Seduction (Hmm…)

The theater was basically empty when Kiara walked in with Shapiro linked to her arm. They were the last of their group to arrive. Donte was sitting on the bench with Payten on his lap. Nova was standing against Miro. His arms were running up and down her back as they talked. Libo and Alden were standing a short distance away. Libo was eyeing his sister and Miro. That is, until he saw Kiara walk in.

"Kiara. Shapi. (Shah pee) Leave it to you to be the last ones here when it was your idea." Payten teased.

"Sorry Pay. My mother took the long way." Shapiro explained in mock apology.

She unlinked her arm from Kiara's and headed toward Alden. Libo made his way over to her. Everyone was nuzzled together with their current 'other half' except her and Libo. They were the newest couple in the crew. One week, compared to their three to five months. It bothered her a bit only because she felt awkward in the mix of things. Everyone was all, comfy and lovey-dovey. She wanted that.

"Hey, Kiara." Libo greeted, kissing her cheek.

Kiara blushed. "Hi, Libo."

Libo watched her glare at the others for a minute. "Oblivious, aren't they?"

She turned back to Libo.

"Too caught up in each other to see that they make others uncomfortable. Especially Nova." He almost growled the last sentence as he glowered at his sister.

Kiara laughed. "Jealous?"

Libo returned his attention to her. "Not at all."

Kiara frowned a bit. "Well, I am."

Libo narrowed his eyes. "Of what?"

"Look at them. I hate being the one at the beginning of a new relationship. They're all at the fun part."

Libo turned his head to look at the others for a moment before turning back to her with a smile on his face. "Then lets skip the first three months and catch up to them."

Kiara grinned a bit. "Then we'll miss your first… everything."

"Nah. We'll still have them, but we'll just pretend we already did. It'll still mean the same thing."

Kiara studied him for a minute. She realized right away why she liked him and why she secretly had for so long. He was so spontaneous and entertaining and so much more. Happy, care-free, playful, fun, relaxed, mature- she could go on and on. She nodded. "Ok. Then today, instead of one week, is our three month anniversary."

Libo grinned. "Great." In one swift movement, Libo slid his arms around Kiara's waist and pulled her close.

Kiara squeaked from the surprise. "Libo." She laughed at his playful bites to her neck. "So this is three months?"

He pulled back from her. "I'm guessing. Are you looking for something in particular?"

Kiara smiled. "No. This is good." She pulled him back to her and kissed his cheek. "This is the part I like."

Libo smiled and ran a hand through her hair, content with her in his arms. "Me too."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOX

Saturday afternoon. The house was completely devoid of all children. Owen's at football practice. Libo and Nova are at the movies with friends. And Quara had taken Lor to the park. The house was quiet, something that only happened on rare occasions. Beyond that, Kori and Roy were the only two in the house, something even more rare.

And though they should be spending this time together, to strengthen their stressed relationship, they were in completely separate parts of the house.

Kori sat on the living room couch. The television on but mute. She sat humming to herself while crocheting the quarter-started blanket she had been working on for the last week.

Roy was in the back yard doing some target practice. He had his bow in hand with a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. His targets were a few round bulls eyes that were at the opposite end of their fairly nice sized yard. Every arrow landed dead center.

Kori heard the arrow hit the target outside the window behind her. She stopped her humming and turned to see her husband. His red hair lay flat against his head. His eyes were fixed on the target. He pulled another arrow from the quiver and placed it on the string. He raised the bow and pulled the arrow back. Before Kori had enough time to admire his stance, the arrow was released and had connected with the target.

"Hmm…" Kori sighed as she got off the couch and floated into the kitchen. She pulled out a large plastic cup, dropped a hand full of ice cubes in the bottom and filled it with water. She took a small sip as she made her way from the kitchen to the back yard.

Roy turned when he heard the door open. He put down his bow and walked the few steps between them.

Kori held out the water and smiled. Roy took, it smiling back.

"Thanks, Kor." He said while kissing her cheek.

Kori sat on the outdoor bench by the door she had just come out and watched Roy drink almost the entire cup at once. He took a seat next to her.

"I watched Libo practicing out here the other night." Kori stated.

Roy nodded. "He's got natural talent."

"Yes. It seems he has inherited your abilities in archery."

Roy finished off the water. "I'm glad one of our children have. The rest have your powers."

"Not all. Lor still seems to be a normal human."

"She's only six. She has time."

