A/N: Well, after a major discouragement and a terrible week, I'm back with another chapter. Hooray! No excuses, I apologize for the lack of update! ::bows head in shame:: Thank you so much for the reviews, though, they were just what I needed! Especially to kimohno, who is super cool for fighting the WAVESSS of popular opinion! Yay! Alright, okay, yes, here it is! It just focuses on Raven and Starfire's current feelings... the plot shall move sooner or later, I swear! I hope you like it!
Claimer of dis: I'd say I own Teen Titans, but I'm afraid of being killed in my sleep by the people who do. Ouch... my self-esteem.
Just Roommates
Chapter Two - Brainstorm
Starfire slowly opened one eye to see that the digital clock on her bedside table was leering at her again. She pinched her eyes shut and crawled further under the pink comforter. After a few minutes, the air underneath it became hot and thick, and Starfire unwillingly poked her head back out, only to be greeted by another crack outside. She had experienced Earth storms only a few times before but still was having trouble coping with them. Her thoughts wandered billions of miles away to Tamaran. Storms there were frequent, but they were not nearly as loud.
Starfire's parents told her that she was born during a storm, a peaceful storm, and that the quiet rumbling in the sky calmed her screaming and howling after being delivered.
Blackfire told her that she was born of a mutant Gordanian and that it was a completely normal day.
Starfire missed her sister. They never really acted like sisters... more like rivals. Especially back on Tamaran when they were constantly together. They fought over everything girls possibly could: friends, clothes, boys... how Starfire kept her side of the room clean but Blackfire's was messy... how Blackfire won every single of their little catfights... when Blackfire convinced Starfire's school friends that she was indeed born of a mutant Gordanian and they wouldn't talk to Starfire for weeks... but Starfire still missed her because a sister is still a sister. But now Blackfire was getting what she deserved. Starfire wondered what sort of revenge Blackfire was planning as she sat day after day in a prison cell.
She remembered how happy and relieved she was when Robin rescued her from the Centari police and an unfair fate. She remembered how he reassured her that evening on the roof after Blackfire was captured. A peticularly loud crash erupted outside. Ever since she came to Earth, Robin was the source of comfort in her disoriented new lifestyle. He truly meant a lot to her, but she didn't think he understood just how much. She drifted into sleep planning ways, rather unreal ones, to express herself to him.
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Normally a quiet patter of the rain against the windows was something soothing to Raven, and during such a time she would hover effortlessly just above her bed, meditating. She had to do it everyday, every single day, whenever possible, just to keep her powers in check. Obviously it was something the others didn't understand, even Starfire, although Raven could tell Starfire was trying hard to give her space while being a friend at the same time. The others poked fun at Raven when she meditated among them, but called her antisocial when she retreated to her bedroom for some peace. Beast Boy was the taunting ringleader, but it didn't bother her as much as it should. It bothers me more that it doesn't bother me, she thought with increasing irritation.
She was just too distracted. It hadn't rained in a while, but tonight it chose to hammer against the windows. Tonight of all nights, the night when Raven was really anxious to meditate and clear her mind. She glanced over her shoulder at the antique clock on her nightstand, its hands indicating the time was 2:32. Her eyes drifted lazily back to the window as a loud crash sounded outside. She hadn't faltered once in the air as she stretched out her legs from an Indian-style position and touched down smoothly on her bed. At the next flash of lightning, she slowly began to count in her head. Another crash, only seven seconds. The storm was just a little over a mile away. No meditating, fine, but I don't think I'm going to be sleeping either with this storm, she thought. Picking herself up from her bed and snatching the novel from her nightstand, she plopped onto her window seat and shifted to get comfortable. She read a paragraph or two, but the crashes and sparks just next to her were begging for attention. She tossed the book to her feet and rested her head on the wall behind her.
Raven always thought of nature as a way of expressing her feelings, considering when they were expressed devasting things could happen. For example, on nights like this, stormy and rainy, Raven sorted through her troubling thoughts and attempted to put them into order. She wouldn't have to think about them the next day. Less time meditating, less time being teased... by Beast Boy?
A frown immediately crossed Raven's face for thinking about him twice in the past fifteen minutes. Actually, with storms like tonight's, Starfire would usually come knocking on her door for another girl talk. Before Raven could wonder why Starfire didn't come tonight, the time of night crossed her mind. She was disappointed; as reluctant as she is to opening herself up to other people, Starfire knew just how to do it. The last time they talked, it must have been several days ago, Starfire confessed her "secret devotion" for Robin. Like we all didn't see that coming, Raven thought, half bitterly. As Starfire spilled her heart out, Raven's mind wandered to whether she had feelings for anyone or not. Deciding she would consult her emotions the next time she used the mirror, she tried her best to reassure Starfire with the typical, "I'm sure he likes you too," and, "You've really got nothing to worry about, relax." Starfire was content with that and, after a few thank yous, left.
Another boom outside. Several days? Raven still hadn't used her mirror. She glared at it from across the room. She wondered if anyone else was being kept awake with the storm. Starfire, maybe? Thunder always made her jumpy. Not Robin, he can sleep through anything. Cyborg shouldn't wake up unless there's a power surge or outage. ... Beast Boy? She decided to go make some tea.
TBC