Shattered Remains
The Aftermath pt. 3
Starfire
The words, they are not true. Are they? Could my friends of so long really wish to get rid of me once I am no longer of use? Then my path is clear, I must leave here to avoid suffering emotional torment.
Starfire slowly elevated her eyelids to be met with a dark room. She could here the movement of others in her presence.
Starfire sat up in her place, holding her head in pain. Once the fog in her vision faded, she scanned the room. She had gained consciousness just in time to witness Raven abandoning the room through a black portal.
Cyborg stood, drawing her attention toward him. She watched the cybernetic teen leave without so much as a word. To her left, Starfire saw the still unconscious Beast Boy. The look of pain on his caused a pang of hurt to occur in Starfire's heart.
She then looked to the center of the room to see the lifeless body of Robin, her leader, and her love interest. How she longed to capture his heart just as he had captured hers.
But ever since Raven's battle with Trigon, Robin had grown distant from Starfire and fonder of Raven. Starfire hated to admit it, but she was jealous of her friend. Starfire had even shamed herself by saying that Raven shouldn't be around Robin since she never feels emotions anyway.
Starfire, however, could not bring herself to look at Robin the same way she did before. She could not grasp her love for him anymore.
What has happened to me? Just a few earth hours ago, my heart would flutter at the mere sight of him. Now I find myself distant from him. Have I… lost my love for Robin?
Starfire decide to go ahead and leave before Beast Boy and Robin regained consciousness. She did not bother trying to fly; her unbridled joy was non-existent at the moment.
Starfire soon found that walking gave her the opportunity to think.
What has… happened to me? Am I not the same person I was before? Am I not still Starfire? I… do not feel like Starfire. Is this the same confusion Raven goes through?
I am, however, feel the righteous fury. Do my friends truly not care for me? After all, we have been through so much together, both good times and bad.
Starfire's confusion only grew as she reached the top of a staircase. Her world was in full flux. So much pain, torment. Her righteous fury reached its peek. Beast Boy, Cyborg, Raven, Robin! What have you done to me! Have you all have betrayed me?
As Starfire reached the lobby of Wayne Enterprises she was startled by glass shattering from the ceiling. Rain immediately entered the room from the large hole in the ceiling. She shielded herself from the falling glass.
Once all was clear, Starfire looked up, raindrops hitting her face. The rain and the clouds, which brought the rain, clouded her vision.
Due to her impaired vision, Starfire never saw the figure flying toward her. An intense punch to the abdomen sent Starfire flying across the sopping wet room. She quickly recuperated and attempted to decipher the figure crossing the floor toward her.
My vision must be failing! It cannot be! She's not…!
"Hello sister." Blackfire towered over Starfire's fallen body. When Starfire did not respond, Blackfire continued. "What's the matter? Surprised to see me?" Again, Starfire just stared. "Answer me!" Blackfire sent lavender glowing star bolts at her.
Upon impact, Starfire slid across the floor. She shut her eyes, trying to keep her tears from creeping through. The sound of her sister's footsteps approaching her seemed to have been magnified by two.
"What… are you doing here?" Starfire staggered to her feet. "I received news of your death long ago!"
Blackfire smirked at her sister. "While it is true that I was to be executed for my treason, I had a little help escaping."
Starfire swung her hand at her sister. Grabbing onto her top, Starfire veered Blackfire to the wall her. "Who assisted you?" She asked, eyes glowing green.
In a flash of violet light, Starfire was shot across the floor. "He is the man I have vowed my life and love to! He is my one true love! He is the only man who could ever give me all that I wanted!"
Starfire struggled to stand. "And what, may I ask, is that?"
Blackfire smiled to herself. "He's given me an equal. He is my equal… and more. And you are undeserving of any love such as we share."
"Lies!" Starfire allowed her tears to run freely. "You are lying! I do deserve love!"
"With who? Robin? Sister that ship has sailed. Stop hiding from the truth Kory! You will live and die alone! Your kind-heartedness goes unnoticed by all. What more are you than a pretty face? You are nothing!"
Starfire dropped to the floor, clutching her skull in such pain.
No! Leave me!
Blackfire strolled to meet her sister on the floor.
"Get away from me…" Starfire ordered. Blackfire did no such thing. "Now!" Starfire sent a green star bolt at her sister.
