediately concluded and the losing opponent's life is forfeited. My courtroom is not to be made a mockery of, Princess Komand'r," she said sternly. "This is an obvious attempt at stalling. If you emerge the victor you will still be fulfilling your entire sentence."
"Understood, Judge Atves," Blackfire said in a sugary tone. Robin felt his stomach drop and his heart leap into his throat as Blackfire's restraints were removed and Starfire floated up just above their heads.
"Has everyone gone crazy?!" he shouted. "Starfire! Get back down here, you can't do this, you can't!"
"Man, sit down," Cyborg said, pulling Robin into his seat. "You gonna get her disqualified and then Blackfire gets to execute her point blank."
"Doesn't anyone else see what's happening here? Am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous?" Robin said, his voice going shrill.
"We all worried," Cyborg said, trying to placate Robin and calm him down. "But this is just like when she had to fight for the throne. She gonna be all right."
"That wasn't to the death," Robin wheezed, his throat constricting, his body poised on the very edge of his seat. "How can anyone think this is going to turn out okay?"
"It won't," Raven said, her eyes trained on Starfire's back. Robin grit his teeth at Raven's non sugar coated answer.
"Starfire," Beast Boy spoke up sadly. She turned her head to look down at him. "Are you sure?"
"When you or Cyborg initiate the 'challenge of honor', if you do not participate you are subject to much ridicule and shame, yes?"
Beast Boy nodded regretfully.
"It is the same here, the stakes are just higher."
Robin growled raggedly and buried his hand into his hair. "I'll do it."
Starfire spun sharply toward him. "No. Absolutely not."
"Well I'm sure as hell not letting you do it."
"Are you prepared to dispatch my sister, if that is what it takes to end this fight?" she asked coolly.
Robin's face twisted into a frown and from the side Batman shifted.
"The judge said disable."
"Or kill. You are willing to chance this? My sister most certainly will not lend you the same courtesy."
"Stop it. You're not doing this."
"Neither are you."
"This is completely reckless."
"This is my culture," she snapped. "It is not your place. This is how Tamaranians settle disputes, whether you do the liking of it or not."
"Well it's stupid," Robin scowled bitterly, cringing at how childish that sounded. He sat back heavily in his seat again.
Raven glanced at him. She could feel that he was absolutely terrified and was doing a good job of hiding it by being argumentative. She quietly brushed her fingers against his arm, giving him a look. Robin shot her a glance back, shook his head, and watched as the drama unfolded.
Starfire trained her eyes on her sister. All trace of guilt and remorse vanished. This was the most serious rite a Tamaranian could issue against another; it was only ever used between bitter enemies. The last time the ritual had been invoked was many years ago, well before the two of them were born. The losing Tamaranian had been beheaded by the winner. Blackfire pounded the final nail in the coffin for any reconciliation and it completely broke Starfire's resolve. She knew there was a high chance one of them would not make it out alive after this fight, or at least critically maimed. She felt all the worrisome emotions from the day drain away and a burning fury replaced the weight in her chest. How dare her sister call her up.
She lit her hands. It would end today.
She flew and met Blackfire in the middle of the room, hovering above everyone's heads. Starfire reached down and tore off most of her skirt, casting it aside to allow her legs freedom of movement. The atmosphere was tense, the rest of the Titans watching in stunned and horrified silence. Galfore and Ryand'r were grim, Batman's jaw was tensed so hard it was turning a strange pale color, and Superman looked worried.
Starfire clenched her fists at her sides and Blackfire grinned wickedly at her.
"Couldn't resist one last chance, you understand, don't you Kori?" Blackfire said, her tone taunting.
Starfire shook her head, her little mouth set in a hard line. "I am sad, sister. This all could have been different."
"It's no use dwelling on what could have been," Blackfire snarled, curling her lit hands. "Don't you dare try to talk your way out of this. At least give yourself a chance to die with honor."
"And that would satisfy your blood lust?" Starfire said, almost mockingly, her eyes lighting up. "Finally right all of the injustices you have suffered? Would it finally give you peace?"
"Shut up Kori!" Blackfire howled, hurling an enraged star bolt. Starfire dodged in the air.
"It's not about you, it's never been about you. It's about taking away what those stupid people love! I was supposed to be the people's princess, not you! It was supposed to be me that they loved! Me! They should have showered me with their gratitude and their appreciation! They should have looked to me! Instead you and your stupid fucking red hair and the family eyes, and they cast me out like I had control over my own damn looks. You got the throne, you got the people's love. It should've been me!" Blackfire ranted, completely wild and out of control, grappling with Starfire's wrists.
"And I suppose you would have wanted to take my place in the Citadel as well, sister?" Starfire shot back, just as crazed, squirming in her grasp. "Just because you brought up the idea to send me does not mean you would have been spared if you were the beloved one. They placed all their hopes and dreams on me, they counted on me to save them! We are warriors, we know when to back down from a fight, we would have been laid to waste if the Citadel had turned their full forces on us. So they placed the entire planet's future in my care and you knew they would. The last princess was sent to the Citadel and she died on their soil, at their hands. You would willingly take on that fate as well, sister? Would you be glad to do so for the people's love?"
Blackfire let go of Starfire's wrists and clawed her hand across Starfire's face. She shrieked and lashed out, kneeing Blackfire in the stomach. The older sister doubled over and Starfire clasped her hands, swinging them down on Blackfire's back. She sailed to the floor, crashing into the rows of seats.
Blackfire stood up out of the wreckage and brushed herself before taking off at breakneck speed, landing a punch on Starfire's mouth. Starfire returned with a star bolt to Blackfire's shoulder. They clawed, jabbed and kicked, graceful moves and perfected forms out the window in favor of full on bloody brawling and a scratching cat fight.
Starfire caught Blackfire's arm and tossed her into the wall. She brought her leg up and planted her foot into Blackfire's throat, trapping her against the surface. Blackfire gargled, gripping Starfire's ankle and swinging her in a wide arc before flinging her into the space above the bench. Starfire's trajectory was wobbly until she got a handle on her flight path and ended up landing near the ceiling, crouched with her back facing the wall, her hands and feet catching her weight. She ducked to the side as a barrage of Blackfire's purple energy came crackling toward her.
Stray star bolts flung around the room carelessly, by now the majority of the audience had scrambled for the exits. Judge Atves and the bailiff took cover under the large desk.
Robin's hands clenched so tightly on the seat in front of him his knuckles were white under his gloves. He had never seen this look on Starfire's face before.
It was like the bubbly bright girl he knew was gone, never existed. Her face was a constant ferocious snarl, blood pooling in the corners of her mouth and pouring down her chin. The way the two girls tore at each other was a hundred times more vicious than last time. Starfire meant business. Starfire wasn't holding back a single punch or kick, every star bolt sizzling. She was attacking on the offensive and currently held the upper hand.
Blackfire wiped away a smear of blood out of her eyes and backed off. She grinned jeeringly and rambled something off in Tamaranian. Cyborg's mouth dropped open in shock.
The look of pure absolute rage on Starfire's face made Robin's stomach drop into his toes. The scream she released sent a spear of dread through his spine as she lunged for her sister.
