To Thebookthief98 (Guest): Couldn't log in? Ha-ha, first off THANK YOU! And I'm sorry that my writing brought you to tears, which may be a secretive goal of mine. I also hate cliffhangers but I needed to make sure you guys would come back for this chapter! The Rob Star will be here soon, hopefully…Mwuahaha. Keep reading, and thank you.
To Miss geek (Guest): Thank you, and who doesn't feel bad for Star? It's really sad what leadership can do to one's mind. Crazy stuff! Please keep reading!
A/N: Welcome to the next chapter, I'm sorry about the cliffhanger last chapter but it was needed! I want this story to be exciting, and mind teasing. Enjoy…
"Into starlight sanctuary we dream the future, while the envious breath of past chills our skin. Yet all frost is temporary torture, and proudly we should bear its scars. We are the sum of our experiences, and the product of our dreams." Louddragon.
January 6
Gotham Patrol
Flash POV
It's been suspiciously quiet, too quiet and I don't like it. I've always hated the silence that nighttime brings. It forces me to think about things that I'm not ready to think about. Like the inevitable, or the future. The unknown has always been a secretive fear of mine, how should I know what's going to come next? How am I supposed to prepare for the infinite? I secure my earpiece to my ear a little more. "Hey Cy, I'm really bored. Anything I can do while I'm waiting? Like going to get the Batcar, maybe?"
The sound of four different sighs brings a smile to my face. "No, stupid. The City is quiet right now, we don't need the Batcar, and we don't need BATMAN! Stop asking, and look out for any signs of trouble!" Cyborg yells. My earpiece rumbles with his voice and I laugh openly into the nighttime air, a tiny bit of relief coursing through me.
A sneeze comes from the earpiece suddenly and my laughter seizes. "Catching a cold, Jinxy?" I ask smugly.
"Shut up FLASH." She says as she sneezes again. Jinx knows I hate it when she calls me Flash so my mood changes and I obey.
The silence envelops me again; even the distant car horns deep within the City are not enough to distract me. Cyborg sent me to patrol the warehouse district of the City, and as fun as it sounded it isn't. The creepy shadows and scurrying of mice between cracks in the concrete structures makes me shiver, and secures a newly found fear for me in my mind. I hear footsteps and I crouch down behind a corner, I'm in a position where I could run at any speed when my chance comes. I look around the corner and notice two dark figures crouched between a wedge of warehouses. They're wearing bowler hats and conversing in extremely low tones.
My memory flicks at something Richard said about Bellerose, and I realize that these people could be part of the Mafia. I inch closer and hear the click of a gun behind me, SHIT.
"Where are you going buddy?" A gravelly but secure voice asks.
I look up and notice the two thugs are gone, this was a trap. I turn around, still in position to attack and press my earpiece. "I was just out taking a stroll through the City, BELLEROSE." I take my hand off my ear before he can notice that I communicated for help.
I hear his chuckle for the first time and it scares me, I've never been afraid of actual villains but he absolutely terrifies me. His chuckles subside. "How did you know my name, kid?"
I shrug, hoping he doesn't see my nervousness. "Lucky guess."
"I don't like people calling me Bellerose." He growls angrily.
I clench my fists preparing for a fight. "I don't like people calling me 'kid'." I growl back.
His mood suddenly changes and he chuckles again, it's a sick glottal sound that tickles the deep hidden anger that I tend to suppress in me. "You have heart kid, I'll give you that. Do you know what you're up against?"
I wiggle my fingers as I hear a click behind me. My blood turns cold; I've never been good with dodging bullets. I keep up my fearless façade. "I hope you realize what you're up against, Bellerose."
The bullet goes off and I move quickly enough that it whizzes past my head, I feel a couple pieces of hair fly off in the process. I race towards Bellerose and grab him in a choke hold. I can't get a good grip on him because he whips out a gun, and clicks the bullet into place. I sigh and move my grip to his arm, I snap it and he screams in agony. The lower half of his arm hangs completely out of place, like a slab of meat. Another click comes from behind me and this time the bullet almost hits home. It grazes my arm as I run out of the way.
