These Black Eyes

by P0ST

The ongoing adventures and experiences of the Teen Titans, as witnessed through the eyes of a silent newcomer.

73. Hidden Sun part 5 final

73. Hidden Sun part 5 Final

Brain activity's increasing…"

"I can see her start to move. The herb's waking her up."

"Man, Mr. Sanderson…that stuff sure does the trick."

"Well, it should. My father was a town doctor. He taught me everything he knew."

"Starfire? Can you hear us?"

"Try not to stir her."

"Robin! She's coming to!"

"Star! Star!"

"Shhh! Be easy on her, man!"

"Starfire? Wake up. You're in okay shape…"

Her green eyes opened. Weak at first…then an explosion of shock as she gasped and shot up in her seat.

"Nova'm!"

A pair of dark hands held her shoulders and gently lowered her back down. Kevin Sanderson looked down at her. "Easy now…though alien folk like you and my son are resilient…it's not everyday you wake up just hours after a laser blast knocks you out."

Starfire peered around. She was on the front porch of the Feldman's cabin. The Titans were gathered over her…as were Kevin and Ruth Sanderson and Jared and Susan Feldman. It was late afternoon. Gold sunlight filtered down through a misty sky.

"Where….wh-where is Nova'm?" the alien girl panted.

Kevin and Ruth looked at each other. Their faces were hanging off their skulls.

"We were hoping you c-could tell us…," Ruth said.

Starfire swallowed. She breathed: "Men…..dark men….Booker's men……th-they must have him…."

The Sandersons looked down to the floor.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson…," Starfire slowly sat halfway up. "I am so…so sorry. I did everything I could. I---"

"We believe you….," Kevin muttered. He gestured. "Your shirt speaks of it all."

Starfire glanced down. She gasped. There was a huge singe mark on her shirt. Where the laser had burnt into her. She hoisted the article of clothing up until her tummy was exposed. There was a red mark…but nothing worse than a bruise. Courtesy of Tamaranian strength and resistance. It could have been lots worse…especially if the laser rifle had hit someone as young and preadolescent as Nova'm.

"You were lucky, Star," Cyborg's voice said. "Any higher a frequency…you could be having internal bleeding."

"I am unlucky….," she breathed. She blinked. She looked up. "I lost Nova'm. I-I lost him when he needed me most…"

"We searched the entire area," Raven droned from the side. "We looked for a black truck…tire tracks…even tested the air for exhaust. No luck. We have no idea where they went."

"Booker's always hung around in big cities…," Kevin said. "He travels a long distance to heckle us. I'm sure of it."

"Asheville?" Cyborg remarked. "Charlotte?"

"Could be anyplace," Kevin shrugged and shook his head. "I wish we knew him as much as he knew us."

"I'm sorry nobody spotted them coming or going…," Jared uttered. "I never thought I'd see the day….but I just might have to place a gate at the front of the community."

"Should we call local police?" Susan asked.

"We're here," Cyborg said. "That's more than enough help." He spun and faced the Sandersons. "We're gonna find your little boy. At all costs."

The couple stoically nodded and hugged each other.

"I….I-I must get up…," Starfire mumbled.

Cyborg double-checked the health readout on his arm. He nodded. "I understand."

"So is Starfire allright and stuff?" Beast Boy's voice exclaimed.

"Yeah, B.B. She's okay."

"Good!" the green elf dove in out of nowhere and practically tackled Starfire with a hug.

"Mmmph!" Starfire uttered, startled.

The changeling squeezed her tight and smiled. "I was scared, Star. We thought we all lost you."

"I knew she was allright," Raven folded her arms.

Cyborg glared at her. Jared smirked.

"……I did." She repeated.

Starfire managed a tiny smirk and ran a hand through Beast Boy's green hair. "I am glad to see you too, Beast Boy. But you must pardon me, please…." She gently nudged him away. She swung her legs off the table, stood down on wobbly legs, and headed towards the steps leading out of the porch. "With all the powers invested in me…I have no greater duty at the present than to employ them in the safe retrieval of Nova'm."

And that's when she ran into Robin.

