Author's note:

Adam: I've answered that one already. One event changed, everything else snowballed.

Carly: I'm doing fanfiction of my fanfiction, it just looks odd, doesn't it? Oh, and look. Next chapter!

Chapter 20

I paused atop Wayne Enterprises building just long enough to tear the tracker off my Kory suit and leave it on the e. I was not sure if I would be joining Catwoman in her request for the girls night tonight, but I did not wish for Dick to follow me.

Still, she had given me her address and as much as it would purchase me time to think, I just wanted Raven. I wanted to be away. Far away.

My bag rang, soft, tinkling sounds. With a frown, I rummaged through it, extracting Dick's phone. He must have slipped it in my bag.

I stared at the number contemplating for a moment whether or not I wanted to answer it, then sighed and lifted the phone. I could never ignore him.

But that did not mean I had to be polite. "What?"

"Don't hang up!" Dick blurted, his voice sounding strangely windy. Was he on the motorcycle perhaps?

"If I intended to do that, I would not have answered. Talk expeditiously or I may change my mind."

"I love you! Don't leave."

"Dick-"

"I'm sorry I didn't include you in the decision. I should have-"

"Dick, stop it."

"But-"

"You did not include me because you did not want my emotion to sway your thought processes. That is fine. You do what you must. This is the consequence."

"But I don't want to lose you, not over this."

I paced in a tight circle around the tracker on the e. "What did you think was going to happen?"

"Not this."

"Then what?"

"I..."

"I am an emotional being, Dick. I cannot hide or restrain them. I say what I feel, when I feel them. You have always taken that into account before. Why not now?"

"You're right, I'm sorry. I should have taken your reactions into consideration. Please, just come back and let's talk this through rationally."

I sighed. "I do not feel particularly rational at present. Try again later." Taking the phone away from my ear, I hung up on him. Before he could call back, I dialled Raven's number. She did not answer, but then it was the long shot that she would. She does not carry the phone around with her at all times, and I did not have my Titans communicator with me. With a sigh, I left the cell on the e with the tracker, watching sadly as Dick's number flashed again and the phone rang.

It was amazing that I could fly, but then I was not confused only hurt. And I had enough happy memories from the other Titans to sustain it. Thoughts of them made my chest ache and I wanted to be home. Not yet.

I had promised that I would visit with Catwoman and I was most intrigued by the thought of a girl's night. Raven would never do anything like that and Bumblebee's consisted of the gossip and talking about boys. Where as Catwoman... she said we would go out. Do things that were considered naughty and risqué. I was feeling the need not to conform. Do try something different.

Deciding I would give it the chance, I pulled out that little scrap of paper she had given me to find her home.

It did not take me long, I hurried as night was falling and I did not wish to look in the dark. Her address was not far from Wayne Corp, which somehow was not surprising. I descended down into the alleyway beside her building as she instructed and locked eyes with a sleek, grey cat perched on the windowsill.

The nametag on its collar read Isis.

Isis licked her paw, meowed at me then turned around, her tail stuck up in the air and flounced off inside.

"What's that, baby?" I heard Catwoman's voice.

"Greetings?" I called through the window.

Selina poked her head through a doorway in her Catwoman costume minus the mask and goggles and looked out the window, beaming when she saw me. "You had no trouble finding the place I see," she said as she opened the window for me further.

"Your directions were most specific," I said, clambering through the window. "I thank you for your offer."

"How'd it go?" she asked.

Abruptly, I was in tears. "I think I did the breaking up with him."

Selina blinked, then gave me a sympathetic look. "Oh honey."

"I did not mean to," I whimpered.

"I don't doubt that." She put her arms around my shoulders and directed me to the sofa which I flopped onto. She sat beside me and patted my knee as I tried to control my tears. Isis meowed and crawled onto my lap, batting at my face with her paw and a fluffy ginger cat sat on the back of the sofa by my shoulder and purred. A grey tabby cat wound its way around my legs.

"How many cats do you have?" I asked, scratching Isis under the chin.

"Just Isis," she said with a smile. "Mrs Sprinkles and Blasted-cat are my neighbours cats."

