I allowed Raven to bandage my injuries, but I refused to let her put me to sleep. It would be hours before Starfire woke from her healing cycle, but I didn't care.
"The police are on their way to get Slade." Cyborg announced over our communicators. "They assured me they would turn him over to Black Gate since no place in Jump can hold him." I didn't bother to glance at my wrist. My eyes were fixed across the fire to where Starfire lay curled on her side with her hair spilling across the ground. Her orange skin glowed golden in the light of our campfire, and her peaceful expression highlighted just how beautiful she truly was.
So close... I'd almost lost her.
"But you didn't, Robin," Raven said softly as she wound a bandage around my ribs. I slanted a warning look in her direction. She knows how I feel about her reading my mind. Her eyebrow arched in response.
"Even Beast Boy could read your thoughts right now. It's over. We got him."
"What if it's not over?"
"How would it be any different than how things were before? There will always be enemies. If you retired tomorrow do you really think you could live a normal life without having to look over your shoulder? This is part of what it means to be a hero. You should be happy. She's going to be fine. She's faced worse injuries-"
"I don't want to talk about that." I held up a hand to ward off the words and regretted it instantly as the movement pulled at the wound on my ribs.
"Neither do I, but if Star wants to talk about it we will because we have to be there for her."
"You think I don't know that?"
"What I know is that you don't have the greatest track record when it comes to dealing with situations that engage your emotions. I get why. Bruce trained you to deal with your feelings on your own, but if you want your relationship with her to last you're going to have to learn to open up. She can't bottle up her emotions the way you do, she physically can't and continue to function."
"I already know this," I said through gritted teeth.
"I know you do, Robin, but sometimes you need a reminder. This whole fiasco happened because you shut us out to draw Joker out on your own. I'm not blaming you, I'm just stating a fact."
"I can finish the rest on my own," I said, taking the wrap from her hands. I was done listening to other people list my faults. I had made mistakes in the past and if history was any indicator I would make more in the future, but I would do whatever it took to make this relationship work. Going back to Gotham and seeing Babs again I saw the difference between the boy I had been and the man I was going to be. Proving a point to Bruce had been more important than taking a chance with her, but that wasn't the case anymore. Bruce and I had a messed up relationship, we always would, but I wouldn't let him scare me away from what made me happy anymore.
Once I finished wrapping up my wound, I got up and moved to sit down beside Star. Raven had removed her gorget to inspect the stab wound. Without it she looked fragile. One corner of my mouth lifted in a self-depricating smile. Starfire was anything but fragile. Sometimes it was hard to keep that in mind. I was the delicate one in this relationship. My pride recoiled from that thought, but it was true.
"R-Robin?" My stomach lurched at the sound my name. Her lashes fluttered before she pried open her eyes to look at me.
"Star, what are you doing? You should be healing." I leaned over her, brushing my fingertips across her cheek to reassure her that she was safe to give herself up to the healing cycle.
"Slade is...?"
"He's on his way to Black Gate Prison. We took him down together. All of us."
"My injuries are not severe. I will be fully recovered by morning."
"Sooner if you go back to sleep now," I said, teasing her. Her green eyes roamed over me, taking in the wrapping around my torso. I expected her to react, to be concerned, but she only gave me a long, slow, blink. It...hurt. I might deny it to everyone else, but I loved when she fussed over me after a battle. Of all the teammates I had ever had she was the only one since my parents who openly showed worry or concern. Sure Alfred let me know he was concerned with some of the injuries I'd brought back to the cave with me, but he was always reserved. A word or two of relief, maybe an affectionate pat on the shoulder. Everyone kept their distance except Starfire...until now.
"It's just a scratch." I couldn't stop myself from drawing her attention to the injury. Reassuring her would give me the excuse to hold her. I suppose I didn't need an excuse for that anymore, but with her silently staring at me I didn't have the confidence to reach out and touch her.
"Is everything alright?"
Her pupils expanded. With a slow, steady hand she swept her fingers through her hair, dragging it back from her face as she shifted into a sitting position.
"I have been doing the 'thinking,' and I believe we need to talk."
