Chapter 38
A tiny creak of the door and a slight jangle was enough to bring her into semi wakefulness. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzled bacon hung in the air. She peeked open her eyes, viewing the dimly lit room through her eyelashes. By the light that trickled through the wooden blinds, dawn was well and truly over and the sun had surged into sky.
"Morning, wife," Dick said cheekily. "Breakfast is ready."
She rolled over to look at him, staring at the laden tray he held in his hands. "Richard," she chided, sitting up. "It was my turn to provide the breakfast in bed this morning."
He grinned at her and shrugged, placing the tray on her legs and walking over to the blinds. "Got up early," he said as he opened them, flooding the room with sunlight. "Went for a run." He walked back over to her and climbed back in bed. "You looked so cute, couldn't bring myself to wake you." He leaned close, giving her a lingering kiss on the cheek and she reached up and touched his face as she studied the food before her.
"How did I not hear you preparing all this?" she asked, reaching for a piece of bacon.
He shrugged and picked up his coffee from the tray with one hand and a piece of toast with the other. "Tired probably, we've had a very busy few days, with all the exciting stuff we've been doing. Did you sleep well at least?"
She nodded. "Better than I have in months."
He smiled at her. "Me too." He took a gulp of his coffee. "Ran into Mrs Blue on my run this morning, she said that Blue has business on the main isle today, wanted to know if we'd like to tag along. She said there was a bazaar there that we might enjoy looking at."
Kori frowned. "Bizarre? As in peculiar?"
"No, a bazaar is… well… it's a marketplace that is kinda permanent, I guess you could say. I thought we could go and grab some souvenirs and gifts for the Titans." He eyed her. "You were planning on getting gifts for our friends, right?"
"Of course," she replied. "Do I not always?"
"Yeah, just checking, cause now I don't have to worry about it."
She smacked him while he grinned cheekily at her and picked up the orange juice. "I am confused about this main isle… How can an island be main?"
Dick considered. "Did you watch out the window as we crossed this stretch of ocean?"
She nodded. "Yes, it was very fascinating, so many little islands all in one place."
"It's called an archipelago, a cluster of little islands all clumped together. The main isle is by far the largest; it's the tourist trap, it has the main dock and airport and hotels and the market places. The rest of the islands are privately owned, rented or have the villages that supply the manpower to the main isle."
"Oh, I see. How far away is it?" she asked curiously.
"Mrs Blue said about an hour by boat."
"Sounds wonderful."
He breathed a puff of relief. "Good, cause I already said we'd go."
She giggled. "Will it be all day?"
"Probably," he replied, reaching for another piece of toast.
She smiled at him as she ate. "This is very good."
"Course it is," he said with a smile. "Al made sure I could cook, remember."
"I was not implying that you could not cook, Richard."
"Uh-huh," he replied, the smile shifting into a grin. "Only that I should cook more often, right?"
"How long before we need to be ready to leave?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Um…" he glanced at the clock beside the bed. "Mrs Blue said to be at the dock in a little under an hour."
Kori nodded. "Then I shall shower and prepare for the day."
"Fancy some company?" he asked with a grin.
"Do I not always?" she replied with a suggestive smile and lifted the tray off her legs, placing it on the bedside table.
TTTTT
The market was cluttered.
Brightly coloured waves of silken scarves and cloth flowed in the steady breeze. Assortments of intricately woven bags and weaved wicker baskets hung from hooks. Wooden ornaments, carvings of various animals and delicate wooden jewelry boxes cluttered tables. The sharp glint of hundred of necklaces suddenly catching as sparkle of light as they twisted on their hangers. Chiming of metallic wind chimes and the dull, echoing hollow sound of the wooden ones. Incense and perfume and various scents of cooking food teased at the nose. Fruits and vegetables were crammed into over packed stalls; seafood rested on beds of ice. Bright bags of cotton candy and an assortment of lollypops and a jumble of stuffed toys.
People's voices called out their various merchandise in a bid to capture potential buyer's interest. Other voices haggled about prices.
Kori weaved her way through the crush of people, inching her way through as they hustled and bustled around in the daily lives. She clutched her backpack full of presents to her chest, trying not to have her feet trodden on anymore and wishing silently that she'd worn hiking boots like Dick had instead of just sandals.
Glancing up at the huge clock tower that arched above the overburdened stalls and gaggle of people she saw that she still had another forty-five minutes before she was due to meet her husband below its tall base. Which was good, because she'd been having trouble finding a gift for Raven.
She'd found one for Cyborg almost immediately. A personalized car cleaning kit and some fluffy dice for his baby, although she was pretty sure he'd never allowed her to place the dice in his car. She'd also brought him a large white shirt that read 'My friends went on holidays and all I got was this lousy T-shirt'. She'd picked up a 'Party Animal' T-shirt for Beast Boy, as well as something called 'dried mango' and a huge assortment of the local boiled sweets. She'd found an intricately designed wooden jewelry box for Batgirl and a really cute little bumblebee shaped box for Bumblebee, as well as getting both girls beautiful, rainbow coloured silk scarves. She'd brought an array of other trinkets for the rest of the Titans as a thank you for being at their wedding. Dick had told her not to worry about Bruce or Alfred; he'd gone off to find thank you gifts for them.