I nodded and accepted a tissue from Selina when it was offered. "I should not have done that. I did not want to."

"I'm sure Dick'll understand that once he's calmed down a bit."

"He was attempting to explain and I did not allow him to."

"It'll work out, honey. He needs to know you were serious."

I clasped at my head. "X'hal. All I wanted was for him to think about what he was doing. All he ever wanted was to move to Nightwing outside of Batman's influence. I just wanted him to see."

Selina nodded. "Bruce can be most convincing."

I curled up in a ball, wrapping my arms around my legs and hugged them.

"Strong warrior," Selina said, rubbing my back. "Strong convictions. He's probably expecting that you'll crawl back to him. And you shouldn't. He's the one that didn't take you into account. Not you fault."

"But I am certain I overreacted and I should apologise-"

"But nothing. Now... do you have party clothes?"

"Party clothes?" I blinked and raised my head.

"We're going clubbing," she told me with a grin. "Ivy and Harley are busy, so it's just you and me."

Clubbing... oh, dancing. "But... I cannot go out. Dick said I could be recognised-"

"Bright, multicoloured lights. Loud music. No one will see you're different. I promise. You need to let go. Be free. Dancing is the best cure for a broken heart."

"But-"

"Live your life. You can't curl up and become overemotional over a guy. You're above that."

"I am Tamaranian. I cannot help my emotions."

"You can control them. Honey, I'm not saying go out and bone the next guy who makes eyes at you. But you can't let them dictate to you." She gave me the once over. "I think I have something that'll suit you."

She did.

It was small, the skirt was shorter than what I normally wore. Strapless too. Silver and sparkly and covered in sequins, the sides of the dress had oval circles cut along the seam, held together by sparkling gems. Provocative and sexy, I felt delicious wearing it. Like I was back on Tamaran, a proud warrior not afraid to show my skin.

Selina gave a low whistle. "Men are going to be falling over themselves for you in that."

I frowned. "I do not wish to-"

"Trick is, keep dancing, move away, don't let them touch. Nothing wrong with looking. We're just going to have some fun, not get laid." She handed me a small pair of strappy silver sandals. "You don't need any more height."

I tugged at the hem. "Is it not... too revealing?"

"Sluttish? In a tasteful way, Starfire, don't worry. Where we are going, we'll be wearing the most clothing."

"What are you wearing?"

"This," she smiled at me, pulling out another leather outfit. It looked a lot like what she wore, only with less. Strapless leather vest, second skin leather pants, a red belt. "And hot red shoes to match," she said. "Never underestimate leather. Best cock raise in the district."

As we prepared, Selina allowed me to use her phone to call Raven.

"Hello?" she said skeptically, which was not surprising since the number shown would be unknown.

"It is me."

"Starfire?'' Raven's voice flooded with concern. "What's going on? Robin's checked in twice with us to see if you've gotten here yet. He was very distressed."

"I think we did the breaking up."

"Azar... where are you? Scratch that, I'll come to you."

"Raven, I am fine. Truly. I just... need some space."

"Star-"

"Raven, he did not wish to involve us when he became Nightwing." I quickly explained to her what had occurred between myself and Dick, the argument, his want to suddenly be Nightwing through Batman, how he asked me to leave.

There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Bastard."

"I may have overreacted."

"Even if you did, it wasn't unwarrented. Do you need to talk?"

"I thank you for the offer and perhaps tomorrow... right now, I need to get my emotions settled."

"Star-"

I could tell she was worried and I did my best to soothe her. "Please. I am fine."

"Well, where are you?"

I hesitated. "Catwoman's apartment."

"Azar... you should come home, Star."

"I will. Tomorrow. I promise."

"Star-"

"Unless you wish to come clubbing with us. We are having the girls night."

"You're going clubbing?" Raven asked incredulously. "With Catwoman?"

"Dancing soothes the broken heart."

"Does your friend wish to come?" Selina asked. "The more the merrier. She just has to wear a fuck me dress."

"I don't have one," Raven said, hearing Selina.

"She does not have one," I relayed.

"She's a modest one, right?" Selina replied. "I have a dress for her."

"Oh, do say you will come, Raven, she has a dress for you."

