Chapter Eight: Facade

Blaze woke up screaming. Not in fear, but in frustration. She couldn't remember who she chose, if she saved anyone at all. She checked the clock again.

1:37 p.m.

She leaped out of bed and ran to open her curtains. The team was still down on the obstacle course. Practice was still in session. Blaze hurriedly got dressed and went to join them.

"Hey! Why didn't you guys wake me?" She was walking down the slope to the shore.

It was Starfire's turn. She was doing so-so on the course, but when she saw Robin walking towards Blaze, she gave it all she had. Shooting one starbolt after another in a rapid fire, screaming at the intensity of the situation, she battled for Robin's attention. Starfire didn't want to look to see if it was working.

The rest of the team had joined Robin, running to Blaze's side. "I wasn't sure whether you'd be up for this." Robin was rubbing the back of his neck. Raven glared at him. She was annoyed that she didn't know what he was talking about.

"Why wouldn't she be?" Beast Boy tilted his head in curiosity as he leaned on one of her shoulders.

Blaze added to Raven's glare. Only this was a 'I can't believe you didn't tell them' glare. "Robin?"

"I thought you should be the one to tell them." he rushed to save himself.

Blaze grunted. This isn't what she came out here for. "Fine. I. . . I don't have my powers anymore."

They were taken back by her outward way of putting it. Each of them let out a gasp in surprise, all except for Robin and Starfire. Starfire had joined them in time for Blaze's confession, but she wasn't as startled as the rest. Maybe because she wasn't fully aware of what Blaze had said. Starfire was more concerned about the look of disappointment on Robin's face.

"Well then, . . . now that you know, what do you guys say for some lunch?"

This brightened some faces. "Well, I am hungry!" BB celebrated.

Cyborg was the first to start back up the slope. Beast Boy right after him, and Robin and Raven after that. Starfire was about to follow, but Blaze caught her.

"Star? Can I talk to you?" Her hand resting on Starfire's shoulder was drenched with sweat. "Just for a second? I promise we'll catch up." Star didn't look too happy, but crossed her arms and listened.

Blaze was becoming nervous. She knew that she should tell someone about what really happened while she was in the water, but she wanted it to be Robin. But Starfire was so mad. Maybe if Blaze told her first, she would understand why she had broken down the other day.

Blaze took a deep breath and started pacing nervously. "Okay, it's like this, Star. See, I know you saw Robin hug me the other day, and I remember the discussion we had a while ago about how you felt about him, so I thought I'd clear everything up so you wouldn't be mad anymore."

"I'm not mad." Starfire tried to sound care-free and casual, but it wasn't working.

"Yes, you are." Blaze nodded, taking one more breath and continuing, "Starfire, I never really told anyone what happened the other day."

"You lost your powers."

"No, . . .well yes, but no. See, there's a reason I lost my powers. I didn't want to tell anyone because I didn't want to worry you guys."

"Worry us with what?"

"Starfire, I died." Blaze blurted out. The realization hit her as the words came out of her mouth. Blaze took a step back and covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide and soaked with tears.

Starfire wasn't sure what to say. She stood there in awe, looking Blaze up and down. "But, you are right here, are you not?"

"Yes I am but... look at me Starfire."

"I am."

"No, I mean really look at me. What do you see?"

"I see... hair and clothing and skin and..."

"There, stop right there. You see skin. Starfire, my skin isn't real. I don't have muscle and organs and all the other stuff mortals have. Inside this shell, inside my 'skin', it's hollow. That's where my essence is. That's where my fire is. The skin is only a facade, a optical illusion. It doesn't trap my fire in, it's just there." Blaze stopped to let Starfire process this all. "When I fell in the water, my skin dissolved and my fire was exposed to the water. And I think we all know what happens when you dump water on fire."

"But you are right here. How could you have died?"

"Only for a moment. See, an elemental isn't supposed to die. That's why we're immortal. If an elemental truly dies, the whole history of Earth is changed. If I died, fire would no longer be part of everyday life. So my father, well, he knows this. With the help of the other gods, he turned back time and brought me back to life. That's why I'm here now."

Starfire had to admit that she wasn't mad anymore. Blaze could see it in her eyes. That's the thing about mortals. Their emotions were always visible through their eyes. Starfire no longer held a grudge against her, as Blaze had hoped, but now she saw that Starfire was holding pity for her. She didn't necessarily like that either.

Beast Boy had come running down the slope. "Hey, come on you two! There's a crime goin on somewhere!"

"Red X?" Blaze hadn't noticed, but her tone was hopeful.

"Naw, I think Robin said something about the H.I.V.E. five. Minus Jinx, that is. Come on, let's go!" Beast boy morphed into some type of large bird and headed back to the roof of the tower. He grabbed Cyborg in his talons and began flying across the water. Upon further examination, Blaze could see Raven hovering over the side next to Robin.

Starfire began to fly up to him. She stopped when she noticed Blaze wasn't following. "Are you not coming?"

"No. I'm no use to you guys now. Go ahead and play the hero."

"Are you sure of this?"

"Starfire, go!" Blaze laughed, picking up a small pebble and playfully throwing it at her. Starfire took the hint and went to grab Robin before following Beast boy and Cyborg.