Chapter 6: Introspection
AN: So I gave in, this is a rather Starfire/Robin focused reflective chapter…
Sigh, I wish they'd air the final 4 episodes of season 2 soon in the U.S. I've already seen Aftershock II, but Aftershock I still looks so extremely cool, I saw a few clips of it through some clandestine clips and wow, it just looks awesome, so I suppose the wait will be worth it. Just things to look forward to, there is a tad bit of Raven/BB interaction. I didn't get to see the full scene, but apparently, Raven gets knocked over after Terra attacks her. Then, as Raven is lying on the street, BB puts his arm around her and helps her up. There's this other clip where Terra hurls a rock at Robin, who isn't being observant at that point. Star takes the hit for him, but falls into the raging water below her and then Robin screams out her name very emotionally. Ah, then there's this rather large mud fight between Terra and Raven…some very cool scenes indeed. But alas, fellow U.S. compatriots, we have to wait a few more months to see that episode in its entirety.
Lady Karmina: Thanks for reading (yea I know, I sort of self advertised there), but I do hope this new chapter (unlike the last one) will be up to bat. Oh and do update "Ring Around the Rosies" soon, it's such a great story. Honestly, that fic is one of the rare ones that leaves me literally on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter, and it's written so well that even if you do make it R/R in the end (though I prefer S/R) I honestly won't mind. BTW, slowness on my part but what does "Ja ne" mean (is it like bye or something), I've seen it so many times, though I haven't been sure of its meaning.
Dillpops: I do like the British spellings of words (ex. I prefer writing grey as opposed to gray), man, I wish I could do a British accent. They just make the language sound so neat and lovely, yes I'm strange. Yea, about the hard to follow, the last chapter was just disjointed and I think I wanted to make the divisions clear between character shifts but sometimes just when it's uploaded it doesn't really work out. Oh and your story, write more soon if you have time. I think you left off with a rather nasty cliffhanger lol.
Lizzy0888: Thanks! You know your reviews are always so positive, perhaps overly positive b/c it pumps up my self-esteem. Honestly, if there's anything wrong with the fic tell me, I'd like to know how to improve. AP exams: yes! They went all right, English and Biology, but Calculus killed me. Now that exam is truly evil, cruel and unusual punishment.
AcrazyTeenager2005: I've avoided elaborating on how they dress (but cool, good imagination!) b/c I honestly can't picture Robin w/o his mask lol/dressed more normally. Yea, I'm planning to go back and eventually revise the last chapter. Heh heh, I was hoping people wouldn't notice the plot incongruities like that little Terra part, but I do hope this chapter makes a bit more sense.
ScarletAngel68: Thanks for the compliment, I'm trying to make Aus more appealing b/c they're so fun to do and can really expand the scope of what can happen in fan fics. Ah, I don't want to give away the storyline (though read chapter 1, the spoilers/plot synopsis to perhaps get an idea of where I am going with this), I want to keep you all guessing, but the next chapter will focus on Raven and BB.
Otherworlder: Yep, I'm not. Oh wow, seriously, Cyborg and his dad didn't have a good relationship? This was all just guessing and an attempt to create side plots to the story. Well with the Justice League, Bruce Wayne in this story is supposed to be the Bruce Wayne from the league aka Batman, though Robin and the others don't know this. A major premise of the story is for Robin to find out who Bruce really is.
The Sage of Story: Whoa, very long review lol. I don't know, but I have a hard time doing BB. I usually write serious stories and he's just such a comedic guy that sometimes I don't' think what he thinks or just the writing goes along with his personality. Oh and I think if you tried to do Cyborg, you'd do a good job w/ him like you did w/ BB and Raven especially. I just feel bad for Cyborg. I mean he's a great character, just that he seems to never get in the spotlight. He's always the lone man out and yea, I think he deserved his own little side plot line. Yes and exams, they're over! (Well at least the APs) So I have more time for the stories. LOL and I agree Sunshine10 does need to update her stories, they're just so awesome and so close to the real thing. Hm…but have you read Post's "These Black Eyes". It's really good as well and his characterization is as good as Sunshine10's.
