Hello Readers Thank YOU for sticking with me and all the reviews! Have a little Red X point of view and answers. Please let me know what you think see you next week!
I almost didn't call her, but it wasn't like there was anyone else that might have a clue what to do with cracked Zynothium tubes. She had given this one to me, so she was my best resource that wasn't in high security prison. I was sure the actual tube wasn't defective, but Gizmo had not held back with a mechanical arm swing in that general direction. Dammit. I had empty tubes of course, but I didn't have the confidence to do anything myself. It wasn't my specialty, but she was at least another reference unless I wanted to send a suspicious email to a professor. Too risky. Paper and digital trails were too risky, though if I could talk in person that would be doable.
"Hey Gorgeous." I said into the phone when she picked up.
"Hey X, everything okay?" I caught the rustling of something else which meant Fallen was probably eavesdropping.
"Are you free right now? I actually need your help with something." I wanted to keep things vague and I decided to not make jabs at Fallen since she would probably ask him if she could go.
"Is it something I can help with over the phone?" She asked and I half expected another rejection.
"It's not like my Ochem test, though it's similar knowledge. If I text you an address can you meet me on the roof there. It's actually urgent. It's nothing illegal and I can promise it's not a booty call." She had helped me out on my O chem test and I realized I wished I had that option every test after. She was not great at English or getting all my references, but in math and science she was a freaking prodigy. I heard a snort that wasn't hers so I knew the last part had been heard by someone else. I knew it wasn't necessarily her fault, but it was annoying to not have privacy when we talked.
"I can go, just give me a little time to get changed. Do I need to bring anything?" I appreciated the offering of help.
"Just you and that beautiful brain of yours." I heard her give a little laugh as I knew she appreciated the compliments about her intelligence. She responded to those more than ones about her looks at least. Maybe she got tired of the looks ones.
"You must really need something, X. I will meet you as soon as I can." She said and I was relieved that she was actually coming. "Text me the location, okay."
"Okay, thanks Ember. I appreciate it." I was grateful she was actually serious about us having a friendship, and a real one. I had been in contact in with her pretty consistently since I had given her the phone. I wish I had given it to her much earlier, because this was the most like I had a person on my side since Isabel. I felt less alone and damn was that kind of nice. Of course I had fantasies and thought of Ember on days other than Fridays, but having access to her anytime was better than whatever I cooked up. I wanted more of course, but this still felt good.
I sent her a Starbucks rooftop address close by I could drive to. There wouldn't be any teleporting tonight.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She was already waiting for me as I was climbing up and offered me a hand to lift me up. I had no clue how she had gotten here before me, but maybe she lived closer.
"Thanks for coming, can I assume Fallen is lurking somewhere?" I asked just checking. There would be nothing to do if he was, but I would just have to get over it.
"He should not be. He has other things to take care of tonight, so it should just be us. What is so important, X?" She asked as she moved to get settled to the center of the roof out of sight.
"This might be out of your range, but I figured it was worth a shot." I took off my belt and didn't know why I expected a reaction. She didn't do anything besides tilt her head.
"Are you out?" I did appreciate she was quick to understand the Zynothium aspect. As soon as I took my belt fully off, she took it from me and opened up the compartment without hesitation. "Oh.." She said when she saw that the red glow stick had a lightning patterned crack.
"Yeah, I knew that wasn't great. I think Gizmo got me good and then I used it without realizing it was slightly damaged and it probably got worse. I have some empties, but I don't know how to transfer or if that is even viable." I was worried about what I could do. She was at least my best chance at getting another one. She started to swear in a language I didn't know.
"I am relieved you called me." She said once she was done berating the belt.
"You don't sound it." I said and finally remembered to flip up my hood so she could hear my actual voice like she preferred.
"I am annoyed that things like this were not considered when this was made. Not at you, you did the right thing, X. There is something I can do, but you might lose some." She said and held out her hand for an empty tube.
"Really?" I was willing to do anything to just not have the city blow up and anything in my belt area.
"I need you to move back, suit or not this should not touch you." She handed me a lunchbox and motioned for me to get to the other corner of the roof. "I bet you have lost time in your life due to this suit." She said it sadly, like she realized that puppies grow up to dogs.