I look down at the blood rushing down my arm; I shake it out and bounce on my toes. "Who's next huh?" I yell at them, I watch Bellerose run down the alley and escape into a car at the end of it. I'm stuck between two behemoths, both of their guns are clicked into place and their aim is concentrated solely on me. I pretend to crack my neck as I see a flicker of movement from the rooftop above me. "Go on! Shoot! I don't have all night!" I yell at them.
One guy shoots and pink zig zags flash in front of me. The bullet melts and Jinx is in front of me before I know it. She cartwheels and pink hexes emit from her limbs, both behemoths attempt to escape but Jinx blindsides one with her powers. If I didn't know any better his feet were probably melted off. The other guy continuously shoots blindly as he runs down the alley. I follow him and tackle him to the ground, he shoots his gun again, which misses completely and I punch him in the jaw.
I see his gun rush towards my face, and my vision suddenly blurs considerably. I taste blood and dirt and I collapse as I watch his footsteps take off into a busy street. I hear cars honk and big thump sounds. I try to sit up to see what happened and to my very own dismay the guy is sprawled out with a pool of blood around him. Cars are honking and my head begins to throb, I feel the earth sway and my head slams on the pavement. Darkness envelopes me, and the fear of the unknown crawls up my conscience; again.
Raven POV
The throbbing pain in my head is nothing compared to how my legs feel. I peel open my eyes and take in my surroundings. I'm lying flat on my back staring at the grey rocky ceiling over me; I sit up too quickly and gasp in pain, it shocks through me like lightning.
I'm in a cave, there's a small fire in front of me, along with a few twigs. The opening to the cave is dark, and the sky bears no stars. The forest opening looks deadly serious, and almost dangerous. "Where am I?" I whisper softly, afraid to move again.
"You did it!" A soft tender voice says.
I look towards the surprising sound and notice that it's the little boy. The one who told me to rise and fall. "How am I not dead?" I ask too loudly, and my voice echoes harshly against the jagged walls of the cave.
He smiles again, and I notice that there's no jagged tooth. He's still green but his childish face makes my heart grow soft, he can't be more than the age of six. "You believe what you want to be." He says with a twinkle in his eye.
"What do you mean?" I ask while holding my stomach, the pain is too much for me.
"When you jumped you decided to believe that you wouldn't die, so you didn't. The pain you're also feeling is just what you want to believe." He grabs a twig from the ground and throws it in the fire.
I close my eyes momentarily and imagine that there isn't any pain; I tell myself that I didn't just fall hundreds of feet. The throbbing slows to a dull ache, and my muscles relax. A cold rush spreads through my body and the pain is gone, like a light switch. I open my eyes and the little boy is still smiling nicely at me, usually that would disgust me but instead it brings me great relief. "How do you know this, how did you save me?"
"I believed; that is the key to survival. That is the key to control." He plops down on the cave floor and looks longingly into the fire.
"Where are your parents?" I ask him.
His eyes don't leave the fire, but they do show a tiny emotion that I am unable to decipher. "They're dead." He says in a much less cheery voice, his face twists in sadness and a tear falls from his eye.
I crawl over to him and take him in my arms. He sobs once then stops the tears, he sniffles and I look deeply into his tiny green face. "I'm sorry." I whisper.
He looks at me and smiles sadly. "I like to believe that the pain of losing them is not there, it is nonexistent until I am reminded of my loneliness."
I wipe a tear from his cheek. "Are there others?"
He shakes his head. "The Beast ate them, I watched."
I allow him to sit back down and I sit next to him, staring at the fire with him. "What is your name?"
His smile suddenly becomes bigger. "Call me Garfield. Thanks for asking Raven."
"You're welcome, how did you know my name?" I fold my legs underneath me, cracking my neck and stretching my back.
"You are the cure silly." He says with a huge giggle.
I pause at his statement but before I can comment a growl comes from outside the cave. It rumbles the tiny pebbles that line it and they jump. Garfield stands and takes a fighting stance in front of me. I stand also, confused as to why he's protecting me. "The Beast wants to eat anything and everything; I'll protect you, always."
I touch his shoulder lightly. "You don't have to do that." I step in front of him and begin to walk towards the entrance of the cave. I feel a tug on my cloak and look back.
"Please Raven, let me protect you." He says with a sad look in his eyes.
