Pull your little arrows out

and let me live my life

-+-+-+

The Raven and the Tamaranian

Chapter 2: The Valentines Blues

I don't detest Valentines Day, its just not my kind of thing. Its a day of couples, a day of wistful whispers of pledges and affections that you could tell your lover any other day of the year, but somehow have more meaning, more assurance on this particular day.

A day where children hand cards off to their friends, men buy flowers for their partners, and money in general just showers on businesses.

I'm single, so right now its just not my thing. That year, however, it was just an act of impulse. A rare surge of courage.

That year was just an act of friendship. Nothing more, nothing less.

Because that is what friends do for each other.

SI remember that year, on a whim I had gone out and purchased a bouquet of flowers, after watching star solemnly look out at wandering couples. It was a bitter stare, that both frightened me and intrigued me. It was nothing I thought Star could know.

We sat together on a bench in a park, crime was slow that day and Robin told us to take the day off, perhaps the significance of the date slipped his mind as he locked himself in his quarters-probably so he could continue investigation on Slade.

Children ran around, giggling and teasing each other about 'cooties', lovers looked longingly into each others eyes, even the birds seemed to be in pairs. After what seemed to be the millionth sigh eliciting from Kori's mouth, I stood and excused myself for a few moments, saying I wanted to check something out in private. My departure had gone unnoticed, I realized, because the Alien mumbled something incoherent and sighed once more.

I trudged through snow covered streets (which I found odd, since come this time last year it felt as if Summer was rearing its head like an angry dragon) thinking of what I should do to cheer the girl up.

I had many ideas, perhaps try to get Garfield and Victor to help plan a dinner for the two. Maybe drag Robin out of his dim room and convince him to take Kori somewhere special. Maybe I should take her somewhere special...as friends, of course. The more I thought, the more I cursed myself for not settling on something quicker, and I was now more than two blocks away from the park.

As I was turning back a sign caught my eye, decorated in cheap glitter and balloons and a weak floral arrangement. The words "Discount" were truly what had caught my eye, and had sold me instantly as I stumbled past two lovers kissing on the sidewalk.

I threw a disgusted look over my shoulder, and a sweet floral scent wafted into my nostrils.

"Can I help you?" A tackily dressed, plump woman looked in my direction, a large array of cheap necklaces dangled from her fat neck, many rings on her manicured and heavily painted fingers stood by the register looking in my direction.

Unpleasantly I attempted my best polite smile, "No, no. I'm just looking."

The lady shrugged and returned to her discussion with an equally tacky looking male. I resumed browsing the small shop, finding few things that truly met my interest. I concluded, that with such a poor selection, it was no wonder they hastily tacked up a discount sign in the front. I wasn't the only one wandering, a man with red hair was studying a bouquet of mixed flowers, a woman was purchasing a dozen roses for a funeral. A little boy was looking at the stuffed "Valentine" bears.

I was about to give up, I honestly did not know what kinds of flowers Kori liked, and I myself was not a flower person, the only things I recognized where the roses and sunflowers....everything else, uncharted territory.

That is, until a certain bouquet caught my eyes. An array of exotic flowers, Wild, colorful, they smelt good too. They weren't overwhelming in the least. Best of all, they were only ten bucks.

I snatched up the bouquet, paid, and bolted out of the store, somehow I knew Kori would love them. And she did, wide, emerald green jewels glanced between my and the flowers lying in her laps. I smiled and waved my hand nonchalantly, "hey don't worry. I can't stand a depressed Starfire."

She dragged me into one of her infamous bone-crushing embraces, giggling and nuzzling my neck, a gesture that made my face burn, "hey, really....its nothing...Just...Happy Valentines day, Star."

Best of all, I remember Robins perplexed face and inquisitorial, "who gave you these?" When he noticed the beautiful flowers on the kitchen table.

I remember Kori smiling and giving me a knowing glance and saying, "oh, just a good friend."

I remember my heart skipping and inwardly smiling proudly.

But of course, it was an act of friendship. I could never bring myself to be something more. I was never bold enough to do such a thing.

-+-+-+-+-+

Now, lying in my bed, I wonder if there's someone, somewhere, who could save me from the valentine blues.

-+-+-+-+-+-+

Slow chapter, I know, I'm not used to doing things that aren't one shots. Patience, m'dear.