"I mean smoking does the same thing." I never thought that I would make it to old age. Going grey was never in the life plans.
"Put your hood down X. Make sure everything is on tight. It should not be necessary, but it will make me feel better." I did what she said and was curious what was coming next when she put the tubes next to each other. "Also please do not make me laugh or else you will lose more of it." She then put both tubes in her mouth and I heard some twinkling and then she threw her head back like taking a shot and tilted her head on the empty side. I had stopped wondering whether things would kill her, but this was one heck of a way to potentially die. She sunk down to her knees better level with me crouched at the side. This stuff was crazy deadly if made contact with skin. I was lucky the suit prevented me from growing extra fingers and toes. Though I had noticed some extra nasau if I teleported excessively. Though I knew that the Zynothium was more like a plasma so it was not like a shot. It took time but the glow stick started to shift to the empty tube. There had to be suction and transferring of pressure and goo, but somehow she was able to manage it.
"I have so many jokes in my head, but I want as much Zynothium as possible." I said as she had completely emptied the cracked tube. She shook her head and I heard the muffed twinkling of glass. She pulled the tubes out of her mouth and the lids was attached again.
"Okay now you can make me laugh." She said and twirled the tubes between her fingers. "Sorry I am sure this appears a little gross, but that was the safest way to do the transfer." Hiccup.
"I can say, I've never been less tempted to kiss you." It was better than the Jr. High part of my brain wanted to do a what that mouth do joke. "I don't need to kiss a nuke."
"Fair, humans are vulnerable to radiation." Hiccup. "Though my skin absorbs radiation" Hiccup. "and prevents it from escaping once it is inside." Hiccup. She put the Zynothium back in the belt though I saw it was a little lower than the original tube.
"Well I guess it's a good thing I called you. Do you need water or something?" I asked as she went on to hiccup. I mean there wasn't like I could do that myself, I'd be unalive.
"I might have some in" Hiccup. "there." She said and motioned for the lunch box I had been given. I opened it up and found packed French Toast that was still warm and Orange juice in a mason jar.
"It's a little early for breakfast." I said and she hiccup laughed. It was a funny sound as she moved forward on her knees to get within reach. She took the Mason jar and tilted her head back and forth before swallowing.
"Ah so much better, Zynothium tastes awful. I do not recommend." She said and looked down at what had been packed. "Ooh French Toast!" She grabbed a slice and took a big bite before leaning against the side of the roof with me. I had gathered from our phone conversations that she could not cook well. Like she could cut fruit and provide a source of heat, but stumbled with actual cooking. So she had not made this. "Want some?"
"Is it human safe? I'm quickly becoming more skeptic of your taste." I said though my stomach had started to gurgle at the smell of cinnamon. I hadn't had French toast since first year.
"A human made it, and it was also not Fallen so I believe you are safe from anything suspicious." She said and offered up her assortment of toast. I decided that I would regret it later if I did not at least try one. It was probably the fact I'd been deprived of breakfast food for so long, but it was the best French Toast I had ever eaten. The crunch was perfect and the cinnamon was just right, a little overboard for most people, but my taste.
"This is pretty damn good. If Fallen didn't make this who did?" I didn't know too much about her circle of people, but knew it was limited since she had not been on Earth long.
"A friend, they got mad at Fallen and made me food since I have not been eating much. I believe making food for everyone, but the person you are mad at is peak passive aggression." I had to laugh at how she said 'peak passive aggression'. I took another piece since there were plenty.
"That is pretty brutal. They don't like Fallen and make bomb French toast, is this friend single?" I wasn't being too serious, but I figured it would help my rejection if I joked about that.
"He is." I choked a little on toast going down the wrong pipe. She gave me a firm pat on the back which straightened me up. "Though from what I remember, that falls outside of your type. A shame he is quite the catch."
"Why do I have a feeling you have a wicked sense of humor?" I said regaining some of my composure.