Raven hesitated. "Azar. Things I do for you. Only because I'm worried about you. I'm not dancing. What do you want me to tell Robin?"

"Nothing. Just assure Beast Boy and Cyborg I am fine."

Raven made a small noise. "Okay. I'll be there soon."

Selina went through her wardrobe as we waited for Raven. "Here we are."

Sequinned and black, it only had one shoulder, the sleeve ending at the elbow. The skirt was longer than mine, more modern and elegant in its appearance, it was still a party dress. I was certain Raven would love it.

Raven's ravens take a little longer to manifest the further she has to travel. So when I heard her raven call, I waited patiently until she fully manifested before I swept her up in a hug, truly touched she had come.

"Starfire," she murmured, hugging me back. She pulled back, her violet eyes judging me. "You're a lot more stable than I expected," she said softly.

I was just as surprised as she was at how stable I felt. Perhaps it had not all caught up with me. "But still hurt. I am doing my best."

She nodded.

"You must be Raven," Selina said, walking out of the bathroom in her leather outfit and shiny red shoes. I must admit, she looked absolutely incredible.

"And you're Catwoman," Raven said, dropping her arms from me.

"Selina," Selina said with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Raven."

Raven inclined her head, then blinked several times, looking Selina up and down. "I hope you didn't mean that when you said a fuck me outfit. I'm not wearing something like that."

"Relax," Selina said, fitting a hoop earring into her lobe. "I have a sequinned number for you. It's on the bed."

Raven's eyes drifted over to it, then nodded. "Better. Couldn't it be a little longer?"

"You have such nice legs," I assured her.

"And your uniform shows more leg than that," Selina mentioned and made shooing motions. "Go. Put it on and hurry up."

When Raven was ready, constantly at the hem of her dress to pull it down, we headed out into the night. Raven and Selina's heels clicked as we strutted down the street causing heads to turn.

"Yeah, not feeling self conscious here at all," Raven said to another wolf whistle.

"Do not fret," I said, weaving my hand through her arm. "You look glorious. Beast Boy would definitely do the drooling."

"We'd certainly go out more if I had one of these dresses."

"Sequins. Boys love the shiny just as much as we do," Selina mentioned. "And, darling, I do love the catnip scent about you."

Raven flushed. "Sorry. My boyfriend likes it."

"I imagine it would send him wild," Selina mentioned with a smile. "Rules, since you're both attached. Dance, have fun, smile and flirt if you like, but do not let yourselves be cornered. No touching. Don't go to the bathroom alone. It's always better if you're a little handsy with someone of the same sex, guys assume you're not into them, they'll watch the show but they won't approach. Raven, if you wallflower, guys will try and pick you up more than if you dance. Wallflowering assumes you're bored of dancing and looking for some other form of entertainment. No alcohol, let's be good about that at least."

"Yeah... this was a bad idea," Raven muttered. She looked at me and I knew the only reason she was still here was me and I loved her for that.

Selina waved her hand. "Just stick close to me, you'll be fine. I'm not picking up tonight."

Raven lifted her eyebrow as the music from the club we were heading toward throbbed in our chests. "Do this much?"

Selina grinned. "On the odd occasion."

I glanced at the line outside the club and the burly bouncers standing out the front refusing entry. "We will not make it in."

"You underestimate the power of the shoes," Selina said. Her step changed, her hips turned sultry and she oozed sex like she had when I had seen her in the catsuit. She sauntered up to the bouncer all smiling and flirting, walking her fingers along his chest, and the man stepped aside. She beckoned at us.

"That's got to be handy," Raven said as we slipped into the club. Anything else she said was lost as we descended down some stairs and into the pounding music. Brightly coloured revolving lights danced on the ceiling, the room was a kaleidoscope of shifting colours. No one would be able to tell my skin was different or my eyes were the wrong shade. Everyone looked different.

There was sort of a balcony that overlooked the dance floor, the bar up the top. The dance floor was a crush of people, dancing and jiving. Males, females, it did not matter, they all danced, with each other or by themselves. Circling the dance floor were standing tables with drinks, people yelling over the music.

My entire body tingled from the sound of the music. It throbbed. I throbbed.