My heart grows tender and all I want to do is hold the little boy in my arms for eternity. "We'll fight him together." I smile lightly, but I know he can see the sadness I am bearing. I'm willing to die for him, the Beast will not get to him if it's the last thing I do.
I step out into the night air with Garfield behind me. The crisp night air bears no sound, its deadly quiet and the big moon in the sky is abnormally sized. I hear the growl coming from the bushes in front of me and I take a fighting stance. I know that I have no power here but I have a plan, it might work if I'm strong enough. I look down at the scared little green boy. "Stay hidden behind me, if I die run as fast as you can Garfield."
He nods but puts up his little fists, his face doesn't look willing to fight, but his body language does. I wish I could read emotions now, but I'm utterly powerless, weak.
The bushes rumble again and this time the Beast howls into the night sky. It's so loud my eardrums ring when the sound deflates. I blink a couple times and prepare myself again. Before I know it green eyes peak out from the bush and a big hairy monster steps forward. It looks even more threatening than before, its muscles are clenched and its mouth is foaming.
I swallow the scream in my throat and summon my courage. "Come and get me." I whisper.
The Beast roars and charges towards me, its talons dig into the sandy gravel, leaving long claw marks. The thumping of the ground vibrates around the jungle, and I'm positive he can hear my heartbeat. He comes closer and when he's close enough I punch out at him. My fist bounces right off his head, and he back hands me into the rock wall.
For a moment my vision is pitch black, I can't see anything. Then the pain comes rushing in and I open my eyes. It's unbearable; I crawl onto my hands and knees and spit up blood. My lip feels cracked and my head is going to burst but I do what Garfield told me, believe. The pain subsides and I hear his little scream. I scramble to my feet and rush over to where he's running. I push him out of the way and the Beast head butts my side.
More pain, more blood, more believing. I look to see Garfield's tiny little face in the bushes. I have to protect him. "STAY DOWN!" I scream and swallow the metallic taste in my mouth.
The Beast slowly makes its way to me, suddenly standing on two feet. He clenches his claws and the talons grow longer. I have a feeling of what's coming and believing might not be enough. I stand up shakily swallowing another scream. The Beast approaches and now is standing a steady five inches from me. His misty breath puffs into my face. He raises his arm, talons sparkling in the moonlight. I close my eyes and trust my instincts; I reach out my arms and place my hands on its furry chest.
I hear the arm coming towards me and I open my eyes and look into the Beasts' green orbs. Garfield's words echo in my head and the arm falls limp to its side. The eyes look immensely sad, and even regretful. The fur begins to disappear, the shining skin underneath turning into a gleaming chest.
I still look into his eyes; they don't change while everything else does. When the transformation is done, I am left with my hands pressed against Beast Boy's chest pectorals. He is his regular height, which is way taller than me, but he's not a ten foot monster anymore. Relief courses through me and I feel his arms close in around me.
His breathing is erratic, but normal. I press my ear to his chest and hear his heartbeat slow down. I hug him back, feeling small tears fold out of my own eyes. "Raven, I am so sorry." He breathes.
I am too emotional to answer back so I nod and shake my head, hugging him tighter. He lets go but keeps his arms around me, as do I. He looks into my eyes and I feel myself smile. He's back, I took down the Beast.
The bushes rumble again and fear literally pours out of me. I look towards the noise and see little Garfield make his way over to me. He hugs my legs and I let go of Beast Boy. I hear and feel his little tears. I pick him up and hug him gratefully. "We're alive, everything is better now."
We all hug in a tight group huddle as the little boy shakes and sobs even more. Beast Boy rubs my back and I close my eyes grateful for what I'm feeling.
When I open my eyes Beast Boy is looking into them, but we're back in my room at Wayne manor. His face is illuminated by the small lights in my room. My hand is still pressed tightly onto his chest. I retract it immediately, and forcefully. A couple books on my dresser burst open and fall onto the floor, my powers are back.
Beast Boy rubs a hand over his face, his expression pained. "What's wrong?" I ask too urgently.
He sits up and runs his hands through his green hair. "I saw that entire thing, I was there. I was little Garfield and the Beast. I don't know how, but, ugh!" He holds his face in his hands.
