She was awake when we got there. There were still lights winking in front of my eyes from the paparazzi stationed outside the hospital. Babs looked up when the door opened, her face lit for a moment, and then she turned her head toward the wall as Bruce stepped in behind me. God, I hate when he's right. A tremble ran over her.
"Hey Babs," I said. My voice was strained, though I tried for nonchalance.
"You shouldn't have come, Dick." In other words, I'm glad you're here. . I took the empty seat beside her bed while Bruce took up the corner. Despite the thousand dollar suit in navy blue, Batman was with us, not Bruce. A dark menace permeated the air, the closest I had ever seen him blending his dual identities with a civilian present. The nurse glanced anxiously into his corner as she fluffed. Babs' pillow unnecessarily. Then she left.
"Why are you here. I'm not one of you anymore," said Babs in a flat voice to the wall.
"You're family, Babs. You'll always be family." I hated having this conversation here where any nosy nurse could eavesdrop at the door. We had to be very careful. Our tempers were difficult to manage under the best circumstances, but with our nerves strained like this there was no telling what might come out. Maybe dragging. Bruce here wasn't the smartest thing I'd ever done. I should have asked Starfire. She always knew the right thing to do to comfort people. I certainly didn't.
"I'm sure they've told you," Babs continued in that flat voice that was so unlike her. "The bullet severed my spine."
"Yea, we know," I interrupted. She was going to fling it in our faces. "I wish there was something we could do but-"
"But you won't. I get it." Her head shifted in a slow nod. I frowned.
"I won't what?"
"Why would you waste your precious resources on me? I'm not one of you." What was she...? Oh... Raven. She was being stubborn now. It wasn't new, but usually she backed it up with a little more logic.
"It's not like that Babs. Honestly. I'd move heaven and earth for you, you know that, but there are some things nobody can change." I couldn't explain fully, but I hoped she understood. On top of the hospital blanket her pale fingers curled into a fist. Then she twisted her head on her pillow to look at me. Her blue eyes were red rimmed from crying, but her cheeks were dry.
"So tell me, did you find your girlfriend after you left last night?" A bucket of ice hit my stomach when she said that word. I wasn't ashamed of Starfire, not at all. It was a protective instinct, honed by years of practice. Protect your weaknesses and pretend not to have any. I shifted awkwardly in my seat.
"She's fine." Babs flinched when I confirmed it and her jaw tightened. Then she smiled a hard, fake smile full of irony.
"That's great. It's really great. Everything's just perfect for you, isn't it? You've got a clean bill of health, you've got great friends who'd drop everything to be there for you, and now you've got a supermodel to hang on your arm to complete the picture. It doesn't get much better for you, does it? I mean, you're a Wayne. You're a billionaire for crying out loud. So tell me, Dick, what does a girl like me have to do to have that kind of luck? Two days ago I was perfectly healthy too, but now I'll be lucky to ever wiggle my big toe again. My best friend ditched me when I needed him most, and it looks like I'm going to be a lifetime member of the Singles' Club." I wanted to roll my eyes but I didn't have my mask to hide behind.
"You're upset, but-"
"You think? Of course I'm upset! So what is it, am I not worth wasting the effort on? Is that why your new friends don't come with you? I don't fit in with your new crowd?"
"Barbara, that's enough,"Bruce warned. I'd almost forgotten he was there. She huffed and dug her head back against her pillow.
"Well obviously you'd take his side."
"She can't make you walk again." He didn't sugarcoat it for her. "Even if she had the energy after what she's been through this past week she can't do the impossible."
"But..." Her bottom lip trembled and she glanced at me. She saved you, her eyes said. You would have died but she brought you back. Why can't she save me too?
"It doesn't work that way, Babs. I'm sorry," I whispered. I reached to take her hand but she glared at me.
"If it was you lying here she'd find a way. So would he!" She jerked her chin a Bruce. He straightened stiffly.
"Come, Dick. I believe we've overstayed our welcome."