I could not wait to move with the music.

My last experience into a place like this was overshadowed by my sister. Now it was my turn to shine.

The music called to me. Beckoned and summoned and demanded dance. My hand curled around Raven's wrist so we would not be separated as I watched the dancers. They had no form, no flow of rhythm, just the flow of their bodies from one move to the next. Some tossed their hair to and fro as they gyrated their quivering behind and legs. Some did a serpent dance, their bodies writhing and twisting, grinding against someone of the opposite sex, sometimes even the same. Others bounced up and down in time with the music. There was no sequence to it.

Which meant, I could not do it wrong.

Casting Raven a happy smile, I dragged her into the throes of the dancers, Selina following us. Releasing Raven's wrist I danced.

Arms in the air, my body followed the sound of the music. Twisting and bouncing, flowing from one move to the next, it was like flight only earthborn. I twisted my hips, curved my back, threw my hair. It was glorious.

Selina's dance was much like the cat, silky and sensual, she arched and purred, her body enticing the eyes of the males around us. Raven sort of jiggled up and down on the spot and looked awkward.

It took a while and many, many heart pounding songs for Raven to loosen up enough to really feel the music and I was grateful that she tried. I did feel bad that I dragged her here, even though I knew if she was not concerned for my wellbeing she would never have come. But I danced with her, much to the delight of the guys around us, danced only with her and not for them. I held her eye contact, smiled and laughed, held her hands and moved her arms with mine in an effort to have her dance more lively. Gradually Raven began to smile and lose herself in the flow. I was most pleased when she smiled at me and mouthed, "Okay, good idea."

All the while Selina brushed up against any male body she could. More of them drooled over her pants than they did us, which I guess was the intention, but there were a few males which tried to come between us. Sliding hand and wandering eyes, they stroked our forms and usually got the fear of Raven compelled into them.

I got a few guys trying to touch me and a few of the "Hey baby" remarks, but mostly I ignored them, and the guys touching me got squashed fingers, quite by accident of course. One more persistent guy received a bloody nose and then called me an 'itch'.

I could feel eyes on me, people watching and staring and I did not care. It was only the music I cared for.

So free. It was glorious.

As we danced, Raven and I tried the hip bump, we tried the dual serpent dance that many couples performed but that send Raven blushing and giggling and unable to dance. We tried clasping hands and spinning in a circle, but there was not room, so mostly we danced on the spot.

Still, it was fun. I do not know what I expected, but the level of enjoyment had been surprising. So free. Unferretted by emotion, only the drumming inside me.

So many different songs, the words bled together. There was a D of Jays, his voice indistinguishable over the pounding music. Mostly, there was the thumping beat. Heart pounding and chest cavity filling beat.

So many people, always touching. I bumped, they bumped, but it did not matter.

I danced with Selina too, that serpent dance I had seen. Her back to my belly, my hands stroked her waist, hers at my thighs as our hips moved together. She giggled and purred and waggled her eyebrows as she rested her head on my shoulder, before her eyes flittered around to the boys circling us. I had to laugh at the number of them suddenly dancing quite awkwardly with their hands cupping their pants.

Dancing was most joyous. And sexy and why had I never done this before? Intoxicating almost, for I did indeed feel rather strange. Breathless and giddy and experiencing a sense of loose morals. The feline inside me carolled, the feline in Selina called back. Purred and pleased, another kitty to play with.

I do not know if it was the flashing lights, the throbbing music, or the writhing dance, but I felt outside myself. Lost in the rhythm. No other cares, just us.

Selina laughed, her lips beside my ear, her head still on my shoulder as we moved our hips in a wave motion to the sound of the beat. "Boys, so easy."

I smiled and nodded.

"What do you think they'd do if we kiss?"

I blinked in surprise, but I turned my head so she could hear me over the music, vaguely noticing that it was Katy Perry playing. 'I kissed a girl and I liked it.' I wondered if that is why Selina had the idea. "I do not care. Kissing means little to me."

"Really?"

I nodded and shrugged. Kissing only meant something when it was... I do not want to think.

Selina twisted in my arms, plastered her body against me, wove her arms around my neck and attached her lips to mine.

