Author: You get to find out a bit more on 'Ruba'. Next chapter will highlight more. Ruba and Sari are just nicknames, they don't really have codenames. The words Ruba and Sari are actually derived from the name of their own power, which you'll learn more about later on. The title of this story is actually part of it. :P But yeah. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything preexisting in the DC Comics universe. I only own Sari and Ruba.
[MaraJade57]
Tank you, tank you. c: I'm working hard to get this series finished so I can actually have one that's done. ;_; Lol. I have a nasty habit of starting something and not finishing it, but I'm going to complete my stories! *Fist pump* Ya! Anyway, thanks for the review and support. :D
She was nervous, had been ever since they arrived. Several days had passed and she was usually left in her room as she slept in and 'Sari' was a dawn riser. He had went out early in the morning with Robin to help patrol and she'd been left in the care of Starfire this day. She was growing tired of being inactive.
Yes, her powers were unstable. Yes, they were dangerous and people could get hurt, but wasn't the benefit greater than the risk? She needed more time and experience to better grasp not only herself but those powers as well.
Sari was lucky in some ways. He had control, he only hurt those he wanted to. She hurt everyone.. anyone who touched her. Even a simple gesture like a hand shake left someone unconscious on the ground at her feet and then tears would sting her eyes. She was lonely, so alone in the world. She loved company, but.. when she couldn't hug them.. or pat them on the shoulder.. or tackle someone.. it left her sad seeing others capable of it. She felt cursed.
Jealousy began to grow in her heart and sometimes anger would haunt her dreams, turning them into nightmares and horror shows. She'd end up waking, screaming and no one could hug her or do anything physical to comfort her. Only a rare few could help her.. like that Starfire girl. She actually hugged her when they first met, her joy spilling over into that brilliant smile she displayed.
She was so cheerful around the tower. She wished she could be like her.
She'd had a nightmare the night before, which was probably why Sari had left her behind to rest. She'd woken up at around midnight, head pounding. She'd clawed at her scalp, crying out in strangled agony.
Starfire had appeared at her door, opening it and rushed in, green hands bright with starbolts, ready to ward off any enemies in the room. Instead of monsters or a villain Starfire was greeted by a messy bed, Ruba sitting up, crying her eyes out, clutching her head.
She'd pulled the older girl into a hug and soothed her and she in return held onto the alien like she was a lifeline. It was nice to be held.
It only buffeted her jealousy over contact, but in that embrace she felt momentarily normal.
She sighed, cupping her face in her palms, a heavy expression sliding into place as she leaned against a kitchen counter.
She was clothed in her typical 'costume', if one wished to call it such. It was more like her average clothes without any armor, mask or fancy suit with equipment. She didn't need any of that. She had long, mid-back length chestnut hair, that was straight and parted just over the left eye (the bangs of the right hovering just inches above the eye), side-bangs framing the cheeks, with glittering 'cloudy emerald' eyes (as most seemed to call them as they were a mix of green and grey) and her 'suit'.
She was clad in brown, white and tan-based colors sectioned in a splendidly balanced amount to encompass her attire. Her upper-shirt was tan with brown straps framing it- one ran over her chest, both ends connecting to straps that go beneath the arms and down to flutter in tails, but the top half ran over the shoulders, running down to hook with the lower one beneath the armpit. A ruffle-like bow was at her collarbone and tan gloves covered her fingertips to her wrists, tight and fitting. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up to just above her elbows and her lower body was concealed in tan pants that matched her shirt with white socks and brown buckled boots. Her belt was also brown, but her shirt tails hung loose, dangling down to hide the belt below.
Starfire entered the room, doors shutting behind her as she floated over to her. "Have you seen my friends?"
Ruba had pursed her lips. "Beast Boy and Cyborg are down in the gym, Raven's meditating in her room and Robin's out with Sari on patrol." She tacked a finger down for each.
"Ahh. Then what shall we do today, friend?"
"Please, call me Ruba or Ce-" She paused, considering. Starfire seemed really nice. Could she trust her with her name? "Don't tell the others, but when it's just us two.. you can call me Cecilia."
Starfire frowned, tilting her head just a bit. "Sa..sela?"
"No, no, no." Ruba laughed. "It's pronounced suh.. seal.. yuh..."
"Suh.. cell.. uh." Starfire tried, obviously having some difficulty.
"Suh, seal, yuh. You have to emphasize each syllable."
"Ahh! Cecilia." The alien beamed at her accomplishment.
