(A/N)- Predictably I wound up finding some way to hurt Robin emotionally for that warm RobStar hurt/comfort afterwards. Whoops.

Warning for a depiction of a panic attack.

Disclaimer: Still not owning Teen Titans here. Bummer.

RobStar Week 2022, Day 4 - Trauma/Healing

The darkness he wandered through was broken up by scattered stray spotlights.

He felt frustrated. It seemed like he had been walking forever but he couldn't find the way out. This place had no end, just corridor after corridor and room after room of noisy clanking gears and hot steam that blew in his face, obscuring his vision and confusing him further.

Wariness crawled on the backs of his arms and his head. He turned around, even more lost and bewildered than before.

Where was the way out?

Why couldn't he get out?

He stepped through another steam cloud into a solid black obstruction. Stumbling back, he shook his head, feeling back out with his hands to see what he'd hit.

A wall. Solid metal. He squinted in confusion, running his palms down the surface.

Smooth.

Seamless.

His breath hitched and panic ratcheted up inside his head. He whipped his head around and picked out recognizable forms in the darkness—a dresser, a desk, a bed—no no no.

"No..." he strained aloud, voice choked and tight. "No!" His fingers clenched into fists and now he was slamming them against the hidden door, banging desperately. "Let me out!" he cried, his lungs squeezing tighter and tighter. "Let me OUT!"

The walls were pressing in on his mind. His breath was reduced to thin gasping. There was an ice shard digging its way into his chest and a shadow behind him, dark and looming.

A thick hand gripped his shoulder and—

-TT-

He startled upright.

His gasp was echoed by a feminine one just behind him, the feel of something leaving his shoulder. Robin pulled his head up ramrod straight from where he'd apparently been laying it on his arms, his eyes darting around and frantically trying to make sense of things.

It was still dark, but a cool blue dark, moonlight from the wide windows and the tiny power indicators on home appliances tucked in corners. He registered a table, seats, counters—tension in his head began to unwind—it was the Titans' kitchen area, it was the Tower. He was sitting at the kitchen table, half-empty forgotten glass of water at his elbow.

His heart thudding rapidly in his chest, he turned in his seat to see the person who had shaken him.

Starfire was twinging back, hands up by her collar, immediately apologetic.
"I am sorry!" she said in a rush. "I did not mean to startle you." Her hands dropped and he could see her eyes beaming with concern. "I could not sleep," she began to explain. "So I went to check on you but..."

He watched her swallow, something like pain shooting through him at the worried quiver in her lip.

"You were not there."

Robin looked away uncomfortably. "Yeah, sorry, I..." His hands found his head, fingers dragging through his hair, rubbing the back of his neck. "I couldn't really sleep either. Came out for some water." He tried for a sheepish smile, but it felt too strained, too agitated. "I guess I nodded off and..."

His breath hitched unexpectedly, flashes of his nightmare coming back.

"And—"

There was a hard lump in his throat; it was blocking his words, he couldn't finish. His pulse was racing and it was hard to draw breath.

Starfire stepped towards him in concern. "Robin?" she called.

He couldn't answer. His lungs had locked up. He pressed his elbows on the table, fingers going tight around his ears, vision tunneling.

Calm down, calm down, calm down, he repeated to himself in his head.

He couldn't. He couldn't make himself snap out of it—He—

A warm gentle arm wrapped around his shoulders and he reflexively calmed.

-TT-

Starfire grabbed another chair and yanked it underneath her so she could sit next to him, straining to remember how Robin had calmed her that one time back in their apartment, after her first unpleasant experience with Earth thunderstorms. He had anchored her with his presence, his arms around her, been patient and encouraging.

"Breathe, Robin," she urged gently, whispering close to his head. "Breathe."

She could tell he was trying; the muscles in his throat constricted and twitched, little strained whimpers slipping through.

Seeing him undone like this almost frightened her—as long as she'd known him he had been so strong and confident—but given that it had been a mere two days since they had rescued him from Slade's clutches, two days since that horrible week where he'd been missing, held prisoner, forced to commit crimes in Slade's name...

Starfire remembered her own sense of terror and helplessness in her cell on the Gordanians' ship, taking her away from home to an unknown dark future, how desperately she would have given to just get out.

She did as Robin had done for her. Pulled his hands carefully away from his face and set them in his lap, so she could wrap her other arm around him too.

"I am right here," she promised him. "And he is not. You are safe. Breathe."

Robin broke past the blockage in his throat, taking in a long, shaky breath.

He held it a pregnant second.

Then let it out.

His shaking was already beginning to subside. He took in another slow breath and calmed quickly, eyes blinking, more present.

After a few moments he dropped his eyes. "S-sorry," he mumbled. "I—I just—Nightmares," he stuttered out.

She nodded once. "I understand. That is to be expected."

"I don't—" He was still struggling to speak. "I—I've been... kidnapped by other villains before I—I don't know why—" He swallowed thickly, finding his voice. "I don't know why this feels so different."

"Have you been abducted in the same manner before?" Starfire asked, mildly alarmed.

He sat in thought for a moment, then grimaced. "No," he admitted. "This was more personal. Most villains took me to get at Batman, or because I was in the way, or I meddled in their plans." He glanced at her, grim humor in the lines of his face. "I've... been doing this a long time," he explained, almost sheepishly. His face dropped again. "This... this was the first time someone was... after me. Wanted me, specifically. Wanted to use me to..."

His voice lowered to a whisper.

"...betray and hurt the people I care about," he finished.

Starfire hugged him tighter, wanting to squeeze the fear out of him. "We are okay," she emphasized again to him. "You are safe and it is over."

He snorted humorlessly. "Not until we put Slade behind bars." He softened again, reaching up to touch her arm crossing his chest. "Thank you. For being here," he said quietly.

She smiled then. "I would do anything for you, Robin," she said, nothing but honest earnesty in her voice and eyes.

He turned to her with a bit of a grin. "Including apparently punting Slade into a wall."

Flushing, she let go of him and scooted away. "Oh! Well—that was... I mean..." she fumbled, embarrassed.

"Hey," he interrupted. "I was really happy to see you," he said. "Terrified, but happy."

Starfire cleared her throat, trying to quash the fluttering sparklers going off in her heart. "Shall we return to our beds?" she asked.

Robin fidgeted. "I should, I know, I should try to sleep but..." He shook his head. "I dunno if I can."

It took her less than a second to decide. "Then I will remain awake with you and keep you company." Before Robin could object she straightened and changed the subject. "Shall I tell you of the time my sister bribed the guardsmen to bring us extra dessert, after hours?" she offered.

He seemed relieved not to be talking about his recently-survived ordeal. "I don't think I've heard that one."

Starfire eagerly launched into the tale, and the two talked and exchanged stories until the far horizon started to peek with orange.

(A/N)- Aaaaah yes. That hits the spot, lol.