Lifeline
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Strands
The mid-morning sun shone fully through the window. Starfire frowned, her hand rising to try and block away the light. That's when she realized how warm she was, she opened both eyes to find Robin sleeping peacefully by her side. His arms around her waist, his eyes bare. She wasn't too startled to find herself like this with Robin, after all she had been sleeping in his bed for the past week.
But what truly shocked her was to feel her breasts pressed intimately against Robin's side. First shock, second shock was when she realized she was indeed naked, third shock was to find that Robin was as well naked. Last night's memories came flooding through her mind, her expression relaxed as she remembered the previous night's events.
A wide smile spread across her features. She watched as the rays played around Robin's dark strands of hair. His ivory skin taking in the fullness of the sunrays, she thought he looked absolutely adorable. Her heart ached with the dream of waking up to his face every day for the rest of her life.
But for now her life would be very short, never the less she still wished to wake up to him every morning. She giggled softly the light movement radiating from her chest causing Robin to greet consciousness. His eyes half opened greeting a pair of emerald eyes and a very happy smile.
"Morning beut'ful"
"Good morning Robin, sleep well?" He caught the teasing emphasis in the question.
"Wonderful" His lips covered hers in a chaste kiss. "What time is it?"
"Umm....the clock points it is 12:07 'PM'"
"12:07? Man, we really slept in late"
"Well we were *very * tired"
He laughed at her comment. "Oh yeah, VERY tired. You wore me out Star"
She poked the side of his ribs, incautiously pressing herself closer to him. She blushed at the remembrance that her bare chest was pressed against his skin. But he didn't seem to take much notice for he kissed her lips.
"Thank you"
"Whatever for Robin?"
"For last night...for right now, for always. I love you"
She pressed her ear against his chest right above his heart. "I love you too" Her voice a whispered, seem to come from a thousand miles away.
"What you thinking about?" He asked while playing with her dark red strands.
"Everything...and nothing."
"That's deep" He joked.
"Our friends must be wondering where we are"
"Let them"
"But we skipped breakfast, what if they come loo..."
"I'm NOT sharing you today, period"
She looked at him quizzingly. "Sharing me?"
"Yes. Sharing you. I have to share you everyday with everyone but I'm not gonna share you today"
"Oh really?"
"Really"
"And how might I ask are you planning on doing that my love?"
His brain stopped working at the 'my love' his mind repeated the word in his min over and over. She had never called him 'my love' she'd called him my darling once but it had been meant as a joke. He would have never though one silly nickname could melt his heart so quickly.
"I'm kidnapping you"
"What?" Her eyebrows rose as he looked at him weirdly. She lifted her head to look into his face and was happy to find a very comical smile accompanied by a spark in his eyes.
"Kidnapping you, you can't leave my room. We're staying here"
"And for how long are you planning on kidnapping me for Robin?"
"Oh I don't know, I guess it all depends"
"On what?"
"On how much alone time we get"
"But we will go hungry!"
"We could always live on the cookies hidden under my bed"
"YOU DO NOT!!" She warned panicked causing Robin to break into laughter. She soon followed their laughter filling the room.
"YO ROBIN YA THERE MAN?" A loud deep voice was heard from the other end of the door. Robin looked at Star panicked but she only giggled softly.
"YEAH, CYBORG I'M HERE"
"DUDE IT'S NOON ALREADY GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUTT AND OUT HERE. WE CAN'T FIND STAR ANYWHERE"
Robin looked at Starfire who now looked panicked as well.
"UMM, YEAH I MEAN NO! I MEAN SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING OUT FOR A WALK A FEW HOURS AGO"
"A WALK? SHOULDN'T SHE BE BACK ALREADY?"
"UMM YEAH I'M SURE SHE'LL BE BACK ANY MINUTE NOW"
'Why would Star go out for a walk and just tell Robin? Why is Robin still in bed and how come the dude actually let her go out on her own? He hardly ever lets her out of his sight! No way man, something's fishy 'round here' Concluded Cyborg.
"K MAN BUT WAKE UP ALREADY IT'S LATE!"
"OK"
Robin and Starfire let out the sigh they didn't know they were holding. They looked at each other their eyes softening as they stared into the others.
"We better get up"
"Yeah we better"
None of them actually did anything but keep staring. Star kissed his swollen lips once again before reluctantly standing up using the sheet to cover herself. He gave her a cute pout, which almost won her over.
"We must go outside. We are both hungry and our friends will get suspicious" She defended.
"I know, I know but I'm still Not sharing you"
She giggled softly before looking around the room.
"Robin where is my shirt?"
He shrugged but his eyes looked like the ones of a three year old after doing something he knew he shouldn't have done. She eyed him suspiciously, her hand on her waist while tapping her foot gently against the floor.
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"Starfire"
"Yes friend Raven?"
Raven walked up to her suspiciously. Once she was close enough the pale skin titan stood on her toes and pushed away some strands of Star's red hair. Revealing the skin beside and under her ear.
"Starfire what is that?" Asked Raven her voice sounding alarmed.
"What is what Raven?"
"You know what" Raven raised on eyebrow but seeing Star's clueless expression she decided to help her out. She pointed at the blue-purplish spot beside under her ear. Starfire turned her eyes trying to see but couldn't, Raven floated a mirror from Star's desk over to them holding it up for the Tamaranian to see.
"That" Her voice was sharp and to the point. Star's cheek blushed a very bright red and looked down at the floor.
"It is...ummm"
"A hickey!" Pointed Raven.
"Umm, I suppose so"
"From Robin?"
"Umm yes"
"You didn't go for a walk this morning did you?"
Star turned five different colours of red.
"Thought so. So...umm so you really do *it *?"