"Get her, girl," Cyborg encouraged, his face set in stone.
"You have your translation on? What did Blackfire say?" Robin asked hoarsely.
"Ain't repeatin' it," Cyborg answered. "It was nasty, all you gotta know."
Robin snatched Cyborg's arm and read the display. "What the-" he blurted. "How could she even say something like that?" His face twisted and he looked up at the two girls. Blackfire stooped pretty low on that one and he understood in full Starfire's reaction. He almost pumped his fist when she got in a good punch.
Starfire blocked a kick, then swiped her hand, catching Blackfire's jaw and raking her fingernails up the side of her face. Blackfire shrieked and recoiled. Starfire took the opportunity, grabbing Blackfire's hair to yank her head down and crack her sister's face over her raised knee. She planted her foot into Blackfire's shoulder and kicked her away.
Robin leaped up from his seat. Now it was getting completely out of hand. He had never seen Starfire fight this way, didn't even realize she was capable of this level of violence, no matter what slurs her sister might call her in relation to the Citadel. His heart was thumping in his ears, his vision a daze as Cyborg pulled him back down. He saw Batman's head twitch and knew his former mentor was looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Robin glanced at him wildly and Batman shook his head.
At this moment in time Robin couldn't be sure Starfire wouldn't take her sister's life.
The way she was fighting without regard for anything, the people still hiding in the room susceptible to her star bolts, her own body, and certainly her sister's body frightened him. It was like she had forgotten who she was other than a machine exacting revenge. Maybe she needed that sort of mentality, maybe she needed to float on instinct alone when any moment her sister could snuff her out like a candle flame. Although the way the battle had been going, Robin was worried Starfire would be the one doing the snuffing.
He debated with himself, knowing the kind generous girl he befriended on Earth would never kill anyone, versus the fiery warrior hellbent on causing as much physical damage to her sister as possible. It felt like a fist clenching his heart when he realized this was the Starfire capable of killing her master. He never thought he would see that side of her, thinking it resided only in her past. It opened his eyes; she was terrifying. She absolutely had been holding back on Earth. He knew why the whole Vega system told stories about the prowess of the Tamaranians and how they were the only race of people with the ability to defeat the Citadel. If they all fought like the crowned princesses...
In the end he knew Starfire couldn't take her sister's life no matter how lost in the warrior mindset she was. At the final moment, she would spare Blackfire. He wished she would KO her sister soon, so she could remember herself and this could be over and done with.
He scrutinized the whole fight, every star bolt flinging and destroying more of the room. After a series of combos Robin spotted it. Starfire missed a punch to Blackfire's jaw and her face showed a hint of fatigue. It only took one moment of weakness to change the momentum of the battle. Blackfire noticed the misstep too and used it to her advantage. She jabbed Starfire's cheekbone and her head snapped back, blood spraying with the hit. Starfire tilted her face toward her sister, her features lost in a haze of liquid crimson and green glow. A snarl poured from the back of her throat and they collided, a mass of shooting energy, slashing hands, red and black hair flying.
Starfire was kicked apart and she flew down, looping around as Blackfire fired a barrage of star bolts at her. She sent back her own assault, then Blackfire darted in and grabbed one arm, burning it with her purple energy. Starfire wailed in pain and Blackfire's other hand went for her throat, slamming her into the wall.
Starfire choked as Blackfire's hand seared her skin. She squirmed in desperation, her eye beams hitting Blackfire square in the face, who shrieked and covered her singed skin. Starfire sent her kneecap into Blackfire's thigh, pushing her off and giving her enough room to kick her. Starfire raised a hand to her neck, coughing and sputtering. She had no time to react, barely rolling away as Blackfire recovered and her foot broke a hole through the wall.
Judge Atves was ducking beneath them, the bench directly below the air space they were fighting in. Pieces of the wall structure crumbled and fell when Blackfire wrenched her foot from the gap. Starfire was rapidly losing her endurance; she clumsily flew to the middle of the room like a drunk bumblebee and gasped for breath.
There were several tall flags lining the room around the bench, representing the different nations co-existing on IGP. Blackfire grabbed the top of a wooden flag pole and kicked the middle, breaking it off. She cast the flag away and swung the rod toward Starfire, who blocked it with her arm. The second swipe cast Starfire's blocking arm aside and the third swipe hit her in the chest, sending her spiraling. Starfire was slow to rise, stumbling to her knees. Blackfire was heading straight for her and she was forced to fly.
Blackfire mercilessly aimed the staff several times, Starfire defending herself as best she could by zipping around the room but she was running out of steam. After dodging another crack of the pole Blackfire spun around and side kicked Starfire into the wall above the bench.
It was a matter of seconds. Starfire's arms flung wide as she took the hit, her head smacking back. Blackfire charged, using the pole like a lance, the broken jagged point spearing through Starfire's abdomen.
Starfire cried out, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared into her sister's unyielding gaze. Dimly she was aware of Robin shouting, running over the tops of the pews. In a surreal haze she glanced down at the pole impaling her body, a ring of blood pooling around it.
Blackfire grinned wickedly, then yanked it away. "Match concluded," she sneered.
Starfire immediately dropped from the wall. Raven caught her falling form in her inky grasp and before Robin could reach Starfire she looped Cyborg up in her powers and swirled the three of them into a portal.
"Beast Boy, stay with Robin!" she commanded and then they were gone.
"No! Nooo!" Robin shouted, pounding the bench with his fists. "Raven! Raven come back!"
He waited a beat before snarling and kicking the judge's bench. "God damn it Raven!"
He was inconsolable. How could Raven not have taken him with? If Starfire died and he didn't have a chance to say goodbye he would never forgive her. He looked up and shot a grappling hook to the ceiling, looping it around a beam. Once he was at Blackfire's height he lashed out, kicking at her then swinging back from the momentum.
"Sorry Robin, no hard feelings, right? It had to be done," she said ruthlessly, wiping the blood off her face while hovering in the air. "So quit pestering me."
He swung back on the line and dove for her. She darted up but he caught her foot; using it as leverage he twisted his body around and kicked her in the chin.
She flicked her leg and shook him loose, tossing him. Robin felt himself falling, and then he was caught on the back of Beast Boy in his pterodactyl form.
Superman looked at Batman, ready to fly. "Should we intervene?"
Batman gave a tiny shake of his head. "Let him have his chance first."
J'onn nodded on the other side of Superman. Galfore and Ryand'r also felt Robin was justified and watched as the Titans leader, still perched on flying dino Beast Boy, circled back around to Blackfire.
ooo
Raven ported herself, Starfire, and Cyborg into the nearest surgical room according to the schematics Cyborg quickly tapped out on his arm. They were lucky it wasn't in use and while it may not have been prepared and completely sterilized they had no time. She could feel that Starfire was fading fast, and would certainly die without any healing magic.
Raven laid Starfire down on the operating table and Cyborg immediately began running diagnostics. Raven found a pair of shears and cut off the remainder of Starfire's skirt.
