Okay, I know that Logan is Beast Boy's last name, and Grayson is Robin's, but I thought it would work better if I did it that way. Logan's last name it not Logan Logan or Grayson Grayson. They just don't have last names. It gives the mystery, if you understand that. I'm just saying that I did it on purpose. And I know Coriander is not the way Starfire's is spelled, but I didn't know how to spell her other name so, I am sorry.
Kern sighed in displeasure as he pored alcohol onto a white cloth and pressed it against the cut above Corrie's eyebrow that was bleeding profusely. Corrie hissed in pain.
Starfire held back tears, and Robin stroked her back soothingly, watching Kern as worked his magic on his daughter. At the moment, she was brooding, her arms folded over her leather jacket.
"Coriander, what happened?" Kern asked as he ran his hand over the wound, his hand glowing a light yellow. Kyle, Cyborg and Caitlin's youngest son, tugged on Corrie's black jeans. She glanced down and for a moment, her hard green eye softened. She ruffled his hair and his grinned.
But her smile fled when the tower door swung open, the laughter of Logan and a girl flowing through the room. He threw Corrie his usual glare, but noticed the bandage above her eye. And her cheek was starting to turn purple from a bruise.
Corrie turned her eyes downcast, watching Kyle and Grayson play together. Kern patted her knee and stood up, his knees cracking.
"I fixed it so it won't leave a scar." Kern said with a hint of disappointment. Rhea, who sat next to Corrie, grabbed her fingerless gloved hand and patted it. "Corrie, you need to be careful." Corrie never glanced up. She stood, never making eye contact with anyone, yet keeping her eyes straight ahead.
The girl who was with Logan grabbed her arm, and Corrie stopped suddenly. The girl threw back her short red hair, and she looked at Corrie as if she were below her. "Your that girl that Thane keeps talking about. You're the one he keeps beating up, aren't you? Thane's my brother, you see, and he talks about you none stop." The girl grinned, her voice pleasant, but the look in her eye said otherwise. "Well, I hope you and Thane fix things up. He seems to have a strong liking for you."
Corrie tilted her head to the side, her eyes dull. Then she brought back her fist and planted it into the girl's eye. Logan caught his date as she fell back, her screams ringing through the tower. Logan glanced at Corrie with hate filled eyes.
Corrie dropped her bruised hand at her side. "Tell Thane that I said hi." And she walked off towards her room. Logan glanced down at the girl, and carted her off to his car to take her home.
Corrie waited patiently. She knew he was coming, and was more than prepared to defend herself. She started to count in her mind the minute she heard the stomps. Five...four...three...two...one. And her door slid open and Logan bounded in, his fist clenched.
"How could you do that? I like her and you ruined it by giving her a black eye! Luckily, she still wants to date, but still! God, Corrie! Do you know how many times you've ruined my life? How—"
"How can I ruin your life when I have not talked to you in three years. If you haven't noticed, she is Thane's sister and—"
"What does Thane have to do with this?" She glanced up at him. "You really don't know do you? Or do you just not care?"
"Know about what?" She pushed down the pain that radiated through her heart. "Never mind. It does not matter. And I am sorry I ruined your life by merely existing. I apologize for being born." She smiled at him, but her eyes were mocking him.
"Damn it, Corrie, why do you have to be so damned sarcastic?" Corrie stood up and walked over to the mirror, checking to see how bad her bruises were. She looked like hell. Her long hair had fallen out of her braid when the fight started, and now hung down her back in tangles. Her white shirt was torn and her leather jacket had seen better days. She reached for her foundation and applied it to her cheek, to hide the bruise.
She heard Logan growl. "Damn, why do you keep coming home with bruises? A abusive boyfriend, perhaps?"
"If you knew anything about me, you'd know that I never had had one, so therefore that rules out the whole abusive boyfriend thing. I have no friend except Dru, and never talk to people therefore I cannot make enemies. Though that happens to be the case." She blinked, her words confusing her. "Wait, that came out wrong." She looked deep in concentration and Logan almost wanted to smile.
"Corrie, you turn 16 in two days—"
"Wow, you remembered." Her watched her and found that she was actually serious.
"I always remember you birthday."
"You forgot my 14 and 15, Logan. Raven bought me a present and said it was from you, but I knew that you forgot, because she can't write like you. She said the card was from you, but it wasn't."
Waving away the guilt, Logan said, "As I was saying, you turn 16 in two days and that is when Apollo is supposed to strike. How can you forget—"
"I didn't—"
"And would you quite interrupting me for God's sake?" He stomped a foot in frustration and Corrie had to smile, but it was sad. "You've changed since your were thirteen." She turned back to her mirror and rubbed the foundation in. "A lot of things have change since you were thirteen." She glanced down, screwing the cap back on the make up.
"It's weird. I used to know everything about you, your likes, your dislikes, but now, I know nothing. But, the same goes for you. You know nothing about me and I don't think you ever did." She started to arrange things on her dresser.
