Chapter 4! Only two more to go…woo hoo! Hehe…Well, I finished this one in only a couple of hours compared to a couple of days; I finally sat down and got to work on updating this story. So yeah…it's short…shorter than what I had originally been planning. I cut out the second half of it…after the part where this leaves off, I was going to continue on to the next day and have Richard encounter a villain from the Titans past on the street (it was going to be Red X) and then have some action, some drama, you know…but then I felt it would make this chapter way too long, and it was kind of unnecessary to the development of the story, so I'm cutting that out entirely.
I didn't want this one as long as the last chapter, so yeah…I'm happy that it's only six pages!
And as usual: Robin=Richard Grayson, Starfire=Kori Anders, Beast Boy=Garfield Logan, Cyborg=Victor Stone, Raven=Raven (lol..that wasn't necessary), Bumblee=Karen Beecher, Speedy=Roy Harper, Aqualad=Garth, Kid Flash=Wally West
This chapter is dedicated to Tomas the Betrayer for being the first to review the last chapter…thanks a lot for your support and advice! And also, once again, thanks to DeathIsOnlyTheBeginin!
Disclaimer: Not mine! Just the storyline…
You say you're looking for someone who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you, someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more
But it ain't me, babe, no, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
-Bob Dylan, It Ain't Me, Babe
The sun shone into the living room where Kori was sitting on the sofa, flipping through a photo album. It was full of pictures of her and her friends when they were still Titans, the best memories of her life. She smiled as she found one with all of them in it, at a picnic at the park. Everyone was smiling and having a good time, even Raven. She sighed, missing those days dearly. She sometimes found herself wishing things could go back to the way they used to be.
"Aww, look at that…you're all grown up now, Koriand'r."
Her head shot up, eyes widening at who was floating several feet away from her.
"…Blackfire?"
"Miss me? After all, it's been so long…" She landed and took a few steps toward her. Kori got to her feet quickly as she came closer and stopped.
"Why are you here? I thought you were--"
"What, gone? Finished? Hah…don't tell me you thought your little 'banishment' would keep me away…besides, I'm your dear sister."
Kori's eyes began to glow green as she glared at her. "What do you want, sister?"
Blackfire began to circle her, each step slow and precise. "I can't just drop in to check on you? Do I really offend you that much?"
Her look intensified as she took a firm stance, her hands beginning to glow with energy. "Every time we cross paths, you become nothing but trouble for me…I do not want you here, in my home!"
She stopped, turning to observe her surroundings. "Speaking of which," she began, "You have a nice little place here…a yellow house with a white picket fence, and tulips planted all over the place. Cute."
"Please…just tell me what it is you have come for, sister!" Kori implored.
She looked at her for a moment, amused. "Calm down, Starfire." She sat herself down on an armchair, legs crossed. "I'm not here to fight you; I don't have any despicable plan to extract vengeance from you…for now, at least."
Kori still stood there, tense and apprehensive. But when she saw that her sister really had no intention of doing anything, she lowered her guard down, the glow of her hands and eyes disappearing. She still chose to remain standing in the middle of the room, just in case.
Blackfire looked up from inspecting her nails. "…Better? Good…Now I can get to business." Her eyes wandered to a photo frame on the small table beside her chair. It was a picture of Kori and Richard in a restaurant, their first date together as an official couple. "Tell me, Kori…how is your relationship with your darling Robin?"
"…Why is that of any interest to you?" she asked, suspicious.
"Just wondering." She picked up the frame, running a finger along the edge. "You know, the two of you seemed so happy when I last saw you; you seemed like such a lovely couple. And I heard your third anniversary just passed…congrats. But it is strange…" She put it back down on the table, turning back to face her. "I wasn't expecting to find you alone. Where is the boy wonder, by the way?"
Kori narrowed her eyes, her voice dangerously low. "If you are planning to hurt him in any way--"
"I already told you I wasn't. I'm just…taking an interest in my baby sister's love life, that's all. Nothing unusual about that, right?" Kori didn't answer, but continued to watch her through narrowed eyes.