"Wound is about two inches in diameter, penetration is well into the body cavity, almost all the way through. No major vital organs hit as far as I can tell... her organs are arranged differently than a human's... she's all jacked up in there. Looks like a stomach and part of her intestines were punctured. We need to clean it thoroughly, that wooden pole left multiple splinters."
Raven was gathering supplies while Cyborg talked, sodium chloride irrigation solution and gauze to wipe away the blood. Starfire was bleeding out already and Raven placed her hands over the wound and cast her healing power, attempting to maintain hemostasis.
"While I try to control the bleeding you need to clean it out," Raven instructed, her hands already covered in blood. Cyborg nodded and found a pair of tweezers. He used the gauze and solution to cleanse the area while Raven kept it from seeping. After it was sufficiently clean, he began picking wooden pieces out with precision, using his cybernetic eye.
"Robin's going to kill you for not taking him with us," he said after awhile, poking another piece of wood onto the tray.
"I know. But I knew with this one we needed to concentrate and he'd distract us."
"True. But I don't know if he'll forgive you."
"I'll deal with it when it comes, right now we need to save her. She's sturdier than a human but even she's not in the clear yet," Raven said, her eyes closed and brow furrowed.
Starfire moaned and twitched, her eyes starting to blink open. Raven put one hand on her forehead and mumbled an incantation under her breath. Starfire instantly went into a trance.
"What'd you do?" Cyborg asked.
"Binded her. She won't wake up unless I release her."
"Is she... okay like that?"
"Like being asleep."
"Okay."
Cyborg worked for another fifteen minutes, pulling out every tiny sliver he could find.
"I think I'm about getting there, my eye only detects three more splinters. You sense anything else?"
Raven shook her head. "No. Once you're done I can begin healing the tissue."
"How are you doing? Can you handle this?"
"It's extensive damage. When the wound is this deep I'm going to have to reconstruct her organs. It doesn't take as long as bone but it's just as intensive on me. I don't think I'll be able to heal the rest of her scratches and bruises in one sitting."
"That's fine, scratches and bruises ain't life threatening."
Raven nodded once in agreement and set to work. About twenty minutes in the hospital staff realized the room was occupied. Unfortunately none of them understood English, but they certainly recognized the Tamaranian Princess. Raven and Cyborg tried to communicate they did not need help and just needed some privacy, luckily Cyborg tapped into the IGP databases and found a translation log. With reluctance the staff retreated leaving them to heal Starfire in peace. Now that the cat was out of the bag Raven wondered how long it would be before the news of Starfire's location and condition hit the press. She hoped she still had enough energy to port them out after this so they wouldn't have to face a crowd of nosy reporters.
ooo
Beast Boy was doing his absolute best to dodge Blackfire's sizzling star bolts while Robin hung on around his neck. The green pterodactyl looped back around and Robin knelt up, using the opportunity to launch himself at Blackfire again, bo staff clanging against her raised arm. He dropped onto Beast Boy's waiting back and chased after Blackfire as she darted through the air.
The two boys were doing a remarkable job of coordinating their moves together when trying to fight an entity that was completely airborne. Blackfire was noticeably fatigued from battling her sister and could not expend much energy to get away. Robin threw three exploding discs at her and two hit her shoulder.
Her face twisted in anger. "That's enough."
She burst toward him like a speeding arrow but he was too quick and jumped right above her. He landed on Beast Boy and launched another exploding disc. It hit her right between the shoulder blades.
"Damn it!" she cursed, casting a star bolt at him as she flung around. He leaped off of Beast Boy and planted his feet right into Blackfire's stomach. She fell out of the air, Robin careening toward the ground with her. Beast Boy swooped in and grabbed the back of Robin's collar effectively lifting him away before he crashed. Blackfire wasn't so lucky, another row of pews breaking her descent. She popped up, battered and bloody with a nasty snarl on her face.
"Take out your pathetic anger on me all you want," she sneered up at him. "Your little girlfriend is nothing more than a piece of Citadelian ass."
"Fuck you," Robin swore at her. "Thanks to this trial that's exactly what she'll never be. You on the other hand, I bet you'll be someone's bitch the moment you have your first lunch in the prison cafeteria. Big Bertha's gonna love it when you drop the soap."
Blackfire snarled. "I'll own the joint by dinner."
"You'll be the prison bicycle, everyone gets a ride."
"Think you're hilarious don't you. Go ahead and fuck your damaged goods, I'm sorry you're stuck with her for the rest of your life."
"I'm just sorry her sister is a piece of trash."
Blackfire screeched and bolted toward him, grabbing him by the shoulders and slamming him into the ceiling. Bits of the plaster broke and crumbled down. Beast Boy flew up after them, clawing at Blackfire's back. She whipped Robin around toward the ground and wrestled with Beast Boy's wings.
Robin quickly deployed his spare grappling hook as Superman and Batman nodded at each other. Batman stood and stalked underneath the space where Beast Boy and Blackfire were still hacking at each other. Superman flew to the other side inconspicuously. Blackfire was so focused on avoiding Beast Boy's very sharp talons she didn't notice the superheroes getting into place.
Batman shot up his grappling hook and aimed a well placed kick right into Blackfire's side. She went sailing into Superman and smacked into his chest. She pushed off, Superman just catching her ankle. She yanked against his strength, howling and casting her star bolts into his face. He dodged the energy, trying to see past the brightness. She aimed her other foot at his face, kicking away at him like an immovable tree trunk. She finally spun her whole body around, twisting her ankle against his thumb in an unnatural way and he was forced to release her.
Blackfire darted away as he followed right after her. She rained a shower of star bolts, which were rapidly dimming the more tired she grew, exhausting the last of her stores. She was looking backward at Superman chasing her and failed to see Beast Boy carrying Batman with his pterodactyl talons. Batman lifted up his legs and planted his boots into her chest. She stopped dead in the air and fell right into Superman's waiting arms.
Blackfire shrieked, wailed, and squirmed but it was no use. She was finally caught.
Judge Atves and the Bailiff slowly appeared from under the desk. The guards readied Blackfire's shackles as Superman dropped down and made an attempt to hold her still so they could chain her.
"Looks like the jury made the right choice," Atves said sardonically, brushing the debris off her robes. "Take her away."
Blackfire screeched like a banshee, making everyone's ears hurt but was successfully carted off. Galfore and Ryand'r watched her go sadly.
Beast Boy landed next to Robin, shifting back into his human self as Batman joined them. Robin was absorbed in his communicator.
"What are you going to do now?" Batman asked.
"I'm tracking Raven and Cyborg," he answered, his face hard. "It looks like they're several miles from here in one of the medical units, as far as I can tell."
"Ah, dude," Beast Boy said, pointing to one of the news feed screens that hadn't been damaged. "Look."
Robin looked up. "Shiiit," he drew out. "That's why there's only half the press outside. There's going to be a frenzy over there, we'll never get through."
The media was exploding with coverage of the massive fight between Blackfire and Starfire and speculation about Starfire's critical condition. It also mentioned two of her companions from Earth were treating her and would not allow any other medical personal to help.
"Guess we know where she is now," Beast Boy said, wide eyed. "At least she's okay."
