Chapter Six: Fire Prevention

Raven was there, watching her. "I said I'm fine! Go, do something fun." Blaze was in her own bed, exhausted and a bit perturbed. Someone was always in her room. She just wanted to be left alone.

"I don't do fun." Raven crossed her arms as she levitated off the ground. "I'm not going anywhere."

Blaze threw her head back in frustration. Just leave me alone! She was screaming inside. She felt like it wasn't even safe to think. That someone, somewhere was reading her thoughts. So many questions floated through her head.

How did he know I couldn't touch water?

Why did he try to save Robin?

Was he saving Robin?

Whatever the answers were, she didn't know. And she wouldn't be able to find out sitting in this goddam bed!

Robin was up and about. He came and relieved Raven of her watch duties. "Feeling better?" he asked, sitting on the bed next to her.

"Yes and no. Yes because I'm not so tired anymore. No because I have to stay here. Why do I have to stay here again?" She threw the blankets off her. She was completely dressed and ready to go.

"Just a safety precaution." Robin became very silent and awkward. He sat there, staring into out space. "We've never dealt with someone with powers like you and, . . ." he stopped.

"I know what you want to talk about." Blaze finally broke the silence.

"I just want to know how he keeps vanishing into nothing. You said you hit him with everything you had? Why wasn't he, . . ."

"Burnt toast? I don't know."

"I wouldn't out it so bluntly, but yeah." Robin had sprawled out across the bottom of her bed. Apparently he was still a bit fatigued as well. "I know you're not going to like it, but I have Cyborg working on some extra security cameras to watch on you."

"Like a 'big brother' sort of thing? No way, Robin." She had gotten up. Robin realized that she needed to vent, so he let her.

There was more silence. With every passing moment, Blaze was calming herself down. But the same questions kept racking her brain. She could hear Red X's voice. He was mocking her, testing her limits. He had pushed her as far as she could go . . . death.

Robin watched her pace. The last time he had seen her so mad, she had lit herself on fire and thrown Robin into the water. Her emotions are dangerous, but why isn't she on fire now? He reached for a candle next to her bed and popped open the lid. "Blaze."

She heard him calling, but was too annoyed to answer. She kept pacing. He was holding out a candle to her. Telling her to light it. Repeating her name over and over again. "WHAT!" she exploded.

Robin was taken aback. She apologized for yelling and calmed herself down once again, determined to stay that way. "Please, I just want to see something."

She took the candle from him, placing her hand over the opening. She tried to let some fire escape from her palm long enough to light the stupid thing, but nothing happened. She tried again with the same result. Attempt after attempt was a complete failure. She couldn't light the candle.

In fear, she dropped it, watching the glass shatter on the floor. Tears were streaming down her face. Water in my eyes? What is this? She was so confused, she was scared. "What's happening to me?" she cried. Robin pulled her to him, letting her cry. "What is this? Why aren't my powers working?"

Robin had his own theory, but he didn't want to scare her more than she was already. He hugged her closer.

It was Starfire's turn to sit with Blaze. She carefully approached the door. Pushing to door only so slightly sp she could peek her head in, she saw Robin with his arms around a hysterical Blaze. Starfire slid the door open farther. "Robin? Blaze? What is the matter?"

Robin waved her off, signaling for her to wait in the hall. Starfire didn't like this. She saw how upset Blaze was, but was a bit angry that Robin happened to be the one comforting her. Starfire didn't like this at all.

Blaze was aware that Starfire was waiting. She pushed Robin away from her and curled up into a ball on her bed. "Please. . ." she sobbed, "I just want to be alone."

"I don't think that's a . . ."

"Robin, please."

Robin nodded, whipping the tears from her eyes. Blaze liked being with Robin, but she knew that Starfire and him had 'a thing' going on; at least that's how she thought mortals put it. A year on Earth and she had learned about so much, but she knew that you couldn't learn about love. That was something that you had to experience. Blaze knew that Starfire was experiencing it, and didn't want to ruin it for her.