Star nodded still looking at the floor. Raven grew a bit uncomfortable.
"You ok?"
Starfire looked up still blushing and nodded to her friend. Raven nodded and continued helping Starfire clean her wrists.
"So I suppose he knows about this?"
"Yes, he saw them last night"
"I don't think you should hide it from them anymore"
"I know but...I do want Cyborg to be upset like I know he will be every time he sees my wrists and Beast Boy will just worry"
"So you'll keep hiding your symptoms?"
"For as long as I can" Raven nodded a bit, wrapping a band bandage around her wrist as she had done to the other.
"Starfire, please don't hide it from me. I can handle it"
Star smiled at her friend Raven had truly changed since she gave her the crystal. It wasn't anything huge but from before it was a big accomplishment. The two girls spent a lot of time talking or sometimes just meditating. Raven seemed to open up more to Star and Star liked having a best friend that was a girl, she liked knowing they could share anything and it would be their secret.
Star turned her hand so she could take Raven's hand. "I know you can and I trust you" She gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze before retrieving her hand. Raven's cheek suddenly turned a dark pink shade.
"Star you don't have to answer if you don't want to but...what was it like, to...you know"
"Well umm, it was quite wonderful and strangely warm the only other word to describe is loving" She stated shyly. Raven nodded in understanding no more words were shared for a while.
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Days later:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"So now you put more flour in the dough"
"Like this?" Asked Star as she poured more of the white powder in the dough. Cyborg nodded he had seen Star trying to make a cake and failing on it so he had decided to help her out.
"Yeah like that. Now you got the hang of it"
"What do we do next?"
"You let it bake for about 30 minutes." He said as she placed the metal container in the oven.
"All right then, thank you for your assistance Cyborg"
"No biggie"
She smiled gratefully and proceeded on tidying up the kitchen. Unfortunately the giant bag of flour she was trying to put away broke from the side making the kitchen disappear in a white cloud. Once the flour settled the emerald-eyed girl and metallic titan were covered in flour from head to toes.
Cyborg cleared his eyes from the flour, Star doing the same looked around to find a flour covered Cyborg in a white kitchen with a priceless look on his face. Starfire burst out laughing sending the flour on her face flying. After a few moments Cyborg snapped out of his small trance to find the girl in front of him laughing her heart out. After looking around the kitchen and seeing her in the same flour covered state he followed her laughter sending even more flour flying to the ground.
The smaller cloud of flour caused by Cyborg's laughter made both of them laugh even more. Soon Star collapsed on the floor laughing even more while Cyborg just switched. Beside her Star found a small pile of flour on the ground picking some of it up she decided to throw it at her laughing friend. Causing Cyborg's face to be again covered in a flour cloud. After seeing who was the causer of his new flour blurred vision he threw all the white stuff on Starfire.
Who just continued to laugh and squeak at the funny situation. After a few more minutes Cyborg sat beside Star, trying to stop the laughter.
"So Star, looking a little white there?" He teased throwing her into a fist of giggles again.
"And you (giggle) look like a giant (giggle) snow ball!" He laughed as well. After a few minutes of quieting down Beast Boy entered the kitchen to find it all covered in white stuff.
"What the hell happened here?" He asked as he saw Cyborg and Starfire sitting on the floor covered in the white stuff.
"Kitchen accident" Said the half robot sending his companion in crime back into a first of giggles.
"Beast Boy I think you need to go fetch the calming gas. Star is about to laugh out her stomach." The giggling girl managed to calm down.
"That was very amusing" She commented happily. A ring was heard from the oven Cyborg opened the oven door and took out a perfectly well cooked cake. Showing it off at Starfire and Beast Boy with a pleased smile.
"Yep, all it needed was flour"
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"How long has she been like this?"
"Going for 7 hours"
"Seven hours!" The three friends stared at the green titan.
"Yeah seven hours"
"How does she do it?" Raven kept staring at the screen but after 30 seconds she had to look away...she couldn't take it anymore.
"You're telling me she's been watching Walt Disney movies for the past seven hours?" Half yelled Robin.
(A.U: I have NOTHING against Disney movies I personally love most of them but I needed to use them. Forgive me all Disney movie fans...including myself, yeah I forgive myself)
"Yeah, it started by Cinderella on TV. Then she went to rent five more Disney videos. This is her third one so far and counting"
"I think I want to throw up"
"Maybe we should knock her unconscious."
"Naw, she's too strong for that."
"Is she still showing sings of intelligent life?"
"Only one way to find out" Robin and the team approached the red haired girl carefully. Star completely oblivious of the world outside the princesses didn't even see her friends approaching. Robin, raven, Cyborg and Beast boy watched as Star sat on the couch a bowl of popcorn on her lap and her eyes wide open.
"She's possessed" Whispered Beast Boy who was staring at her with fear.
"Ah, Star...are you ok?" The girl didn't even seem to hear them.
"STARFIRE!" Yelled Cyborg. This time she looked their way smiling warmly at them.
"Oh, forgive me friends I did not see you. Is there something you required?"
"No, just checking your brain hadn't been dissolves after 7 hours of Disney movies" Commented Beast Boy earning him a bump in the head from Raven.
"My brain?" She looked confused for a second. "Oh you mean my viewing of the children's videos? They are quite amusing and interesting. You are very lucky to grow up with such movies"
"More like forced" Raven's sarcastic remark was funny enough to make Beast Boy smirk.
"You might want to take a break, they can really fry your brain after a while"
"Actually I am finding it quite enjoyable. I especially enjoyed umm...what was it, Mulan? Her story resembles one of my planet"
"That is actually a pretty decent movie" Commented Raven. Everyone stared at the pale skin titan with wide surprised eyes.