But Raven was a problematic person to buy presents for at the best of times and her normal dreary objects and dark poetry was not easily found at such a bright and airy marketplace. A jewelry box wouldn't work. The only jewelry Kori had ever seen Raven wear was the locket that Beast Boy brought her for Christmas, and that never left her neck and, surprisingly enough, Raven was still wearing the ceremonial circlet of friendship she'd given her for the wedding over the top of her uniform sleeve. The picture she'd been painting to get her mind of things while she was on Tamaran for Raven and Beast Boy wasn't anywhere near ready.
So Kori lingered around the edges of stalls, her body buffeted by the crowd, her eyes sweeping over the merchandise in the hope of finding that perfect gift for her best friend. She'd learnt quickly not to seem too interested, as the hawkers jumped on that interest and tried to sell her things that she had no desire in purchasing. And this notion of haggling over price was confusing and she was pretty sure she'd overpaid several of the merchants in a bid to get out of there as fast as she could. She was just glad that Dick had given her a lot of the local money, currently residing in the travel pouch strapped around her waist.
She spotted another stall filled with various wooden nick-nacks and ornaments, strange carvings of opened mouth faces, animals and mythical beings and she maneuvered herself out of the crowd to have a better look. It was a darker wood than she was used to seeing and she glanced at the sign that proudly proclaimed these products to be ebony. Her eyes drifted over the top of the animal carvings, her face carefully blank as she saw the stall owner already eyeing her thoughtfully.
Kori was just about to move on when she saw it. A fist sized carving of two ravens perched on branch, their wings unfolded and the tips brushing up against one another, their heads outstretched and it looked as though they would take flight. Kori immediately thought it was perfect, the symbolism behind the feathery touch of their wings, the detail on the raven's faces and bodies and the darkness of the wood was perfect for Raven.
She feigned indifference and picked up the tiger beside it, studying the wood, seeing the stall owner hurrying over.
"Pretty lady like the tiger?"
Kori shrugged, briefly wondering why ever single merchant had called her that and placed the tiger back on the table, picking up the dual ravens for a closer look. The instant she raised it to her eyes, she knew this was it. Raven would love it. Especially with the slightly cheeky look one of the raven's seemed to have on its face, in its eyes.
"How much?" she asked, trying to make it seem like she didn't care and using the words Dick told her to use to start the bartering process.
The stall owner's eyes immediately brightened shrewdly and Kori sighed and prepared herself to haggle.
A short time later, although it was longer than she had wanted, Kori pushed herself free of the crushing sea of people in the small market place, the raven carving and other purchases safe in her backpack. Now that she was free of the push of bodies, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and glanced up at the clock once more.
Half an hour.
Kori sighed and looked around, deciding to take a walk down the to wharf and stare into the ocean for a while, wanting to get rid of this oppressed and overcrowded sensation she was having. Crowds didn't bother her as much as they did a few months ago, but they still made her uneasy.
She knew she could always contact Dick and see if he was finished the shopping that he had been doing, but it was actually nice to stroll down wooden plank wharf and feel the breeze tickling her face and tossing her hair and have some quiet time on her own.
She passed a small fish and chip shop on a corner and purchased a small bag of chips to munch on and feed to the growing number of sea gulls that seemed to have taken an interest in her.
Someone bumped her hard from behind and she stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. Her chips dropped from her hands and spread out over the wooden planks to be instantly mobbed by the squawking sea gulls.
Strong hands steadied her. "Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, I can be so clumsy on land," a voice apologised before it trailed off. "…Star?"
TTTTT
Wind rushed through her hair and made her cape billow even though it was tucked around her body and Raven squeezed her eyes shut even tighter, her hands clutching at Beast Boy's stomach.
"C'mon, babe," he called over his shoulder. "Ease up, you're gonna squeeze the life out of me."
" 'I'll be extra specially careful'. That's what you said," she muttered darkly.
"I am being careful," he replied, sounding hurt. "I'm not even going terribly fast. You're making a bid deal outta nothing."
"It's not you I'm worried about," she muttered, burying her face into his shoulder so she couldn't see. "It's the other cars. We're on this teeny tiny contraption and they're just whizzing by and all I have to protect me is this silly little helmet."
Beast Boy huffed. "And a whole assortment of powers. Nothing's gonna happen, Rae… would it make you feel better if we were on the N-Cycle?" he finished hesitantly.
"No," she replied. "Gar, it's not the fact that we're on the B-ped. It's the fact that we're on a two-wheeled thing that can be really hard for other cars to see and its them I don't trust, not you. Don't ever think that I don't trust you."
