Starfire attempted to resist the sweeping sensation of his lips on her own, but soon caved in, clinging to the boy indulgently. Robin pulled her to him, hoping to convince her she was right where she belonged. The girl's auburn tresses soon became slaves to his hands as he ran them over the silken strands. He supposed their happiness would have remained forever, had he not received a sharp blow to his jaw.

Robin reeled back, exposed eyes snapping open. With a reflexive movement, he caught his mask up from the floor and plastered it instantly back onto his face. Red X stood, defiantly staring at the Boy Wonder. Starfire suppressed a shriek. "Leave her alone," X hissed, his voice cold and dark. The princess lifted a hand as if to intervene, but clutched it back, fearfully, at the last moment.

"No. You leave her alone," Robin bit back. Starfire swallowed hard. He was angry. Reeeaallly angry. It wasn't smart to get Robin angry… Then again, Red X didn't look at all happy himself. This… was a royal mess. To the extreme. Star watched in distressed as thief and hero began to circle one another, their postures like those of lions ready to attack. Red X bristled.

"Red X… w-what are you doing here?" Starfire asked. It seemed both boys had a thing about barging into her bedroom uninvited.

"I came to see if you were alright… it seemed like you were taking too long. I certainly didn't expect to find him with you," Red X snarled. Robin tensed and grabbed his bo-staff, extending it, and twirling it threateningly.

"It has not been that long…" Starfire tried to reason.

"Long enough for you to find yourself something to do besides pack," he spat back. She supposed Red X had reason to be upset but… honestly… it was Robin.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Robin growled. Red X pulled out his own staff. Both fell into defensive stances, as if on cue. Starfire whimpered. What had she done?

"She can talk for herself…" Red X snapped back. Robin gave an enraged snarl and rushed at the thief, landing a hard blow to his shoulder. Starfire cringed as Red X stumbled back. ((Hmm… snarling, snapping, growling… they sound like animals, don't they?)) The criminal made a quick recovery and attempted to knock Robin off of his feet with his staff. Robin lithely jumped over the swinging weapon.

"Say your prayers, X," he hissed. ((Ah! Hissing too? Goodness… it's the titan's zoo! Lol. Sorry.)) Robin jumped into the air and brought his bo-staff down hard, connecting with the cold floor as X leapt to the side.

"Bring it on," Red X charged at his opponent, swinging his staff in a side-ways arc and landing a hard slam into Robin's side. The Boy Wonder lurched against the blow, picking himself up swiftly. The two began to duel, bo-staff clanging against bo-staff, their abilities rivaling each other well. Starfire cowered back, unsure of how to stop them. X whacked his staff hard against Robin's, and both weapons clattered to the ground.

Rather than taking the time to retrieve them, they began a fierce round of hand to hand combat… Robin taking a very slight upper hand. Starfire clutched her head.

"Stop it… please stop it…" she whispered desperately. How could she choose between them? Robin, her steady friend and confident… the one she relied on. Red X, the ever-changing mystery… the one that openly proclaimed his love to her and vowed to set her free. Neither seemed to head her plea, and from the way the battle was escalating, it seemed almost as if they planned to fight to the death.

The commotion they were causing drew the other titans to Starfire's room, their gazes filled with storming worry. They stopped short in the entrance way, gapping at the unfolding drama. Starfire huddled in the corner while Red X and Robin proceeded to brutally attack one another. Raven deduced Starfire to be the object being fought over. Robin kicked Red X hard in the chest, sending him to the ground. X retaliated instantly, bouncing off of the floor and punching Robin hard in the jaw. Robin was thrown backwards and barely kept his footing.

Starfire's eyes began to glow ominous green. Why wouldn't they just STOP! It was then that Red X drew out the dagger he had held Star hostage with, not so long ago. The silver blade glittered maliciously and Robin stopped his attack, standing rigid before the criminal. His masked gaze held the dagger in close regard as he and Red X began to circle one another, again. Behind his mask, Red X sneered. Lunging at Robin, dagger ready to be thrust deep into the Boy Wonder, Red X gave a battle cry.

Robin was about to jump out of the way when X's attack abruptly stopped. Both boys stood motionless, their eyes staring intently at the delicate golden hand clutching Red X's wrist. "I said STOP IT." Starfire cried angrily, her jade pools blazing. Robin took a step back. Red X allowed his arm to fall.

"Let me finish him off, Princess…" X seethed. "Then we can leave 'em all!"

"Starfire…" Robin said slowly. The alien's glowing orbs flickered and died to their normal color.

"No… do not hurt him, Red X," she murmured quietly. Robin was taken aback by the tone she used. Soft, sad, and tender. Did she really love that thief? "And Robin… do not hurt Red X," Starfire continued. The two glared at each other. Star gave a weary sigh.