"Yeah, there you go, you got it." She praised and the girl clapped her hands together in excitement.
"Cecilia.. I am curious." She said, once her happiness had thinned and her thoughts had churned.
"About?" She asked, walking over to the fridge to rummage around inside. She pulled out a green apple and walked over to the couch to sit.
Starfire followed, landing just beside her to take her own seat; not too close but not too far, her body turned so her knees were pointed at her and she laid her hands into her lap. She had a thoughtful expression on her face. "As to what brings you and.. Sari to our home. Are you lost?"
Cecilia smiled and shook her head. "We travel.. kind of have to, with my powers and all that." She said with a sigh. She lifted the apple in her left hand, taking a bite of it.
The alien frowned and reached out to grab her free hand, squeezing it. She stopped chewing for a second, studying Starfire before finishing, swallowing the apple pieces.
"We're grateful for you taking us in but-" Suddenly the lights flickered off, but the sunlight from outside lit the room. They both jumped to their feet, cold confusion ringing around them like a bell.
Starfire pulled out her communicator and tried to signal for her friends. "Raven? Beast Boy? Cyborg? What is going on?"
"I don't know, but something's not right." Came Raven's response.
"Something's in here! We're under attack!" Cyborg growled before his voice ended in static. Explosions could be heard dimly several floors beneath them.
"I'm going to help Cyborg and Beast Boy." Raven stated, her low voice echoing in the room from the communicator. "Starfire, protect the girl."
"Understood." Starfire answered. She put the device away and turned to face her companion. "Let us head to my room. You will be safe there-"
Cecilia shook her head. "I'm ok, I don't need to be baby sat." Starfire gave her a look at that so she clarified, "I don't need to be 'safe'. I can handle myself. Let's go help your team."
"Raven said-" Starfire tried to say, but the teen cut her off.
Cecilia gestured a hand to the floor. "Your team is down there getting hurt and you're stuck up here with me. I refuse to be stuffed into a corner and told to wait. To kill two birds with one stone we'll both go find your team and help them fight whatever is down there." She took another bite of her apple as she walked around and toward the kitchen, setting the apple down. "Come on!" She said after she finished her food.
The hallway was dark, no windows of which to provide light. They walked forth with Starfire's starbolt to guide the way because Cecilia couldn't risk more damage being done over a simple task if she tried it.
They made it to the stairs and Starfire flew down them while Cecilia took them at stride, literally jumping down them, landing in a stomp each time like a pack of dogs. She was noisy, which wasn't like her.. almost as if.. yes, she was drawing the attention of whatever could hear her. Starfire flew on ahead to the gym and she welcomed the darkness as she ran. She heard a scream and a loud thud as she made it to the floor where the gym was, green eyes narrowing as she pushed open the swinging door Starfire had entered half a minute before her. She was met by a very.. scary sight. There was no light. No Starfire. The room was empty as far as she could tell. She clung to the door, fear gripping her heart.
A sudden echo flickered to her right a bit away and she jerked her head in that direction, eyes widening as she began to make out forms falling from the ceiling. Tons of shapes. Eyes blinked on and she knew the room was occupied by whatever had attacked the Titans.
"Oh no..." She turned and darted back up the stairs. The forms didn't immediately follow, as if giving her a head start and she was half way up the spiraling case before she heard the pounding of dozens of feet far below. She dashed down the long hallway at the top and toward the kitchen/living room area, the doors sliding open to grant her access. She rushed over to the viewing window, the sunlight warming her skin and making her a bit more at ease. At least she could see now.
She faced the slider door, her upraised hands into a fighting stance.. and waited.
The footsteps softened and came closer and before long the door opened and she blinked as shapes entered. Several moved to the front of the group.. They were robots! And, worse, a few of them were holding the unconscious Titans in their metal grips.
She took a step back, frantic thoughts filling her head. Starfire.. Beast Boy.. Raven.. Cyborg.. all knocked out, helpless, injured. Her hands balled into fists and she glared at the cybernetic minions. Some aimed guns at her, others were focused on the Titans.
One stepped forth, stopping just a few feet between her and the machine army.. then the mask slid away to reveal a small screen that was black. It flickered to life and a costumed upper body was shown.
"At last we meet." The voice was smooth, yet alluring, hard not to focus on. It was loud enough to hear, yet soft and low to seem casual. "I was beginning to think we'd never get the chance to talk."