"There was nothing else on TV ok!" She defended her reputation was been put on the line after all.
"You mean things like that happen in Tamaran?" Asked Robin suddenly showing interest in the topic.
"Yes, we still have to get through much if we wish to join any military posts"
"That sucks"
Star nodded lightly remembering her own hardships when she had to join the military. She was a lieutenant now, she proudly earned her title. But not without many put downs and letdowns. Her mood became weary as she remembered her childhood. Between the fighting, the military and the taking care of children she really hadn't had a childhood.
Memories of her brother and Tita'ia filled her mind once more. But she was able to snap out of it before her friends noticed.
"Do you wish to view the movies with me?" She invited. She watched as her friend's faces filled with a slight fear causing her to giggle. She would never admit it but she enjoyed putting her friends in situations like this.
"Ahhhh I don't think so Star...I think I have to go....umm regenerate! Yeah charge up an' stuff. Well se ya!" With that the half robotic titan headed to the hallway full speed. Raven looked uncomfortable.
"I have to go meditate." She announced before walking quickly toward her room. Robin gulped and looked nervously at Star.
"Umm Star... umm I..."
"It is all right Robin I do not mind, you can go." She said with a smirk. She didn't feel like putting her beloved in such psychological pain, as she knew he would be, but he would pay her back for this. There was a certain place she'd been meaning to go to.
Robin smiled and in a quick movement he kissed the girl's cheek whispering a thank you before disappearing into the dark hallway. Starfire sighed in disappointment that all her friends had run away but she looked down to find the green titans still with her.
"I'll watch the movie with you Star." Said Beast boy cheerfully Star's smile widened as she pulled the shape shifter into a bear hug.
"Thank you Beast Boy!" She squeaked.
"No problem" Beast Boy and Starfire made their way back to the couch where they sat together eating popcorn and watching the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
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A small music box played a soft melody as she combed her dark red hair. She continued combing strand after strand, as it was part of her morning routine. She had again slept with Robin again the night before though they hadn't done anything since their first night together a week ago. She continued brushing her silky hair while thinking about her life.
She wondered what is would be like when she wasn't around anymore. She feared for Robin, she trusted Raven would take care of Beast Boy and Cyborg but she was afraid for Robin. He tended to close up to people and not let anyone in. She feared he would never let anyone into his heart ever again after she was gone.
A deep selfish part of her was happy with this, he would never look into another girl's eyes and not see her again. He would never be in the arms of another girl. Or kiss another girl's lips. But her other greater part was disturbed by this she did not want Robin to be alone the rest of his life. She wanted him to be happy.
For a moment her thoughts came back to the present and to her hair. That's when she noticed several strands that were a light shade of orange not red like they were supposed to be. Floating to her mirror she began carefully examining her hair. She was right, there were several strands lighter than the rest.
She practically ran to a bureau, stumbling over the cushion beside her bed. She opened a thick book written in Tamaranian. Flipping the pages quickly she found the line she was looking for and read.
'Change of hair colour will occur ending phase 3 of Merel. Cause: the cells loosing nutrients. Not all hair will loose colour only strands of it. Depending on one's hair colour the change will appear. Dark hair: Grey; Red: orange; Yellow: white. No hair loss is expected'
Star let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. She wouldn't loose any hair but strands of it would turn orange. The medical book was old and with broken language but she could understand it well enough. She touched her hair tenderly playing with some strands.
With every passing day the nightmare became closer. With every passing day her sickness got worse.
'Great, first my hormones then mood changes then my wrists and now my hair, what's next my eyes?' She thought angrily then a look of fear clouded her eyes. Flipping to the next page she read.
'A red spot will appear below the heart where the energy core is located in the end of phase 4'
She shut her eyes slamming the book closed. It wasn't fair it just wasn't fair. Just then the alarm went on snapping Starfire out of her misery thoughts and to her doorway.
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"Please!"
"NO!"
"But I!"
"No Star!
"I CAN fight!"
"You're sick. You're staying right here!" Ordered the masked titan as he and the others headed to the exit.
"But I could still fight"
"We're not taking the chance Star. You almost got hurt last time" Starfire looked at Cyborg sadly remembering their last battle.
"We'll be right back Star, don't worry" Said Beast Boy trying to cheer her up a bit. He could only imagine how she felt.
Raven gave Star's shoulder a light squeeze before all four titans disappeared to the exit leaving a sad Starfire behind.
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She carefully flipped page after page of the thick photo album. Laughing every time a funny picture appeared, savouring the precious moments that had been caught in a picture. Her eyes studied different pictures. There was one of Raven and her meditating in the lounge with a green giant sneaky bear behind them. Ready to scare the living daylights out of them.
There was another picture taken seconds later in which Raven and Starfire had their mouths wide-open, eyes wide and looked just about ready to jump to the ceiling. She chuckled at the funny picture, Raven had nearly killed Beast Boy right after his little 'harmless' prank. And of course there was a picture of Beast Boy running full speed around the lounge with a furious Raven giving out a lot of dark energy behind him.
She saw another picture of Cyborg with his car. She thought the car was very 'shiny' and pretty but she couldn't quite understand why Cyborg loved it so much. She flipped to page to see a picture of the team in the park with Terra, the 'only' picture with Terra in it. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl. They had known nothing about her in almost a year. She remembered how depressed Beast Boy had been after she left.... twice.
Raven had been especially understanding. The picture at her side showed just how understanding, Raven all mighty emotion controlled Raven had a tofu dog in her hand and was eating it! Robin had taken that picture for 'prosperity' proof of the unbelievable. She flipped the page again to find one of her all time favourite pictures. It was one of Robin and her together but what was peculiar about the picture was the look of pure surprise and delight on the boy wonder's face.
