A/N IMPORTANT: REPOST! My ever so lovely beta made the best edits ever :) New chapter will hopefully be up tomorrow night. I hope you guys enjoy this -expository- piece.
Dedicated to vi, Nightglider124, and Ruefully-yours
Anyways, happy reading! More below...
Chapter IV
She's weak when she finally touches down on solid ground. Her knees shake, green smoke wafting from her arms and legs. Debris and blood crust her boots and guards, a fine layer of grime knotting her hair in disheveled clumps. Her uniform, torn, bares pallid skin littered with ugly bruises.
A sentry spots her not long after she collapses and hurries over, alerting the other watchmen hastily when he realizes who she is.
Her chest feels heavy and tight, and as they help her to her feet, she can't help but feel as though the universe is swallowing her whole.
"X'hal," the Ayk'r says, bringing a fist to his heart, "Princess Koriand'r, what are you doing here? We did not expect your return."
"I seek an audience with the Grand Ruler immediately," she says feebly, falling into his arms with a cry of pain.
"You require medical attention. Ayk'r Notu shall inform Emperor Galfore of your arrival at once. He will meet you in the infirmary."
She opens her mouth to protest, but closes it as another spike of pain shoots up her leg.
"Very well. I require sunlight, I expelled large amounts of energy on my way here."
The sentry takes her arm and rests it on his shoulder, helping her towards the entrance of the palace. "You did not stop to recharge? Princess, you know that is dangerous-"
"With due respect, Ayk'r Raunu, I am preparing myself for a stern rebuking from the Grand Ruler. I do not believe I need it now."
The Ayk'r smiles, adjusting his grip on her arm, "That is fair. Come, the palace has changed since you were last here. The infirmary is just ahead."
They pass through the large double doors of the entryway and Kori is immediately aware of how different her old home has become. The interior of the palace has been opened, exquisite carvings and arches set into a wide, domed ceiling. Subtle motifs etched in the walls glimmer beneath the light of the hall. Kori marvels at the images, which depict ancient Tamaranean lore and legend. The Warlords of Okaara, the first Okyrr of Tamaran, the birth of X'hal, the triumph at Zeneria X, all painstakingly carved into the palace with great care. Polished jewels gleam along the structural beams that stand tall at each corner of the circular room. Winding stairs just ahead make the true complexity of the architecture apparent, drawing her attention to the curling hallways that circle each level of the rotunda.
"The old audience chamber is now the grand hall. Emperor Galfore deemed the large space to be too extravagant for such private affairs, and asked for the chamber to be moved over there-" Ayk'r Raunu points to a smaller set of doors near the back of the hall, "which allowed for the expansion of public space and the addition of another medical bay."
"It sounds like you have all been very busy," she says with a smile. They enter the hall quietly, crossing between the long dining tables which seat a handful of Tamaraneans. Most of them are too engrossed in conversation to notice the sentry and the princess striding towards them, but the few that do freeze up in surprise.
Kori gives a tiny wave and limps on, grateful when the doors to the infirmary swing open to let them in.
It's a large room with high ceilings, with several cots and medical cabinets lining the walls. Silver panels at the head and foot of each bed shine under the bright lights. Several men and women in blue are at work, organizing shelves and combining chemicals to create bottles of colorful liquid.
A tall woman with skin the color of umber and long brown hair is the first to notice their arrival. She places a fist to her heart and bows, not bothering to hide her shock. "X'hal, Princess Koriandr, Ayk'r Raunu," She says, drawing the attention of the other healers. A murmur of greetings and the faint thump of several fists-to-hearts reaches Kori's ears. She smiles tiredly at the woman.
"The princess has just arrived. Her energy is mostly depleted and she has a few injuries. I have sent for the Grand Ruler's presence," Ayk'r Raunu says, helping her onto a clean cot.
The woman nods, "Thank you, Ayk'r. We will take good care of her." She turns to the princess and touches her shoulder gently, "Princess Koriand'r- "
"Kori. Please, formalities are not necessary."
The older woman's lips twitch, "Very well, your highness. Kori, my name is Sunivur. I am the head healer in the new medical wing."
She turns to the other healers and waves her hands, shooing them back to their stations.
"That is better," Sunivar says, watching them disperse. "Now," she begins, rolling up her sleeves, "would you please lie on your back?"
Kori nods, wincing as she straightens herself on the cot, "I fear I may have done the injuring of several muscles. I am...strained in my movements."
Sunivar nods and lifts up a clear plexus, tapping a few commands into it. The metal arches near Kori's head and her feet begin to whir, pale beams of light emanating over her body as they swipe over her, coming to meet near her stomach. The arches click once, then twice, before separating and returning to their places.
"Preliminary scans show that you are in excellent health. You have done some damage to the base of your spine, your arms, and your upper back. There are a few shallow lacerations near your stomach and back. You are also severely depleted of energy," Sunivar rattles off, scrolling through the report. "Neural activity...you are lacking several chemical components required for joy." Her brow furrows and she looks back at the woman on the cot, "How did you manage to use your flight from Earth till here without recharging? You know it is difficult to sustain flight, and while you have the touch of X'hal, I do not think it is wise to overestimate your abilities."
Kori sighs, "It is a long story. One I believe the Grand Ruler must be present to hear as well."
Sunivar touches her leg gently and tilts her head, "And what of these?" Her eyes trace the fresh bruises along the princess's skin, and her mouth is in a thin line as she studies the damage.
"Another hazard of traveling from Earth to Tamaran as quickly as I did," Kori says after a moment. "I do not feel as though I can say more until I have spoken with Emperor Galfore."