Kori nodded with a thoughtful expression. "But Owen pulled the bars off his crib at age one. Nova could fly at three and accidentally shot a starbolt three days after her first flight. And Quara could fly at eighteen months. You tried them all with archery at age four and Libo immediately hit the center with his second arrow. So why is it Lor has none of our traits? She is also the only one without red hair."

"I don't know." Roy said. "She's the baby. Maybe she's just growing slower than the others did."

"But why?"

Roy shrugged. "Because she's the baby and our last child. We want her to grow up slowly. She is small for her age, you know."

Kori looked concerned. She just couldn't understand why Taylor had nothing of her or Roy's strong Titan qualities. It seemed strange.

Roy took her hand in his. "It's ok to have a child with no supernatural powers. Her life will be a whole lot less stressful and less troubled than ours are and our other children's are going to get. She'll have nothing to hide and less to worry about."

Kori considered this. "You are right. Taylor will have a more care-free childhood."

Roy laughed a little. Kori looked to him questioningly.

"Sorry. I was just thinking. If she did have some kind of power, we'd have enough children to form our own Titan team."

Kori smiled a bit. "I am glad we decided to inform our children about our past lives in the Teen Titans."

"Well, the secret would have come out eventually. How many people do you know on Earth that can fly and shoot green bolts from their hands?"

Kori grinned.

XOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOX

"The movies going to start soon. Lets go in so we can get some good seats." Payten said to the others as she started to lead Donte into the theater.

They all started on their way into the theater too. Shapiro was on Alden's back and Libo had an arm around Kiara's waist.

Miro started to follow before Nova pulled him back to her.

Miro turned to see her smiling playfully. "I take it you're not ready to go in yet." He said with a grin.

Nova said nothing. She ran off to whisper something to Shapiro, who nodded, and came back.

Miro took her hand and led her to the arcade in the back of the building. There were only four games and they were all ancient. No one ever came in there.

"So, what is it you want to talk about?" Miro asked letting go of her hand.

Nova said nothing. She only continued to smile.

Miro chuckled. "Ok. You don't want to talk. What would you like?"

Nova walked to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Miro grinned. Nova was in a playful mood.

Miro backed up to the bench behind him and sat. He leaned his back against the wall the bench was up against and looked at her standing a few feet away.

Nova had a black skirt on that fell just above her knees. She wore a semi-tight purple shirt. Low cut in the front and back. Her red hair was twisted on the back of her head, held there with a clear butterfly clip. She had a small frame and stood pretty short next to Miro.

She moved into him and sat on his lap, straddling him.

Miro sighed. "We're going to miss the movie." He said with a smile.

Nova's smile still danced. "Only the previews." She leaned in and kissed him. "Besides, I've already seen this one."

Miro laughed. Not a playful mood at all. Seductive mood.

Nova continued to kiss him. Her hands ran over his chest and up around his shoulders to the back of his head. Then she kissed his neck, slowly messaging his skin with her tongue.

Miro ran his hands over her back. She was rubbing against him, dangerously turning him on.

"Ok." Miro took her by her shoulders and pushed her back. "No more teasing." His voice was low and his breath was quick.

Nova smirked a little. "You always assume I'm teasing. And yet, I don't tease."

Miro looked at her for a long time.

She slipped his hands off her shoulders so she could move again and went back to kissing his neck. But his time her hands didn't stay behind his head.

Miro took deep breaths as he felt her hand slip down his pants. She stroked him softly and he fought of a moan.

Nova stopped kissing his neck and looked at him. His eyes were almost all the way closed. She smiled at her quick ability to get him this far. But before too much longer, he'd normally stop her. Not this time, she thought. I'll get you so worked up, you wont be able to stop.

Nova placed her lips to his and they began kissing passionately. Full of lust. She kept that going long enough to make sure he was well ready for her attempt.

She let him go and undid his zipper and the button on his boxers, all while still kissing him. The only barrier left was her thing lace panties.

Nova brought her hands back to his chest and positioned herself directly over him. She wanted him to finish. The sensation sent a chill up her spin.

The shake made Miro open his eyes. Almost at once he realized he had gone too far. Actually he had let her go to far. He took her by the shoulders and backed her up again.

"Nova, we've been through this before. Not yet." His voice was tense and husky. He readjusted himself and then lifted her off him.

"Miro… why?" She whimpered.