Blackfire was launched across the marble tile.
Now it was Starfire'sturn. Starfire spoke as she moved to her sister. "Do you see sister? Do you see what you have done to me! My misery is your fault! How you could do this to your own sister, I will never know."
"No Kory! You brought this upon yourself." Blackfire stood before her younger sister. "You should have known that you could never be accepted on Earth! But what did you do? You became attached to the Titans; you fell in love with your leader. Your innocent mistakes brought pain upon your tattered soul. You have disgraced our families name with you ignorance."
She is correct. I have brought shame upon everything our parents stood for. It is time for me to leave the Titans in order to find my true calling.
"But," Blackfire began. "You can still redeem yourself sister."
Starfire looked to her elder sister with tear-stricken cheeks. "H-how? What must I do?"
Blackfire offered a hand. "Join me. Join my love and I in our conquest for ultimate power."
Starfire weighed her options, which, right now, were minimal. She looked from her sister's eyes to the hand she offered. Starfire dropped her head in defeat; she placed her hand in her sister's palm.
Blackfire looked at the closed eyes of her sister, smirking at her foolishness. "You made the r--…"
Suddenly Starfire's eyes shot open, glowing a fierce green. Starfire tugged back and launched her sister through the shattered roof of the building.
Feeling a surge from the joy of her deception, Starfire flew up after her sister. She landed on the roof to see her sister staggering to her feet.
"Sister, you have made a dire mistake." Blackfire's eyes began to glow. "Now, I shall take care of you!"
Blackfire raised a hand toward her sister. It began to surge with electricity. She pulled her arm back, then pushed it forward. A large star beam hurdled to Starfire. The beam made impact.
Blackfire waited for the dust to clear. "No. It is you who has made the dire mistake." Blackfire looked up to see Starfire floated in the air and charging up a star beam of her own. "You made the mistake of underestimating me!"
Starfire shot her star beam directly at Blackfire.
When the dust cleared, Starfire saw that her sister was no longer in the spot she previously stood in.
Where--?
"Until next we meet sister!" Starfire looked up toward the direction the voice had come from. There she saw Blackfire in the air. She then took off in the distance.
Starfire landed softly on the ground. She decided that it was best not to think about Blackfire. She was no longer a threat… for the moment. Instead, she took off, flying toward Jump City.
Perhaps I will be…okay. Should I really take such drastic measures and abandon the rest of the Titans? Perhaps I should give them the doubt of benefits.
Starfire's thoughts were cut short when she noticed Ternion battling someone. She looked closer. Cyborg!
At first, Starfire thought she should just leave. She really did not wish to interact with any of the Titans just yet. But she thought better of it when she noticed Ternion charging up a massive attack.
Starfire flew down, gaining speed as she came closer to Cyborg. But Ternion's attack also came closer to Cyborg.
Just a mere few feet away from Cyborg, Starfire pushed out her last bit of speed to latch onto Cyborg's side just in time.
Starfire felt the gush of the attack just as she grabbed onto him.
Cyborg opened his eyes, frantically scanning his surroundings. Realization hit him and he turned to look at Starfire.
Why does he look at me like that?
"Star! You saved me!"
"Do not waste time thanking me. Let us defeat the Ternion." Starfire was surprised at the harshness of her words. She vaguely reminded herself of Raven just then.
Starfire dropped Cyborg to the ground so that he could land and begin his own assault on the beast.
Once she was back in the air, Starfire flew toward Ternion, launching star bolts and eye beams at the giant. Cyborg soon joined in as well, blasting his sonic cannon around Ternion.
For a while they fought. Once Ternion grew sick of them, he swatted Starfire at a parked car. The hit knocked the wind out of Starfire.
She fell toward the ground, unaware of what was going on. A great impact and series of revolutions; startled her.
Starfire opened her eyes slowly. The pain in her head had returned as well.
Ugh. She looked around herself to find Cyborg beneath her. She stood and helped him up.
"You… saved me…"
Maybe it was the fact that she thought that all had given up on her. Maybe it was the fact that she desperately needed someone to care about her, but this one act of kindness made Starfire feel so much more different than all of the times Robin had saved her.