"That's relative," Robin said grimly. "It also lists she's in critical condition."
Beast Boy placed his hand on Robin's shoulder. "Then we better get going, dude."
Batman nodded at the two. "Superman, J'onn, Galfore, Ryand'r, and I will hold down the fort here. There is some press still out there. Let us know when you find her and how she's doing."
Robin nodded. "Let's go Beast Boy."
Beast Boy turned into a spider monkey and jumped up onto Robin's shoulder. Robin ran out, pushing his way roughly past the reporters and ignoring their flood of questions.
ooo
After an hour Raven was visibly tiring. The wound was shallow but still open and she was doing her best. Cyborg dressed the rest of Starfire's surface injuries, cleaning and wrapping a bandage around a nasty slash on her thigh from the broken pole. Raven was mildly surprised that Robin hadn't burst in on them yet by following their trackers, but supposed the hospital staff could be keeping him from coming in.
The gap finally closed over and Raven collapsed. Cyborg was right there to catch her, picking her up in his arms. In a moment of excellent timing the doors swung open and Robin darted in, a chattering Beast Boy still on his shoulder.
"Don't you ever ever EVER leave me again when- Oh God," he exclaimed, looking at Starfire's pale, bloody, and still very much battered form lying on the cold table. Beast Boy screeched and hopped from Robin's shoulder onto Cyborg's before slipping into Raven's lap, patting her on the cheeks.
Robin was instantly at Starfire's side, picking up her shoulders and hugging her tightly. "Is she okay? Is she gonna be okay?" he asked Cyborg, cradling her head in his hand.
"Yeah, she's finally stable. Raven's too tired to heal the rest of her but she doesn't have a gaping hole in her anymore."
"God," Robin said again, squeezing her tighter, pressing his lips against her forehead. "Did you sedate her? Or is she just out?"
"Raven binded her. Said Star won't wake up until she releases her."
"Oh." He turned and looked at Raven slumped in Cyborg's arms, Beast Boy still perched on her stomach.
"She's out too? There's a massive crowd of press and civilians outside the hospital unit. I could barely get through, I had to resort to sneaking methods. We'll never get out of here without being completely accosted."
"I'll port us. Just give me a minute," Raven mumbled. She rubbed her hand on her head, then her lips mouthed her magic incantation and the swirl of her portal came into view. The boys stepped through it and into the bedroom in their private quarter.
Robin immediately headed for the bathroom. "I'm going to wash Starfire off and then get her in bed. After I'm done you can clean up Raven, okay Beast Boy?"
Monkey Beast Boy nodded and squawked in response. Cyborg laid a sleeping Raven down on the bed, then went to his own room to wash Starfire's blood from his hands.
Robin took off the rest of Starfire's soiled and torn clothing and tossed it aside. He placed Starfire in an empty tub and cleaned off all the blood between her bandages as best he could with a washcloth and tried to get most of the blood out of her hair. Once he was done he realized he had no clothes for her. He peeked his head out the door. Cyborg had just returned.
"Hey Cy, can you bring Star's bag over here?"
Cyborg complied and Robin rummaged around for her nightie and a clean pair of panties. He pulled Starfire from the tub, dried her off and dressed her.
"Seems like this is a reoccurring thing, huh?" he mumbled to her. "How come it's always you getting hurt? You worried me so much." He kissed her on the forehead and opened the bathroom door.
"Your turn," he said to Beast Boy as he put Starfire under the covers. He sent off a quick text to Batman.
Beast Boy scooped up Raven and headed into the bathroom, rinsing her hands and arms off. Her clothes were also bloody and after he removed them he found himself in the same predicament.
"Hey Rob? Raven needs something to wear."
Robin dug around in his bag and found an old t-shirt he used for sleeping in. He handed it to Beast Boy. "This is all I have, Starfire only brought one nightie."
"That'll work fine, thanks," Beast Boy said. He dressed Raven in the t-shirt, brought her out and tucked her in bed next to Starfire.
The boys talked quietly amongst themselves until there was a knock on the door. Robin answered it to find Batman, Superman, J'onn, Galfore, and Ryand'r standing outside. They all grouped out in the hall so as not to disturb the girls.
"How is she?" Superman asked.
"Raven healed what she could," Robin said. "The hole is gone but she's still pretty banged up. We'll wait until Raven's strength has returned and she can finish healing Starfire. Then we're going home."
"You must be relieved it's all over," Batman said.
Robin sighed. "It never feels like it's over. But maybe this will give her some peace."
"J'onn and I have to return to the Watchtower," Superman said. "I wanted to stop by and see how Starfire was doing first. Give her my best."
"Thanks Superman, I will," Robin said tiredly.
"When she wakes up and is able to receive visitors, please let us know," Galfore said.
"We'll call you right away," Cyborg agreed.
The group disbanded and the boys made their way back into the room. Both girls were still sleeping peacefully.
"I'm ready to crash," Robin said. He climbed onto the bed beside Starfire and wiggled his way in, hugging her close. Beast Boy turned into a cat and curled up by Raven's stomach.
"Sounds good to me y'all," Cyborg yawned, taking a seat next to the bed and powering down.
ooo
It was several hours later when Raven finally awoke. The boys were already up watching the IGP news line. They were amused the reporters had no idea of Starfire's whereabouts or her condition and were completely baffled as to how she and her companions had vanished from the surgery room without a trace.
"We'll have to release a statement at some point," Robin said. "I thought Galfore would've done it by now but apparently he and Ryand'r stayed holed up just as much as we have."
"They haven't issued a statement?" Raven questioned.
The three boys turned around. Beast Boy got up and went to her side. He offered her a pair of jeans and a t-shirt she had packed. He had retrieved them from their room while she was still asleep.
"No," Robin said. "You slept for about five hours. There's been a lot of speculation but no one's officially released information on Star. So they're mostly talking about the trial and the huge fight."
"Well," Raven sighed, shifting her weight as she put on her jeans and glancing down at her sleeping friend, "We should probably wake her up. The sooner we heal her the better."
"I agree. Injuries aside, she ain't gonna feel better until we get her away from all this," Cyborg said. "The sight of all the damage to that court room is bad enough. They sensationalizin' it and she never gonna get a moment's peace."
Robin came around and slid in next to Starfire. Raven placed her hand over Starfire's forehead and mumbled an incantation. Her eyes fluttered, but didn't open.
Raven frowned and Robin tilted Starfire's chin, his face worried. "Star? Starfire. Baby? Come on, wake up. Star." He shook her shoulders lightly but she didn't rouse. "Why isn't she waking up? Raven?"
Raven peered at Starfire. "She should be. She's not... asleep."
"Then what's going on? Did your spell not wear off?" Beast Boy asked.
"No, the bind is definitely gone... She doesn't want to wake up."
Robin squeezed Starfire's hand tightly. "She doesn't want to wake up?"
Raven shook her head. "Her essence has retreated into herself. Her mind is empty. I'm going to have to possess her to find her and bring her back."
"Possess her?" Cyborg said.
"Yeah. I'm part demon. That's what we do."