Nightling: It's great that your still reading this story, do continue to read it ! Yea, it was rushed cuz I wanted all the characters to "come together" in one chapter and avoid doing another 2 parter chapter.
Flyingpiggies: LOL. All right, motivated by the wackiness of the review, I tired to update sooner so the craziness dones't build up (but a bit of insanity never bothered me). Lol dancing with toasters and yum, I got sprayed with chocolate! And on the same topic, when are you updating your story, you really do humor well and man, you just stopped when it was getting all suspenseful?! Lol see if I don't dance with a toaster or maybe some other appliance like a blender next time I review your story.
Willow182: Awesome, a loyal reviewer. I think that I did make Star's talking a bit off from the earlier chapters, but I'll try to move it back on track in this one. I just hope that this chapter came within a reasonable amount of time.
BurnedFighter: I'm glad you liked the chapter and I always like getting your reviews, they're always so positive and supportive. Don't be afraid to criticize.
Lulugir715: Last and certainly not least, you lol. Ok, many many apologizes. I'm in high school and there's just so much to do. In English class alone, though our major AP exam is over, we still have to write a narrative essay, do a short story, AND do a presentation on a short story, so lots of stuff to do. And so very sorry for not updating Stardom. But as time builds up, I keep getting these new ideas for it which is good. So for Stardom, I guess wait until summer (sorry!) but the chapters they will incorporate episodes of TT that they're filming and actual live action b/n the actors/actresses. I did write part of the last chapter though .
On with the story after an overly long response and notes section…
One would have had to been insane not to have thought the day as the perfect spring day. The heavens were bright, the flowers in full blossom or budding gently, almost to be woken in a moment's notice, and everything was just so alive and vivid. Even the winds sang a soft willowy breeze, murmuring of the beauty of yester-spring. And for Starfire, everything was just perfect. She could not even imagine Raven being her usual brooding self. Why the world just sang of unbounded joy! If she were not in the midst of people, she would have pranced around as a child in the park, skipping about and singing one of the old hymns of home.
"Lovely." She whispered softly as not to disturb the quintessence of the world around when a few scattered petals of a cherry blossom flew into her palm. She studied the colors of the petals for a bit, then sat down on a nearby stone bench, and pulled out a sketchpad. Flipping to a page with a rose-laced blouse on it, she took out a small box of colored pencils and began trying to imitate the powdery pink color of the flowers. She cocked her head and stared up at the cherry trees surrounding her, how perfect each branch, each green leaf, and each blossom was. To see such magnificence, Star mused; it would be impossible to doubt the existence of a glorious God.
There were no such trees in her home just endless fields of heather and forget-me-nots in the summer. She shut her eyes, envisioning the puerile fields of home. She could still feel the gentle sun warming her face as she collapsed into the amber fields of drying grass. Everything just smelled crisp like the burning of vanilla incense or maybe it was something gentler like lilac…She shook her head. She was forgetting- those minute details of home that she swore she would always remember; they were just floating away into oblivion. It was only natural, though. She hadn't yet gone home ever since she arrived in the city about half-a year or a bit longer ago. Oh, she did miss her home terribly and she had not achieved all that she had desired. If it had not been for her friends, her special four friends especially, she would have been back at tome again. Star turned her head a bit as she studied the color she had make the blouse-she had gotten the shade of pink just right, but the shirt still seemed too bland. Perchance, she wondered, a bit of heather or forget-me-not blue would do it some good.
Sometimes, though, she wondered why she tried so hard. Her sister Blackfire never seemed to appreciate her designs anyhow-calling them too old fashioned and childish, all in all too sweet. "Sis, the girl-next-door look is just not something we do…you need to add more spice, make it more daring, more risqué." Well at least her sister had looked at the sketches.
