Thanks a bunch for all your words of encouragement, everyone. It really means a lot to me that you enjoy what I'm typing out. Honestly, it's my dream one day to be able to write animation episodes like these, so I consider this good practice.
As to the suggestion of doing origins for all the Titans: hmm…maybe. Depends on how the rest of this story goes, and whether or not I can come up with a good storyline.
Chapter 3
She awoke with a start, shooting up in bed as a gasp escaped her lips. Beads of sweat had already begun to form on her brow, yet she found herself shivering almost uncontrollably. For a brief moment, silence reigned save for the erratic beating of her heart. Her blurred vision saw not the medium-sized room she resided in, but instead replayed the horrid images still fresh in her mind.
That had been the third nightmare this week, she thought, while vainly attempting to choke back a sob. They were rapidly increasing in both violence and frequency.
Absently, she reached over and grabbed the stuffed kitten sitting on her nightstand, hugging it close to her chest. Robin had given it to her some time ago as a sort of housewarming gift, not long after she'd first settled in. His way of welcoming her to the team. Along with instantly becoming her favorite Earth animal, it brought her a welcoming sense of comfort whenever Robin was not around to provide such. Usually, it worked…but not this time.
She needed some air.
Placing the tiny kitten on the bed where she had been resting just moments prior, she stood up and headed out the door. The hallway was dark and foreboding, but not entirely unfamiliar. Her fingers lightly grazed the smooth walls as she trailed along at a leisure pace, the edges of her purple pajama pants dragging along the floor because they were a couple sizes too large. She tugged at the sleeves of her equally-too-big, matching button-up top as her mind thought back to the dream.
Much as she wanted nothing more than to erase it from her memory, bits and pieces continued to loom over her. It was always the same, exact scenes, too: remnants of her time on the Psion ship as prisoner, before managing an escape. Every last detail. Those damn, cold holding cells…crowds of soldiers hovering over her…the nauseating smell of sterility as the doctors (if one could even call them that) performed countless examinations and test sequences…
"Hey, you okay?"
She looked up, surprised to see herself already in the doorway of the kitchen and meeting eye to eye with a smiling Robin. He gave her a quick look of concern, but she shook her head softly and forced a smile as if to say 'nothing's wrong.'
Robin raised a suspicious eyebrow, but chose to remain silent as she drifted over to where he was standing. Instead, his focused turned back to the kitchen counter, where he was busy mixing dark powder into a steaming mug of white liquid. Well aware of her intent stare, he turned back to face her and held up the mug.
"It's called cocoa." He explained slowly, emphasizing the name so she would understand easier. "Wanna try some?"
She nodded shyly, reaching out to take it. However, no sooner did the drink touch her lips than she abruptly pulled back with a faint cry of surprise. Were it not for Robin's quick reflexes, she would have dropped the whole thing.
"Sorry about that. Guess it's too hot." He replied sheepishly, knowing she couldn't understand his explanation.
One hand still held both of hers to the mug while the other reached into a nearby drawer, pulling out a large tablespoon. Dipping it into the chocolaty mix, he stirred a few times before gathering a small amount. Koriand'r watched his every movement through peripheral vision, her eyes never once leaving his, as he raised the spoon and lightly blew on it once. The steam swirled around the air briefly before vanishing entirely.
"Try this." His voice came out much quieter than before, partially due to the close distance between them.
Taking that as her cue, she cautiously leaned forward and took a sip. No longer burning her tongue, the rich flavor delighted her taste buds and warmed her throat as she felt it smoothly trickle all the way down: "Mmm." She murmured in delight, earning a faint laugh from Robin.
"I guess that means you like it," he commented as she took another sip, this time from the mug.
Since she had all but taken over the cocoa, he happily turned back to the counter to fix a second cup for himself. A quick scan of the fridge even revealed a decent stash of whipped cream left, so he squirted a pile on top. Unfortunately, a bit of it got on his nose as he drank, resulting in Koriand'r bursting into a fit of giggles at the sight of him.