The Boy Wonder stood in her way. He took a deep breath and regarded her with an emotionless eyemask as he said: "Starfire…you were just shot. With a laser rifle. You almost died. I can't let you risk hurting yourself."

She blinked. She took a deep breath. "Please….Robin…," she spoke softly. Deceptively soft. "Allow me to return to our cabin and suit up for my endeavors."

He simply stared at her.

She bit her lip. Her hands tightened into fists.

"Star…please….the other Titans and I can take care of it. You need to—"

She swiftly reached a hand up, grabbed his arm, and forcibly hoisted him to the side.

He stumbled off into the steadying arms of Jared Feldman.

Starfire marched firmly up the asphalt towards the Titans' cabin.

Robin took a deep breath and stood up straight. He looked over at the other Titans.

Beast Boy sweatdropped.

Cyborg rubbed the human part of his head.

Raven looked aside.

Robin glanced back out…clenched his fists…and ran after Starfire.

T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Star! Just wait up!"

"Do not attempt to dissuade me, Robin…," Starfire said. Her face was in a frown. She wasn't looking at him. Instead, she pressed onward up the elevated asphalt. "I acknowledge the fact that you are the leader of the Titans, but I cannot sit idly while Nova'm is in danger."

Robin ran over and stood in front of her…again halting her. "Then acknowledge me as a friend, Star! Your best friend! Remember?"

"I have not forgotten," she fumed. "Now if you would please—"

"You're practically limping! Seriously, Star. You can't possibly—"

"But I am serious, Robin!" she exclaimed. "I have always been serious about the things I do and intend to do! I am sorry if my example of character has not properly informed you and my other friends of that! Just trust me when I say that Nova'm is in danger and I must assist in his saving!"

"You've done all you could!" Robin said back to her. "All the time we've been here, all you've done is focused your energies on Nova'm! And that is all well and fine, Star. But you're gonna run yourself in the ground if you—"

"I do not care about my own condition!" Starfire retorted. Her eyes were of a brighter green as her fists hung tight at her sides. "My own condition has been assured a second chance thanks to pure fortune! It is now time for me to find Nova'm—"

"I have no clue where he is, Star!" Robin loudly said.

She stared at him.

He shrugged. "No clue! Not one! I tried tracking Booker down! He's a freakin' ghost! The closest lead I even had a faint trace of was Noir's communication through morse code…and we haven't heard from him in hours! I'm facing the facts that right now—in this impromptu investigation—I may already have lost one Titan! I'm not gonna lose you to a blind search as well! I want you safe here with us! I want you by our sides!"

"Will you listen to the words that you are uttering, Robin!" Starfire exclaimed, her voice loud. "Will you not realize that there is more here of importance than what 'you want' or what 'I want' or what 'we want'! What about the will of a little boy who has done nothing on this poor, lonely soil but suffer at the hands of a madman who has haunted him in the past and is once again molesting his spirit in open defiance of all that is good and sacred!"

"Star---"

"I made Nova'm a promise, Robin!" Starfire shouted, her eyes blazing emerald. "I made Nova'm a promise and I fell short of my commitment! But not anymore! I am going to attire myself for combat and set out in flight to locate him and protect him from any further malevolence assaulting his person!"

Robin looked away. He rubbed his temples…like he was stressed.

Starfire frowned at that. "I can see you do not believe in me…," she murmured angrily.

"Star….I just think—"

"You think of a lot of things, Robin…," she said. "And I believe I can predict what some of those thoughts are. You believe that I am naïve. You believe that I am improperly biased in my motivations. Surely, I cannot blame you for your assumptions…in that my performance as a citizen of this planet has not functioned up to par with the idiosyncrasies of your paradoxical culture."

"Listen, Star—"

"No, you perform the act of audible respect!" she pointed. "How often is it that I patiently wait for your explanations of every mundane thing that possesses this confusing Earth! How often is it that I must listen to the etiquette of Terran society and commit myself to it without so much as questioning the lunacy that practically frolics out of everyone's hypocritical mouth!"

Robin bit his lip.