I sigh and I feel something drip from my nose. I stand up and make my way over to the wall mirror. My nose is bleeding; I grab the tissue box and press a wad of them to my nose.
Beast Boy stands up and walks over to me. "Is that a bloody nose?" He demands.
"Yeah, though it's none of your concern." I feel the room sway lightly and my knees begin to buckle.
Beast Boy notices and places a hand on my back. He leads me over to the bed and sits me down gently. "This was stupid to do." He says as his jaw clenches. "It's weakened you, and I'm pissed off."
I look at him. "Why?" My voice sounds funny because of the tissues but I ignore it.
"I hurt you, don't you realize that? I could've killed you! You didn't even have your powers and you still kept going." He stands up and begins to pace.
"Can you calm down?" I remove the tissue from my nose and throw it into the trash bin. "I knew the risks; I knew what I was getting into."
He stops and looks at me. "Did you? Did you really? You sure as hell looked pretty surprised in there!" He yells.
I rub my head, feeling a headache coming on. "I did what I did to save YOU!" I say as I raise my voice. "If you were so concerned for my safety in there you would've held back the Beasts' attacks!"
His green eyes look at me incredulously. "Don't you think I would've tried that if I could? I tried everything to hold back the Beast, I literally couldn't control what Garfield or the Beast did. I was just in their body witnessing the entire thing!" He crosses his arms and lowers his voice. "It pained me to do so. Did you really think I would've done those things voluntarily? I would never hurt you, never." He bows his head in shame.
I stand up and walk towards him. "The Beast is gone now; we have nothing to worry about."
He keeps his head bowed. "That's the problem, I still feel him in there. You may have suppressed him, but he's going to come back. Bigger and stronger, how are we going to deal with it then?" He looks down at me, his green eyes full of tears.
I'm slowly beginning to realize that I've reached a point in my friendship with Beast Boy where we can tell each other anything. I'm comfortable enough to cry in front of him, and he is with me; what does that mean? I pull him into a hug and he gratefully accepts. He doesn't sob, but cries slowly. "I'll risk it all again, I will." I say.
I feel him shake his head. "No, I'm not going to let you get hurt again. I don't want you to see me at my worst." His voice cracks and the wetness from his tears stain my cloak.
"I already have Beast Boy, and I'm not running; am I?" I feel him tighten the hug and I inhale his scent, I've never been one for physical contact before, but I don't mind this at all. This feels right, almost normal.
Beast Boy shakes his head again. "No, the next time the Beast becomes uncontrollable I'll have the cure with me. I'll take the cure before I allow you inside of my head again."
I feel my body stiffen and I stifle my gasp. I break away from the hug. "Are you sure we'll be able to find Tesla in time?"
He nods his jaw clenching. "When I find Tesla, I'm going to get answers, I'm going to get the cure, and I'm going to get revenge.
I bite my lip; I don't want him to take the cure. Would that be selfish of me if I tell him that? Is it wrong of me to want him to stay this way? I walk over to the bed and sit down and cross my arms.
"What's wrong?" He asks, his tears are gone and his face is tired.
"I'm tired." I lie.
He nods. "You should get some rest then, see you in the morning." He turns to leave and something in me twists. The feeling of yearning and want bubbles up inside of me.
"No!" I shout and a bucket of pencils falls over, he barely notices.
"What's wrong?" He asks as he rubs his eyes.
I bite my lip harder this time, I make my decision. I have to be selfish this time. "Stay." My voice cracks, and it sounds like barely a whisper.
His eyes widen and I feel excitement roll off of him. "What?" He smirks.
"Stay, here…with me." I stutter.
He grins and his incisor peeks out of his mouth, like usual. "Are you sure?"
I run my eyes over his abs, his chest, and his lean muscular arms. "Yes." I don't know what's come over me, but I don't care. I need him, and I can feel that he needs me.
He turns out the light and the only thing that illuminates the room now is the pale moonlight that shimmers through the thin curtains. I feel the bed shift with his body weight and I adjust the blankets over the both of us. We both sit very still while staring at the ceiling. It's not as awkward as I want to believe, but he breaks the silence.
"I'm sorry." He whispers.
I turn on my side to look at him. "For what?"
He turns on his side, and I feel his emotions shift. "For hurting you." He reaches out and touches my face gently, so gently that I barely feel it.
