Angel-star727:Glad you like it so far!
moezy-chan:Thank you, I actually had fun writing that part.
Jadedea:Thanks, its always good to hear that.
robin and star fan:Whoa! easy killer. Don't worry, the next part is just below all of this. Though I'm an impatient person myself sighs oh well!
Jeanniestorm:Great,I really hope you like all the rest of the chapters.
SweetPrincess:Don't sweat it we all know what little brothers and sisters are like. Glad you've been able to catch my story, and even more glad that you like it. Laters!
kilala63:Thanks, I'm happy to know your enjoying it.
Thanks for all of your reviews and now on with the CHATPER!
Chapter Five
Taking flight from the past
"Alright I'll teach you, but there is something you must understand first." Starfire nodded. "Don't take this personally; it is just the way I was taught by my teacher." He cleared his throat. "Once we begin there is no going back, no quitting; the teacher and the student will have their places and they will respect each other." He didn't really have to worry about respect at all, since both already respected the other a great deal. Starfire let out a short sigh and bowed her head to him. He two of his fingers to her chin and raised it back up. "But you bow to no one." She looked immensely happier at his new smile. She went over each of the rules he put forth and gave him a willing look. "Very well, then are you ready to begin?"
HIMORA'S APPARTMENT…………………….
Himora roughly stuffed various items and weapons into a bag on his scruffy bed. Since his last contact with the mysterious aliens he had been grumbling about his situation. He latched a series of bladed disks to his belt. "The nerve!" He spoke silently but harshly. "How dare they turn me into a slave! Had it not been for me they would be doing their own dirty work. I wonder how long their pride would hold should I target them instead!"
"I'm not sure they'd take too kindly to that." Himora spun around and in the same movement whipped a disk at the intruder. It spun with ferocious speed until it was caught by the darkened figure. "They have made sure that I am well versed in all of your techniques, you are no match for me." The figure pitched it back and it pinned his bag to the wall behind it. Himora squinted until he finally made out who it was.
"And just what are you doing here?"
"Making sure you get the job done, you will still have the pleasure of finishing Starfire though."
"What pleasure, I'm not even getting paid now."
"Oh boo hoo," mocked the figure. "Maybe if you had not been so incompetent the first time you would still be in a position to set price roofs."
"That is enough! This is my lodging such as it is and I will not be mocked under my roof. You will not come with me and that is final!" He turned back to his bag and pulled it down from the wall. When he turned back to his visitor he found she was already standing right in front of him. Surprised he gasped and fell backwards onto his bed. She towered over him and her eyes glowed a sinister shade of purple.
"Nobody ever disobeys the Psions, no one has and no one will."
"Well it's lucky they have you to bend over and lick their"- She picked him up and threw him across the room. He smacked into the wall and slid to the floor with a small thud. He looked up and saw her with a ball of purple energy in her hand.
"I have been given orders; to give you one last chance. Fail once more and I shall have new orders; fail again and I will be your fate!" Himora didn't want to admit it, but he felt genuine terror at the sight of this person. "Now get up and let's get this over with."
"Fine, but just to let you know who gets who. You can deal with the others, you can even have the girl for all I care; the bird is mine!" He pointed to himself.
"We'll see."
BACK WITH STARFIRE……………………..
Starfire stood in the training room by herself waiting for Robin to arrive. As she waited she found herself fiddling with her hands trying not to get too nervous. It wasn't so much the amount of work, stress, and maybe even pain that she was about to face; but more Robin himself. She kept going over and over in her mind what might happen should she disappoint him in anyway, or any one of the Titans for that matter. She had only known them for a short while by now, but it was still important to Starfire that she maintained their respect. The past few nights she had been sleeping rather restlessly, always waking up with a start. Even what her new room represented was barely enough to divert her mind from what she was dreaming. Starfire had been wanting to tell Robin but always decided against it from fear of distracting him from his work; he always seemed so busy. She heard the door open and turned to see Robin walking in.
