She's a Star
AN: So I originally posted a chapter four but I wasn't pleased with it at all so I'm rewriting it and re-vamping the character structure for the Superman-Starfire confrontation. I'm not meaning to piss people off by making him more a stubborn character but I'm just working off how apprehensive he is protecting earth and the knowledge people have of her people being savage-like beings. He's not using troq in the way she deems it, but he does use it as a more savage term in calling them. Just needed to clarify some of that.
x x x
Standing by the window, her hand pressed against the cold glass and a sigh escaped her lips. Her eyes were cast to the sky, focused on one glowing star far off in the distance. No matter where she was, the princess could always find her planet in the sea of stars above. A small pink hue seemed to give off in the night, but no one really noticed; maybe it was just her imagining it as she pictured the night sky of her home world. It had been so long since she had flown through the skies of her homeland, and she knew it was unlikely she could ever do so again. Her eyes drifted to the large moon that filled her vision, it was off to see such a thing, one lone moon taking up the sky. She couldn't help but feel at peace as she looked at it. One her planet there was more than one and it wasn't really a focus but this, so large and looming but at the same time it brought such a sense of peace to her being...so different. She shook her head before her heart ached more as she thought of her K'norfka but instead tried to focus on something else. Looking down from her place she saw Richard bringing his motorcycle into the garage to be parked with the others, and seeing him brought a smile to her lips.
Though she missed the idea of being home but perhaps this was the chance for a new home, with him. She gasped as he looked up towards her window and she ducked behind the drawn curtain, praying he did not see her looking. They had become rather close over the last few weeks and he had always been there for her, but she had to wonder if perhaps he was simply being nice to her, maybe he thought of it as duty as a hero to protect her, not because of a personal drive? He was always so serious when it came to his work, and since they had been fighting the odd strain of gangs in the last few weeks he had been very focused on looking for the reason for such happenings. He locked himself away at the head quarters, looking over the files and then he would sit himself at the computer for hours looking for leads. He still managed to see her from time to time, never breaking his promise to eat breakfast with her or tuck her in at night. Did that mean something? Or was she being a bother to him by wanting his attention and affection? She sighed again but soon a voice drew her from her musings. "Miss Starfire?"
She turned and looked over her shoulder to see Alfred standing there with a tray in hand. When she came to the house about a week ago he had instantly become a form of comfort in the darker, cave like mansion. H was a source of ongoing warmth for the young woman when the others in the home were busy with cases and research that she could not comprehend. She often found herself trying to be useful in other ways which were appreciated. She would help prepare meals, helping Alfred tend to the gardens on the grounds and give him a form of companionship he had not had in a long while. In a much softer way he was alot like her K'norfka in the ways for which he cared for her. Alfred had even had her bringing tea, coffee and snacks to Master Bruce and Richard while they were working in order to give them some kind of break. She noticed that when she came down Richard's attention would wave for a moment to greet her, offering her a smile before she let him work again, Bruce being the same way anymore."Oh, greetings friend Alfred," she said, her voice sounding far off in the distance.
He gave her a gentle smile and set the tray on her night stand, bringing a cup of tea to her. She took it and hummed at its warmth, sipping at the sweet honey tea with a gentle smile returning to him in thanks. Alfred looked out the window and saw the young master putting his bike away for the night and walking towards the house. The older man had been noticing the connection the alien and the young man had he had seen it the moment she walked through the front doors with her hand clasped in his. She was definitely something else and from his point of view, there was a new sense of life in the house and in Richard's life that had been missing for so long. He had been so drawn into his work before this little princess came into their lives and now his light was slowly returning, it brought a warmth to Alfred's old heart to see his grandson-like child finding love, even if he was too stubborn to admit such things yet.
The young lady may not have known, but each night he would catch Richard leaning on the door frame, simply watching her sleep. He would sometimes he in the chair next to her bed, reading or writing as she slept peacefully. Though whenever he was caught the quick response of "Just wanted to check up on her," would come snapping out as he would quickly leave without a chance for debate. Stubborn young buck. "You know," he whispered softly, "I have never seen Master Dick so at peace as when he is with you." This news shocked her as she perked up and eyed him curiously before he continued, "He is always so stern, always trying to prove himself even though he earned the respect of everyone many years ago. Yet when I saw him walk in with you, he had...an expression I have yet to see." She blushed and looked to the floor, the older man nodding to her, "please do not think me rude to say such things. But you seem unnerved."
He turned to leave as she remained silent for a long while but as he reached the down she spoke in a whisper, "I simply wonder if this is really my place."