Starfire shook her head and clutched at her red hair as if she was about to explode. She trembled. "It is so very difficult, Robin! You have no mental comparison to the strain it is at times to try and take everything in and…a-and maintain the Tamaranian joy that is hereditary of me!" She looked up, her teeth clenching. Her eyes on fire. "With every fiber of my being, I implore you for your understanding! But that is not what you truly desire! All you wish to do is to continue to dictate to me and conform me into some Terran golem of withheld glory! Thankfully, there is enough grace inside of me to allow myself to be subjected to such procedures in becoming an Earth-defending Titan, but I shall not let you command me in regards to whether or not I must save a helpless being of my own intergalactic ilk!"

She shook, she trembled. She stuttered: "I….I…." She clenched her glowing eyes shut and suddenly broke into: "Naiblorka snotch ribbu munakye glarka-spool!"

Robin sweatdropped. He wasn't used to hearing Starfire frustratingly break into her native tongue. Then again…he wasn't used to her raw and unbridled anger. It frightened the Boy Wonder…

"Threena-kiel nu X'hal!" Starfire spun around, paced, and swung her fists into the naked air. "Emb larna sodoku bren mar! Lada kienatap! Bren mar! BREN MAR!"

"Star…c-calm down…," he nervously reached a hand out.

"RrrrrRRAUGH!" she opened two jade eyes of fire and flung her wrist towards the side of the road.

FLASH!

Robin flinched.

CRASH!

Three pine trees toppled loudly into the woods in a flurry of sparks, flying leaves, and crackling branches as the Tamaranian's starbolt struck the earth.

She panted…sweating. Slowly…her eyes dimmed to normality.

Robin stared down at the ground. He sighed.

Silence.

"I understand now……"

Robin looked up.

Starfire was breathing slowly. A wounded expression hung on her face as she spoke in her trademark voice of softness. "I understand now…..the anger. The completely unfiltered and toxic anger that Booker thrives on." She held a hand over her heart where she felt a glow like a sun melt away. "It is so very painful…and so very evil….and so very primal…," she swallowed a painful lump down her throat and eyed the mist rolling down the mountainside like tears of the sky. "The fire in my people's hearts….it is a very strong fire. A fire of passion and of love and of spirit. It was once a fire of hate. A forger of wars. A poisoned spear of malignance." She looked over at Robin with firm eyes. "But Nova'm…he is of the Virgin Age. Though he feels that primal fury inside of him…he is starting to learn that the hidden strength inside him is a strength that relies on peace of mind and soundness of heart alone. For he is a component of my people…and my people, in the very definition that they are now 'people' and not animals….my people are loving. My people are tranquil. And my people know the necessity of giving all we have for the souls who have not. And at this moment…Nova'm is lost. He is imprisoned. And he has no hope. I must give him back that hope, Robin. I must…at all costs. And if my decision to be Tamaranian gets in the way of being a Titan…then perhaps it is prudent that I stop being a Titan altogether."

"Star….I—"

But Robin was stuck in mid-sentence…for Starfire marched straight past him and into the cabin.

The Boy Wonder stared at the fallen pine. The mist reached them and bathed them in sorrow.

He took a deep breath and stared into the white droplets.

They filtered into an airborne snow before his eyes. Grainy and distorted. And for a split second…he saw once again from the red depths of his mind a projection of the staticky security camera snapshot of a dark-haired girl inside a bus terminal all alone yet surrounded by people.

Dark eyes…a haunting smile….a whispering ghost.

"I understand…." He breathed into the air.

The mist disappeared under the pine….and with it so did the girl's face.

"I understand completely…Star…."

There was a choking sound in his voice.

But she couldn't hear him.

T-T-T-T-T-T-

Cyborg sat on the steps to the porch. He was 'typing' on a small keypad in a compartment of his left arm. White noise poured out of the speaker in his communicator. His human eye narrowed in concentration.

Gradually, Raven walked up behind him and looked down. "Cyborg….I've been meaning to ask…"

"Yeah?" he replied without looking.

"It's a good thing that Starfire made it safely and all….but….where's Noir?"

"……" Cyborg continued with his work.