Language. German.

My response was instant. My eyes slid shut and I gripped her face to hold her still and allow the language transfer to occur, my mind full of structure and new words. Her lips parted in surprise but she did not pull away. Her hand gripped my neck, then stroked down my shoulders then ribs, finally settling on my waist.

Around us, there were all these moans and groans. Male bodies stopping and staring.

Somehow, as her tongue slipped against my lips, Selina turned the language transfer into a true kiss. I knew Selina was only doing this tease the boys around us and I never would have responded normally but it felt good. Powerful. I could make the males feel like this. I could make it so their eyes never left me, so they could contemplate on what they would never have for I would not succumb to another human.

Not even one with midnight hair and eyes the colour of the sky.

Still, she was getting a little overenthusiastic about our kiss and I should not, so I pulled back and smiled at her, then put my lips to her ear. "My apologies," I told her in German. "I was merely assimilating German."

She drew back and stared, then laughed. "Languages by kissing, I want to be a Tamaranian!"

We broke away completely, laughing at each other, returning to dancing.

Raven eyed me briefly, then shook her head, deciding not to get involved. She was really getting into the mood, her arms raised above her head as she shook to the music. I wondered how much she was tapping into other people so she could express herself like this. Every time a boy tried to place his hands on her, they would jerk away as though burnt.

I think Beast Boy would have loved to have seen Raven like this.

Dick would have hated this. He would not feel safe among the sea of dancers. I imagine his senses would have been driven mad, so many things happening at once, he would not relax enough to enjoy himself as I did. It was a shame because I would have liked to have danced with him.

Sudden thoughts of Dick was enough to overwhelm me. My carefully built walls of emotionless came crashing down. My heart was suddenly pounding, tears in my eyes, my breath coming in gasps. Too many people around, so many faces bled together, it was difficult for me to tell people apart. I lost Raven among the crowd and panic gripped me. Shapeless forms pressed against me and I fled through them, up the stairs and out into the street beyond.

It was raining, which I found fitting as I stumbled through the street and came to rest against a wall in some alleyway. Dark and wet and raining. The alleyway stunk, rotten and human waste. It was disgusting.

My back against the brick wall, I tilted my head back and stared up at the rain and into the cloudy night sky, feeling water patter against my face. The water hid the tears I could not hold.

"X'hal. What am I doing?"

"That's what I'd like to know."

I scowled at the sky. "I do not want to talk to you."

"Then don't, just listen."

"Starfire-" Raven cried and I heard her footsteps. "Are you...oh." She and Selina came to a halt just at the edge of the alleyway and I tilted my head to see her beyond the shadow of the man who stood before me.

I closed my eyes. Raven's Titan Tracker. Of course. Easy to track her arrival in Gotham and know from there where I could have gone.

"Are you okay?" Raven asked, looking between Dick and me.

"I just want to talk," Dick said, then flashed her a smile. "Looking hot there, Raven."

"Bite me, asshole," she snapped and shook her finger at him. "I know what you did."

"You've done enough," Selina snapped, stalking until she was between me and Dick. Raven moved so she shielding me too. It was comforting that they would both move to protect me.

"I might have known you were involved in this," Dick said to Selina and thrust his hands into the pockets of his long black jacket.

"Someone has to pick up the pieces the Wayne's spit out."

"I'm not a Wayne."

"Might as well be," Selina spat.

"Selina, this is none of your business."

"Don't take that tone with me, Dick. I'll box your ears," Selina said, placing her hand on Dick's chest and walked him backwards.

He tried to get around her. "Starfire-"

I shook my head. "Dick, not now."

Raven snorted. "Dick? Really? That's your name? I should've known it would be fitting."

"Star, please, I just need to talk to you-"

I shook my head then leant close to Raven. "I need to go. I am sorry. I will be back at the Tower tomorrow."

She half turned toward me, but I bent my knees and shot into the sky.

Green fire trailed after me as I gained height. Picking a direction at random, I gathered speed. I needed to run, needed to fly, needed to be away from the hurt and betrayal.

