When I came out of my room Starfire was still on the floor, but a mohawk of gauze was soaking up her blood. There was also an outline of tape around her. Kyd Wykkyd left the room as I walked in likely assuming I would take over his watch. There was an unspoken rule she could not be guarded with just one after my mistake. There were restraints tied around the blanket she was in making it a makeshift straight jacket. Seemore was drafting in a notebook and Gizmo was working on a laptop connected to the main monitor showing a wall of code.
"What's with the tape?" I asked coming towards the fridge to find some sort of breakfast. I knew better than to expect someone to have left any coffee so I started a new pot.
"She was being pretty grabby. Not an unappreciated trait around here, but Wykkyd got fed up with her grabbing his cape." He explained and I peeked over at what he was writing. It seemed to be a draft of an explanation and strategy to deal with operation Overboard as he named it after that lame old movie where a rich chick has amnesia after being rude to a carpenter and he takes her home to live as the other side. I saw the comparison, but it was certainly more sinister on our end.
"What's the plan so far, genius?" I asked Seemore as this was his idea he would have to pay to play it out.
"Hacking into the Justice League to get her files." Gizmo answered assuming I was referring to him with my genius line. "If we are going to execute this shitty idea we need to know more about her than she shoots starbolts and is in love with Bird charming."
"You had to interact with her during your rogue period, what was that like." Seemore asked flipping a page ready to record whatever I said. I took a bite out of the breakfast bar I had found. The person I had seen briefly while on the other side was not the person who held a starbolt to my throat hours ago.
"I didn't spend a lot of time with her, though she wanted to reach out and shop, I just wasn't interested in getting too close. I know she has a sister, don't think they talk anymore. She's also some sort of royalty so that's extra. She can't cook for shit, but apparently has a weakness for mustard on stuff. I don't know she was so annoyingly bubbly and upbeat it was kind of hard to look at her sometimes. Though I don't know how much else I know will apply, the person who woke up is not the Starfire we are used to dealing with."
I did not want to talk about the double date I had gone on with her and Robin which just was awkward. It had made me realize how my feelings for Wally weren't enough. She was so sickenly in love with him and I had not been able to say it back when Wally previously confessed in the week. He didn't put pressure on me, but I knew if he was using them as scaffold for a relationship… my feelings couldn't match up.
"Well that's something at least. Gizmo, what's your timeline?" He asked as he wrote down what I said.
"Give me a minute, asshole. I'm only going to have access for so long so both of you shut up once I'm in." Gizmo bit out. There was a small shift of the bundle on the floor as she shifted a bit closer to the tape inchworm style.
"I feel like we have a feral tiger in our living room." I said as I had witnessed her more feral side getting out of the bubble. A human would not of been able to use their teeth to get out.
"Eh, people keep tigers as pets all the time." Seemore said and I wondered where he got his confidence that this would all work out. "We just have to find the right leash. I think we need to let her out willingly once she wakes up so we can build trust."
"And by we you mean me." I said following along.
"Eh, she kissed you, you're probably the safest. Just make sure I get it on camera next time." He was so gross.
"Shut up. She's not even my type." I was confidently only attracted to men, just not any of my teammates for obvious reasons. I didn't mind either way, I just mostly found other women annoying t be around and unnecessarily competitive. Angel was someone I tolerated for Wykkyd's sake.
"Titan Redhead, sounds like your type." Gizmo muttered and then there was a dinging noise. "Now shut up, I only have so long until they find me." I couldn't even defend myself. I glared at him before catching sights of what he was downloading and printing for Seemore's sake. It's a flurry of images and videos along with other documents. It looks like he is scrambling to gather as much data as he can. Sounds of keys clicking remind me of marching. Though he was wrong about how much time he had since he is quickly thrown off in what could not even be a minute which fills the room with creative insults. The printer keeps printing his finds though.
"Did you get everything?" Seemore asked even though the answer was no.
"No the crudmunchers must be actively updating her file since they caught me fast. Dammit. Though I did snag a few videos and other stuff labeled 'pre-Earth' which should be what we need." Gizmo said and stumbled over to refill the printer when it angrily beeped it needed a refill. Seemore snatched up the batch that was finished.
