Part 2: Prelude to a Date
It was the very next morning as Pluto walked into the Tower living room only to find Cyborg and Beast Boy playing video games. In his hands were several jackets.
"Hey guys!" he shouted to get their attention. However, the two were too engrossed in their video gaming that they blatantly ignored their friend. Pluto narrowed his eyes and then shouted again, "Guys! Yoohoo!" still, he was ignored. His eyes narrowed into small narrow slits of annoyance and frustration. He then walked up in front of the TV and slammed his fist onto the off button.
"HEY!" Beast Boy and Cyborg shouted.
"Good, now that I've got your attention, I have a favor to ask of you," he then held up two jackets and a couple of shirts, "Which do you think would look good on me?" he pressed one set against him, "The blue denim jacket with the black shirt?" he then pressed another set against himself, "Or the black leather jacket with the blue shirt?"
The bionic and shape shifter stared at him with knitted eyebrows and narrowed eyes.
"You mean…" Cyborg began.
"That you interrupted our game…" Beast Boy added.
"TO ASK FOR FASHION ADVICE!?" Both BB and Cy shouted in unison as their heads blew up to 10 times their usual sizes. Pluto's hair flapped in the wind.
"Yes!" Pluto grinned innocently.
Cyborg threw the controller onto the floor and rested his head in his hand while propping his shoulder on his knee, "Okay, what is this about?"
"I have a date tonight!" Pluto said excitedly.
Beast Boy threw his controller onto the floor and yawned, "Who's the girl this time?"
"It's Blackfire!" Pluto grinned widely.
It took exactly 5 seconds for the information to sink in.
"WHAT!?" Cyborg and Beast Boy shouted.
"Are you crazy!?" Cyborg exclaimed.
"That's suicide, dude!" Beast Boy screamed, flailing his arms around.
"What's with all this racket?" Shadowcobra walked into the living room and yawned. He was wearing a black bodysuit but without his gloves or his usual insignia.
Beast Boy answered, "Plutes got a date with Blackfire." He squeaked, "Tonight."
Shadowcobra raised his eyebrow, "Just when I think you couldn't be any dumber." He sighed, "You do know what she's capable of, right?" he went into the kitchen to fix himself a cup of herbal tea as well as one for Raven, "But it's your funeral, my friend."
Pluto then asked his friends, "So, what do you think I should wear?"
Cyborg suggested, "Your dental records so the police can identify your body, or what's left of it."
Pluto stomped his feet, "C'mon! You guys! I'm serious!"
Shadowcobra quipped, carrying a pot of tea and two cups, "Since when were you ever serious? You're acting more desperate rather than serious."
Pluto ignored Shadow's comment and continued to plead.
"Dude," Beast Boy paused, "You do know that you're risking your life just to go on a date with a girl that can fly, fire eyebeams, fling energy balls and has super strength, plus, has a very bad temper to boot!?"
"But, guys," Pluto was still not giving up, "I really like Blackfire. I already made reservations."
"Is it too late to cancel?" Cyborg remarked.
"Maybe we should make reservations for a spot in the local cemetery. I'll be glad to make funeral arrangements," Shadowcobra smirked.
"Dude!" Beast Boy laughed, slapping his knee, "That was funny!"
Pluto frowned and glowered at his (so called) friends, "Fine!" he began to stomp off and then shouted over his shoulder, "I'll do this myself!"
Shadowcobra looked at Cy and BB, "Five will get you ten that he's going to ask Starfire for advice."
The two nodded.
"Lookin' good!" Pluto grinned. He had switched his uniform for a pair of blue denim jeans, leather cowboy boots, a blue shirt and a black leather jacket. He ran the comb through his hair one last time before spraying some more hair spray and cologne on himself. He then removed his mask to reveal his blue eyes. He winked at his own reflection and did a double pointing gesture, "Who's the top dog? The Alpha wolf? The leader of the pack?" he pointed to himself, "Me! Aroooooooo!" he howled.
Draco walked into his room, startling Pluto, now Takada.
"Leo!" Takada said to him, "You scared me!"
"Well, you scared Jinx!" Draco pointed out. "And why are you all dressed up all of a sudden?"
"I've got a date!" Takada said proudly.
"With who?"
Takada was deflated by Draco's lack of reaction before he regathered his posture and answered confidently, "With Star's sister, Blackfire!"
Draco smiled and laughed, "Dead man walking!" before walking out, laughing.
"Hmph!" Takada huffed before grooming himself one more time. "Okay, now for something to give her before our date, tonight!"
Blackfire was in Starfire's room with her sister as she flipped through a fashion magazine. She held it up in front of her and stuck her tongue out in disgust, "Yuck! Do Earth women really dress this way?"
"I am afraid so, sister," Starfire sighed, "It appears to be the most popular of Earth fashion nowadays."
"Looks like crap to me!" Blackfire threw the magazine onto the floor and flipped herself onto her back.
"The fashion in here is nothing compared to what I, friend Raven, friend Terra, friend Sarah and friend Jinx wore in that fashion show," Starfire commented, looking at the magazine.
"You were in a fashion show?" Blackfire asked skeptically. Starfire nodded, "Okay…" It was silent for a few seconds before Blackfire asked, "Hey Kori?"
"Yes, dear sister?" Starfire responded sweetly. How could Starfire be this cheerful in the morning was a mystery all to itself.
Blackfire sighed, "Have you, I don't know, gone on a date before?" she asked.
"Yes, I have!" Starfire squealed, blushing, "With dear Robin!"