Robin had come to Starfire's so many times, but, in his case, it was expected. Starfire felt that Robin would be there to catch her when she fell. But, with Cyborg, this was all so unexpected. When she had thought the world had given up on her, Cyborg came to her rescue, thus restoring her faith that she has a purpose and she was cared for.
He merely winked at Starfire, "Don't mention it." Starfire held her gaze with Cyborg. Some strange feeling kept her from looking away. She quickly became lost in the moment. The warmth conveying from him to her was truly endearing.
A roar from Ternion tore their gazes from each other to him, "Let's show this thing who's really in charge! How 'bout the ol' Solar Cannon?"
The Solar Cannon was a combined attack Cyborg and Starfire created long ago. The solar energy of her star bolts combined with the booming power of his sonic cannon created great force.
Starfire nodded, still lost in Cyborg's eye.
What is this? I found myself lost in his human eye... even the mechanical one seemed to convey faint senses of warmth. I… never wanted to look away. Could I be…?
Cyborg and Starfire moved out to the middle of the battle zone; each of them held their attacks fully charged.
Cyborg started a countdown, "Three…"
"…Two…" Starfire continued.
"…One!" They each yelled at the same time. In a flash, Cyborg's sonic cannon and Starfire's star bolts launched at Ternion. Together, they formed a series of white flashes, which sent the beast into oblivion. It was over.
"Way to go Star." Cyborg said to her.
Starfire did not respond. She could not even speak when she was with Cyborg. Her nerves on edge, too aware that she may say something she may regret.
"Star? You okay?"
Starfire looked to her cybernetic teammate with glassy eyes.
But what if he does not care for me? What if he is like the woman said? I… cannot endure such pain.
Starfire decided that the only way to find out was to ask. "Cyborg, would you ever… abandon me because I do not fully understand earth's customs?"
She noticed the hurt in his eyes. "Star, you know me better than that. I would never do something like that to you. I promise. Besides, you're actually smarter than a lot of people I know."
Starfire's eyed filled with joy, she leapt at Cyborg with a loving hug.
This hug… it feels so right. Here in his arms, I am not sure how, but he feels so much better than Robin ever did.
"I am so glad that I can trust you, friend Cyborg."
Starfire still held onto Cyborg for dear life. He then broke the hug, a grave expression on his face. "Star, there's uh… something I need to show you."
Starfire nodded and followed Cyborg to the T-Car. The distance between their position and distance to T-Car seemed like an eternity. She desperately wondered what he had to show her.
Cyborg got into the driver's seat, signaling for Starfire to come around to the passenger seat. Starfire walked around and got in on the passenger side, "What is it Cyborg?"
Starfire racked her mind for possibilities, worried about what it might be that she would see. What was so important?
Cyborg reached to the back seat a picked up the bundle of towels, he handed it to Starfire.
With a heavy heart, she lifted the cloth to see a baby. Starfire's eyes filled with awe. This tiny earthling in her hands brought the widest smile from Starfire.
Starfire looked to her friend. "Cyborg! You are, the baby mama?"
Cyborg jumped, "No! After I left Wayne Enterprises, I found myself in an alley. I found a pregnant woman on the verge of death, she had been beaten and her infant son was already killed. Her last dying wish was for me to deliver her baby. I couldn't just leave her, so I delivered her. But the woman died in labor. She didn't even have the chance to see her newborn."
Starfire's felt warm and safe with Cyborg now. His acts of concern for this woman were truly endearing.
"Cyborg, you truly have the, compassion."
Realization hit Starfire. "But are you to care for this child on your own?"
Cyborg looked to Starfire, "Well, I could use some help." He smiled at the fair-skinned girl.
Starfire's heart filled with joy, so happy that Cyborg wished to have her at his side to help him raise this child.
"Oh, I would love to care for a child so cute!" Starfire began to cuddle the child as Cyborg started up the car and drove off.
Starfire had, at least, watched a nice amount of television during her time on Earth. And this activity taught her how to get answers from a man.
"So I will be her mother, and you the father?" She asked sweetly.
Starfire took notice of smile on his face. She noticed how his face lit up at hearing her question.
"Yeah, that's exactly right."
Starfire began to wonder. She needed more answers.
"So, does that make us…?"
She took note of how quick Cyborg was took cut her off. "Let's discuss that later."