Blackfire…dear old Blackfire. It was on a whim that Star had dared to venture to the city and of all places, to her sister's home. It wasn't that she didn't love Blackfire, her eldest sister, but Blackfire had always been interesting to say the least. Blackfire was different from the other Tamarans. She did not indulge in the recitations of the poems of gratitude, friendship, and family, but was instead off, away at some fellow rebel friend's house reading up on witchcraft and tarot cards, which she found far more interesting. She avoided the more treasured town celebrations- Blorthog, Mellowhip, and Cesdrantia to name a few, always feigning sick or throwing a temper tantrum. To sum it up tersely, she wanted to be free.
As Star recalled, though it suddenly became apparent as she saw how well her sister blended in at the city, Blackfire was always overly mature. She had been the first to outgrow their pretend games. "It's silly. We're acting like kids."
Instead of hanging out with Star ("Sister, I seek your companionship…do you care to transverse to the center of shopping and to…"), Blackfire would shut the door to her room and spend countless hours in front of the mirror, covering her face with layers of powder and gleaming her eyes with eye shadow and mascara until she was scarcely recognizable. Blackfire always seemed to have a date with boy far older than her…there were several rumors going around about her…what she did to the boys on the dates. They would always return home with her at some odd hour of the night with flushed faces and shivering bodies. Even the tough ones declared that only after a date with Blackfire, would one really become a man.
And Star's parents were absolutely distraught with what they should do about Blackfire. They were always gentle in front of Star, but in the nights when Blackfire was on one of her dates (or had sneaked out), when they thought that she was fast asleep, she would hear them argue through the night. "Dearest honey, I do not believe that we should engage our daughter Fire of Black in battle. Why do we not just talk to her and express our feelings about her outings with the boys?"
"We tried that last time. Did she listen to one word that we said? She is a disgrace to the family! She's old enough…I say that we leave her on her own if she wishes to commence in such vile behavior."
"Yelling, punishment…that is not the way. Maybe this time she would…"
"I am tired of all this. Can we just not end it simply? She will no longer be our daughter if she continues like this…"
"But…"
These midnight talks would go on and on until Blackfire was of age and in a particularly rowdy argument with her father, Star remembered a shuffle of bags and a loud slam. And that was it, she had not heard from her sister since she came of age and decided to travel to the New city of York…
She was now appreciated at work, though for her measurements and fitting skills. They had deemed her "tailor" of the whole company, making the outfits fit comfortably, yet still allowing the figures of the wearers to show through and be accentuated.
She continued her pursuits in coloring the outfit. The coloring-to get that precise shade-was proving to be difficult. And as she looked around in the park to seek out a color that could guide her in her pigmentation attempts, she observed a familiar figure jogging by. She smirked slightly the spiky raven colored hair and that confident but not cocky gait could only be one person-the coloring was forgotten as she decided to approach him.
His body was pumped with adrenaline as he finally collapsed onto the bench, his heart pounding quickly. He shut his eyes and squirted water onto his face…that was an invigorating 3-hour early morning jog. His spirit, his soul wanted to continue running to feel that freedom as the wind propelled him forward, but his body, his legs were exhausted, not to mention drenched in sweat. He wanted to continue running though, to escape those other thoughts to escape.
"Robin and Cyborg, 150% increase in profits…" Bruce trailed off as he studied his figures.
"Yes, sir." Robin responded tersely, trying to read Bruce's expression as he studied their figures.
"Yes…and we would have had even more if Mr. Slade hadn't swindled us a little on that deal. But Mr. Wayne, rest assured, we will get him next time." Cyborg, in contrast, talked freely. He did seem proud…after all, he was new and did not know of Bruce's expectations.
Bruce grinned slightly at Cyborg's enthusiasm. "Ambition and optimism…I like seeing that. Seeing that it is your first quarter at the company, I congratulate you. A job very well done for a novice, now would you mind giving Robin and me a moment?"
Crud, Robin was going to be getting it this time. No sooner had the door closed when Bruce sighed. "Robin, Robin, Robin…150% increase, only a 20 % improvement from last quarter's earnings. I don't understand…you have such great potential, but you are far from reaching it right now. You've had the best education that money can buy, the best training, and you are still not up to par…" Bruce continued talking, complaining about his lack of work. Robin could only stare down at the table, and just a moment ago, Bruce had been so proud of Cyborg. Sure, he could have worked harder, but in Bruce's eyes, he could always work harder, always do better. Nothing was ever good enough for him.