Sunivar nods, "as you wish. I can only assist you in replenishing the energy you have lost. These bruises require extensive healing, and there is not enough time before your audience with the Grand Ruler."
Kori furrows her brow in confusion, "My audience? He is not coming then?"
Sunivar glances at the door before shaking her head, "It does not seem likely at the moment. Vykrn'e Karras will escort you."
"Karras?"
"He is waiting just outside these doors," Sunivar says, switching on the lamp above them, "now relax. This will only take a few moments."
And so her first meeting with Karras occurs. Her skin mottled with bruises and faint scratches, dark bags under her tired eyes, and a distinct drag in her step.
"Princess Koriand'r," he says with a smile, cracking the shell around her heart just a bit, "I hope you were not too troubled in your arrival here."
"Vykrn'e Karras," She nods respectfully, "they could have been worse. I do not mean to be rude, but where is the Grand Ruler?"
"I shall explain everything while I take you to him. Shall we?"
He offers her his arm and suddenly Kori is aware of just how handsome this man is. He is a few inches taller than her, with dark green eyes and hair the color of chocolate. His smile is warm and familiar, with the same boyish mischief she recognizes in the man she loves. Her chest tightens and once again, she misses home.
Nevertheless, she takes his arm and smiles back brightly. "We shall."
"No."
"Richard-"
"No...no no no no," he grabs her shoulders and pulls her into him, placing his face in the curve of her neck and collarbone, "I can't be too late."
"You do not understand-"
"I waited too long," he groans, clutching at her as if she might disappear, "I can't - I shouldn't...of course you weren't going to wait forever, I'm a selfish bastard-"
"Richard!" She exclaims reproachfully, forcing him to fall silent. Kori takes his hands into hers and sighs. "It is not what you think. Let me explain, please."
She isn't sure if he complies because he's at a loss for words or because he needs to hear something, anything, else.
"Okay," Dick says quietly.
"Karras and I are married," she begins, choosing her words carefully, "but it is purely diplomatic. There are many Tamaranean customs that you are unaware of and will never truly understand, Richard. This is one of them."
"Galfore forced you two to marry?"
"No," Star says, shaking her head, "In fact, he protested the engagement. But as you know, by returning to Tamaran, I put myself in a position where, at the request of the politicians, I could be-"
"Engaged to anyone by their will," Dick says flatly, "and this 'Karras'. That's who they chose?"
"Yes and no," She says, hesitating. "Richard, as I said before, there are many things I must discuss with you and the others before I can truly choose to settle here. Things that may change the way you perceive me."
"I'm not one to judge, Kori. But I think I deserve to know whether or not you're actually single."
Her blood chills at his tone, the icy feeling of dread dripping over her.
"Richard-"
"Please, Star. The truth."
She twists her fingers nervously, turning her gaze to the dark horizon.
"Very well," Kori says heavily. "After I abdicated the throne and crowned Galfore as the new Grand Ruler, an heir was needed. Galfore currently has no children of his own, and even if he did, there would need to be someone of age and skill to take over should a situation arise. One young man or woman from each of the noble houses was given the opportunity to be nominated as the new heir. Karras had a strong history of being an asset to Tamaran on and off the battlefield. He was intelligent and brave and kind."
"And attractive, no doubt, " Dick mutters under his breath.
"I suppose so," Kori says, rolling her eyes, "but it is irrelevant. Galfore chose to raise Karras to the status of Vykrn'e, which officially made him to be a prince of Tamaran. He was one of the first person I met with when I returned."
"My first few months were easy. Karras was a good friend to me: he helped me around the palace while I healed from...well, a number of things. Which I will explain later," she adds hastily, noting the stony look on Dick's face, "Galfore did everything that he could to stave off the demands for my hand, but in the end, the politicians won out. I was given a choice- marry someone by my own volition, or allow a suitor to be chosen for me. And so...I picked Karras."
"Do you love him?"
Kori smiles and shakes her head, "As a dear friend, but nothing more. I believe that is why we work so well together. He is in love with a woman named Kayl'ahr. And I never fell out of love with you."
Dick is silent, deep in contemplation of everything she has just told him.
"So you and Karras are married. I'm assuming that means the two of you are...were physical at some point."
"Oh- well, yes," Kori says stricken, drawing back nervously, "but I do not think...x'hal I did not think - I did not realize-"
"It's okay," he says quietly.
She blinks, mouth falling open in surprise, "What?"
He gives her a slow, sad smile, leaning back on his hands, "I was an idiot. You got married. It's not fair for me to assume that you would just wait forever. And it's not like I didn't try dating."
"Then...you are not upset?" She asks hopefully.
Dick shakes his head, "Didn't say that. But I'm trying to be better." For you, he adds mentally, not daring to speak those words aloud.
"I was afraid you would be furious," Kori says quietly, hugging herself tightly, "Even though I only wanted you."
His heart leaps at those words and he has to fight to maintain his composure.
"Three years changes a lot." He hesitates, then says, "which is why I need time to think."
He can see panic erupt across her face, but before she can say anything, he catches her lips with his own.
It's gentle, easy kissing. He calms her with his familiar urgency, the feeling of his hands along her skin lulling her to a peaceful state. She tangles her fingers in his hair, letting out a quiet giggle when their noses bump.
"You said so yourself, this is a lot to take in and I'm sure there's more you have yet to tell me," he whispers when the spell is broken, "I have to think...but I don't want you to worry."
"Everything has changed," she replies, leaning her forehead against his, "so how can I not?"
They stay like that in silence for a while longer, eyes closed, tangled together in their frozen moment. Darkness drips along the horizon, making the glint of the stars above them more obvious. Her fingers curl against his chest, her breath warm on his neck. He's tracing shapes on her back, drawing squiggles and smiles and suns.