"Hey Star," he said while carrying a duffle bag.
"Good morning Robin," she replied sweetly.
"I didn't expect to see you here this early." She shrugged her shoulders.
"I suppose I felt eager to begin." Robin nodded with a smile. He unzipped the bag and pulled out various items.
"I hope you don't mind but I've asked the others to help along the way."
"Oh I do not mind," she said holding her left arm. "I am curious though, how shall we begin our lessons."
"Well that's were Raven comes in," said Robin. Starfire blinked a couple of times.
"I do not understand." The door opened and in walked Raven. Her arms were full of candles and incense. "I was under the impression that I would learn from you."
"You are, but before you can learn physical martial arts you need to get a good understanding of mental martial arts, and I think Raven can do a better job at that."
"I…I suppose I see your point," said Starfire a little disappointed.
"Don't worry we'll start learning the good stuff soon," He got a side glare from Raven. "But you have to walk before you can run. So I'll leave you two at it." He left the room and silently prayed Star wouldn't inadvertently drive Raven nuts. Back inside Raven set the candles on the floor in various spots and set the incense. She then had Starfire sit cross-legged across from her.
"Okay, the secret to a good meditation is clearing the mind of all concerning thoughts and worries."
"I do not see how I am to halt my brain's functions," said Starfire tilting her head.
"It's just a figure of speech, meaning try not to think of anything so your mind can be clear. When your mind is clear you're better able to concentrate on relaxing yourself. Now follow my lead and try to keep your mind clear." Starfire nodded and Raven began her famous words. "Azerath Metrion Zinthos, Azerath Metrion Zinthos, Azerath Metrion Zinthos." Starfire began speaking the words but as soon as she did her mind wondered away from her meditation and lead her to what she could be learning with Robin. She pictured herself doing all sorts of things and seeing the others, especially Robin cheering her on. "YOU'RE NOT DOING IT!" Starfire snapped back to reality and realized that she had not only stopped chanting but also nodded off frequently.
"Please forgive me Raven, I did not mean any disrespect." Raven swallowed trying to contain herself.
"Alright, let's try this again." Raven began to fill the room with her words once more. As she attempted to get in unison with Raven Starfire began to feel slightly suffocated by all of the incense that now filled the room. Before she knew she was wriggling her nose from a growling tickling sensation.
Robin was currently in his room going over the various things he had lined up for Starfire. He didn't even realize it until now but he felt really excited about teaching her. To be perfectly honest he had been subconsciously hoping for her to ask something like that for a while. He decided he would start off with basic kung fu, then work towards a variety of staff forms, and maybe when they were finished Starfire's real powers would re-emerge. He put together a few more training utensils. He had not taken two more steps when there was a loud bang and the whole tower seemed to shake. He stood stunned for a moment but was brought back to reality by yet another blast/shake.
"Never a dull moment," he said already running out of his room. He reached the training room and was about to knock when Raven stormed out with a very grumpy look occupying her face. A trail of colored smoke followed her.
"That's it she's all yours!" Raven shoved a handful of meditation things into Robin's arms.
"What is the problem Raven," mumbled Robin through the large pile of stuff in his arms. She didn't reply but kept on walking grumbling about how her time and energies had been utterly wasted. Robin set the things down and walked back in. Starfire stood in the middle of the room looking both sorry and embarrassed. The walls bared scorch marks from what looked like powerful blasts. "Starfire what happened?" She looked up at him with wide eyes and lightly rubbed her nose while sniffling.
"I, could not breathe with all of the scented smoke and I continued to disrupt our meditation with my constant nasal discharges. I could not stop sneezing and couching" Robin relaxed a little more and felt like letting out a amused chuckle though he decided against it. "She is angry with me yes?"
"No, Raven's complicated. She doesn't mean anything by it; it's just the way she is. Don't worry about it, I'm sure it won't take much to rebuilt this room or whatever else got blasted." He took a disbelieving look around the room. "Your sneezing did this?" Starfire nodded and a short pause passed between them. "Never mind, let's get down to business." He pulled a cloth out of his bag and walked behind Starfire. He covered her eyes and tied it behind her head.