Blackfire looked at her before letting out a sigh. "You know, Starfire, you are way too stubborn for your own good. I thought you would have changed after all these years, but you're still as small-minded as ever…you're so caught up in your own little world that you can't see the truth, even when it's right…in…front of you."
She was confused. "What do you mean?"
Her sister gave her a small, mocking smile. "See, exactly what I was talking about." She finally stood, Kori instinctively taking a step back. "I told you I wasn't here for trouble, and yet you refuse to accept that and treat me with all the contempt in the world." She looked her up and down before shrugging, crossing her arms and turning her back on her. "You know, I don't know why I even bothered with this in the first place. The moment I open my mouth, you'll just deny everything I tell you."
Kori raised an eyebrow, curious. "…And what, exactly, was it that you wished to speak to me about?"
Blackfire smirked, knowing she had caught the bait. She turned around. "First you have to promise me you'll let me finish…no matter how much you don't like what you hear." She hesitated before nodding slowly.
"Good. Now, I want you to tell me, and mind you, this is a yes or no question...I don't want an excuse, an explanation, just a yes or a no." She gave her a look, as if to say, 'Understand?'
Kori nodded. "Okay. Tell me…Do you still love Robin?"
Her sister looked at her, even more confused. What kind of question was that? "…I do not see why you--"
"Just answer the question, Koriand'r."
"…Yes. Of course, yes, I do love Robin, with all my heart--"
She put a hand up, silencing her. "That's enough, thanks." She paused, looking at her curiously before continuing. "Now tell me this…Does Robin still love you?"
Kori was about to respond with the obvious answer but stopped. Did Robin still love her? It had never occurred to her to think of anything besides it being true. Robin loved her; he always had, and he always will. But as much as she wanted to ignore it, she couldn't shake off the feelings that had been eating at her lately. His long absences from home, his strange detachment from her…Raven had told her he would open up to her in time, but it didn't seem like it would happen any time soon. Something was bothering him…and every day, every time he refused to return her kisses, every time he walked out the door…she felt more and more that what was bothering him…was her.
"I…"
Blackfire smirked once again. "Not as easy to answer as you thought, huh?" Kori was silent as she continued. "You know, I never blamed you for falling for him…he really is the kind of guy that any girl would die to have. At first, when I first met your friends, I had my eye on him for quite a while…"
Kori glared as she chuckled. "Don't get too excited, I'm way over him…he's too much of a good-two-shoes for me, anyway." She stopped, reconsidering. "Actually…maybe he isn't so goody-two-shoes after all."
She gave her another puzzled look. "He is a good person; I do not understand what you--"
"Are you so sure about that, sister? Because you know, if I were you, I'd do more to question his…loyalty, especially as of late."
Her eyes widened slightly. "…W-What are you saying, sister?"
She stopped walking around, standing still and crossing her arms. "You still have no idea where he's going during his frequent 'alone time', do you? Well, actually, neither do I," she said with a laugh. "But I can guess…"
Kori's shot forward, floating right in front of her sister's face, eyes glowing. "He is not doing what you are implying! He is not like that, he would never--"
"Oh, 'never' is such a strong word," Blackfire said, not the least intimidated by her sister's anger. "You have too much faith in him, Starfire…I'm not so sure he has just as much faith in you."
She grabbed her sister by the arms, shoving her against a wall. "I will no longer stand for your trickery!" she yelled, one hand around her neck, the other drawn back, glowing with energy. "You will leave this house, now!"
"Don't get so angry," she said, a slight smile still on her face. She wasn't even trying to fight back. "I only speak the truth…the truth I know you deny, you refuse, to see. Open your eyes, sister. Open them and wake up."
Kori shut her eyes tightly, her emotions building up inside her as her words repeated in her head. 'Open your eyes and wake up…wake up…wake up…wake…up…
"Wake up…Kori, wake up." She felt someone's hand on her shoulder, shaking her slightly. She slowly opened her emerald eyes.
