Chapter 1 Star
Weightless
That's the only feeling I had. Weightless. I'm sure the fact that I'm floating above the ocean near the tower contributed to the feeling,but it felt like it was also coming from my heart.
I sighed as I allowed my left hand to drop off my stomach into the water below me. I opened my eyes and stared at the sky above me.
I had taken refuge in the openness of the outdoors after walking into what I assume was an impromptu conversation. I was gliding with my back to the water just high enough to avoid being taken down. A lot to think about.
"You can't just get rid of her." Raven shouted. Robin turned his back, arms crossed as he stared out of the window in the living room of Titan Tower.
"I'm not getting rid of. I'm just saying, we should consider some adjustments. She's not really pulling her own weight." Robin said, finally opening his eyes to stare out into the ocean scene.
"Dude, 'adjustments'. That's what you call suggesting that we replace Starfire as a Titan. She's family Robin." Beast Boy finally spoke up.
"I didn't say she wasn't. I'm just saying that we should consider having someone else take her place for now. She's been slacking. We can't have a teammate that isn't putting the same effort that we are into our fights." Robin finally turned and faced the team. Cyborg was sitting on the couch, Raven was standing right in front of Robin and Beast Boy was standing beside her.
The room quieted and Starfire stayed on the other side of the door leading into the living room. She had been on a video message with Galfore and was running late for the mandatory meeting when she heard Raven start shouting. She felt her breathing slow down as she listened.
"Is this an objective point of view, or is it just because she didn't handle Slade the way you think she should have?" Cyborg finally spoke.
Starfire flinched, she could feel the tension building up on the other side of the door.
"She let him get away. She's getting soft. We can't be the titans and excuse behavior like Slades. She should have taken the shot when she had the chance and she didn't. WE NEED A TEAM MEMBER WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT WE ARE ABOUT."
Starfire felt her heart stop. She felt the wind leave her and she couldn't seem to regain her breath.
'Anxiety attack.' she thought, as she felt her hands clutch her chest. 'That's what they call these things.' She kneeled down on to the floor and fought to regain composure. She couldn't let them know she heard. She couldn't.
She waited. Waited for someone to speak up. To fight back. To say anything. She waited.
"Does anyone notice who's missing?" Robin's voice said, sounding victorious. "Am I wrong?"
Starfire stood and stared at the door, separating her from her friends. She heard the footsteps on the other side get closer to her. Approach where she stood. As the doors opened she flew up flying horizontal with the ceiling. She watched as Robin walked out into the hallway, disappearing around the corner.
"He can't do this, we get a vote." Raven said, sounding defeated. "This isn't right."
"Don't worry Rae, we're not gonna let this happen." Beast Boy comforted.
As soon as possible I had escaped the tower and was at a lost of exactly what was the right reaction to all this. So here I was, gliding above the ocean waters, one hand dangling at my side while the other rested on my stomach, I watched the blue and white sky above me shift.
I sighed, where there any real options for me at this point. It was obvious I wasn't suppose to overhear. Should i fight? Argue? Should i be yelling and throwing things? Should I be attacking the tower? Should I fight to remain where I'm obviously not wanted. I sighed again and sat up, still floating above the water.
Get away, I'll get away. Just for a bit. For some space.
I snuck back into the tower and changed out of my TItan clothing and put on blue ripped skinny jeans and an off the shoulder purple shirt. I grabbed my purple crossbody bag, not that much went into it, and also my t-communicator and flew back out. I flew out and landed on the grounds of Jump City across from Titan Tower. I could take tonight to think, to reason. It's not like anyone would really notice I was gone away,
Jump City
I walked and looked around at the strobe lights changing colors and bodies moving around the floor. I had wandered town for about half an hour before coming stopping at the club that Blackfire had taken us to her first night on earth.
I weaved through the crowd, and took a seat at a lone chair on the left side of the bar. There were a slew of men hanging around the front of it drinking and yelling, loudly, and I didn't exactly feel like getting into a fight tonight. Especially when I was sure Robin had rules about where we could venture off to.
"What can I get you gorgeous?" A voice finally said from behind the counter. I turned from the group of men to be met with sapphire eyes looking at me.
"AH." I felt myself get tongue-tied as the blonde server with the sapphire eyes wearing a navy and baby blue flannel shirt was starting.
He gave a smirk and leaned forward onto his elbows on the counter, "You want me to recommend something?" He asked, giving me more time.
I felt my face redden, not only at how close he had gotten, but also at how he was saving me from my own embarrassment.
