Part 65: Val Yor Returns
Shadowcobra yawned as he made his way to the living room. He was wearing a different cloak. It was purple, the exact color of his armor. On his arms and legs were matching gloves and boots, also purple. His bodysuit was the same black one with the golden cobra symbol decorating the chest.
Upon entering, he was presented with a sight one would never see on a normal day.
Then again, there was nothing normal about being a teenage superhero.
Starfire and Robin were both in midair and were making out. He raised an eyebrow at this. Starfire was holding onto Robin in her arms while she leaned over him in a passionate kiss. Robin held onto her just as passionately and returned the kiss. Shadowcobra watched this for a few seconds before coughing to gain their attention. Starfire's eyes widened and her head shot up to see Shadowcobra grinning and waving at her.
"Eep!" Starfire squeaked. In her surprise, she lost her grip on Robin and he fell on the cold hard floor with a thud.
"Ow…" Robin said, still in a daze. There were several red lipstick marks on his face as well as on his lips. Shadowcobra shook his head, chuckling, amused by the scene. He slowly levitated off the ground, meeting Starfire face to face in midair.
"Enjoy yourselves?" he asked, smirking. Of course you did.
Starfire blushed and nodded. Her eyes darted to Robin's prone form on the floor. She tried to change the subject, "Should we not help Robin?"
Shadowcobra chuckled, "He'll be fine." He then noticed Starfire looking at him. "What?"
"Your clothes…" she hovered around him, admiring his choice of clothing. "This is the first time I have ever seen you with a purple cloak."
"This thing? I've had it for awhile. Today, I guess I wanted to wear it. Besides, it does match my armor, does it not?"
Starfire nodded and smiled. She then collected the snake Knight in a hug. "A joyous morning to you my friend!" she said, happily.
Not as much as yours Starfire, he smiled knowingly before hugging her back. "Good morning to you too, Starfire." They let go of each other and landed back on the floor. Starfire helped Robin onto the sofa, laying him down on the furniture. There was a bruise forming on his head. She looked upon the small injury, worriedly.
"Let me…" Shadowcobra offered, placing his purple gloved hand onto the bruise. A white light slowly emitted from his hand, covering the bruise. The bruise disappeared as Shadowcobra withdrew his arm. "There."
"Thank you, friend," she said smiling.
Shadowcobra shrugged, "It was nothing." Suddenly there was an alert on the TV/Computer monitor. Shadowcobra immediately took his place in one of the stations and checked. Starfire looked over his shoulder.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It says that an alien spacecraft just landed…on the Tower roof," he read the data. He turned to Starfire. "Wake up, Robin. I'll go get the others."
"Alright."
Shadowcobra walked towards the alarm button and after reading the signs that said, 'Only for emergencies' and 'This means you, Beast Boy!' he slammed his fist onto the button and yelled into the intercom, "Emergency Titans meeting! There is an unknown spacecraft on the roof!" he shut off the intercom and waited for the others to arrive.
The Titans all ran into the living room before making their way to the roof. There was a spacecraft on the helipad and someone leapt out of the cockpit. He was a muscular man who was obviously alien with his colors mainly being black and silver. Non of the newer Titans recognized him but a certain five did.
"Val Yor…" Robin growled
"Friend of yours?" Pluto whispered.
"Not exactly," Cyborg informed him.
"It has been a long time, Titans," Val Yor greeted, trying to be nice.
Robin narrowed his eyes and so did the rest of the Titans. Robin answered, "Not long enough."
Shadowcobra felt the Titans animosity against this individual. It was mostly anger, but at what? The only ones who weren't radiating such emotions were the Knights, Jinx and Starfire.
"Greetings, Val Yor…" Starfire greeted, albeit a bit hesitant.
"Greetings to you too…Koriand'r…" Val-Yor greeted formally, using Starfire's real name. Shadowcobra felt something from Val Yor. Racism? Or was it hatred? Val Yor looked and counted. "I see you've had additions."
"Enough to kick your butt," Beast Boy muttered.
"Ditto…" Cyborg agreed, silently.
"Looks like this guy tweaked the guys a bit," Draco whispered to Terra.
"It's a long story," Terra answered.
"What do you want, Val Yor?" Robin asked, stepping forward.
"Like before, I need your help, Titans," he answered.
"What makes you think we'll give it?" Raven asked, eyes glowing a dim white, her voice edged with anger.
"Raven…" Jinx looked at them wide eyed. Since when had the Titans refused to help anyone? Something must be up with this guy.
"Like Raven said, what makes you think we'll help?" Robin repeated the question.