"Ugh…Richard?" she mumbled tiredly.
He gave her a small smile. "Hey," he spoke, softly. "I'm sorry didn't come home earlier…I was at Roy's and--"
She put a hand on his arm, stopping him. "It is okay, I understand," she said, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head. It was dark, the only light coming from the red candlesticks she'd lit long ago. She was still at the dining table in the kitchen, apparently having fallen asleep while waiting for him. She looked down at the plates of untouched food. He followed her gaze.
"Oh, Kori, I'm sorry…you must've worked so hard making all this."
She slowly got up, moving her stiff legs around. "No…it is all right. I am sure it will still be good tomorrow, we may consume it then…" She picked up the plates and went over to the counter to cover them. He stared at her back, her odd behavior startling him. She wasn't her usual happy, joyous self; instead, she was completely calm and seemed slightly…depressed? Or maybe it was disappointment…although he couldn't blame her for that, seeing as he'd been such a disappointment all day long.
"Kori…" He stood, walking over to the fridge, where she was putting the food away. She shut the door and straightened up as he came over, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Look, I'm…I'm really sorry for the way I've acted, not just today, but for the past few weeks now. I know I've been a complete ass and you have every right to be upset with me--"
"Richard, I am not upset with you." She said in a small but serious voice as she brushed him off and walked away. "It is okay, I am fine."
"No." He cut in front of her, blocking her path. She sighed, looking at him with tired eyes. "Kori, it's not alright…none of this is, and you know it. Hell, it was our third anniversary today, and I wasn't even here for you! Please don't tell me you're fine when I know you're not."
"…Richard--"
"Please, just listen to me, okay? There's...there's something I've wanted to tell you, for a long time now. And I think it's finally time I did. It's been…haunting me, and I just…I need to get this off my chest." He swallowed as he looked up at her. '…Here goes nothing,' he thought. He took a deep breath and before he could say anything more, she stopped him.
"I am…very weary right now, and I am not feeling so well. Do you suppose that whatever you need to say could wait until tomorrow?"
Surprised, he answered, "…Um…Star, it's really important--"
"Please…" He looked into her pleading eyes, which were so full of hurt and misery that he couldn't resist.
"O-okay, then…" She walked around him and exited, going upstairs to their bedroom.
He stood there for a moment before sighing, repeating his habit of running his hands through his dark hair. He plopped down on one of the chairs at the dining table, his head in his hands.
He really wasn't planning on telling her tonight, no. But his talks with Raven and Roy together pushed him to face his fears and just do it. And he almost did…but Kori's sudden change in mood had stopped him dead in his tracks. She was sad, heartbroken almost, and whether or not it was because of him, he felt bad about it. Seeing the look in her eyes made him lose all the courage he'd been able to round up on his drive home. It had shattered with just that one look. He didn't want to make her feel any worse than she already did tonight.
'I'm sorry, Raven,' he thought. 'I couldn't do it…but I will. Once I get the chance to…I will.'
Upstairs, Kori was already changed into her nightgown, staring into her vanity and brushing her long red hair. The dream she'd had was a turning point for her, a true wake up call. She couldn't hide from any of this anymore. It was time to open her eyes.
She finished, putting the brush down and heading towards the bed. As she slipped under the comforter and shut off the lamp, she had one last thought. Richard had been right; none of this was okay, none of it was alright. But his insisting that she was upset with him was not completely true, for it wasn't mainly him she was upset with…it was herself.
So…there you go! A bit more focus on Starfire this time around…actually, I enjoyed writing Blackfire's part in this…I thought it was going to be hard to write her, but she was the one I found easiest to do, surprisingly. Next chapter is going to be harder to write since everyone who's in the aliases list at the top will be there…but I look forward to it! And it's probably going to be a long one...maybe longer than ch. 3, I don't know yet...
Please review!