"X that is hardly the most wicked thing about me." She said and took another sip from her jar of orange juice. She set the box on her lap and put her free arm around my shoulders. "Would you mind sending a message saying I will be out longer, Zynothium is not what I normally consume so I feel a bit funny." I typed a message though didn't push send. I don't know why, I just didn't.
"Funny as in haha or funny like you're going to pull a Jinx." I didn't eaxactly want radioactive puke on me no matter how hot the chick was.
" It is not a habit for me to drink Zynothium so it has a little effect. Hiccups and a little bit of balance issues are common. Fortunately I have good company. " I knew my face was probably warmer due to that compliment.
"I wouldn't call myself good." I didn't really know where I fell in the spectrum of good and evil. I wanted to be happy, but I didn't really go out of my way to think of other people, unless they were special.
"You are to me. Thank you for calling, it was rather good timing since where I live was getting tense. Also please call me if you have any more Zynothium needs…I rather you stay alive."
"Do you need somewhere else to go for tonight?" I didn't have a solid picture of her home life either, though I knew she lived with Fallen and that drama had gone down if a friend of hers was making spiteful French Toast.
"No, it is not that bad, plus now I have to be constantly on call so I need to stay close to the club." She tugged on a necklace that hadn't registered earlier. She had mentioned her new position at the club. She hadn't gone into many details, but I knew she felt uncomfortable with being collared and not having control when she was needed. "Thank you for your offer though." She tapped her head lightly against mine.
"I'm always down to steal you away from Fallen. Are you doing okay with working under them? I know Miss Friday was actually decent to you, but are you…?" I wasn't coming up with words so I took a bite instead.
"I do not want to work for them, but they are treating me nicely so far. I feel powerless though." I could imagine that would be jarring if I didn't live that life everyday. "I wish I knew who I was actually working for, so I could understand what harm I am doing." I knew from when she asked me for my purpose in the Zynothium that she didn't want to cause misery or chaos for normal people. She certainly was a little darker than the normal hero mold, but not an innately terrible person.
"Well I am at least the right person to relate, do you want to talk about it more?" She could handle crazy dangerous nuclear shot swaps and I could listen to her bitch about the devil lady that hated my guts. She moved to face me and I found myself loving her pissed off expressions as she retold her experience. I still didn't have a clear picture of what she was actually doing, but she had let me in on enough.
"I knew Luthor had money, but.." I heard her gasp which made me realize I had revealed too much. I hadn't mentioned it earlier since I didn't want to snitch, but I had let my guard down when she mentioned her pay. I had gotten fucking screwed. And if they were going to cheap me out they should have left his name off the contract. She full on recoiled and fell over where I heard the conk of her heard hitting the roof. Oof her balance was off.
"Lex Luthor?" Said the puddle on the ground with an arm raised asking for assistance. Her voice shaky as I couldn't peg whether it was wonder or fear.
"Fuck!" I said since I really should not have said.
"I would have found out anyway." She said and just accepted her position on the ground as I did not immediately reach out for her. "Besides I will always just blame the HIVE Five if questioned, nobody needs to know."
"Fuckity fuck." The stress laughter began. "Well it's not like I intended to live a long life anyways." I knew that there was a chance that this would not bite me in the ass, but it was less likely. Secrets were kept or you weren't kept around. It was simple, but I didn't think this starbucks rooftop was bugged. I just knew she would tell Fallen and I didn't trust Fallen not to get me skinned. Honestly she seemed enough of a talker, I was definitely screwed. Well all the more to not go back ever. To cut contact with big leagues.
"X, you're still under my protection." She said and raised up her hand and I took it ready to pull. She changed the game on me and pulled me to her level. "I want you to have happiness and you have to living to experience that." I was laying halfway ontop of her as I did not get pulled down gracefully. I was fortunate to not have mashed foreheads by shifting a little left.
"Ember, I think you overestimate your abilities. If Luthor and everyone else could be stopped, the goody-two shoes would have handled it." She gave a laugh that wasn't at anything funny.
