Starfire stumbled out of the T-Plane. She rubbed her bright green, 'human' eyes, groggy with sleep, and almost pulled out her contacts.
Such human trivialities, all in the universal goal to end such morbid human practises. Perhaps, if Earth was as open, free-feeling, and honest as Tamaran, maybe it would…
A voice cut through her thoughts.
"You okay, Star?" Robin asked worriedly, placing his hand on her pink clad shoulder.
"I am all the fine, friend Robin. Do not do the worrying of me." She smiled dazzlingly back.
"Oh…y-yeah…sure…" Robin stammered back nervously.
Starfire giggled.
Everyone packed themselves into a minivan, which was actually a different version of the T-Car, but made larger, and more family-car-like. It was still able to do the ridiculously conspicuous things it did in Jump City, but it was painted like a normal dark blue van, and didn't have any visible rocket propellers. They drove on for what seemed to be miles in a forest of towering evergreen trees, an occasional curious squirrel, and several surprised deer. Reaching the end of the road, the Titans all gasped. A beautiful stone Victorian house with gigantic windows that sparkled in the sunlight peered from around a corner of a large hedge.
"Is this the house?" Raven asked, ignoring Beastboy's ever-grabby hands, which seemed to have tired over the plane and car ride.
"No. That's the house." Robin pointed over to a small clearing about 40 feet from the Victorian mansion. Their house was slightly smaller than the Victorian one, and more modern. It was still a Victorian mansion, albeit about ¾ the size of the one next door. And it was not made of stone, but of wood that was painted a delicate shade of yellow.
"It's…bright…" Raven said hesitantly.
"It's also what all we've got. So let's move. " Robin smiled. Starfire squealed and rose several feet in the air.
"Alright! Our first mission together as a couple, Rae!" Beastboy winked at Raven. Raven could swear she could feel her stomach literally turn.
----
After claiming rooms, the team sat around the large dining room table. The inside of the house was surprisingly modern, and was exactly like a smaller version of the Tower.
"So…we've got to work hard at keeping up our false pretences, because only the highest officials in the police department here have been notified of our abilities. The other person is the head doctor of the hospital here in Forks. His name is Carlisle Cullen, and he lives next door. Only he knows, and his children don't, so you'll have to work at acting 'normal'."
"My specialty." grinned Beastboy. "Hey, we should introduce ourselves to them. It's all sunny, so--"
"--Dr. Cullen has done us a favour, and has taken his family on a camping trip. They usually camp in the nice weather anyways."
"Then we shall prepare the 'welcome cake' for the humans inhabiting the house next to this one?" Starfire asked concernedly, her eyes gleaming at the chance to use the kitchen.
"Oh…Well, Star, we don't exactly make cakes if we're the ones moving in…but that's nice of you to…suggest…" Robin said hesitantly.
"Just let her bake one." Raven cut in.
"I'll supervise. Today'll just be all fun and games." Cyborg smiled, clapping his non-cybernetic hands together and rubbing them. Cyborg and the red-haired alien moved into the kitchen to start on the cake.
"Why are two teens that are going out also living with each other? Isn't that a little...illegal?" Beastboy asked, leaning over the table, scratching at his new olive skin.
"I never thought you'd be a afraid to sully your reputation…" Raven smirked dryly, silently marvelling at hers and Beastboy's skin colour.
"Well…it might be better if people think you're trouble, because then they'd steer clear of you…and you won't be the town gossip for too long. Word of these murders will get out soon." Robin concluded.
"Cyborg, shall I add my zorcaberries to this wonderful egg-flour mixture?" piped a flour-covered Starfire from the kitchen, mixing the bowl with superhuman speed, spattering the walls with dough.
----
Do you think they're still awake? Alice asked telepathically.
Edward shook his head.
Can you check? Alice asked a tad bit impatiently. The entire clan of bloated vampires had been biding their time, hoping they could avoid an awkward confrontation.
Edward nodded. He flashed to the house, and back, in a mere 2 seconds.