"You could never hurt me." I whisper back and place my hand over his hand.
He suddenly pulls me closer to him; I don't stiffen or push away. I surprisingly accept his embrace, and his comfort. He holds me close to his chest and rests his chin on my head. The pillows sink deep into our cheeks, and soon we share one pillow. I feel my legs tangle with his; it feels like the most natural thing in the world. I spread out my hands on his till bare chest and inhale his comforting scent once again. I close my eyes, deeply comforted.
"How did you feel about my mind?" He asks suddenly.
I don't move from where I am, and I keep my eyes closed. "You have a beautiful mind Beast Boy." I whisper softly, I feel my body start to fall asleep.
I feel his smile and happiness. "Meditation worthy?"
"Yes." I whisper. If only he knew that meditation was the first thing I thought about when I was in his mind.
We lay in silence for minutes more. His breathing slowing down and I hear the thumping of his heart steady. "Can I ask you one more thing Raven?"
I nod, too tired to speak.
"Can you call me Garfield from now on?" He asks.
I smirk, feeling his emotions quiver. "Yes." I mumble. The contentedness flowing out of him makes my heart soar. I fear the emotions I'm feeling with him, and I cherish them at the same time. I feel myself drift into sleep along with him, out heartbeats are in perfect tandem.
January 7- Morning
Wayne Manor
Nightwing POV
Three polite knocks wake me from my sleep and I grunt in frustration. "Who is it?" I shout.
The door opens and Cyborg and Alfred pile in. Alfred bows his head, then makes steady eye contact with me. "Morning Master Richard."
I nod and sit up with surprisingly no pain at all. "Hey Alfred, hey Cyborg."
Cyborg sighs. "I know you're itching to figure out how patrol went last night." He looks down momentarily and I immediately know what's going on. "I'm calling a group meeting so we can discuss it over breakfast."
I nod. "Was Bellerose spotted?" I ask hurriedly, that's all that matters now.
Cyborg nods. "Get dressed and meet me in the hallway." He leaves the room and Alfred snorts.
He places a small pile of clothing on the bed for me, along with my favorite mask. "Thanks Alfred."
"Not a problem, Master Richard." He responds and briskly leaves the room.
I sigh and ease out of bed, my legs still feel weak, but with some training and exercise I can build up the muscle I lost. I slip into my clothing, a regular dark blue pullover and dark wash jeans. When I place my mask on my face the feeling of it brings me comfort, and I partially miss my old position of being Robin. I crack my back lithely and walk out into the hall where Cyborg is waiting.
"Care to tell me what happened last night?" I ask him as I begin walking to the dining area.
Cyborg shakes his head. "The whole team will discuss it together; you're not going to be happy."
I sigh. "Is everyone there?"
"No, Beast Boy and Raven haven't appeared yet. Beast Boy wasn't in his room and I haven't checked on Raven." He looks down one of the long hallways. "We should probably go wake her, though I expected her to be awake already."
I nod. "Fine, then let's hurry up and get to breakfast. I may be disabled for the next few days but I can still make a plan."
Cyborg waves his hand at me. "Shut up Spiky, and knock on Raven's door."
I raise my hand to her door and knock, but disappointedly the door creaks open. Cyborg's eyes widen and he looks extremely frightened. I clear my throat. "Uh, Raven? It's breakfast time, so you should come on down."
No answer for a response. Cyborg makes a relieved gesture. "Maybe she's already gone to breakfast."
I suspect the same and open the door wider to confirm his theory. To my surprise I see a large lump in bed. The door hits the wall and two faces pop up from the mattress. Beast Boy is rubbing his eyes and Raven is looking at the door shocked. Her eyes begin to glow. "Get out!" She screams in a voice that doesn't sound like hers.
Cyborg grabs the door and slams it; I'm still too shocked to comprehend what I just saw. I look up slowly at Cyborg. "How much of that toxin is still in my system?" I ask wondrously. I begin to walk away from Raven's room rubbing my head.
Cyborg shakes his head, his mouth still hanging open. "I must've had a dose of it as well." He sighs. "That's another topic we'll bring up during breakfast."
