I've been writing this in tiny bits and pieces for the past couple days, because I think I can only write at certain times of the day. Namely the weee hours of the morning.
Tell me what you think! Criticism is welcomed, though flames aren't.
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, nor do I own Phantom of the Opera or anything that could possibly be claimed by anybody else. Thank you.
After an unbearably long evening watching The Notebook, Starfire's movie of choice, and observing Cyborg and Beast Boy trying to hide their tears, Raven finally retreated to her room.
Should I talk to her now or later? I think I'll approach her in the morning when she's usually more cheerful. And I don't mean the fake cheerful she was tonight.
The other Titans proceeded quite noisily to their own rooms. After saying good night to Beast Boy, Cyborg, Robin, and Starfire continued down the hall until they reached Starfire's room.
"Night Star. Sweet dreams! Comin' Robin?" said Cyborg as he affectionately patted her on the shoulder.
Robin looked uncomfortable, but said anyway, "Yeah, hey Star, can I talk to you for a sec?"
Cyborg's eyebrows lifted and he smirked suggestively. "Aiite man, but don't stay up too late talking…" He enunciated that last word very clearly.
Robin felt his face go red. "Uh…yeah…g'night Cyborg."
"We shall make sure to not stay up late, thank you for your concern friend Cyborg! Sleep well and do not let the bugs of the bed bite!" Starfire said, unaware of Robin's embarrassment and Cyborg's double meanings.
After Cyborg had left, Robin cleared his throat. "Starfire, I really am so glad you're back. I was so worried. When I couldn't get to you, I thought the worst. I just needed to tell you that—" He just couldn't get the words out.
"Yes Robin?"
"Never mind. It's been a long day, why don't you get some rest?" He felt like such an idiot. Three words. They shouldn't be too difficult for the Boy Wonder. Ugh.
"Happy korlagaks then, Robin!" Starfire gave him a quick hug then disappeared into her purple and pink room.
Robin loved how she only said the Tamaranian 'good night' to him. "Happy korlagaks, Star," he whispered to himself.
Starfire sat down on the edge of her bed, heart pounding. It had not been easy to deceive her fellow Titans, but she was sure they wouldn't like the idea of Red X saving her.
Red X was an enigma. A thief who stole not for power, but just for fun. Selfish, vain, stealthy, but a good fighter. And now, a good person. He had a heart, after all.
He had risked his life to save hers. He also seemed to care about her.
"Why?" Starfire mused out loud. "He is a thief, and he does not know me. But he did say I was pretty. And he called me Princess even though he is unaware of my Tamaranian royal blood."
Just remembering, a light blush settled on her cheeks. He was very charming…and now I owe him a life debt.
Even though it was past midnight, Starfire still felt restless. Turning on her light pink Mac, she quickly looked through her e-mails. There were the usual fans and some of her online friends. She always answered all her fanmail, no matter how long it took. In doing so, she made quite a few cyberfriends, especially with her trusting nature.
She spotted an e-mail from someone new, unfeelingscrap.
Dear Starfire,
I don't want to sound cliché or anything, but I am absolutely your biggest fan. Your selfless actions as a Teen Titan truly inspire me. Someday, I want to be a hero fighting crime, but for now, I'm not really ready for something like that. Could you just tell me a little bit about yourself so I can have your model to live by?
Sincerely,
Mark
Starfire was touched. Most of her inbox was things like "I love you, Starfire!" or "ur so hot." Some girls, unbelievably enough, even sent her questions on how she stayed so fit and if her hair was its natural color! The rudeness of some Earth people.
She immediately began composing a reply.
Dear Mark,
Your letter truly touched me. Any with such determination as yours will most definitely reach their goals. I have complete confidence that people will see the goodness in you so long as you display the sincerity and truthfulness in your e-mail regularly.
I shall now tell you some things about myself. I came to Earth just a year ago, and joined the Teen Titans when I met Robin. Some of my biggest goals are to make Jump City a completely crime-free place and to establish peaceful connections between my home planet, Tamaran, and Earth. The things I most enjoy are the hanging out with my friends and the Earthly activity called movie night. I am not sure what it is I should tell you that could be your model to live by, but please, send me an e-mail whenever you wish.
Porlax egonar,
Starfire
Rereading her e-mail, Starfire was very happy with it. She felt she gave good advice, as well as answering some of her more commonly asked questions. On top of it all, her English was getting better. Although she still tended to phrase things strangely when she spoke, her writing was definitely improving. She hoped that Mark would reply back soon, so she would have a better idea of how to help him.
Starfire went to bed feeling very satisfied, not knowing that across Jump City, the boy named Mark was doing the same.
Robin opened his eyes and checked his alarm clock. 7:00? Right on schedule.
Adjusting the mask he kept on even when he slept, Robin ran a hand through his messy black hair. Things to do today: Train, make the other Titans train, try to pinpoint Red X's location, oh yeah, fix my computer. Beast Boy probably tried to download something onto it and got some viruses…Who let him on my computer anways?
As Robin strode off down the hall lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice Starfire until he ran right into her.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Star!" Robin said as he extended a hand to the girl on the ground.
"It is fine, friend Robin! Shall we go down to breakfast?" Starfire delicately grasped his hand and pulled herself up, almost toppling Robin in the process.
