SQ: Happy 2014! I can't believe it's the new year. The holidays went by so quickly, too quickly, but I hope everyone had a good one! Thanks for the reviews, favorites, and followers! I hope you enjoy this new installment.
[Chapter 9: Relationship Woes]
Raven woke with a smile. Last night, the sheer intensity of the day had taken its toll and after their embrace, both Raven and Starfire went back to their respective rooms for the evening. Not like anything else could have happened. They had just started this whole dating thing. The all-too familiar tingle of her awakening power spread down her back. She flexed her arms, allowing her power to fill her, grateful for once for the warmth it provided. A happy warmth. Much better than before. She stepped out of her bedroom and into the hallway.
Something slammed into her side, causing her to stumble. What the hell? Starfire wrapped her arms around Raven's shoulders and pulled her upright.
"My arhaie, how are you this morning?"
Startled, Raven pulled away at first. Starfire had always been the kinesthetic type, but this sudden influx of physicality surprised Raven. But Starfire's smile melted Raven's alarm away and she leaned into the embrace. Her powers hummed. "Better than in a long time, Star."
Starfire tilted her head and pulled her to the kitchens. "If this was weighing you down so much, Raven, then why not tell me sooner?"
A simple question. Yet Raven didn't quite know how to answer it. She stumbled over her words. "Well, I wasn't sure… I didn't know if… it's kind of a big deal on Earth."
They reached the door leading to the living room. It slid open, revealing the boys seated on the couch. Raven shifted away from Starfire, heat creeping up her cheeks. They knew, of course. But she didn't want to flaunt it. She rubbed a hand over her arm and glanced away from their friends. Her voice seemed to be lodged in her throat. Maybe they should play it down for a little while? But why should they? The boys seemed fine with it yesterday. And whenever the boys had a love interest they made gooey eyes all the time. But with her and Star… would it make things awkward?
Raven stood in the doorway. The full weight of her decisions rooted her to the spot. She never had a girlfriend before. Not a real one anyway. Heat snuck up to her ears now. Surely they were crimson. Surely her entire face bloomed red. Like that wouldn't be obvious. Why wasn't anyone talking? Had the boys stopped when her and Star arrived? They were like some great cloud of awkwardness descending into the room. Raven's legs tensed. Her power swirled within her, pooling into her palm.
A light behind them flickered. Her power slithered, then cracked the glass.
How could they get through this? She stole a glance at Starfire and gawked. Raven's powers dimmed.
Starfire beamed. Positively beamed. Her green eyes shimmered. Her orange tinged skin caught the pale light from the kitchens and seemed to bounce it away again. She seemed to freaking glow. How could the woman be so calm? Before Raven could stop her, Starfire latched a hand around one of Raven's hand pulled her into the space.
"We are arhaie!" she said.
"What the heck's an arhaie?" Beastboy scratched his head.
Cyborg chucked. "I'm guessing that's your term for 'together'?"
Starfire nodded. "It is our term for the female bonding Raven and I now share."
A cup shattered on the table. Dark liquid spread across the hard surface and dripped onto the carpet. Robin's face turned as red as his uniform. "The… bonding?"
Raven jumped in. "Not what you think. She just means relationship. Starfire and I are in a relationship."
"Yes." Starfire's smile grew wider. "The arhaie relationship."
Raven glanced at her, smiling. "Yes. That one."
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. But then Beastboy wiggled his eyebrows and heat rushed to Raven's cheeks again. She untangled herself from Starfire and went over to make a strong cup of tea. "Do you want anything for breakfast, Star?"
"Not currently," Starfire replied. She settled on the couch next to Cyborg and drew a blanket over her lap.
Raven started a pot of water but Starfire and Cyborg's conversation still drifted over.
"You have something similar back on your homeworld?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Beastboy had joined in.
"I did not know it was such the big deal on Earth. On Tamaran, we love regardless of who is giving and receiving."
The water boiled. Raven opened a cabinet and grabbed a packet of strawberry tea.
"Have you ever had a girlfriend… an arhaie love before?"
Of course Beastboy would ask that question. Raven had just plopped a teabag into the boiling water. She picked up the cup and tried, as nonchalantly as she could, to head back to the chairs. Of course she wanted to hear Starfire's reply. Robin scooted over so that Raven could settle next to Starfire. It seemed as if the boys didn't mind at all. The warning edge of anxiety within Raven dulled.