She remembered he had been sitting on the couch watching TV when she had sneaked beside him surprising him by wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling for the expected picture. He a look of pure shock mixed with something else on his face. The whole stunt had actually been a dare Beast Boy had come up with.
She suddenly felt extremely tired as is something was pushing her to lie down. Her eyelids felt as heavy as weights. Lying down on the soft couch she closed her eyes and drifted off to la la land.
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"Dude, how could one puny robber cause so much trouble!"
"He may be a puny robber but he sure could run!"
"Man, I'm hungry"
"The chase was pointless. We were running around like chickens" (Guess who said that)
The four titans walked into the lounge the window reflecting the few sunrays passing through the clustered clouds.
"Hey where's Star?"
Cyborg walked closer to the couch as he spotted a trace of red hair on the couch. He turned to his friends placing a finger over his mouth to 'silence' them and signalled down. They walked closer to find Starfire curled into a ball sleeping peacefully. Cyborg's robotic eye caught the shine of the sun on a few orange strands. Finding it curious how those few strands reflected and the rest didn't the half mechanic titan kneel down beside the girl ignoring Robin's curious look.
Carefully as if not to wake her he took a few strands of her hair and observed them carefully.
'No, these are not red. They're orange but how? Why?' He gave his friends a worried look.
"What is it?" Whispered Robin.
"Her hair, these strands are...orange"
"How can they be orange? She's a red hair! Duh"
"That's not what I mean. They've changed"
"Are you sure?"
"My eye caught the colour difference. They definitely changed"
"A symptom maybe?"
"May be"
"Do you think Star knows?"
"She knows" Assured Raven softly.
"How do you know?"
Raven looked away she couldn't tell them. That would be violating Star's trust and privacy.
"Raven if you know something you shou..."
"No she should not, I should" Interrupted a sleepy sweet voice. Starfire rubbed her eyes cutely while looking at her friends her conscious mind having been awake for a few minutes.
"Your observations are correct Cyborg. My hair has changed and it is a symptom"
"When were you going to tell us"
"I just found out myself minutes before the alarm sounded."
The group was silent for a little while just analysing everything. It seemed like every time they turned around she was one step closer to the death.
"Will it change much more?"
"I do not know. The medicine book does not say much about Merel" She sighed hating the look of worry in her friend's faces. "Where you successful in catching the robber?"
"Oh yeah, but he gave us a wild goose chase" Star looked confused at the expression her mind started working on possible meanings 'matching the words' a trick Beast Boy had suggested. After a while her confused look changed into her normal one.
"What did you do while we were gone?" Asked Cyborg as his eye spotted the picture album.
"I was looking at some old pictures of the team. And dinner's ready!" She called as she walked to the kitchen. The titans exchanged a worried look, Starfire cooking wasn't a good thing her last 'cream of toenails' had tasted just like it sounded. Beast Boy had made it a hobby to name each and every one of her planet's dishes with a name. Which much to Starfire's panic she'd began to use herself.
"Do not worry friends it is not 'cream of toenails' or 'melted bubblegum' it is simply steak and tofu" She said trying not to laugh.
"That sounds great!" The four titans let go of the breath they didn't know they were holding and followed her to the kitchen.
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Hello everyone! Sorry for taking so long to write one chapter but they ARE pretty long. Thank you all for reviewing I will be answering reviews right now but for everyone: The web site I promised you (sorry I couldn't get it to show in the chapter until someone so kindly suggested a way for me to do it) is IN MY PROFILE BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT TO APPEAR ANYWHERE SO IT IS IN MY PROFILE!! But I broke it down so it would show please just backspace the spaces, thank you.
Ignore the picture I hate it.
Ophelia: THANK YOU SO MUCH! Thank you for the website I spent 2 hours in there. And thank you for your review I'm glad you like the story.
Diana: Poor you, its very hard to explain *it* to children younger than you.
Casey Chimera: Thank you so much, you made me blush. I'm so happy you think so much of it. I thought perhaps I was wrong in getting Blackfire in there and making her so emotional. But I'm glad you think it fitted nicely.
Jess: Thanks don't worry I will finish it, I just love romance!
Bunny 133: I'm flattered that my story may be something to look forward after school. Thank you hope not to disappoint you.
Eryan: Aww thanks.I'm sorry for taking so long its just that it's a lot to write and I have stupid school. But I try my best!
Dragon Girl323: Thank you!!! I don't rock but that's one of the nicest things I've heard. And please do go on rambling I love long reviews. Hehe
The Ultimate Newbie: Wow thank you so much! You're just been modest I'm sure you could do a far better job than me. I'm still kinda a rookie but I'm learning!
Flying Star: I'm always too lazy to sign in hehe. Laziness what are we to do about it? Oh yeah! Obey it! Ok, thank you for the thumbs up.
Gizmo's Study buddy: Umm is Gizmo really that smart or is he just freaky smart? (Just kidding) I couldn't resist sorry. I'm very sorry to tell you that I don't think Lsade will be appearing on my story, mostly because I really really hate him and in almost every story he appears which is frustraiting for me. Thank you so much!
Thank you everyone! I hope you liked it. No one is reading this are they? Nope, oh well its fun to just go on talking to myself. Umm I wonder who is actually bored or interested enough to read this. Ummm I HATE MY MATH TEACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE MATH TEACHER! I'm sooooooo sorry I just really couldn't help myself. I'm very stressed.