She swiped a fist across the air in a slash, snarling. "Who the heck are you and why are you attacking us?!" She demanded.
"Feisty.. I like that. My name is Slade and I have a proposition for you, girl." The mask was two-toned, half orange, half black, with slits toward the bottom for air to have an entrance to the mouth beneath. The left side, the orange/copper colored half, had an eye slit on it, the only visible one. He had one eye? What happened to the other? From what she could see he wore armor, silver, with matching shoulder guards over a black form fitting material that covered his upper body with a strap running from his right shoulder down to his left hip, out of her view. His hands were folded behind his back and he stood seemingly straight.
"Proposition? How about you let my friends go before I beat the crap out of your robots and come find you, bub? How's that sound?" She threatened, a dangerous note creeping into her usually neutral voice.
He chuckled, the sound sending shivers down her spine. It was a fearless laugh, one that meant he was amused, not scared. This man was going to be difficult. "And risk harming your 'friends'? I don't think so. Your powers are too unstable.. you'd end up destroying this tower and everything in it." Slade said with a knowing quality to his voice.
Her eyes narrowed, green orbs glistening with a hint of anger. "How the heck do you know that?"
"My dear girl.. I've been watching you since you first stepped into this city." Her blood ran cold when he said this. Oh jeez, she had a stalker! "I'm very interested in your capabilities." That single eye, which was strangely steely, a mix of blue and grey, narrowed at this. "My proposition is this.. Let me teach you things you don't know.. and in return I'll let your friends go."
Her eye twitched as she glared at him, anger rising into her features to give it a growing dark look. Her fists tightened and she lowered her stance just a bit. "Let them go now and I won't shred-" Her lip twitched angrily. "-your robots into scrap metal."
He tilted his head just as the robots shifted around. A couple of them stepped forward, aiming their guns at each of the Titans, who had yet to awake.
She felt her face harden even more and she took a step back. "Hiding behind your robots.. kidnapping people to get to one.. Those are acts of a coward!" She lowered her head, standing up straight, her arms dropping to rest by her side, hands still clenched as she glared at the floor. "And yet I cannot save them.. I am no better." She willed her hands to relax before lifting her head, indifferent emeralds leveling on the villain. She raised her hands, showing the robots and the man her gloved palms. "I surrender. The risk of hurting them is greater than the fleeting hope that I could save them without injuring them further." She glared to the side, but the expression was no longer hostile; more like ashamed and full of self pity.
"It's not as bad as you make it. You'll benefit greatly." She gave him a confused look. "I only want to help you.. control your powers.. become stronger.. smarter, faster." Her eyebrows furrowed and her gaze flickered to the floor before back up at him.
"You want.. to help me.. then why didn't you just say so?" She pointed at the Titan's behind the man on the screen. "Why use them to try to 'help' me? I don't understand."
The man looked away for a moment, considering. "The Titans do not.. think highly of me. As such they would have sent you away.. you see, my dear, they only care for themselves underneath all that heroism. They wouldn't want me to teach you how to control your powers."
"Why...?" She whispered in disbelief. They'd have.. held her back? Part of her wanted to think he was telling the truth. They HAD been keeping her away from the action, saying it was better for her to stay out of the picture for now.
"They don't trust you." He said almost softly. He studied her.
"..But.. I trust them.. surely they return the gesture.." She tried to reason, but he countered it.
"A misplaced sentiment, I'm afraid." She hugged herself as she heard him say this.
"No.. that can't be..." Her eyes were getting frantic now, flickering about to random objects for a split second each.
"It's true and we both know it.." He was right.. he was telling the truth. "They're scared of you.. and your powers."
They didn't trust her..
"I can teach you to control them, to harness them to their full potential."
She lowered her head, left hand rising to grip her face in her covered palm.
"Come to me.."
Her free hand lifted, joining the other to cup her face.
"I can help you.. the Titans cannot. They'll only continue to fear you and hide you away because you're too powerful for them to control and use.." He said in that smooth voice of his, his words tugging at both her mind and her heart, which was breaking.
"I.. I.." She tried to speak, but her words came out low and her voice broke.
"Join me. You have nothing to fear. I would never hurt you." He pushed her off the cliff. Her arms fell down to dangle at her side and she slowly lifted her head. When she looked at him he saw something that would shatter a normal person's heart; tears streaked down from her eyes in twin trails, misty forest orbs glazed over with fresh sorrow.
She whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "Help me control it.."
A smile was evident in his voice. "I will."