I had not flown far before I realised I could hear the sound of an engine keeping pace with me. Frowning, I tilted my head, studying the darken sky around me and was startled to see Dick suddenly illuminate inside the cockpit of the Batplane, it was only for a moment and then he vanished, but I knew he followed me.

Frowning, I turned my head away and broke the sound barrier.

I underestimated the Batplane or Dick's determination to speak to me. He matched my speed exactly, flying just below me, in the corner of my vision. A constant presence. I could see little lights against the plane's hull each time I looked in his direction.

There is a limit to the speeds I can fly in atmosphere and I was pushing them at the moment. The night dark ground with scattered lights of houses sped below me, then empty ocean stretched. Nothing but midnight blue and twinkling stars as far as I could see. I flew far and fast and yet he stayed with me. He did not try and force me to land or communicate with me, just stayed within range.

At first I was irritated by his presence but as time and ocean swept by, my irritation faded. Perhaps that was why he was not interfering, he was allowing me time to become more rational.

I idly wondered how much fuel the Batplane had and how long it would last. Then I wondered if, in his current mood, he would actually care and continue to stay there as long as the Batplane flew. That thought panicked me a little, I did not wish for him to be hurt, or stranded anywhere.

Still, I was not ready to speak to him, but I would undoubtedly rescue him if necessary.

I dropped toward the surface of the ocean, skipping along the top and decreased my speed so I would not kick up as much water in my wake. Dick matched me.

I sped up and tried to lose him in the clouds, but he would not be shaken, twisting the Batplane to follow me no matter how hard I banked or changed direction.

Truly, the only thing I could conceive of doing would be to break through the atmosphere and hit light speed, the Batplane would not follow through that. But... that would truly break what we had. And he was trying... surely...I could... talk to him.

I sighed and decreased my speed, rolling to look at him properly. The cockpit light flashed on again so I could see him, which meant he had a limited view of me. But he stared back, undeterred. Seeing that he had my attention, he mouthed 'Please', just once and left it at that and the light dimmed again.

I rolled away, considering. He would follow me, no matter how long it took. And... I really did think we should talk about this. There was no point denying that. I scrubbed at my face with a hand. I decreased my speed, did a loop around the Batplane, then sat on the nose where Dick could see me, although I was quite petty and kept my back to him.

He maintained speed and altitude for a minute, then the Batplane gave a little shudder. I sighed at his silent request and placed my hands against the hull and held on.

He banked. Hard. If I had not been holding on, I would have easily come off. I threw the darkened cockpit a dirty look. The Batplane dropped down toward the surface of the water, slowly decreasing in speed and I wondered where he was taking us. I could not see anything out there in the black. I kept my face turned away, astutely ignoring him. He had me, we would talk, but that did not mean I would make it easy on him.

It was an island, I discovered after a while. A lonely little island in the middle of the ocean. No bigger than a football field. Sandy shore, a few trees that I could see in the dark. Nothing much. But this is where he took us, setting the Batplane on the sandy beach. I held my breath, not wishing for a mouthful of sand from the engines. As the engines died, I could hear the roar of the waves crash against the shore.

Without waiting for Dick, I leapt from the hull of the Batplane and onto the sand. Lighting my hand with a starbolt, I walked along the beach, collecting bits of driftwood and dead branches discarded on the ground. I dumped them in a pile, lit them with a starbolt and then went hunting for more. This particular activity occupied me for at least a few minutes before I had to face the inevitable.

Taking a breath, I walked back to my fire where Dick waited and placed my pile of tinder beside his.

He had spread a blanket out beside the fire, thoughtful of him, I did not wish to get Selina's dress sandy. I glanced at him as he gestured me to sit then took a corner as far away from him as I could manage.

With a sigh, he sat down beside me.

The silence between us did not break as the waves did against the beach. It remained.

Stretched.

Unending.

Author's Note:

So... um... I blame Katergator and Faith for that kiss. There are some girls out there that do kiss in clubs because it messes with boy's heads and I figured that'd be right up Selina's alley. Of course, Starfire's all 'ooh, language'.

Raven dancing, well they were there for a long time, I think she'd eventually loosen up and try it. For Starfire.

Sorry to those that wanted a Siren's night. Selina, Starfire and Raven clubbing will have to do.