"Well, I know that, it's just..."
"What else would you rather I do? Wait until she decides she wants to return to reality? It could take minutes, hours, or months. She might be stuck somewhere in her memories and can't get out. I'm going to have to find her," Raven said.
"Do it," Robin said. "Get her back."
Raven floated up above Starfire's prone body and crossed her legs in a lotus position. She mumbled her incantation and her raven soul self curled out of her body and into Starfire's.
Raven found herself in the most beautiful gardens she had ever seen. Happy would love it, she thought wryly. Among the exotic Earth plants and flowers were flora she had never seen before. The colors in the jumbo Crayola crayon box had nothing on this place. Tall trees stretched into a pale purple sky, light filtering through the vine draped canopies. Everything was breathtaking perfection. For a moment Raven forgot where she was, why she was here. The quiet solitude made her soul yearn to meditate and revel in the peace this place offered.
A far off scream shattered the imagery and Raven was jolted into the middle of a field with golden grass whipping and waving in a brisk wind. The sky was still purple overhead, but it was a darker violet, the feeling more ominous. When she turned around to look behind her she realized why. In the distance along the horizon oppressive dark storm clouds swirled angrily, lightening crackling across the sky and thunder punctuating the flashes. She could see a forest of sparse gnarled trees and bare dirt ground. With a heavy heart and a sinking stomach Raven knew where she could find Starfire.
Raven started across the field toward the dark place in Starfire's psyche. Time functioned differently in a mind dimension; thoughts were fleeting and scattered. Raven felt a skip and then she was standing outside a massive stone fortress that filled her entire vision. It sent shivers down her spine. She knew this place, had seen it before through Starfire's eyes. Another hopeless wail from inside.
In a blink Raven was in an enclosed room. An operating table situated in the middle was covered in blood. Someone was huddled in the corner and when Raven hurried around the table she found the source of all the red covering the apparatus. It was Starfire, naked and wounded. She sustained a large gash across her stomach which she cradled in one hand, blood oozing from it every time she breathed, and more drained down the inside of her thighs. Her lungs rattled, filled with fluid. Her back was whipped to ribbons, her snarled dirty hair sticking to it. Various other cuts, tears, and slices marred her body and one eye was completely gone, looking like it had been gouged out with a hot poker. Trails of blood seeped messily down the side of her face. She blinked at Raven with her remaining eye as she stroked the wall disjointedly.
"Starfire," Raven breathed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean..."
Starfire shook her head and huddled further into the corner like a frightened animal.
"Come with me. I'll get you out of here." Raven held out her hand and moved toward her.
Starfire flinched violently and stared at Raven with a wary gaze.
"You know me. I'll get you out of here, I promise. Take my hand."
"I cannot die. I do not understand, why can I not die?" Starfire whispered hoarsely, her throat raw and damaged from screaming. Raven could barely hear her.
"You're stuck in your mind. This place isn't real, but I am. I can take you away from here and get you out."
She shook her head again. "Leave me, please. It is not fair. It hurts."
"Take my hand Starfire, please. You have to take it, I can't force you. You have to want to leave with me."
"You are not here. None of you are. I am just imagining you."
Raven was desperate. "I'm here, I'm real, and Robin is waiting for you."
Starfire darted her gaze at Raven again, her eye intent. "Robin?"
"Yes," Raven said. "Robin's waiting for you to wake up. He's so worried about you, he just wants you to come home."
Starfire looked down at her knees.
"Raven? If this is in my mind, can you take this place away? Can you erase it?"
Raven's heart broke for her. "Oh Starfire, I wish I could. I can't. I would if I could, you know that."
Starfire looked disheartened. "Yes, I understand. It was just an idea."
"Will you come with me?"
She debated. "I cannot go through this again."
"I'm not just a vision this time. You take my hand and you'll wake up to Robin's face."
Starfire sighed and rested her head against the rough stone wall, tracing the grooves with a bent finger. "I miss him so much."
"Take my hand," Raven said, going as close as she dared and holding it out.
Starfire eyed it. "You promise?" She hovered her palm over Raven's outstretched one.
"I absolutely promise," Raven reassured.
Starfire gave her one more look before placing her hand in Raven's. Immediately there was a forceful jolt and Raven felt her soul returning to her body. She blinked her eyes and saw Starfire's eyes flutter open. Robin emitted a cry of happiness and hugged a bewildered Starfire as tightly as he could without hurting her. Beast Boy and Cyborg patted Starfire's hands and uttered joyful exclamations.
Raven levitated backward toward the end of the bed and shakily staggered out of the room.
Starfire looked like death warmed over as Robin let go of her. Her lips were blue, her eyes sunken and hunted as she scanned the boys' faces.
"What..." she croaked in a whisper, her throat still sore.
"You're alive Star," Robin said, a sheen of wetness lining his eyes as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She looked confused and and completely lost for a beat more and then the horror spread across her face.
"Oh X'hal," she wailed.
"No, no hey... it's all good," Robin soothed, taking her hands. Beast Boy stroked her shoulder. "Blackfire's going to jail, she's gone and you're going to be fine."
"I.. I..." Starfire stuttered, tears dripping down her cheeks, her hands shaking. Robin gathered her up in his arms.
"Where's Raven?" Robin said, looking at Beast Boy through a clinging Starfire's hair.
Cyborg glanced toward the door. "I'll find her, y'all stay with Star."
ooo
Raven leaned against the hallway outside and buried her face in her palms.
"Hey," said a familiar voice. A large hand covered her shoulder. "You got her back, is everything okay? Y'all don't look so good."
Raven was so distraught she couldn't speak.
"Somethin' wrong? Rae?"
Raven tried to talk but it came out as a croak. She cleared her throat and tried again.
"I didn't mean... when I binded her mind I put her asleep. She dreamed about the Citadel and then she got stuck there. The... the way she looked when I found her..."
Raven slid down the wall.
"She was stuck, she couldn't wake up. I didn't mean..."
"She dreamed about the Citadel?"
"Yes. I didn't cast a dreamless bind. I didn't think it would happen, that her mind would just gravitate there... her mindscape is beautiful, it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. She has such an amazing psyche, but instead of being happy in the gardens she got stuck in the Citadel."
Raven wiped at her cheek with her fingers and sniffled.
"You couldn't have known," Cyborg said, sitting down beside her.
"I should have," Raven sighed, shaking her head. "It was awful. I should've known her body was distressed and injured and her mind would take its cues from her physical state. She was hurt and in pain and it naturally took her right to the dark corners of her mind." Raven dug her nails into her palms. "How could I do that to her?"
"You didn't know that would happen. We didn't have time to set her up with anesthesia and she was waking up. You had to do something to keep her asleep so she wouldn't feel the real pain."
"I know, I know," Raven moaned. "I just feel terrible to make her experience that all over again."
"She's fine now, Rae. Robin's in there and so is Beast Boy. I bet he's cheering her up already and she'll make a full recovery."
Raven frowned.
"She's a strong girl. She'll be all right." Cyborg stood up and offered Raven his hand. Raven looked up at him gratefully and took it.