"It is within my capabilities, actually. While I understand the high 'morals'" she paused and I realized she was checking her air quote use. I nodded. "most humans and heroes have. It is a fantasy to believe that not taking lives is efficient or the best method for the masses. The universe can be better without certain people living in it." I felt a shiver run down my spine as all my survival instincts decided to remind me this was a dangerous woman in front of me. Her tone had lowered in her last sentence. "Sorry, I typically do not voice that." She retracted herself back into a voice that sounded higher than the one she normally had. It was like she slipped back into customer service voice. A summer job at a Subway had ingrained that type of voice in my head.
"It's okay. Scary, but I get it. I always wondered why the Joker was left to sit in a prison he would break out of every other month. Though I don't know if I could be judge, jury, and executioner. I'd have to have a really good reason." I didn't think I could watch someone die, and know it was my fault. "Though I agree that some people take more than they give from the world." There were some political figures and other brats I wouldn't mind of they croaked. I just didn't think it could be my choice. What made me better to decide that?
"People die everyday without a reason. Sorry, I find you so easy to talk to I share too much. I do not actually want to kill people, I just want the people I love to live…if that makes you feel any better." It did since that was the feeling I could relate to, I had felt murderous when Isabel was taken from me. Though I still had no clue who the suspects were since the justice system was so fucked. Now I wanted Ember to live and stay by my side like this. She was so close and it was comfortable feeling that this was just natural. She just talked and was affectionate like we had built something of years instead of weeks.
"I get it. Look I'm not going to get everything you've went through, but whatever you have done has lead us to meet. So I can't really judge, just be grateful." It was a line and not my best work. Though I did mean it.
"I wish I could keep you." I didn't know what she meant though I couldn't tell if she fudged her English or something sinister was behind it. She had already voiced her opinion against me being used as an object to be bought. Keep was just too weird of a word choice. "Sorry I have found myself wishing too much today. I am sure you would prefer a lighter topic."
"Is that what you do at home? Switch to a lighter topic whenever you get too real or scary? I don't know about Fallen, but I can take it." Bullshit, probably. Though I couldn't help say dumb shit I wanted to mean. Though I knew I wanted her to keep talking and staying on this rooftop with me. I had been lucky she had come and I wanted it to last. I also wanted her to be comfortable around me. I would take her darkness, her light, and whatever else she's give me in-between. She had been through real shit and from the way it seemed she wasn't comfortable talking about it in fear of judgement. I had to assume from Fallen since I didn't know her other side.
"I do it for my own sake, my past needs to stay behind me. Though I do not know if it is the mask or you that makes words I should not say flow so easily… I wish I did not have to wear it…Another wish I will not get." She shifted so we were both on our backs looking up at the stars. A light breeze had started and I took in her scent. She had always reminded me of a coconut candle, but I could still smell the sweetness of the meal we had shared.
"I never have a problem with you shedding layers gorgeous." I wasn't sure I was ready to match her in shedding my bravado. She made no movement to take off her mask.
"What color are your eyes?" She asked me suddenly. I guess it wasn't that surprising since she basically confessed she wanted to reveal her secrets to me. It only made sense she would want one in return.
"Brown." The lie left my lips as a panic reflex. I did not think that the truth was an option. She turned away from me so her back and braid were left in my periphery.
"My expectations were too high.." I heard her say and I wasn't sure how I had given myself away. Was I too fast in my response? Did I do something else wrong? " It is okay, friend. Fallen only trusts me 60% and he has known me for much longer." I didn't know what hurt worse. Her use of friend or knowing I had failed whatever test she had laid in front of me to only be compared to fucking Fallen again.
"How do you know he trusts you 60%?" It was such a strange way of describing people and relationships.
"He made a pro and con list. I saw it while cleaning, though he does not know I know." Ouch. I had thought Fallen was just an asshole with anger issues, but making a pro and con list about people was fucked up. It was Ross Gellar level douchebag. And the idiocy of having something lying around for said person to find was irresponsible. "It was color coded." I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of me though I'm sure for her she could find nothing funny. He had painted her on paper like history notes and deemed her a rainbow of pros and cons. She had been his loyal companion and underling for years and she still didn't earn his trust beyond D average.
"That's pretty fucked up." I said after the madness of my laughter had left me…mostly. "Blue by the way. I don't know why I said brown. Yours?" I said deciding if she could tell I was lying there was no point in it. It just would hurt her more.
