A/N: I'm experimenting with putting dates ont he chapters, so you can keep track of what was when. It's hard, balancing the adult and teenage chapters so they don't contradict each other. Anyways, enjoy!
Disclaimer: If the Teen Titans were mine (I had a dream about this last night, no lie), I would command Star and Rob to make out, Beast Boy and Raven to make out, and Cyborg to go jump off a cliff. And then I would order Kid Flash to make out with me (damn, he's fine). Sadly, I do not own Teen Titans.TT2
Sunday September 6, 2019
Thirty minutes later, both were fully cleansed and beginning to dress. They had both ended up taking separate showers, for the sake of time (they knew that would take twice as long as both their showers would take if they had).
Kori was applying a light bit of blush to her cheeks (the only make-up she used for such a casual occasion), sitting on the stool of her pink and white intricately designed vanity. Her legs were crossed, exposed from her crimson skirt. Her torso was clad in a light pink camisole, and over it was a buttoned crisp, white blouse.
Richard was in a pair of loose-fitting jeans, his chest exposed as he ran about, trying to find a decent shirt.
"What did you do with the black Gotham High Baseball shirt I gave you?" he asked, rummaging through a drawer filled with shirts.
"Oh, it is currently in the wash," she told him. "Wear your blue tee-shirt. I find it very handsome, and it enhances your muscles greatly."
Richard smirked. "Ok." He slipped on the blue tee-shirt that Kori was speaking of, and then slipped a black 'Jump City Jaguars' football sweatshirt over it.
"Are you almost prepared?" Kori asked, snatching up her purse and slinging it over her shoulder.
"You might be a little cold in that," Richard told her. Weather reports said it might be in the sixties with wind chilltoday," he told her, which was ridiculous seeing as it had been almost ninety the day before.
"Remember, the Tamaranian race is very accustomed to such conditions. We are a durable race, surviving in sub-zero temperatures and fatal attacks that would surely kill a human," she reminded him.
"Whatever you say, honey," he replied kissing her cheek briefly, before taking her hand and leading her out the door and down to the entryway. "Oh, and don't forget, we're going to Vic's tonight to watch the football game," he told her. "We planned it almost a week ago."
"I remembered, sweetie," she replied sweetly. "I believe I do find football quite uninteresting, though."
"Well, Raven will be there and she hates football, so you won't be alone," Richard stated.
"Oh, I forgot she had planned to go, too," Kori replied, smiling softly. "I am sure I will survive this watching of the football."
"Come on, let's go wait for Raven and the girls outside," he told her, taking her hand and leading her to the porch. He fell back into a swinging bench that hung from the top of the porch, and Kori sat next to him, cuddling into his warmth and pulling up her feet so they were almost tucked in beneath her.
"Do you know what I miss most of the Titan Tower?" Kori asked.
"Me running around in a spandex suit?" he asked suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows.
"No," Kori replied, giggling. "Our nights upon the roof. It was the one thing I missed most while I was living the normal life."
"I miss it too," he responded in a melancholy tone. "I learned nearly all I know about you from those nights. And that was our first-well, first real-kiss. Remember?"
"How could I forget?"
Flashback
Robin sat upon the roof, his knees pulled to his chest, and his chin rested in his crossed arms. He was in his contemplative mode, a mode he would rarely go into unless he had good reason. More often was his serious and decisive mode, but tonight, as the stars twinkled down at the confused boy, he was thinking.
A star in particular stood out, and he smiled as he stared at its intense glow and beauty. It was a rather bright star, not bright enough to be the North Star, and in a clutter with four other stars. In a way, Robin could connect such a star to Starfire.
Starfire.
That name brought Goosebumps to Robin's skin and chills to his spine. She was the whole reason he was sitting up here, thinking, anyways. Did he love her?
Strike that…he already knew the answer. But did he love her enough to risk his entire life as Robin, everything he had worked for, for her?
Yes, he did. He would risk millions of reprimanding speeches from Batman just to be with her. He knew Batman forebade falling in love with a teammate, knowing it might bring danger to yourself, or more importantly, them. Robin did not care, though. He knew he'd risk it all for Starfire.
So, why was it so hard to tell her how he truly felt?
He sighed and continued his stargazing, unaware of the soft click of the door that signified a visitor. Light padded footsteps got louder and louder, until he felt warmth next to him.