"My dear, you will always have a place here, it's simply the question if you wish for it." He left without another word leaving her to her thoughts.
The princess turned back to the window but he was gone already. Closing the curtains she sat on the bed with her tea in hand, drawing her knees up to her chest and wondering about what Alfred had said. She had a place? Thinking no more on the matter the young woman finished her night tea and changed into pyjamas before settling into bed. She let her eyes drift shut as she tried to find sleep.
x x x
Richard sat outside on the front steps, looking up at the moon, entrenched in his thoughts. He watched as his breath fogged in the crisp fall air, winter would be here soon. He leaned forward; resting his elbows on his thighs as he kept his eyes looked on the moon. It was a calm night, no wind or movement in the brush, it wasn't a feeling that could bring him piece when he knew somewhere people were planning, but why couldn't he place it together? Something was missing. Shaking his head the young man dismissed the thoughts for now, he had been racking his brain all day and nothing was coming of it, it would be better to get a fresh look at it tomorrow, maybe then it would click. Besides, his mind was clearly drifting elsewhere.
Looking from the moon, across the yard and towards the house he saw her standing in the window, her silhouette visible to him from the candle light that shone behind her on the bedside table. She was something different entirely. It had been just over a month since he brought her from that place in the jungle and almost instantly she had worked her way into a normally guarded part of his heart. Never had someone been in this place before and the thought both scared and enthralled him. This feeling of needing to protect her, needing to be the one she ran to when she was scared, to teach her the ways of this planet and to be a friend, to be more than a friend...
Earlier that day he had received a transmission from the Justice League network and Superman had been on the video call. Richard was at first thrown off by the call, wondering what the hell he would have wanted, but he was shocked to find out it was him offering a sense of apology, though his sternness would not allow for a traditionally accepted apology. He thought back to the words spoken,
"She is not one of this planet. Her race is savage, and I may have jumped to conclusions about her own state of mind. But we have to consider the possibilities of her powers getting out of control. I will not endanger this entire planet for the sake of one being. You must understand this. We protect earth. The matter of her own protection will be up to her own attachment to this planet, is she willing to protect it to?" the conversation had pretty much died off at that point.
Robin understood where the man was coming from, he was always one to put the protection of earth and it's people above all, and Starfire's own situation could be a threat to that, but there was no way in hell he was going to hand her over. When it came down to it, hero or no hero, he made a promise and he was going to make damn sure that he kept it.
Sighing heavily the young man stood and walked back towards the house, glancing up at the window once more but she was gone, though her light was still on. He smiled gently to himself and walked into the home, making his way through the halls where he met Alfred on his way from the bedroom quarters. "The tea is on you bedside table Master Dick."
"Thanks Al."
"Oh..." the butler then stopped and looked at Richard for a moment or two before smiling, "She's probably still awake." He said nothing more and made his way about his usual duties, leaving Richard standing in the hallway confused and embarrassed. It was funny how this man knew everything without ever saying much to anyone.
Either way the young man made his way to the bedroom and peered inside, the door had been left open a crack. Robin slipped into the room and knelt at the side of her bed, sweeping her bangs away from her face as he watched her sleep. Slowly those beautiful eyes fluttered open and gazed at him in shock for a moment before she smiled at him, her own hand reaching up to join in his. No words were spoken between them as he crawled into bed with her, drawing her into his arms and kissing her hair as she breathed in his scent. They lay there, wrapped in each other's arms for a long while without a word spoken about anything, until Richard finally whispered, "I will always protect you Star. No matter what happens." He hadn't really meant to speak directly to her, just more in general. She said nothing in return and fell into a comforting sleep with him holding her.
x x x
Down in the kitchen as Alfred cleaned up from making the tea Bruce came in and sat at the island, drumming his fingers on the counter. "Who would have thought?" he asked, knowing the other would catch onto the subject.
"I always knew he would find someone Master Bruce. Why I even have hope that one day you will grow up."
x x x
The Young Justice team had assembled as usual in the head quarters, going through their training exercises and combat training. Wally was currently sparing with Starfire, using his speed to avoid her attacks and tending to zip around before she could actually focus. It wasn't until she found his pattern that she was able to bring him down. She watched the pattern in his attacks and predicted where he was going to be, firing there instead of where he was currently. She didn't want to fire a star bolt, fearing for her friend's safety, so instead she flew and blocked his path, effectively grabbing his uniform and tossing him onto the mats of the training room. "How did you do that?" he squawked from his placed now in a heap.
"You only ran in one continuous pattern. It was easy to stop you once I found the pattern, however you do not have patterns in battle."