"What?" He questioned, unaware of the froth on his nose. She pointed to a nearby toaster, where he managed to catch a glimpse of himself in the metallic reflection. "Haha. Very funny." He commented dryly, but couldn't keep the smirk off his face. "You know, you look like you could use a little…"
Robin scooped a small amount on one finger and smeared in on her nose. She let out a shriek of both surprise and amusement, pulling away just seconds too late. This only encouraged him further, however, as he tried to get a little more on her. But she was a fast learner, ducking before he had the chance while managing to acquire a small amount of her own ammo. Namely, the entire can. They were now at a stalemate, with Robin at a clear disadvantage, and she was giving him an uncharacteristically impish grin.
"You wouldn't dare…" Robin challenged, slowly backing away from the Tamaranian. She pretended to advance for a few seconds before hesitating and lowering the can in a sign of submission. Taking the bait, Robin let down his guard and moved closer…only to have a shower of whipped cream spurted all over him: "Hey, no fair!" he whined, grabbing her wrists to hopefully prevent any more 'surprises.'
She let out a squeal at his sudden action and tried to wiggle her way out, but Robin held tight, twisting her around so that he could grab the other arm. The half-empty can clattered to the floor and innocently rolled away, suddenly all but forgotten by the two teens.
Koriand'r struggled vainly against his hold; drawing her hands in close to her waist until her back was leaning up against his broad chest with both his arms wrapped around her. Yet, in spite of the close proximity, neither noticed, as they were too preoccupied with their laughter to the point where it became difficult for either of them.
"Yo, Robin!" A voice called out from the den, "You coming!"
"In a sec!" he answered, almost having forgotten that it was Movie Night at the Tower.
Releasing his hold (somewhat reluctantly), he grabbed a towel from the sink and wiped off his face and the drops of cream from her hair. Koriand'r was gleefully licking the whipped cream off her fingers; so he motioned for her to come over and gently wiped her face clean as well. The two shared a smile as he gingerly ran the soft material across her cheek and nose, being extremely careful not to hurt her.
"Come on," he said, taking her hand and leading her into the adjacent room.
The three other Titans were already seated in various places on the couch when the duo entered the room, Koriand'r once more reverting to her state of shyness and hovering close to Robin. Raven was off to the side, buried in one of her gothic novels while the other two continued their argument over that night's choice of movies—like they did every week.
"Look who I brought." Robin announced, immediately drawing their attention.
Koriand'r shrunk behind him under their gaze, but offered a timid smile. She was greeted with a warm reception before everyone returned to their previous tasks. Taking a seat beside Robin, she curled up in a more comfortable position, with her knees bent and feet resting comfortably beside her. Within minutes, a mutual agreement between parties had been made and the opening credits to a nineties horror film began.
From the moment the first scene began, she was captivated. There had been devices like these on her home planet, though it had been far too long for her to remember experiencing a night like this. The language was still very foreign to her, so she often did not understand the jokes, but found herself laughing right along with the others. As time passed, her eyelids fluttered slightly and she had to stiffen a yawn several times.
Halfway through the movie, Raven glanced over at the duo. Koriand'r looked to be asleep, her head resting comfortably on Robin's shoulder, and smiling softly. The boy either didn't notice or didn't care; though his full attention appeared to be on the big screen in front of him, one hand was protectively holding hers....
~Present Day~
All things considered, Robin did have to admit one thing: at least the food was good.
Two hours had since passed with little incident, though to him, it felt like an eternity. After the initial embarrassment of having Kitten verbally proclaim their presence to everyone as they boarded, the two settled down at one of the reserved tables to eat. Robin was only too relieved she hadn't demanded a pre-prom dinner earlier in the evening.
