A/N: Advertisement - Don't forget to check out my attempt at a gender bent one-shot Rain and leave a review!
Okay so there wasn't fifteen reviews like I had hoped however, if I make it to ten from this chapter I will update chapter ten tonight/tomorrow morning. This chapter is a bunch of filler for the next. Sorry no Red X in this one, but he does show up in the next where shit goes down. Oh, and my birthday was like three days ago! Until next time, loves!
1:05 PM
"Okay, I think I might feel something for someone other than Dick," I said rather confident.
"Why are you calling him that?"
I rolled my orbs,"Because that is his name."
There was a defensive tone in my voice that I hoped she wouldn't figure out. It was obvious that I was used to saying Richard as his other name didn't roll off of my tongue quite right. It, however, didn't sound familiar to me anymore. I was challenging myself to move over him as he had moved over me.
"Star," Raven spoke tenderly,"You and him will get through this. Just, at least think about giving him another chance."
I sighed and tried to swallow my rage,"Another chance? Raven, why do you keep defending him? I was gone six years and he hasn't cared at all. None of you have. Please, I do not wish to bring him up again."
"What, has that special 'someone' always cared?" Raven's voice cracked though no tears welled in her amethyst eyes.
She was definitely more emotional. More direct with her feelings, openly saying how she felt. But her comment made something in me snap. My rage had been swallowed and my temper hadn't broke, though it was on the verge of committing to the act. What she said had opened my emerald eyes wider.
Had he cared?
For all I know I could be making something way more than it actually is. Sure he had always flirted with me in battle, so what did he do when I was gone? Flirt with one of the other girls? Raven, Barbra and Blackfire? The thought of him doing such a thing, even though we weren't in any relationship, made me gag. If Red X had cared so much, why hadn't he said anything earlier. This could possibly be the difference between a true love and a crush.
Raven raised an eyebrow,"Who exactly is this 'someone' anyway?"
"I-um...I'll tell you the secret later. We're here." I was glad for an excuse as we pulled up to the hospital.
I couldn't possibly tell her now. Well, at least not yet. I need a distraction to take my mind off of him to see if I want to even waste my time on him. Like I have any choice in the matter.
She caught onto my actions real quick.
"Kory she said sternly,"We have plenty of time. Who is he?"
I sighed again,"Look, I'm not even sure if I know anymore. I've been second guessing myself a lot lately and I certainly have a lot to think about regarding this subject. How about we just bring those roses to Jinx and drop it for now."
Raven oozed with maturity and understanding as she exited the passenger seat,"Fine. Just know that I only want you to be happy."
I nodded choosing not to say anything. I didn't bother to tell her that these past years have been anything but happiness. I was desperately trying to let go of the nasty grudge I was clinging to.
She reached into the back seat of the T-car pull out the bundle of pretty flowers. She ripped off the note delicately, making sure not to tear it, and passed it to me. There was a knowing look in her eyes and I stuffed it in the back pocket of my jeans. Insects were drawn to the sight of the roses, flying by to land on the petals. As we stepped into the hospital I shivered from a change in temperature. It was heavily air conditioned and smelled like hand sanitizer. The aroma was rather pleasing and gave a sense of cleanliness.
Many people sat in the waiting room staring at the news channel on the television or crying silently. Most were scrolling through their phones, glancing up now and then. The old lady behind the desk looked up from her dim monitor. Her wrinkles tightened as she squinted at us.
"We're the Titans, we're here to see Jinx," Raven muttered to the lady.
She chortled,"Hm."
Raven threw down her communicator and id seemingly out of nowhere. The lady, Deborah, looked down and her eyes slightly widened. She shook her head, muttering something to herself before clicked and typing on her computer. She then turned to look at us directly in the eye. "Lord have mercy, you're serious aren't you? Can I get a picture?"
I was surprised that Raven told her that information. The secret identity part of being a hero was definitely not my favorite. It was a rather confusing and boring process. On one hand you have to present yourself to the media and on the other you have to throw on sunglasses and a hoodie with the occasional holographic rings.
I always believed that if I saved your ass then you should feel free to know who I am.
But I get that regular people, not aliens/demons/cyborgs, want to have time for a normal life. I just never understood why you can't have a normal life as a superhero.
Why couldn't me and Dick both fight the crime together, return to our home and have dinner. Or go out to dinner without throwing on other personae and sunglasses? I confused me beyond belief and with all of the silly rules. How you cannot date another hero, how you cannot kill anyone just didn't mean justice at all.
It meant being a mind controlled robot who has one mission in life: Save the world.
So when we showed up into the hospital, me wearing jeans and a tank top and Raven in her over-sized hoodie, I expected her to say something to mask our identities better. My orbs met the lady's as I smiled from her recognition.
"Maybe later, we need to see our friend first."
The excitement died down in her voice as she spoke to me,"No offense, but I would just like a photo with Raven. If that's alright with you? Nothing against you or anything."
My smile faded,"What, why?"
"Wait a minute, how in the world is Jinx your friend? She's a criminal!"