"They're asleep, except for a male and a female. He's pacing in his room, and thinking about sleep, and school. She's…I can't hear her thoughts, and I can't hear her anywhere. I can just hear her breathing. It's like she's not on her bed or the ground." he hissed inaudibly at Alice and the others.
Carlisle nodded. "It should be okay to go in. But we'll have to make a normal racket. Do you still have the camping gear?" He whispered quietly.
Jasper and Emmett nodded. They had been carrying prop camping gear to give off the appearance of actually 'camping'.
The family trudged slowly toward the front door, and made a big show of sighing, opening the door, and carrying their bags, which were actually light as a feather, in their opinion.
Jasper looked up suddenly.
"Someone's up." he hissed. "Other than the two people before. I can hear the change in breathing. But I can't hear any footsteps. Oh, there's the fridge."
"Midnight snack." Edward nodded at Jasper. Emmett grunted in agreement.
They proceeded to walk at a slow pace (for them), only to be interrupted with a high pitched squeal, and suddenly a blur of red stopped behind them.
"Hello neighbours! I have the cake of welcome for you to devour!" A redhead in blue pyjamas shouted gleefully into the tree-and-animal laden forest.
"Oh…" Esme said confusedly. "Err…"
"Thank you." Emmett grinned at Starfire, who was actually kind of cute. But I prefer blondes, he thought to himself.
"I'm so sorry for not baking you a cake, sweetheart …what's your name?" Esme asked kindly.
"Oh, my name Kori'andr, but my friends call me Starfire, because there is the nickname on this pl---" Starfire cut herself off by slapping a slightly orangey hand over her mouth.
Oh, why did I reveal so much of this information of my identity? No no no! I must repair this damage! I mustn't mess the things up!
"What?" Edward said seriously, like usual, "Kori Anders? Star-fire? Nicknames?"
Jasper suddenly jerked his head upwards.
"The devil. I smell him." He said quietly, so only the vampires could hear him. Edward dove into his mind for clarification. Jasper gave it to him.
The smell reminded him of death, and his abrupt meeting with Satan, the brief exchange of his mortal soul in for an immortal life without the joys of a mortal, returning as an impure, pre-owned, pre-used undead body. Every vampire had that memory, that encounter, but since Jasper was the most recent addition, it must've been stronger for him.
Just then, a pale skinned girl with dark purple hair appeared from the darkness.
"That's her nickname. Because she's just... a little drama-queen." The violet-haired girl joked awkwardly, like she wasn't used to joking. "Her name's actually Cory…" Raven struggled for a name with 'andr' in it. "Cory Anderson."
"Oh."
"And what's your name?" Edward asked glaring intensely in her eyes. He couldn't read her mind at all. There was something blocking his force, raging against the doors of her mind, but they were locked. It was oddly enticing to him.
Like Bella.
"Raven. My name's Raven Rachel Roth. Cory and I are enrolling at Forks High School on Monday. Do you go there?" Raven struggled to look warm. Edward didn't feel a thirst for the redhead's blood, it smelled foreign, and he felt a abhorrence for the violet-haired one's. It was going to be easy resisting her blood. But why did she smell so much like death, like the ultimate sacrifice?
I wonder what she is, to deter even vampires...
"Yes! Yes we do!" Alice quipped, looking slightly miffed by her inability to read their futures. "That's wonderful! We're neighbours! We can just sleepover, and paint our nails!"
Raven scowled involuntarily.
"Oh, yes! Such joyous gatherings that I do approve of and enjoy!" Cory shouted.
"Thank God there isn't anyone else living here, or we'd be in trouble," winked Emmett as Rosalie shot a death glare at Starfire.
"Emmett, I think I'm tired. We should go to bed. Now." Rosalie said with emphasis on the words 'bed' and 'now'. She glared at Starfire competitively as she tugged with what seemed to be gentle force on Emmett's arm.
"We should introduce ourselves first, don't you think, Rosalie?" Edward said calmly, eyeing Raven curiously.
