Part 66: Sparring with Hearts

Shadowcobra was in the sparring section of the training room. Today, his sparring partner was Starfire.

Shadowcobra was dressed in a purple version of his bodysuit with a golden cobra emblem. He also wore matching purple gloves and boots and this time he was without his usual cloak.

Shadow cracked his knuckles and gave Starfire a scrutinizing glance. He then gave her his usual prideful smirk. The Knight of Invisibility asked, "Are you ready, Star?" Starfire nodded.

"And friend, please do not use your neutralizing power against me like last time," she told him, flashing him her own smile of confidence.

"Can't promise anything, Star," Shadow went into a battle stance. "But I'll try…and don't hold back!"

Starfire's eyes glowed bright green, "I do not intend to, my friend." She went into the air and immediately began pelting him with starbolts.

"You never change, Star," he smiled before taking into the air as well. He powered up his shadow balls and began hurling them at Starfire. Both combatants were able to dodge their opponent projectile attacks. Of course, the Snake Knight had more than one trick up his sleeve. "Starfire," he chuckled, "Now you see me…" he hissed, vanishing, "Now you don't!"

Starfire looked around for her adopted brother. She felt a slight whoosh of air on her left and immediately swung out a fist. It hit nothing but air. She began looking around, confused, before she was slammed out of the air by a powerful force.

Shadowcobra reappeared and smirked, "Got to watch your back, Starfire," he said while retracting his leg.

"Who said I was not?" she sent out a starbolt right at him and he moved swiftly to the side avoiding the blast.

"You have to aim, Star," Shadow formed a shadow energy ball in his hand. "Like this!" he sent it to the ground, blinding Starfire with a flash of darkness. Shadow then went to finish Starfire off with a drop kick. However, Starfire was quick and caught his leg in her hands before hurling him…right into the wall. Starfire gasped and quickly flew towards him.

"Oh my goodness! Friend!" she kneeled beside him, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Star," he groaned, "You just dislocated my shoulder."

"I have dislocated your shoulder?" she gasped again. "Then you must be taken to the infirmary!"

Shadow shook his head, chuckling, "Silly Star. Have you forgotten that I have regenerative abilities?" he grunted slightly and moved his shoulder around, popping it in place. Starfire winched from the popping sound. Shadow checked his arm. "Well, now that that's taken care of," he went into a battle stance, "Shall we continue?" he summoned his cobra scepter and smirked. "Or are you scared?"

"Scared I am not, friend. You assume too much!" Starfire flew back up, followed by Shadow.

"Think fast!" Shadowcobra jabbed at Starfire with his scepter but she ducked and head butted him in the gut. She then followed up with a reverse roundhouse kick to the side of his head, but he blocked it with his scepter. He then pushed the leg away and punched Starfire in the chest. Starfire quickly recovered and fired her eyebeams.

"It seems that Robin and Draco have been teaching you some pretty new moves," Shadowcobra smirked and then summoned up his attack. NIGHTMARE SHADOW!" Shadowcobra shouted, changing himself into a swarm of shadow bats that flew all over the place, avoiding the emerald green energy beams. The bats then flew around Starfire, scaring her a bit. The bats then flew to the ground and rejoined together, reforming into Shadowcobra once again. He smirked arrogantly, "And I thought you said you weren't scared."

"You just startled me, friend," she told him, landing. She shivered and Shadowcobra noticed this.

"Starfire, if you want to stop we can. I'm sorry I scared you," he apologized.

"Do not apologize, Shadow. Draco has explained to me before that you fought by using fear and that your shadow powers were fueled by fear," she smiled at her. "Was that why you called yourself, Shadowcobra, friend?"

He smirked, "That was why I was called Shadow…This is why I was called…COBRA!" his body melted into a shadow pool and then a long black shape came out of it. It was a massive black king cobra and it hissed venomously at Starfire.

"Eek!" Starfire squeaked before she gulped. The cobra bent down so that it was looking eye to eye with Star.

"Scared now, Starfire?" Shadowcobra asked, flicking his tongue.

"Yes, very much," she admitted.

"Good." The cobra then dispersed into thousands of shadow snakes before joining together to reform Shadowcobra. He cracked his neck and messaged his joints. "Man it hurts to do that."

Starfire hugged her adopted brother, "You are truly a magnificent warrior."

"Thanks, Star," he blushed before he hugged her back. They let go and smiled at each other. "Do you wish to continue?"

Starfire nodded, "Of course."

"Aren't you tired yet?" he asked.

"Tamaranians have very strong endurance. We are, after all, a warrior race," she told him, confidently.

"Well I came from a family of magic users. Let's just see how warriors fair against wizards," he twirled his scepter around and went into a battle stance.

They began again.

Raven and Robin watched as the two adopted siblings sparred against each other.

"They're really getting much closer, aren't they?" Robin asked Raven.

"I guess," she shrugged.

"You're a bit jealous, aren't you?" Robin asked Raven.

"A little," she admitted. "You?"

"A little too."

"I mean, I know that Shadow loves Starfire like his own sister, but does he have to spend a lot of his time with her?" Raven questioned.

"What's wrong?" Robin asked.

"I feel like that Shadow's hiding something from me but I can't figure it out. I don't know why he can't just tell me," Raven explained.

"So he's keeping secrets from you?" Robin inquired. "Do you know what and why?"

"No," Raven shook her head. "He has really strong mental shields and even when I do get in, during our meditation sessions, some of his memories are locked so far and securely, I can't reach them."

"Maybe you should trust him," Robin told her. "He will tell you things when the time's right, remember?"

Raven sighed, "I guess."

The two watched as Shadowcobra and Starfire flew in the air, sparring. The two fliers sent out their own energy blasts and they exploded on impact. Robin and Raven had to shield their eyes from the black and green explosion. When they opened their eyes, the alien warrior princess and the shadow wielding snake Knight were standing on the ground, panting heavily.

The two birds immediately approached the two.

"Are you okay?" Raven asked, helping Shadowcobra to stand straight.

"Just a little exhausted," he smiled at her. "No problem."

"Starfire, are you alright?" Robin asked.

"I am uninjured, just tired," Starfire beamed. "How was I?" she asked him.

"You were great, Star," he smiled back at her, causing her to blush.

"Thank you, Robin." Starfire then leaned closer and kissed him on the lips. Robin responded after a few seconds to recover from the shock.

"So, who's up for lunch?" Shadowcobra said with grin. "I'll cook today!"

"Don't bother," Raven told him, "We'll be ordering pizza. The kitchen is currently…out of order."

"Pluto again, right?" Shadowcobra raised an eyebrow.

"You guessed it," she smiled. She then blushed when he kissed her on the lips quickly.

"Hm…you had orange flavored herbal tea," Shadowcobra licked his lips. "Nice choice. May I have some?"

Raven rolled her eyes. "C'mom, let's go."

"Your wish is my command, luv," he said following after her.

"Take a shower first," she commanded.

"Would you like to join me?" he asked, grinning lecherously. He was then flung across the room and made an imprint in the wall. "Guess not!" he gasped.

Raven blushed hotly as she shut her eyes with mild frustration. Shadowcobra knew how to push her buttons. She sighed calmly and levitated him out of the wall. She pulled him towards her, face to face. She smirked and said, "Maybe," before pressing her orange flavored lips to his once more in a passionate kiss.

To Be Continued…