Raven spoke up,"Will you please tell us the room number and I might just take a picture with you on the way out. We're kind of in a rush here."
"Sure thing. You know, visiting hours ended half an hour ago. They start back up at five to seven if you wanted to come back. Room number East 227."
Raven nodded and I followed her through the hallway clueless. My boots clicked against the tile flooring while we walked. She pressed the elevator button for the second floor and we rode in silence. I tried not to let the old lady's words affect me while we searched for room twenty-seven. There were a total of thirty rooms per floor with a cafeteria and break room.
Jinx's room was located at the end of the hall, unguarded by police officers surprisingly. She must've been in a real bad condition if they thought she was so defenseless that she could be left alone. Out of courtesy we knocked first but barged in without anymore hesitation. She was fast asleep. Or unconscious, either one.
Click, click, click.
Raven handed me the flowers to put on the hospital bed. The monitor was giving off unsteady beeps, representing her breathing and heartbeat. A pint of blood was hanging over her head by the monitor. Clear tubes were connected to her nostrils, pumping air into her lungs where it was needed.
For now, she was alive.
And that was all that mattered.
Her room was dim and one hand was handcuffed to the side of the bed. Her pink hair was dry with split ends and faded in it's color. Her roots were a dark brown. Jinx was unmistakably pale, her hands cold. I shook her, ignoring Raven's pleas to let her rest. I needed to see her eyes open. It started as a gentle push, a gentle shake. Me nudging her shoulder, tapping her sides. Then I started calling out her name.
"Hey. Jinx. Jen, wake up. It's Kory. I got you flowers. Jinx, Jinx."
The door swung open, revealing a nurse. He looked frightened as he had probably not expected to run into anybody else in this room. He chuckled awkwardly and checked the clock, noticing that it was not visiting hours.
"I-um..Are you loved ones of Jinx?"
"Isn't obvious?" Raven said in that monotone voice of hers.
The nurse nodded,"Well, I'm nurse Mason and she is temporarily asleep due to medicine for pain. But she should be awake any minute now."
I nodded and sat down in one of the chairs. Raven remained standing. The man checked her blood pressure and changed her bandages. We then watched as he thoroughly washed his hands. He flashed us another crooked smile before leaving the room. Raven tapped her and peeled open one of her eyes.
Jinx's other eye sprung open wildly. Then she coughed. In her awakening, she accidentally kicked the flowers off of the hospital bed. Even in her hasty wakening manner she looked as delicate as those flowers. Until she let out a breathy,"What the fuck?" She sat up looking around the room catching my eyes. Then her eyes drifted back to Raven.
"Do you..mind backing up some?" Jinx asked bluntly.
Raven rolled her eyes, ignored her rude request and bent down on the floor to pick up the fallen floral arrangements,"Here, they're from Star."
I walked over there to give her a hug, careful not to use any of my tamaranean strength. Her arms hung loosely around my shoulders like spaghetti. "Thanks Kory, you're..the bomb."
"Don't ever do that again Jenny, you and Donna were idiots. You could've lost your life."
"I already did" She smiled,"Don't worry, mom. I'm fucking peachy, alright? Trust me, I'm not getting out of this hospital and I'm cool with that. Honest to God. How's life?"
"It sucks because you're in the hospital, but Donna's getting released. Of course she has to go through court and all first, like I did, but she's doing okay, I guess. And the team thing suck, too. I'm not staying."
"You're not?" Raven asked alertedly.
"No, I'm not."
"When did you come up with this?"
"Just now. Hey Jen, how do you feel?"
"Kor, I'm in the motherfucking hospital. What do you think? My throat hurts from talking, so can you not talk to me anymore?"
"No one told you to talk so much. We just wanted to drop by and check on you. I'm gonna come back tomorrow, okay? This time during the actual visiting hours. See you then?"
She shook her head,"I'm not going to be here tomorrow. I'm going to die-"
"Jinx, stop it! Do not say that, and do not try suicide again, you hear me?"
"Starfire, my powers never stopped. I can make this hospital bed fall through the floor and crash into the first level. By the snap of my bandaged fingers I can make this tube stop flowing with oxygen. You see? I'm going to die, I want to. I'm not going back."
"Jenny, you can break out of those handcuffs and run down the streets in a hospital gown. You can come to the tower where we'll treat you and then let you go. Why waste your life here?"
"No," Raven said sternly. She shattered the thoughtful silence with that single word. "You're not breaking out of those handcuffs because you are not authorized. Starfire, you know whatever crazy scheme you were think it was wrong and I'm not letting her nor you go through with it."
"See..,"Jinx took a deep breath,"You should've never brought her with you."
"Raven.." I begged.
"Starfire, no! Listen to yourself! You said you weren't staying with the Titans so why would we treat a criminal? Like I said before, you're so different. No, I'm not letting this happen."
"You would treat a criminal because she's my friend. People can change, Raven. If she stays here she's going to kill herself. We can find help for her if we take her with-"
"No. That is breaking a criminal free. There's a reason she's in a handcuff. And she was your friend when you were in prison. Now that you're out of prison it's time to move on. Come on, Star, we'll see her tomorrow. Let's just agree to disagree on this one."