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Strands
The mid-morning sun shone fully through the window. Starfire frowned, her hand rising to try and block away the light. That's when she realized how warm she was, she opened both eyes to find Robin sleeping peacefully by her side. His arms around her waist, his eyes bare. She wasn't too startled to find herself like this with Robin, after all she had been sleeping in his bed for the past week.
But what truly shocked her was to feel her breasts pressed intimately against Robin's side. First shock, second shock was when she realized she was indeed naked, third shock was to find that Robin was as well naked. Last night's memories came flooding through her mind, her expression relaxed as she remembered the previous night's events.
A wide smile spread across her features. She watched as the rays played around Robin's dark strands of hair. His ivory skin taking in the fullness of the sunrays, she thought he looked absolutely adorable. Her heart ached with the dream of waking up to his face every day for the rest of her life.
But for now her life would be very short, never the less she still wished to wake up to him every morning. She giggled softly the light movement radiating from her chest causing Robin to greet consciousness. His eyes half opened greeting a pair of emerald eyes and a very happy smile.
"Morning beut'ful"
"Good morning Robin, sleep well?" He caught the teasing emphasis in the question.
"Wonderful" His lips covered hers in a chaste kiss. "What time is it?"
"Umm....the clock points it is 12:07 'PM'"
"12:07? Man, we really slept in late"
"Well we were *very * tired"
He laughed at her comment. "Oh yeah, VERY tired. You wore me out Star"
She poked the side of his ribs, incautiously pressing herself closer to him. She blushed at the remembrance that her bare chest was pressed against his skin. But he didn't seem to take much notice for he kissed her lips.
"Thank you"
"Whatever for Robin?"
"For last night...for right now, for always. I love you"
She pressed her ear against his chest right above his heart. "I love you too" Her voice a whispered, seem to come from a thousand miles away.
"What you thinking about?" He asked while playing with her dark red strands.
"Everything...and nothing."
"That's deep" He joked.
"Our friends must be wondering where we are"
"Let them"
"But we skipped breakfast, what if they come loo..."
"I'm NOT sharing you today, period"
She looked at him quizzingly. "Sharing me?"
"Yes. Sharing you. I have to share you everyday with everyone but I'm not gonna share you today"
"Oh really?"
"Really"
"And how might I ask are you planning on doing that my love?"
His brain stopped working at the 'my love' his mind repeated the word in his min over and over. She had never called him 'my love' she'd called him my darling once but it had been meant as a joke. He would have never though one silly nickname could melt his heart so quickly.
"I'm kidnapping you"
"What?" Her eyebrows rose as he looked at him weirdly. She lifted her head to look into his face and was happy to find a very comical smile accompanied by a spark in his eyes.
"Kidnapping you, you can't leave my room. We're staying here"
"And for how long are you planning on kidnapping me for Robin?"
"Oh I don't know, I guess it all depends"
"On what?"
"On how much alone time we get"
"But we will go hungry!"
"We could always live on the cookies hidden under my bed"
"YOU DO NOT!!" She warned panicked causing Robin to break into laughter. She soon followed their laughter filling the room.
"YO ROBIN YA THERE MAN?" A loud deep voice was heard from the other end of the door. Robin looked at Star panicked but she only giggled softly.
"YEAH, CYBORG I'M HERE"
"DUDE IT'S NOON ALREADY GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUTT AND OUT HERE. WE CAN'T FIND STAR ANYWHERE"
Robin looked at Starfire who now looked panicked as well.
"UMM, YEAH I MEAN NO! I MEAN SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING OUT FOR A WALK A FEW HOURS AGO"
"A WALK? SHOULDN'T SHE BE BACK ALREADY?"
"UMM YEAH I'M SURE SHE'LL BE BACK ANY MINUTE NOW"
'Why would Star go out for a walk and just tell Robin? Why is Robin still in bed and how come the dude actually let her go out on her own? He hardly ever lets her out of his sight! No way man, something's fishy 'round here' Concluded Cyborg.
"K MAN BUT WAKE UP ALREADY IT'S LATE!"
"OK"
Robin and Starfire let out the sigh they didn't know they were holding. They looked at each other their eyes softening as they stared into the others.
"We better get up"
"Yeah we better"
None of them actually did anything but keep staring. Star kissed his swollen lips once again before reluctantly standing up using the sheet to cover herself. He gave her a cute pout, which almost won her over.
"We must go outside. We are both hungry and our friends will get suspicious" She defended.
"I know, I know but I'm still Not sharing you"
She giggled softly before looking around the room.
"Robin where is my shirt?"
He shrugged but his eyes looked like the ones of a three year old after doing something he knew he shouldn't have done. She eyed him suspiciously, her hand on her waist while tapping her foot gently against the floor.
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"Starfire"
"Yes friend Raven?"
Raven walked up to her suspiciously. Once she was close enough the pale skin titan stood on her toes and pushed away some strands of Star's red hair. Revealing the skin beside and under her ear.
"Starfire what is that?" Asked Raven her voice sounding alarmed.
"What is what Raven?"
"You know what" Raven raised on eyebrow but seeing Star's clueless expression she decided to help her out. She pointed at the blue-purplish spot beside under her ear. Starfire turned her eyes trying to see but couldn't, Raven floated a mirror from Star's desk over to them holding it up for the Tamaranian to see.
"That" Her voice was sharp and to the point. Star's cheek blushed a very bright red and looked down at the floor.
"It is...ummm"
"A hickey!" Pointed Raven.
"Umm, I suppose so"
"From Robin?"
"Umm yes"
"You didn't go for a walk this morning did you?"
Star turned five different colours of red.
"Thought so. So...umm so you really do *it *?"
Star nodded still looking at the floor. Raven grew a bit uncomfortable.
"You ok?"
Starfire looked up still blushing and nodded to her friend. Raven nodded and continued helping Starfire clean her wrists.
