Sighing heavily, Jason plops down onto his bed, face buried in a pillow with his bottom sticking up.

In the summer heat, he impatiently waited for the girl with fire for hair.

The person he shouldn't be with.

The person he seriously shouldn't be with.

But was with anyway.

The boy's impatience grew as time passed. He glanced out his window every second, expecting to see a red-headed beauty, but ended up disappointed each time.

She had to come here fast. He had to discuss this with her.

This thing, it couldn't go on any longer.

It had to finish.

This wasn't like Jason; he was a risk-taker.

But he was afraid.

He knew it was for her. Completely, totally knew this fear was for her, but he couldn't admit it to himself.

He just couldn't.

So, he waited for the girl with fire for hair.

He waited with impatience boiling inside him and anxiety twisting his stomach.

What if Dick found out?

Oh, fuck.

What if he did find out?

The thief's heart started to race, the butterflies in his stomach nearly becoming unbearable.

Kori… he's exactly like Bruce… no, no no no no no no no no.

No, he wouldn't… do anything bad, would he? He wouldn't let himself, he's got some of himself in there, Dick wouldn't let himself, especially after all that Starfire had told him…

Just then, the exact thing he needed to ease his mind showed up, her skin still orange and perfect and her eyes still shiny and sparkly and happy and her smile still bright and adorable but you could tell, anyone could tell, something was troubling the poor princess.

"Princess, what's wrong?" he blurts out, grabbing her golden hands and yanking her towards him.

As she looked up at his worried expression pasted on his face, guilt formed in her chest and her belly and she couldn't stand that look on his face and he looked scared and it just felt like a sword through her heart.

Sadness filled her features, her hand traveling to rest on his pale cheek.

"Jason…" she began in a whisper, sorting out the words she had to say in her head.

"I… I apologize dearly," she continued.

"What're you sorry for, Kori?" the raven-haired boy inquired, his own hand covering her alien one.

"For starting all of this."

"Kori... that's not something to be sorry about."

The girl took a deep breath before saying, "someone found out about our meetings, Jason. I am truly sorry. It is all my fault."

"Who found out?" he asked cautiously, afraid of the answer.

"Raven," she responded.

A sigh of relief escaped him. He couldn't help it. It really was better for hot legs to find out instead of the boy wonder. But wouldn't she tell Robin?

"How did… how did she react?"

"She was… shocked. Very, very shocked. But was very reassuring."

Jason wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her so close to him that there was no gap.

In response, she put her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder.

He was just… glad, for some reason.

That she was here right now.

He just got scared… that Dick would've found out and let his anger get the best of him and he just didn't want her hurt and he didn't want someone he really lo-

No, no. What was he thinking? He can't afford to be close to anyone.

But that sounded so dumb. He'll regret this when he dies all over again, this time in Hell.

"How did she find out?" he asked, surprised the question only struck him just now.

"Raven, she has psychic abilities, and part of that is being able to see into other's minds. I allowed her to go in. I apologize, Jason, I just… I could not keep it inside any longer," Kori explained, guilt still eating at her.

"Don't be sorry, princess…"

As if it would make all the bad go away, he placed a kiss on her cheek, and simply chanted "it's not something you should be sorry about, Kor."

He stroked her bright red hair, truly despising that guilt and sadness on her face.

Would it go away if he just let this end?

Just let it all end?

"Starfire," he began.

"Jason?"

"We need to end this, Kori. I can't put you at risk, not with Bird Boy getting suspicious. I can't do that to you, I can't stand it, and I don't get why I care about you so much and I really don't want to but I do and, and," he let himself ramble on, unsure of how to continue.

The heroine gently pushed her lips against his to keep him from saying anything else and then looked up at him, nodding her head in agreement.

"We must, I know this. I have grown a sort of affection for you too, Jason," Starfire confessed. A small smile appeared on her face, a happy but sad smile.

"I enjoyed our time together, Jason. I also must say… we grew closer than we had expected," the princess said before kissing his forehead one last time, which gained her a tiny smile.

"I did. I definitely enjoyed being around you," he admitted himself, as if it wasn't obvious.

He was not proud that he did not show vulnerability.

He was not proud that he was not as open as she was.

For the first time in his life, he really regretted these things.

It actually made it harder to watch her go.

They would probably never see each other again.

One last smile, one that was all for him, before she took off.

And that was the moment that killed him a bit; but his desires weren't important.

He would be causing much trouble if he didn't end it all.

Unwanted and unneeded trouble.

He already missed her.

It was these feelings he was trying to avoid.

And now he remembers, the torture of being a human.

He let himself sink into bed.

He felt so tired, but he knew he wouldn't sleep.

These feelings, he didn't need.

He did not want something this strong.

It was already killing him.

So he silently prayed to a God he didn't believe in for her to come back.