"I worried that you might catch a cold," she started. "Here, I brought you a blanket."
The Tamaranian girl that had invaded his thoughts kneeled next to him and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders. Starfire then took a comfortable position next to him, revealing her ill preparedness for being in such weather. She was clad in her Tamaranian outfit, but her feet were bare, void of their normal thigh-high boots.
"Thanks." She smiled sweetly. "You must be cold," he stated softly, his voice cracking as he strained to talk to her. "Come here."
He held out his arm, opening the blanket, to let her scoot underneath. The other end was draped around her shoulder, and Starfire accepted it gratefully. "Thank you, Robin."
"No problem," he replied.
In an innocent gesture, Starfire laid her head on his shoulder and sighed softly. "Excuse me for making use of your shoulder as a headrest, but I am quite…sleepy," she stated, letting out a miniscule yawn
"Oh, it's fine, I don't mind," he told her hastily.
"Thank you."
Robin wrapped a protective arm around her waist. "Anything for you, Star." The young Tamaranian woman smiled, scooting closer to her leader's warmth.
They sat in silence for a few moments.
"Robin…are the stars not beautiful?" she sighed in content. "I can see Tamaran." She pointed to a star with a slight pink glow.
"They are beautiful," he replied. "And I see the most beautiful star sitting right next to me."
Starfire gasped in surprise and looked up to study her leader's face carefully. "You-you believe I ambeautiful?" she asked timidly.
"The most beautiful personI will ever meet," he replied softly. "And I will tell you that, everyday of your life, no matter what."
"Oh Robin," Starfire murmured, reaching up to hug him. But this embrace was different. It was not like her bone-crushing friendship hugs. It was delicate and caring; genuine. "And you are certainly the most handsome and chivalrous man I will ever meet. You are my hero, Robin."
Starfire pulled away and looked into his mask. He leaned in to kiss her, but she held a finger to his lips to stop him.
"Hold on," she whispered with a small smile, reaching up to remove the thin cloth-like mask that had hidden his identity ever since he was young boy. Once it was removed, revealing his intense ice blue eyes, Starfire smiled. "Perfect."
She leaned up and gently met his lips with hers, happier (if possible) than she had ever been in her life.
end of flashback
"And you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever met," he told her, in all honesty, before giving her a light kiss on the lips.
"I love you," Kori whispered softly, her eyes half-lidded as she felt herself nodding off, though she had just woken up from a peaceful sleep.
"I love you more," he replied, kissing the crown of her head.
"That is not possible."
"Ok," he responded, smiling. "But I still love you."
"I know, Richard," Kori sighed. "I know." She took his hand and intertwined their fingers, resting them in her lap. "It is all still hard to believe. A month ago, I believed I would never get to see or kiss you again. And now, here I am, sitting with you like none of it ever occurred."
"I can't believe it either," Richard replied, lifting their hands to kiss hers tenderly. "So many times I just wanted to break down, quit it all, throw it all away and start a new life. But I motivated myself by saying it's what you would've wanted."
"And now, just think, we have the beginning of a great family," Kori whispered. "A beautiful little girl who will soon be a young woman, and is now carrying on the legacy of the Teen Titans."
"And I have you to thank for that beautiful young girl," he told her, kissing her softly.
"I cannot wait for our future together," Kori commented. "I am sure we shall be together forever, just as you promised." Kori's large, doe-like emerald eyes turned to his and she smiled. "Remember?"
"Of course I do."
A few silent moments later, a sleek black convertible pulled into their driveway, and Kimi flew over the door and landed on the pavement of their driveway. "Mom! Dad!" she exclaimed, running forward to hug them as they stood from their comfortable position together. "Yesterday night was soo cool I can imagine all the parties you had when YOU were teenagers!" Sara and Clara unbuckled their seatbelts and sat on the tops of the seats in the backseat of the convertible.
"Actually," Raven started, climbing from her car and shutting it's door with a resounding thud. She leaned against the passenger side door and crossed her arms coolly over her chest. "Richard had a stick up his ass all throughout his teen years, so we didn't HAVE any parties."
Kimi , Sara, and Clara giggled as Richard scowled disapprovingly. "The use of such language in front of my daughter's virgin ears is quite unacceptable," he reprimanded, unaware of the giggling Kori and Kimi. "What?" he snapped.