"Please do not fight… I am not worth fighting over. I was silly to entertain the idea of having both of you… or either of you for that matter," she muttered. Robin shook his head furiously.

"You already have me, Star," he protested. Starfire looked at the floor. Red X gritted his teeth.

"So what am I supposed to do now!" He exploded, throwing up his hands. Starfire placed a hand on his shoulder lightly. Raven coughed in the doorway.

"Maybe… go to jail?" she deadpanned. BB and Cy sweat-dropped. Red X turned and glared at the empath.

"X… I…" Starfire started.

"You have to choose one of us, ok! I'm not gonna hang around if you're just gonna drool all over the kid," He said fervidly. Starfire nodded.

"I understand this. And… I believe… it is time for you to go. I cannot leave Robin. I cannot leave the titans. If I were to go with you, I would be leaving my heart behind. As much as I have come to… enjoy your company, my feelings for you are not love, as I had thought. I respect you in a way I do not believe I could ever respect another criminal… but none the less, that is what you are. We are enemies. No matter how much it seems we should be friends," Starfire took a deep breath and moved away, eagerly accepting Robin's reassuring embrace.

"What! How can you… FINE! I guess a little goody-goody like you could never change," Red X spat. Starfire cringed.

"Please…" Starfire attempted to ease his anger.

"No! Don't you dare go off and 'please' me; you may as well lock me up like Goth girl said!" Red X roared, thrusting out his hands. Raven simmered in the doorway. Robin started forward, producing handcuffs. Well, if he insisted… Starfire's soft hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"No. We will not arrest you. Not today. Someday, yes… when we are meeting on different terms. But we will not arrest you today. Red X, I bid you go now. It will be best if you do," Starfire said slowly, her head held high. Red X shook his head furiously, but none the less, he slammed open her bedroom window and jumped out… disappearing with a grappling hook. Robin turned to face her, his eyes searching her face. The girl gave a weak smile, a single tear slipping down her cheek. Robin pulled her to him and she fell against him, sinking into his comforting touch.

"Well… that was certainly interesting… uh, maybe we should go get breakfast or lunch or something…" Raven trailed off awkwardly. Robin gave her an appreciative glance as she ushered Beast Boy and Cyborg down the hall hastily, leaving him alone with Starfire. He waited until they were out of ear-shot, the drifting sounds of 'tofu' and 'meat' being tossed tentatively into the ring.

"Kori… Kori are you going to be ok?" Robin asked gently. He felt a little uncomfortable… being sentimental and comforting was never his strongest trait.

"Fine, fine… but you must think me to be terrible. To go behind your back and befriend an enemy…" Starfire whispered, her head still burrowed in his shoulder. Robin uneasily stroked the back of her head.

"No… I guess I can't blame you. I wish you hadn't done it, but I never did anything to prevent it either. I should have let you know how I felt from the beginning. I just… it's real hard for me to do that sort of stuff. I can't really blame Red X for falling in love with you either. It's sort of hard not to, actually." He grinned slightly. "I think the only thing I'm wondering about now, is… well… did you really have feelings for him? Do you think you really love him?" Robin asked quietly. Starfire pulled her head up and stared at him.

She reached up a hand and peeled off his mask, as she had become accustomed to doing, and emerald stared into sapphire. "Yes… and no. I was in love with what he represented to me. He felt for me what I had always wanted you to feel for me. The fact that he was Red X… I suppose that had a little influence on my thinking as well. Red X was still you to me, in a sense. As a person, I do not think I really loved him as much as I admired his will to be free and live life to all he wanted it to be. He is confused about where to go in life, but I think that somewhere inside he has a good heart," Starfire swallowed.

"I think I shall miss his company a bit, still." She smiled ruefully. Robin nodded.

"That's ok…" he kissed her forehead lightly. Inwardly, he guessed he was a little upset that Starfire hid what she was doing from him… and to an extent, he was even a little upset that she had even thought about loving a thief. But that didn't really matter, because it was a feeling that would go away with time… and what would last, was the fact she'd chosen him. Robin brushed her lips lightly with his own. "Let's go eat," he suggested quietly. Starfire nodded and they left her room hand in hand.

And somewhere in the park not far away, a cherry tree released its stubborn hold and its final blossom was carried off on the cool winter breeze…

Fin

Author's Note: Well… uh, the end. I hope you liked it! I think I'll just do some one-shots for a little while and go on a semi-hiatus. I'm still working out the kinks in the plot for Life's Canvas and I think a little break will help me get it all settled out before I post. I would appreciate all of your comment/criticism and depending on what you want, I could always put in an epilogue type deal with more brownie high or something… but, you know, whatever. Either way, love you all, you've been great! Oh, and... I'm super sorry this took so long to post but let's just say fanfic was being a bit tempermental...

Love, Princess Starfire of Tamaran