"If this is about how I treated Koriand'r before on my last visit, I apologized-"
"No you didn't!" Robin shouted, surprising the Knights and Jinx. "All you said was that Star was an exception of her race. You called her a Troq!"
Shadowcobra's eyes widened and then narrowed. Draco noticed this. "Ichijyo…Shadow, what's wrong?"
"Bastard…" Shadowcobra hissed.
Draco backed away from his seething friend and whispered to Pluto, "Now Shadow's tweaked. What does 'Troq' mean?" Pluto shrugged.
Val-Yor sighed, "I know my behavior was unforgivable, but I really am sorry for how I treated her."
Shadowcobra raised his eyebrow and then slowly advanced on Val Yor. His purple cloak blew behind him, giving him a more regal look. He hissed, "No you aren't! You just said she was an exception to her race! To you, Tamaranians will always be nothing more but TROQS!"
Starfire flinched at the term and shut her eyes and ears.
"Look, I do not know who you are but-" Val Yor suddenly stopped cold as he got a good look at Shadowcobra. His eyes burned with rage and hatred. "YOU!" he fired his red eyebeams right into Shadowcobra, sending him flying back. The Titans immediately went into action.
"TITANS GO!" Robin shouted, angrily. Cyborg immediately ran behind Val-Yor and held him back. Starfire also helped as was Raven who used her magic and Beast Boy who had turned into a gorilla. All 4 super powered Titans held the alien hero back.
"That was uncalled for," Draco growled.
"I agree," nodded Terra.
"What is your problem?" barked Pluto.
Jinx hissed and powered up her pink energy, ready to blast the guy with 7 years of bad luck.
All Val Yor shouted was, "DEATHTRON SCUM!" Starfire stiffened.
"Deathtron?" almost everyone questioned, confused.
Starfire looked at Val Yor and asked, "Pardon?"
"That boy! That monster! He is a Deathtron! I know that face anywhere! He decimated a whole army on my home planet over 40 years ago! He is a bloodthirsty beast!" Val Yor shouted, accusingly.
The Titans looked back and forth between Val Yor and the snake Knight. 40 years? That would mean a mistaken identity or Shadowcobra was far older than he looked.
Shadowcobra stood up and glared at Val Yor. He answered, "Wrong. That wasn't me. That…was my father."
As soon as everyone heard this, they stiffened and let go of Val Yor. Starfire was the first to ask, shaking with fear, "Your…your father…friend?"
Shadowcobra pulled up his collar, hiding his face and emotions. One of his family's secrets had been revealed and he turned away from Starfire's frightened and confused face. He phased through the floor.
Shadowcobra lay in bed. Everyone probably hated him now, especially Starfire and Raven, Starfire the most. His father had told him of the Deathtron's invasion on Tamaran and how they captured a few for their genetic experiments, mutating them into monsters to do their bidding. His father was not proud of his involvement and still regretted it to this day. He covered himself with a blanket and let out a single tear. He heard the door slide open behind him.
"I know what you are going to say Raven and I don't want to talk about it," he answered without turning around.
"It is not Raven, friend," answered the owner. It was Starfire. Shadowcobra shut his eyes tight. He couldn't handle either of them, especially Starfire.
"Starfire?"
She walked towards his bed and sat on the edge. He scooted away timidly. She asked, "Why have you not told us of your father, friend?"
He shut his eyes, but the tears fell. "Because…because I didn't want to be judged by the sins of my father."
Starfire laid a tender hand on Shadowcobra's head. He shuddered at the touch.
"We do not hate you," she said. It calmed him down a bit but not by much. "And Val Yor is wrong." She added.
"Starfire?"
"You are cold and mostly mean, but you are kind at heart and hold a gentle tenderness in your eyes. I do not sense a trace of malice in them. Even if your father was a Deathtron that does not mean that you are evil."
"Starfire, what do you know of the Deathtrons?" he asked.
Starfire answered, sadly. "The history chronicles of my planet tell of an army of many creatures that invaded my planet. They took few of our numbers and experimented on us to see how our powers worked and such. Horrible experiments were performed upon the less fortunate." She held herself, shivering. "I still shake at night after hearing of those dreaded Deathtron and what they had done."
"Starfire," he sat up and looked her in the eyes. "About my father being a Deathtron, I not only share his knowledge but also his…" he gritted his teeth and answered, "His memories."
Starfire gasped, "Do you mean…?"
"I remember them as clear as day. The invasions, the genocides, the experiments, everything," Shadowcobra looked her in the eyes. "The voices haunt me, especially the Tamaranian screams."
