"Cyborg's shutting down early tonight," I drone as I drift through the Tower hallways with Starfire. "He says that the intergalactic trip really took a lot out of him. I think it's just an excuse for him to dream about piloting that ship again."

"Y-Yes…," Starfire solemnly nods her head. Her eyes are fixed forward. "Perhaps."

"…….and….Beast Boy and Robin are actually sparring for once. Beast Boy thinks that he's getting better at his fighting techniques, so he was brave enough to challenge Robin. I suspect that I'll be needed in the infirmary this afternoon to aid a bruised, squirming elf."

"I hope Beast Boy will not be too damaged…," she breathily blurted.

"………..and……..and that's about it," I utter. I gaze down below our feet. "Nothing exciting this evening. Unless a bank robbery randomly happens."

"I will be ready for anything. But right now—like I previously stated—I am desiring to retire to my room."

I nod. "Rest is good, Starfire. I find sleeping to be like….a second life sometimes."

"Okay, I suppose that made no sense."

I know that Starfire is trying to smile. I can sense it, like a knife piercing through the thick walls of an iceberg. I feel guilty from the fleeting, metallic kiss of it….and then it's gone.

We reach Starfire's bedroom.

She presses a panel and opens the door.

Schwissh!

She pauses before the entrance to her pink domain.

"………" She turns towards me. Her eyes lifelessly calm. "Raven…."

"Yes, Starfire?"

"……..why have you insisted on escorting me to my room?"

"Friend, is there something you desire to tell me?"

I glance aside. A breath. I lower my hood and look somewhat truer than the second previous. "I have sensed a lot coming from you as we returned home. And…..there has been a lot of emotions surging inside of you, Starfire."

"Yes….," she nods and softly glances away. "That is true…."

"A great deal of those emotions…," I bite my lip. "….a-are ones I have not felt in you as long as we've known each other."

"There are things that happened recently that has never shown itself to the light of my friends' vision."

I nod. "I suppose. But….what I guess I'm trying to say is….," I look towards her and nervously…guiltily brush the stubborn strand of blue hair aside as I speak: "I felt those emotions only recently. And before that…I did not sense anything at all. And that is….that is pure ignorance on my part, Starfire. I never imagined myself capable of such blindness…"

She smiles weakly. Again, the painful, touch of a knife. "What good would it have done to witness such surging passions inside of me earlier, Raven?"

My violet eyes thin. "Because¸ Starfire, Val-Yor was hurting you. Val-Yor was hurting you the whole time and none of us were doing anything to protect you. I wasn't doing anything to protect you."

"Raven….to protect me from Val-Yor's hateful attitude is to attempt protecting me and all my people from the rest of the universe," Starfire says. She gently rests a hand on my shoulder, and I do not fight it. "My people are thusly regarded throughout most of the neighboring solar systems. But please do not think of it as a cruel fate. The Vegans are known for their intersocial friction. Tamaranians—I dare say—try to be the cheeriest, and sometimes it hurts."

"Sometimes or a lot of the times?"

"Please, Raven…," Starfire sighs. She lowers her eyes and holds her hands together as she gazes blindly towards the floor. "You need not anguish over me. I have experienced such treatment before. Only….n-not in the presence of you, my friends…."

Silence.

I shift in place and glance down too. I murmur: "People in Town call me 'Witch'."

Starfire looks up, her lips pursing. "Raven?"

"Just last week, it happened for the umpteenth time this year," I utter. "It was at the burning building. The very family I was hoisting out of their crumbling apartment was yelling at me. Calling me 'witch' and 'sorceress' and 'satan's child'. I think they were afraid of me. But sometimes—when we're all out going to pizza—I can hear it, Starfire. Across the tables. On the sidewalks. People call me names…."

"Oh no! Most assuredly terrible!" Starfire rushes over and hugs me. "Friend! Why did you not tell me of this before?"

I gently break our embrace and look up softly in her green eyes. I say: "Because I take it upon myself—as a Titan, a human, and a delegate from Azar—not to be angry and become that which they label me. And that means…ignoring what they say to the best of my ability. Because of that…I have never told you or the other Titans. I do not want it to be a bigger deal than it could be."

"It is a grand 'deal'," Starfire frowned. Her fists clenched and her green eyes burned in a rising intensity. "I shall protest! I shall entreat the Terran mayor of this City himself to intercede on your behalf! To be insulted by the very people you protect…."

"Starfire…."

"How preposterous!"

"Starfire!"

"…..….y-yes, Raven?"

I look at her, my head leaning to the side. "NOW do you know why I 'escorted' you to your room?"

"……………….," Starfire exhales and her body relaxes.

I smile ever so slightly. "When you hurt….and when you hurt all by yourself, it hurts me, Starfire. And that's not just speaking as an empath." I gulp. I whisperingly admit: "But a friend….."

"…………," Starfire stares at me in wonder. "Is this not the pretty young girl who keeps to herself, hides in her room, and refuses to do the 'hanging out' with friends?"

I fold my arms in a pout and glare at the walls. "Don't rub it in…."

But Starfire is smiling. And tears are gently running down her cheeks. "Oh Raven….," she engulfs me in a tender hug. I don't fight that either. "The reason why Val-Yor has not devastated me today is because I know…I know from such wonderful friends like you and the others, that I truly am worthwhile…."

I gently squeeze her shoulders and speak against her: "You are always worthwhile, Starfire. Don't ever doubt that…."

She lets out a shuddering breath and steps back. Hugging herself. Staring wetly at the floor. "……………."

I break the silence. "Were you wanting to sleep, now?"

"I…..I suppose…..," she bites her lip. "B-But……"

"Hmm?"

She looks up at me. A nervous smile. "Before I do……w-would you like to do the 'braiding maneuvers of the hair'? It is most…..assisting in comfortable slumber."

"………..," my lips curve. "For you, Stafire, anytime…."

"Heeee….I shall get the ribbons…."

"Dear Azar. Not the ribbons," I murmur.

"Huh?"

"Ahem…'ribbon' away, Star."

"Hehehe…..you are always best at tending to my hair, Raven. What is your secret?"

"No secret. You just have good hair," I shrug as I follow her into her room. "It must be a Tamaranian thing."

"Hehehe! Most assuredly!"

"There's one thing Val-Yor can't deny about your people. You have superior hair."

"What is there for Val-Yor to hypothesize? He is the bald!"

"Heheheh…."

"Hehehehe!"

Schwisssh!