"So I suppose he knows about this?"
"Yes, he saw them last night"
"I don't think you should hide it from them anymore"
"I know but...I do want Cyborg to be upset like I know he will be every time he sees my wrists and Beast Boy will just worry"
"So you'll keep hiding your symptoms?"
"For as long as I can" Raven nodded a bit, wrapping a band bandage around her wrist as she had done to the other.
"Starfire, please don't hide it from me. I can handle it"
Star smiled at her friend Raven had truly changed since she gave her the crystal. It wasn't anything huge but from before it was a big accomplishment. The two girls spent a lot of time talking or sometimes just meditating. Raven seemed to open up more to Star and Star liked having a best friend that was a girl, she liked knowing they could share anything and it would be their secret.
Star turned her hand so she could take Raven's hand. "I know you can and I trust you" She gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze before retrieving her hand. Raven's cheek suddenly turned a dark pink shade.
"Star you don't have to answer if you don't want to but...what was it like, to...you know"
"Well umm, it was quite wonderful and strangely warm the only other word to describe is loving" She stated shyly. Raven nodded in understanding no more words were shared for a while.
~^~^~^Beepbeep~^~^~^beepbeepbeep~^~^~
Days later:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"So now you put more flour in the dough"
"Like this?" Asked Star as she poured more of the white powder in the dough. Cyborg nodded he had seen Star trying to make a cake and failing on it so he had decided to help her out.
"Yeah like that. Now you got the hang of it"
"What do we do next?"
"You let it bake for about 30 minutes." He said as she placed the metal container in the oven.
"All right then, thank you for your assistance Cyborg"
"No biggie"
She smiled gratefully and proceeded on tidying up the kitchen. Unfortunately the giant bag of flour she was trying to put away broke from the side making the kitchen disappear in a white cloud. Once the flour settled the emerald-eyed girl and metallic titan were covered in flour from head to toes.
Cyborg cleared his eyes from the flour, Star doing the same looked around to find a flour covered Cyborg in a white kitchen with a priceless look on his face. Starfire burst out laughing sending the flour on her face flying. After a few moments Cyborg snapped out of his small trance to find the girl in front of him laughing her heart out. After looking around the kitchen and seeing her in the same flour covered state he followed her laughter sending even more flour flying to the ground.
The smaller cloud of flour caused by Cyborg's laughter made both of them laugh even more. Soon Star collapsed on the floor laughing even more while Cyborg just switched. Beside her Star found a small pile of flour on the ground picking some of it up she decided to throw it at her laughing friend. Causing Cyborg's face to be again covered in a flour cloud. After seeing who was the causer of his new flour blurred vision he threw all the white stuff on Starfire.
Who just continued to laugh and squeak at the funny situation. After a few more minutes Cyborg sat beside Star, trying to stop the laughter.
"So Star, looking a little white there?" He teased throwing her into a fist of giggles again.
"And you (giggle) look like a giant (giggle) snow ball!" He laughed as well. After a few minutes of quieting down Beast Boy entered the kitchen to find it all covered in white stuff.
"What the hell happened here?" He asked as he saw Cyborg and Starfire sitting on the floor covered in the white stuff.
"Kitchen accident" Said the half robot sending his companion in crime back into a first of giggles.
"Beast Boy I think you need to go fetch the calming gas. Star is about to laugh out her stomach." The giggling girl managed to calm down.
"That was very amusing" She commented happily. A ring was heard from the oven Cyborg opened the oven door and took out a perfectly well cooked cake. Showing it off at Starfire and Beast Boy with a pleased smile.
"Yep, all it needed was flour"
~^~^~^Beep~^~beepbeep~^~beep~
"How long has she been like this?"
"Going for 7 hours"
"Seven hours!" The three friends stared at the green titan.
"Yeah seven hours"
"How does she do it?" Raven kept staring at the screen but after 30 seconds she had to look away...she couldn't take it anymore.
"You're telling me she's been watching Walt Disney movies for the past seven hours?" Half yelled Robin.
(A.U: I have NOTHING against Disney movies I personally love most of them but I needed to use them. Forgive me all Disney movie fans...including myself, yeah I forgive myself)
"Yeah, it started by Cinderella on TV. Then she went to rent five more Disney videos. This is her third one so far and counting"
"I think I want to throw up"
"Maybe we should knock her unconscious."
"Naw, she's too strong for that."
"Is she still showing sings of intelligent life?"
"Only one way to find out" Robin and the team approached the red haired girl carefully. Star completely oblivious of the world outside the princesses didn't even see her friends approaching. Robin, raven, Cyborg and Beast boy watched as Star sat on the couch a bowl of popcorn on her lap and her eyes wide open.
"She's possessed" Whispered Beast Boy who was staring at her with fear.
"Ah, Star...are you ok?" The girl didn't even seem to hear them.
"STARFIRE!" Yelled Cyborg. This time she looked their way smiling warmly at them.
"Oh, forgive me friends I did not see you. Is there something you required?"
"No, just checking your brain hadn't been dissolves after 7 hours of Disney movies" Commented Beast Boy earning him a bump in the head from Raven.
"My brain?" She looked confused for a second. "Oh you mean my viewing of the children's videos? They are quite amusing and interesting. You are very lucky to grow up with such movies"
"More like forced" Raven's sarcastic remark was funny enough to make Beast Boy smirk.
"You might want to take a break, they can really fry your brain after a while"
"Actually I am finding it quite enjoyable. I especially enjoyed umm...what was it, Mulan? Her story resembles one of my planet"
"That is actually a pretty decent movie" Commented Raven. Everyone stared at the pale skin titan with wide surprised eyes.