"Yes." I stuttered out, "That would be greatly appreciated." His smile widened and he finally stood back up.
I'm sure there was an acceptable time on earth to stop staring at someone, or at least to stare discreetly, but I still hadn't learned to what that time was. So I continued to follow him with my eyes as he moved around behind the counter.
"What's your favorite fruit?" He stopped his movement and turned his head towards me.
"Em, orange." He raised a brow but nodded, before continuing his movement behind the counter.
He must be in his twenties at least. I took him in. He had on a nice navy blue/baby blue flannel shirt, with sleeves that were rolled up to his elbows, over a plain white tea with some khaki colored pants and white vans on. His hair was about shoulder length and shaggy, he had it pulled back into a ponytail.
'Hot' I thought, finally being able to put a picture definition to that word. I watched a woman slip behind him into the bar, and catch me starting.
My gaze caught hers and she smirked. I felt my cheeks reddened again and finally looked down. I listened to her footsteps as she walked around, the hitting of her heels to the ground below her, before finally the footsteps grew fainter.
"Here you go." A tall glass with colors of orange and red swirled was placed before me. "Tell me what you think?'
I looked up from the glass to see him, again, leaning on the counter using his elbows as support.
I looked from him to the drink before grabbing the straw and taking a small sip. While Tamaraneanss were warriors and could typically handle most things, alcohol did not too well in our system. So we typically kept our drinking to a minimum. At least at settings that we were required to be civil.
"This is delicious." I said happily, humming with all the flavors that were contained in the drink. It tasted like a sweet orange flavor.
He smiled and stood up straight. "It's called the 'Alabama Slammer', just don't sip to fast, it's got a lot more punch than you think."
"You're a country boy."I smiled back and kept sipping, it was so sweet I just wanted to finish it then and there and get another. But that would not end very well.
His lip twitched at my comment. "I might be." He responded, leaning back towards me. I was supre my cheeks competed with the redness of the cherries in my drink when he did that.
"So may I ask why someone as pretty as you is just wandering around these parts this late?" I stiffened at his question and watched concern creep into his eyes at my reaction, but he remained where he stood.
"I'm sure you call all women who visit here pretty." I winked. He rolled his eyes before offering his left hand.
"Name's Tristan, and you?"
Not Starfire, not Starfire. "Koriand'r" I blurted out, not having enough time to recall the human name that I had been assigned.
"Koriand'r." He repeated.
"You you, that was correct." Very few people have ever been able to properly pronounce my name. "You may call me Kory if you wish, most choose to call me that instead."
He shook his head, causing a few strands of his dirty blond hair to fall in his face, "Nah, I like Koriand'r."
"And I like Tristan." I offered back, before realizing what I was implying. I looked down at my drink as the weight of my words hit me. These humans and this language would be the death of me.
"So you're running, are you?" He asked, allowing me some so called 'slack' with my slip up.
"No, I wouldn't exercise at this time a night." I answered. "I was simply walking about."
He nodded. "So don't you have people that are gonna be worried about you?'
I shook my head. "I have proven to be a burden on those around me, at this point I do not believe that my disappearance will be much of a disappointment." I looked down to my lap, where I had placed my hands.
"Well this won't do." Tristan placed a finger under my chin and pulled my face upwards. "I can't have sad girls sitting at the bar. GIve me a minute." He gave a soft smile before heading over to more people who had some how joined the bar without my noticing. I watched him interact with the groups, mixing the drinks as he spoke and occasionally throwing a glance in my direction.
I took the time alone to look around the clubs scene. Many tables had the public affection couples who were ignoring that they can very well be seen by the others in the bodies were on the floor, many with eyes closed, and hands swaying above them.
"Have you considered my proposition?" A low, gravelly voice came from behind me.
I continued my people watching. Giving time for the question to linger.
"I…." I drifted off and allowed my brain to work again. To really consider. I couldn't turn back if i said yes. I couldn't back down. There would be know way out of this I'm sure.
"I...accept." I whispered, barely registering my voice on my ears. "But I will have conditions." I add.
I heard no response. I figured he wasn't the type to give any confirmations.
"Hey you ok?" I turned around in my seat to see Tristan standing back at my end of the bar, looking at me with concerned eyes.
I gave a small glance to my side, the seat beside me empty.
"I am not certain." I go back to staring at my empty glass. " But I was promised a game, and for now that's what I want to focus on." I smiled at him, trying to accept that I've just made an agreement that I couldn't back out of. Stunned at the fact that I wasn't anxious, I wasn't scared, I was just….anticipating.
Tell me what you think.