I'm a sap, he thinks, closing his eyes and smiling and hoping that they can be together after all this. If Karras had been a crush, a boyfriend, a former lover, hell, a fiancé, he would've been able to handle it. Husband territory...it scares him. On many levels.
He trusts Kori. He knows that if she says she doesn't love him, she truly doesn't love him. And maybe she's right, maybe it's of no importance. Maybe they can forget about Karras and be happy. Maybe they can move in together and build a relationship, maybe he'll get over all of his issues and fears and let himself feel for once, maybe he should stop thinking goddammit just enjoy the moment.
The roar of an engine along the road leading to the tower pulls them out of their bubble. Dick cranes his neck over the edge and grins, breaking the solemn mood.
"He's back."
Kori squeals with delight, shooting into the air, "Tim!"
Dick chuckles as she twirls above him before coming to a slight float at his side.
"Richard, I do not want to leave things bad between us," she says concernedly, her smile fading.
He shakes his head and cups her cheeks gently, "they could never be bad, Kor. Messy, maybe. Hurt, yeah. But not bad. I just need to think through this a little bit."
"I understand," she says, nuzzling into his palm.
He leans in, touching his lips to her forehead lightly before pulling away.
"We can talk later. I know you're excited to see the kids."
"Oh my god," Gar croaks, wiping away a tear as the credits from Wild Nights roll down the screen, "that was incredible. So raw."
"So powerful," Victor adds, sniffling beside his dry-eyed wife, "Rae, Sarah, how aren't either of y'all destroyed right now?"
Raven eyes him critically, her lips twitching with the beginnings of a smile, "well for one, it was a comedy. DiMarco's death was predictable. Laura Kennedy's acting was the same as usual."
Sarah touches her husband's' shoulder comfortingly, holding back a giggle, "I suppose Raven and I couldn't connect with it the way you two did."
"Heartless," Gar huffs, rising from the couch to go eject the DVD. "What's next?"
"Moving on so soon? Don't you need some time to recover?" Raven asks innocently while Sarah snickers behind her hand, "you know, emotionally."
"What better way than with a new flick, mama?" He replies with a grin, "I guess we'll have to hold off on the good stuff since somebody refuses to go to sleep." Gar shoots his daughters a pointed glare, softening when he hears them gurgling happily.
Sarah giggles, "They're six months old, Gar, you can hardly blame them-" only to be cut off by the beeping of the elevator door.
There's the sound of a loud thud and the doors slide open, revealing a tangled mess of boys mid-brawl and two exasperated girls.
"We can't go anywhere with you two, can we?" The blonde one mutters angrily, sticking her hand into jumble of teens. She yanks hard, freeing one of them forcefully and dragging them out of the elevator.
"Bart Allen, you idiot," She hisses, releasing him near the sofa. "Hi Gar, hi Raven," she adds, sparing them a friendly smile, before turning murderous before the boy.
"Hi Arty, 'sup Bart," Gar says cheerily, throwing an arm around his wife, "how was your day out?"
"Better before their little pissing contest," Artemis seethes. Bart cowers beneath her, eyes darting around the room for an escape. He gulps nervously and zooms off, much to her infuriation.
"Ugh!" She groans, storming off towards her room.
"Ah, memories," Raven smirks, leaning into Gar's embrace, "Sarah, remember when we were like that?"
"I think by 'we' you mean the boys," Sarah teases, giggling when the changeling protests.
"And by 'the boys' you mean these two."
"Hey!" Gar interjects, "Dick was in on it too."
"Yeah, man, dude was always getting into shit with us."
"Oh please," Raven rolls her eyes, "he was too busy making heart eyes at Starfire."
"Agreed," Sarah puts in, craning her neck to see the rest of the kids, "what, no 'hello'?" she calls out expectantly.
Two boys step out of the elevator sheepishly, quick apologies muttered under their breaths as they are followed by an irked alien girl.
"Hi Sarah, Vic. Hello Raven and Gar," M'gann says shyly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Conner clears his throat and helps Tim up from the floor, the pair of them brushing off their pants.
"Hi guys," he says sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, "sorry you had to see all that."
"You're forgiven if we get an explanation," Sarah says, turning her attention to the boy who has yet to speak, "Tim?"
"It's a long story," he replies with a grin, "one I'll share after I've showered off. Save me some pizza?"
"Us too," Conner puts in, taking M'ganns hand in his, "please and thank you."
Bart zips into the room enthusiastically with an incensed Artemis at his heels, "Did I hear 'pizza'? Arte- ow! Babe, don't hit me-"
"The resemblance is uncanny," Sarah mutters, glancing at Raven and Gar.
The empath snickers behind her hand. "How time flies."
"Just don't use all the hot water. We got some extra people spendin' the night," Vic reminds them.
"A sleepover?" Tim asks interestedly, "Is Dick coming too?"
"As a matter of fact, he's already here," a new voice announces from behind.
Tim barely has time to register the appearance of his older brother when a blur of red and purple tackles him.
"Is that-"
"Didn't she go back to-"
He lands on the floor with a loud thump, smiling from ear to ear when he recognizes his attacker.
"Tim!" She squeals, wrapping him up in a tight hug.
"Need - to - breathe - Kori," he gasps out, letting out a sigh of relief when she releases him from her grasp.
"You have grown so much!" Kori exclaims, ruffling his hair gently.
He blushes and looks away, avoiding the amused looks in his teammates faces.
"Alright, Star, give him a break," Dick says with a laugh. Kori floats off the boy, planting a kiss on his cheek.