"Ho ho ho, her profile should do wonders. Wait a second that's weird." He said and then provided no additional information. I groaned and walked over to see what was so weird.
"She's not classed as a hero. She's in the weird ally limbo they put you in." It was far from the first time they had broken into the JL server and I knew they did when I was a turncoat. "Though you were right about her being royalty, she's a crown princess. What's doing slumming it on Earth with us?" I knew that there were reasons she was staying and four of them lived in the Tower across the water. I looked over at the pages and took the bottom part of his stack. I got a look at a wanted poster that was the first page I saw. The photo was old, but there was the coldness in her stare I had seen when I denied her escape from the bubble. The info below was interesting as well.
"Guys I think this is worth looking over." I presented up the wanted poster and while some of it was untranslated it was clear to tell she had more secrets from her time before we knew of her. Mammoth had entered the room and went over to look at the unconscious alien to huff and move over to where we were researching.
"Dirt?" Mammoth asked as he leaned over to stare at her wanted poster.
"Apparently she wasn't much of a sweetheart before Earth. Wanted Poster" I said as I looked over at her offense which was breach of contract. Though since her bounty was in scientific notation with an exponent over the ten. Her worth in space must be huge. I wasn't sure what the conversion of units was, but any number that big had to be worth something. She was wanted alive. It said to return her to any Gordian outpost which made her earlier concern make sense. Though what was below held the most value in terms of information since it listed her skills and known risks.
"She's broken out of 9 prisons. I'm not sure we have her secure. Not to pop your bubble Seemore, but she already did." I said since I felt wary about her being loose and probably angry when she wakes up again.
"She'll be fine, Mammoth will just grab her head shard and make her pass out again if she misbehaves." Seemore said and took a look at the wanted poster at my statement. "Courtesan arts? That has to be sex right?"
"Probably, they're so many jokes about them in the Titan network it would make sense." I replied and buried my face in my hand not wanting to think about it. My pale skin turned red so easily it was an annoying truth detector and reader of my emotions.
"What does emasculation mean?" Mammoth asked and it was a longest word under her skills section.
"She'll rip off your balls. Must be good at it if it's listed under skills." I said sort of rudely to him since horrified silence took over Seemore and Gizmo. Seemore threw a bubble her way after a moment and I rolled my eyes. Maybe the full body restraints would do their job this time.
"Any clue what world-killer status means?" Seemore asked regaining some composure, but his hand remained protective.
"Nothing good." Gizmo answered. "Let's look at the videos and see what holes they fill." He said and seemed proud he was able to nab some content in his short window.
"Should we get Kyd?" I asked since he would probably want to be in the loop. He appeared not long after I said his name coming from a portal and took the remaining island stool.
Gizmo started playing the clip which was labeled first contact. It was news footage that had redacted going along the byline which meant it had not actually been played on the news. It had been pulled. It was easy to see why since it was a handcuffed Starfire garbed in black destroying Jump city. She then started fighting the Titans none to gently.
"She hacky sacked a car at Robin." Seemore said in disbelief watching it happen. Then seeing her starbolts being directed at them all with a cruel smile on her lips not unlike the one she had directed earlier.
"Holy shit." Gizmo said since it was a bit startling to see her so ruthlessly attacking her team.
"I thought they were joking when she said she tried to kill him when they firsts met." It was really hard to tell when Starfire was joking due to her English. I heard a snort from Kyd Wykkyd. We kept watching until we witnessed him convince her to stay still to free her. Then she grabbed kissed him and threw him away from her saying something. There was no audio for the most part that could get words. Then the clip turned to what they actually played of Gordians I guess raiding the city and being defeated with her helping.
"Language transfer through lip contact." Seemore read off the wanted poster.
"That makes more sense now. If she doesn't remember anything from the past three years she needed to lip lock with Jinx." Gizmo scoffed.
"Well her speaking French makes sense now." I muttered under my breath.
"You Frenched?" Mammoth asked hearing the tale end. I slammed my head on the counter since unconsciousness seemed to be the best option around here
"We now have the formula." Kyd Wykkyd said and did not give more context.