"Do you… wanna fly instead," he suggested half-heartily, his shoulders slumping. "If you're concerned and all."
Raven gave it serious consideration. She couldn't understand why Starfire actually liked clutching onto Nightwing on the back of the N-Cycle, why she always looked so happy about it. Motorcycles weren't safe at all. There were no seatbelts, no safety gear, no protection of any kind beside the dorky looking helmet she wore. She tightened her grip around Beast Boy's stomach as yet another car cut them off.
All she really was doing was holding onto him for dear life. That's the only real protection she had. Hugging him around the stomach for all she was worth, her breasts pressed against his back, her legs beside his so close she could feel the heat of him… Ahh, so that's why Starfire liked it so much.
Raven relaxed, resting her head against his shoulder and gave him a squeeze. "No," she replied honestly. "No, this is fine."
He peered at her over his shoulder briefly and returned his concentration to the road.
"You know," she said after a while. "You could go faster if you wanted to."
His head swiveled around to her in surprise. "Really?"
"Sure."
He grinned toothily at her for a moment. "Rae, you're the best," he called as they picked up speed.
Raven snuggled in closer.
TTTTT
Dick waited at the base of the clock tower, sitting on a cement block by the stairs that led down into the market district. He clutched his own backpack in one arm as he looked out through the sea of faces, searching for that one familiar face he longed to see.
Where was she?
He glanced up at the clock again and frowned and checked it against the time on his watch. She was fifteen minutes late and that fact in itself was odd. Kori was never late, punctuality was one of the things she could be counted on.
He tapped his boot against the concrete block he was sitting on, trying to be patient, mulling over the things he'd brought. He'd found a present for Alfred and one for Bruce in appreciation of them coming to his wedding. He'd found something special for Kori too but now he was beginning to think he should have brought her a watch as well.
His trained eyes flicked through the crowd of people, searching for that particular mane of red hair, those special green eyes, that aura that was simply Kori.
He sat up straight as a sudden though struck him. God… crowds… what if she still was uneasy with crowds? What if she'd had another one of those attacks and had found someplace quiet to work through them and had lost track of time? Or hadn't been able to work through it at all and was huddled up in a ball somewhere.
He frowned. That couldn't be it. She hadn't called him, and she would have done so if she'd felt an attack coming on. Besides, he couldn't feel any panic in her mind.
Sighing, Dick closed his eyes, concentrating on the feel of her mind, trying to determine which direction she was in. He frowned as he felt the gentle tug of Kori's mind. It was the opposite direction of the market, where she said she wanted to shop and browse. Perhaps she'd finished earlier than she had anticipated and gone for a wander and gotten lost. She'd be embarrassed about contacting him if that had occurred.
He smiled to himself and threw his arm through the strap of his backpack. He'd just have to play the gallant husband and go rescue his misplaced wife.
Passing a sweet smelling flower stall, he paused on a whim to purchase a rose for her before continuing on his way, following the errant tug of her mind. He twirled the flower in his fingers as he walked, taking in the sights and the sounds of the island.
He walked down the long stretch of street that led down to the sea, his boots making a rhythmic thumbing on the cobblestone walkway, before they began to clunk against the wooden planks that belonged to the wharf.
Kori was around here somewhere, he could feel that at least.
He froze when he saw her, the rose nearly slipping from his fingers.
She was standing with her back to him, leaning against the wooden railing that overlooked the edge of the wharf, tossing what looked to be breadcrumbs over the side, feeding the fish below. But it wasn't what she was doing; it was who she was doing it with.
A tall man with straight black hair stood very close to her. He had his back to Dick, so he couldn't make out any clear features. The man was wearing a white long sleeved shirt, which actually seemed to be damp, a pair of long, black pants and boots and seemed to be very comfortable talking to Kori.
The man laughed at something Kori said and she nudged him with her body, tossing that wonderful mane of hair and turned to face him, speaking animatedly. The man nodded and replied, touching her lightly on the arm, directing her attention over to the beach in the distance. Kori's head followed the direction of his arm as he pointed, leaning close and nodded furiously.
Dick felt as though his heart had stopped as the man leaned down and kissed Kori on the cheek. She beamed at him and waved joyfully as he left.
That fierce jealously that always seemed to plague him rocked through him followed by the hot anger at Kori. Anger at her for standing him up, anger at her for being with another guy while her husband had been waiting for her, anger at her for allowing said guy to touch her and kiss her cheek.
They weren't on Tamaran anymore. There wasn't customs and greetings that could be misinterpreted or bungled if he reacted to them. They were on Earth and she was flirting with a guy she'd just met. On their honeymoon.
Dick swallowed and took a mental step back. He mustn't let his anger control him again. There had to be more to this, some reason why she'd allowed him to touch her. And last time he got angry with her and didn't think about unleashing it, he said some stupid, hurtful things and she'd run back to Tamaran. He didn't want that to happen again.