"My apologies," she says with a sad smile, "I have missed you very much." She offers him her hand and helps him off the ground, taking in the subtle differences in his height and face and smile.
"I missed you too," Tim replies, leaning against the arm of the couch.
"We all have," Sarah adds, followed by a chorus of agreement from the others in the room.
"It's good to see you again, Starfire," Conner says kindly, holding out his hand expectantly. Her eyes light up as she takes it.
"It is wonderful to see you all! M'gann, Artemis, Bart - I have heard wonderful things about your progress from Vic."
"Good, the way he kicks our ass in training should amount to some sort of praise," the young speedster says, rolling his eyes.
"Speaking of training," Vic puts in loudly, "early start tomorrow. Head to bed, y'all, Star will still be here in the morning."
"What about pizza?"
"Shower, eat pizza, then get some sleep. We've got some guest trainers tomorrow, and you're gonna wanna keep up with them," he says, his human eye glinting mischievously.
Raven rises from the couch, bending over to scoop up her dark haired daughter, "I need to go put the girls to bed anyways. Kori, want to help?"
"I would love to."
Sarah lifts Lilith from the ground and smacks a kiss on her cheek, much to the child's joy. Kori settles the green eyed girl on her hip, heart swelling when Lilith curls up against her.
"That's our cue to go as well, I guess," Tim says, yawning loudly, "I call the first shower!"
"I call second!"
"You always go second, Conner."
"Because you always take an hour, Allen."
"What's wrong with wanting to take my time?"
"Nothing except-"
Artemis rolls her eyes and links arms with M'gann, tugging her away from the argument, "if we leave now, we can each take a shower before they use up all the body wash."
"When do you think they'll realize we have enough bathrooms for all of us to take showers?"
The huntress shrugs, "Once they've thrown a few punches and wrestled around for a bit."
"Is this a regular occurrence?" Kori asks, amused by the sight of the young men bickering.
"Yup. As you can imagine, there's never a dull moment here," Sarah says, wincing when Bart throws himself atop Conner.
"Or a quiet one," Artemis mumbles, dragging M'gann off towards their rooms.
"We should go too, I'd like to put the girls down before the idiots rile them up," Raven says, stroking Arella's cheek gently. Kori adjusts her grip on Lilith and follows her, glancing at Dick with uncertainty. She isn't sure who else has noticed the pensive look in his eyes or the way his mouth turns down when attention is off of him. Gar, Vic, and Sarah sit engrossed in conversation once more, paying no mind to the fight that's broken out near the television, while Dick stands off to the side, deep in thought.
She knows that look, and she wonders if she should ask him about it.
He catches her eye as the door slides shut behind her, his lips quirking up in a tiny smile that sparks inside her ribs.
"It's just down this hallway; all of our rooms, except for yours, were renovated."
"I have noticed. Sarah told me that Richard was unable to remove my things."
"He was waiting for you to come back," Raven says, punching in the code to her room, "We all were."
"Raven-"
"It's okay, Star, I just...I want to talk to you about it."
"I understand," Kori says softly, glancing around the room. It's dark purple, similar to the color of Raven's old room, with gossamer curtains acting as thin veils on the windows. A large master bed is placed against the wall, a short shelf of books resting on one side and a simple set of drawers on the other. A plain white crib rests against the opposite wall, a dangling mobile of gems and stars hanging above it.
"You received my gifts?"
Raven smiles and sets Arella down in the crib, fluffing the stuffed animals around her, "the mobiles and outfits were absolutely gorgeous. We keep one here and one at home."
"Home," Kori echoes, laying Lilith down beside her sister gently, smiling as the two instinctively curl into each other.
"The last time you were here, we'd just started packing to move into the apartment," Raven says quietly, taking a seat on the bed, "It must be strange to think that Gar and I have a little house in Severa City."
"Much has changed since the last time I was here, for better or for worse," Kori replies, sitting down beside her friend.
"You mean Dick."
"I mean everything. You are all different, you have lives and families and cities to protect. You do not need reminders of the past. You do not need me."
"Kori," Raven says sharply, taking her by the hand, "I don't think you realize how impossible these last six months have been. No transmissions, no messages - the only reason we knew you were alive was because Galfore would have told us otherwise."
"And I am sorry for that but-"
"That doesn't fix anything!"
Kori pulls away, startled by the empath's outburst. Raven sighs and rubs her face tiredly.
"We're your family, Starfire. We can live in a world without you, but we don't want to. I want my daughters to know their Aunt, and I want to know your children one day. No matter how much things change, you can't let go of family," she places a hand on Kori's shoulder hesitantly, "I shouldn't have yelled. I don't know why you were silent for so long but you must have had your reasons. I'm sorry."
"Oh Raven," Kori draws her hands up to her mouth, eyes shining with unshed tears, "I should not have stayed away for so long. I did not know what else to do or where I would go, and my heart ached whenever I thought of any of you."
"Where have you been the past six months? What have you been doing? You were never very specific in your transmissions, except when Blackfire returned."
Kori hesitates, "There were complications with my arrival on Tamaran. Political ramifications ensued. Believe me, Raven, I promise to tell you everything, but I need to share them with all of you."
Raven purses her lips, eyes narrowed questioningly, "Okay."
Kori smiles and makes a move to rise, only to be stopped by Raven's hand gripping her wrist.
"Wait. You never told me why you left the first time."
"Yes I did, we had the conversation-"
"No," Raven shakes her head, "why you left so abruptly."
Kori stills, mouth flattening into a straight line.
"I'd been keeping a lock on your emotions in the weeks leading up to that day, waiting for the shift. The sadness," she continues, regarding the fire haired girl carefully, "you were fine that day. Happier than you had been in a long while. So what changed?"