"Friend…"
"Starfire, your race did not develop the ability to absorb solar energy and shoot it out as Starbolts on their own, the Deathtrons had a hand in it. They worked with the Psions. The many Tamaranians they captured had their DNA manipulated, enabling them to store more and more solar energy until that power evolved in them. I guess that was how they escaped. That was how the power was adapted into your race since then. Your powers came from those in the experiment."
"Friend, I do not understand. If it is true that you have your father's memories that means," she gasped in realization, "No."
"Yes, my father was involved in the capture and experimentation of Tamaranians over 600 years ago. I am sorry." He concealed himself under his blanket and lay back in bed. "Please leave."
But she didn't. The mattress shifted and he felt a pair of warm and strong arms encircled his form. It was Starfire and she was crying. Why?
"Friend, I sympathize with you," she said, still holding him.
"Why? After what my father did to your people, why don't you hate me? Val Yor's obviously telling the other Titans about what my father did. To him, I am no different," he told her with self hatred.
"Val Yor's opinion does not matter friend and we will and do not hate you. Like I said, you are nothing like how Val Yor describes your father."
Shadowcobra let out a small sigh and smiled. "That's not really true, Starfire. You see, my father later rebelled against his master. He had been manipulated and controlled for as long as he remembered since day one. He was able to break away because of his love for my mother. He also saved the Universe."
"Your father became a hero, my friend?" she smiled. "Maybe Deathtrons are not so bad."
"Yeah…maybe."
Starfire let him go so he was able to sit up and hug her. He senses her emotions. There was no anger and hatred at all. With a smile he slung his arms around her, collecting her in an embrace. She hugged him back as he murmured, "Thank you…thank you…"
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Raven said from the door. He and Starfire immediately let go of each other out of surprise and blushed. Raven smiled. She knew nothing inappropriate was going on. She levitated to the two of us and sat on the bed.
"What about Val Yor?" Shadowcobra asked.
"He won't be making anymore visits any time soon," Raven commented, smiling.
"You have told him off?" Starfire gasped, "But he said he needed our help."
Raven waved it off, "We told him to go to the Justice League. Trust me, after the others defended you, he was more than happy to go."
"You, defended me?" Shadowcobra asked, puzzled and surprised.
"No one should be judged by the sins of their fathers. Isn't that what you told me?" Raven reminded me. "That is one thing we both have in common."
Shadowcobra looked away sheepishly. Starfire decided to leave the two alone. "I shall help the others in the cleaning up."
"So…what did the two of you talk about?" Raven asked, interest peaking.
"Nothing…" Shadowcobra looked away. "Just brother and sister stuff. Nothing more."
"Really?"
"Okay, it was about my father's past with the Deathtrons!" he admitted.
"It's surprising really, the way Val Yor described your father, it's a miracle you're the way you are," she commented. "But then again, one's family lineage doesn't determine who you are or your destiny."
"My father is a reformed Deathtron, Raven. He no longer kills without reason. He did so after meeting my mother. She helped him develop emotions and well, the rest is history," he told her.
"I see."
"Raven, do you know about the Deathtrons?" Shadowcobra asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"A little bit. Of course, that was a long time ago and the Azerathians were able to drive them off with their magic. The Deathtrons may have had power and advanced technology, but they were still no match for ancient Azerathian magic. Of course, it was not easy and thousands of people, from both sides, were slaughtered."
Shadowcobra flinched at the term "Slaughtered". "Raven, what if I told you that I have all my father's memories up until I was born?"
"Doesn't matter," she answered. "You're still you and you do try to block those memories out. They gave you nightmares?" he nodded. "How bad?"
"Really bad and I don't think I want to talk about it. I'll just say that almost every night I woke up screaming after a terrible walk down memory lane," he answered her. "Now, why didn't you want to help Val Yor? It doesn't seem to be your style."
"After the way he treated Starfire, and now you, it just doesn't seem that he deserved our help. Did you know what he called you when you were here? We practically had to restrain Pluto and Draco from Final Venting his ass to Kingdom Come."
Shadowcobra processes this, "Pluto?" He was puzzled. Draco he could understand, but the mutt? He added, "Why?"
"He's your friend," Raven answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You two may fight a lot but you do still care for each other, even if you don't want to admit it."
"That's true. So, do the others see me differently?" Shadowcobra asked, a bit concerned.
Raven placed a reassuring hand to Shadowcobra's shoulder and smiled, "It's going to take a bit to absorb this, but everyone still likes you."
"I'd rather not be liked, at least too much."
"Is this about Pluto, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Draco dragging you to the Video Arcade that time?" Raven asked. "Or was it the time you took Starfire shopping at the mall?"
"What else?"