The pair grinned at each other before proceeding to the main room. They were usually the earliest risers in the Tower. This gave them some time to spend together eating the breakfast of their choice, waffles for Starfire and toast for Robin. Raven occasionally came down to join them in the early morning, though all she had was tea.
This morning, they saw that Raven had already set the coffee going for them.
"Hey, thanks Raven!" Robin called out as he checked the fridge for some bread and Eggo waffles. He couldn't say he was glad to see Raven during Starfire and his time, but he was somewhat relieved that he wouldn't have to face her alone after the awkward (for him) situation last night.
"It smells glorious! What is it you are reading?" Starfire asked.
Closing her book and setting it on the coffee table, Raven replied, "It actually doesn't have a title. The few who know of it simply call it The Book."
"Oh. I see. Then may I inquire, what is it about?"
"Something you wouldn't understand. No offense." Raven paused. She glanced at her friends. Robin was busy making breakfast and Starfire was looking a bit put out. "I'm going to my room. I'll talk to you later Starfire." With those words, Raven grabbed her tea and levitated out of the room.
"So Robin, what are you planning to do today?" Starfire asked brightly.
Robin placed a plate of waffles with peanut butter and jelly in front of Starfire. "Well, I want to train, as a team with you guys and also by myself, find Red X, and fix my computer. I hope there isn't a criminal alert today so I can get all this stuff done. How about you?"
Starfire's smile had dimmed slightly when she heard Red X mentioned. I am not too sure. Perhaps I will seek Raven out. She did seem to want to talk to me earlier." She grabbed her half eaten PBJ waffle and placed her plate in the sink. "Since you have so much to do, I shall leave you now, Robin, and go find Raven. See you later!"
Watching her skip through the doors, Robin wished he had said something to make her stay. He seemed tongue-tied more often than not with Star. Sighing, he just finished his breakfast in silence.
Starfire flew the short way to Raven's room. She knocked and asked, "Raven! What is it you wished to speak to me about?"
The door slid open a crack. A pale hand shot out and dragged Starfire in before the door hissed shut.
"What is going on, friend Raven?"
"OK, Starfire. I'm only doing this because you're my," she gulped, "best friend. We are going to talk."
Starfire's eyes grew round. "Do you mean…girl talk?"
Raven sighed. Resigning herself to her fate, she replied, "Yes."
Letting out a strange squeal, Starfire immediately moved to hug her friend. She was shocked and happy at the same time. She would finally have a chance to partake in that Earthly custom called "girl talk!"
Removing herself from the hug as soon as possible, Raven sat down on her bed and invited Starfire to do the same.
"Now, during girl talk, you have to only speak the truth. And if I want to, I can tell when you lie," Raven explained. Starfire just nodded eagerly. "So, Starfire, what really happened last night?"
Starfire looked away. I don't know what to say. It is all right if I tell Raven, is it not? But this feels like something I should keep to myself…I know performing the girl talk must be difficult for Raven, so I at least owe her the truth.
"I—I did tell a lie last night." Starfire avoided looking directly into the psychic's eyes. "I had actually been 'knocked out' for a long time out on a beach I did not recognize. I did not want to cause any needless worry. That is all."
Raven couldn't detect any signs of lying in Starfire's mind. Still, her answer didn't seem complete. "Then how did you escape? If I remember right, you were trapped with Red X's X."
"In the end, I broke free. Is that satisfactory, Raven?" Starfire surprised even herself with her unecessarily sharp tone. Why am I lying to one of my dearest friends about Red X? I do not understand…But Raven must not know.
Starfire thought wildly for a second for a topic that would sufficiently distract Raven.
"Friend, I have wondered what the other female Earthly custom called "shopping" entailed. Would you care to show me?"
The ends of Raven's purple hair lifted slightly, then she said, "I don't think so, Star. There is something else you need to tell me."
"Um, I have just remembered I have a very important thing to do! Yes! I must help, uh, Beast Boy do the crampoolnefs!" Starfire babbled as she stood up quickly.
Raven shook her head and sighed. "All right, I give in. I'll go."
Starfire turned to face her friend. "Go where?"
"Shopping."
Kill me now.
Please.
A/N: What did you think? Please review!
I was absolutely floored when I saw I had 10 reviews in just like, 9 hours. Thank you sooo much to everybody who reviewed: funkystar555 (I'll definitely finish it! Thanks!), Magicstar909 (Yeah, that rhyme was really random and I just realized it after I typed it, ), Oenone (Great suggestion! True to your comment, I added some more stuff.), rock'n'rollbitch (Yay! Another PotO fan!), linkparkh2over (Thank you SOOOO MUCH for adding me to your favs!), Flames of the Sun (I won't, don't worry, and yes, Red X does rock.), strodgfrdf (Thanks for adding me to your faves!), Ldy-Florry (Please don't yell! lol), Jackalobe (I am perfectly aware I spelled 'masquerade' wrong.), starfan1 (Thanks! It does make sense to be tired at 1:30.), MasterPeace (Ok, I used your suggestion and edited it a bit. Better?), and slayerlina and amythespecialness, luv you guys! Thank you ALL!
Oh yeah, can anybody tell me where I got Mark's e-mail address from? It's pretty tricky…
And does anybody else have difficulty when they want to put an e-mail address in their fic? Or even a website? Because I tried unfeelingscrap at gotmail dot com (but with the and with .com) and it just didn't show up. How can I fix this?
And how can I use other dividers? Like asterisk squiggly asterisk squiggly etc etc?
Sarah