Hey, folks. Once again, I apologize for the late update, I've been ridiculously busy lately. The good news is, I got my permit yesterday. So look out, world. Haha. Well, enjoy this chapter. Thanks for reviewing, everyone. I've decided that at the end of the chapter I'll respond to each of them. I hope you all feel special. :D
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Kori
Earth is certainly a wonderful place, full of beautiful places and beautiful people. Earth is one of the most sheltered, nurturing planets I've been to, not that I'm much of an space traveler. All I'm really saying is, if I hadn't been born on Tamaran, I would be as ignorant as all the other clueless earthlings who have been so protected by their leaders. For one thing, the American government tends to hide information "for the good of the public," which only results in distrust and, of course, ignorance. Earth children are also taught that they can be whatever they want; a model, a football player, a rock star, a princess; only to have the rug pulled right out from under them once they get older and realize that someone has to clear tables and wash dishes for a living. When their childhood has left them so lost and weak, they have no idea how to deal with their present lives.
So it must be a good thing, then, that I have gone through so many hardships.
But I still think, sometimes, how nice it would be to go through life, completely unaware of the things going on around me. The fact that I would no longer have those gruesome memories haunting me day and night seems so inviting, even to the point where I sometimes wish that I had been born an earthling. Perhaps then I would not have to try so hard to fit in.
My name is Kori Anders. I am a princess of the planet Tamaran, and a former member of the Teen Titans. Well, I used to be all of that stuff. Now, I'm just Kori.
Before I decided to quit the Teen Titans, I was known as Starfire. I hadn't realized, before, how ridiculous I was. My sister was right when she told me that Earth had changed me. I was weakened to the point that I couldn't bear to leave completely; in fact, I've lost most of my abilities completely. I left Jump City and, not wanting to be far from my friends, I settled here in New York and gave up my crime fighting ways. Besides, it's not like I could do much without my powers.
I promised Raven that I would go back. I completely meant what I said, but now I can't think of a reason to return. I want to see them so much that it hurts, but I'm afraid of what I'll find once I do. What if they've completely forgotten about me? It has been nearly five years. But the main reason that I'm, well, afraid to face them is the fact that I would rather have them all remember me the way I was before I left. I'm simply not the same person anymore, and I don't mean that in a good way.
Why did I leave in the first place? It's stupid, really. I simply allowed my feelings to get in the way of my duties. But I don't blame myself, I was a lovesick kid. I couldn't understand why Robin was so repelled by the thought of dating me when he didn't seem to have a problem with dating her. Don't get me wrong, I was happy for him. I was just incredibly heartbroken for myself.
God. I sound like an idiot.
Well, it's all in the past, now. It was extremely difficult, at first, without my friends, but I eventually got used to living on my own. I get along surprisingly well without my powers, too.
"Susan, why don't you take off? I'll lock up." I called softly, looking up from the table I was wiping down. Susan was one of the first friends I made in my new city, and became one of my closest friends soon after she helped me find a job at a local sports bar. The blond-haired, blue-eyed girl looked up sleepily and smiled.
"You sure?" she asked, her voice much quieter than usual.
"Definitely. Besides, if you stay much longer, I don't doubt that I'll have to drag you out of here unconscious." I offered with a smile. Susan returned the smile and graciously took me up on my offer, clearly eager to get home. She grabbed her beige coat off of the hanger and put it on with a yawn. It had been a busy day, as usual on Friday nights.
"Thanks, Kor. I'll see you tomorrow." Susan sighed and slowly pushed the door open.
"No problem. Take care." I returned my attention to the tables and chairs, silently hoping she would make it home in one piece. It was dangerous for a young woman to be out alone at night, especially on this side of town. I finished the tables quickly and proceeded to put the chairs on top of them so that I could mop up first thing tomorrow. After washing my hands and locking up all the cabinets, I was finally ready to leave. Slipping into my black fleece, I flipped the light switches and locked the entrance.
There weren't many taxis running at three in the morning, but I didn't have to walk more than a block before waving one down. I used to hate the way they smelled; of sweat and lingering cigarette smoke; but I eventually got used to it, like most other things. The ride home was silent and short, both myself and the driver being much too tired for conversation. The yellow car pulled over in front of a modest apartment building, not unique from the others that surrounded it. I thanked the driver with a smile and after paying him with a five-dollar bill, gratefully exited the stuffy vehicle. My apartment isn't much, just your standard box-shaped, red-bricked building with twenty floors.
It was nothing like my old home, Titans Tower. It wasn't filled with high-tech equipment and security systems, or bickering, super-powered teens. It was nearly as tall as the Tower, however, and I sometimes found myself going up to the roof to revel in my fond memories, as well as the not-so-great ones. Of course, the view from this roof had nothing on the view from Titans Tower.
I entered my room, on the seventeenth floor, to find the television running, the pale light of the screen beaming through the dark air. On the couch, my roommate had fallen asleep with one leg strewn over the back of the couch, and an arm hanging to the carpeted floor. I couldn't help but smile at how ridiculous her position was before I grabbed the thin sheet that had been thrown to the floor and turning the television off.
"Kori?" a groggy voice mumbled, and I had to squint through the dark to see my roommate stretching her legs out across the length of the couch.
"Sorry, Clara. Did I wake you?" I asked, quietly.
"No, you're fine. I wasn't asleep." The brunette grunted as she rolled over, obviously with no intention of getting up. I shook my head and folded the sheet in half.
"Sure, you weren't." I retorted sarcastically, handing her the thin blanket.
"Hey, I wasn't." she paused and spread the sheet out over her with a loud sigh. "Thanks. I'm sleeping here tonight."
"Okay, good night." I replied, as if I hadn't already known she wasn't going to get up and walk a whole ten steps to her room.
"Night." She sighed again and closed her eyes as I made my way toward my own room. I was exhausted, and tempted to sleep with my work uniform on, but managed to change into a pair of gray cropped sweats and a loose white t-shirt. I flopped onto my bed and proceeded to furrow into my thick covers before slowly drifting off to sleep.
This is my life now. I got what I wanted; I'm perfectly normal. You can't tell me from any earth-born citizen in the street. A normal twenty-one year old with a normal job and a normal apartment.
It didn't take me long to realize that normal isn't good enough for me.
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That's all, folks. Until the next chapter, that is. I hope everything was okay… Just kind of setting the stage, so nothing's really happening yet. I'm extremely conflicted on how I should portray Starfire. It's going to be tough, presenting her as a less naïve, "grown up" Starfire without creating a completely different character in the process… well, I do love challenges. Please review! Constructive criticism is encouraged.
sparklebluelemon – I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for being the first reviewer for this story.
Adelsa – Glad you liked it, that letter was pretty fun to write. I love Starfire's dialogue. Thanks for reading.
Good Graces – Hey, thanks. I really enjoy your story. You're a better person than me; you update a lot quicker. Haha. I hope my plot lives up to your expectations.
Devu-333 – Yep, Raven is a fun character. I had to keep myself from going overboard a couple of times, but I think I like how it turned out. Thank you.