"There was nothing else on TV ok!" She defended her reputation was been put on the line after all.
"You mean things like that happen in Tamaran?" Asked Robin suddenly showing interest in the topic.
"Yes, we still have to get through much if we wish to join any military posts"
"That sucks"
Star nodded lightly remembering her own hardships when she had to join the military. She was a lieutenant now, she proudly earned her title. But not without many put downs and letdowns. Her mood became weary as she remembered her childhood. Between the fighting, the military and the taking care of children she really hadn't had a childhood.
Memories of her brother and Tita'ia filled her mind once more. But she was able to snap out of it before her friends noticed.
"Do you wish to view the movies with me?" She invited. She watched as her friend's faces filled with a slight fear causing her to giggle. She would never admit it but she enjoyed putting her friends in situations like this.
"Ahhhh I don't think so Star...I think I have to go....umm regenerate! Yeah charge up an' stuff. Well se ya!" With that the half robotic titan headed to the hallway full speed. Raven looked uncomfortable.
"I have to go meditate." She announced before walking quickly toward her room. Robin gulped and looked nervously at Star.
"Umm Star... umm I..."
"It is all right Robin I do not mind, you can go." She said with a smirk. She didn't feel like putting her beloved in such psychological pain, as she knew he would be, but he would pay her back for this. There was a certain place she'd been meaning to go to.
Robin smiled and in a quick movement he kissed the girl's cheek whispering a thank you before disappearing into the dark hallway. Starfire sighed in disappointment that all her friends had run away but she looked down to find the green titans still with her.
"I'll watch the movie with you Star." Said Beast boy cheerfully Star's smile widened as she pulled the shape shifter into a bear hug.
"Thank you Beast Boy!" She squeaked.
"No problem" Beast Boy and Starfire made their way back to the couch where they sat together eating popcorn and watching the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
~~^~~^Beepbeep~^~^beep~~beep^
A small music box played a soft melody as she combed her dark red hair. She continued combing strand after strand, as it was part of her morning routine. She had again slept with Robin again the night before though they hadn't done anything since their first night together a week ago. She continued brushing her silky hair while thinking about her life.
She wondered what is would be like when she wasn't around anymore. She feared for Robin, she trusted Raven would take care of Beast Boy and Cyborg but she was afraid for Robin. He tended to close up to people and not let anyone in. She feared he would never let anyone into his heart ever again after she was gone.
A deep selfish part of her was happy with this, he would never look into another girl's eyes and not see her again. He would never be in the arms of another girl. Or kiss another girl's lips. But her other greater part was disturbed by this she did not want Robin to be alone the rest of his life. She wanted him to be happy.
For a moment her thoughts came back to the present and to her hair. That's when she noticed several strands that were a light shade of orange not red like they were supposed to be. Floating to her mirror she began carefully examining her hair. She was right, there were several strands lighter than the rest.
She practically ran to a bureau, stumbling over the cushion beside her bed. She opened a thick book written in Tamaranian. Flipping the pages quickly she found the line she was looking for and read.
'Change of hair colour will occur ending phase 3 of Merel. Cause: the cells loosing nutrients. Not all hair will loose colour only strands of it. Depending on one's hair colour the change will appear. Dark hair: Grey; Red: orange; Yellow: white. No hair loss is expected'
Star let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. She wouldn't loose any hair but strands of it would turn orange. The medical book was old and with broken language but she could understand it well enough. She touched her hair tenderly playing with some strands.
With every passing day the nightmare became closer. With every passing day her sickness got worse.
'Great, first my hormones then mood changes then my wrists and now my hair, what's next my eyes?' She thought angrily then a look of fear clouded her eyes. Flipping to the next page she read.
'A red spot will appear below the heart where the energy core is located in the end of phase 4'
She shut her eyes slamming the book closed. It wasn't fair it just wasn't fair. Just then the alarm went on snapping Starfire out of her misery thoughts and to her doorway.
~^~^~^~beep~^beep~~~~~beep^
"Please!"
"NO!"
"But I!"
"No Star!
"I CAN fight!"
"You're sick. You're staying right here!" Ordered the masked titan as he and the others headed to the exit.
"But I could still fight"
"We're not taking the chance Star. You almost got hurt last time" Starfire looked at Cyborg sadly remembering their last battle.
"We'll be right back Star, don't worry" Said Beast Boy trying to cheer her up a bit. He could only imagine how she felt.
Raven gave Star's shoulder a light squeeze before all four titans disappeared to the exit leaving a sad Starfire behind.
~~^~~^~~^~Beep~~^
She carefully flipped page after page of the thick photo album. Laughing every time a funny picture appeared, savouring the precious moments that had been caught in a picture. Her eyes studied different pictures. There was one of Raven and her meditating in the lounge with a green giant sneaky bear behind them. Ready to scare the living daylights out of them.
There was another picture taken seconds later in which Raven and Starfire had their mouths wide-open, eyes wide and looked just about ready to jump to the ceiling. She chuckled at the funny picture, Raven had nearly killed Beast Boy right after his little 'harmless' prank. And of course there was a picture of Beast Boy running full speed around the lounge with a furious Raven giving out a lot of dark energy behind him.
She saw another picture of Cyborg with his car. She thought the car was very 'shiny' and pretty but she couldn't quite understand why Cyborg loved it so much. She flipped to page to see a picture of the team in the park with Terra, the 'only' picture with Terra in it. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl. They had known nothing about her in almost a year. She remembered how depressed Beast Boy had been after she left.... twice.
