Chapter Two (#26: Yellow tulip; hopeless love)
She was ready for him the next time he showed up- she had walked into her room and he had beeen sitting on the floor, back to her bed. Her insides were calculated concrete.
Get out, she had said so simply that she felt him waver in his confidence, Now.
She could feel him grinning behind the mask, "I didn't go through all this trouble just to be kicked out so easily."
Her face had been pale and emotionless as usual when she folded her arms and repeated, Too bad, leave.
He stood up as she leaned against the doorframe, "You tell Bird Boy and the rest of the team about before? I don't think you did, seeing as how I'm still alive."
You didn't do anything wrong and its none of their business. I can handle myself. Now, leave, X, before I do have to get the team, Her voice kept that flat edge to it.
"Come on, the Tower's deserted and you know it. I call your bluff."
Does he think of this as some kind of game
She shoved down wisps of frustration that bubbled inside of her and continued, I can still take you on myself. Now leave.
"That's getting redundant," he observed, taking a step closer to her. She involuntarily tensed and she could see a grin break out even though he wore a mask, "Do I make you nervous?"
You know very well I don't feel, she commented dryly.
He took another step, "No, you feel, you just don't show it."
You would know.
"I would."
She rolled her eyes, Why are you doing this? You realize how futile it is? Whatever your stupid plans are, I'm not falling for them or you.
Another step.
More frustration was floating up from her stomach, mingling with a few other unidentifiable feelings she didn't want to think about right now.
"This isn't some 'stupid plan'."
Right. I'll believe the criminal's word.
Out of nowhere he asked, "Do you know the symbolism of yellow tulips?"
Huh? Where the hell did that come from?
"I saw you pick one the other day."
She was glad her hood was up and he couldn't see the minor flush gracing her cheeks. No one was supposed to see that. She replied, You were spying on me?
"No."
Then what do you call it?
"Mild observation."
She rolled her eyes.
"Anyway- do you know the symbolism of a yellow tulip?"
Obviously not. Do tell how this relates.
His eyes glinted behind the mask, "Look it up."
With that he disappeared (leaving her slightly infuriated with his enigmatic attitude in general) and a bouqet of yellow tulips lay on her bed, tied with a black ribbon.
Later on that week she had Beast Boy look up yellow tulips on the Internet. It took awhile, but she finally found the correspondence: hopeless love. She rolled her eyes for BB's sake (and anyone elses' who was watching) but inside she felt a piece of something break.
She missed those flowers now.