The two entered the room as puppy Beast Boy wagged his tail and licked Starfire all over the face and Robin didn't know whether to pout about that or just be relieved that Starfire had the tiniest smile on her face. Starfire caught Raven's gaze and mouthed 'thank you'.
Raven nodded and rolled her eyes with a smile at Beast Boy. Robin decided he had gotten enough Starfire licks in and booted him off her lap.
He gave Raven a very serious look and nodded toward the door. Raven knitted her brows but waited as he got up and patted a worried looking Starfire's hand. Beast Boy was immediately back in her lap as a cat, purring and kneading her thighs.
Robin slipped his hand around Raven's upper arm and led her out the door. As soon as they were out of sight of the other Titans Robin pushed Raven against the wall and squeezed her as hard as he could, resting his chin on the top of her head.
Raven was shocked for a moment before she hugged him back just as hard.
"Thanks," Robin said, his voice choked with emotion.
"No problem," Raven answered, patting him on the back.
"No, seriously. I could've killed you for not taking me with at first, but I understand. Without you-"
"I know," she said.
"We would've lost her and I... Rae..."
His grip on her tightened. It was rare to see him break down this much.
"You know I wouldn't let the sister I never had slip away."
"Thank God you're there for her, because her real sister is-"
"Not a part of her life anymore," Raven said decidedly.
Robin kissed her temple and pulled away, his hands on her shoulders.
"You're the best Rae."
She didn't feel like the best at the moment, even after Cyborg's talk. She felt pretty damn low, actually. But for Robin's sake she smiled at him. "She's lucky she has you to take care of her."
Robin pulled her in for one more light hug and a kiss on the forehead. "I can't thank you enough for saving her... again."
"No thanks needed," Raven said, patting his arm and leading him back to the room.
She examined Starfire's remaining injuries and reluctantly estimated about another day to heal the rest of her so she would be well enough to travel. It was unfortunate the media would still be in a frenzy, but it was safer for Starfire's well-being. Soon enough they could go home, then it would officially all be over.
ooo
The guilt still weighed on Raven as she watched Starfire rest next to Robin the next day. Starfire's general mood improved considerably after Raven healed most of her bruises and cuts. Raven tried not to mope about it but she didn't want to cause Starfire more pain and the way she had looked, trapped in her memories made Raven extremely upset.
Starfire opened one eye.
"Raven? Are you the okay?" she asked in a hushed tone, so as not to awaken Robin.
Raven started and narrowed her eyes at Starfire. "Why do you ask?"
"You have been staring at me for the past ten minutes. You do not look happy."
"I'm just worried about you, that's all."
"I will be fine. You need not worry."
Raven picked at the covers on the bed. "Do you... do you remember anything after Blackfire stabbed you?"
Starfire frowned as she thought about it. "No."
"No?"
"I remember the pain, and the shock... Blackfire looked so cruel and... triumphant," Starfire said sadly. "Then I remember thinking 'this is the end, I am going to die here, after all I have preserved through' and I saw Robin running to me out of the corner of my eye. I wanted to cherish that vision of him, because I thought it was the last time I would ever see him." She wiped a tear away and ran her fingers through his hair. He mumbled and shifted, but didn't wake. "When Blackfire pulled out the pole of the flags, it hurt so incredibly that I blanked out. Then I woke up and saw all of you."
"So you don't remember dreaming at all?"
Starfire shook her head. "No. Did something happen?"
Raven narrowed her eyes. "You're lying to me. You know I can tell."
The 'a little too innocent' look on Starfire's face fell. "I... remember some."
Raven sighed and muttered, "Shit."
Starfire reached out her hand and placed it over Raven's. "It is not your fault Raven, you know this."
"Still, I-"
"I have had worse dreams. I have had worse done to me. Please, friend, do not ever blame yourself. I am simply happy you came and rescued me, both physically and mentally," Starfire smiled.
Raven frowned. "I... Starfire, you know I..."
Starfire giggled. "You are just as bad as Robin at admitting the feelings. I love you too, Raven."
Raven blushed. Starfire pecked her best girl bud on the cheek and gave her a hug.
"I agree with you, but I think Robin wins that race," Raven said.
"He has the medal of gold, and you are the silver," Starfire laughed.
"He won by a mile," Raven teased.
"My ears are burning," Robin mumbled in his pillow, his hand groping for Starfire's hip.
"Does that not mean someone is talking about you?" Starfire said innocently.
"Hey, I had Batman for a father. Cut me some slack."
"Yeah, and my daddy dearest is a dark demon lord, so..."
"Excuses," Starfire huffed. "I could also join the club of emotionally distant fathers, yet I have no qualms about expressing my love and affection for my friends."
"You're one in a bajillion Star," Robin said, face still planted in the pillow.
"Was that the sarcasm?" she said tartly, smacking him on the rump.
"Ow! No, it wasn't!" he said, giving her a look and a lopsided grin.
"As the reigning queen of sarcasm, I'd say that sounded like some good snark to me," Raven ruled.
"Traitor," Robin griped playfully.
"She is not the traitor, she is looking out for me," Starfire said, crossing her arms. "She is my only defense against your barbed tongue."
"Jeesh, you make me sound devious."
"You are devious! You make with the comments of snark all of the time!"
"Not all of the time," Robin protested.
"You are correct, the other times you are focused on the cases and are very serious and make the frown faces. Then you forget you have the girlfriend and spend the night romancing the computer bases of data."
Raven snorted. "That's hilarious. Just how does he romance the computer, exactly?"
"First he adjusts the monitor brightness and contrast by turning the knobs as the foreplay. Then he likes inserting the discs of floppy," Starfire said slyly.
"He better get a hard drive though, otherwise the computer won't be too happy," Raven added in with a grin. Starfire giggled.
"Oh come on!" Robin said.
"Oh yes, then he does the downloading," Starfire said.
"He likes searching for key words," Raven retorted.
Robin shook his head.
"Yes yes, and once he finds the key words, the computer displays the satisfactory results."
Raven snickered. "Then he uploads on his hardware?"
Starfire came close to a belly laugh.
"I never knew there were so many computer sexual innuendos," Raven said. "I learned something today."
"Didn't we all," Robin said flatly.
Starfire pointed at him. "More of the snark!"
Beast Boy poked his head in the door. "Hey Raven, you gotta see this! Cyborg found an all you can eat buffet in the food courts and he's eating this giant mountain of this weird blue thing! The whole crowd is cheering him on, you so gotta come!"
Raven gave him a lidded look. "Oh joy. How did you know that would make my night."
"Come see!" he beckoned.
"Do I have to?" she all but whined. Beast Boy darted in and snatched up her hand, tugging her to the door.
"Would I ever let you miss it?!" he exclaimed happily.
Raven looked pleadingly back at Robin and Starfire, who both smiled and giggled as she was pulled out the door by her exuberant boyfriend.
"As much as I pity her having to witness that, it's nice to get some alone time with you," Robin said, snuggling back up to Starfire.
"Yes," Starfire said, absentminded, her whole mood plummeting once she no longer had to keep up appearances.
"Something wrong?" Robin asked, yawning.
