Author's Note:

Thank you to all my readers for your patience. This is just a sneak peak, I will update more frequently next week. I'm thinking I'll update every two or three days. :) Without further ado, here is the start to my take on the aftermath of the infamous pool scene. I do not own Teen Titans or any comics by DC.

~0~0~0~

There was a silence in the air and not the peaceful kind that she was used to around him.

Four years. Four years she had known him, befriended him, loved him. Four years there had been tension, had been whispers of will they, won't they? Then they had. Then they hadn't. Then they had again.

On and off for four years. Occasionally her friends would remark angrily about him leading her on. She had brushed aside their worries, knowing that Robin was complicated. Then, Nightwing was complicated.

Then Dick.

She gave him space, hoping he would come back to her when the team disbanded. He did for a little while. Then he left for Gotham and then Bludhaven.

Meanwhile she was left to lead the Titans, or what was left of them. Cyborg had gone to join the Justice League, while she, Raven, and Beast Boy had stayed behind. They were due for some new members. She was ready to welcome them, really she was.

She was even more ready to get some answers.

Starfire glanced up, aimlessly running her fingers over the surface of the pool water as she listened to Dick crack his shoulders. They were in a private section of a hotel Dick had rented for them for the weekend. That was how things were these days.

"I bet you're glad to get out of the Tower," Dick mused, leaning back against the side of the pool. Droplets of water fell down his maskless face.

Starfire smiled and shook her head. "Truly I could never tire from such a place. It is my home. Raven, Garfield and I have started making the renovations to welcome prospective Titans." Her smile faded as he glanced off to the side, his eyes already glazing over in a way that meant he was not really invested in the conversation.

"Good, good," he mumbled absently.

"I have prepared a new training regiment for when they arrive," she continued, a trace of pride leaking into her voice.

"That's good." He still wasn't looking at her.

Starfire's hands sank into the water as her body stilled. It was pointless. He had other things on his mind. Four years ago she would have told herself he was stressed; she would have made excuses for him. She would have defended him from Gar and Vic's accusations.

Tonight was the first time she wondered if they had been right all along.

"Dick," Starfire said. At the sound of his name he finally glanced at her. "You have been on my mind lately."

At this comment Dick's face twisted into a mischievous smile. "I have?" he asked innocently, gliding toward her until his body was pressed up against hers.

Starfire frowned. He was confused. She was not trying to "start something" as her male friends would say. She wanted to be serious. Yet even now, she could feel her body react to him.

"You've been on my mind too," he whispered huskily in her ear, his hand drifting up the back of her thigh under the water.

She closed her eyes for a moment, debating whether or not to let her worries subside and to just give in to him, as she always did. She let out a tiny gasp as his other hand came up to cup her breast. She shuddered as she felt his mouth on her neck, his body already rubbing against hers. She pressed herself against him, knowing it would only be a matter of time before their clothes were discarded.

Even in this hazy heat, she remembered herself. She paused when she felt him hard against her thigh, felt his hand start to glide into her bathing suit bottom.

"Dick, no," she said, pushing away from him.

"What?" Dick asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"I-I do not feel in the mood for such activities," she replied, wringing her wet hair between her hands.

"Oh," he said, making no effort to hide his disappointment. He retreated back to his place by the edge of the pool. This made her feel even worse. There was once a time where he would have enjoyed the prospect of staying up to talk to her. But that had been with Robin. Maybe it had never been with Dick at all.

"I wish to talk to you about us," she continued, looking him dead in the eye.

At this, he seemed to become even more confused. "Uh…ok."

Starfire swallowed, feeling her heart start to race. "I feel as though you no longer care for me in the way you once did when we were young."

Dick froze. "What makes you say that?"

Starfire let her hair slip through her fingers. "The only time you wish for my companionship is when we make love."

Dick frowned. "That's not-"

Starfire held up her hand. "Please let me finish."

Dick paused, and then decided to shut his mouth.

"I love you, Dick. I always have," she admitted. "From the moment I came to this planet I loved you. During the days when we were the teenagers and you isolated yourself from us, I loved you. I love you even now, when we are like strangers to each other."

"Strangers?" Dick questioned. "You could never be a stranger to me, Star. You mean the world to me."

"Then why are we not together?" she pressed.

Dick cleared his throat. "I've been really busy. Now's not a good time."

"When will it be the good time?"

"I don't know."

Again, with the excuses.

Starfire stared straight into his eyes. "Do you love me?"

Dick spluttered. "Kory, you know I-"

"Dick, you know very well what I mean," she interrupted, her eyes burning. "Not a someone you will 'always' love, or who occupies a special place in your heart." She watched as he straightened. "Do you love me? In the way that means forever. In a way that means we never have to find excuses."

There. She had asked. She had finally asked. Her heart, her soul, was on the line. For one beautiful moment she felt euphoric. She felt like she was in free fall. Then his shoulders tensed, and then slumped, and looking at him now she knew what his answer would be even before he said it.

"No."

With that one word her universe came crashing down. Even now, so soon after his rejection she could feel her heartbreak, could feel her powers begging to be released in a dangerous way, in a way that could be irreversible.

She needed to be alone. And yet…

She darted forward and attached her mouth to his one last time. He let out a gasp of surprise, and before he could reciprocate, or even reject her again, she detached herself and left.

Left the pool.

Left Robin.

For good.

~0~0~0~

Author's Note:

Already I'm changing a few things :) That's it for the prologue. Now to get to the meat of the story.