Blackfire perked up and rolled over onto her stomach, propping her chin up in her hands, "The Boy Wonder? Do tell!" she grinned like a Cheshire cat.
"Well," Starfire smiled, remembering her and Robin's first date, "It was about 5 months ago and during the time we were on a very important mission. After that, Robin and I confessed our true feelings to one another and then…" she paused, blushing hard.
"Yes…" Blackfire prodded, grinning.
"Oh, it is so embarrassing!" Starfire covered her flushed cheeks.
"Come on, Starfire. Do tell your big sister!"
"We kissed," Starfire answered simply.
Blackfire blinked, "And…?" she raised an eyebrow.
"And what?" Starfire blinked in confusion.
"You know…" Blackfire wiggled her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
"No," Starfire shook her head, "I am afraid I do not."
Blackfire face fell into the mattress before she sat up and said, "You know…did you and Boy Wonder have Se-" she was interrupted by a door being knocked, Starfire's door to be exact.
"Who is it?" Starfire asked sweetly.
"It's Pluto," he said from behind the door, "I want to speak to Blackfire."
"You may enter," Starfire called out.
The door slid open and Pluto, or rather, Yoshiyuki Takada, walked in. Blackfire's jaw dropped and she hid her blushing face behind a magazine. Why the hell was she so nervous all of a sudden?
"Hey, Star," Takada greeted, "Morning."
"Good morning, friend!" Starfire hugged him. She then skipped out of her room, leaving only Blackfire and Takada in there, alone.
"So…Blackfire," Pluto began.
"Yeah?" Blackfire peaked from behind her magazine.
"About that date tonight?" Pluto added.
"Uh huh," she nodded.
"Well…" he produced a bouquet of flowers from behind him and presented them to Blackfire. They were all red roses, "These are for you." He said in a suave voice and smiled. His teeth gleamed and Blackfire found herself lost in his eyes.
Blackfire blushed and took the flowers. She took a whiff and sighed in contentment, "Mmm…"
"So…8 pm, right?" Takada clarified.
Blackfire nodded and smiled at him. She then got off the bed and planted a kiss to his cheek. Takada's eyes popped out of his skull as his face turned from normal, to pink, to red and finally maroon. Steam radiated from him ears as he struggled not to hyperventilate.
"Pluto?" she blinked, acting coy, "You seem to have trouble breathing."
"I'm (gasp) fine (pant)!" Takada answered, his tongue hanging from his mouth.
"Let me give you…" she licked her lips and said in a seductive voice, "Mouth to mouth." She grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and pulled him to her, crushing her lips to his. To say Takada was in bliss was a sad understatement. He was in cloud nine, maybe even ten!
Blackfire pulled away and giggled as Takada was waving around in his stance like he was a drunken sailor. He was then shocked out of his stupor by a familiar, and angry, voice.
"WHO PICKED MY ROSES!?" Shadowcobra shouted angrily.
"I'll pick you up later," Takada gulped. He then leaned down to give her a short kiss before high tailing out of the room to hide in his own room. Blackfire just looked at his retreating form before sniffing the roses again.
"See you later," she purred like a lioness.
Starfire was skipping through the hallways and as she passed a door with a dog logo on it, she, suddenly, heard a strange sound.
"Psst…"
She looked around in confusion.
"Psst…Starfire." Pluto's door suddenly slid open as a pair of black gloved hands burst out and grabbed the girl by the shoulders and pulled her in.
Starfire was about to scream when Pluto placed his hand onto her mouth and placed a finger to his lips, making a "shh" sound, "Starfire, it's me!"
"Friend Pluto?" Starfire stared at him in confusion, "Why have you brought me into your room?
Pluto's room was an almost perfect copy of Cyborg's except with blue paint on the walls and some blue drapes over the window. His bed looked like a large sports car with a mattress in it. On his walls were schematics and plans for future inventions as well as posters of swimsuit models. In one corner were Pluto's hi-tech equipment and his computer. There were clothes strewn all over the floor.
"Star!" he placed his hands on her shoulder, "I need your help!"
Starfire beamed, ignoring Pluto's hysteric outburst, "I am glad to be helping you, friend."
"It's about your big sis, Blackfire," he told her.
"What is it you wish that concerns her?" Starfire asked.
"I need to know about her! What she likes! What she doesn't like! Her favorite food! Her favorite color! Her favorite music! Everything!" he got down on his knees and clasped his hands together, whimpering, "Please Star!" he begged, "I need to know!"
Starfire was surprised by Pluto's sudden hysterical display, but chose not to say a word about it, "Why do you wish to know all that?"
"Well Star," Pluto began as he paced back and forth in front of her, "I have a date with your sister and-"
"You do!?" Starfire squealed happily, pulling him into a suffocating bear hug. "Oh that is MARVELOUS!"
"Starfire! Need air! Please!" His face was beginning to turn blue. Starfire let go. "So can you help?" Pluto asked hopefully.
"I am sorry," Starfire told him sadly, "I do not know much of my sister over the years as we have been very distant whilst growing up."
Pluto sighed and said, "Hey, don't have to worry, Star. I'll figure a way out." He thought, gulping mentally, I hope. He imagined a loud "SMACK!" and mental image of himself being flung across the room with a large red hand print playing in his mind. He shuddered before returning to his happy self.
"If it helps," Starfire said to him, "My sister enjoys parties. The louder the better."
Pluto then perked up. He had heard there was a rave downtown in an abandoned warehouse. He rubbed his chin, "That just might work. Thanks Star."
"I am glad to be of service, friend," she beamed at him.
To Be Continued…