Kori remains silent, burning holes in the floor with her set gaze.
"Azar, Starfire, it's me!" Raven snaps, the gem on her forehead flaring red for a moment.
The princess furrows her brow, "Your gem is-"
"We aren't talking about my gem, we're talking about you. I promise to tell you everything you've missed, but you owe me this. I lost you five years ago, I think I deserve to know why."
"He told me he loved me," Kori says in a barely perceptible whisper.
Raven's eyes widen, her hand dropping from the other woman's arm, "What?"
"He was falling asleep and he told me he loved me. That was when I realized I needed to leave."
"I don't understand. I thought that's what you wanted - you love him."
"Raven," Kori begins sadly, "if I had stayed, do you know what would have happened?"
"There's no way of knowing for certain-"
"Because I do," she interrupts, "I know that Richard would cling to me but deny our relationship. I know that Vic and Sarah would soon move out, as would you and Gar, and it would be Richard and I alone in the tower. I know he would eventually transfer to Blüdhaven and would ask me to come with him. And because I love him, I would," her voice cracks for moment, "and then he would begin seeing other women, women with safe, normal lives. He would slowly move on from me, happy to be with someone he could forever protect and watch over. Or he would never accept us as something real, and the games would continue in that cold unfamiliar city. It would be home, but not to me."
"Starfire-"
Kori cuts her off and holds up her hand, "Raven, please," she pleads, "I need to you understand. I was not willing to hold him back from his future. He needed to be free of me, he needed to move on. You all were in need of the push. My leaving offered you that, and though it pained us all deeply, I will not apologize for it."
"You don't have to, Star," Raven says soberly, "I'm not even angry, I promise. I just wondered. Come here," her lips quirk up in a smile as she opens her arms invitingly.
"Love has changed you greatly," Kori comments, her own beam contrasting with her watery eyes. She presses her face against Raven's shoulder, "I do not know where Dick and I stand," she says in muffled tones.
"Oh?"
"We did the talking and things were going well, but there was something I informed him of that none of you will like."
"I see."
Kori pulls away and wipes her eyes, "It is not bad, I promise. Simply...surprising. I will tell you all tomorrow."
Raven studies her intensely, before nodding, "I understand. Whatever it is, it's big."
A gentle knock at the door breaks the moment, followed by Sarah's voice earnestly reminding them of the film Gar is putting on.
"We'll be right out," Raven replies, her eyes fixed on Kori. "You good?"
"I am fine," Kori assures her, rising from the bed. She casts the twins a look of love touched by sadness, and Raven can see the longing in her eyes for such certainty.
"Do you plan on having children someday, princess?" the usstra sneers, glaring down at her through furious amber eyes, "The blood of And'r flows through your veins, blood blessed by the touch of X'hal. The responsibility of transferring such a gift cannot be placed in the hands of a human."
"It does not matter with whom I choose to procreate, usstra Ridor," Kori spits, her eyes flashing dangerously, "I will not be subjected to the archaic rulings of this court."
Ridor fumes, turning to the Emperor angrily, "Grand Ruler-"
"Ridor, you are aware of my stance on this issue. I believe Koriand'r deserves the right to choose her own husband."
"She abdicated the throne," he hisses back, "she is required to marry a member of the noble class. And even if she was not, the lineage of And'r and the powers they possess must be protected in pure blood."
Kori feels her insides twist sharply, the tension at the table of politicians almost unbearably thick. Five members from the noble houses of Tamaran, the usstra, sit in a row on the left side of the Grand Ruler, his left side flanked by two generals and the naktu, his three royal advisors.
"Perhaps," usstra Gefsun begins, "Koriand'r can choose the Tamaranean noble she desires. That is worth something, yes?"
A murmur of agreement rises from the row of usstras while Galfore strokes his beard thoughtfully.
"General Khyrer, So'znn, what are your thoughts?"
Khyrer hesitates, sharing a glance with the younger man beside him, "We do not care much for civil disputes such as this, and ordinarily I believe we would argue in the princess's favor. However, there have been no royal amendments to such by-laws, and so in good conscience, we cannot go against the rulings of court. It is only fair. I am sorry, Koriand'r." He adds apologetically.
She sighs but says nothing, turning to face the naktu in earnest.
"Ruonn, Aevy'r, Tylehr, have you had enough time to deliberate?" Galfore asks, his gaze fixed on the young woman ahead. Her eyes betray the rigid stance she's taken, a cold fear evident in their shine.
"Yes, Grand Ruler. We have reached a consensus," Aevy'r announces, rising from his seat. "As General Khyrer pointed out, there has been no previous legislation to rectify this ruling. While we do not feel the ruling is of importance in the present age, we cannot support an act against a law that has yet to be repealed. We advise that Koriand'r choose her husband, but she must, indeed, wed within one month, or else be banished from Tamaran."
Her blood freezes, the words slowing down as the room begins to spin.
Galfore, with a heavy sigh, nods and rises from his own seat, "It is in the opinion of the Grand Ruler and his board of trusted advisors, that despite the deliberation which has occurred, the old ruling remains. Koriand'r will be wed within four cycles to a nobleman of her choosing. The royal court is thus adjourned."
The politicians take care to avoid her cold gaze, filing out of the hall as quickly as possible. Galfore sighs, rubbing his face tiredly as he leans back in his chair.
"I dislike this very much, my bumgorf, but I am afraid I cannot do anything more."
"That is alright," Kori says wearily, tears welling up in her eyes. She brushes them away hastily, approaching the table slowly.
"It is only I, Koriand'r," Galfore says quietly, reaching out to touch her chin, "you may show weakness before your k'norfka."