Starfire sighed. "I am sorry."
"What for?"
"That I put you in such a position. For the fight, for not being the one to end it-"
"Star, let's not talk about this right now," Robin said.
"When should we talk about it then?"
Robin was quiet for a moment.
"You are upset," Starfire said, sitting up.
"I'm not upset," he protested.
Starfire pressed her hands to her cheeks. "I know I lost control of myself, but I would never..."
"I know you wouldn't," he said, his face very serious. Starfire scrutinized him, then her eyes widened.
"You thought I would. You doubted me."
"Star, I..."
"I could never kill my sister."
"I know that."
"Yes, but in that moment you were not sure."
Robin swallowed. "I've... never seen you like that before."
Starfire sucked in a breath.
"It made me think that's what you must've looked like when you killed your master."
She raised a hand to her lips, tears forming in her eyes. Her cheeks colored with shame. "Yes, that is probably very close to how I looked," she whispered.
"I'm trying not to dwell on it, but it certainly opened my eyes."
Starfire held in a sob. "You see me differently now?"
"Not... differently. It's hard to explain. But there's a part of you I had never seen before and now I know."
"I have lived among humans and done as humans do, for you. For myself, yes, but for you. I cannot change the part of me that is a warrior," Starfire said, her voiced choked with anguish and stubbornness.
"And I'm not asking you to," Robin said gently. "It just shocked me. Because all the time you've been here, you're always kind and happy. The closest I've ever seen you be like that was when you first landed. And even then you were tamer than that. Even when you fought with your sister on the Gordanian ship it wasn't like this. I just didn't realize there was this ruthless animal inside of you; it threw me for a loop. I'm trying to digest it."
"I would say there is a warrior inside all of us," Starfire defended. "Beast Boy dealt with his Beast, Raven her rage, Cyborg and his limitations."
"Yeah, I know. I can't judge you Starfire, I've been there myself."
"You have?"
"I could've killed Zucco. I had the chance to. I was this close to getting revenge for my parents' deaths, and it would've felt so satisfying. Batman swooped in just in time, made me realize the choice I was making. I would've killed him, Star. I understand the rage you were feeling against your sister, the intention to make it so she can never hurt you again. The no killing thing was Batman's rule, never mine. He drilled it into me so much when we trained that I just... I feel sick at the thought of it now. But it wasn't my mantra, not originally. Bruce sees things in black and white, where I see gray."
"I was worried how you saw me yesterday would change things," Starfire admitted.
"It changes things a little. I know how vicious you can be... I also know that no one better fuck with you or they're going to get their ass handed to them by one bad ass Tamaranian," he joked.
Starfire smiled sadly. "I cannot pull that girl out on a whim. She is a product of years of rage and sorrow."
"I know," Robin sobered. "Whatever Blackfire said about you, in the middle of that fight?"
Starfire's face hardened. "She can do the fucking of herself."
"Whoa-"
"Do not bring it up again."
Robin raised his hands in peace. "I was just going to say, it wasn't true. And it never will be."
"And that is all we will say about that," Starfire said, subject closed.
"Are we good?" Robin said.
"Yes. If you think we are the good?"
"I love you Star. That's all that matters."
"I love you too."
There was a knock on the door. The two looked up.
"Come in," Starfire said, brows furrowed.
Ryand'r and Galfore entered, both looking grim. Robin sat up straighter on the bed.
"Sister," Ryand'r said, crossing over to her and grabbing her hands.
"Ry, what is it?"
"My little bumgorf, there's been some news," Galfore said solomnly.
"What is it?" she said again, sitting up straighter as well.
"While your sister was on route to the IGP Penitentiary planet, her vessel was attacked."
Starfire's eyes widened and her stomachs dropped. "By who?"
"I think you know little one."
Starfire sank back, her hands slipping out of Ryand'r's. "Oh, X'hal. The Citadel?"
"Yes," Ryand'r confirmed.
She was racked by a moment of heart wrenching indecision before she became hysterical. "We must... we must save her."
"No, sister-"
She scrambled from the bed, Robin jumping up alarmed.
"Ryand'r, I cannot and will not see my sister in their hands, no matter what she has done to me," she said, shrill.
"Starfire," Robin said sharply, grabbing her arm. "I'm not letting you go to the Citadel to save someone who did her best to kill you- multiple times."
Starfire's eyes were wild and she was not listening to anyone. She was frantically flipping around in their duffel bag looking for her clothes.
"Princess, you must hear us-" Galfore insisted.
"No, I cannot believe you would let them take her there!" Starfire said, finding her skirt. "I hate her... I loathe her, but I cannot-"
"Sister," Ryand'r said, finally grabbing her arms and turning her around to face him. "She is already gone."
Starfire shook her head and swung her arms, breaking Ryand'r's grip. She darted in the air for the door, where Galfore dove and intercepted her, rolling with her onto the floor. She squirmed and wrestled but he held her down.
"She is already gone, Princess. There is no use."
"How could you?" Starfire wailed. "How could you let them take her? We could still save her!"
"No," Galfore said sadly. "There is no saving her. She is dead, little one."
"No!" Starfire cried, her body collapsing against the ground. "No!"
"They were too fast, she had passed before we even heard she was abducted."
"Starfire," Robin said, kneeling before her and gathering her up in his arms. "It's done now, there's nothing we can do."
"No, no, no... why could they not save her..." Starfire sobbed, clutching his arm.
"It was too late Princess, it was too late. The few guards transporting her were overpowered and the pod's transmission radio was damaged. They were completely outmatched and there was nothing to be done by the time they made it back to IGP with the news. The crew is deeply apologetic. They were all severely injured in the skirmish and barely made it back to IGP alive," Galfore explained soberly.
"I am sorry sister," Ryand'r said.
"Sorries will not bring her back. She was your sister too! Why are you not distressed?!" Starfire accused.
"I am, but she never did me any favors. She was the reason I was in exile for half my life, she engineered your contract with the Citadel, destroyed our family, allowed our parents to be slain. How can you feel any remorse for her poetic demise?"
Starfire snarled. "She was part of our blood. Those things the defense lawyer said were true. She was ostracized by our people. They made her. I will always feel the guilt, always. She felt that I took her place, that I was who she could have been. It was neither of our faults but it is my guilt to bear."
"She also had a choice to change what people thought about her and she did nothing but confirm their fears and suspicions," Ryand'r said firmly. "I felt sorry for her, I did, but I cannot excuse her actions."
"No one, not even her should be subjected to the Citadel." Starfire shook her head in a daze. "Leave, please, I... please... did they recover her body?"
Galfore shook his head. "There was... nothing left to recover."
Starfire covered her mouth, gagging like she was going to be sick.
"I am sorry sister," Ryand'r said sadly, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"We will talk to you tomorrow, my little bumgorf," Galfore said somberly, holding the door open for Ryand'r.
Starfire held her arms around herself, rocking slightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Star," Robin said gently. "Starfire. It's going to be okay."
"I want to go home," she said weakly. "I want to go home."
"Tomorrow, we'll go tomorrow after you've gotten over the shock."
"I feel sick," Starfire moaned.
