Yeah, so slow update huh? I apologize, and right now i have a pretty good idea for the next chapter, so hopefully it wont take long to update. Well, without further ado, here is the latest on the story!
Chapter 14
Approaching Peril
'It hurts... but I am used to it now. I should not be used to it. This should not be happening to me... I thought it would all go away now that I have been reuinited with Kal El. I was wrong. Always, everything goes wrong! Why is this happening to me! Too much. Too much... What should I do? Uh! I cannot even think anymore!'
"Starfire!"
It was Robin. He was still paralyzed by Raven.
His voice sounded different. It was so... longing.
It made her stop in her tracks. It made her want to turn around so badly.
But she didn't.
She couldn't.
If she turned around and looked at them, if she saw what she had caused... well she didn't know what would happen then.
So she kept walking.
A bit later, she heard Raven catch up to her.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yes," she said and touched her wounded arm.
She thought bitterly, 'Stupid thing. When will you stop bleeding? If you want to bleed so much, then make it sting too!'
"I don't mean your arm. I mean, how are you?"
They were now inside the tower, with Raven guiding Starfire to the infirmary.
"I... am not certain."
"Well, lets stop this bleeding first," said Raven.
She had never seen Starfire look so melancholy. As much as she hated doing this "girl talk" thing, she had to say it.
"Then we can talk about it, if you really want to."
"Thank you, friend Raven," Star replied, and hugged her.
"Um... how about we do this hugging thing after I bandage you up. 'Cause I'm thinking you're really going to-"
Thump
"Faint."
Starfire had indeed fainted before Raven had even finished her sentence, but luckily, onto the infirmary bed.
Raven sighed.
"I wonder, do all alien girls enjoy hugging and fainting?" She hoped they didn't.
"Looks like I'm going to have to watch over this whole love triangle thing. What a pain..."
She wrapped a fresh roll of bandage around the lower part of her lower shoulder and down to her arm.
She heard footsteps in the hallway.
Robin appeared at the infirmary door, followed closely by Kal El. Both were looking disheveled and concerned.
Robin spoke first.
"What happened to her? What... how-"
"She fainted from blood loss," said Raven, determined to be as apathetic as possible to the guys.
"This is all my fault," muttered Kal El, holding his head between his hands.
"I'm so stupid," said Robin while his eyes carefully scrutinized the bandaged girl lying on the bed. Blood was still seeping through the bandages.
He walked over to a nearby table and opened a drawer. He took out a roll of bandage and dressing, and walked back to the bed. He carefully lifted Starfire up to a sitting position and applied the dressing over the bloody bandage. Then he wrapped more bandage over the whole thing, and tied the ends.
He examined his bloodied hands.
'That's all I can do for now... so much blood... and because of me..'
Kal El stood watching as the other boy washed his hands.
'He's a completely different person now. Not the annoying, pissed off brat from before... he obviously cares a lot about the princess. This is going to be more difficult than I thought...'
Robin walked over to the unconscious girl and tenderly swept her hair out of her face.
Kal El pondered over a few more things.
'What should I do? I have to tell her soon... but I will have to wait for now.'
"Thanks Robin," said Raven. "She'll be okay for now, so let the three of us have a little talk."
'Uh oh...' thought both guys.
A "little talk" always meant a huge lecture. And they had a pretty good idea of what exactly the lecture would be about.
The discussion took place in the hallway far from the infirmary so they wouldn't disturb Starfire.
"Well, I think we can all agree that what happened back there was very... regrettable. No that's being too nice. What I meant to say was, you guys are the most idiotic jackasses in this world. Yes, that would be a more fitting description."
After saying this, Raven gave both Robin and Kal El a menacing glare, expecting them to say something.
Anything...
Kal El couldn't take it anymore so he decided to speak.
"Uh, you see... um, what's your name?"
"Raven."
"Well, you see Raven... uh... so..."
Kal El blinked, closed his mouth, pointed at Raven, and opened his mouth again.
"You have pretty cool powers...
"Very... cool!"
"Um... thanks, but that wasn't what I wanted to hear."
Robin raised an eyebrow thinking, 'You have pretty cool powers? What shit is he smoking?'
Seeing Raven give him an accusing stare, Robin decided it was his turn to speak.
"Raven, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just... I don't know!"
"Oh, really. I think you do know what came over you. I think we all know."
"What do you mean...?"
"Nevermind, I'm tired." And with that said, Raven retired to her room.
Robin and Kal El were left in an uncomfortable silence. Neither wanted to leave Starfire, so they were forced to remain in this awkward situation.
Bzzzz
The buzzing was coming from Robin. The communicator was alarming the Titans of trouble.
'Now what? Better not be another one of Starfire's buddies...' Robin thought bitterly as he checked his communicator.
"What was that?" asked Kal El.
"There's someone causing trouble downtown again. You know, like you did last time?"
"Ouch.., I guess I deserved that," replied Kal El.
"Yeah," was Robin's curt answer.
He pressed a button on his communicator, which connected him to the rest of the Titans.
"Cyborg, what can you tell us about the situation?"
"It's something bigger than last time. Reports of explosions and well-equipped robots. Might be artificial intelligence... Apparently much more advanced than our military technology..."
"Where's Starfire?" asked Beast Boy. She was the only one missing from the communicator line.
"She won't be joining us. She opened up her wound again," replied Raven.
"What! Already? That girl just can't sit still and let herself recover!" said the green guy.
Robin felt his face growing hot as guilt flushed through his limbs.
"Yeah... Whatever it is, the four of us will have to handle it by ourselves," he said.
"I'm coming too," said Kal El after some eavesdropping.
"No, you're not," replied Robin, annoyed.
"Robin, I know you don't like me, but I want to help," he said with his most serious expression.
"Besides, it's my fault that Starfire is injured now. Let me take responsibility. Please."
Kal El looked sincere, and his words were very honorable.
Robin had to agree.
"Fine," he said.
"But you should know, you can't replace Starfire," said Cyborg through the communicator. "She's one hell of a fighter."
Kal El smiled.
"I know."
End of Chapter 14
Well, the next chapter will obviously involve the Titans confronting this new nemesis in town. But the question is... who is it? It will involve a bit of action and mystery. Some twists follow too... Thats a hint of forshadowing! Be alert, children...
oh and I'd like to think this chapter was longer than some of the others... was it? I really cant tell for sure.