"I'm still peeved they covered up her attack, heroes just want to look good." Gizmo input in and looked for another video. This one was labeled recovered captivity which basically was clips of her being experimented on and tests of her starbolts which was honestly boring. Though there was audio of her screaming in immense pain accompanied. It was similar to her screech earlier as the collar and cuffs must have caused her harm. She looked distraught and furious every time the camera panned to her.
"Well we have the first part. We just have to convince her we saved her from that life and she'll cling to us like the Titans." Seemore said completely uncaring to see what had happened to her. I tried to school my face, but I caught Mammoth's shudder. Gizmo and Seemore had been on the other side of the lab experience. They were testers we were tested. I gave his hand a pat to try and catch his attention. I didn't want him zoning out and finding himself back in the labs.
"You realize keeping her so restrained is kind of counter intuitive?" I asked the room since no one seemed to realize how bad this would seem if she woke up anytime soon.
"She doesn't trust us, so we just have to explain it's for her safety." Seemore said with confidence. "Leave it to me and she will be eating out of our hands." There was a muffled growling sound from behind us and we realized it was her stomach as she was still asleep.
"You might want to make sure she's not eating our hands. Do we have anything in the fridge she can eat?" Gizmo said slightly pointedly at me.
"As far as I know she can eat anything, but we are pretty much out of food. Don't let her kill you before I get back." I was practically voluntold to go shopping so no use fighting it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I came back from my shopping run with just two bags since I had to walk. I did get some mustard since there was an easy peace offering in case something went wrong. Which seemed to be the right idea since Seemore was pinned to the floor with a starbolt at his throat. Mammoth was unconscious not far away and Gizmo and Wykkyd was watching waiting to see Seemore handle it like he claimed he could.
"If you do not wish to be destroyed I recommend answering my questions not spouting meaningless filth." I heard her growl as she raised herself up into a sitting position while still restraining Seemore. He had probably tried to flirt and it backfired. Gizmo seemed to be twitching debating whether or not to try and get a weapon. She was very rarely his opponent so he did not have a lot of experience dealing with her. Kyd Wykkyd might have the least experience overall, but the most common sense. She was half draped in the blanket up to her waist, but I saw where his eye was fixed.
"He's kind of an idiot, you might have better luck with me. Peace Offering?" I said giving away my location. She tilted her other hand starbolt enclosed my direction at my voice, but turned her eyes when I said peace offering. I dug through the bag for the yellow bottle.
"What is that? And how does is offer peace?" She asked and I decided it was best to slide it along the floor near her instead of throwing. It came up short.
"It's your favorite food from Earth, Starfire. Trust me or at least try it. You have to be hungry." I said hoping that it would be a way to get the situation less hostile. I knew I was a bitch when hangry I had no doubt it would be the same for her.
"How do I know it is not poison?" She asked as my starbolt was extinguished and she shifted so she was standing on Seemore's throat and stomach where he made a low groaning noise from the pressure, but remained stuck under her. The blanket remained like a skirt on her hips. She needed something to wear since she was obviously distracting Seemore at the very least.
"You have immunity to most poisons. It would be foolish to try." I got that tidbit off her wanted poster. She seemed to accept this answer and smelled it before biting off the top. Not the lid the top of the bottle and shotgunned it like it would vanish. I shivered watching. Gross. I saw Gizmo put a hand to his mouth as if to hold back vomit of his own. She ended up eating the bottle and licking her lips so no yellow retained. The crunch of plastic cracking and tearing between her teeth was upsetting.
"That was glorious. Jinx is it? You speak as if we have familiarity. I would like an explanation on what I am doing here and why you restrained me not once, but twice? " There was snark in her voice near the end.
"It is a long story, perhaps you would be more comfortable off Seemore's larynx. Though we restrained you since you have a tendency to make your injuries worse when hurt. It was for your safety." That was as bull as a barn. Though since her first reaction was to rip out her shard once she felt it, potentially we could explain it that way. She scoffed, but did move her foot from Seemore's throat before stepping off where he rolled and coughed to the side. She smirked at his reaction as if getting some satisfaction from his suffering. Yeah this was not the Starfire who I had met in the Tower or battlefield.
