First Love Never Dies; Starfire x Robin (Teen Titans)

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

Title: First Love Never Dies
Author: a_white_rain/(Yami) White Rain
E-mail: a_white_rain@mail2world.com
Fandom: Teen Titans cartoon
Pairing: Starfire/Dick Grayson (Robin I/Nightwing)
Spoilers: Seasons one through four.
Notes: I’ve never been involved in a fandom quite like Teen Titans before. Most of the ones I’ve been in have only one writer/artist. Because it has different writers with different takes on the characters and views on their relationships, it’s nearly impossible to explain how everyone perceives the Starfire x Robin relationship, and I’m not going to even try. Instead, I am going to say what I see in this relationship and hope that I’m not alienating other fans.



Introduction:

There is no denying that Starfire and Robin have feelings for one another.

However, this pairing is much deeper then it outwardly appears. Hell, the entire cartoon is deeper then meets the eye, so why should arguably the most prominent romance of the series, be any different?

Starfire and Robin are best friends who have formed a bond of trust, understanding, faith and friendship that is slowly forming into a powerful romantic relationship.

-

Starfire:

Underneath her happy exterior is a girl with many insecurities probably brought upon from her sister, Blackfire’s, betrayals along with being seeing as ‘nothing’ by a great majority of the universe simply because she’s from Tamaran. She had a deep seeded fear of not being good enough and that her friends will see that.

In ‘Sisters’ and ‘Betrothed’, it’s quite clear that Blackfire is more then willing to use her sister to achieve her own means. In ‘Transformation’ and ‘Troq’ Starfire is clearly afraid of confronting her fears, however, she is beginning to see that her friends will stick with her and will care for and about her no matter what. She’s found a home and family on earth with the rest of the Titans.


Robin:

Robin is competitive to a fault, obsessive, and tends to see the world in black and white. However, his faith in his friends and their ability to work together is mostly unwavering. He makes sure that the Titans never give up hope. He believes nothing is impossible for the Titans if they stick together. And he’s often right about that

This is even more incredible to witness when you take into account his trust issues. In ‘Masks’, Robin doesn’t tell the other Titans’ his plan to gain Slade’s trust in hopes to find out what Slade is planning. In ‘How Long is Forever?’ shows Robin’s worst fear is being alone. Like Starfire, he has found a family and home with the Titans.

-

Evidence:

Citing all canon evidence of their feelings for one another would be pretty much mean capping at least one scene from every episode. So, I’ve chosen six moments that stick out the most for me.

-

(Said little sister looks down at her worriedly. Dissolve to the roof of the Tower; it is now sunrise of the next day. Starfire sits at the edge, bathed in light and lost in thought, and looks out over the sparkling bay as the wind blows her hair where it will. Robin comes up.)

Robin: Hey. How are you doing? (He sits by her.)
Starfire: I am…sad for my sister.
Robin: And for yourself?
Starfire: I am just glad that the truth was discovered before I was replaced.
Robin: What are you talking about?
Starfire: Well, you…everyone was having such fun with her, and then Cyborg said—
Robin: Look. Your sister was interesting, but she could never take your place. (smiling) No one could ever take your place.
-Sisters, via titansgo.net

Starfire is shaken by Blackfire’s betrayal and jealous that she was able to fit in on Earth and the Titans much easier then she ever could. Robin understood that feeling and told her what she needed to hear, and more importantly, what he believes.

-

(Fade in to the exterior of the Tower. It is later that same night. Inside, cut to the floor of Robin’s room and tilt up slowly to frame him at the wall. The door is heard opening; side view of him, staring at the Slade robot’s mask that he has hung on the wall. Pan slightly to put Starfire in view as she enters. He does not turn.)
Robin: You want to yell at me too? (Close-up of the mask; he pulls it down and continues o.c.) Everyone else has.
(Pull back to frame him on the end of this line. He stares at the mask.)
Robin: (turning around) And I don’t blame them. (Starfire approaches.)
Starfire: I do not wish to yell, merely to understand. Robin, why did you not tell us the truth?
Robin: I needed to fool Slade. If you guys knew it was me under that mask, you would’ve held back. (Zoom in slowly.) Doesn’t matter anyway. Slade figured it out, and I still haven’t figured out anything about him.
Starfire: That is not true. Whoever Slade is, you and he are similar. Slade did not trust you— (Close-up of him; zoom in as she continues.) —and you did not trust us.
-Masks, via titansgo.net

Starfire found out that Red X and Robin were one in the same, and clearly she felt betrayed. She was his sole defender when the other Titans were suspicious of Robin. Stafire fears betrayal, but realized that Robin facing his darker side and opening up was more important then her personal fears.