"Green…" I was filled with images of green eyes of a former teacher, movie stars, and strangely Starfire curious which ones would fit. "X thank you for more than being honest. I am honestly scared of what will happen in the club without you there. Though I think you should find a different city for a while and do the low laying for the time being. I want you safe from Miss Friday and the Titans." I didn't know where the Titans came into this, but it probably would be wish if I was wanted on both fronts to ditch out. Though Jump had been my haven, my sunshine in foil to Gotham. My California Dream, I hadn't really thought of going beyond this or leaving until I had to. Though this was probably my best option.
"I'll think of somewhere. Don't suppose you want to join me?" She had voiced wanting to keep me and I finally understood. She needed me to go far away so I would be safe, though I would not be as close to her. She wanted me close. I pulled on her shoulder so I could see her face. I needed to see her answer as well as hear it. Her cheeks were damp, her mask must have been water resistant since her tears dropped down. She didn't fight as I moved her.
"X…please do not ask me questions I cannot answer. I will come to you when it is safe, but please run for your own sake." I was stunned that she did not immediately reject me. That there was hope left in her answer.
"Ember, will you really find me?" I needed to know.
"I will, do you trust me?" She asked and I could not help but ruin the moment as it had my heart beating too loud and my mind racing with serotonin.
"More than 60%." I half expected her to throw me off the roof with my dig. Though she surprised me with a smile.
"Thank you, Jason." My stomach jumped off a cliff and my heart started racing as I tried to process if I had heard wrong or was it truly my name. My real name she had said. How could I play this off? Maybe I should teleport away. Though I was not able to escape the hug. She had moved us so one arm was wrapped around my top and her other bicep was a pillow.
"Shit." I muttered as I came to the realization she had known my identity. For how long? What did she know? What had she already told Fallen?
"It is okay, I only know your first name and your face which I was right in being attractive. Not enough for me to have a positive ID without a doubt. Fallen is also not aware of those details. I do not believe he sees objectively when it comes to you." Could she read minds? I gave a nervous laugh, but let myself take in her softness and smells. If I reached for my belt it would take her with me.
"I feel stupid, do you mind telling me where I fucked up?" I needed to cover my ass better. If she had figured out basic things like that, people with more resources likely knew more.
"I am surprised you have not figured it out X. You have met me a few times outside of this. Will you promise me you will leave the city and be safe?" She held out her pinky and I suddenly knew that she took pinky promises serious in collection. I mean it would have to happen now I knew that I was found out and likely more than her knew.
"I promise." This reminded me of her promise she made me take up on the rooftop. I'd run when she'd say run and that was now I guess. At least I had disposable income from my job.
"You may be mad, but I promise my stories have been genuine. My feelings are as well, I care for you and want you to be happy." She said and put my hand on the tie of her mask. She gave a motion I could untie it, where her hand moved with practiced grace to remove my hood completely. I blinked as my real eyes were not as useful in the dark and poorly adjusted. I was curious how much of her face I would actually be able to see. Though as I pulled the ribbon loose, I discovered I did not have to worry much about seeing in the dark. Her glowing gaze held every answer I needed.
"Starfire?" I gasped as my head hurt with the sudden puzzle being solved in a flash. Though pieces seemed to not fit quite right. This was bad, was this an ambush? I moved a little in her embrace seeing if I could break free. "Fuck I'm trapped."
"I am not here to capture you. I have no intention of doing so actually, but I want you to listen to me. I am asking something big out of you, it only seems fair to know why." She rolled us so that I had more freedom, though I found my lap tucked under her legs which meant I could not teleport away without her intervention.
"Why?" I had a million fucking questions now, though my perception of Ember became murky.