We head downstairs and walk into the dining hall. The long table is coated with various breakfast items, including fruits, waffles, cereals, muffins, juices, crepes, pancakes, etc. Alfred always impresses me with his lavish cooking. I spot most of the team at one end of the table conversing. I look at Babs and she looks visibly upset. Jason is laughing at something that is obviously not funny and Jinx is touching Flash's face. My eyes flicker back to his face. "What happened to Flash?"
Cyborg's jaw clenches. "Bellerose did, come on let's eat."
We walk towards the group and they greet us. I take one long look at Flash. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just a little scratch." He says as Jinx presses an ice pack to his face.
Half his face is a purple color and his lip is split wide open. He's not wearing a mask but I still know that his face is swollen. We've been friends since I was seven; I know that when he says he's fine he's really not. "Do we need Raven to heal that for you?" I ask, trying to get the image of her and Beast boy out of my head.
Flash shakes his head and takes a gulp of juice from his glass. "Jinxy here will take care of me." He smiles lovingly at her and she rolls her eyes.
Just then the doors open revealing a fresh looking Raven and Beast Boy. They look at us then look at the floor and various parts of the room. I can't stand awkwardness. "Take a seat; we have some things to discuss." I say authoritatively.
I watch everyone take their seats and grab a breakfast item to nibble on, except Cyborg. He's on his fifth plate of waffles. "Can someone please tell me what went on last night?"
Beast Boy and Raven look across the table at each other with crazy expressions and I sigh agitatedly. "Not you guys, but we will be discussing that. I meant during patrol."
Cyborg claps his metallic hands together and I grab an apple from the bowl and begin to crunch into it. Cyborg looks at me and everyone else. "Well, in the warehouse district last night Flash found Bellerose and his pals. They tried to shoot Flash and actually nicked him in the arm, just a little. Flash tried to subdue them and snapped Bellerose's arm. He then somehow became trapped in between two of his junkies and Bellerose ran away into a getaway car." He chews another piece of his waffle.
Jinx clears her throat. "Then Flash nearly risked his life with angering the two gunmen." She sounds angry but her face says otherwise.
Flash holds up his hands and I notice the large bandage on his bicep. "I saw you on the roof; I knew you would come rescue me." He chuckles as she punches him in the arm.
Babs looks at me. "Jinx used her powers and subdued one of them, Flash chased the other and they got into a fist fight. The guy then ran into oncoming traffic, willfully."
Jason slaps the table. "Here's where we have trouble. The guy is dead, he's dead and the Justice League has to explain a harmless hand to hand combat between hero and citizen to the public. Do you know what position that puts Bruce in?"
I look at Jason for the first time since my incident. "Don't talk, you don't even care what Bruce has to go through now."
His eyes narrow. "Right and you do? His first son acts so prominent but you can't even talk with him on a personal level? You're pathetic." He rolls his eyes.
"The only thing pathetic is your hissy fits. The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment, can you do that Jason? Can you do that without crying for a medic?" I narrow my eyes at him, and with the mask on it looks even more threatening than it seems.
Raven grunts and rubs her head. "Can you guys take your argument somewhere else please?" She asks.
I sigh. "Mind telling everyone what Beast Boy was doing in your BED, shirtless?" Everything grows quiet and I hear Jinx gasp.
Cyborg stops chewing. "It scared the crap out of us too."
Beast Boy turns a light shade of pink along with Raven. Flash starts laughing extremely loud. "Getting some are we BB?" He asks, as Jinx hits him in the arm.
Beast Boy stands up suddenly. "Shut the hell up Flash, you don't know anything!" His voice sounds guttural, and animalistic. His eyes are glowing with fury.
Raven looks at Beast Boy with an actual frightened expression on her face. "Beast Boy, stop." She hisses.
Beast Boy looks down at his hand, his fingernails are suddenly growing into claws; they look like talons. His veins are sticking out and his fangs are appearing. He looks at us and runs out of the room like a scared puppy.
Raven looks at us angrily. "If you really want to know why he was in my room it was because of THAT!" She yells and some of the glass plates on the table explode. She runs after him, slamming the dining room doors in the process.
Babs slaps a laughing Jason on the back of his head. I look at everyone. "We'll have to figure THAT out later. Anymore issues we need to address?"
Jason sighs. "You messed up bro."