Starfire’s words stung, and she hit what Robin feared the most. Robin needed to hear those words and Starfire was the best one to say it, because her disappointment cuts him the most. And, Robin can’t afford to keep secrets from the Titans’ with a dangerous enemy like Slade. He never does that again, and I think it was Starfire’s words over the other Titans’ anger that did it for him.

-

Cyborg: (from o.c.) His mask contained a chemical reagent that infiltrated your central nervous system. (Cut to Robin.)
Robin: The dust. (pulling off sensors) It made me see, hear, and feel Slade, even though he wasn’t there. (Pull back to frame Starfire.)
Starfire: And the more you fought, the more harm it did to you. (Pan to Raven.)
Raven: (rubbing chin) And anybody else who got in the way.
Cyborg: (smiling) Scan says you’re all clear now, though.
Robin: Yeah? Well, just to be sure…
(He pushes off the bed, crosses to the door, and flips the light switch. Cut to his perspective, panning across the darkened room and back; the only living things in sight are Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire. Back to him; he turns the lights on with a weary relieved sigh, knowing that this waking nightmare has truly come to an end. Zoom in slowly.)
Robin: I’ve been fighting Slade for so long, I guess it’s hard to just let it go. But sometimes I feel like I’m the only one still looking for him—the only one who can stop him.
Starfire: Robin, you are never alone.
Cyborg: And if Slade really does ever return, we’ll be ready. We’ve got things covered here. (Cut to Robin; he continues o.c.) Why don’t you get some rest?
Robin: (smiling) Sounds like a good idea.
-Haunted, via titansgo.net

It was clear that Starfire and Robin had feelings for each other since ‘Sisters’, but this episode, to me, marks how intimate their relationship is becoming and how important they are to one another.

Robin is pissed that Starfire didn’t try and get Slade and Starfire feels horrible that she can’t see Slade. Starfire is going to pieces because she knows something is wrong with Robin but she doesn’t know what she can do to help. Robin’s angry that no one believes him and he’s facing Slade and his fears alone, and he lashed out at Starfire first. In the end, Starfire literally tears down a wall to get to him when she learns that he could die.

-

Nightwing: I heard you’ve been looking for help.
Starfire: There is nothing you can do. There is nothing anyone can do. The past cannot be repaired, the future cannot be altered, no matter how wrong it seems.
Nightwing: So, it’s impossible. (walking to computers) Good. If memory serves, we’ve done the impossible before.
(She cannot find any words for a moment, but her eyes tell enough about the hope that has sprung up in her mind.)
Nightwing: I held on to this— (Close-up of a panel; he presses a button and continues o.c.) —just in case.
-How Long is Forever?, via titansgo.net

Starfire has given up hope on changing the future, in which all of her friends have become what they feared the most. Cyborg, obsolete; Beast Boy, a loser; Raven, lost in her own mind; and Robin/Nightwing, alone.

Nightwing/Robin hasn’t completely given up hope, but it’s telling that as soon as Starfire shows up, he knows the Titans will be together again. When Starfire and Robin are together, nothing seems impossible to the other.

-

Robin: Starfire…what happened back there? Why couldn’t you fly?
Starfire: Tamaranean powers are inclined by our emotions.
Robin: So the way you feel affects your ability to fly.
Starfire: And right now I feel unfamiliar confusion.
Robin: But we’ve faced danger before without your powers failing.
Starfire: It is not danger that confuses me, Robin. It is you. (Close-up of him; she continues o.c.) I do not understand…us.
(Zoom in quickly. That last word jangles his nerves badly and causes a huge sweat drop to pop out on his temple. Back to her.)
Starfire: Ever since Cyborg said the “girlfriend,” things are different between us.
Robin: (trying to play it off) It’s…just a misunderstanding. Everything’s okay.
Starfire: Everything is not okay. (She crosses the cavern.) We are not okay. I fear we will never be okay again, and you will not tell me how you feel. (He approaches.)
Robin: (tugging collar) Uh…y…I’m not very good at that. (She sniffles and wipes her nose, then turns to him.)
Starfire: Do Earth boys come with some kind of manual, then?
Robin: (smiling) That would make things easier. (She moves to him at the fire.)
Starfire: How am I to know what you think about me?
Robin: (very rattled) Starfire…I think…uh…it’s…awesome…the way…you shoot starbolts.
(Her eyes shine. Sight gag: hearts scroll past on a pink background behind her.)
Starfire: Yes? And? (Cut to their shadows on the wall; the gag ends.)
Robin: (from o.c., a bit more confidently) It’s, uh, also cool that you’re brave and the strongest girl ever. (Back to them.)
Starfire: And you do not mind having a friend who is a girl?
Robin: (taking her hands) Mind it? Actually, I kind of—

(snip)

Robin: Let’s fly.
(Starfire looks away worriedly. Cut to a close-up of her foot and pan slightly to frame the brain-bending fall waiting just behind it, then back to her.)
Starfire: But—
(Close-up of her hand; he takes it in his own, and the camera pulls back to frame both.)
Robin: As long as we’re together, we’ll be okay.
-Stranded via titansgo.net

Robin affects Starfire on a deep enough level to affect her powers. Robin is afraid to admit how he feels, probably because of his hinted father issues. Robin is great with not dealing with his emotions, he likes things black and white. Starfire wears her heart on her sleeve and is deeply afraid of letting people in her heart completely. Perhaps they should be completely wrong for each other.