"Maybe...if and when we defeat Apollo...I can live with Dru and get out of your way. I mean with me gone you'll never have to worry about brining someone home or me lashing out at them. You can live however you want. Dru had asked me many of times to live with her and I have always turned them down. Now...now I think I will."
Logan was speechless. "Why would you want to live with her?"
Corrie rolled her eyes. "Either you are truly dumb, or you're just scraping the edges, so not to cut to the real truth." Without her knowing it, Logan had stepped up behind her and laid his hand over hers, which seemed to be obsessed with rearranging things.
"Corrie..."
"What?"
"What really happened?"
Her eyes fluttered up to meet his in the mirror. "What do you mean?" He was trying to control his temper. "You know what I mean." His voice softened as her ran a clawed finger over her bruised cheek.
She turned her face away and busied herself with rearranging her lotions. With a low growl, Logan grabbed her shoulders and spun her around so she faced him. He placed his hands on either side of her waist and leaned in so she was looking straight at him. The closeness had her letting out a breath. He was close...too close.
"Corrie, answer me." She blinked and had to look away. Close, too close, was all that formed in her mind. "Uh, what did you ask again?" He let out an aggravated breath, pulling back and ran a hand through his hair.
When he stepped back, she pushed him, making him stumble and practically ran out of her room. She left him standing there, blinking rapidly in confusion. He let out a huff of breath and rubbed his sore chest were she had pushed him. And that's when he saw it. A little black book with a very masterfully drawn skeleton head was lying on top of her dresser, hidden by bottles of lotion and body spray. He stepped forward, then took two steps back.
Wait! No! Bad me! I can't take that...it's Corrie's...but...but it looks so...so tempting. And his legs seemed to have a mind of their own. He reached out to take it, but his hand stopped.
"I can't do this." He swatted his hand so the little book fell. He was about to say something when he noticed the book was still closed. He glared and kicked it with his foot so it opened and then grinned. He held a hand up to his mouth, like he found something of interest. Then, just for the hell of it, he struck a superman pose. "I will help the innocent Corrie by picking up her diary. I shall now fetch it." He picked it up, his eyes glowing with mischief. He stuffed it under his shirt and creped out of her room.
Starfire sighed, snuggling back against her husband's chest. "Robin, I fear Corrie is turning dark, more than Raven." Robin kissed her shoulder. "Starfire, don't worry. She might just be going through a phase."
Starfire turned to face him, watching his eyes that were voided of the mask. She had been the only one to see the true color if his eyes. Blue.
"Robin, I am not worried about her personality or the way she dresses, but about Apollo, and all the fights she seems to be involved in. I'm just afraid that one day...she won't just come home with a busted lip or a black eye...but something far worse. What if she is killed or raped or—"
Robin kissed her slowly, cutting off what she was about to say. Truthfully, he did not want to think along those lines. Corrie was able to protect herself, and she would never allow anyone to touch her...but wait. If she couldn't prevent all the fights, then she might not be able to stop a horny male. Robin sat up fast, staring off into space.
"Maybe...we should have Logan follow her..." Starfire sat up, clutching the white sheet to her bare chest. "Yes. Maybe we should." They jumped out of bed and threw on their clothes, and ran out the door, heading for Logan's room.
Logan sat down on his bed, the black book tossed carelessly in top. He laughed evilly, reaching for the book when someone knocked on his door. He mumbled a few curses, searching frantically for a place to hide in!" Just as the door opened, he shoved it under his pillow fast. Robin and Star walked in, hand in hand, and looked a tad but uncomfortable.
Robin was the first to speak. "Logan...we've been thinking about all these fights that Coriander has become involved in and..." He seemed to be searching for the right words.
Starfire sighed. "Logan, we are afraid that she will be raped or killed and we were wondering if maybe...you can protect her...stay around her."
Logan's eyebrow drew together, the diary long forgotten. "Why would you think she would be raped?"
"We know she can protect herself...but it seems as if she cannot stop everything. She comes home with busted lips and bruised skin and we fear that she might not be able to stop an attack on her if she cannot even stop a few cuts and bruises." Starfire was about to break down. Robin pulled her close to him; his head resting on hers and his eyes were dull, as if he were not there, but in his own imagination.
Logan thought about it, but not for long. For the first time in a while, he started to think about Corrie. Her parents were right. She was coming home with bruises and cut constantly, and what if the goons who beat her hurt her and take advantage of her while passed out? He had no idea if that had already happened and did not want to think about it.
"Okay, I will." Starfire and Robin's eyes were thanking him.
"I know it might interfere with your dates, but—"
"I don't care. As long as I protect Corrie, it doesn't matter." Starfire and Robin smiled, then walked out of the room. Robin turned in the doorway. "Thank you, Logan. You don't know what this means to us." And the door slid shut behind them. Logan started at the vacant room, his mind troubled.