She crumples immediately, flinging off her crown and sinking to her knees. Hard sobs wrack her body, her insides feeling knotted and tight. She sniffles, her weeping coming to an end as a pair of hands settle on her shoulders.
"Karras," Galfore warns, imploring the man to back away.
"It is alright," Karras insists, helping the princess up. He hesitates, then wraps her in a hug, resting his chin on her head.
"This is how humans show affection, correct?"
She lets out a choked giggle and nods, "yes it is. I appreciate the gesture. But," she pulls away, composing herself as best she can, "it is of no use. There is nothing that can be changed. I will be forced to wed either someone of my choosing or someone of theirs by the next month's time."
Karras swivels around to face Galfore, running a hand through his dark hair, "They refused her request?"
"There was no prior legislation to help our case. And usstras Ridor and Fenin'l were quite vocal about their desire to see her abilities passed down into a noble family."
"Those arrogant clorbags," Karras seethes, "they are well aware that you do not need a husband to help Tamaran in this war against-"
"It does not matter, Karras," Kori interrupts, spying her discarded crown near the other end of the table. She makes her way to it, smiling at the sight of a dent in its metal surface, "the decision has been made. I am to find a husband for myself so that Tamaran can proceed with the current political affairs."
"Marry me," Karras blurts.
Kori stills, mouth falling open in surprise, "What?"
"Karras, do not say something you will not be able to take back," Galfore reminds him, watching on with wide eyes.
"Think about it, Kori, I was being groomed as heir anyways. We will marry and be able to lead Tamaran to victory. And then you shall return to Earth."
"What about Kayl'ahr?"
Karras's smile dims for a moment before returning, "she and I both knew of the difficulties in my being a noble. She will understand, and will not let this ruin your relationship with her. And I am certain you will have no qualms about me seeing her?"
Kori smirks, punching him in the shoulder playfully, "Vosutu," she coos, "I appreciate this. But I cannot-"
"You must," Karras says seriously, "I am sure the Grand Ruler would agree."
"If it makes you happy, Koriand'r," Galfore responded, watching the young woman carefully.
"I...I do not know what to say. A political alliance such as ours-" Kori breaks off, and she can see Nightwing again, his Earth-Sky eyes and dimpled smirk enticing and beautiful as ever.
Karras touches her cheek, "It would be good for all of us. You are my friend, as you often say, Koriand'r. Let me share your burdens."
A lone teardrop slides down her cheek as she stares at the sleeping babies, her heart aching for her dear friend. The door slides open, snapping her out of her state as Sarah walks in. The blonde woman hares a cautious glance with the empath.
"Ready to go, Kori?" She asks.
"Yes," the Tamaranean says quickly, feigning happiness, "let us do the movie night!"
"It's horror, you know."
"Wonderful! I have not seen the horror movies in quite a while, I am certain it will be an enjoyable experience for us all."
It's not. Kori sits beside Dick, her grasp on his arm tightening with every loud noise emitted from the scream.
"Ease up, Star," he murmurs, prying her fingers off of his bicep and taking her hand in his, "it's all fake."
"I know that," she replies ruefully, letting out a squeak as a door slams shut.
He chuckles but keeps his gaze forward, trying not to think about the girl beside him, but he fails miserably. Their conversation on the rooftop has thrown his brain into overdrive looking for solutions, working through the initial shock.
She's married. It might be diplomatic, she might not love him, but at the end of the day, she's his wife. Would she be willing to nullify the union for him? Is it even valid on Earth? Is she worth it all?
Fire flares up in his veins at those words because he knows she is worth more than just this. He loves her. They'll make it work.
But at the back of his mind, she could still never be him.
"Richard," she says into his ear, concern evident in her tone, "what is it?"
He shakes his head and gives her a half-smile, "nothing."
Her eyes narrow, and she is obviously unimpressed by the lie, "Richard-"
"Just come here," he says, placing an arm around her shoulders. She stills before snuggling into his side, another 'eep' of fright tearing from her lips.
"Yo, we get it, y'all like each other, movie ain't over yet," Vic says loudly, wiggling his eyebrows.
"How would you know? You've been making out with Sarah the entire time," Dick shoots back with a grin.
Sarah blushes, hiding her face in her husbands arm.
"You've both been gross," Raven cuts in, lifting her head from Gar's shoulder, "now shut up. Dick Grayson if you finish that thought, I swear to Azar-" Her eyes glow menacingly as Dick rears back, and whatever he was planning on saying dies on his lips instantly.
"No fair, you read my mind!"
"Richard," Starfire shushes him, clapping a hand over her mouth to hide her giggles.
"Yeah, Richie-poo, shoooooosh," Vic guffaws.
Two black bands of energy slap themselves across the mouths of the men, effectively silencing them save for the muffled sounds of indignation.
"Thanks mama," Gar says distractedly, eyes glued to the gory mess on the screen.
Dick shoots him a glare, tugging on the black band in vain hope of loosening it.
"You should have listened," Starfire says under her breath cheekily, earning an incredulous look from the man beside her. She leans up and brushes her lips across his cheek gently before taking his hand back in hers.
Fifteen minutes later, there is final shot of a screaming woman before everything goes black and the credits for Bloody Murder IV begin to roll. They sit in shock for a minute, Starfire's hands clutching Dick's sleeve tightly. Sarah covers her eyes with Victor's arm, while he sits mouth agape.
"Oh my god," Gar breathes, scrambling for the remote to eject the DVD, "that was so fucking-"
"Bloody."
"Terrifying?"
"Scarring?"
"Cool!" he exclaims, "Guys we gotta watch something else!"
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Sarah mumbles, rising from the couch, "Gore gets to me a bit."
