(A/N)- This one was really fun! I liked doing Robin as an awkward insecure heroine and Starfire as a charming sweet romantic.

Disclaimer: Nooooope!

RobStar Week 2018, Day 5 - Genderbend/Gender Swap

Robin clutched the pillow tighter to her stomach, as if squeezing it would make the tumultuous storm of feelings inside her spill out the cracks. Her legs curled up closer to her chest as she lay on the bed, a position she had been in for hours now.

Yesterday the Titans had returned from their wayward voyage in space, the T-ship a little banged up and shuddering from the crash but otherwise functioning, the Titans themselves all unharmed, one question about the nature of her relationship with their resident Tamaranian answered—yes, she did in fact like him Like That—and a whole slew of new ones dumped on her to process.

Like, were they dating now? Was that the next step to take here? Should she ask him out? Should she wait for him to ask her? Did he even know anything about Earth dating customs? His comment on the planet about "enjoyable recreation" and "the buying of bountiful floral arrangements" seemed to indicate he did know something. But to what extent? Should she explain it to him? Should she just wing it? They'd both acknowledged that they had feelings for each other, okay, great, but what next?

Batman would never approve of a relationship with a teammate, of that she was certain. But then another part of her just wanted to jump right in anyway, just to stick it to the overprotective old man.

She sighed in frustration. Her maybe would-be alien boyfriend had seemed to sense that she needed some space to figure things out and hadn't brought up the topic, had allowed her to avoid him completely and hide in her room in fact.

He was so understanding. She didn't deserve him.

Cripes, why were feelings so hard?

There came a knock on her door, sharp and tapping.

Robin rolled over, gripped her pillow with tight fingers and yanked it away from her chest in order to smother it over her head. "Go away Crow," she groaned. She pressed the pillow over her ears, projecting annoyance through her mental bond with the Titans' empath. "I don't need to talk about my repressed feelings for Firestar, okay?" she said, her words muffled by the bedcovers.

There was an awkward cough from outside the door.

"Um, actually…" a horribly familiar voice said, "It is me."

Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho… came the realization, accompanied by a simultaneous cold sinking in her stomach, a shot of adrenaline through her chest, and an internal scream throughout her head.

Mortified, Robin peeled the pillow off her hair and sat up. She took a moment to try and compose herself, inhaling a deep breath.

With some trepidation, she got up and walked over to the door, opening it.

Firestar stood there uncertainly, staring down at his shoes, one hand rubbing his arm. Looking perfect as always with his flaming red hair, sharp features, and well-toned figure. Robin had to shake herself before she could drift off into a befuddled stupor, before the sight of him caused all her thoughts to disappear.

She felt heat creeping across her cheeks and cleared her throat.

"You uh… heard all that huh?" she said, chagrined.

Firestar was finding the floor exceptionally interesting. "Indeed," he replied.

The awkward silence stretched out between them.

"So, um…" Robin began, her hands drifting up to rest on the doorframe. "Did… did you want something?"

The Tamaranian scuffed the floor with his boot. "I wished to see if you wanted to talk about… what happened when we were stranded on that planet."

Robin wilted. "Right," she squeaked. "Of course." Duh. What else was she expecting? She knew she had to face this conversation eventually. "What, uh… what about it?" she asked, her heart beating faster inside her chest.

"You confessed your feelings for me."

Robin laughed nervously. "Yeah I kind of did, didn't I?"

Firestar let go of his arm and scratched behind his ear self-consciously, still not meeting her eyes. "And I am just wondering… what is supposed to happen next?" he asked.

"Honestly? I'm not sure myself," Robin confessed. She stepped away from the doorframe, raking her fingers through her scalp. "Look, Kor… I…" Her tongue stumbled over itself. "It's… it's not that… I just…" She yanked on her long black hair in frustration. "Gah! Why is it so hard to talk around you?"

The ghost of a smile came to Firestar's lips. "Do I make you 'the flustered'?" he quipped.

"Very!" she cried. Robin exhaled, letting out some tension. "Sorry for being all weird," she apologized. "I've just been so mixed up since we were stranded on that planet and… blast it, I like you! A lot!" she said, her eyes crinkling, face twisting with emotion. "I just don't know what to do about it!" she complained.

Firestar brought his hands down, tapping the tips of his fingers together, eyes on the floor. "What would you like to do about it?" he asked.

"I… I'm not sure."

Several long moments passed.

Robin felt the flush in her face rising up to tickle her hairline. She coughed again. "What, uh… what would you like to do?" she asked, though not without some trepidation.

He gave her a shy smile, green eyes heart-melting. "I would very much like to kiss you," he said.

Her heart twisted around itself with mixed elation and dread. "I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet," she said, face wrinkling.

"Then… may we hold hands?" he offered instead.

Well…

He held a hand out to her, his face quietly hopeful.

She stared at it for a while.

Then, creeping slowly inch by inch, she reached out with her own hand, her fingers brushing over his palm before sliding neatly into place between his.

She shuddered out an exhale.

It was… really nice, actually.

"Okay…" she breathed. "Um… I think…" She shook her head to clear out the sudden fuzziness. "Do you want to go somewhere tonight? Just the two of us?" She couldn't believe this was happening. "Maybe to, like… the movies or something?"

The Tamaranian gave a whoop and pulled her to him in an instant, arms coming around her for a hug.

"It is a date!" he squealed happily.

Robin strained from where her cheek was squished against his collar, his arms squeezing harder than was comfortable. "Kor…" she wheezed. "…lungs… please…"

"Oh!" he mouthed, letting go and stepping back at once. "I am sorry!"

Robin gasped as air came back to her lungs, a grin nonetheless turning up her face. "Right!" she said, straightening and putting herself arights. "Meet on the Tower roof at five. I'll see you then." Realizing something she backtracked. "Uh, I mean… I might see you before then. We do both live in the Tower after all and… yeah so it's not like I'll be avoiding you or any…" She gulped, pulling at her collar. "Is it hot in here?"

"I do not notice any temperature difference," Firestar said, confused.

"AnywayseeyouthenBYE!" Robin squeaked, fleeing through the door and mashing the button to seal it behind her.

She needed a moment or two to calm down. Then, she crossed the room towards her closet, in search of something to wear.

With just a little bit of a spring in her step.