by: RioN VhEnTeUnO
A/N: Alright! For a short summary, this chapter focuses more on Raven and Starfire's friendship. Enjoy...
Chapter 12
A Sad Story
(Starfire)
It was a glorious day indeed! The earth sun shone perfectly over the green blades of grass. The horizon of the park was a joyous sight to behold. Other humans were happily running around and making merry.
I observed Cyborg and Beast Boy (in the form of a gorilla) engage in the wrestle of the arms. Both of them seemed to be in much discomfort. This may be because they are both so strong.
"Booya!" Cyborg exclaimed, flexing his cybernetic muscles. "I'm the man!"
"Awww you just lucked out!" Beast Boy retorted.
"No I didn't! You're just a bad loser you little grass stain!"
"Care for a rematch chrome dome! That's if you're not scared…"
"Oh you are on!"
Cyborg and Beast Boy continued in much of the calling of names and the wrestling of arms, to which Beast Boy has not yet claimed a victory. Cyborg seemed to 'wipe Beast Boy on the floor' as he would say. I giggled on their very amusing antics.
Perhaps I had over exaggerated when I had said the day to be glorious.
Although Cyborg and Beast Boy were having their time of the lives, I had not yet taken Robin off my mind. He seemed to change because of the incident. I have never seen him so… unhappy before. He does not enjoy almost everything anymore. I can see him smile, but the smile itself seemed to be very similar to his mask.
It was like an object that he wears on his face.
Due to observation, he did not only behave strangely, he also seemed to be distant to me. It is as if he is doing the edging away…
Maybe I have done something wrong. I shall apologize at once when we return home.
I saw Raven sitting alone up in the branch of a tree. She has also seemed to be different since that incident. She seems much more silent and does not tell the sarcastic comments as frequent as she used to. I flew up beside her. She did not seem to be busy meditating or reading her book. It lay untouched on her lap. She tilted her head slightly when she noticed my presence.
"Raven?…" I asked with most uncertainty.
"Oh… Hey," She replied in her usual monotone, brushing her face with her wrist.
"I have observed you… contemplate for quite some time," I said, fidgeting. "I do not wish to intrude, but I grew concerned."
"That's alright Starfire," she said without looking at me.
"Um… do you wish to talk about something?…" I asked her.
Raven looked at me. For the first time I saw her eyes, I observed a certain sadness in them. Raven almost never lets her emotions loose, not even that. Right now, I seem to be so affected by her despair that I myself seemed to drown in them. If I am feeling this way just by looking at her, then she must burden a vastly greater scale of unpleasantness.
"I-it's nothing… really," Raven said, observing a butterfly that flew by. It then perched on a small branch beside her. "There's just this story I read in a book that I can't get out of my head…" She seemed to hesitate.
"Please continue," I said, sitting in front of Raven. She looked up at me.
"There were two girls, Kaori and Razelle," She continued, holding out her hand to the butterfly, which hopped on it and slowly flapped its wings. "Each one's personality is the exact opposite of the other. Kaori was outspoken and cheerful, but Razelle was timid and silent. But even so, they were best friends. They could tell each other almost everything."
I shifted on the branch to listen closely. Raven let the butterfly flutter away. "They grew up in an orphanage together, these two, along with their other friends. The cheerful Kaori was drawn really close to another one of their childhood friends, Richter. He's a smart, good-looking, and protective sort of guy.
"Now Richter here had a rough childhood. More than enough to scar him for life. He remembered his mother and father get killed right in front of him at a young age. Then he was homeless for almost a year. Fortunately, he was adopted by a very rich aristocrat who lived in a mansion not far from the orphanage.
"Richter and Kaori eventually became a couple," Raven wrapped her arms around herself as she said this. "Razelle looked at both of them as best friends, but she didn't notice that she fell in love with Richter as time passed by…
"They shared many moments together. He understood her when nobody else did, and she did the same. He was always there for her. Even when her real father came to ruin her life, he kept her safe and never lost hope. Richter saved Razelle so many times. He even saved her from herself…"
Raven stopped. She had hung her head. "What has happened next?" I asked, feeling deeply moved by the story.
"Razelle's love and concern for Kaori won," Raven answered, burying her face in her knees. "Once she realized how she felt about Richter, she thought it would eventually destroy her best friend's happy life. She loved him with all her heart, but still she chose to stay behind the sidelines. Even though watching them ate her inside and out…"
"That is a… such a sad story Raven…" I said, wiping away tears that flowed down my cheeks.
Raven stayed silent. I observed her with much concern. I may still be new to most of the earthly ways, but I am not even close to being dumb or naïve. Maybe she did not notice it, but I already knew what she was telling me, and I know what I have to do. I know Raven that well.
I gave Raven a light hug, which she did not resist to.
"Tell me, Starfire…" Raven began in a weak monotone. "Did Razelle do the right thing?"
"I do not know Raven," I said, stroking her hair. Raven was always more of a sister to me than Blackfire could ever be… "I honestly do not know…"
But I will find out, I promise.
"I do know, however, that Razelle is noble, trustworthy and a very good friend."
A/N: I know, the three names suck big time. Hehe. I hope I got Starfire's character just right, though. I'm always up for preserving all of the character's personalities in this story and all of my other future stories. I'll wait for your generous reviews. Feel free to comment on my flaws. Thanks.
