Sixteenth Chapter: Kiss
"So, the question now stands. Will you oblige to the task?"
"Yes."
What was I supposed to say? 'No, sorry, I can't, because I refuse to kiss my friend, even if it will save her life. In the meantime, though, let's talk about fuzzy purple flying squirrels as we watch her die, and then I'll say goodbye and let Lust and the You-Who-Are-Dubbed-Robin girl rule this freakish place'?
No, I couldn't do that. No one would, but I… I couldn't kiss her!
"Good," the new Starfire said in that same tone of voice.
I looked up at her. "Listen, I-"
"Do it."
"But I-"
"Now."
"I can't, Starfire's my-"
"Friend, right?" She spat. "Or is she more, Robin?"
My jaw must've hit the floor, it dropped so far.
"Is it that you don't want to kiss her because you do not like her that way, or is it that you don't want to kiss her because you fear her learning the truth?"
I continued my wide-eyed stare.
"Face it, Mr. I-Supposedly-Have-No-Feelings. You don't have a choice. No one but you minds what you have to do. She's going fast, and you've wasted at least ten minutes simply procrastinating. Just get it over with, will you?"
I blinked once, then again, and then a third time. "Al-Al-right-t… I-I-I'll try," I stuttered.
She smirked. "Good boy."
It felt like a dream, turned to Innocence's limp, motionless form, leaning over it with her face no more an inch from mine. I closed my eyes, resisting.
I realized at that moment that that Starfire, whichever one she was, was right. I liked Starfire. No, that's not right. I loved her. And I'd been refusing to give in to the other's words for the simple fact that I had been afraid, for the first time in my life, of rejection.
I almost laughed, but opened my eyes to find the face of Innocence directly in front of mine. She really was beautiful, and her expression was so peaceful and serious.
I closed my eyes again, almost defying the temptation.
But temptation is a powerful thing, and soon I found my lips on hers. The taste of mint and roses swept over me. The world faded away when I opened my eyes to find hers open, too, and her arms wrapped around the back of my neck. I sat on her bed and leaned back, still kissing her gently. She followed me and a moan escaped her throat. The color returned to her face quickly as I felt her fingers run up the back of my head, through my gelled hair, and then back down the base of my neck.
And then the spell broke and the world crashed back to my eyes as I heard Raven's hoarse voice say, "Oh, my, god."