Raven had been especially understanding. The picture at her side showed just how understanding, Raven all mighty emotion controlled Raven had a tofu dog in her hand and was eating it! Robin had taken that picture for 'prosperity' proof of the unbelievable. She flipped the page again to find one of her all time favourite pictures. It was one of Robin and her together but what was peculiar about the picture was the look of pure surprise and delight on the boy wonder's face.
She remembered he had been sitting on the couch watching TV when she had sneaked beside him surprising him by wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling for the expected picture. He a look of pure shock mixed with something else on his face. The whole stunt had actually been a dare Beast Boy had come up with.
She suddenly felt extremely tired as is something was pushing her to lie down. Her eyelids felt as heavy as weights. Lying down on the soft couch she closed her eyes and drifted off to la la land.
~~^~~^beep~~^~~beep~~^beep~
"Dude, how could one puny robber cause so much trouble!"
"He may be a puny robber but he sure could run!"
"Man, I'm hungry"
"The chase was pointless. We were running around like chickens" (Guess who said that)
The four titans walked into the lounge the window reflecting the few sunrays passing through the clustered clouds.
"Hey where's Star?"
Cyborg walked closer to the couch as he spotted a trace of red hair on the couch. He turned to his friends placing a finger over his mouth to 'silence' them and signalled down. They walked closer to find Starfire curled into a ball sleeping peacefully. Cyborg's robotic eye caught the shine of the sun on a few orange strands. Finding it curious how those few strands reflected and the rest didn't the half mechanic titan kneel down beside the girl ignoring Robin's curious look.
Carefully as if not to wake her he took a few strands of her hair and observed them carefully.
'No, these are not red. They're orange but how? Why?' He gave his friends a worried look.
"What is it?" Whispered Robin.
"Her hair, these strands are...orange"
"How can they be orange? She's a red hair! Duh"
"That's not what I mean. They've changed"
"Are you sure?"
"My eye caught the colour difference. They definitely changed"
"A symptom maybe?"
"May be"
"Do you think Star knows?"
"She knows" Assured Raven softly.
"How do you know?"
Raven looked away she couldn't tell them. That would be violating Star's trust and privacy.
"Raven if you know something you shou..."
"No she should not, I should" Interrupted a sleepy sweet voice. Starfire rubbed her eyes cutely while looking at her friends her conscious mind having been awake for a few minutes.
"Your observations are correct Cyborg. My hair has changed and it is a symptom"
"When were you going to tell us"
"I just found out myself minutes before the alarm sounded."
The group was silent for a little while just analysing everything. It seemed like every time they turned around she was one step closer to the death.
"Will it change much more?"
"I do not know. The medicine book does not say much about Merel" She sighed hating the look of worry in her friend's faces. "Where you successful in catching the robber?"
"Oh yeah, but he gave us a wild goose chase" Star looked confused at the expression her mind started working on possible meanings 'matching the words' a trick Beast Boy had suggested. After a while her confused look changed into her normal one.
"What did you do while we were gone?" Asked Cyborg as his eye spotted the picture album.
"I was looking at some old pictures of the team. And dinner's ready!" She called as she walked to the kitchen. The titans exchanged a worried look, Starfire cooking wasn't a good thing her last 'cream of toenails' had tasted just like it sounded. Beast Boy had made it a hobby to name each and every one of her planet's dishes with a name. Which much to Starfire's panic she'd began to use herself.
"Do not worry friends it is not 'cream of toenails' or 'melted bubblegum' it is simply steak and tofu" She said trying not to laugh.
"That sounds great!" The four titans let go of the breath they didn't know they were holding and followed her to the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hello everyone! Sorry for taking so long to write one chapter but they ARE pretty long. Thank you all for reviewing I will be answering reviews right now but for everyone: The web site I promised you (sorry I couldn't get it to show in the chapter until someone so kindly suggested a way for me to do it) is IN MY PROFILE BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT TO APPEAR ANYWHERE SO IT IS IN MY PROFILE!! But I broke it down so it would show please just backspace the spaces, thank you.
Ignore the picture I hate it.
Ophelia: THANK YOU SO MUCH! Thank you for the website I spent 2 hours in there. And thank you for your review I'm glad you like the story.
Diana: Poor you, its very hard to explain *it* to children younger than you.
Casey Chimera: Thank you so much, you made me blush. I'm so happy you think so much of it. I thought perhaps I was wrong in getting Blackfire in there and making her so emotional. But I'm glad you think it fitted nicely.
Jess: Thanks don't worry I will finish it, I just love romance!
Bunny 133: I'm flattered that my story may be something to look forward after school. Thank you hope not to disappoint you.
Eryan: Aww thanks.I'm sorry for taking so long its just that it's a lot to write and I have stupid school. But I try my best!
Dragon Girl323: Thank you!!! I don't rock but that's one of the nicest things I've heard. And please do go on rambling I love long reviews. Hehe
The Ultimate Newbie: Wow thank you so much! You're just been modest I'm sure you could do a far better job than me. I'm still kinda a rookie but I'm learning!
Flying Star: I'm always too lazy to sign in hehe. Laziness what are we to do about it? Oh yeah! Obey it! Ok, thank you for the thumbs up.
Gizmo's Study buddy: Umm is Gizmo really that smart or is he just freaky smart? (Just kidding) I couldn't resist sorry. I'm very sorry to tell you that I don't think Lsade will be appearing on my story, mostly because I really really hate him and in almost every story he appears which is frustraiting for me. Thank you so much!
Thank you everyone! I hope you liked it. No one is reading this are they? Nope, oh well its fun to just go on talking to myself. Umm I wonder who is actually bored or interested enough to read this. Ummm I HATE MY MATH TEACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE MATH TEACHER! I'm sooooooo sorry I just really couldn't help myself. I'm very stressed.