Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.

Hey Guys! I'm up to 16 reviews and I want to thank those of you who reviewed sooooooooooooooooo much. Anyway, I know this is a huge leap, but I'm aiming for at least 25 reviews in total before I update again (more would also be cool). You guys have been amazing so far and I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter.


All Kori wants is her freedom.

All Richard wants to protect Kori and for her to notice him.

PS: I know Richard/Robin seems like a stalker (trust me that was the first thing that popped into my mind once I reread my last chapter, but give him credit- he is genuniely worried for Kori/Starfire. He wasn't being too stalkerish; it's not like he followed her around all day, lol. Anyway, it'll all make sense, all you have to do is keep reading. Just remember to give him the benefit of the doubt.)

Can you guess what this chapter will be about?

Enjoy.

Kori felt that she was overwhelmed by people and usually took the beginning of the night of every week or so for herself. Here she would go and practice her hidden powers, run freely and just be herself. It was located on the way beyond the bounds of the city, but Kori didn't care. Not as long as she was alone and free to just be who she was without masks or anything. Sometimes she'd have to take the sketchy way around to get to her "place" and it seemed that tonight was going to be one of those nights. It didn't matter too much because she had some "acquaintances" there (aka people who wouldn't attack her because they were afraid of her and they spread the word pretty fast). Either way, she just had to be on her guard when she went through, but once she was out… freedom was hers.

Richard followed Kori closely. I'm not stalking her, he reasoned with himself. I'm just making sure she is safe. That's what he kept telling himself and he realized as they past a certain "boundary" that maybe he was sort of right. She ducked down a sketchy ally with sketchy people (criminals, druggies, drunks, etc.) and he felt very uneasy. What the hell was she thinking? Why would she be going down this ally? But she seemed very confident in where she was headed.

Kori finally reached the gate and waved up to a villain named "Control Freak" who admitted her. This gate was the way out of the slum and her ticket to freedom. Little did she know, she was being followed very closely.

TTTTTT

Kori walked for about two more miles until she finally came to her "place". Her "place" was a secluded one mile range of grass, surrounded by weeping willows and oak trees that reached toward the sky. This place was perfect for the stars shined directly overhead and Kori had an addiction to the stars. They were perfect and always were there as a hope that maybe one day she would be free flying. She wanted to hone her green bolts and get them to work according to her whim. She was working that. They would act irregularly and she still was trying to maintain control. Concentrate Kor. She forced her hands to glow green and tried shooting them into the farthest tree. She missed, but tried again. Bolt after bolt flew until she finally mastered her hand bolts. When she lost her energy, she found herself gazing up into the sky with an expression of the utmost sadness.

Richard got lost sometime while following Kori so he kind of roamed around, wondering where on earth she had disappeared to. He could have sworn he saw flashes of green coming from foliage nearby, but that didn't make any sense. What was green bright? After scourging the area, he finally decided to try the foliage. Little did he know, Kori Anders was there, staring up into the sky forlornly.

Richard looked around and spotted the girl he had been looking for, but was driven speechless at her expression. She looked utterly sad and lost as she stared up into the sky. She seemed to be muttering something under her breath. She looked disheveled and tired. Poor girl was Richard's first thought followed immediately by I knew I was right; there is a soft side of her. She seemed completely vulnerable and when he finally looked at her eyes he wished he could die. Those eyes seemed to search the stars for an answer, but the sky was not yielding. Not to her. Tears welled up in those amazing emerald eyes. He didn't know that his body decided to act for him. He only realized he had moved when he found his arms around her waist as if cradling her. At first she didn't notice he was there, but once she felt his arms around her waist, her emerald eyes glowed with fire and she sent him sprawling across the grass.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" She demanded furiously.

Kori had been letting all the feelings she had suppressed release and allow them to take their toll. She felt lost and alone. Why were people so stupid? Why did she have to have a demon for a sister? Why was her only friend so cold shouldered? Why? Why was the question that flitted through her mind the most. She stared helplessly at the stars as if begging them to give her answers. They were silent and unyielding. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she let them come. No one was there to see her. Suddenly she felt arms wrap themselves around her waist. She had not been aware that someone was there, until she had been touched. Shit! She shoved whoever held her furiously and did not hold back any of her super strength. She glared furiously at the boy who had intruded on her personal space. It was no one else other than that stupid new rich arrogant snobby ass kid whom she nicknamed Robin.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" She demanded furiously.

"I—uh…" Richard started as he looked at her angry face.

"You what?!" Kori snapped. "Answer me, Robin."

"I was, um, well…" He watched the fire spread in her eyes and he knew he had to answer truthfully, or else she'd know. "I was driving along and I saw you and I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"What the hell, you stalker!"

"I was not stalking you. I saw you and I was worried." Richard retorted. "It's not safe for a pretty girl to roam the streets defenseless."

"Who said I was defenseless?" Kori shot back.

"Look, I was trying to be nice."

"I don't need you to be nice, you jerk. Go away and never come back in my sight if you want to keep yourself intact."

"Why are you so rude?"

"Why are you so nosy?! Go away." If looks could kill, Richard would probably have been dead a million times over by now. Oh no, Kori thought in horror as she felt her powers starting to surface. I can't have them go haywire on me now. Kori turned away from Richard, but he was watching her closely. One moment she had been glaring at him, the next she looked all frightened and turned away. As for Kori, she had never been this angry at anyone, but this was dangerous. Very dangerous.

"Kori are you ok?" Richard asked in concern. This girl was insane. What was going on with her?

"Just go away. Is that so hard?" She sounded like she was pleading. "Oh no," she whispered.

"Kori?!" Richard was alarmed now. He reached out to touch her but she slapped him away as if knowing he was about to touch her.

"Leave me alone." Her back was still facing him.

Richard had an idea. He thought a nickname would catch her attention and probably shock her out of her shoes. He knew she had a fiery temper, but when he saw her gazing at the stars, he knew she had to be drawn to them like nothing else. When she had been searching for answers in the stars, he knew that she felt like she had some sort of connection with them. So what sounded good? Fiery Star? Starry Fire? Firestar? Starfire? Ooh, he liked Starfire. "Starfire, what's going on?"

Kori stiffened, but she did not turn around. "What did you just call me?" Her tone sounded like ice.

"Starfire."


Alright, you guys are obligated to tell me what you think. Can't wait to hear from you all. Remember, I need to reach a total of at least 25 before another chapter goes up. I know it's a big leap, but I have faith in all of you.

Thanks so much,

moonlitsfantasy