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The night settled over Jump City, the horizon fading from deep orange to a cool twilight blue. Clouds rolled lazily overhead, and a handful of stars began to peek through the evening veil. The Titan Tower stood tall, its silhouette dark against the fading light. From the rooftop to the living quarters below, everything felt still. Almost too still.
In the living room, Robin sat hunched over the coffee table, a tangle of gadgets spread before him. His fingers worked nimbly, adjusting circuits and fine-tuning settings, but his mind wandered far beyond his task. Today had been quiet—too quiet, in fact. The rest of the team had gone into the city, eager to take advantage of the peace, but Robin had remained behind. Someone had to stay behind. At least, that’s what he told himself.
He sighed, his fingers pausing over the device in his hand. Even though there were no immediate threats, no alarms blaring, his shoulders felt the familiar weight of responsibility pressing down. He had learned from the best, after all. Batman’s voice echoed in his mind—constant vigilance, unwavering discipline. There was always something lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Robin shook his head, forcing his thoughts back to the gadget. But no matter how much he tried to focus, the stillness around him only amplified his growing restlessness. What were the others doing right now? Goofing off? Laughing? Eating pizza somewhere downtown?
A flicker of something like longing passed through him before he quickly buried it. The Titans could handle themselves. But still…
Before he could lose himself to another daydream, a light tap on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts.
"Friend Robin, are you not going to enjoy this peaceful evening with the others?" A soft, melodic voice filled the space beside him, cutting through the silence. Her voice was warm, caring, and laced with her usual optimism.
Robin hesitated, his hands still resting on his half-assembled communicator. His expression shifted back into that of the dutiful leader, eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to focus his mind on his responsibilities.
“I can’t,” he replied, shaking his head. “Someone needs to stay behind. We haven’t heard from the H.I.V.E. Five in a while, and I’m sure they’re up to something no good. If any trouble comes up, I need to be ready to call the team.”
Starfire’s eyes softened, her concern deepening as she floated a little closer to him. “But it has been quiet, yes? Perhaps tonight there is no trouble.” She tilted her head slightly, her long red hair falling over her shoulder as her green eyes searched his for understanding.
Robin sighed and turned back to his tools, though less focused than before. He knew she meant well. Starfire always did. But years of training under Batman had drilled into him the need for constant vigilance. "Just because it's quiet now doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared. Something could happen at any moment, and—"
His words trailed off as he adjusted the equipment in front of him, though his mind was somewhere else. He was thinking about his friends, out in the city having fun, while he sat here, shoulders weighed down by the mantle of leadership. Part of him longed to be with them—to have fun, laugh, and forget the burdens of being a hero, if only for a moment.
But the other part, the part shaped by years of being Batman’s apprentice, wouldn’t let him. It told him that the moment he let his guard down, chaos could strike. Robin clenched his jaw, determined to push those personal thoughts aside.
He didn’t notice Starfire quietly observing him as he mulled over his decision. Her heart ached seeing how hard he worked, how serious he always was. She respected his dedication—admired it, even—but she also knew that Robin needed moments of peace just as much as anyone else. More, perhaps.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up with an idea. Hovering just slightly above the ground, Starfire reached out and grabbed Robin’s hand, pulling him up with a burst of energy that startled him.
“Star!” he exclaimed, the communicator slipping from his lap and clattering to the floor as she tugged him forward. “What are you doing?”
Starfire’s smile only grew wider as she giggled, floating gently ahead while still holding his hand. “You do not need to leave the tower to enjoy this beautiful evening,” she said, her voice sweet but insistent.
Robin, flustered, tried to resist at first, instinctively glancing back at the fallen tools and gadgets scattered across the couch. “Starfire, I—what if there’s trouble? What if—”
“We will still hear the alarms,” she reassured him with a soft smile. “Come now, Friend Robin. You must see something most wonderful!”