But, they’re not. In the end, they work together and believe in one another. Just like in ‘How Long is Forever?’ Robin feels that nothing is impossible when they’re together. And Starfire is starting to see that as well.

-

Slade: (from o.c.) I don’t expect you to win. I don’t even expect you to live—only endure. (Close-up of Robin.)
Robin: (sullenly) I’ll go with you. (Pull back to frame Starfire.)
Starfire: Robin, no.
Robin: If there’s even the slightest chance to save Raven, what choice to we have?
(This deflates his three friends considerably—he has a point and they know it. Zoom in slowly on Slade standing behind them.)
Slade: The journey to this world has taken much of Trigon’s power.
(An empty patch of floor; he holds one steel fist into view.)
Slade: (from o.c.) With this, you might be able to survive.
(During this line, he opens the fingers to expose a gold ring. In close-up, we see that it bears a number of red inscriptions.)
Slade: (from o.c.) It’s a ring of Azar— (The three sidelined Titans.) —forged by the same order that imprisoned Trigon. (Back to him.) I know from experience that it works.
(Starfire plucks the ring from his hand and eyes it with great concern as Robin crosses the floor to her.)
Robin: I know you can do it.
(He gives her a long hug—quite possibly the last one they will ever share.)
-The End II via titango.net

The world had ended. Raven might be dead. The Titans don’t stand a chance against Trigon without Raven. The only chance they have is for Robin to try and save her. Starfire hesitates, she doesn’t want to lose anyone else. Robin’s is right though, they can’t give up on Raven. And his words get through the Titan’s – most especially Starfire.

This was most definitely the hardest fight that the Titans’ have faced up to date. It’s more then that the world is ended, but the trust and faith they have in one another is tested and strengthened. It’s significant that Robin and Starfire hold each other for a long moment before Robin goes to face his possible death. When things are intense and dangerous, they tend to lean towards one another.

-

Why:

This question was hard for me to answer. When I started watching Teen Titans, I didn’t have a real pairing preference.

I was probably leaning towards Robin x Raven. They’re the kind of pairing I usually love, they understand each other, they’re magically bound and they have a good chance of being completely wrong – or right for each other.

But I found myself defending Starfire and the Starfire x Robin pairing. When I signed up for this essay I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain why I loved this pairing so much. Then it hit me: this is an intense first love for both of them.

They’re best friends. Starfire, at least, was intently attracted to Robin, but they became friends first. They’ve become emotionally intimate. At this point in time, they’re tiptoeing around their feelings for one another. They’re both terrified of how deeply they’ve grown to care about each other and aren’t exactly sure what they want or even how to start.

They’re not a perfect fit. Robin is guarded about his feelings toward his friends and has trust issues and Starfire is open unless she fears her secrets will make alienate her from her friends even more then she already is. But, they’re not willing to give up on one another, making them feel like nothing is impossible when they work together.

Ultimately, Teen Titans isn’t a cartoon about five super heroes who save the world, but five kids who are each outcasts for varies reasons who have found a home in one another. Raven’s words to her father in ‘The End Part III’ “I was raised by my friends. They are my family. This is my home. And you are not welcome here!” applies to all five of them.

I’m not drawn into this because I think it’s canon or a pairing that will last forever. I love it simply because I love watching the Titans grow up and Starfire and Robin figure out what they mean to each other They are the kind of pairing that make the cliché, first love never dies, ring true.

-

Fandom:

http://www.Titansgo.net – The go to for screenshots, news and updates about the show, and screen caps.
http://www.Teentitans.toonzone.net – The official Teen Titans website.
http://www.Titanstower.com – The most comprehensive Teen Titans website ever. Includes more comic canon info then the comic with quite a bit of cartoon canon.
http://www.Robinandstarfire.com – A message board/forum.
http://hs.magicalwings.net/ - A Starfire x Robin shrine.
http://www.fanfiction.net/c2/15670/3/0/1/ - A fanfiction.net C2 community for Starfire x Robin.
http://www.fanfiction.net/c2/2202/3/0/1/ - Another fanfiction.net C2 community for Starfire x Robin.
http://www.fanfiction.net/c2/15701/3/0/1/ - Yet another fanfiction.net C2 community for Starfire x Robin.
robinstarfire - Starfire x Robin community.

