Disclaimer: Still don't own Teen Titans

Author Notes: Thank you again for the reviews! I'm always glad to get any feedback, so please review/continue reviewing! This chapter is a little silly, just to warn you. And of course, thanks again to Lovely White Violets.

Chapter 3: Bouncing

Starfire meandered through the streets, keeping to the areas that were well lit by streetlights. She had gone out in search of employment in the daylight a few times before with no success, so she hoped going at night might show her different job opportunities.

As she walked by one of the bigger dance clubs, she noticed a large, burly man having a heated discussion with someone who appeared to be his employer.

"There were ten of them! What did you want me to do, get beaten to a pulp?"

"I wanted you to do your job, which just happens to be to keep people out!"

Starfire approached the arguing pair just as the large man threw up his hands and announced that he quit.

Ah hah! Starfire thought. Many times she had been denied employment because there were 'no job openings at this time', but that excuse surely could not work in this case.

The fact that the manager of the club was still fuming with rage seemed to completely escape the alien girl. With a huge smile, she walked up and cheerfully said, "Hello! I wish to work for you!"

The man looked her over and scowled. "We have enough waitresses." He turned to leave, muttering, "How can we have so many waitresses and no bouncer?"

"Wait!" Starfire protested. "I wish to 'bouncer' for you." She desperately hoped that the man at the door had been bouncing before she arrived.

"You?" the man asked, looking her over again. "How are you going to keep anyone out?"

Understanding dawned on Starfire. Apparently to 'bouncer' also meant to keep others out of the club. "I am stronger than I look," Starfire said with enough conviction to half-convince the man that she was right.

"Well, there's no one else around here beggin' for the job," the man grumbled while he thought about it. "And I suppose one trial night wouldn't hurt anyone..." except maybe this girl, but if she was so hell-bent on having the job, it was her own fault if she got hurt.

The troublemakers might not even want to beat up a girl, and even if they did get into the club, well, that was happening anyway. There wasn't any way he could find a replacement for the rest of the night's shift, so he grudgingly gave his consent for her to stay for the night.

Unfortunately, he didn't give Starfire any idea as to the specifics of her job. As he left her standing at the gaudy entrance of the club, Starfire started bouncing up and down on one foot while she waited for someone to try to get into the club.

Two scantily clad women approached her, giving her a strange look.

They tried to walk past the bouncing girl, but she hopped in front of them. "I cannot permit you to enter," she said sternly.

The fact that she did not appear intimidating in the slightest was due primarily to the fact that while she made this threatening statement, she continued to hop slightly on her right foot.

The women laughed. "Move it, kid."

Starfire scowled. These women were not much older than teenagers. She was not so much younger that she could be considered a kid. "I am sorry, but you cannot enter."

One woman tried to push Starfire out of the way, but to her surprise, the redhead stayed firmly in place, with the exception of the perpetual bouncing.

"I do not wish to hurt you," Starfire informed them.

The two women exchanged glances and both surged forward, hoping to catch the girl off guard.

Starfire pushed them both backwards with ease, sending them tumbling to the ground. She grinned for a moment, thinking, I am victorious!

But her triumph quickly faded. Once again, she had used violence to resolve the situation. She was considering apologizing to the two women when the manager showed up.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"I am keeping people out?" Starfire responded uncertainly, her tone making her response a question. She realized that she had stopped bouncing, so she quickly started hopping again. Perhaps that was why the manager was angry.

But the manager wasn't even looking at her. He was helping the two women to their feet and offering them free drinks.

The women shook their heads and left angrily, shouting insults behind them.

"You'll need more than free drinks to get us to go in there!"

"That girl is crazy! I'm never coming here again!"

Then the manager turned on Starfire. "You don't keep out the customers! Just the troublemakers!"

Starfire nodded seriously, aware now that she had erred.

"What are you doing now?"

"Bouncing," Starfire answered hopefully.

The manager shook his head. "Stop. Please. Just... try to act normal."

Starfire stopped bouncing. "Please, how am I to know who the makers of trouble are?"

"Anyone in a big group," he said. "Wait, maybe I'd better just stay with you and show you."

A half an hour and several real customers later, the manager spotted a group of 'troublemakers'.

Starfire shifted into a fighting stance. "These are bad people, yes?"

The manager looked at her a little strangely. "Uh... yeah."

"Then I will deal with them," she promised.

The first of the troublemakers laughed at the redhead in the purple miniskirt who stood to oppose his group of five friends.

"Please leave," Starfire said, her eyes starting to glow green, a sign that she was irritated by his laughter.

"Why don't you come inside with us?" one asked, grabbing her arm.

"Do not touch me," she said coldly. She might have lost her starbolts and her ability to fly, but her combat skills were none the worse from her emotional doubts. With a flick of her wrist, she threw the teenager to the ground.

After a moment of initial confusion, one threw a punch at her. She grabbed his arm and threw him into two of his friends.

One came at her with a knife, but before he could do any more than wave it menacingly at her, she punched him, sending him flying across the street.

That was enough to convince the troublemakers that going to this particular club on this particular night wasn't quite worth the effort.

Starfire's elation over her victory was once again cut short as she realized that she had used violence, just as those bad makers of trouble had sought to use violence.

The manager didn't seem to share her concerns. "Kid, you're pretty good."

Starfire smiled, but her smile was as uncertain as her emotions. "Then I may come back again tomorrow?"

"For as long as you want, kid. You've got yourself a job."