RobStar Week 2022 - Day 1: Flying
This story is a sequel to one of my older stories “Nowhere Fast” (On my FF account). TL;DR – Robin gets Starfire’s powers, similar fashion to the the story “Power Failure” from the comics.
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For someone who had spent so many of their years in the circus leaping, swinging and even sometimes diving from unthinkable heights it seemed ridiculous that Robin would somehow be so hesitant about flying. When it had been with Starfire it had been entirely different, he liked when she carried him through the air, he loved the sensation and the thrill of it; but there lied the problem, in those cases she was in control and he trusted her. This scenario was a different one, here he had to trust in himself and for the first time in many years he didn’t think he could.
“You are doing well” a warm, reassuring voice spoke from in front of him.
He frowned, he wasn’t doing well at all. He felt like he was a toddler again, learning to walk for the first time. “I don’t think I am, Star” he replied in a neutral tone, he stretched his leg out and took a step. His foot immediately dropped a few inches further than he expected causing him to panic and wobble frantically.
She giggled loudly, placing her hand over her mouth to try and suppress the sound; she was trying her best but she could not help it. When she received a slight scowl from Robin she smiled sweetly back in return. “You are trying to do the walking but that is not how this works”
“Then how does it?” he asked with a frustrated sigh, “maybe this is just something I can’t learn to do”
She floated around to his back and hugged him behind, placing her chin on his shoulder. “Try to absorb your surroundings first and focus, you are very good at that Robin”
Her embrace soothed his frustration and he took a deep calming breath, he began to rotate both his body and his head to take in the area around him. He was hovering 7000 feet in the air, cotton candy-like clouds moved gracefully beneath him and when looking straight down he could sometimes spot Titans Tower and the bay surrounding it through thin parts of the clouds. The early evening sky engulfed him in all directions, most people would kill for an experience like this but to Robin it just felt surreal and he doubted he could truly appreciate it. “What should I focus on?” he asked, tilting his head to look at his shoulder.
She took the opportunity to kiss him quickly on the lips, giggling madly as their altitude suddenly spiked about 100 feet. She pulled her lips away and placed her chin back on his shoulder speaking gently “Pick a cloud somewhere nearby and lets go to it”, she wrapped her legs around his waist like a knot “just so you don’t think I’m moving us”
He felt slightly lightheaded from both the kiss and the sudden incline but he grinned, scanning the horizon he spotted a small cloud just slightly up ahead. “Okay, forwards” he spoke out loud to himself focusing hard on the action. He didn’t move, he focused once more and still no movement. He clenched his jaw as he tried to focus on whatever muscle or part of his brain was controlling his flight but he couldn’t. He let out an exasperated growl as he watched the cloud float further away on the breeze.
“You were able to fly up here yourself remember, it is just the same-” she replied comfortingly
“All I can do is go up!” he shouted in frustration, “not down, not forwards, not back, not left or even right. Just up!”
“Up is enough for me, Richard” she said lovingly, placing her cheek against his and gently stroking his hair “you do not need to master this on the day of ones”.
His heart swelled, closing his eyes made everything else melt away and he could focus solely on the affection. Suddenly he felt the breeze pick up and brush more vigorously at his face, cracking his eyes open he saw that the cloud he was focusing on was now moving towards him. Had the wind swapped direction that quickly?
“You are flying!” Starfire cried happily, placing rapid-fire kisses on his cheek.
He was in shock, he looked around and sure enough it wasn’t the wind changing course, it was him floating towards the cloud. Speechless, he just held onto the feeling and within a few moments he had caught up with the escaping cloud. He continued until they rested just above the cloud, so close it looked like he was standing on it. “I can’t believe it” he said simply.
“You have done most wonderfully! Even Tamaraneans born with the gift of flight usually take longer to accomplish what you have” Starfire said ecstatically.
Robin felt like the world had disappeared around him, even his girlfriend’s exuberant ramblings became muffled and distant. Memories flashed in his mind; Haly’s circus, his parents John and Mary Grayson standing before him, so much love and pride in their eyes for their son. The world around Robin re-focused and he pulled his mask from his face, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks.
Starfire felt the dampness against her own cheek and turned to give him a worried look, upon seeing him cry she floated around to his front “What is wrong my love?” she asked softly.
Lifting his head, he looked her in the eyes and through his tears he was smiling “I’m back” he said wiping at his eyes, “after so many years…I can be a Flying Grayson again”.
Starfire’s eyes shined, she knew his past and how important and yet tragic the memory of his family was, it was something he found so painful to discuss and something only she was allowed to know. It was something she had took much pride in and now seeing the joy in his eyes even through the tears, it filled her with such an immense feeling of pride and affection for him. Within Robin’s heart there had always been doors that had stay locked, feelings kept away to never be opened again but here in this moment Starfire had witnessed the opening of one of these doors, a lock finally broken. “You are” she stated happily, and she threw her arms tightly around him, no longer needing to worry about crushing the poor boy she cold hold him as tightly as possible and in return he clutched her back just as tight.
Without realising Starfire had begun taking them higher into the sky until they were nearly touching the stars. Robin pulled back slightly and said with a grin “So you have that problem too?”
Starfire blushed brightly when she realised they were nearly in space “When I’m with you, yes”
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Is this the right timeline? I actually wrote another story after a 5 year hiatus?
This story is actually a preview chapter from another story I am writing which is a sequel to one of my older stories “Nowhere Fast”, can’t give any kind of release date for that sadly.
Also, sorry this is 5 days late. Oops. If I get some inspiration for any of the other prompts then I’ll write some more. If not, happy RobStar Week 2022!
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