"No offense, dad, but my ears are less than virgin," she told him matter-of-factly, continuing to giggle with her mother.
"And you support this?" Richard asked Kori disbelievingly. She shrugged with an innocent smile. "Only my love," Richard sighed, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
"Ok, let us get the going," Kori stated, clapping her hands. "Before we are late for our appointment."
Raven shrugged in agreement and climbed back into her car, followed by Kimi on the passenger's side. Sara and Clara slid back down into their seats. Richard and Kori ventured into the garage, where Richard fired up a red and black motorcycle he had used often when he was living with Bruce. He recently got it back, seeing as there had been no room in the tower's garage for it.
"Hold on tight," he instructed, letting her wrap her arms around his waist and scoot closer to his body.
"I surely will," she replied, sounding almost frightened.
"Star?" he asked.
"Yea?"
"How many times have I told you that motorcycles are safe? How many times have I ridden on a motorcycle and been fine?" he questioned her, an eyebrow raised though she could not see it.
"Countless, to both questions," she replied with a small smile. "I am fine."
Richard smiled. "Then let's rev it up." He did exactly so and pulled out of the garage at an alarming speed, making a sharp turn so he was situated next to Raven's convertible.
"Y'all ready?" he asked, hearing Kori giggle over the running motor.
"Ready as I'll ever be to pick out a dress that will most likely end up being pink," Raven replied sarcastically, but with a soft smile. "You'll need to lead, though. I have no idea where this place is."
"Ok," he replied, revving up his engine and taking off for the end of their semi-circle driveway. Within moments, they were on the road.
TT2Victor knocked upon her door later that night, about six, the time they had agreed for dinner so they could have time to get back to his place and watch the game.
"Jenna?" he called. "You there?"
Timidly, he turned the knob and let the door glide open. Music was pulsing form the direction of her kitchen. Victor traveled silently and swiftly down the hallway, until he was merely leaning in the kitchen's doorway.
"Rock ya body, mic check 1,2, cuz it ain't a party til my crew run through," she sang, her hips swirling as she bent to open the oven and pull out a steaming hot glass pan of roast beef and veggies. "Jinx somebody show me what you can do, like oh, ohh."
She rotated her hips in two circles, placing the pan on a counter and doing a quick twirl. Her eyes were closed in the process, so she failed to notice the other person in the room. For a few more moments, the song played, then melting into another song. Victor identified the source as a small radio on the kitchen countertop.
"Music make you lose control. Music make you lose control. Let's go!" she sang, throwing her hands to both sides, promptly then dancing over to her microwave. She pulled out a casserole dish filled with something steaming. "Here we go now, here we go now, here we go now, here we go now!"
A few more seconds, she placed the casserole dish next to the roast beef pan, and began to dance in the middle of her kitchen again. She discarded her oven mitt, throwing it into an open drawer, then using her magic to open up the fridge and pull out a bottle.
"Hey sexy," Victor greeted, watching her shake her rear back and forth. She promptly stopped and whipped around, her eyes coming up to meet his.
"Hey there. You enjoy the show?" she asked. One eyebrow rose in questioning.
"Immensely," he responded with a coy grin, coming forward with open arms to give her a short and chaste kiss. "And dinner looks amazing."
Jenna blushed faintly. "Thanks. I did my best."
"Your best looks like it was heaven-sent," Vic replied. He inhaled deeply and let out a satisfied sigh. "I haven't eaten all day just for this."
Jenna smirked and patted his stomach through his thin cotton tee-shirt. "Than we need to fill this stomach, don't we?" she chuckled. "C'mon, sit, it's ready."
Jenna grabbed the roast and set it on the table, with a knife to cut it, and then set the casserole dish on the table as well. It was already set, with a pair of nice dishes and a single pale pink candle, to match the pale pink tablecloth.
"What would you like to drink?" she asked, looking into her fridge for assorted beverages. "I have Gatorade, milk, water, iced tea, and ginger ale."
"I'll grab a glass of water," he told her, walking over to what he already knew as her glasses cabinet, and pulling out a tall glass. He inserted it into a cavity in the fridge and out came water.
"Sit," she asked of him, as she took her own seat, patting the one next to her.
