Marital Issues
By Satu
AN. When ever it does theline across the pagething it changes from Robin to Starfire. I will do them both twice in one chapter.
Robin lay on his bed, his hands on the back of his neck, his arms pointing out. He sighed. Everyone had been pressuring him about Starfire, but he didn't like her. Did he? He rolled over and lay on his stomach, his feet over the edge and his chin in his hands. He did feel warm whenever he was near her, but that was just a body heat thing. His stomach did flips when she smiled at him, but that could be indigestion. His heart sang when they touched occasionally, but that could be a heart murmur. Or he could like her. No, he dismissed the thought. If he was honest he had had crushes on a few girls, one so strong he was sure it was love, and they weren't like this. When he was with Starfire nothing else mattered. Not even evil. Maybe this was love. He shook his head slightly. It couldn't be… could it? Thinking hard he rolled over, sat up and left the room.
"Hey Robin," Beastboy called. He jumped off the couch and turned into a small, green dog. Running up, he licked Robins knees before grimacing and turning back into himself. "Dude, wash the uniform." He wiped a long green hand over his tongue.
"Have you seen Starfire?" Robin asked, not paying attention to him.
"No." Beastboy immediately became sly. "Why, you going to ask her out?"
"No," Robin replied, but he felt his cheeks flush. "Shut up Beastboy, why don't you go hang out with Raven." Beastboy and Raven had been dating for the last month. Beastboy slumped back into his chair.
"She's meditating," he said gloomily. Robin tried hard not to laugh. Last time Beastboy had interrupted Raven when she was meditating he had ended up in hospital with a beautiful stone vase stuck on his head.
"Poor bubby," Robin said absently, patting Beastboy's head. Beastboy pouted and slunk further into the chair. "Do have any idea where she is?"
"In her room," Beastboy replied. "Meditating."
"Not Raven you doofus," Robin said, now hitting him over the head. "Starfire."
"She might be in her room too." Beastboy shrugged. "What do I look like, a map?"
"Yeah," Robin said and left Beastboy to fume.
Starfire lay on her bed, reading a book called Desperation by a man called Stephen King. It was very interesting but she didn't understand some of the things. Some animals like the 'coyote' and 'cougar'. And the concept of 'God' and 'Tak'. She would ask Robin later. She frowned and read the last sentence, 'David put his head back against the seat, closed his eyes, and began to pray.' She put the book down and lay there for a moment, thinking hard. She had borrowed it from Robin a week ago and had read it through, knowing that whenever she came across something she didn't understand Robin would explain it to her. She had scribbled down everything she hadn't understood and it took one A4 page in bullet points. A small disk flew through the window and landed on a large pile of books in one corner. She tilted her head and stood up. The disk flashed in the sunlight when she picked it up and she turned it over. Nothing. She shrugged and walked over to the small TV in her room. It had a thin slot for DVD's and she pushed the disk into this slot. A face she didn't know came on screen. It had short wavy red hair and clear jade green eyes. It was a male. His jaw was square and powerful and his face had the obvious air of a man used to getting what he wanted.
"Starfire," he said, his eyes fixing on hers. "This is a recording so you can't respond to me." He tossed his hair from his face. "My name is Windstorm." He smiled. "We met when we were very young and were very good friends." She frowned. "But then my family moved away. We used to be very… how do I put this?" He scratched his head with one square finger. "Romantic when we were young and our parents decided that if I hadn't moved then one day you and I would have gotten married. So they decided to make an agreement that is not custom here and we are the first in many years to have this happen." She started to shake her head, her hand over her mouth. "What I'm trying to say is… well… you're my fiancé."
"No!" she screamed aloud, staring at the man on screen.
"Unfortunately you're on Earth now," Windstorm said, frowning slightly. She sighed with relief and slumped back onto the bed. "So I'm coming to get you," he said, now smiling radiantly.
"No!" she screamed again.
"According to everyone I've met, you are a staggering beauty and I just can't wait to meet you," he said, smiling. "See you in about a week darling." He blew a kiss and the screen went blank.
Robin raised his fist to knock on Starfire's door, before hesitating.
"No!" he heard her scream from inside.
"Star?" he asked. She didn't answer. "Star?" he called a bit louder. She still didn't answer. He pressed the button that opened her door and gasped. She was sitting in the middle of her bed, her knees to her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs, staring at the screen. "Star?" She jerked and looked around.
"Oh Robin," she said and tried to smile. But her mouth curled back down again and she dropped her head onto her knees. "I'm sorry Robin. But I just got some bad news."
"What?" he said, feeling a flash of concern. "Is it something I can help with?" She shook her head.
"No. I do not think you can help with this Robin." She sighed. "My fiancé is coming to Earth." His heart seemed to explode.
"Your fiancé?" he asked, praying his voice wasn't shaking.
"Yes. His name is Windstorm. I do not know him." She turned her head and her long red hair fell over her shoulder. He pushed it behind her ear and she smiled up at him. Her emerald eyes were brimming with tears.
"Then how is he your fiancé?" he asked, very confused.
"Our parents made an arranged marriage. I do not know why they did, but I do not want to marry him. He is a stranger to me."
"You're too young for marriage anyway aren't you?"
"No. I am sixteen. That is the legal marriage age for my planet." He stroked her long silky hair.
"I'm sorry," he said softly and she looked up.
"Why? You did nothing wrong. It is my parents who have done wrong." He smiled a smile of bitterness that felt out of place on his face.
"I'm sorry anyway," he said. "When will he get here?"
"In a week. Robin, you must help me. I cannot marry this stranger." She clasped her hands around his and he felt himself smile at the way her fingers fit around his. "You and I need to get out of it."
"How?" he asked. Her hands tightened around his and she bit her lower lip.
"I am not sure," she said. "You can think of something, can't you?"
He lowered his head. "I'm not sure I can."
Her mind struggled with this new concept. Robin had always been able to help her. Always. And now he couldn't help her with the biggest problem she had ever faced.
"I'll try to," he said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Please do. I do not want to marry him," she repeated. "Robin, you are my best friend. If anyone can help me, it will be you." She smiled at him and felt a fluttering in her stomach when he smiled back.
"Star," he said. She stared up into the slits of his mask. They were designed not to show emotion, but when Robin put it on what he felt was clearly shown in the shape of them. Now they showed sadness and compassion. "I'm going to help you. No matter what." She smiled.
"Thank you Robin." The tears in her eyes spilled over onto her cheek. He sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. She slid her arms around her waist and started to sob into his chest. He stroked her hair gently and she smiled through the tears. "Thank you so much," she whispered. She let go of his waist and wiped the tears from her cheek. He let her go and smiled.
"It's alright Star. If you don't want to marry this guy, you're not going to." She was reassured by his confidence.
"Do you have a fiancé?" She asked it without thinking and was quite concerned when he flushed a strange shade of red.
"No Star, they don't do arranged marriages in America," he said, trying to hide the redness.
"Oh," she said. She reached out a hand and stroked his cheek softly, loving the suppleness of his skin. "Why are you red?" The red on his face increased and she stared.
"It's called blushing. People do it when they're embarrassed." She felt a sudden horror.
"Have I embarrassed you?" she asked, her hand fiddling with her collar.
"Just a little," he replied, the red fading to a dark pink.
"I am sorry."
"It's alright. You have to learn and I'd rather you learn it from me then Beastboy." His voice was strangely disbelieving when he said Beastboy's name.
"Why?" she asked.
"Beastboy barely knows anything," Robin said, a grin splitting his face in two. She laughed.