"I have decided that I am done with lying to my friends, and you are now included in that group. X, I am sorry to have deceived you in my appearance, but it was necessary at the time. I needed to keep someone safe and along the way I met you which is something I do not regret." Thank god I had not been able to see her eyes earlier in our time, it was so much more intense having her emote her entire face. It had been Starfire that I had worried was drinking herself in a stupor, Starfire who had my back and treated every injury she could, I had split numerous orders of fries with Starfire, Starfire who left lipstick marks on my mask at every opportunity, Starfire who I had almost…
"I'm still wrapping my mind around this. Holy shit. I mean it makes sense, but at the same time no sense at all. How much was real?" How much of all her stories and details were true? I had pitied her and related on a level I hadn't been able to achieve with most people. Had that been part of the mask? I couldn't calibrate the ditzy sweet image of Starfire and the ferocious spark of Ember. Though C'mon the name alone wasn't that far off. Idiot.
"Most of it, some of it was vague for a purpose, but Jinx has 50 dollars based upon the fact I am real. Unfortunately all the stories of my past are based firmly in truth." I guess the fact Jump City's sweetheart had a prison tattoo and had killed people was not common knowledge at all. Though I guess she was able to have a clean slate since she had only been on Earth a few years. She was a hero, but she had no problem acting so differently in the club.
"I still don't get how you can from sweet innocent alien ditz to this?" I motioned my hand towards her meaning her overall appearance and behavior. Curiosity killed the cat, but I was now too interested to plot my escape. She had plenty of opportunities to arrest me if she wanted. It did let me trust a little in her preface she did not want to capture me. She had provided me Zynothium and fixed my belt. Not putting out the effort on her part would have made me an easier catch.
"I do not appreciate being called a ditz." She said with some warning in her tone, but it was light and fair. I guess it probably wasn't in my best interest to insult her. "Heroes are symbols of the best humans can be, Starfire is a symbol of hope and joy. Though it is only part of my personality and very little of what I lived as before being rescued."
"And Fallen is?" I needed her to say it. If her stories were correct Fallen had to be Robin which made sense. More sense than anything else about this situation actually. His hostility and jealousy towards me so directly and obvious discomfort.
"Who you think he is, yes. He will likely try to arrest you still, but I have already established I would not help." Well that was some sort of an answer. Though it left me with a bigger question.
"Why wouldn't you? I mean…fuck..please don't change your mind because I asked a stupid question." She laughed at my jumbling. It was like my world had tilted, yet everything remained the same. She was still treating me the same as she had this entire time, though this new knowledge changed how I saw it.
" As you have listened to tonight, I do not always personally agree with hero methods. Honestly I align more with Catwoman than Batman if that makes sense. You are not making the universe a worse place with your actions. You steal yes, but not directly from people it would hurt. You also care about people to do the right thing when it counts. At least in my experience. " She had been listening and watching my actions for so long. She did understand me like I thought she did. Starfire had been the symbol she described in my life even though she donned the Ember uniform.
"Huh, good to know." She released me from her leg trap as it became obvious I was not bolting. She held out her palm face up as we went back to sitting angled slightly to face. It was weird to have both of us so open and bare. It was really weird realizing that it was Starfire all along with all her clinginess. "Can I ask about your debt storyline, because I really need to know how much of that is true since it really came off…like how I said it did."
"That was true to an extent, I do owe a debt of service for my Terran card and I feel debt towards my rescue. Though I am doing this because I want to help him. He was being an idiot and attempting things alone." She ran her thumb down my nose as if she was memorizing the shape.
"Better to be an idiot and not alone." I echoed her thought process. Welp I guess it was fortunate I had kept my Robin slander to a minimum. She smiled brightly and nodded.
"Exactly, X. Though I understand now why he did not want me in that environment. Even if I am more suited than him. I fought in cages in my captivity, but this feels worse somehow. I do not have the word for it." I was noticing she was staying in her Ember voice even though her ruse was over.
"It is eerie, can I ask why you're still using that accent if it's fake?" Maybe that would jog me into my senses to just hear the truth.
"I thought it would make you more comfortable, but I can stop. Though it is as real as my normal English voice. Maybe acquired in a better fashion." That was the voice I had heard in fragments and concerned orders when we met post-concussion.
"I don't know. I wasn't really expecting this tonight." I wasn't. I thought maybe I would get stood up or by some miracle she knew someone who could fix the belt. I was not expecting for an alien to be pushing my hair back out of my face in the moonlight, certainly not a Titan.