As they drove through Jump City, Starfire talked with the child, "Oh, you are cuter than a Yipper of Goro! And we get home; I have a little playmate for you! His name is Silkie!"
This young earthling could possibly be the bond between Cyborg and I. This child could be what brings us together, as one. And she smells so sweet. Who knew such joy could be conveyed through one so small?
Starfire could not help but begin to think of her and Cyborg raising this child together. Cyborg and the child could teach Starfire so very much, and she could teach her child as well.
A tear caught in Starfire's eye. The child obviously took notice; she reached up to touch Starfire's tear-stricken cheek. This simple act of observation hit the alien's heart in ways that no one else ever had.
Starfire began to think. She knew she would have to bury old feelings for Robin. Of course… she would have to get over him first.
Even though Starfire felt distant from the boy wonder earlier, she knew she was not yet over him. But she'd be willing to give up anything for this baby and Cyborg.
It was odd, but Starfire established an immediate connection with the child. She felt that this child made her forget all of her troubles. This child was the everlasting force keeping her grounded to the earth.
Cyborg's voice pulled Starfire from her thoughts. "Hey Star?"
"Yes Cyborg?"
"We'll probably need to keep this whole thing from the Titans. A baby wouldn't exactly go over well with Robin or Raven, and Lord knows what Beast Boy would try to teach her."
She knew that keeping things a secret would only make things more interesting. She also realized that they would, of course, be returning to stay at the tower. She would never want to raise the child in any other place.
Starfire giggled at Cyborg's comment about Beast Boy. "Of course."
Starfire loved it when Cyborg made her laugh. She always knew that if anyone could take her away from a pain situation, it would be him, and now… this baby.
A piercing cry interrupted Starfire's train of thought.
"It appears that the baby is hungry." Starfire said.
"Should we go to the twenty-four hour market?" Cyborg asked, preparing to turn around.
"No, I have some Zorka berries for her." Starfire began to hush the baby, laying her over her shoulder and patting her back, soothing the child. Soon the baby fell fast asleep, but soon she would wake once more, crying for food.
This child is so warm, sleeping in my arms. I never want to let go.
Titans Tower soon came into view.
We are almost home.
Home. Titans Tower was her home. She had lived all of her life on Earth in that Tower, it is where she met life-long friends and learned many things.
They rode up on the shore. Cyborg pressed a few buttons on the dashboard, and a metal platform broke through the shoreline, allowing the T-Car passage across the thrashing waters.
Soon the two Titans found themselves pulling into the garage of Titans Tower. They simply sat in the car for a moment.
Cyborg looked to Starfire, who returned his gaze with her own. She never wished to look away. Again she was lost in his eyes.
Oh how she wished for a kiss from him. Just one kiss… but Starfire thought better to not rush into a relationship.
"So, what is our daughter's name going to be?" She asked, blushing red.
"Her name will be… Tatiana."
Tatiana. What a beautiful name.
The two Titans got out of the car and crept up to their rooms, being sure not to alert any of the Titans that may be residing there at the moment.
Starfire walked toward her room and noticed that Cyborg had decided to walk her there.
All along the way she felt a sense of nervousness.
She was relieved when they reached her bedroom door.
"Um, I'll keep Tatiana tonight?" Starfire asked, her heart beating faster by the minute.
Cyborg smiled at her. "Yeah. There's uh… too many hazard in my room."
"Well, good night." Starfire stepped back into her room and shut the door. In the last crack of the hall, she noticed Cyborg's shutdown façade.
Starfire tried to brush it off. She laid Tatiana in a cradle with Silkie. She kissed them both on the forehead.
My babies.
Starfire laid down on her bed, still thinking of Cyborg. In a surge of energy, Starfire jumped off of her bed and ran to the door, it swung open to reveal a shocked Cyborg. Starfire jumped into his arms and planted a kiss on his lips. His scent wafted through her nostrils. The kiss seemed to last forever, but when she broke it off, she realized it had been too soon.
Starfire wished for the kiss to last longer, but, after seeing his expression, she realized it was worth it. She had left him breathless and speechless.
She smiled and shut her door.
The alien crossed her room and got into her bed, pulling the covers over her body. Starfire fell fast asleep.
And she was content.