The room he now sat in was very large—easily the size of a large restaurant—with numerous tables scattered about. Most were large enough to accommodate for several people, though few (such as the one Kitten had dragged him to) were obviously made to seat only two. Many decorations adorned the walls: streamers, balloons, and the like. Glitter-covered stars hung from the ceiling, while multi-colored balloons were let loose, particularly around the dance floor area.
Though the place was dimly lit, save for the glow of a few candles and spotlight, but Robin's eyes easily adjusted to their surroundings. He skimmed the room absently while Kitten was distracted with her meal, until his sight fell upon the refreshment area. Starfire had taken up permanent residence over by the punch bowl, successfully blending in with the rest of the teenage crowd while remaining the timid wallflower he knew her to be. Occasionally, a couple would head in her direction and ask for a drink, which she happily obliged to.
For the first time that evening, a smile appeared on his face. Smart girl, he thought to himself with more than a hint of pride. She's got a clear view of the entire room from over there.
One of the countless waiters appeared, breaking Robin from his train of thought. He swiftly cleared the table of the couple's dishes as Kitten daintily dabbed at her cherry red lips with the cloth napkin, then asked if they would be requesting dessert as well.
"Oh, no thank you." She replied with a dismissive wave of the hand. "Gotta watch my figure, after all."
This from the girl who just ate a sixteen-ounce steak dinner. Thankful she couldn't see, Robin rolled his eyes beneath the opaque mask.
The waiter bowed. "Very good, madam. Will the gentlemen pass as well?" Kitten nodded, and the waiter bowed once more before leaving with the tableware.
A moment of silence followed, immeasurably thick with tension. Kitten leaned her elbows on the table and leaned forward as she rested her chin in both hands, staring dreamily at Robin. The Boy Wonder, however, tried to look anywhere but at her; his found his gaze all-too often drifting back to the refreshment stand.
Kitten's eyes narrowed slightly when it became clear that her own date was purposely ignoring her. Again. Growing increasingly frustrated with the boy's stubbornness, she stood up and walked over to him.
"Come on, Robbie-poo…lets dance!"
He rocked stubbornly in his chair, arms folded, refusing to budge: "I don't dance."
"Oh, come on." She bent down to meet his eyes with hers, purposely drooping the neckline of her dress down an inch or so. "You've never danced before."
"Tried it once. Didn't like it."
She abruptly stood up in a huff, blowing a few loose strands of blonde hair from her face. "Oh, well…" came the reply, in a sickeningly sweet tone. Reaching into the designer bag she'd placed on the table, one hand appeared with a cell phone. "Guess I'll just have to let all those moths onto the city then…" One finger rested just above the dial pad as she smirked sinisterly.
Robin muttered a few choice words under his breath before glancing up. "Wanna dance?" He managed, though clenched teeth.
Before he could react, Kitten had tossed her phone back in the bag and yanked him over to the dance floor, letting out an excited squeal. Robin reluctantly placed his hands on her waist as she wrapped her around his neck, trying to pull the boy closer. A new song rang out just as they began lightly swaying to the beat, the sound of electric piano and guitar permeating the air.
"Oh, Robbie-poo!" She sighed blissfully after a moment, eyelids half closed in what only she could believe was a seductive manner. "From now on, this will always be our song." And, much to his horror, she leaned her head against his shoulder, ignoring the fact that his entire body tensed at the touch.
This isn't a song; it's a bunch of chords playing over and over again!
When the music finally ended—though not soon enough, in Robin's opinion—it was instantly replaced with a more upbeat hip-hop number. Cheers and hollers erupted throughout the room from many who recognized the song. But none were anywhere near as loud or ear-splitting as the shrieks Kitten let out suddenly, dragging Robin over to a collective group of girls to one side.
"Hey, girls!" She exclaimed, waving to get their attention. "Oh, Mary Sue, that dress looks absolutely gorgeous! It suits you perfectly!"
A raven-haired girl with sun-kissed skin and cobalt eyes grinned, showing off perfectly white teeth as she spun around once to show off the form-fitting, midnight-blue dress she was wearing. "Doesn't it just?" She giggled. "But it's nothing compared to yours, honey. Where on earth did you find it?"