Her words, though spoken lightly, carried a certain weight that made it hard for Robin to argue. His protest faded on his lips as he felt himself being led by the hand, her infectious excitement and warmth wrapping around him like a gentle blanket. Robin sighed, but he let her pull him along, feeling his resistance slowly melt away.
As they passed through the hallway and up the staircase, Robin’s mind flickered between thoughts of duty and... something else. It wasn’t the first time Starfire had helped him step away from his responsibilities, even if only for a brief moment. It was something she did effortlessly, without asking for anything in return. He could feel the tension leaving his body as they climbed higher.
But his mind, ever restless, couldn’t help but ask, “What if something happens?”
Starfire turned to look at him over her shoulder, her eyes shining with the brightness of a thousand stars. “If trouble comes, we will be ready. But sometimes, Friend Robin, it is okay to take a moment for yourself.” Her voice was soft, reassuring, and Robin couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief as she continued to lead him higher and higher.
As they ascend the staircase, Robin trails behind Starfire, his boots lightly tapping against the steps while his thoughts still linger on his duties. He keeps glancing back at the main control room, feeling an internal pull to go back and resume his vigilant watch. The weight of responsibility settles on his shoulders like the cape he wears, a constant reminder of who he is—Robin, leader of the Teen Titans, always ready for action.
But then, he looks up at Starfire, who is hovering slightly above the ground, guiding him with that infectious enthusiasm. Her grip is firm yet gentle, and for a brief moment, the tension in his chest begins to ease. Maybe it's okay to relax... just for a bit, he tells himself, though his mind still tries to resist.
When they reach the rooftop, Robin pauses for a second, taking in the view. The night has fully set in, the city lights shimmering below them, and the blanket of stars stretches endlessly overhead. The sky is clearer than he expected—vast, dark, and dotted with pinpricks of light that seem to twinkle just for them.
Starfire released his hand and floated a few feet ahead of him, her excitement as bright as the stars she loved so much. She landed softly on her back, her fiery hair splayed out beneath her. She sighs, content and at peace, her eyes already locked onto the heavens above. “Come, Friend Robin! Lay with me.”
Robin hesitated for a second before following her lead. He lowered himself to the ground beside her, stretching out and resting his head on his hands. The rooftop was cool against his skin, but the stillness of the night washed over him, bringing a sense of calm he hadn’t felt in a long time.
For a moment, he simply gazed at the stars. They were beautiful, glittering like diamonds scattered across an endless black canvas.
"Friend Robin," Starfire spoke softly beside him, her voice carrying the tenderness she always showed him. He turned his head to look at her, waiting for what she would say next.
“Do you like the stars?”
The question hangs in the air for a moment, simple yet profound. Robin blinks, surprised at how such a simple inquiry could stir something deep inside him. He glances up at the sky briefly, taking in the brilliant expanse of starlight.
But his gaze flickered to the person beside him, locking onto the side profile of her face again. This time, it wasn’t the stars that captivated him. It was her—the way her bright emerald eyes widened with wonder as it shimmered brighter than any star in the sky, her long radiant hair spread out like a fiery halo. She looked so at peace, so serene, and for the first time that night, Robin felt the weight lift from his chest. The warmth that radiated from her even in the cool night air, and the way her presence grounded him when everything else felt overwhelming.
He looks at her the way he looks at the night sky—like she’s untouchable, radiant, something far beyond his reach. Yet, here she is, lying beside him, her proximity a quiet comfort he’s come to depend on more than he’d ever admit.
The stars are beautiful, yes. But in his heart, it’s Starfire that captivates him. Her warmth, her kindness, her unwavering belief in him—she’s the brightest light in his world, the one who brings him back when he’s lost in the darkness of his own responsibilities. And maybe... maybe it's time he lets her know.
His heart thudded quietly in his chest as he tore his gaze from her, looking back up at the sky to avoid the blush threatening to creep up his cheeks. He took a breath, feeling lighter, freer, as a soft smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Yeah...” he replied, his voice gentle and almost shy. “They’re cool.”
But as he said it, he wasn’t talking about the stars anymore.