"I will accept your explanation, but I advise against doing it again for your safety." Her tone was clear and directed at the men. She was making it clear her tolerance was up with restraints. How did she even get out of her makeshift straight jacket or handcuffs earlier I had no idea. "Perhaps the story can be told along with food. Should I care about their names?" She waved a dismissive hand in their direction. Mammoth made a groan from his position on the floor which signaled her was getting closer to consciousness. I looked over at Kyd Wykkyd where he gave me a nod. I guess introductions we on my plate as well.
"The big one is Mammoth, the short one is Gizmo, The one in the cape is Kyd Wykkyd and you've gotten close with Seemore. What's the last thing you remember so I know where to start the story?" I was buying time for Seemore to catch his breath and hopefully handle this situation. I started to unpack groceries onto the counter which immediately caught her eyes.
"I was traveling to be delivered as Lord Troggar's prize when I was able to seize an opportunity of a foolish guard. I remember running, but I do not remember where I ended up." She said the word prize like she wanted to spit on it. I felt a twinge of pity since I could infer what a pretty woman being kept in handcuffs could be seen as. She had escaped since she knew what life awaited for her if she didn't. She had chosen me as a safer option to converse with most likely out of trauma. That part of her past had never been hinted at while I was with the Titans.
"That was a long time ago over 3 years ago, you're safe now despite the unwanted attachment. Don't try ripping it out again." I said and touched the top of my own head. Her bandages had turned blue and I wondered how much blood loss was actually occurring. She had struck the food grabbing a pack of ground beef I was thinking could be some sliders if anyone got motivated.
"3 years…how did I get this?" She asked one hand going to her injury, as she ran a nail over the plastic to slice the pack of ground beef. Maybe she learned from the mustard bottle plastic wasn't tasty.
"You were caught in a really bad explosion, honestly shocked you're alive. That's typically better cooked." I said as she started eating raw chunks of hamburger. The sound of sizzling meat echoed the room as she warmed her hand and proceeded to eat it like she was starved.
"I prefer it raw. Why was I caught in a bad explosion?" She asked and now I didn't know what to say so I passed her over a soda taking care to open it for her.
"I don't know, we just found you like this and decided to save your ass yet again. Mistake if you're just going to threaten our lives for doing nothing wrong to you." Okay I was definitely smelling a farm with how much bull I was laying down in that last part. Though it seemed to convince her enough. Deceit 101 from HIVE Academy was worth it's homework. She paused her assault on our groceries and appraised me and the boys for sincerity. Gizmo was doing his best to keep a straight face, Kyd was solid as he kept one expression 97% of the time. Mammoth was still on the ground and I was beginning to think he had woken up and decided to keep napping. Seemore gave 2 thumbs up.
"I do not appreciate being restrained, though I will express appreciation for treating my wound. How do I know you? You said again which means this is surprisingly not the first time you've encountered me injured." She was losing her overt threats, but her suspicion had not vanished.
"Well we met you early on when you fled to Earth, you were in trouble from some other aliens. We dealt with them together." Seemore said taking over and coming to help me dig this hole. I was happy for the assist since I was not sure when I would slip up.
"You five helped defeat the elites of Troggar?" She gave a laugh. It reminded me of Harley Quinn at the start and deepened low. It was fitting in a horror movie soundtrack with how unsettling it was. "That is hard to believe. You do not seem very threatening beyond Mammoth. Pretty yes, some more than others, but they were seasoned warriors." I felt like the pretty line was directed my way since she shot me a look. Though I felt insulted and was able to hide my blush with a scowl.
"Eh Princess, get off your high horse. You were stupid enough to be captured in the first place." Gizmo spouted off. It was only a matter of time before he added water to the boiling oil. Though he seemed to have regrets as he was charged by the angry redhead. He had a shocking glove on which caught her unaware momentarily, but her rage was enough she was able to stay conscious and redirect it to his torso. He fell unconscious and she tossed his body next to Mammoth.
"I did not kill him as a favor for treating my wounds. He will receive fitting punishment the next time he spews ignorance. This reestablishes my doubt at your abilities to defeat elites if you are so delicate." She said and gave Kyd Wykkyd a check to see if he wanted to join the heap. His stance was ready, but he gave a subtle communication of no with a shake of his head.
