Author's Notes: Sorry everyone for the late update! All my electronics decided to break at the same time and so I had to buy a new laptop and re-type the new chapters. I have also started school so I probably will only be able to post a new chapter once a week. As always, if any readers have any comments, questions, or concerns, please feel free to let me know in a review. Thanks again for waiting and reading! Enjoy! :)
Nightstar VS Sparrow Ch. 7
Nightstar POV:
"Ugh!" I sighed as I fell onto the couch between Stinger and Darkstar. I threw my head back over the top of the couch so that I was staring at the ceiling. "Is it too much to ask for a little normalcy during our parents visit?" I asked, but before I got an answer another portal appeared and within a second it was replaced with Changeling carrying his body weight in luggage, with Arella standing next to him. She had one hand on her father's arm and the other was squeezing a green stuffed bear. I've known Arella all her life and she has always has her stuffed bear (cleverly named Bear) with her. Even at age six, she still hasn't outgrown that thing. Upon their arrival, I quickly fixed my posture so that I looked professional. "Welcome back Changeling." I said politely. Changeling nodded his head and replied, "Thanks Mar'I, but you can call me Mr. Logan. No need for the alias when you're around family, right?"
"Of course… Mr. Logan." I agreed.
"So same rooms as normal?" Mr. Logan asked.
"Yep! Do you remember where they are?" I questioned. He answered with a nod and made his way over to the elevator with Arella following close behind. Before Mr. Logan entered the elevator he turned his head the best he could while holding four full-sized luggage bags. "Not you little-bird. Stay here with your brother and his friends. I'll be back in just a minute." He told Arella.
"But Daddy! Mark isn't here!" Wined Arella. Mr. Logan scanned the room for the boy in question, and for the first time since his arrival notice the lack of Logan's in the Main room.
"Hey, where's my family?" Mr. Logan questioned.
"I'm not sure where Sparrow is, but Raven, or um, Miss Logan is in Crow's room and I suspect that's where Crow is as well." I answered.
"Um… ok then. Arella, why don't you go find Mark?" Mr. Logan suggested.
"Ok Daddy." Arella agreed and made her way out the regular door that led to our bedrooms. With a sigh of relief Mr. Logan exited through the elevator and just like that Stinger, Darkstar, and I were once again left by ourselves.
"Buzz," my communicator went off in my belt. When I checked it I saw that it was an alert that someone was at the front door. "Now who could that be?" I thought sarcastically. I got off the couch and over to the elevator, where I waited for its return. When it opened up empty I started my descent to the ground floor.
"Hey everyone!" I welcomed. In front of me stood the famous Bumblebee, Cyborg, Starfire, and the most famous of all, Nightwing. Only Nightwing changed significantly since his teen years, with a complete costume change and a new hair style to match. Everyone else just seemed to be a bit taller than their teen selves that I've seen in pictures. Starfire, otherwise known as my mother, instantly embraced me in one of her famous tamerian style hugs. "Oh the hey to you to my little Bumgorf! I have missed you and your brother very much!"
"I've missed you too Mom." I choked out.
"Kori let her breath." Nightwing said. Mom released me and I breathed in a big gulp of air to fill my lungs.
"I am sorry, daughter Mar'I! I am only the excited about our visit!" Mom explained.
"It's ok Mom. I'm fine and I'm excited to see you again too." I lied. As much as I loved my mom and the other Titans, I still enjoy my independence whenever they aren't around. I can handle having most any of them around for a short while. The only exception would be my dad, Nightwing.
"Well you going to let us in kid-o, or are we just gonna be standing here collecting dust?" Questioned Cyborg."
"Sorry, Cyborg. Please come in." I said as I stepped back and gestured them in. Cyborg laughed as they all made their way inside the tower. We all crossed the garage and entered the elevator. Cyborg of course helped avoid any awkward silence. "How many times do I have to tell ya kid, inside the tower you call me Uncle Vic?" He scolded me, but in a playful tone. I smiled and replied, "Well you weren't in the tower yet, so I couldn't call you Uncle Vic yet." Since I was born, Cyborg has insisted that I call him and his wife Karen aka Bumblebee, Uncle Vic and Aunt Karen. Same rules applying to Darkstar, Crow, Sparrow, and Arella. Which in a way makes Stinger our cousin, which everyone is fine with.