"It would be my honor," he replied with a small goofy grin. "I really appreciate all the trouble you've gone to. You must really like me to do all this."
Jenna's smile faltered for only a moment. "Yea, I do," she responded quietly. Victor noticed this and was about to question, but her perky demeanor rose again. "Would you like a piece of Roast Beef?"
He ignored the change in her voice for now. "Yes, please," he replied eagerly, watching her pick up three pieces and put them on his plate. "Mm.." he groaned, taking in the scent once more. "This smells delicious."
"Thanks," Jenna replied, blushing once more. "C'mon, let's eat."
An hour later, after the two had eaten their fill and Victor had helped her with washing her dishes, they retired to his house. It was about ten minutes before the game was due to start, and the two were cuddled on the couch, snacking on popcorn and soda. Cyborg was pressed against one armrest, and Jenna was cuddled into his body under his arm, her head resting just above his armpit.
"So…who do you want to win? The Jaguars, or the Panthers?" Victor asked.
"The Jaguars," she replied. "Naturally. They are the best football team besides the Steele City Supers."
"I swear," Vic breathed with a coy grin. "You are perfect."
Jenna chuckled and smiled. "Of course I am. Almost as perfect as you. That's why we have such good chemistry together. Don't you think?"
Before Victor could answer, Jenna's cell-phone went off with a resounding ring, and she had to pull away from their embrace to reach into her pocket and pull it out. "Hello?" she asked. A gruff voice on the other end replied. "Yea, I know." Pause. "I know." Pause. "I KNOW! God, I'll call you later. Bye."
"Who was that?" Vic asked once she discarded her cell phone into her pocket.
"Matty," she replied simply. "He called me to remind me I have work tomorrow, and I shouldn't be staying out too late with my boyfriend. God, you'd think he believes me to be a three year-old that can't take care of myself."
"I know how you feel. I'm the oldest of all the Titans yet they still treat me like a child," Vic responded. "I get sick of it, but I know they just care about me. Maybe a bit too much."
"Aww, but how can one not care about someone as adorable as you?" she asked.
"Adorable?" he asked in a scrutinizing manner. "Adorable? Don't you mean undeniably sexy?" Jenna smirked and crawled forward on her hands and knees, coming to hover over Victor by only centimeters.
"Of course I mean undeniably sexy," she cooed in a husky tone. "What was I thinking?" Her lips came down to rest softly upon his, as her hands traveled up from his stomach, over the hard muscles in his abdomen.
Meanwhile, Kori and Richard were standing just outside, knocking fervently. "What is taking him so long?" Richard asked his soon-to-be-wife. Richard reached for the knob and found it unlocked, so he easily pushed the door open.
"Vic?" Kori called innocently. Unfortunately for him, he did not hear her. The two traveled to the source of sound, the television in the living room, to see what had happened to their unresponsive comrade.
The two entered the arch of the living room doorway, and immediately looked to the couch. What they saw was a nearly heart attack-inducing sight. Victor was underneath a woman, who seemed to be attacking him with her mouth. And this was no woman.
It was JINX!
Kori let out a squeal of surprise, and the two snapped up to see Kori and Richard staring at them, wide-eyed. "Richard! Kori!" Vic exclaimed, as Jenna ashamedly climbed off of him and retreated to her own spot on the couch. "What are you two doing here?"
"We came to watch the football game, remember?" he asked him. "What is SHE doing here?" he sneered.
"Maybe I should go," Jenna muttered.
"No, Jenna, you can stay," Vic told her. "Look, I-"
"Well I prefer she leaves," Richard spat. "Really, Jinx, feel free to leave."
"Richard!" Kori and Victor both exclaimed at the same time. "Richard, calm down, let him explain himself!" Kori retorted, surprised her caring and affectionate fiancée could act in such a manner. Well, she wasn't too surprised, but that was a different story.
"Whatever," he seethed, clenching and unclenching his fists.
"Richard, look, it's not what it looks like," Victor told him softly, coming forward to look him in the eye.
"It's not what it looks like?" Richard asked heatedly. "I think it looks like you were making out with Jinx on your couch, and you're telling me it's not what it looks like?"
"Richard! This isn't the Jinx we know. This isn't the sorceress that caused us pain during our time as Titans. She's moved on. She's innocent now. And she goes by Jenna," Victor told him, ending in a whisper.
