Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans
She didn't know why she was waiting for him, on the building they'd met on yesterday. She shouldn't have trusted him at all. It was a big, bad no-no to trust anyone she met at night. But he seemed so sincere and truly friendly...
He came. He was shivering violently, though, and his breath, like hers, was coming up in puffs. "It's flipping freezing out here!" he growled. "How do you stand it? I would've worn a sweater or something, but then I can't jump all that well." He grinned.
Starfire shrugged. "I don't get cold very easily. Another one of my..." She couldn't find a word for it, other than 'freakish abilities.' Nightwing seemed to understand, though.
"Hey. I don't want you thinking of yourself like that. You're not a freak, Starfire, you're just...different. Unique, how about that?" Starfire raised an eyebrow. "Starfire...a freak is someone who can..." His face hardened. "Who can murder a family and stand there laughing. That's not you. That's not you at all." He embraced her gently, and before she could grasp the fact that she was being hugged, he tightened his grip. "Holy cow, Star, you're so warm..."
She blushed unintentionally, never having been this close to a guy her age, especially one like Nightwing. "Star?"
He didn't look at her, he'd have to move his face from where it rested against her warm cheek. "Sorry. Nickname. Do you mind it?"
"Not at all," Starfire whispered. She was really enjoying this. But it couldn't last forever. He had to let go sometime, and he'd be cold again. "Nightwing, let go." He released her suddenly, looking as embarrassed as she. He started to apologize, but she cut him off. "Wait. Trust me, okay?" Nightwing frowned, but nodded. Starfire rested one hand on his chest, inwardly smiling smugly as she made out a faint pink tinge on his cheeks in the dark. She lit a star bolt, but only slightly. Warmth spread throughout Nightwing's body. He sighed in pleasure.
"How did you...?"
"I don't know," Starfire admitted. "But it worked, right?"
Nightwing's mask stretched as his eyes opened wide, and Starfire very nearly giggled at the sight. "You...you..." It didn't seem so funny anymore. Maybe he was really mad at her. She shrank back as an evil smile spread across his face. "You're gonna pay for that." He came forward as she moved back fearfully, nearly at the edge. The he reached out and...
...tickled her. She shrieked with surprised, and then squirmed, trying to escape his grasp. "W-wait! St-stop! Nightwing!" He laughed, ceasing to let her breathe. Starfire plopped down on the ground behind her.
Only, there was no ground behind her.
She fell off the building, the ground rushing up to meet her at an alarming rate. "Starfire!" Nightwing yelled, sure to awake everyone in a fifty-foot vincity, thinking she was stealing something again. Just before she hit the ground, though, she forced herself to swallow her fear and fly. Surprisingly enough, it worked.
She flew to the top of the building again, where Nightwing was trying to calm his rapidly beatng heart. "I...I forgot. Flight. That was too close," he muttered. He was noticeably pale, even under the moonlight. He stumbled back a couple of steps, and Starfire knew she'd messed it up. Star bolts were freaky enough, but flying was too much. She'd pushed him away. Already. Her head hung low, and she almost wished she hadn't flown just now.
His next question, though, was totally unexpected. "Why'd you jump?"
"I didn't mean to. I didn't know I would fall," she answered quietly. "I'm sorry. I should go." Go back to stealing, that was all she was good for. She visually measured the distance between this building and the next, to see how far she could jump and then fly across. Her body felt heavy with misery. She wouldn't be able to. She'd just take the fire escape down.
Starfire felt a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
She whipped around. "Why? Why do you act like you care one second and then stare at me like some...some ANIMAL the next? If you don't like me, then leave! I don't even know why you're here! Is it to catch me? Then do it! Just stop all that talk about me not being a mutant when you don't mean a word!" she yelled. Surely, now, everyone in a fifty-foot vincity was deaf.
Nightwing held up his hands in surrender. "Is that what you thought? Star, that's not it, really! I thought you would fall!" She didn't believe him. She needed to get out. He was a liar. She shouldn't have trusted him. "Star, wait, come here." He sat down and patted the spot near him. Starfire didn't move. "Please."
"No. Just get away from me," she mumbled, hugging herself. She really did feel cold, now.
Nightwing pulled her arm, and she collapsed in shock. "You're going to listen, because I haven't personally told anyone this before, and I want to tell you. It's important to me, and I'd be glad if you heard it. And I don't want you thinking you can jump off whatever roof you want while I'm around." Starfire looked away. He wouldn't be around her much longer.
"When I was a kid, my family and I were part of a circus act. We were great, and everyone loved us. Then, one day, my parents were doing their trapeze act without the safety net. It was part of the act." He squeezed his eyes shut, determind to tell the rest of the story. "There's more to it, but I can't...maybe later. They fell, Star. Someone cut the ropes, and they fell. They died, and I just watched."
Starfire was aghast. "I'm sorry...I didn't know...I didn't..."
"Of course you didn't. But please...just don't scare me like that," he begged. She nodded, her heart pounding wildly. She was geting awfully moody. Now she felt horrible for not trusting him five minutes ago, when he obviously trusted her enough to tell her this and cared about her enough to make sure she would never fall like that. That, or he never wanted to see anyon fall to their deaths ever again. That was understandable.