Kori turned back to lean over the edge of the dock, gazing lazily down into the water. She suddenly stood up straight and Dick could hear her gasp from where he stood. Richard! I apologise! I lost track of time. I am at the wharf and I am on my way back to you.
Dick closed his eyes briefly. Heart trust, right? That's what she wanted? A chance to explain her side of the story before he got angry with her? What are you doing at the wharf?
She reached down and picked up her backpack. The fish required feeding and they clamored over the breadcrumbs I was offering them.
Dick frowned. Star… I can see you.
She instantly flicked her head around and scanned the crowd of people, a joyful smile springing to life on her face when she saw him. She swung her backpack onto her back and bounced over to him, obliviously unaware of the growing turmoil in his heart. "Richard!" she exclaimed as she approached. "I have had such a wonderful time in the 'bazaar' and I have made many purchases for our friends and my feet are sore from all the walking and being stepped on and-" she reached him, her hands stretching out to take his, "the gulls of the sea stole my chips although I do not think they appreciated the mustard I had put on them. I have been feeding the fish and have had such a wonderful time and meeting so many new people and-"
Taking an absolute leap of faith, something that he should have done a long time ago, he decided not to let it bother him. She had married him. She never would have done that unless she was completely sure she loved him. He was just probably misunderstanding the situation again. Besides, it was on the cheek, a perfectly acceptable place for a guy to kiss a girl… but he didn't have to like it.
He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss, halting her enthusiastic babbling. "Missed you," he murmured, rubbing his nose against hers when he was done.
She laughed at that, her hands on his shoulders and he saw her eyes sparkle with humour. "We have only been apart for a short time, how could you possibly miss me?"
"Just did," he said in reply, tickling her ear with the petals of the rose. "Brought you something."
She gasped and beamed at him. "Oh Richard, it is beautiful! I thank you!"
"Have fun today?"
"Ooh yes," she replied merrily, burying her nose into the rose. "Although I do feel that I have spent more of the local money that I should have on purchases for our friends."
He smiled. "Not quite got the hang of bartering?"
She shook her head before she brightened. "Oh! I have a surprise for you!"
"You do?"
"Yes," she said, her face suddenly turning sly. "Did you bring a suit for swimming?"
He frowned, confused. "No. Did you?"
She gestured her tank top and jean shorts. "I am wearing one under this. We shall go and see Blue and place our purchases on his… 'dinghy'… and then purchase you one."
"Why?" he asked, fishing for information.
The cunning in her face increased. "Because you will need it. Or you could always do the 'skinny dipping' again although I do not believe Garth will find that incredibly attractive."
"Garth? Who's Garth?"
"A guide, he is part of the surprise."
"Is he that guy you were with?" he asked, the words slipping from his mouth before he could stop them.
She paused and frowned in confusion. "You saw me?"
He cringed. "I got worried when you didn't meet me and came looking for you. I saw you with him."
Her eyes searched his. "What did you see?"
Dick sighed, dropping his eyes from her. "I saw him kiss you on the cheek."
"And… you do not know who it was?"
He frowned. "No… I only saw him from the back. Should I have?"
"You are not angry?" she asked, sounding completely confused.
"I'm trying not to be," he admitted softly. "You wanted heart trust."
She jumped him, her mouth crashing against his, her knees latching around his waist and her legs crossing at the ankles behind him and he grabbed her rump to give the appearance of holding her weight, even though she was floating. She buried her hands into his hair, pulling him closer as her tongue dove into his mouth and he heard the telltale clucks of annoyed passersby at their very public display of affection. Not that he cared, whatever he had done to deserve this, he'd do it a thousand times over, just so she'd kiss him like this again.
"Oh Richard," she purred when she finally pulled away, placing her feet back on the ground. "I love you so much."
He stared at her, his mind fuzzy and licked his lips. "Love you too. What was that for?"
"You will discover everything in an hour, I will not tell you anymore," she said with a secretive smile. "Do not do the 'fishing'."
He brushed her hair behind her ear. "Aww c'mon, not even a hint?"
"A hint?" Kori smiled at him wickedly. "I shall be in my bikini."
He slipped his hands inside her shirt at the back. "Can I see now?"
She smacked him on the chest and pulled away, taking his hand. "No," she replied sternly, pulling him off in the direction that Blue had docked the boat.
TTTTT
"Star," Dick complained as she pulled him to a secluded section of the beach. "There's no one here, are you sure you're in the right place?"
"Of course," she replied tartly. "This is where he said. He needed privacy."
Dick's heart thumped painfully as he glanced up and down the completely empty beach and looked over at the town in the distance. "How do you know he's not some mass murderer who wanted to lure you away from the safety of the town?" he asked as he turned to study the jungle behind them, expecting an attack.
"Oh ye of little faith," a voice said, while Kori beamed happily. "Enjoying your honeymoon?"
Dick spun around as Aqualad strode from the water, and it dripping from him as he walked. "Shit!" he exclaimed, his hand to his chest. "You scared the crap out of me."
Aqualad grinned. "Too good an opportunity to pass up."