Starfire took her time in answering. "I have had arhaies before."
Raven winced. Great. She had competition? And what did the women back on Star's homeworld look like? Probably just a gorgeous as the one sitting next to her.
"I would not consider them serious though. Not ones I would like to remember or redo." Starfire met Raven's gaze. "Not like ours."
Raven's eyes widened. They had only just started dating. Just last night! How could she be so… sure? It seemed as if nothing – no question, no probe, no anxiety – could pull Starfire down. Finally, Raven asked, "You aren't worried about us at all, are you?"
"Why would I worry? The bonding – especially an arhaie bond – is one to be celebrated." Starfire twined her fingers through Raven's then looked at the rest of the group. "We should all eat the cream made of ice and drink the bubbly canned sweetness."
Robin laughed. "That sounds like a date to me." At Starfire's push though, he added. "We'll celebrate with you two later."
The date of ice cream and soda went over quite well. Starfire talked more than Raven, but Raven marveled how easy their conversations had been, fluid almost. More so than with anyone else. One couple passed by just as Starfire reached for Raven's hand. The black haired man had scoffed. Heat had crept up Raven's neck. Maybe the pizza place wasn't such a good option. Such a public area, they were bound to get some looks. But Starfire waved at the couple, didn't seem to mind their accusatory eyes and so Raven tried not to, either.
And when they got back to the Titans Tower, the boys did celebrate with them. Beastboy had made dinner comprised entirely of tofu, Robin popped corn, and Cyborg put in a scary movie. One that snuggled Starfire close to Raven, hugging tight and burrowing her face into the nape of Raven's neck. One that made the boys laugh at Raven's awkwardness. She just couldn't get used to the… publicity of it all. Raven had to admit, even though these actions weren't new coming from Starfire (she'd clung to all of them at one time or another) this time seemed different. This time was.
The days passed by smoothly, simply. Raven grew bolder at their displays of affection. One time, she even reached out for Starfire's hand. Another, she stole a kiss. Each time, Starfire responded with ten times the enthusiasm. Happiness infused their life couldn't remember a time where she felt so calm, so sure. Being with Starfire felt… right.
A few weeks into the relationship, they were alone once more. They boys had gone out for pizza when Raven suggested they go to the roof. Wind carried their voices away, as well as the sounds of the pavement below, so they had decided to just be with each other. Enjoy each other's company for a little while.
Arm in arm, up here Raven could get as close as she wanted to. No prying eyes stared at them here. And she needed to be close to Starfire. Her power responded to that contact and when they had gone for a while without it – a day even – Raven's magic burned for more. She wrapped her arm around Starfire's thin waist and kissed her cheek. A particularly strong gust whipped across the roof, swirling Raven's cloak, playing with Starfire's hair. Starfire shivered. Raven unhooked her cloak and set it around Starfire's shoulders, guiding them to sit down. Lower, the wind wasn't such a nuisance.
Finally, Starfire shuffled closer to Raven and asked, "Have you ever had a serious girlfriend before?"
Raven's stomach clenched. She hesitated. Memories surfaced in her mind. Raven couldn't call the flings she had had girlfriends. So her answer simplified. "Only one."
"One?" Starfire drew the cloak around them both and placed a hand on Raven's leg.
"Yes." The place Starfire touched smoldered beneath Raven's skin. Her powers gathered there in an instant, but Raven settled them. They had agreed to take it slow. She conjured up a tiny ball of fire instead, letting the magic flame lick her fingers.
Starfire stared at the inferno. "What was her name?"
Raven hadn't thought of her in years. White hair, piercing blue eyes. Hadn't wanted to. They hadn't ended on very good terms. The last fight still crisp in her memory and the wound delivered still numb to the touch.
"Her name was Hoarfrost." A voice snapped behind them, startling them both.
Starfire spun around to face the newcomer. But Raven stilled. She didn't need to look to know who that sharp staccato belonged to. She extinguished the flames and took a deep steadying breath as the voice spoke again.
"Still is, actually."
SQ: What did you think? Comments, questions and suggestions are all welcome. (Note: Hoarfrost is not from the TT universe, I made her up.)