The group burst into a fit of giggles as designer names and store locations were rattled off; it was all Robin could do not to cringe from the screeching sound of their voices. They sounded like a bunch of hens on a farm. He turned to one side, where a group of boys—the other girls' dates, no doubt—stood around in a casual manner, seemingly oblivious to the hecklings.
As a second wave of laugher erupted, Robin winced in pain and turned to the guy nearest him. "How can you guys stand it?" He whispered, but got no response. In fact, it was as if they hadn't heard him at all. "…Hello?" He tried again, this time a little louder.
"Hmm…what?" The boy turned, as if noticing Robin for the first time. "I'm sorry. Did you say something?" Reaching into his ears, he pulled out a pair of earplugs. The other boys followed suit.
Robin almost fell over in disbelief…partially from not having thought of it himself.
o*0*o
The sudden change in tempo had startled Starfire faintly. She looked up from her glass of punch to see a group of kids gathering together on the dance floors, cheers and shouts ringing out. The scene reminded her somewhat of the warehouse party scene some time ago, with one major difference. From what she could see, the kids weren't dancing…they were just standing around, attention focused on something that their current presences were blocking from her view.
Floating closer to the scene, she tapped the shoulder of a young girl nearby. "If I may ask, what is it we find so amusing?"
If the girl was either annoyed or bemused by the request, she didn't show it. "I guess you've never seen somebody break-dancing before, have you?" When Starfire shook her head, the girl offered a friendly smile and motioned towards the floor. "Well, see for yourself!"
Fortunately for the young Tameranian, she was slightly taller than most of the crowd, and was barely able to see over their heads. The sight of a young man greeted her, dressed in tuxedo pants and white button-up shirt but lacking the matching jacket and tie. Much to her amusement, Starfire watched as he flopped over the floor, spun around, and performed a number of flips while is fellow classmates cheered him on. Seconds later, he retreated back into the circle, and another boy took his place.
Starfire clapped in delight along with the rest. "Glorious!" She exclaimed to the girl. "Is this something all Earth males can do?"
"Oh, not just the boys…" came the reply, with a mischievous wink. "Watch and learn." Using the bracelet on her wrist, she pulled back her hair into a short ponytail and kicked off her high-heeled shoes before shoving her way to the front. "Outta my way, fellas; let the master show you how it's done."
o*0*o
At a quarter past ten, the speakers let out a sudden ring from the feedback as the latest song came to an end. The DJ—a young man in his early twenties—took to the stage with a wireless microphone.
"Is everyone havin' a good time so far?" He paused as a chorus of 'yeah!'s echoed throughout the room. "That's what I thought. Now then, there's a very special young woman here this evening who wants to sing for y'all, so let's here some noise for one of your fellow classmates…"
A brown-haired girl wearing a simple, autumn colored dress stepped up onstage and was handed the microphone. She was greeted with a warm reception of enthusiastic applause…not to mention, a few catcalls coming particularly from members of the male persuasion. Behind her, a few other students worked quickly to set up their instruments.
"Well, it if isn't little Katie-Lynn." Robin heard one of Kitten's friends call out. "I hate to disappoint you, luv, but this is Junior Prom, not karaoke night." A chorus of hyena-like laughter erupted from the rest of the group, leaving Robin grinding his teeth further.
The girl onstage looked like she was about to respond, when a third voice rang out from somewhere in the back of the room: "Don't you listen to 'em, Kaitlyn! You show those bimbos what real talent looks like!"
The rest of the room burst into soft laughter as Kitten's group scoffed in a mixture of shock and disgust.
"Thanks, Mia." Kaitlyn spoke into the microphone though her own giggles. "This first one's a personal favorite of mine, and I hope y'all like it, too." She nodded to the boy on piano, and the opening bars toThinking Over began.