"That was truly the most frightening thing I have seen in a long time," Starfire shivers, releasing Dick's arm from her grasp.
"Mmmph-" Dick grunts, pointing to the black band across his lips. Raven smirks, raising her hand.
"I almost forgot about that. Too bad, I liked you both better that way."
Vic pouts, rubbing his jaw, "mean, Rae. Just mean."
She shrugs unapologetically, "don't talk during the movie next time."
"Guys," Sarah calls from the kitchen, shutting off the sink, "I think there's a call coming in." She points to the console beneath the television screen, a green light blinking on and off on its surface.
"Looks like it's the Watchtower, Vic," Dick remarks, before turning to Starfire, "You expecting a message?"
She shakes her head, "No, I do not think so."
Vic lifts his arm and flips open a panel, fiddling with the screen, "call's indirect," he says with a frown, turning to face Starfire, "looks like someone is transmitting from Tamaran and the Watchtower is connecting us with them. Does this need to be private?"
She sighs and turns to Dick, who merely shrugs. "No, I do not think so."
Vic taps his console again, transferring the call to the screen. There's a loud beep and suddenly her loving k'norfka is there, smiling down at her with happy eyes.
"X'hal Koriand'r," Galfore says happily, placing his fist to his heart, "and your friends. I have not seen you all in quite a while."
"X'hal Galfore!" Star exclaims joyfully, followed by a chorus of hellos from the others, "how are things?"
"You have only been gone a day, I assure you we are more than capable of completing your duties," he replies mildly, glancing over his shoulder, "Karras and Komand'r would like to speak with you as well. I only wished to do the checking in."
"Oh, Galfore-"
"We shall speak later, Kori, Komand'r is very insistent- oof!" His grinning face disappears for a moment, and a loud thud is overheard. "Kom!" He roars with laughter, the older girls smiling face coming into view.
"Oops," Blackfire says with a grin, turning her attentions to the former titans, "hello, sister. Cyborg, Raven, Changeling, Blondie," she flicks her eyes to Starfire before purring the word, "Nightwing."
Dick clears his throat and steps back, angling his body behind Star's.
"Hello Kom," Starfire crosses her arms, "must you flirt?"
"Oh, sweetie, that's not flirting. But I can show you what is," she winks playfully, laughing when her younger sister pulls a face, "chill out, I'm teasing. Kayl'ahr asked me to tell you that your bed is very comfortable."
Starfire gasps, drawing her hands up to her mouth mirthfully, "Oh Komi, she did not!"
Blackfire snickers, "you're right, but it wouldn't have been very surprising. I'm surprised she and Karras didn't start going at it the moment you left."
"She is not the insatiable one," Star replies with a grin, "is she there?"
"No, she sends her best wishes though. There's a new training program in the infirmary, and since she's working her way up to a higher rank, she's gonna be busy for a bit. Karras is here too though."
"Please tell him to stop worrying, I called him when I arrived as promised and he need not bother me," Starfire says exasperatedly, throwing her hands into the air.
"Tell him yourself," Blackfire suggests, "Catch you later, kids." She blows a kiss and moves offscreen, allowing Karras to have his turn.
Dick steps out from behind Starfire immediately, studying the man on the screen. He's far more attractive than the skletchhh from all those years ago. A straight jaw, kind eyes the color of forests and dark brown hair. He smiles brightly at his wife and her friends, and Dick is overcome by a sinking feeling: Karras is a good man.
"Karras, you are such a drakhtre," Starfire spits, the venom in her voice surprising the others, "I have told you repeatedly to leave me alone, I am fine."
He holds up his hands and rolls his eyes, "forgive me for watching out for my wife, Kori," he shoots back, the corners of his mouth betraying the seriousness of his tone.
"Wife?" Vic wonders out loud. Raven's gem flares, her mouth falling open in surprise. Sarah and Gar share a glance and turn to Dick, immediately gauging his reaction.
He smiles in spite of the fist around his heart and mouths, "I knew", calming them immediately.
"Vosutu."
"Is that the only insult you know?"
"It is the only one that truly fits you," Star responds much to Karras's amusement, "now, was there a purpose to this call. Surely you do not need me while Kayl'ahr is with you."
"Kailar?" Gar asks, turning to Dick.
"His girlfriend," the young man mumbles back, watching Starfire and her husband carefully.
"Alas," Karras says dramatically, inciting giggles from girl, "she does not compare to the likes of you. Do you intend to introduce me to your friends? Or have you not yet informed them of who I am?"
With scarlet cheeks, Starfire clears her throat and turns to the ex-Titans, gesturing to the screen, "This is my...husband, Karras. He is of the 'man-whore' and idiotic variety," she says pleasantly. Karras bursts into laughter, shaking his head.
"You have not taught me much Earth slang, but I am aware of what that means. We shall talk sometime soon. Re'kalia, Kori."
"Re'kalia, vosutu." She returns charmingly, sighing with relief when the screen goes black.
"I apologize for the interruption, friends, perhaps we can watch-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, Star. Husband?" Vic exclaims, sinking onto the couch. Raven closes her eyes, breathing deep before releasing a spark of red from her forehead. She opens her eyes and takes a seat beside him, waiting for the Tamaranean girl's answer.
"I was hoping you might have missed that," she says meekly.
"So many questions, like when was the wedding, and why weren't we invited, and you got married? Seriously?!"
"I am sorry, Gar. And Sarah, and Victor, and Raven. I had already discussed it with Dick and was planning on informing you of my nuptials tomorrow at some point. It is...a long story."
"The night is young," Raven says drily, placing her legs on the coffee table.