"I was too involved with getting her to safety and all…I didn't notice amidst all the confusion. But he hasn't shown up, has he?"

"You're right. He hasn't."

She walked down the steps and stood beside the squatting android. "Cyborg, what's going on?"

"I'm trying to find him….," he hummed.

Raven blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Ever since his communication was cut short, Robin and I have been at a loss to---"

"His communication was cut short!" Raven remarked. "Do you mean to say he might be in danger some place!"

"I have no clue, Rae! I'm doing my best to get a response from him!"

"How could you let him just run off like that!" Raven gestured, frowning. "Did he say where he was going?"

"No…," Cyborg groaned and looked up. He was perturbed. "He just walked off. Like he always does! You tell me, Raven. Did he tell you where he was going!"

"I haven't seen him all day!"

"Well, neither have we!"

"But---"

"Calm down, Raven."

"I am calm!" she exclaimed.

Cyborg stared at her.

She didn't realize it unto she saw a slight glint of her reflection in the metal part of his skull. Her eyes were glowing bright gray. She gasped, stepped back, and snapped out of it.

"What's with you!" Cyborg remarked, returning to his console. "Look…I'm a bit freaked out that Starfire nearly bought it today. We're all concerned about her! It's all right! I'm sure Noir knows how to take care of himself just as much as she does!"

"I know…it's just that….," Raven bit her lip. She spun around and hugged herself….staring into the thick woods of pine beyond the cabin. "….I've been doing a lot of thinking lately…."

"Courtesy of Mr. Feldman?"

She glared at him, sighed, and looked back out at the woods. "Not just him, Cyborg. But everyone."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone has me thinking….thinking more than I like to think."

"You always struck me as the rational type, Rae. What's wrong with 'thinking'?"

"It's rather simple when I can control my emotions and not have to explain it to my own psyche."

Cyborg paused. He looked up. "What's goin' on with your emotions, Raven?"

She lowered her eyes. "I've been……c-cleaning house."

"Overhaul?"

"Ever since my emotions came out and leapt into all of you…," she spoke, "…I've realized that I need to structure things better. I can't let myself get so fragile that I can break apart like that again. It's not good for me…and it's not good for the rest of you."

"Trigon….."

"Exactly…," Raven nodded. "And….well….while cleaning house. I can temporarily experience the same fragility that I'm trying to avoid. It becomes prudent during…d-during such times to keep things clear. But not just clear inside of me….but around me as well. I'm worried that…that the Titans don't truly understand that—at the moment—I'm trying to find my place in things again. Like a long term, inside-out meditation. This has been a very important vacation for me. I've been trying to restructure myself."

"I can dig that," Cyborg nodded while 'typing'. "Care to explain why it's got you so gung ho about worrying for Noir?"

"I'm not worried about him," she said. "I just…….."

"Yeah?"

She swallowed. "Just want him to have a chance to understand."

"Understand what, Rae?"

"The same thing you already understand, Cyborg."

Cyborg paused. His human eye blinked. He turned to look at him. "The thing you told him on the boardwalk…..you think he doesn't understand it, Raven?"

"I don't even think I understand it…," she quietly admitted. A beat. "All I want….is for all of my friends to be safe. All of them. I want that so much because….I know that I have hurt them. I know I have hurt you…all of you. Noir included."

Cyborg stared off into space. He took a breath. "Raven…," he began. "You've got to quit taking things so seriously. I know it's your place to be so super-serious and stuff cuz you can't just dive into emotions like the rest of us. But you gotta understand…we know it! We know you have a hard time…we know you struggle…and we know you need your time to get things situated!"

She glared at him. "But none of that's true."

"You're sure of that?"

"…."

"We're your friends, Raven…," Cyborg said. "And being your friends doesn't mean we have to be hurt by you. But rather….being your friends means we know that being hurt by you is trivial. We're gonna get through all this….just like you're gonna get through all this. Your concern is our concern. That's a battle we fight together. And in a battle like that, everyone gets hurt. If I were you…I wouldn't feel guilty. I'd feel thankful."

She took a deep breath. Slowly, she nodded.

"And about Noir…," Cyborg said.