Dick eyed the madly grinning Kori. "You could have just said it was Aqualad," he muttered, embarrassed now.
Kori giggled. "Why?" she asked.
"How did you know we were here?" Dick asked, ignoring her for the moment. "And your name is Garth?"
"Didn't," Aqualad said with a shrug. "I had some business in the area, bumped into Kori." He snorted. "And yes, it's Garth."
"Literally," included Kori with a smile. "He nearly knocked me over."
Aqualad rolled his eyes. "Anyway, recognised her and we got to chatting."
"Recognised her how?" Dick asked, eyeing Kori and her hologram image.
"Eyes," Aqualad said as though it didn't matter. "Even minus the green. It's the same way I recognise different fish. It's all in the eyes."
Dick could understand that. He and Kori had mucked around with her hologram image, changing her from redhead to blond and brown for a bit of role-play. The one thing he had noticed was no matter how her body looked, her eyes still shone herself.
"I asked Garth whether there were any of the coral reefs in the surrounding sea, since I recalled you expressing interest in doing the scuba diving. And he said there was one not far away we could swim to and we would not need equipment."
"Brought you a ride," Aqualad said, gesturing out into the water as two dolphins popped their heads out and chittered happily. "And I'm here as your guide."
"Surprise," Kori said, still giggling.
The water was amazing, so crystal clear he could see all the way to the bottom as their shadows danced on the sand. He could see the schools of fish that swum below the surface, the majestic and colourful coral reefs that arched toward the sunlight.
The two dolphins pulled Dick and Kori out into open water, the main island growing small behind them and flittered around a sandbank that had emerged from the water.
Aqualad surfaced and pointed to the sandbank. "We'll make that our base, you can rest there for a while to catch your breath when you need to. All around here are corals you can dive down to and observe, but please don't touch anything unless I say it's okay." Aqualad looked at Dick and winked. "I'll see if I can round up some pretty looking fish for Star."
Dick nodded as he treaded water. "Thanks." He looked over at Kori, who was busily readjusting her bikini and smiled. "How well can you hold your breath?" he asked.
Kori grinned at him. "Longer than you," she replied. "As long as I am conscious I can recycle the green energy inside to produce oxygen. How do you think I survive in space?"
Dick chuckled. "I thought it was something like that."
"It is more difficult underwater, it takes a great deal of concentration," Kori conceded. "So I will surface for oxygen at the same time as you."
"Why would it be more difficult underwater?" Aqualad asked curiously.
Kori smiled and conjured a star bolt in her hand, holding it above the surface of the water and slowly lowered it in. The water began to bubble around it before she allowed it to fizzle out. "The principle is similar. I can use my star bolts underwater, but they cannot leave my hands and require a great deal more energy."
"Ahh," Aqualad replied with a nod of understanding. "Good to know."
"So… you use the green energy to fly in space and turn it into oxygen?" Dick asked curiously. "What happens when you run out of energy?"
She blinked at him. "Flying in space is very easy, Richard. We do not have to work against the resistance of the air. It requires little energy."
"Oh," Dick replied in understanding. "And I suppose that because you can fly at speeds faster than light, it wouldn't take you long to find a planet to rest and recharge on if you needed to."
Kori nodded.
Aqualad smiled. "When you're ready, dive to the bottom. It's not that deep here at all. Just don't overtax yourselves. If you feel yourself getting lightheaded, stop and rest."
Breathing is optional, is it? Dick sent cheekily as Aqualad dived below the waves, the dolphins following him.
Kori winked at him. I did mention that. But breathing is easier than converting energy.
"So, let's have a look at what lurks below the water, huh, Star?"
Kori gave him a brilliant smile and sank below the waves.
Dick grinned, gulped in a huge breath and dove after her.
The water was so clear he thought he could see for miles. A wealth of different species of fish darted busily through the abundance of nooks and crannies that existed in the coral reef. The reef simply teemed with life, soft corals flowed and ebbed with the motion of the water that swirled below the surface, while the hard coral sent its spiky tendrils striking for the sun.
Kori flowed up beside Dick, taking his hand and pulling him deeper into the water, flying sedately though it much like she would in the air, and giving Dick a very nice view of her back and bottom.
Aqualad was lazily treading water near the bottom, smiling up at them before he ran his hand over a strange hair like coral and gestured for them to do the same. Dick ran his fingers through the soft tubes and smiled at the feel of it between his fingers, his eyes shinning as Kori happily did the same.
Aqualad chased a school of brightly coloured fish toward them, Kori squealing with delight, bubbles bursting from her mouth as they swirled around her for a moment and darted away. A dolphin swam lazily toward them, chittering and clipping away merrily and allowed Kori to stroke its belly. Tiny yellow and red sea horses swirled around Kori's form, danced between her fingers before their natural wariness overwhelmed them and they retreated to safety of the coral.