"Maybe Cyborg is a distraction. You two are pretty close, aren't you? Friends are distractions after all." Robin tuned in again as he heard Bruce mention his friend's name. "I, no, he's a good person to work with."
"But your performance has been lacking"
"I've still improved 20% from last time"
"You and I both know you could do better. And I don't want you holding someone else down by distracting them, like Cyborg. He's a great kid, and I don't want either of you two getting off task."
"But Bruce, we're a team, we work well together."
"Apparently not from the figures. I don't want you slacking off. I'll put in a notice for Cyborg to be transferred to another department."
"Bruce…"
"Robin…"
"Fine." He muttered. "Thank you for considering my well being once again, sir" he tried to maintain a bitterly cool tone to perhaps show Bruce how he really felt, but Bruce never noticed anything.
And he was angry. Bruce, yes, he wanted the best for him, but any sort of joy, any sort of pleasure, once Bruce discovered it, he would rip it away from Robin. He mustn't be immature but it was just so unfair and arbitrary. In frustration, he slammed his fist down on the bench and was surprised when he heard a sudden "yelp."
He turned his eyes towards the "yelp" and met two emerald orbs. "Star? Sorry, didn't mean to do that."
"Friend Robin, I did not mean to startle you. If you wish to be alone, speak and I shall leave, I comprehend."
"Oh no, Star, it's all right. I was just surprised. Hey, here, sit down."
"Robin, are you all right in your well being? If I am correct, people, even people of the city, usually do not slam their fists down upon park benches?" Her melodic voice accentuated each syllable of each word as she stared at him with great concern in a rather flattering manner.
"I-no it's nothing. It'll all be all right, sometime." He shrugged, trying to act as if he wasn't really as frustrated with Bruce as he was.
"You are sure that you do not wish to talk about it? In my home, we would always tell each other of our concerns every night to express the how do you say this…the "bottled up" emotions of the day."
"Yea, it's all right Star." He really did not want to dwell upon the subject any further and decided to talk of something else. "So what are you doing out here this morning? I wouldn't have minded taking you here and showing you around."
"It is all right. I knew not that I would end up here this morning as I set out to explore the wonderments of this city." Her concern seemed to have dwindled a bit. Good. "If I may ask the same of you, why are you here?" She stopped as she noticed all the sweat upon his study body and saw his running uniform on. "I apologize. That was a foolish question. You came here to run…did you not?"
"Yea." He took a generous swig of his water.
There was a long awkward pause as neither of them really had anything intelligent to say to the other. Crap, did he feel stupid. He could think of foolish random items in the news to say to fellow workers, who really meant nothing to him, yet he could manage to say nothing to Star alone, one of his newest close friends. He tried to begin suggesting something of the lovely flowers all around but stopped shortly as he met her calm, patient eyes waiting for him to perhaps say something meaningful. No, he couldn't talk about plants with her and he instead, managed a muffled grunt.
The anger and frustration from earlier was now replaced by a feeling of clumsiness. What could he say? He probably looked like a fool to her at the present moment, and as he debated what to say to her, she abruptly arose. "It has been pleasant speaking with you this morning, Robin. I believe I have wasted too much of your time." She offered him a bright smile as she began gather up her belongings.
"Yea." Could he possibly say anything more intelligentperhaps? It was strange, around Star, whatever emotions he was feeling then, this overcoming feeling of clumsiness would suddenly arise. She had successfully dissipated his rage and disappointment though. "I guess I'll be…" He stopped shortly as he caught sight of a cotton candy stand. Cotton candy, has she had any of that stuff? "Hey wait Star, do you care to have some cotton candy with me?"
"Cotton candy?"
AN: As you may have noticed the quality of writing at the end dissipated, I got tired lol.
But please
Review! Flames, criticism, death threats, and maybe even comments are all appreciated. I want your feedback! Please get me over the big 100 mark!