"But Robin, I cannot see," she said and held her arms out blindly. "How am I to learn when I cannot see?"
"You shouldn't rely on your eyes so much; they can play tricks on you. You need to learn to trust your other senses and use them to help you see." Behind the cloth she closed her eyes and formed a picture of the room in her mind. She heard a faucet slowly dripping making ripples throughout the air. She heard a shifting noise behind her and she spun around in that direction. She soon began to hear her own heartbeat and made out the steady flow of her blood throughout her body. It was then that she began to notice the sound of someone slowly breathing in and out. She tried to steady her own breathing when she heard it coming closer. It moved and stopped somewhere on her right. She raised her right hand to put up her guard. Before she knew it she felt quick vibrations on the floor; someone was coming. In her mind's eyes she saw an obscure object about to connect with her but she reached forward and blocked it. Starfire then spun around and threw whatever she had hold of against the wall. She pulled off the blindfold and saw she had Robin in her grasp.
"Good gasp job Star," said Robin out of breath. She let go of him and he clutched his chest.
"Robin I am so sorry! I"-
"No no it's alright Star, I would've been disappointed if you hadn't done it." He got back to feet. He picked up the blindfold she dropped and held it back out to her. "Again."
Day Two…………
Starfire stood on top two posts surrounded by many other posts and kept herself balanced. Standing on black energy platforms Cyborg and Beast Boy held staffs and moved closer to her. Robin overlooked the three while Raven concentrated on keeping Cyborg and Beast Boy in the air. "Don't take this the wrong way Star, it's just training," said Cyborg. She nodded and readied herself. Cyborg and Beast Boy then began to swing at her with the short staffs and Starfire did her best to avoid them while staying on the posts. Robin leaned over the edge as he watched her agility increase with each dodge and successful land.
"Remember; your enemy is always looking for new ways, new weaknesses to use against you." He jumped down and landed on a pair of posts next to her. He removed a staff and extended it. "You must show them that you have none. He swung and she moved aside to avoid it. The two moved along the array of wooden posts almost as one. Soon the two began to let out short bits of laughter while they chased each other along the posts. After a while Cyborg and Beast Boy signaled Raven to let them back down.
"I think he likes her," whispered Beast Boy. Cyborg looked up at Robin and Starfire and indeed noticed how much they enjoyed each other's company. Robin swung around his staff and she caught it below the arm. She held it in place and they struggled against each other for a moment.
"Nice catch," said Robin.
"Thank you, but now I am in control," said Starfire triumphantly.
"Hee hee, are you?" Robin asked with a small smile. Starfire tried to pull it away from him or knock him off balance but found he was right. She had got herself in an awkward position and was forced to lean back in order to maintain her hold. Robin twirled the staff upwards and she began to fall. In a flash he whipped the staff downward and she grabbed onto it. He helped her back up and Raven conjured a platform for them to get back to the ground. As they slowly descended Robin folded up his staff and turned to Starfire. "Remember that, it will not only give your enemy the wrong impression about themselves but will almost always bring you victory." Starfire thought for a moment then gave him a comprehensive nod.
That night……….
Starfire lay in bed stirring from side to side. Her eyes were shut tight and she had small beads of sweat running down the side of her head. Her stirring slowly turned into tossing and turning with sudden gasps here and there. She turned her head and found herself deep inside a dream.
She stood up straight against a wall, and to her left and right were many others though their faces were obscure. She stood perfectly still as if her entire body had been switched to the off position. The next thing she knew she was roughly but swiftly being rushed down a pathway with more people standing against the walls. She was soon restrained to the wall with various instruments around her. Then a distant, soft, eerie, and commanding voice called out to her.
"Koriand'r." She turned her head towards the voice and her face showed no emotion.