I narrow my eyes again. "How so?"
He looks at me like I'm stupid. "They're adults; it's none of your business why they were in bed together. I thought Bruce taught you how to not be nosy."
I throw my apple at him and it thumps him in the head. He falls out of his chair and Babs giggles. "Anyone else have a problem with me?" I look around and everyone just shakes their heads. "Now Cyborg how was Starfire?" I ask not caring who hears me.
His eyes widen. "Uh, I never checked."
I feel anger bubble in me. "You never checked? She probably feels abandoned!" I yell.
Jason is in his chair again and he laughs openly. "She probably felt that when you rejected her continuously." He snorts and I grab a knife. I fling it at him with so much precision it lands in the chair next to his neck. It is halfway into the wood.
"Shut the fuck up." I growl and stand.
His eyes light up in apprehension and curiosity. "If your temper is this easy to get I can't imagine what it felt like to argue with Starfire. Tell me brother, did you ever hit her?" He smiles, unfazed by my accurate knife throwing skills.
I grab a glass plate and fling it at him; he stands up to dodge it and throws a handful of forks at me. I dodge the forks and some land in the wall. I grab some plates and throw them at him; one of the shards cuts his cheek. "Do you ever hit the guys you see at the gay clubs?" I hear gasps around me but I don't care.
Babs is shouting at us, but I barely hear her over Jason's obnoxious laughing. "You were such a disappointment for Starfire, I doubt if she would mind if you went to a gay club."
I fling more plates at him each of them smashing on the walls and chairs. Arms suddenly wrap around me and Babs yanks me by my ear back to my seat. She makes her way around the table and slaps Jason hard in the face. She then grabs him by the ear and plops him in his seat. "Both of you stop acting so immature." She frowns and makes her way to her own seat.
I look at Cyborg about to scold him for not calling Starfire but his face is blank and he has a UTC device in his hand. Flash and I exchange looks. "Cyborg what's wrong?"
He looks up at us slowly. "Star…Starfire, she's…" He looks at me and gulps then hands me the UTC device. I take it gratefully and listen to her message; I turn the volume up extra loud so everyone at the table can hear. Her voice brings back pure sweet memories that nearly make my eyes water.
"Friends, I want you to know that my short visit to Tamaran will be short lived. I fear that I may never talk to you again, so please listen carefully. By the time you reach this message it may already be too late, but I need you to know that I love you all from the bottom deepest crevice of my heart. I also want you to know that if you ever want to seek revenge, find Karras. He is the reason for everything done to me, he is the reason. Again, I love you all and tell Robin that I will love him for my last eight hours in existence, meaning forever."
I stare at the UTC device; she didn't do a video message so I can't see her face. All I hear is her voice and her words 'I will love him for my last eight hours' echoes in my mind. I feel like my heart has stopped beating and every piece of my existence was used in vain. I drop the device and stand up from my chair abruptly, all the color has drained out of me and I can't breathe. She's dead, or close to it. I look at the rest of my team, my mouth still hanging open. Their expressions read sadness, anger, anguish, and sorrow. "Find Beast Boy and Raven, get the Titan interplanetary ship, and prepare for battle." I say, though my voice doesn't sound like my own.
Flash stands up with me. "We need to call the Justice-"
I interrupt him. "DO WHAT I SAY!" I yell angrily and storm from the room. I can feel all their gazes on me, but I don't care. I have to save the only girl who's ever cared about me on a personal level, even if it's the last thing I do.
A/N: Nightwing is going to go berserk! Is Starfire even alive? Many questions! So many unanswered! I hope everyone liked it; the quote at the beginning was done by me. I tend to come up with things like that and it fit this perfectly. I have some exciting news! I'm a beta reader now, so if any of you have any requests PM me! I am more than happy to read new material. If you don't want to send me a request or if you don't have one check out my beta profile anyway…You might just learn something new about me.
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Next Chapter: An adventure in Space will change some for better and for worse. Will they make it? Will they survive? Will they find Starfire dead or alive? What will happen?
Chapter Name Explanation: I named it fading feats because of all the interconnecting communication patterns I'm creating. The story line is literally just starting to heat up, and most of this information will fade into the main plot as the story progresses. Thanks for reading XOXO.