I wake up and leap out of bed. I transform immediately and go to the door. I press the button to open it. Once it's open, I trot out into the hall. I head towards the kitchen with purpose. As the door to the kitchen opens, I hear voices. They stop once I enter and Robin and Raven look at me. I sit down and stare back at them. Raven turns to her book and reads while Robin regards me. I walk over to the couch they're sitting on and leap over the back onto it. Robin still looks at me but I ignore him completely. I look at Raven.
Good morning, I think.
Good morning, she replies.
Satisfied, I walk to the kitchen and open the refrigerator with my mind. I lean back on my haunches and stand up, looking for something edible. I select a package with my mouth and bring it to the counter. I transform back into my human form and open the instant pudding. I get out the supplies needed to make the pudding and start preparing it. Through this all, Robin looks at me. Frustrated, I look back at him.
"Can I help you with something?" I say.
"No, just wondering what on earth you're doing," he replies.
"I'm making pudding," I say, continuing. "You're welcome to have some when it's done."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
The door from the rooms open and Starfire comes through it. She sees me and stops.
"Who is this?" she asks.
Robin looks to me to say something but I pretend as if I hadn't seen her.
"That's Luna," Robin answers for me. "She'll be living with us."
Hearing that, Star flies towards me, scoops me up and hugs me.
"Welcome to our home!" she says.
As she puts me down, I say, "You're perky. I don't like perky."
"What is this perky?"
"It's when people are really happy."
"And I am perky?"
"Yes."
"So you do not like me?"
"As long as you tone down a bit, I'll be fine."
"I will immediately commence toning down!" she says with a smile and flies to Raven.
"Don't even think about it," Raven says.
Star seems as if she's used to this and turns to Robin.
"Good morning, Robin!" she says, and gives him a hug.
"Good morning, Star," he replies.
I continue to ignore them as I finish the pudding. A green kitten leaps onto the counter and heads for the pudding bowl.
"Touch my pudding and you die," I say calmly.
The kitten looks at me and decides that it values its life. It leaps off the counter, transforming in the air.
"You don't seem to be a morning person," Beastboy says.
"I am," I say. "I'm just very protective of pudding."
He laughs and walks to the sofa.
The door opens once again and Cyborg walks in.
"Mornin' y'all," he says.
They greet him and he eyes me warily and asks, "Who's that?"
"Luna," Star says. "She will be living with us!"
"Isn't she that chick we rescued last night?"
I slam my hands on the counter and they all look at me in surprise.
"First of all," I begin, speaking in a quiet, dangerous voice. "I'm not a chick. Second, I didn't need rescuing. You guys interfered."
I walk away towards the door and Beastboy says, "Can I have your pudding?"
I answer by levitating the bowl above his head and dropping it upside down.
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I sit at the desk, typing on my laptop. There's a knock on my door and the remembrance of Slade's knocking comes into my mind. I scream and hold my head. The door opens and Robin comes in. He runs to me and puts his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm fine," I whisper. "I just remembered…"
There's no need to finish. He knows what I'm talking about.
"Sorry, I didn't think the knocking would…"
"Its fine," I interrupt.
I raise my head and brush back my hair from my face with my hand. I breathe deeply and let it out.
"You okay?" he says.
"I said I was fine," I answer.
"I meant back in the kitchen," he says. "You seemed pretty ticked off."
I turn my laptop off and go sit on my bed. Robin follows, waiting for an explanation.
"I would've been fine without you guys," I say finally. "I don't want to be referred to as being rescued. I don't need rescuing."
"He didn't mean it that way…"
"He did."
Robin looks at me, but I look away.
"Luna, what's wrong."
I say nothing, but I sniffle and he turns my head towards him.
"What's wrong? And don't say you're fine because, obviously, you're not."
"I refuse to speak to you about my feelings," I say, trying to hold back my emotions.
"Why?" he asks, puzzled.
"Because sharing my feelings would show I want to get closer to you and that would be dangerous."
"What are you talking about?"
"You still haven't promised."
"I can guarantee I won't fall in love with you."
"You say that now. But it's not that hard to fall in love with someone."
"You explain that to me and I'll promise."
"Each day I live here, I'll get closer to everyone. Once I get closer, you might find that you like me. That's the first step. Then, as time goes by, you might find that you're beginning to like me a lot. I'm not that hard to like once you get to know me. Then, you'll wake up one day and feel as though your life has meaning, purpose. And when you look at me, feeling that way, you'll realize you've fallen in love with me."
He gazes at me in astonishment.
"And then that's when Slade comes and uses you against me."
He continues to stare at me.
"See!" I say angrily. "You already like me!"
"I never said that."
"Oh don't gimme that!" I say. "You reek of friendly emotions."
"Fine, I promise I won't fall in love with you."
"You still don't mean it."
"I find it hard to believe I'll fall in love with you. I'm only sixteen, and you're…"
"Fifteen."
"Fifteen! I don't think we're even capable of love at this age."
"Whatever," I say, leaning back onto my bed.
We sit there for a minute. Him still staring at me and me staring at the wall in front of me.
"Why do you always stare at me like that?"
"I don't know."
"You think I'm pretty."
"I didn't say that."
"Words can't mask your eyes. Or your soul."
"You're a little creepy."
I shrug and lie down.
"Having a nap?"
"Day dreaming."
"About…"
"A life where people don't constantly pester you with questions they know aren't going to get a straight answer to," I say, eyes closed.
He takes the hint and gets up.
"Wait."
He turns around to see me sitting up and looking into his eyes earnestly.
"Please promise me, Robin."
"I don't think…"
"Please."
He looks into my eyes and I can read him like an open book.
"I promise," he says, and leaves.
As the door closes I whisper to myself, "You didn't say what you were promising…"