Starfire glances at Dick who nods encouragingly and takes a seat beside Sarah.
"Well...when I abdicated the throne I made myself vulnerable to a series of statutes designated for former royals seeking aid from Tamaran. In order to reclaim the throne or hold any place in the court, I must marry a member of the noble or royal houses. These clauses are very old and few believe it is necessary to follow through with them. The politicians on Tamaran, however, are ruthless and will do whatever they must to secure what is best for their families."
"When I returned home, Galfore and I worked to stave off their demands that I marry. He had appointed a young man of noble status to be his heir, and given my history with our planet's politics, he enlisted both of us in removing a great threat to our world. Not a month later did the force of the usstras come raining down. I was brought to the council and they decided I had a month to wed by my choosing or theirs, or else face banishment for eternity. And then the young man, despite having a lover of his own, decided that he would stand by me."
Starfire sighs, twisting the ends of her hair nervously, "We are two friends married for diplomatic purposes, in matrimony that Earth does not consider legal. That is the extent of my relationship with him."
Raven is the first to speak, rising from the couch and moving towards Starfire. She touches her shoulder gently, "is that it?"
Starfire shakes her head, "in truth, there is much more I must share with all of you," she glances at Dick, "and I swear I will. But my marriage to Karras is the worst of it."
"Take your time," Raven says quietly, squeezing her hand.
"We understand," Sarah adds comfortingly, letting out a tiny yawn.
"It's been a long day, y'all, we should head to bed. Don't worry, Star," Vic says kindly, kissing her cheek, "you'll tell us when you're ready."
"True that," Gar follows suit before morphing into a hummingbird and zipping out of the room. Raven rolls her eyes and goes after him, muttering something about damned changelings.
"They are upset," Starfire says fearfully. Dick shakes his head, taking her hand in his.
"Nah, just surprised. It's a lot to take in."
"Is it...too much?"
He smiles, "no, never too much."
She leads him into the hall, sleep hitting her hard and fast as they stumble towards her room. He doesn't care, and it thrills her to know he still wants her, still loves her through it all.
"My room? Just to sleep?" She suggests shyly, beaming from ear to ear when he agrees and follows her in. He shrugs off his pants and top and crawls into bed in boxers, watching her unashamedly as she throws on her nightshirt. His eyes trace the newer scars that mar her body, his brow furrowing as he spies a jagged line along her back. There are others too, familiar ones, like the faint scratch on her thigh from their fight with Plasmus five years ago. A paler patch of skin from exposure to chemicals in Professor Chang's lab from before.
She catches his eyes and grins when he looks away. She lifts the covers and slides under them, lying on her side so they face each other.
"I thought you wanted to take it slow," she mumbles playfully.
He shrugs, "nothing I haven't seen before."
Her wicked grin betrays her thoughts as her hands dance along his waistline.
"Nice try," he says, guiding her wrists back up to his chest, "no funny business."
"There is nothing amusing about-"
"Kori," he warns, smiling when she bursts into giggles.
"Even after all this time, you are too easy to tease."
She's really, truly stunning, with bright eyes and the cute dimples at the corners of her mouth, her waterfall of fire-red hair, the bell-like sounds of her laugh.
And he's an impulsive idiot when he said, "Move in with me."
She sobers up immediately, "What?"
He hesitates but says it again.
"Richard, we should not. You need time to adjust to me and Karras. And I must adjust to Earth."
"Adjust in Blüdhaven with me," he begs, heart cracking when she says no.
"I love you, Richard, but you know that I must figure out my life here first, my life with you, before we make any drastic changes."
He curses her logic but smiles anyways, "Right...shit, I'm sorry, Kori, I don't know why I said that. I've just missed you so much. "
She leans up nervously, waiting for him to close the gap when she whispers, "I have missed you too beloved."
Their lips meet beneath the old constellations they once painted together, Andromeda's glimmering eyes winking down at them from above. It's frantic and messy, and it's all about the claim. His mouth is everywhere, painting her with uneven strokes of emotion. Love across her mouth, pain near her collarbone, hurt by her cheek. Eventually it slows down into smooth, melted kisses that simmer and warm them but do not burn.
"When you're ready," Dick says quietly, resting his forehead against hers.
"Are you ready?" He asks, taking her hand as they stand on the balcony, overlooking the masses below.
"No," she breathes, turning to him nervously, "are you?"
"I'm terrified," he says with a laugh, raising their joined hands into the air. The throngs cheer loudly, silvery petals from flowers raining down from above, "but I'm prepared to do what we must."
"The grand feast will begin shortly," a klavekna announces, shuffling through the crowds, "the princess and prince shall join shortly."
Karras watches as the Tamaraneans scatter, hurrying into the main hall of the palace for the feast.
"Is it all duty?" Koriand'r asks quietly, holding her hands to her chest, her eyes searching the horizon for something, anything that will fix the hole in her chest. It's been barely three months since she came.
"Not at all. I am honored to have a partner such as yourself ruling by my side." He hesitates, following her line of sight. "But you know my heart is yearning for another, just as I know yours is."
End
A/N: So, there we have it! Less drama, more exposition. Lots of Starfire stuff revealed, far more to come. What's the deal with Raven's glowing gem? All will be revealed in the next few chapters so please stay tuned.
Stuff To Note: a full list of Tamaranean vocab and political info will be available on my tumblr shortly as a reference guide. The next chapter or two will be a little more expository- I want you guys to chill before I really bring down the hammer. Upload schedule is still once a week for sure, hopefully in it's already completely edited form.
Thank you thank you thank you for all the kind words and support! Please review! All reviews, good, bad, and ugly are greatly appreciated.
See you next week lovelies!
ZRC