Starfire's Point of View
It was very difficult doing the waiting while Robin went to visit Batgirl in the hospital. I experienced several of the pangs of jealousy at the thought of how he might feel seeing her so vulnerable and in need of protection. I wanted to blast myself for harboring such selfish thoughts when she clearly needed him more than I did right now. There was also the matter of my past. Robin had allowed me to do the evading last night, but he would not be able to hold back his curiosity for long, nor should I allow him to. If our relationship was to progress then he deserved to know the truth.
"Cyborg, may I ask you a question of a personal nature?" I sat next to him on the couch. Beast Boy was still asleep and Raven had not come out of her room. Cyborg glanced at me warily.
"Shoot."
"Now that Robin and I are the boyfriend and girlfriend is there anything that I should know or expect? What I mean is, what would Robin consider the 'deal breakers' in a relationship with me?" He chuckled and slid an arm behind me to hug my shoulder.
"That boy's been in love with you from the moment you locked lips with him. I doubt there's anything you could say or do to change that." While comforting, it was not reassuring.
"But aren't there certain expectations that boyfriends have for their girlfriends? How should I conduct myself around other males? Do I allow him to pay for our meals? Is sexual experience desired or frowned upon?"
Cyborg jumped up from the sofa.
"WHOA! I don't care what Robin's feelings on the topic are, I'm frowning on any sexual shenanigans between you two. Baby girl, if he ever asks you to do anything you don't want to do I will personally put a sonic cannon sized hole in his chest. Not that I think Spike has it in him. He broke out in a sweat just holding your hand." this seemed to calm him somewhat because he lowered himself back down beside me and grinned. "As far as the rest goes, do what feels natural. Look around you, Dickie Boy is loaded. Let him spend his money wining and dining you, but if you want to pay sometimes you're allowed to. As for the other guys...I'm not gonna lie, Rob can get pretty jealousy when it comes to guys checking you out or flirting with you, but he trusts you, and that's all that matters."
"I am just afraid that I will do or say something that will make him regret this. I have wanted this for so long."
"I know, Star, but so has he. He's not going to let something stupid and small get between you."
"I hope you are right."
"Of course I am!" He patted my arm for emphasis and then frowned. "But seriously, I better not find out that he's corrupting you or he'll have this cybernetic big brother to answer to."
"I regret to inform you that I will most likely be the one doing the corrupting. In case you have not done the noticing, Tamaraneans are not known for their restraint." Cyborg put his fingers in his ears and closed his eyes.
"I did not just hear that. Tell me I did not just hear that!"
"Hear what?"Robin asked, standing just behind us. He had replaced his mask even though I knew he had not worn one when visiting Babs. I eeped and shot into the air. Cyborg whirled around and quickly looked away from Robin's face, no doubt imagining, or trying not to imagine, Robin and I engaging in intimate activities.
"Yo Rob. New rule in the Tower: whatever happens between you and Starfire if you want me to go on living in the same building you will do everything in your power to convince me that nothing more than hand-holding is happening behind closed doors." Robin's composure slipped and his eyebrow lifted.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Your room is right next door to mine and hers is across the hall. The goofy smiles and the occasional kisses on the cheek I can handle, but-"
"I wasn't planning on having an audience," said Robin dryly. I thought poor Cyborg was going to do the short circuiting. He held both hands out in front of him and backed out of the room. I giggled.
"So...what was that all about?" Robin asked.
"I asked if there were any expectations you might have now that we have commenced with the dating." He twitched.
"Starfire, I already told you, you don't have to change anything for me."
"That's just the problem." I began tapping my index fingers against each other as the moment for truths came. "There is so much I wish I could change for you. You have been led to believe that I am something I am not."
"Star, what are you talking about?" He moved around the couch to perch on the arm rest. I glided down to sit at the opposite end, giving him adequate space so that when he pulled away it would not hurt as much. I took a deep breath.
"My name is KoriAnd'r and I am currently next in line for the throne of Tamaran."
Robin 's expression never changed.
A/N: Whoohoo, look at me updating three times in a week. I'm slowly but surely getting back on track with my scheduling. Thanks for the reviews and for bearing with my long absence from writing this.