13
Starfire could not see through the blanket of shadow. Whoever this intruder was,
they hid against the backdrop of Titan's Tower and the dark rocks upon which it stood.
Her emotions already hurt her judgement, and Starfire barely resisted the impulse to discharge her starbolts. Instead she fired a single high over the general area of the shadow. The green flare chased back the dark blanket along the shore and the landscape of the island became visible under a jade hue.
Her flowing cloak was the first thing Starfire noticed. The wind pushed it from it's host and extended a dramatic shadow to the girl. Her hair followed the path of the garment, blowing an overlap over the soft terrain of her face. Although she did not move from her stance, the girl was full of unbridled, silent joy. Her face lit up the beach more than one of Stafire's flares ever could.
Starfire's heart sang as she let sound a delighted squeal. "Raven!" Starfire did not think about how Raven's presence could be possible as she sprinted towards her. She did not see any indication of pain or markings on her face, only a great smile that mirrored her own.
Raven did not move towards Starfire, only opened her arms and waited to receive her. Stafire took full advantage of it as she plunged deep into Raven's grasp, embracing the girl with all the love and emotion she could convey. It was then that any subconscious thought that this may be some hallucination faded. Starfire recognised the touch of the girl who held her during her dying moments, and who she now heard gently weeping into her ear.
The two girls held each other for so long, their tears had made their way to the middle of their backs. Starfire felt no obligation to let go, but did not object when Raven gently pulled away.
"Starfire..." Raven's hand caressed Starfire's face, feeling the tightness of the cheeks that resulted from such a smile. Starfire watched Raven's face as her palm and fingers took knowledge of the curves and tiny eyebrows.
It was then that Starfire's joy dwindled. Raven's eyes stared straight through her. They did not follow the path of the hand, the hand was finding it's way without lead. Raven was not touching Starfire's face as a gesture of love, but as a confirmation of Starfire's appearance. "Raven," Starfire choked. "You are blind."
Raven's joy did not digress under Starfire's woeful tone. Her smile remained as strong as ever. "It's not that bad, it might come back."
"It is of my doing!" Starfire broke from the embrace, and turned to look at the ground. She felt Raven reach after her, however did not let her touch. "You have lost your sight because I gave you that curse."
When Raven found Starfire's shoulder, their embrace was renewed. However,
Starfire could not bring herself to hold Raven as she held Starfire. "I did what I did because I could not live without you." Raven spoke softly into Starfire's ear, and her words quickly alleviated her guilt. "The two of us survived, and that's a blessing."
Stafire turned back to Raven. The anguish Starfire felt was not shared by Raven in any way. The loss of her sight had been crushed by the cheer of her renewed life. "Then, when you spoke of your love for me..."
"I meant every word, Starfire." What remained of Starfire's self-blame was forgotten. The words of Raven lifted her past any emotion she had a name for. It seemed to flow from her to Raven, because although Starfire thought it impossible, Raven's happiness grew even more. So much, the girls could not help but laugh with excitement. "I love you so much."
This time with giggles in place of tears, the two drew each other into a hug. With Raven in her arms, Starfire became happier than she had ever known. The two stayed interlocked until their arms grew tired and sweaty, and still Starfire wished not to let go. "Um, Starfire?" Raven said. "Maybe you should let us down."
Starfire could have stayed in the hold for as long as the night lasted. She knew that Raven would be the first to break the hug. Starfire opened her eyes and saw that she had carried them high into the air. "Ah!" The beach was two dozen meters below, and the sudden shock of height caused her to loose her grasp of Raven.
Raven kept levitated of her own will, and did not allow Stafire's embrace to wane entirely. She held on to her hand, bringing the surprised Starfire back towards Raven's body. "Are you okay?"
"I was startled." Starfire laughed, feeling Raven's hands wrap around her body once more. "I am guessing the increased breeze informed you where we were?"
Raven nodded. "Well, that and I felt a bird brush past my ear." Starfire stopped a moment, then laughed. Raven laughed with her, but quickly changed to a more thoughtful tone. "Starfire, the two of us being together is something I want more than anything in the world, but I doubt it will be easy. I have many things that I must share with you, and I couldn't tell until today if you were ready for them."
Raven wanted to know if Starfire was ready for the journey, and Starfire's answer came very easily. "I do not know what trials lay before us, Raven. However I have chosen to share your pain as much as you chose to share mine." Starfire smiled as she ran her fingers down Raven's shoulder. "It is not a decision I wish to go back on, and I am ready."
She drew Starfire closer to her as Raven's light-hearted attitude returned. "Then this just might work." Starfire laughed as Raven's palm found her face once more. This time it did not only caress, it pulled Starfire towards her. Starfire did not need to be lead,
and Raven's exquisite, dormant eyes fell closed as the two met in a kiss. It was restrained and superficial at first, then Starfire drew Raven in. She felt her body dance with delight as Raven's arms covered Starfire's back. Starfire's hand found itself to the base of Raven's neck and revelled in the feeling of her hair against the skin.
Starfire's eyes remained closed, for she feared if she opened them, she would awake from the wonderful dream. Though even without open eyes, she felt the oddest sensation that Raven was glowing a bright, silver light.
>
Across the river, a man named Glen waited with three teamsters to start the fireworks. "Hey," grunted Tony. "You see that? What is it?"
Glen squinted to see a falling star that seemed to hover in mid-air. "Oh man!" he said as he stumbled to his feet. "It's a signal flare! They've moved the show up." Glen ran to the launch area, calling back; "Hurry guys! Fire them off! Fire them all off now!"
>
The kiss continued. It did not grow tired, it did not grow old. Starfire thought it as fresh and marvellous as when she first received it. It did not even dwindle when the faraway night exploded with dazzling colors. The pounding sounds seemed to come all at once, and neither girl distracted themselves for a moment. What they were doing seemed too precious and too important.
Finally, under much willpower, Raven pulled herself away. Her eyes were still closed, and Starfire had to resist kissing her again. She knew that Raven wanted her to see the fireworks, and while those seemed less important than ever, Starfire turned her head to the side and watched.
They were as beautiful as ever, this time even more so. They had come very early,
as though they had been made specifically for Raven and Starfire. Their love was being illustrated high above the city for the whole world to see, and Starfire, with Raven in her arms smiled under their glow.
She felt Raven's head rest itself on her shoulder, and looked to see that the girls eyes were still closed. "Oh Raven," Starfire sighed. "It is so beautiful. I wish you could see it."
Raven smiled, as though she were dreaming. "I can feel the vibrations against your chest, Starfire. This is the most beautiful thing I could ask for."
End of the Main Story