"Well you did most of the work we just helped out a bit. As you can see, Gizmo is good with tech, Mammoth is strong, Kyd Wykkyd there is always in the right time, right place. I keep my eye on the prize which has plenty of surprises in stock." Seemore did a quick flip through his abilities to show the color shifts. She seemed to be cataloguing this information.
"That seems more believable. Jinx what can you do?" Once again I knew I would get stuck with her as the only other female.
"My name is kind of explanatory, I can wield magic to send curses at opponents. You don't want to press your luck with me." I said giving a little more bravado into that last line. She gave me a nod. I used my ability to rot a banana.
"Impressive, I retract my first impression. With your total abilities and a great deal of luck, you would be able to pick off a few elites. Though since I remain here after such a long time, Earth is a free planet? That is the only explanation for me not returning to Tamaran." I wasn't exactly understanding what she was saying.
"Well, Princess not much here is free. Though you mostly stuck around since this is a nice place." Seemore said and motioned to the food where she had decided to try and eat the brown banana. Of course with peel. The Titans must have really dedicated time to her table manners since she was able to identify her forks when we went on our double date.
"The food is more than adequate, but I do not understand what you mean by nice. There is not a translation for that in my language. The closest is Rutha, weak." Oof she was asking for a hex with her own comments.
"It is certainly a nicer place than where you were last. Safe from bounties and a place to heal." I provided instead of telling her she shouldn't run her mouth.
"We do not have to keep you here." This came from Kyd Wykkyd which caught her attention. His silence and aura made him the easiest to deal with and often the best.
"I was harsh in my phrasing, I am not trained in this nice. I appreciate the momentary sanctuary and nutrients I would repay you with my jewels, but they do not seem to be with me. May I ask another favor for some alternative clothes, I fear my blood may attract predators. I will figure put some way to settle my burdens." What kind of things were out there which would see Starfire as prey? May I never meet them. Shit I should of peeked for some clothes that would fit her. I had known she would need some, but it had not been a priority yet. Her uniform was in tatters and the blanket was obscuring what it certainly needed to.
"I'm sure we can work something out, perhaps a few favors with those talents of yours." Seemore said and I smacked the back of his head. I had caught on earlier the fact she had likely been abused in her time in cells and labs. He was being playful, but it would come out completely wrong to her. Hitting him myself was likely the best way to stop him from joining the pile of unconscious men in my living room.
"Wykkyd can you please find her something to wear? You have a better sense of style beat into you." I did not want to share my clothes and they would probably not fit since her measurements and mine were different as dogs and cats. He could steal something quickly with his powers. He nodded and opened a portal before gliding through it.
"I will do whatever I must to repay my debt. Though I do not feel well enough to do any actions immediately." She had seemed lethargic after the shock. Though it might have just made her more irritable.
"You'll feel better after a shower. Getting the blood off you is a good first step. Just keep the violence to a minimum. I'll handle my boys." I said and gave a light smack to Seemore as an example. "Just follow me." She seemed willing to get cleaner as she truly was coated in blood. She followed after allowing me to reach the door to the bathroom. She smelt like burnt candy and it was making me strangely crave dessert which would be good to eliminate. I was grossed out and still on guard, but she did not seem like she wanted to fight me after providing food and the potential of a shower. I turned on the water and set out Mammoths towel for her since it was the biggest. She was taller than I remembered, but maybe that was because she was looming watching my motions. I handed her the shampoo and soap I used since I rather her be clean and not smell like the boys either.
"You know what to do right?" She nodded and looked back at the door. She was tense and I even felt uncomfortable showering sometime. I didn't know the experience she had in space prison, but I knew it probably wasn't safe to shower. I was lucky and showered alone in the prisons due to my powers, I didn't know nor want to ask others experience. I sighed and wondered if I had brought this all on myself for wandering and finding her. "I will guard the door and make sure they don't do anything stupid."
"That would be best for their safety." She said though I saw a bit of tension bleed out of her. She was trusting us a little which was probably smart. She caught the bottom of my shirt as I was passing her. "I appreciate it." There was an intensity of her gaze and an honesty in those straight emeralds.
"Don't mention it." I didn't think I could handle her sincerity when I was going to give her anything put.