"Fine." Rosalie huffed, crossing her arms. She scowled. "I'm Rosalie."
"Hello Rosalie!" Starfire squealed.
"Whatever." Rosalie tossed her shining blonde hair back.
"Emmett." Emmett said warmly, hugging Starfire just a little too long for Rosalie's taste. Edward grinned, hearing Emmett's thoughts.
She's damn cute. Wouldn't mind a change one of these days. Just look at Rosalie squirm, damn! I've got her good…
"Nice to meet you, Emmett." Raven said stiffly. Rosalie tugged Emmett off, and as he turned his head to leave a last wink at Starfire, Raven could've sworn she saw Rosalie's shoulders clench with fury.
"I'm Alice, and I guess I'll be seeing you guys tomorrow then? This is Jasper, and he's really tired, so I guess we'll go to bed!" Alice smiled widely, bounding into the house with Jasper, who looked kind of constipated.
"Good-bye, new found friends Alice and Jasper!" Starfire waved.
"I'm Carlisle, and this is my wife Esme." The handsome blonde doctor smiled dazzlingly at Starfire.
"Gr-gr-greetings…" Starfire said dreamily, dazed by his golden eyes.
"Hello." Raven said stiffly, again.
"I'll leave you to plan for tomorrow, but do get rested. Alice gets…excited…" Esme warned with a smile, retreating into the house.
"I'm Edward." Edward said, glancing briefly at the elated redhead, dazzled by his and Carlisle's faces. He turned to gaze deeply into Raven's eyes.
"Like I said before, Raven." Raven said coldly.
Oh my X'hal! These humans are very the beautiful! Oh, what is this heat?! This--
Cory's thoughts were stopped, ended, by something. Edward gazed even deeper into Raven's strangely violet eyes.
She must be the psychic.
"Do you have contacts?" Edward repeated Bella's question.
"No." Raven said standoffishly. Carlisle sent him a thought.
Go inside, you can listen in while I find out what their powers are.
"Good night then, Raven Roth. Cory Anderson." Edward nodded at them both, his eyes lingering on Raven.
Raven scowled.
----
"So, girls," Carlisle moved a little away from the house. "Are you part of the Titans?"
"Yes." The purple haired one said, fidgeting with her ring.
"So…just curious," Carlisle smiled dazzlingly, showing his teeth, "What're your…abilities?"
"Oh! I am a princess from the planet of Tamaran, and…" Starfire began excitedly.
"So you're the doctor?" Raven cut through.
"Yes."
"Well, Starfire here, not Cory, but we'd prefer it if you called her that, she's an alien from Tamaran. To put this simply, she can fire energy at you, and fly. I can fly too."
"What do you do? Where're you from?" Carlisle asked, acting on a hiss that Edward had suggested, wanting to know more about the elusive Raven.
"I can do things you don't want to know about. I am from the dimension Azarath." Raven said mysteriously, drawing Edward further into his building obsession with her.
"Oh…" Carlisle's smile faltered. "Anyone else?"
"Beastboy can shape shift. Cyborg is half cybernetic, and Robin's a very skilled gymnast." Raven drawled flatly, keeping as much information to herself as possible.
"Oh…That's amazing." Carlisle brightened up. "Can you show me your flying?"
"We'd prefer not to. No offence. We're tired, and we'll need our rest, if what Esme says is true." Raven tried to smile, but just ended up looking like she'd stretched her face horizontally.
"What do your parents have to say about you teens fighting crimes alone?"
"We are not the alone... We have our friends..." Starfire started.
"And most of our parents are...out of the way. In case you wanted to know, " Raven said, knowing he would ask, "How exactly, is their story to tell, but my father is a demon. Perhaps the Devil. Depends who you're rooting for. Goodnight, Dr. Cullen."
"Goodnight girls, watch your steps." Carlisle smiled.
"Goodnight, friend Carlisle!!!" Starfire shouted gleefully, waving.