They explored the rocks at the bottom, discovering the moray eel perched in its hole, picked up the empty shells at the bottom, marveled at the starfish and grinned as the stingray hidden in the sand darted away. Aqualad showed them a large clam; its gaping jaws open toward the sun. He pointed at the rainbow coloured fish and coaxed a lionfish to spread its wings, all the while gesturing for them to steer clear of its poisonous barbs.
And Kori would lift them up to the surface of the water to gulp in breath and grin madly at one another before pulling them below again.
Aqualad sent for his dolphin friends again, pulling them out into deeper waters where he called a whale shark from the depths for them to gape at. Kori laughed and twirled around the playful whale shark while Dick looked at its huge cavernous mouth and shuddered.
"Oh Aqualad," Kori breathed, delight shining in her eyes as they surfaced for air. "Your world is truly wondrous. So many different fish and mammals and such beautiful colours."
"Breathtaking," Dick admitted, only half-talking about the things Aqualad had been showing them.
But Aqualad wasn't really listening to them, his eyes had settled on a trawler dragging a net through the water not far away. "Damn them," Dick heard him murmur. "These are protected waters." He looked back at Dick and Kori. "I have to go and deal with this. Poachers are the reason I'm in the area."
"Can we be of assistance?" Kori asked.
"You haven't got your uniforms," Aqualad replied with a shake of his head.
Dick smirked and fiddled with his hologram ring for a moment. His image flickered and Nightwing was suddenly treading water beside them. "Give me your hand, Star," he murmured and she immediately reached out the hand that held her own ring. "It's just an image," he said as he changed her image too. "I don't have my weapons, but it will be enough to fool them. This is your turf, we'll follow your lead."
Aqualad nodded and Starfire lifted from the water, her hand gripping Nightwing's hand tightly and the three of them darted toward the trawler.
The Captain of the trawler wasn't the least bit impressed when three Titans rocked up and demanded that he cease what he was doing. He and Aqualad began to argue almost immediately, the Captain claiming these where free waters and he had a permit and Aqualad vehemently denying that commercial fishing was allowed and demanding that the Captain release his catch.
Starfire placed Nightwing on the deck of the trawler and he eyed the men gathered to listen to the captain thoughtfully. Big burly men that were used to hauling large nets of fish. Men that looked far too interested in what was occurring than hauling in that big net of fish that hung over the side. Men who looked like they were waiting for a signal.
Starfire shifted nervously as she floated by his side. I do not like this, she murmured quietly.
Nightwing agreed wholeheartedly. This is going to go sour, he sent. First sign of trouble, I'll take those men, you damage the ship.
Damage? How?
Take out the motor, the steering, something. Strand them here; leave them for the authorities to pick up.
But…
He eyed the fishermen again; the menacing way they were look at the three Titans concerned him. And one of them was tapping a fishhook against the palm of his hand. Damage the ship, Star.
Yes, Richard.
The argument with the Captain was escalating, the high pitched voice of the Captain suddenly dropping to a low growl. "Take them."
The men clamored, Aqualad taken by surprise as he was pounced on.
But Nightwing and Starfire were ready. She twirled in the air, sending waves of green energy curling away from her body. Nightwing darted into the swell of men, fists flying and legs kicking as he powered through them. He leapt into the air, twisting his body over one of the men, grabbing him by the back of the shirt as he went tossed the man into another one that ran toward him.
He pivoted, dropping into a sweep and knocked the legs out from underneath another man, catching his body as the man fell. He spun and tossed the body he was holding so that the man crashed into the cabin wall.
A man charged him, brandishing a fishhook and Nightwing leapt away, searching for a weapon he could use, feverishly wishing the belt around his waist wasn't a hologram.
Something struck him from behind and he was propelled over the side of the boat, his hands clawed at the net of fish that still hung over the side to stop himself from falling into the ocean.
He scrambled up the side of the net, the fish trapped within squirming against his bare toes beneath the hologram, hearing Starfire's bolts crash against the deck, before the surge of Aqualad's waters erupted from the sea.
"Release the net!" Nightwing heard the Captain yell and he barely had time unhook his hands from the net before it plunged toward the ocean.
He leapt for the boat, his hands clawing at the edge but he felt his foot catch on the net, rope winding around his ankle. He managed a gulp in a breath of air before he was dragged under the water. Twisting in the water, he bent down to try and free his foot.
The fish were rapidly escaping the net, obscuring his sight and buffeting his body as they charged for freedom. He spun and rocked from the force of the wake they created in the water, losing his grip on the twisted rope around his ankle and he had to fight just to get his hands back to it.
Nightwing could feel panic rising within him. Down, down, down the net dragged him, until the water started turning cold and dark around him, still the net hauled him down, deeper into the water. His chest began to burn with need as his now shivering fingers fumbled with the net around his ankle, desperately trying to untangle himself. God, even if he managed to free himself, he'd never make it to the surface.
The net made a small thump as it hit the desolate, sandy floor of the ocean. Several large shapes of fish in the murky darkness of the water blinked their empty eyes at him as they floated off the bottom a short distance away.