Comments

[star-of-heaven.livejournal.com]

Robin/Starfire is a cute pairing, but not perfect. It takes them four seasons to realize that they have feelings for each other. "Stranded" seems to imply that Robin and Starfire are finally in a relationship, but it could just be that they're best described "as close as a pairing can come to being canon without actually being canon." I like the chemistry between them because it makes their relationship seem more interesting, especially in "Stranded." (I think it goes without saying that episode is my favorite for Robin/Starfire moments.)

Any sort of romantic relationship between Robin and Starfire would require a lot of work, but they would probably be willing to attempt anything for each other. And that's why I find their relationship interesting.

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

That is a good point, althoug there have been interview hints that they may finally kiss in the next season.

[tifferz312.livejournal.com]

love this a lot, and it makes a lot of sense. but, i am a RobStar shipper, so i read what i wanted to read. anyway, adding to my memories.

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That means a lot.

[triedtoholdonto.livejournal.com]

Woah...brilliantly written...I read it all. Bravo and amazing!

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[kimmy-77.livejournal.com]

I love your essay! And I love the fact that there is someone else out there who sees what a powerful and complex relationship Starfire and Robin have. You talk to most people about cartoons and they think your a bit childish. You talk to them about a romance between two cartoon characters and they think your nuts. But I adore Starfire and Robin. I have enjoyed watching them grow and change. You wrote a brilliant essay that showed all of their strengths and weaknesses. Well done!

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that I got that across. Teen Titans is one of the best cartoons I've ever had the joy to watch and I hope my fannish delight came out. Thanks for replying.

Yeah! and H/Hrer!

[kimmy-77.livejournal.com]

I didn't see that you were a H/H shipper until after I posted. I was so excited to see that you ship H/H too! :)

And thinking about it there are quite a few similarities between Robin and Starfire and Harry and Hermione. With there emotional issues and stuff. And then with the Troq/Mudblood prejudices. And then with Robin becoming closer to Raven here lately, it was starting to look like R/S wouldn't happen. Hopefully that storyline is over now and R/S will be stronger than ever. :)

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

I love Harry/Hermione like few other pairings.

I think that Robin/Starfie and Harry/Hermione have some things in common, but their stories and personailties are too different to really compare too much. but the Mudblood/Troq thing is a very good point.

I don't mind Robin/Raven at all, and I think it might have been possible to happen in canon pre-season four, but I think, even with Robin's bond with Raven didn't do much to direct his romantic feelings. He's falling in love with Starfire, and The End III sealed the deal for me. And Raven doesn't seem to have feelings for anyone if we compare her reactions to the ones she had when she feel in love with that guy in spellbound. Although, the BB/Raven shipper in me can't help but remember that she hugged BB right after her heart was broken.

[kimmy-77.livejournal.com]

I agree, Robin is definitely falling in love with Starfire. :)

I felt so bad for Raven after she got her heart broken, but then she did hug BB and I must say I have a soft spot for them.

Betrothed was on the other night. That episode just kills me. "YOUR GETTING MARRIED!?!?" Poor Robin. My husband came in when it was on and couldn't believe I was watching that episode again. But it always makes me smile. I think I like seeing Robing jealous. *blush* :)

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah.

I did too. Although I think it has little chance of happening in canon. Poor guy is hooked up on Terra.

I almost put the jealousy from that episode an Date with Destiny, but I found the issue to be more with both of them hating the other being used and the six moments I chose are my favorites.

[kimmy-77.livejournal.com]

Date with Destiny always makes me laugh. Every time Kitten says "Rooby Poo" and Starfire says, "Who is this girl and why does she call you poo?" To funny.

You picked some great R/S moments and I enjoyed reading them and reliving them. Gave me the warm and fuzzies. I also like the moment in I think it's Aftershock, when Tara is coming straight for Robin and Starfire pushes him out of the way and gets knocked over the cliff. And then he yells her name. Shows that whole self sacrifice thing. :)

I wish they would release whole season's of TT on DVD and not just a few episodes. That is really annoying. Kinda like my babbling. :)

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

I do love that episode, and the Starfie/Robin dancing at the end was fluffy in a good way.

R/S moments are in nearly every episode, which was why it can be hard to just chose a few.

Your posts aren't useless, I enjoy them.

[tulleskirt.livejournal.com]

What the hell?! I never responded to this!?

Simply, I love it. Succinct, eloquent and it rings very true--I love reading anything by a shipper who really gets Rob/Star. Your evidence is very well chosen--the Masks scene especially. And this bit:

"I’m not drawn into this because I think it’s canon or a pairing that will last forever. I love it simply because I love watching the Titans grow up and Starfire and Robin figure out what they mean to each other."

Oh, man. That killed me. Love it, love it, love it. Awesome work.

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot.

I'm glad I got them down. I'm not active in fandom, I just love the ship.