It was like she hit me with ice water right in the face. I knew that phrase. I'd heard of that phrase. Maybe Star didn't know what it meant, but judging by the serious expression on her face she knew exactly what she'd said.
Inside, I felt my world collapsing, but instinct threw up a barrier to protect myself.
"We can talk later. You need your rest."
"I do not believe I will be able to sleep until I have expressed my concerns."
Concerns? I breathed a little easier. Concerns didn't sound so bad. I could work with that. Still, I wiped my palms against my thighs before answering.
"Ok, shoot."
"I do not believe firing a starbolt will facilitate the situation." She smiled, putting me more at ease. "Robin, I am worried that becoming your girlfriend has altered your perception of me. You see me as object to be protected rather than a capable ally."
She blindsided me for a second time. Where was that coming from?
"When Joker issued his threat against me you were prepared to take the Titans into hiding rather than stand united against him. When Slade threatened me you were more than willing to see me confined to the island where you believed I would be safe. And when he presented himself I was injured just as you feared. I thought I could understand your need to guard me as an extension of your feelings, but I find I cannot. If a suitor on Tamaran acted as you have done it would be seen as a grave insult."
My mouth hung open as I floundered for something to say.
"Starfire, I didn't mean-"
"Of course you did not, but I realize that our cultures have led us to have different expectations."
"So what are you trying to say?"
"Robin, when I first came to this planet you made me feel special. You taught me how to be a hero and although you sometimes do the stepping in if someone tries to insult me, you have always trusted in me to be the hero you led me to be. If I had known that beginning a relationship with you would twist your trust into fear for my safety I am not sure I would have altered the state of our friendship." She dropped her eyes. My mouth went dry. What was she saying? Did she want to break up? She couldn't! She hadn't even given me a chance to change.
But then I saw what she was trying to say. I had changed. I tried to lock her up in a tower to keep her safe from all my enemies just like a princess from a stupid fairytale. Funny thing was, she was a princess, but if history had proven anything it was that she could look after herself.
I hung my head.
"Star, you know I didn't mean to. Things have just been so crazy and I..."
"Can you honestly say that you would not do the same thing the next time our enemies converge on us?"
"No, but I'll have you to remind me." I reached for her hands. "You knew this wouldn't be easy for me. You may be a princess but I'm far from Prince Charming."
"On the contrary, I find you can be quite charming when it suits you."
"Yea?"
"Mhm." She bit her lip, and she looked so cute that I decided to press my luck.
"Charming enough to convince you to forgive me?"
"Perhaps, though I do not think it is wise of me to do the letting you off of the hook so easily. My people have gone to war over such behavior." She wrinkled her nose to keep from giggling and it was one of the most adorable things I'd ever seen. My voice grew husky.
"Well we can't go starting an intergalactic war, now can we? What would my princess have me do?"
"I don't know about your princess, but the rest of us would have you shut the heck up so we can get some sleep!" Cyborg said loudly. Flames ignited in my cheeks realizing the others had listened to our entire conversation. Starfire merely giggled and covered her mouth with her hand.
"I thought you were waiting for the police to take Slade into custody." I tried to mouth as much authority into my voice as possible as I turned to see him standing at the edge of the fire's glow. His white teeth flashed in the darkness.
"Been and gone. Just like the mood, I'm guessing, eh Rob?"
"Don't you have a battery to go charge?" I asked without any real heat.
"I'm watching you, bud. You keep your hands where I can see 'em."
"Or you'll what?" Deliberately I laid my hand on Starfire's sculottes calf. Her skin was so smooth that my fingers stroked gently back and forth with a mind of their own. Cyborg shook his head and held up both hands.
"Uh, boundaries, Rob man. You set 'em, you keep 'em. Ain't none of us wanna listen to your pillow talk any more than you want us to hear it." Well that was certainly true. If he hadn't interrupted he probably would have gotten an earful. She did that to me, made me forget about everything else but her.
"Alright, you win this time. But Kid Flash ought to be here in the morning, and I expect to have at least one bedroom finished by tomorrow night."
"Good, I'll have somewhere to go while you two cozy up by the fire." He grinned again and wandered away to find his charger. I rolled my eyes and watched him go. Smart ass.