Robin felt a sudden tug at his arm, and turned to see a group of flustered girls staring at him. "We're off the powder room, Robbie-poo." Kitten stated. "Do your little kitten a favor and get me a drink, kay?" Eyelashes fluttered as Kitten put on a show for her friends, before her gaze turned to a glare as they looked away. "And make it quick!" She hissed before leaving with the other girls.
He let out audible sigh of relief the instant they were out of sight before heading across the room. Reaching into his tuxedo jacket, he pulled out his communicator and flipped it open with open with one hand while walking. "Please tell me you guys have found Killer Moth's hideout." He whispered, almost pleadingly.
Cyborg was the first to answer back: "Not yet, but we did manage to track down your girlfriend's home address." The image of an old-fashioned living room flashed behind him. "…look' like something out of The Brady Bunch, if you ask me."
"She's NOT my girlfr—"
"Hold on." Cyborg interrupted him mid-protest. "Looks like BB might've found something. We'll check back in a few." With that, the link was severed, leaving nothing more than a screen filled with static.
The Boy Wonder sighed in defeat, a groan escaping his lips as he tucked the com. back in his jacket. He looked up to realize his aimless wandering had led him over to the refreshment table, and easily caught sight of Starfire. Feigning as best a smile as possible, he headed straight towards her.
"Having fun?"
Starfire turned to the sound of the voice, smile widening. "Oh, yes. I have enjoyed flowering the wall for much of this evening." She replied enthusiastically; Robin's own smile grew slightly more natural at her innocent tone. "Would you like a cup of fruity beverage, Robin?"
He chuckled softly. "Sure." Carefully using the ladle, Starfire spooned the liquid into a plastic cup and handed it to him. "Thanks, Star." He said before taking a sip…and promptly spit it back into the cup.
"Is something wrong?" She asked him, brows furrowing in confusion.
Robin warily glanced down at the drink in his hand. The last time he'd tasted a drink that strong was…well…never. "Um…Star? How much punch have you had tonight?"
"How much?" She paused for a moment, deeply considering the question. "I suppose I have consumed a few cups worth of liquid. Why do you wish to know?" …then proceeded to sip from her own cup, as if it contained nothing more than water.
Robin stared at her for a moment before shaking his head, vainly resisting the urge to grin.
"Robbie-poo!" He cringed at the sudden unwelcome, familiar sound before turning to see Kitten standing right behind him. She tugged eagerly at his arm, shooting the Tameranian a split-second glare before going on to ignore her. "You promised me another dance, remember?"
Dryly. "I did?"
"Yes. You did." Matter-of-factly.
Robin glanced back towards Starfire in apology. "That is alright; I understand. I have been meaning to…step outside for a moment, anyway." She explained uneasily. Kitten gave her an odd look, but Robin had grown familiar with her broken English and smiled in understanding before Kitten dragged him off.
o*0*o
Starfire rested her arms on the ship railing, leaning forward as she closed her eyes. A sigh escaped her as she felt the warm breeze blow lightly through her hair, gently strewing a few strands across her face. The deck was completely vacant, leaving her alone with the sound of lapping waves against the ship's hull.
Watching her beloved friend and team leader dragged off yet again, she'd decided there was only so much one could take. Several guys had walked up to her since then and offered a dance, but she'd reclined politely each time, opting instead to stand around. There was only one person she wanted to dance with that evening.
A tear trickled down her cheek and dropped into the clear blue waters below, rippling her mirrored reflection. Enough was enough; with a glance back at the darkened room, she took to the air. The initial joy of experiencing "Prom" had worn off as time passed, and suddenly there was no longer any reason to stay. Robin did not need her help, and even if he did, there was little she could do.
The last few words of the music coming from inside drifted out into the night as Starfire rose higher and higher into the sky, but by then, she was too far away to hear them:
"Father, which way should I go? I cannot clearly see. Oh, I love him so. But only…you know…if he's the one for me…"
o*0*o
"Found it."