"She's got ya there Sparky!" Aunt Karen teased. Uncle Vic rolled his eyes and replied, "Well I can't wait to see if this girls' gaming is as good as her wit!" He then shot me a wink which I returned with an eye roll. Finally the elevator doors opened revealing the Main room. Darkstar and Stinger were still on the couch, chatting about something. When they heard the elevator door open they looked our way. Darkstar had a casual smile while Stinger wore an excited grin.
"Mom! Dad! You're here!" Stinger shouted while leaping off the couch to greet her parents with a group hug.
"Oh, it's so good to see you again! How's are little bug doing?" Aunt Karen asked her daughter while they continued with their family embrace.
"I'm good! How 'bout you guys?" Stinger asked.
"We've been good! Even better now that we're with our favorite daughter!" Uncle Vic teased. They released from their hug and Stinger was now standing in front of them. Stinger put her left hand on her hip and replaced her grin with a smug look.
"I better be your favorite!" Stinger retorted. Her response earned her a loud laugh from her parents. While Stinger was having her family reunion behind the couch, my parents and I joined Darkstar in front of the couch. Darkstar stood up and shared in an equally bone-crushing hug with our mother, before turning to our father to share a friendly handshake.
"Well I better go back down and get our stuff. I'm assuming same rooms as always?" My dad announced.
"Yes Sir." I answered back. With that my dad was gone, leaving all of us behind.
"Oh my little bumgorf's! I have the presents for each of you!" Mom said as she reached into her large, pink-bejeweled purse. She pulled out two small packages wrapped in red and green wrapping paper. You would think they were for Christmas. Each package had a name tag with our names on them respectively. Mom handed them to us and with caution we opened up the presents. I say with caution because normally our mom will bring us the most random and sometimes bizarre gifts that she thinks is "treasure to behold." An example would be the time she gave us actual penguin eggs from her and dad's mission in Antarctica. Apparently, she found them and stuck them in her purse saying that they "looked like fancy rocks." Dad was really mad about the whole thing when he found out. I guess it's illegal to smuggle Artic penguin eggs. He went on and on about this bring bad publicity to the Titans and that "every person from PETA to the ASPCA will be tearing us apart." Then Mom of course thought he meant they would literally tear us apart. Let's just say the whole thing was a big mess and ever since then Mom's "gifts" have to be pre-approved by our father.
As we open our present I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. In my hand laid a beautiful gold necklace with a golden star hanging from the chain. On the back of the star was an engraved M. I looked over to see what Darkstar had and he too had a piece of jewelry. Had a silver men's bracelet with a silver star to match. His star also had the first letter of his name engraved on the back.
"Mom, these are… beautiful!" I exclaimed.
"Of course! Just as you are my dear daughter!" Mom said causing me to blush in embarrassment. I'm not used to those kind of compliments and so it felt strange to hear, even from my mother.
"Cool! Thanks Mom!" Darkstar thanked our mother.
"You are most welcome my son!" Mom replied.
Just then the main door opened and Miss Logan followed by Sparrow joined us in the main room. I gulped when I saw Sparrow, but she just ignored me, instead choosing to stare at everyone else, but me. Our mothers exchanged hellos and my mother forced a hug on both Miss Logan and then Sparrow. After which they both retreated and went over to the other side of the room to talk to Uncle Vic, Aunt Karen and Stinger. Then the elevator doors opened up to reveal my father and Sparrow's father. They stood side by side, so you could see just how evenly matched these two looked when comparing physical strength. Right now though, they both seemed ticked off. The room went silent due to everyone clearly noticing the tension coming from the men exiting the elevator. I didn't need to be an empath to know that those two obviously were arguing just moments before. "Just great!" I thought to myself. "More rage-induced meta-humans to deal with!"