Nightwing chuckled bitterly. "Wish my parent's could've flown." Starfire grabbed his hand in hers.
"Would you like to fly?" She didn't even realize she'd asked that question, it just popped out of her mouth.
"What?"
"I could take you flying," said Starfire, wishing she hadn't offered in the first place. But Nightwing didn't seem too fazed.
"We won't fall?"
"No," she said confidantly. Nightwing nodded, and she grabbed his other hand, pulling him up. "Are you ready?" Nightwing nodded, and Starfire jumped, taking off. Only minutes ago, she thought she wouldn't be able to hop an inch in the air, but now she was soaring. And Nightwing was soaring with her.
He whooped with joy, and a smile worked it's way on to Starfire's face. Flying was amazing. She'd never done it this long before. "Star, this is awesome!" Nighwing called through the wind. She went faster and higher, until they were above the lowest clouds. Then she stopped. "Wow," Nightwing breathed. That just about summed it up.
The view from up here was incredible. The could see the whole city. Starfire wished she could stay there with Nighwing forever, but she was tiring. They alighted on the same rooftop a minute later, still in awe. "Did you..."
"Think that was the best thing that ever happened to me? Yes!" he finished for her, staring up at the sky. "Why do you think there's nothing good that comes out of night, Star? Anything amazing always happens at night."
"I guess..." she shrugged, still in a little doubt. "Nightwing, I..."
"Have to go?" he said. Starfire nodded, and he laughed sadly. "I know you too well. I...okay. I'll leave." She hated disappointing him. But what other choice did she have? It was getting late, too, and she needed sleep tonight. But she still felt her heart sink as he walked away, until he called back, "Star! Meet me here tonight!"
"Of course," she answered. He gave one last, sad smile and jumped down on to the fire escape.
"Hey, Kory. How are you?" Dick asked, catching up to her. Kory smiled back at him, shrugging.
"I am very well, and yourself?"
"Great."
They walked on in a comfortable silence, until Kory asked, "Why are you walking to school today, Dick? It is rather cold."
"I'm fine, I've got this great coat, it'll work. I just wanted to talk. You're okay, though, right? Coming from a tropical island and all, you've gotta be freezing. I don't think it's supposed to be this cold in California."
Kory waved it off. "I will be fine. It does not seem so bad to me." Dick was still unsure, and took off his coat to give to her. His arm brushed hers, and Kory shivered.
"You are cold," Dick observed. Kory asn't about to tell him that she really hadn't shivered because it was chilly. "Here." He wrapped his coat around her shoulders, made Kory wear it, and then laughed. His shoulders were a lot broader than hers, so the entire coat sagged down, and the arms covered her fingers. She glanced up at him from under the hood, her face seeming so small, it was adoring. Dick helped her untangle herself from it. "Maybe not..."
"It is fine," Kory said cheerfully. She had an extra skip in her step, Dick noticed, but didn't question it. Suddenly, Kory gasped. "Dick, come, please! It is very important, I cannot believe I had forgotten!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him so hard he was practically flying behind her. Kory veered off to the side of their path, and Dick prayed they wouldn't be late for school.
The girl stopped beneath a large, bare tree and jumped up, beginning to climb it. "Kory, hold on, you'll get hurt!" Dick called up worriedly. She paid him no heed.
"You must climb up here, Dick! It is very important!" she called down. Reluctantly, he scrambled up after her. The faster he got up there, the sooner they would be down on the ground. "Look..." Kory's voice held a trace of sadness as she pointed towards a branch. There lay a nest with a single bird's egg inside. "The mother and father are gone!"
Dick saw that there was a bright purple blanket surrounding the egg, and chuckled. "You've been taking care of it?" Kory nodded.
"But why are the parents not coming back? Their baby will..." she drew a deep, shuddering breath. Dick moved past her, grabbing the branch and easing himself out on to it. His hands shuffled to the end, so that the branch was in danger of breaking off. Quickly, he grabbed the egg and blanket and jumped down the last three feet or so, straightening as he landed.
"Come down here!" Kory climbed down the tree, staring in wonder at the little egg in Dick's hands. "Kory, the parents aren't going to come back for this egg. Chances are, it's already dead. This egg was supposed to hatch ages ago. Birds all migrate south for the winter, so they don't freeze. By the time they come back in the spring, the baby inside will have died." Kory's eyes filled with tears, and Dick wished he hadn't said anything.
"No! The baby is still alive, and I will take care of it. I must keep it warm, yes?" Dick handed her the egg without question, though he knew it was no use. He didn't want to see her crushed.
"Mr. Roth? There is someone who wishes to meet you. He won't give his name." Tristan Roth smiled, expecting this.
"Let him up." A minute later, a burly and unclean man walked into Tristan's office.
"Mr. Roth, sir. All of the xenothium Chang took has been sucessfully transferred to your storage. Also, there was a little bit more, of his personal store, and we took it, too."