Never in his life had Robin been so relieved to hear two words through the communicator, a simultaneous chorus from all three of the Titans. It was still tucked away in his jacket, but at a high enough volume for easy hearing. Yet Kitten seemed oblivious to it, in spite of leaning her entire body weight against his. Several times, he'd had to resist the urge to 'accidentally' shove her off.
Kitten lifted her head suddenly and stared at him with dreamy eyes. "Kiss me," she whispered in a husky voice, moving close to brush her lips against his…
…only to have a finger pressed against them at the last moment.
"Sorry. I don't like you that way." She opened her eyes in shock to see a now-smirking Robin. "In fact…I just don't like you."
Kitten's eyes opened as wide as saucers: "WHAT?"
"The Titans are taking down Killer Moth as we speak," Robin explained, holding up the communicator for effect before turning to leave. "We're done here."
"Oh, no we're NOT!" Robin spun back around to see Kitten staring at him with an almost crazed glare, fist clenched at her sides. "Daddy's not calling the shots here tonight, Robbie-Poo…" She abruptly tore off the carnation pinned to her dress, the petal falling away to reveal a hand-held push button: "I am!"
"Daddy?" He repeated in disbelief.
"That's right," came the venomous reply. She quickly reached out, grabbing him by the shirt collar. "And unless you want the entire city to be eaten by my killer moths, you'll pucker up!"
Closing her eyes once more, Kitten leaned forward. Her lips puckered together in a grotesque way, giving the impression that she was some kind of mutated fish.
Beads of sweat trickled down Robin's forehead as he vainly tried to escape her grasp. His eyes drifted downward; the controller was at her side, clutched tightly in her right fist. With Kitten somewhat distracted for the moment, if he could only reach…a little further…
Got it!
Kitten let out a shrill cry of surprise as Robin tried to grab the device out of her hand. But she held on tightly, grasping it with both hands until the two were engaged in a fierce tug-of-war battle. Around them, crowds of people had begun to form, watching the events unraveling before them. Most were unsure of what else was happening to do much else.
To Robin's great surprise, the lithe blonde managed to hold tight, giving the Boy Wonder a run for his money. She's stronger than I thought… Until, finally, he caught her off balance and both Kitten and controller were caught in his arms.
"Hey, you!"
The voice drew the attention of Robin and Kitten alike, the latter of which suddenly gasped in delight: "Fang!" she exclaimed, as if the previous events up until that moment had never happened. Robin followed her gaze, eyes widening at the sight.
"That's you boyfriend?"
He'd heard about Fang several times that evening, primarily from Kitten herself. Yet in spite of all her rants, ever last repugnant word she'd uttered about him—most of which were in comparison to himself—the last person Robin would ever have suspected was the boy heading straight for them.
The crowd parted to reveal none other than the arachnid-headed criminal he and the other Titans had been chasing earlier in the day, after thwarting his jewelry store robbery. It was hard to tell, but Robin had the distinctive feeling that spider boy was glaring exceptionally deep at him…and his current position wasn't helping much, either.
"Get your hands off my girl!" Fang demanded, shoving him the ground. The controller was consequentially knocked from Robin's clutches as he was pinned to the ground. All around, crowd of people burst into a fit of hysterics, a few girls starting to scream as they desperately tried to get out of the way of the impending battle.
Fang hovered over the boy menacingly, hot breath blowing across his face as his razor-sharp fangs gleamed in the spotlight. It would only be a matter of time before they made contact. Robin tried to worm his way out, but the spider leg on top of him was also sharp, and dug into his chest whenever he moved. At the last moment, however, he felt a sudden release in pressure as Fang was knocked off by a familiar looking orb of green light.
All eyes turned to the open doorway wordlessly in time to see a very pissed-off looking Starfire, hands and eyes glowing brightly in fury:
"Keep your legs off my boy!"
TO BE CONTINUED...