"Do you need to go to the bathroom?"
The resulting convulsions answered his question as she scrambled across the floor on her hands and knees into the bathroom and heaved over the toilet. Robin followed, tenderly holding her hair back while she emptied the contents of her many stomachs between sobs. She slumped backward after she was done. Robin wet a washcloth and wiped her mouth, brushed her hair away from her face. She bawled in his arms for an indeterminate amount of time, huddled up on the bathroom floor while he rubbed her shoulders and back.
"I want to go home," she said again after her chest wracking sobs had finally subsided. "I want... I do not want to stay here another second."
"Tomorrow," Robin soothed. "You're not well enough to travel now."
"Robin? Starfire?"
"In here, Raven," Robin answered.
"I sensed- Azar, what happened?" Raven asked, leaning against the door frame.
"Blackfire's transport vessel was attacked on the way to prison," Robin said. "The Citadelians took her."
"Oh, Azar. Is she...?"
Robin looked up and her and shook his head.
"I'm so sorry Starfire," Raven said, kneeling down next to the distraught princess.
Starfire wiped at her eyes. "There is nothing to be done now. I want to go home."
Raven cast a look at Robin before taking Starfire's hands. "That's probably not a good idea. I'm sure it's all over the news and it might be hard to get past all the press. They'll still be there tomorrow but I think you need to rest and get over the shock before you deal with them. Come on, Robin and I will put you to bed." Raven and Robin helped her to her feet, guiding her out of the bathroom.
"I cannot, not now, I cannot sleep-"
"You'll be fine," Raven said. "I'll be right back." She went to find Cyborg and Beast Boy to tell them the grim news.
"Star?" Robin said, concerned. She was wringing her hands, the tears still running down her face. Robin frowned, kissing her forehead.
Raven was back ten minutes later with something cupped in one hand. She went into the bathroom, got a glass of water and showed Starfire the sleeping pills in her hand.
"You're taking these," Raven said.
Starfire looked at her forlornly. "But-"
"You're taking them."
Starfire sighed and downed the tablets. Robin stroked her hair and soothed her until she cried herself to sleep, drifting off uneasily.
"God, after all Star's been through, now her sister's gone too. She was just starting to feel better, we even got her to laugh. Can't believe this happened. It's just so weird that one minute her sister was alive and now she's..." Robin trailed off.
"Yeah," Raven agreed. "I feel bad she came to that kind of end, but she made it very hard to feel sorry for her. Her soul was so twisted and tainted with hate, there wasn't much left."
"I feel the same way. Starfire is all kinds of messed up over this. Five minutes ago she's saying Blackfire can go fuck herself and the next she's willing to go back to the Citadel no less to save her."
"Love is stronger than hate," Raven said simply.
"It's a shame Blackfire didn't realize what kind of a sister she had. Starfire has the biggest heart I've ever seen. Even after all the things Blackfire did, Starfire still loved her sister and would do anything to help her if she could, even face the biggest fear she has by going back to the Citadel."
"Well," Raven said, "The Citadel frightens her, yes. But nothing frightens her more than something bad, like the Citadel, happening to you. Or to her friends, or her sister. That's why she would risk her life, because she puts the safety and well-being of her family and friends before her own."
Robin reflected on that, fingertips brushing over Starfire's arm. "She's pretty amazing."
Raven nodded.
"You know, all I can think of though, is what would we all do when Blackfire got out of jail? I mean, you know the second she either got released or broke out of there she'd go gunning for Starfire. I feel like after this trial and everything that went down we'd all be living in fear about her out there, using her time to plot ways to make Starfire die a painful death. I feel terrible for Starfire, but I primarily feel relief that this is over. She won't ever have to deal with it again."
"Pretty natural to feel that way. It's a shock for everyone, Cyborg and Beast Boy couldn't believe it either. Starfire will need us all to support her while she grieves."
Robin looked at her sleeping face, the trails of tears drying on her cheeks. "She's strong. She'll make it through."
Raven placed her hand on top of Robin's. "She's got you."
ooo
When Robin and Starfire woke up the next morning, Starfire had completely regressed. She was almost catatonic and wouldn't move from the bed. She just barely cooperated, allowing Robin to dress her. He ordered some breakfast for himself because he couldn't get her to speak, much less eat anything. Ryand'r and Galfore visited her one last time, though it wasn't much of a visit because she barely acknowledged they were there. They sadly patted her, chatted with Robin, and told him to have her call once she was well.
Robin finished packing their belongings and buzzed the other rooms. The rest of the Titans were also ready to go home. He disguised Starfire as best he could, covering her hair with a scarf and putting sunglasses on her face. He made sure she wore a coat and human clothes, her purple Tamaranian garments a giveaway to the paparazzi.
Cyborg lifted her up and carried her in his arms. They checked out of the room and made it to the terminal where the T-Ship was parked with relative ease, Raven porting them out of any situations when Robin or the other Titan members were recognized by the press.
Cyborg laid Starfire in her pod in the T-ship, the rest of them buckled in, and they were officially on their way home for good.
ooo
Being home certainly helped Starfire's mood but she still was not back to normal in the following days. Robin did his absolute best to be there for her, but it was Alfred who came to the rescue.
Alfred and Bruce visited the Tower for Thanksgiving, and as soon as he came through the door and set down his bags Starfire was hugging the grandfatherly butler. She poured her heart out to him while he unpacked his luggage.
Alfred's gentle manner and sympathy worked the best with starting her healing process, as he always knew just what to say. Robin felt a little sad he couldn't be the one to mend her broken heart, but he completely understood Starfire responding to Alfred. Alfred had helped heal many broken hearts over deaths in the family in his day. He was pretty sure Starfire was the reason Bruce and Alfred came for the holiday. He was just grateful Alfred could help at all.
At the very least, once Alfred started the process he knew the season of giving would help her the rest of the way.
Christmas was coming. And he knew exactly what to give her this year.
This chapter is dedicated to Kryalla Orchid. She knows why. -hugs-
And incidentally, I apologize for taking longer than I stated to get this chapter out, but some personal issues conflicted with the timing and I'm really sorry everyone! Still, you gotta give me some props for really being only a few days off, instead of like six months in between like usual! Thank you everyone who reviewed, I appreciate it I really do and I'm going to try to reply to you all!
Next chapter will be the last regular chapter of this story before the epilogue. I'm freaking out a little that I'm at the end. It's a Christmas chapter, which of course would be perfect timing for Christmas coming up but I'm not sure I can pull it off because I have a million and one presents to make because I'm crafty and dumb for thinking I can make fifteen people presents before Christmas. -sweat drop- We'll see.
Once again... I wants an Alfred for myself. He is pretty much the best character ever. Robin and Starfire are my favs but nothing makes my heart melt and go all gooey like Alfred does. He's like the best "grandpa" ever. Besides my real grandpas of course. Both of them are amazing men. Grandpas are special people.
Okay enough rambling. Hope you enjoyed the epic closing to the Starfire arc. I think I said I wasn't going to kill anyone off. Apparently I lied. Sorry about that.
Next up: Christmas and mistletoe.