Chapter 3: Where There's Smoke
The figure took another drag of their cigarette, holding it in before letting the smoke trail up into the sky. When he finally stepped out, the light from the moon cut him diagonally, his upper half still covered in darkness.
Speedy took one more puff then dropped the cigarette on the roof, extinguishing it with his boot before fully walking out into the light.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to intrude," Starfire said as she looked up at him, absentmindedly combing her hair with her fingers, a nervous habit of hers.
He breathed out his final drag as he turned his head briefly from her and he then returned her gaze. "You're not intruding. I just come up here to relax ever so often."
Starfire scrunched up her face. "By partaking in the smoking? That is very…"
"Disgusting? I know," he said, giving a laugh. He then leaned down, leaving a sizable distance between himself and Starfire as he plopped to sit down on the edge.
"I was going to say surprising. I do not know many heroes that partake in such activities," she said. She watched as he swung one leg so it dangled freely while the other he used to lean his arm on, him staring out into the ocean.
"Well, hero is a big word. I'm just a guy that slings arrows is all," he said as he gave her a knowing smirk. "Besides, we all have vices. Mine's just extremely bad for you, just like I suppose taking down bad guys for a living is. Got to let off steam somehow."
A silence wrapped around them, but it was not uncomfortable or unwelcome. Starfire sighed. She decided that while they were both up here alone and things were fairly amicable, now was a good time as any to bring up the events of today.
"I want to apologize for today," she said. She gestured broadly in his direction then continued. "I should have not eye beamed you in the face, no matter how much it was warranted."
A smile cocked up at the corner of his lips, though he tried to smother it, seemingly to stop laughter it appeared to Starfire. "Yeah, well, what's done is done I suppose. And I guess I'm sorry, too. Sometimes my mouth doesn't like to interact with my brain and stupid shit comes out."
Starfire giggled then and he looked back to the water. "Perhaps it is an issue to be seen by a medical professional? So it does not happen once more?" she teased.
He snapped his head in her direction, faking offense with a hand to his chest but soon a smile returned. "Wouldn't be a bad idea. It would sure save me a lot of trouble," he said.
They slipped into another short silence as he took out another cigarette and lighter from his belt. As he held the cigarette in his lips and she eyed him, he murmured around it, "Want one?"
She watched as he held out one, taking a second too long to protest as she shook her head. "No, I thank you, but I should not."
"Why? If you're afraid of Momma Bee, this isn't like the original Titans. We aren't ruled under an iron fist here. Besides, it's basically a human tradition. Everyone has had at least one cigarette in their life."
Starfire narrowed her eyes at him. She knew what he was referring to, or rather who. He thought of this as a challenge. She was sure of it as that stupid smirk reappeared and he wagged the cigarette between his fingers.
She tentatively took it and wrapped her hand around the cigarette.
"That a girl," he said triumphantly as she looked at it confused. She knew enough from watching movies and seeing Speedy that she should place the filter side in her mouth. She did as such, placing it between her pointer and middle finger to hold it to her lips. Speedy scooted closer, cupping his hand near her face and then lighting the lighter within it so it would not be put out by the wind.
"Now take it slow and lean into the flame. That's it, now inhale slowly and –"
Starfire sputtered as the smoke-filled her lungs. Hacking, she removed the cigarette from her lips and continued to cough.
"How -hack- horrid! And you do this to -cough- relax?" she got out. She focused on her shallow breathing as Speedy let out a chuckle and lightly patted her on the back.
"Easy there. First time is always the worst. You just gotta get used to it."
Her lungs ached and tears stung her eyes as she looked up from her hunched-over position at him.
"Used to breathing fire? I do not think so." She composed herself enough to sit straighter, wiping the liquid from her eyes with both of her hands.
Speedy, about to light his own cigarette up, was stopped as Starfire handed him her own. He smirked, putting the barely used cigarette to his lips and inhaled. Once she regained her composure, he spoke.
"You're different than I thought you would be," he said absentmindedly as he exhaled out into the night.
She stiffened, not sure what to say at first. He looked at her expectantly as she said, "How so?"
"It's cliché, but I thought you'd be more girly, stuck up, a goody-two-shoes. But you're not anything like that. But maybe a bad breakup will do that to someone." He shrugged, like mentioning it was that most mundane thing in the world, and took another drag.
She winced. While it had been no secret why Starfire was here, still no one had been upfront about it to her, instead opting to dance around the subject instead of being so direct. But he did not press, just continued to smoke.
"And you are different from my imaginings as well. I thought all you cared about was your hair," she said half-heartedly, hoping her joke would land and deflect from his comment.
He laughed. "Hey, hey, hey. I care about a lot of things, ok? Like… I dunno, like my handsome face and gill face occasionally. But don't tell him that I told you so." He winked at her, but he could tell something was off, her smile a bit too forced. "Hey, you never answered my first question when you first got here. What are you doing up here, anyway?"
She sighed, fiddling with her hands as she spoke then adjusted the blanket so it sat more comfortably around her shoulders. "I could not find slumber. I used to come up to the roof a lot when I was in Jump. I thought I would find peace up here as well."
Taking one last puff, he threw the cigarette to the depths. "I understand. Everybody's got a haunt or two. We just happen to share one. We can be roof buddies."
Starfire smiled as he looked at her, but again, it was forced as she turned her face to the horizon. Her mind of its own accord drifted to another skyline and another rooftop, another life and another masked man.
"I thank you," she managed. She paused, about to say more but then thought better of it. She moved to get up. "I think I shall retire for the night. I believe we have early training tomorrow."
He watched as she floated by the edge, reaching her hand down to help him up. He declined, putting his hand up.
"I think I'll stay out here for a bit. Tonight's shit but usually you can see the sky pretty clearly. You'll have to come back one of these nights," he said hopefully, not looking at her.
Starfire bit her lip, unsure. "Perhaps," she said vaguely, not wanting to seem eager. Not sure of his intent. "Pleasant dreams, friend Speedy. I shall see you tomorrow." She floated to the door, hand on the handle.
"By the way, I was joking about that Bee stuff. Please don't tell her about the smoking. I'll never hear the end of it," he called after her just as she was about to float down the stairs. She peaked out of the alcove.
"Your secret is safe with me," Starfire said as she finally slipped the door shut.