"Good. Very well, Pratt, you may take your payment and leave. Expect an extra reward for the excess xenothium and your silence later." Pratt backed out of the room, respectfully (or maybe out of fear) never turning his back to Tristan. His secretary from below buzzed in a second time.
"Mr. Roth? Mr. Blood wishes to know when the business dinner you were speaking of is to come around."
"Maybe tomorrow. Not tonight, my daughter is inviting guests. I don't want those rascals sunning in and ruining everything." Business dinner. Ha. Sometimes, Tristan didn't realize exactly how in-the-dark he kept his employees.
Rachel had invited them all to her house for dinner that evening, and Kory brought alone her newfound companion, her egg. "Want to ride there on my R-cycle, Kory?" Dick asked coyly. Kory blushed and nodded, giggling a little at his affectionate nickname for his motorbike. Vic, the only one who'd heard the exchange, shook his head pathetically.
With the egg tucked carefully in Kory's jacket pocket, they set off. The ride was all to short, but the two enjoyed it just the same. Rachel's mansion rivaled Wayne Manor, both in size and design. Dick was quite used to walking into masterpieces of architecture, but it took Kory a good thirty seconds to overcome her awe and stumble forward a few steps. Even then, she needed Dick's help.
When Rachel, Gar, Karen, and Vic arrived in Vic's car not too long after, Rachel buzzed them in. Most of them walked confidantly up to the front door, as they had been here before. Kory, however, was very uneasy. All of a sudden, she didn't like the look of the place.
The door opened to reveal a middle-aged butler standing on the other side. "Good afternoon, Miss Rachel."
"Hello, Robert. You remember that I had invited friends to stay after school today?"
"Of course, Miss Rachel. Come in." They were led inside to a vast front hall with a giant, sparkling chandelier twinkling above their heads. The wooden floor had only a single rug in the middle, and paintings covered all of the cream colored walls. Stately statues had been planted in all of the corners. Kory shrunk against Dick's body, afraid in such a cavernous space. Dick grinned and easily wrapped his arm around her.
"We'll go up to my room, first. That way we can--"
"I apologize for interupting, Miss Rachel, but Mr. Roth requires you all to keep the noise level down, he needs to concentrate on his work," Robert cut in. Kory's world began to swim in front of her eyes.
"Dick?" she asked quietly. "Who is Mr. Roth?"
Dick frowned. "Rachel's dad. You know, owner of Roth Industries. That's why they have such a nice place." She hadn't known Rachel's last name. No one had ever thought to tell her. But, Roth Industries...Kory felt like she was about to throw up.
"I must leave," she mumbled, holding her stomach.
"Kory? Kory, what's wrong?" Dick inquired worriedly. Kory shook her head and barreled out the front door.
"Kory!" Vic was calling her now, too. All of her friends had followed her out on to the lawn. Dick caught up with her first and wrapped his arms around her to keep her from escaping.
"Kory, tell me what's wrong. Are you sick?" Kory pushed him away and kept going. She needed to get out of there as fast as possible. She ran all the way to the park two blocks away, and into the trees. Leaning against a trunk, the redhead regained her breath, unable to believe that one of her best friends was the daughter of the man who'd imprisoned her.
Starfire was there, as promised. She was tired, she was lost, and she was confused, but she was there. Now she only had to wait for Nightwing to come.
He struggled on to the rooftop, his breaths coming out in curious white puffs. "I swear, any more nights like this and we'll have snow." He shook his head. "In California. Imagine." Starfire said nothing, having no idea what he was talking about. "Whatever. I'm glad you came, though. I had something to show you." Nightwing grinned.
"What is it?"
Nightwing sat down, wincing at the cold of the rooftop, but slowly becoming accustomed to it. He patted the space next to him, a gesture Starfire had come to know as 'sit down by me,' since he used it so much. She did as he bid, waiting for his next instruction. He gave none, instead, lying down and staring straight up. Starfire frowned, wondering what he thought he was doing. Then she looked up, and noticed.
Previously, she'd relied on the moon for nothing except the light it gave at night. And even that, she barely needed, since her star bolts came into use. But now she knew why Nightwing had picked tonight. It was a full moon. And it was absolutely beautiful.
Starfire tried to lay down next to him, but her lack of attention made landed her head on to Nighwing's chest. She didn't move. His arm wrapped around her tiny waist and they laid there for--what seemed like--forever.
"I was wrong," Starfire whispered finally.
"No. You just didn't know."
She shifted so she could see his face. From what she could tell, his eyes were locked on her, though it was hard to see because of the mask. "Thank you."
She didn't know if it was him who'd started to lean in first, or her. But in that electrifying moment when their lips met, she didn't care. Nightwing rolled her off of him and pinned her to the roof, sliding his torso on top of hers and kissing her harder. They broke apart for air a few seconds later.
"I...didn't see that coming," Starfire murmured breathlessly.
Nightwing smiled slowly. "Me neither." And he kissed her again.
Yay they kissed! Did I take it too fast? I didn't want this to become another Yeah Another High School Story with 27 chapters, so...