"I am sorry. Maybe it would have been better not to say anything." Probably. I could just keep dreaming of Ember coming to her senses and me having the chance to swoop in and safe her. Starfire was attached to Robin in a very obvious devotion. It was known and mocked across circles. "I often say the wrong things." Though their cutesy relationship the public splattered in tabloids was not what I had seen. It was a turbulent stream of anger and control issues on both sides. I knew it was romantic on her end since she said as much, but he seemed as though he viewed her as a mean to an end. He was the cause of her insecurities and anxiety by building off his.
"Embe-Starfire I mean…Can I ask about that night?" I knew by the way the ends of her hair lit up she knew which night I was referring to. The night Fallen hadn't been there and we had gone outside. "Was that real? I mean your with Birdboy, would you have cheated?" This information would have made some ease to my mind. I did not want to be used like that. Though in the moment it felt like she was into it, had I been so off base?
"It is not cheating if there is not an established partnership. I was not his girlfriend at that time." She with drew her hand as if I was the one who could burn the other. "I do not know what would have happened since we were interrupted, but I was not interested in stopping in the moment." I felt my body grow hot as she slipped back into her accent for the last half. While it wasn't normal flirting, the way she said it…
"Is there anyway we can have a redo?" Starfire was hot, I had thought so from first exposure to the Titans. Though getting to know her, especially her darker parts, made me want to share in her. We had chemistry, she had said I was attractive so I knew it was mutual, and we had racked up an understanding through talking. If she wasn't with him, what the fuck was stopping her. One hell of a conflict of interest for her, but she already cleared the air.
"X, things have changed." I guess the brush off was expected damn. Though her phrasing of at the time made sudden sense.
"He took his head out of his ass. Good for him." I felt dirty and pissed that I had missed an opportunity. If we had continued would this story have happened earlier? Would she have chosen me if he hadn't shown up?
"I am sorry X. You are so incredible and understand me so well, there is so much that has happened since he freed me from those awful cuffs." She went to her wrist, but her gifted bangles weren't there just copper ones.
"It's almost easier knowing who you actually are." I sighed thinking about how smug and cozy Robin must be living with her in constant access. They had fought side by side for years and knew each other. In the ring they had moved like a choreograph dance, who knows if it was. "Though it doesn't make me like him anymore." He had lived with her so long and he only trusted her 60%. Well I guess this was probably a ding against her score.
"I just did not want to string you along, you deserve better Jason." It was weird having her use my first name and say words I needed to hear with such sincerity. It just made it hurt more. She turned back to look out at the Tower that was visible from any part of Jump. "I still care for you, some of my greatest loves have been of friendship and it may not be enough, but it does exist for you." She tentatively put her hand around my wrist and brought it to her chest where I could feel her heartbeat, rather fast. I repressed the urge to do something inappropriate.
"Okay." I said even though I was not convinced it actually was. "What's with the obsession with heartbeats?"
"They soothe me since they prove life. I am scared for you, Jason." Her heart told me she was being honest in that. "I cannot protect you as easily as I like and I am sure they will come for you."
"I'll run. I'm going to lose fingers one way or another if I don't." She seemed to get my joke, but her smile was forced.
"Thank you." She said with such relief as I was pulled into another hug. I was now ready to accept that her main language was touch. "Don't die."
"Don't die." I said squeezing her so hard I'm sure it would crush a normal person to discomfort. She said it so passionately that I knew it was essential for her. Though the hug ended before I was truly ready since I heard a choking cough come from her. I released my hold thinking I was the problem shocked by my strength. Though I saw it was not me squeezing too tight. Her hands had come to clutch the choker on her neck. It had tightened to create a depression upon her throat as it obviously cut off her air. Her eyes looked frightened as they met mine her mouth forming one word, run. She broke into action rushing to grab a napkin and her spare lipstick that had once again been stored in her boot. She scribbled something I could not see before wrapping it around a spare brick that had been lying on the roof, fastening it with a wire from her arm. She tossed the brick like a world series pitcher towards the ocean before turning to me. She couldn't speak, but her eyes told me what she wanted. Live.