"We're not ready." He said getting to his feet and walking away. He stopped a few feet from her and kept his back in her direction.

"And what makes you think that?"

"You're thirteen, Nova. I turn fifteen in two weeks. We have more than a year between us. Besides that, we've only been together for three months."

"There's three years between my parents." She said defiantly.

"Yea and they have nothing to do with us. And they'd agree with me too."

"You don't find me attractive, do you?" Nova whispered.

Miro turned to her. "Don't play like that, Novihna." (No vee nah)

Nova flinched. She hated it when he used her whole name. Or when anyone used her whole name for that matter. "Why do you think we're not ready? I'm almost fourteen, if you're so concerned about our ages. And how do you know when I'm ready or not? I'm ready now." She walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I want you." She whispered.

Nova kissed him and he fell into it again. She made it so easy. And she was so willing. But that didn't make it right.

Miro pulled away. "I'm not taking something from you that I cant give to you in return. Not yet."

Nova was thrown off for a minute until she realized what he was referring to. She smiled slightly at his conern. "That's what this is about?" She asked surprised.

Miro said nothing. He stood in front of one of the games watching the demo screen.

"Miro, I don't care that I'm not your first. That doesn't matter to me. I want you to be my first."

Miro turned his head a bit to look at her. She stood in the same place that she was in when he walked away from her. He took a slow breath. "Not yet." He repeated again.

"What are you afraid of?" She insisted, with a bit more anger than she meant.

Miro narrowed his eyes. "You know what? The more you push, the more you prove you're not ready. So for your own sake, just stop." He snapped.

She stood in shock. He had never talked to her like that before. Demeaning. She took a few steps back.

Miro sighed. "Listen. You're birthday's in four months right?"

Nova nodded.

"Then."

Nova searched his face but said nothing.

"I promise." He said quietly.

After a moments silence she nodded.

Miro walked to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

Nova said nothing. "I shouldn't try and force you into it."

Miro chuckled. "Force me into it? Not possible. It's too easy to get carried away."

There was silence for a few more minutes. They stood wrapped in each others arms. This still doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying. Nova thought to herself. But that's not what she said out loud. "You mean it? My birthday? You wont decide I have to wait till my next one?"

Miro nodded slowly. "I just want you to be sure. I can't ever give that back to you. And I don't have mine to give in return."

"You're sweet. Such a gentleman." She half teased. But the genuine concern meant a lot to her.

"Uh huh." He squeezed her playfully.

Nova giggled. "How many?"

"How many what?"

"Others?"

"Why?" He asked rubbing her back.

"Just curious."

"Why?" He repeated with the same tone as before. Devoid of emotion. Almost monotone, if you can accomplish that with one word.

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing. Just why do you want to know?"

Nova pulled back. "Because you're my boyfriend and I want to know about your past. I'd tell you if I had one."

"That's easy to say since you don't." Miro thought for a bit while looking at her.

"I don't care how high the number is. Let me guess… six?"

Miro raised his brow, "No."

"Ok. Eight."

He laughed. "Wrong way."

"Five."

"Who do you think I am?"

Nova smiled. "Then tell me."

"Two."

"You fought so hard not to tell me and it's two? You made it sound like some huge number."

Miro smirked. "Now you know. I will not tell you who so don't ask."

"No problem. The next thing I want to know… how many times?"

Miro grinned and shook his head. "You're crazy."

"Only sometimes."

"Come on. We've missed the beginning of the movie."

Nova shrugged. "That's ok. I've already seen it."

"Well I haven't. And I would like to. So lets go." He picked her up and she laughed as he started walking toward the theater.

Thank you for your kind words Darkofthenight... I appreciate it. i enjoy writing this story.

there is a reason i'm taking the time to introduce all the characters on a personal level. if i just said they exist and then kidnap them, it wont be heart felt. so i want to make my readers love them. i have quite a bit more chapters where its all about family and school/personal life. the chapters will be getting longer as i go on as well to help cover more ground in a shorter time.

i have a request for my readers. for the younger children (Lor Harper-6yrs, Quim Grayson- 3yrs, Jade Stone- 5 yrs, Tish Grayson- 7 yrs) any suggestions on their lives would be helpful. i'm alright at writing the age groups that i do, mostly because i remember being that age. but my memories are foggy of anything under 8 really. so ideas would be greatly appreciated and i will give credit if i use your ideas.

Up Next: Ender's Game