Damn, it was cold down here. He could feel the iciness of the water seeping through his body, making his fingers tremble even more as he fumbled for the rope, making his chest burn with longing for breath. A sharp bolt of sick fear settled in the pit of his stomach.
Fuck, how could he have been so stupid! Going into battle without any of his weapons, any of his gear. If he had a birdarang, he would have been able to cut the rope, or at least a flare so he could see through this murk. If he'd had his escrima sticks, he would have been able to put up more of a fight and if he'd been wearing boots, those connecting kicks would have hurt more, forced those men away.
But, noooo, he had to play the hero, always the hero, charging into battle without a second thought. On his honeymoon.
Oh God. Starfire. He couldn't die here. She needed him. Starfire!
I have you, she whispered immediately. Hang on.
He glanced up, seeing two bodies against the glare of the surface rapidly propelling themselves through the water toward him, and from one of the bodies, a pair of green eyes glowed fiercely.
Nightwing found he was getting light headed, his chest on fire. He struggled to resist his body's natural urge to gulp in water in an effort to breathe and fought not to allow the panic that was swelling within him to grow. He breathed out slowly, relieving a little of the intense need in his chest, but he knew the instant his lungs were empty he would gulp at the water. Star, he sent feebly.
The water pressed against him. It was in his eyes, in his ears, up his nose, fighting to find a way into his lungs.
Fuck it all. He'd faced death hundreds of times, a myriad of different ways, shot, stabbed, crushed, only to drown at the bottom of the ocean to some stupid fisherman who'd caught him in one of their nets. With his new wife only moments away.
Red spots began to dance in front of his eyes, his chest aching with the need to breathe and he knew this was it. A wave of calmness swept over him and he floated, his limbs suddenly very heavy and lethargic.
His eyes drifted shut as the water rocked him gently in its eternal embrace.
A mouth clamped over his, forcing it open, while fingers pinched his nose. Air was forced into his lungs and his chest expanded so fast it hurt. Take it, Richard.
His eyes snapped open as he gulped at Starfire, her air filled his burning lungs and he dragged as much from her as possible, seeing her glowing eyes dim for a moment before they were back just as brilliant. His hands came up to cup her cheeks, his eyes locking on her glowing green ones.
He felt hands tugging at the rope on his ankle, the cold cut of a knife and a small sting of pain as he was sliced free and he floated just off the bottom.
Aqualad took his elbow in one hand, reaching for Starfire's with his other and pulled them upward. Starfire breathed into him again and he took what she offered, expelling the used air through his nose. With every breath that he took from her, her eyes dimmed with the effort of creating oxygen, enough, he hoped, for both of them.
The water grew warmer and lighter again and Aqualad stopped pulling them toward the surface. He put a hand between their eyes briefly, and Nightwing turned his attention to Aqualad, seeing Starfire doing the same.
Aqualad gestured his chest and illustrated blowing out, allowing some bubbles to escape his mouth and Nightwing understood. He had to empty his lungs of air, or the pressure of it expanding in his lungs as they rose toward the surface could force the bends on him. He nodded, pulling his face from Starfire and breathing out as much of her breath as he could. Aqualad nodded and Nightwing reattached himself to Starfire as Aqualad pulled them upward again.
Finally the three of them finally broke the surface. Nightwing dragged his face away from Starfire, sucking in a gasp of breath while Starfire did the same. She immediately clawed at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, clutching at him while he panted and stroked her hair.
Aqualad released their elbows, his expression fierce. "Right there?" he asked.
Nightwing nodded, his arms around Starfire as he treaded water, unable to find the words.
"Star," Aqualad said gently as he touched her shoulder to get her attention and she dragged her head up to look at him. Aqualad pointed. "Main isle is in that direction. I'll join you in a little while. Just go back to that beach."
Starfire nodded, releasing him and took to the air, shifting around Nightwing so she could pick him up by his chest. She dragged him out of the water and hurtled through the air in the direction that Aqualad pointed. Nightwing heard a strange ripping noise and glanced over his shoulder to see a water funnel rearing out of the ocean and bearing down on the trawler.
It didn't take very long for Starfire to fly them back to the beach, water dripping from their bodies as she skimmed along the surface of the sea. She ducked them into the jungle, hiding them in the shadows of a huge tree in case anyone was watching, not that he'd seen anyone on the beach. Nightwing sagged against the tree, resting his back on it, closing his eyes in relief.
Starfire touched his hand, fiddling with one of his fingers and Nightwing opened his eyes to see Kori standing before him in her yellow bikini as she removed the illusion of Nightwing.
"Star," Dick said, touching her cheek and she shook her head.
"I cannot," she murmured and he could see she was barely holding together.
He slipped the hand on her cheek down until it caressed her neck, tugging her toward him. "C'mere, baby," he whispered.