Richard looked very apprehensive. "How can you tell me she's innocent? This is Jinx we're dealing with!"
"I would appreciate if you don't talk about me as if I were not in the room!" Jenna retorted, her arms crossed stubbornly over her chest. "And it's true! I have turned good…and…well, I fell in love with the good guy," she whispered softly, releasing her arms and taking Victor's hand.
Richard sighed and rubbed his forehead in an aggravated manner. "Jinx, uh, Jenna…whatever your name is…can we have a moment, please?" a hint of disgust still lacing his voice.
Jenna squeezed Victor's hand and looked up to him. He smiled reassuringly and released her fragile hand from his. "It's fine. Go."
Jenna left the room and they heard a door shut at the end of the hallway.
"Victor Mikhail Stone. Please tell me you were not stupid enough to believe whatever lies she's feeding you!" Richard exclaimed in a soft voice. "That's Jinx! She may have told you she's good, but whatever she says, I assure you she's not."
"Man, you just don't get it," Victor started softly, looking at him with the most hateful look he had ever produced. "I don't need to have it in on paper, signed in a contract, that she's good, because I believe her. I love her. And she loves me."
"But Vic-"
"No, man, listen," Victor interrupted. "She's telling the truth. I can tell. The shine in her eyes whenever I say something funny. The way she'll smile politely for anyone but she'll only smile genuinely around me. That's love man. Just think of how you feel around Kor. That's how I feel around Jenna."
Richard looked like he was having an inward battle with himself, as he began chewing his lip. Kori, like the innocent woman she was, tugged childishly at this sleeve and began to whisper in his ear.
Richard sighed after a few moments of listening to her whisper and intertwined their hands. "Vic…man…I'm sorry. You know you're like a brother to me. I don't think I should let a woman, even if that woman IS the former Jinx, come between us. C'mere you big oaf." He dropped Kori's hands and held his arms open wide, ready to accept this brotherly display of affection.
"I love you, you spiky-haired little runt," Vic replied, releasing him before ruffling his hair. "Jenna! Jenna, c'mere!" he yelled.
A few moments later Jenna came from the bedroom looking rather disgruntled. "Jenna, is it?" Richard asked.
"Yea," she replied stiffly, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Sorry about my little…er…fit. I guess I just can't forgive and forget that easily," he joked feebly. "Let bygones be bygones?" he reached out his hand to shake hers, but instead Jenna stepped forward and hugged him tight.
"Thanks. You don't know how much that means to me," she whispered in his ear, crushing him in a hug that rivaled Kori's. "Victor means so much to me and approval form his friends is the best thing I could ask for."
Jenna pulled away and looked Kori up and down, smiling mutely.
"Oh, new friend, I am gleeful to have you join or group of comrades!" Kori exclaimed in excitement, surging forward to squish Jenna into one of her famous hugs.
"Same here, but I need to breath," Jenna choked out. Kori blushed and relinquished the magical girl. "Look, not that it isn't nice to make up with you all, but my boss called an emergency meeting down where I work." Jenna looked up to Vic. "I'll be back when I can." She leaned up to kiss his cheek quickly. "About an hour and a half, ok?"
"Ok. Bye babe," he replied, squeezing her hand softly before she evaded the doorway with one last smile.
"Bye Jenna," Kori and Richard called. They barely caught her response.
Jenna walked out the door and removed her now ringing cell-phone from her back pocket. "Talk to me,"' she replied in a serious voice.
"Is your objective complete?" a masked voice on the other end asked.
"It's stupid that you're trying to hide your voice," she commented offhandedly, taking a sharp turn in the hallway that led towards the main entrance.
"The line could be tapped into! Is your objective complete?" the voice asked, a little more assertively this time.
"Yes, it is complete. They trust me. He trusts me. We'll achieve our ultimate goal in no time," Jenna replied in her same serious, monotone voice.
"Good. Report to headquarters immediately for next step of evasive action. Matty G, out." The line went dead.
Jenna slipped her cell phone back into her pocket, walking into the open door of the elevator to take her down to the first floor. As the doors began to slide close, her eyes began to glow bright red and an evil smirk crossed her features.
Victor would never know what hit him.
TT2