"I am Koriand'r of the Psions. You're defeat is assured and inevitable." She spoke as if she were a computer programmed to give a certain response. A pale hand stretched forward and covered her face. There was a flash of light and she was running down a dimmly lit hallway as if her life depened on it. Suddenly she turned and a pruple flash came out of nowhere and all went black.
"NOOO!" She sat bolt up right in her bed panting and gripping her covers as if hanging on for dear life. She remained seated for a moment then jumped out of her bed and ran to the door. She passed through and made a mad dash down the halls of Titans Tower. She stopped in front of Robin's door and tapped lightly on it.
"Robin! Robin," she gave quick whispers of his name. She knocked on his door some more. "It is I Starfire, your pupil. Please grant me entry." She knocked one more time and waited. She looked back down the hall, the darkness seemed to following her and coming closer with each breath she took. Starfire swiftly turned back to his door and tapped a little louder. She put her ear up against the door and heard some stifled moaning from inside. She decided he might need her help and punched in the emergency access code he had given her. She walked in and saw him tossing and turning in his bed. Starfire advanced inside some more and the door closed behind her with a snap. She walked up to his bed and knelt down beside him. She gently shook him awake and he let out a stifled grunt.
"NO! You can't!" She looked down at him curiously. Fearing he might say somethinghe would wish not toshe gently shook him once more. He squinted one eye open and made out a blurry image of someone kneeling next to him. "Who's-Who's there."
"It is I, Starfire," said the timid alien. Robin eyes opened all the way and he sat up.
"Starfire? Are you alright? What's wrong?" She paused for a moment.
"I was on the verge of asking you the same question," she said looking down at him. "I was not aware you have been having a night of mare of also each night." Robin swallowed and searched for a response. He wasn't quite sure if he wanted to tell her why he had nightmares all the time; he hadn't told the rest of the team so what makes her any different? 'She is different though,' thought Robin. She was unlike anyone he had ever met.
"It was nothing Star, not enough to eat I guess."
"Robin I am doubtful that malnutrition could cause such a disturbance," said Starfire. "If something is troubling you please tell me."
"Why?"
"I wish to help," she replied as if he had asked an obvious question.
"Thanks Star, but really its nothing," he said in a not too convincing voice. She gave him a suspicious glance but shrugged it off. "Now why did you really come?" She looked around his darkened room for a moment.
"I am frightened," said Starfire quickly. He found that sitting in the moonlight she drew his gaze in a way he had never known before.
"Of what," he asked coming a little closer.
"Of, what I might have been," she replied following suit. The faces were now but a few inches apart.
"Don't be afraid. Besides, I like you just the way you are now." A silence fell between them before Robin closed the gap between them and laid his lips on hers. Starfire was a bit surprised for a mere second before allowing herself to gradually melt away in the moment. They took in each other for a moment more until Robin pulled away as if having a sudden realization. "I'm sorry," he said quickly looking away from her. He had a burning urge to neglect the fact that it was three in the morning and go jump in the water outside. He looked around frantically trying to find something to replace the current subject. "Maybe you should get back to bed Star," he said going back under his covers. She reached forward and grasped his arm.
"Please, may I spend the duration of the night here?" he sat up and looked at her. "I promise it will not be repeated, just for tonight," she added feeling just as awkward as he did. He relaxed himself trying not to look so tripped up as he was and nodded. He got up and went over to his closet where from he removed a rolled up sleeping bag.
"I'll sleep on the floor," he said giving up his bed. They were both half disappointed and half relieved by this. Robin didn't mean anything by it, simply that his professional side had begun to take over. He set up his sleeping bag at the foot of his bed and climbed in. Once he was settled he rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes, struggling to fall back asleep. Starfire meanwhile lay in his bed thinking to herself; she wasn't quite sure why, but at that moment she felt as if she could literally take flight and soar through the air.
How was that? Sorry I haven't updated in while but I've been sick as a dog. I guess its only fair to make up for it by updating this story and my other one all in the same day. Thanks again for reading so far and I hope you liking it. Laters!