"The training room only has so much space for me to run, confines the running manoeuvres, in battle however I have a large range and more contributing factors so it's not a good idea and sometimes it's not even possible, to follow running pattern. But good throw anyway." He said as she came over and helped him up.
"I shall have to figure out a way of disabling you without searching for a pattern, I need to better my skills."
"I can think of a way of disabling me." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively but the reference went over Starfire's head as she simply blinked at him confused.
"And what might that be?"
Artemis came over before anything could be said and gave him a firm whack over the head before he could say anymore. "Just ignore him Starfire."
"But I wish to learn a way of disabling an opponent."
"Not the way he means..." there was no further room for discussion as the alarm sounded throughout the head quarters.
When the others arrived in the main room they found Aqualad and Robin looking at the computer screen. "Again with the bank robberies?" Wally questioned as they saw the location.
"Not this time Wally, break in at the tech laboratory on the east side. Let's head out." The group moved to the transporter and made their way to the site.
Starfire was on the back of the R-cycle clutching Robin from behind as they drove to the scene. Upon arriving they were struck with the magnitude of the situation. The fire department had arrived already and was trying to put out of the fire that had engulfed the one side of the building. The fire fighter reported that they were trying to reach the people now trapped inside the main chamber. "We can't reach them."
Robin checked his scanners and found that there were indeed life sources within the building. Aqualad looked to Connor and Starfire, "You two, fly above and find and entrance to get those people out, Robin, go with them and search for survivors. Flash help the fire fighters get this under control as fast as possible." The other worked on clearing the rest of the rest of the building and M'gann helped Flash, having to stay away from the fire n fear of getting trapped. It was a greater danger to her than anyone if she was in there for too long.
Super Boy flew up and broke through the roof away from the targets as Starfire and Robin followed close behind and landed among the flames. They searched through the smoke and found the six peoples that had been trapped inside. Robin looked to his scanner and he picked up more heart beats. "There's another one left!"
"This place is gonna cave!" Super boy shouted loudly as he watched the wheels turning in his companions head. "We don't have time!"
"You and Starfire get these ones out of here, go!" he shouted before running off through the caving building to try and find the source of the survivor.
Starfire was scared to leave him but one look from Connor told her they needed to get the citizens to safety. They each took three of the people trapped and few them out to safety. The moment Starfire set them down she spin around quickly and was flying back into the fire. "I must go to Robin!" she shouted before anyone could stop her. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she landed in the fire once more, searching for any sign of him. "Robin!" she shouted, working her way through the building and trying to locate him. "Robin!"
x x x
Robin had worked his way away from the blaming part of the building, now in the southern part of the large facility. He was tracing the heart beat through the rubble when he came upon a door off it's hinges. Stepping cautiously inside, he looked about for a survivor but instead was met with another sight. There was no body at all; instead it was a computer with a tracking device ticked away on the desk next to it. The computer screen gave him a glimpse into the reason for the fire, and his blood boiled as the realization hit him. A dark expression clouded his face as his jaw set and fists clenched ready to strike. "Well it's certainly been a long time, hasn't it Robin?" a teasing voice spoke harshly with venom lacing each word. "You've grown so much." Spoke a voice from the other end of the connection.
"Slade..."
"Death Stroke is what I go by now, but I suppose you know that. What with all your little research endeavours around me."
"What do you want?"
"Oh my boy, my henchmen have already fetched me what I wanted from the building long before it was set aflame, but this is just another part of the game. You see, I've been watching your team for months...and it seems recently you've brought another little gem into your chest of treasures. One I would love to get to know myself." A cruel chuckle could be heard. "But this game between you and I, well it's just too much fun to pass up."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" he didn't have to time to get his answer as he heard the rumbling from the east side of the building as it started to collapse. It was then that the voice spoke again.
"Such a shame, she was pretty too."
Robin's eyes widened as he left the computer and bolted back to the fire. He could hear her calling for him, why on earth would she come back in? Why wouldn't she just wait with the others! He came to the door again and kicked it open with his boot, jumping in and using his cloak as a shield, trying to work his way to her but the smoke was so thick, the fire completely taking over and debris falling from the ceiling in a constantly quake. "Starfire!" he shouted, catching a glimpse of the glow of her starbolts.
She saw him and made her way to fly towards him. "Robin!" but then it happened.
The buildings structure was gone and the wall collapsed around them. He was still off the side, protected by the still intact part of the building. He watched helplessly, unable to reach her, as the debris fell, ready to crush her. She looked up, in time to get caught with a piece of metal on the side of her head, knocking her to the ground in a heap. With that, the building gave way over her.
"STARFIRE!"
TBC