Raven sighed and placed her forehead on his. "We do not hate you. What your father did in the past has nothing to do with you. His blood may flow through your veins and his memories may be in your mind, but you are you, not him, and no one else can change that. Understand?" she said the last part sternly.
"I understand," he nodded. Shadowcobra smiled at her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her down on top of him onto the bed before rolling them over so that he was on top. Raven showed very little resistance. "Well then," he smirked lecherously, "Now that we have some free time, how about a snogging session?"
Raven rolled her eyes. "Is that the only thing you think about? Making out with me?"
Shadowcobra nuzzled her neck, "Oh, I do not think of only making out, my dearest little blackbird." He cupped her right breast with his left hand, causing her to gasp and moan. "Not by a long shot…" he added, hissing. He then claimed her lips with his, kissing her passionately and possessively. His hands ran up and down the curves of her body as Raven's hands ran through his long blue hair as she kissed him back.
Later that night, Shadowcobra had gone up to the Tower roof and sat down. He looked up and stared at the stars of the summer's night. He sighed contently and smiled.
"Never thought to see you here," Raven commented, coming up to the roof.
"What brings you here Raven?" he asked over his shoulder.
"Just came for the fresh air," she replied.
"And not because of me?" he smirked.
"Don't kid yourself. The world does not revolve around you," she retorted.
"I beg to differ, judging by our snogging session," he said, still smirking. Raven blushed and then walked towards him and sat down next to him.
"Still thinking about what Val Yor said?" she asked.
He shook his head, "No, not any more. His opinions are not important."
Raven sighed, relived, "That's good. I thought you were going to sulk again after I left you in your bedroom."
"I don't sulk."
"But you do cry," she stifled back a giggle.
He sighed and continued to look at the stars. "They are beautiful, yes?"
Raven looked up as well, "I guess. Unfortunately, people no longer appreciate the simple pleasures in life."
"Speaking of pleasures…"
Raven raised up her hand and glared, "Don't even start. You're already perverted as it is."
"Oh, so I'm perverted am I?" he challenged, mockingly. "You didn't seem to be complaining before." Before Raven could respond, he tackled her to the ground and claimed her lips with his, snaking his tongue between her lips. Raven closed her eyes, enjoying his kiss, before deciding to struggle against him and pretty soon rolled them over so that she was on top of him. She straddled his hips and broke the kiss. Shadowcobra had a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Does the little blackbird want to play?"
Raven rolled her eyes and got off him. He then stood up. She said, while fixing her cloak, "We were talking about the stars, weren't we?"
"Well, there's one star I can say is truly beautiful," he replied.
Raven rolled her eyes, "Don't you ever stop being flirtatious?"
"Not really, no," he answered without missing a beat.
Raven groaned, "I had to fall in love with a Vampangel, didn't I?"
"I don't remember ever giving you a choice, Raven."
"You were persistent."
"It paid off." He wrapped his cloak around her and nuzzled her hair. "You smell like lavender…"
Raven sighed and leaned against him, "So why were you looking at the stars?"
"I was…" he kissed her forehead, "Thinking."
"About what?" she asked
"Something my father told me…about what happens to Vampires after they die."
Death? Why was he talking about that right now? Did it hold any significance to why he was looking at the stars? This was what Raven wondered.
"My father told me that, when a Vampire has lived a good life and passes on, his soul goes to Paradise," he explained.
"Paradise? Like Heaven?"
"Not exactly. He only told me that a star in the sky could be a Vampire's soul, burning bright, finally able to touch and embrace the light."
"So…what is a good Vampire's life?"
"The total opposite of evil Vampires. Generally, don't kill to feed and only kill when there is no other choice."
"I see…"
Shadowcobra looked at Raven and licked his fangs. Raven noticed this. "You're hungry again, aren't you?" he nodded.
"But not just for your blood, my love," he said, running his hands up and down her perfect figure. She got the message.
"Not tonight," she said.
"No fair…" he pouted.
"Okay, we can compromise. You can feed on my blood but no sex tonight."
He grinned, "But if I drain you, how will you stop me?"
"Do you want to be sent to another dimension?" she threatened.
He sighed, "I understand." He groaned, "I had to fall in love with an independent and beautiful sorceress, didn't I?"
It was Raven's turn to smirk, "I thought that was one of my qualities you liked." She grabbed him by the face and pulled him down, pressing their lips together. Their shadowy silhouettes became one under the light of the moon.
To Be Continued…
Chromedragozoid: The Deathtrons may appear in the future but not just yet. And this story is a fluff. It moves on Shadowcobra and Starfire's brother and sister relationship and some fluff with Raven.