Kori burst into tears, plastering herself along him, her hands petting his chest. He hugged her to him, stroking at her back. "It's okay," he whispered into her ear, for his own benefit as well as hers. "It's all right."
Her legs went out from under her and she slumped against him and he slid his back down the tree to sit on the ground, cradling her in his arms, gently rocking them both. She curled up into a ball against him, her forehead resting in the crook of his neck, her fingers caressing his chest.
"I'm all right," he crooned to her. "We're okay, Star."
"I was so afraid that I would not be in time," she sobbed.
"You were," he murmured. "You were. That was just incredible, Star, breathing for me. Thank you."
"That was so hard, Richard," she wept. "I was so afraid it would not be enough. I was getting very light headed."
"You gave me too much." He shook his head, his hands stroking at her hair to remove it from her face. "We never should've been there; I didn't have my equipment. We're on our honeymoon. We should've just let Aqualad handle it."
"Heroes first," she mumbled, sniffling and scrubbed at her eyes.
"No, Star," he said with conviction, his hand still stroking her wet hair. "Husband first."
She lifted her head from his neck, staring at him for a long time with those beautiful, tear leaking eyes and he knew she understood exactly what he was offering.
"We cannot be any less than who we are, Richard," she said softly. "I will not ask that of either of us, no matter how much I do not wish to lose you. Even if we stopped being heroes, there is no way of knowing how long we have in life. Could you honestly tell me you could stand by and watch a burning building take a child and not help?"
"No," he admitted softly.
"Neither could I. Earth needs the Titans and the Titans need you."
"And I need you," he whispered.
Her voice became husky, her eyes half-closing as she looked at his lips. "We must take each day as it comes."
He nodded, pulling her close. "Each day as it comes."
TTTTT
Something roused him from deep sleep.
Dick groggily blinked open his eyes, staring up into the darkness of their bedroom. He groaned, running a hand along Kori's side of the bed, searching for her warmth to snuggle up against. He frowned, becoming more alert when he failed to find it.
Sitting up in bed he rubbed a hand through his disheveled hair and switched on the bedside lamp, yawning as he did so. "Star?" he called, seeing the empty space beside him.
That's when he heard the soft sound in the background, recognised it as the sound that had woken him.
A muffled sobbing was coming from the bathroom. She was trying to mask the sound by running the spa bath, that soft hum of the motor and the bubble of water, but he heard through it, felt her pain through their link.
Throwing back the covers he darted into the bathroom, seeing Kori in the spa bath itself, completely naked and staring out the window onto the moonlit ocean. One small candle winked at him from the edge of the bath, casting a soft warm glow against her skin. She had her chest pressed up against the side of the bath, her arms resting on the edge, her fists propping up her chin and as he watched another tear trickled down her face.
"Starfire?"
She jumped, her hands instantly wiping at her face and he heard her clear her throat. "Oh," she said, the evidence of her tears clear in her voice. She cleared her throat again, turning around to see him. "Richard. I did not mean to wake you."
He got into the spa with her, keeping his eyes locked on hers. "What's the matter?"
She made a mournful keen and turned away, staring out the window again. He slipped up behind her, one hand on the small of her back, his chest pressed against her side as he placed a kiss on her shoulder. "Baby, talk to me."
"I cannot," she whispered, tears spilling from her eyes. "Warriors are not supposed to grieve after the fire has burned and the hyndora ov ducpuktor has ended." One hand lifted away from the edge, hovering over the flame of the single candle. "We are given one week to mourn, after that we can remember on the anniversary of their deaths, but we are meant to remain strong, that is how it has always been."
He frowned. "Blackfire?"
She nodded. "I believed I had it under control, that I had let her go, and today… when… I… and… you…" She couldn't seem to find the words, fresh tears falling from her eyes.
"It hit home, didn't it?" he whispered.
She nodded furiously.
He tugged on her arm. "Come here," he murmured, dragging her into his arms. She buried her head into his neck, clutching at him. "You know, we have a saying here: 'It takes as long as it takes.' You don't have to be strong in front of me, Star. I know you're hurting. You don't need to hide it. I won't think any less of you if you cry over your sister. I still cry over my parents."
She drew away to look at him. "You do?"
He nodded, his thumb wiping away the tears on her cheeks. "Sometimes. I loved them, Star. Just like you loved your sister. Something will happen and I'll smell Mom, or a sound will remind me of Dad and the pain wells up inside. It never really goes away, and they've been gone ten years. Blackfire's only been gone two and a half weeks, it's understandable that you're still hurting." He kissed her before he directed her head back to rest in the nape of his neck. "Let it out, Star," he said soothingly, feeling her shoulders shuddering, the warmth of her tears on his neck. "It's okay."
Author's Note:
I have no idea how Starfire survives in space... or even why her hair still blows like there is oxygen out there. Made it all up. Its all very confusing. But it sort of seems plausible that either she'd just hold her breath, or be able to produce her own oxygen somehow.
Next Chapter: A date on a boat and Beast Boy does something unexpected.