"Raven, no! Are you listening to yourself? There won't be another tomorrow for her-"
"How do you know she's not just saying that because she wants to have attention or something? She's a villain, a manipulating minx. We need to go, this is getting out of hand."
"She means it. Look how far she brought herself here. She committed suicide and it brought her to the hospital. People can change for the better. And villains aren't such a bad thing. And how dare you call yourself a hero if you're not going to help someone in need? We have the supplies and equipment she needs. We have heavy surveillance."
"No, Starfire, the Titans has all of that stuff. You can't not call yourself a Titan and then expect to waltz in the tower whenever you feel like it. Jinx, can we trust you?"
"No, absolutely not. I'm a manipulating minx."
"That's your answer Kory, let's go. We'll see her tomorrow, I promise."
"Raven, please. I do not wish to argue with you any longer."
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos."
****************tt*******************
I opened my eyes to find me in the passenger seat of the car. The light coming from the windows were bright so I searched for Bee's sunglasses. Looks like things got too out of hand.
"I'm sorry, Starfire," Raven spoke as she made a left turn. "She just can't come with us."
"People can change, Raven. Jinx can join the team."
"Kory, you don't even want to be on the team anymore. And not everyone can change. Are you telling me that if Deathstroke or Red X was in that same position you would offer them to come to the tower,"
His name was like a trigger word,"Of course."
"Starfire, all that's Slade has put us through and-."
"No, not Slade. Red X. He's the special someone."
She moaned in the driver's seat at my confession,"Oh Star."
I could sense her sympathy. There. My secret was out in the open. No going back now.
"Raven, listen, I know what you're going to say. That I'm in over my head and that I'm delusional. I understand that he's a villain but I cannot keep following Dick around like a lost puppy anymore."
"I understand. Now it's time to follow Red X like a lost puppy."
I groaned at her comment,"No, it's not like that at all-"
She smiled,"I get it, it's thrilling. I'm supporting you, okay? Just don't get hurt. And please stay with us until this whole Jinx and Donna thing blows over."
I nodded.
Tuesday
Jump City Jail
8:47 AM
It's been two days since my argument with Raven. I haven't spoken with Jinx since, I've been too much of a coward. I feared the worst. Thinking that her body would be found in another suicide attempt. Something that I could've stopped but I let myself be persuaded by my former best friend. I've been sleeping on the floor of my own room while Blackfire slept in the circular bed. The provided me with sheets and a pillow in attempts to make it as cozy as possible. I just couldn't help but feel some type of way. Betrayed.
Turns out that my elder sister has a sore tailbone for slipping on my accidentally left behind banana peel from my closet. The situation is heavily absurd to begin with and we refuse to bring up why she keeps an icepack in the region when seen in the common room. Blackfire doesn't talk to me much, not even two full sentences since that moment in the dressing room.
I am not exactly sure on how I feel about that yet.
But I know exactly how I feel when I went to the jail this morning. Donna was supposed to be released. It was planned and decided. So what happened? They refuse to talk about. I am mentally kicking myself for letting two whole days go by without her. I walked right up to the front desk; Just the person I was looking for.
"Where is she? She was supposed to be ready to be picked up two days ago, what happened? Officer Clara?"
She sighed from behind the counter,"Donna was...overruled guilty by the court."
This startled me,"What do you mean she was overruled? You said yourself that she was going home. Did you lie to us?"
The blonde officer's hair fell covering her brown eyes. She refused to answer any of my questions and continues going through files. It angered me but Clara, she was the nicest cop out there. Her warm, honey brown eyes with fluffy spring blonde curls screamed kindness. This was unlike her and I needed every bit of classified information as possible.
I practically begged with my emerald eyes for her to explain.
"Miss Anders, I strongly suggest you get outta this prison before they find a reason to make you stay."
"But why-"
Her voice broke as she snapped,"Listen, I don't know what happened. You are good folks, not bad peoples. I know she was your friend but, they found more proof that she did it. There ain't anything else we can do to help her out any further. Now please, Starfire, leave before they throw you and Jenny back in here."
"More proof? Clara, you and I both know that she didn't do it. Someone's trying to frame us. And they are succeeding. We're heroes, why is the law enforcement so focused on us. We're on the same side here!"
"Are you? You know, a hero?" She asked hopeful.
"I-I.."
"Well, are you a villain?"
"I don't believe so."
"Well then, you're a hero. A Titan. You need to go back to your team before the media thinks its suspicious that they released you from jail and you're not continuing to fight crime."
"I do not care what the media thinks! Where is Donna, I need to speak with her."
She sighed,"She's where she's always been."
I knew she was going to let me see her. Clara was kind, like I had said. I nodded and headed off to the back and she slid me the key. Clara trusted me and she was an officer. That was the way the world should act. But I believe it is only because of my affiliation with the Teen Titans. She smiled then took a sip of her coffee slowly,"Please Kory, you're good folk. Don't get messed up with her or anyone else."
Review! I promised to update like tomorrow or Sunday.