She cut him off. "I know……I know……he understands too. But when I suddenly hear that he might be in trouble…I-I just hope that whatever lasting impression he has of me and my….m-my decisions is a good one."

"You'll have to ask him about that someday….," Cyborg hummed, staring at his arm console.

"Hmmm?" she leaned over and looked.

He smiled and glanced up at her. "He's sending us a message."

Raven was deadpan. And Cyborg realized—in her sudden and secure stoical expression—she had fallen back into place.

"Oh really….," she blinked as if Cyborg's statement was the most obvious thing in the world. "What's he saying?"

"Lemme listen in…," he craned his ear to the beeping sounds echoing out from his communicator's speaker.

'—T-H-E—H-A-R-V-E-S-T-O-N—B-U-I-L-D-I-N-G — S-O-U-T-H-W-E-S-T—O-F—D-O-W-N-T-O-W-N—A-S-H-E-V-I-L-L-E — B-E-S-I-D-E-S—T-H-E—L-U-M-B-E-R-Y-A-R-D — G-E-T—O-V-E-R—H-E-R-E—N-O-W — T-H-E-Y—A-R-E—T-O-R-T-U-R-I-N-G—T-H-E—B-O-Y — F-O-R—H-I-S—S-T-A-R-B-O-L-T-S—'

Cyborg and Raven exchanged glances.

They listened again.

'—T-H-E-Y—A-R-E—T-O-R-T-U-R-I-N-G—T-H-E—B-O-Y—'

T-T-T-T-T-T-

The same old wires went into the same old plugs.

The same old clamps snapped into the same old place.

Bodies shuffling around and feet scraping a marvel floor.

Computer screens flickering and pinprick lights pinpricking.

Nova'm's thin body hung like a crucifix inside the metal compartment within the wall.

They stuck the last of the electrodes into his wrists.

His lungs heaved. His body rose and fell within the compartment.

Three eigures swarmed around a set of computer consoles. A fourth stood still.

Slowly….depressingly….Nova'm looked up. Thin green eyes. A prone prince.

Booker stared. He smiled. "Morning, freak. We've missed you."

Nova'm sighed. His eyes lowered.

"We went through a lot of trouble trying to get you back here again…," Booker said, folding his arms. "I suggest you do us the little trouble of cooperating."

Nova'm's lungs heaved. His eyes were still closed.

Exhausted…

"As you know…," Booker glanced at the metal locker braced all over with wires and blinking green lights. "…it only takes one more round. One more rush. A final outpouring of that freakish alien shit that bubbles inside of you." He grinned a plastic grin. "And then….it'll all be over. You hear me, Nova'm? Finished."

The boy was silent. He breathed.

Booker glared. He slowly turned his head. He faced his associates.

He nodded.

That was the signal.

Two of his men twisted keys in their respective slots. They typed a few keystrokes on number pads….then jointly pressed a dark green button.

FLASH!

Nova'm moaned. His body twitched up. Green bands of energy were exploding around him. Flooding the compartment between the metal and his flesh and clothes. His jaw hung open wide. Bolts of green danced between incisors and bicuspids. His throat dried in an instant…the saliva evaporating.

….but the green was a duller green than usual.

Booker narrowed his eyes.

The sparks were jumping as always…the green in Nova'm's eyes glowing as always….but it was far less than normal. Like a faded emerald surface dipped in lead.

Booker lifted his finger.

The associates twisted the keys.

The sparking stopped.

Nova'm panted, hanging loosely in his compartment. His youthful voice squeaked through faintly in the exhalations.

Booker walked over towards him. He glared. He spoke: "Where is it…..you little freak? Where is it? That anger…that anger which flows through you. Which is so….so indicative of you….I want it. Why're you holding back?"

Nova'm coughed. He whimpered.

Booker stared. "………….WHY!"

The laboratory echoed.

Even his associates shivered at that.

Nova'm shook his head. His eyes closed. He panted…panted…panted…

Not saying a word.

Booker fumed. He lifted his finger again.

The keys turned.

The button….

SPARKLE!

Nova'm's neck arched up and his mouth fell open in a silent scream. But he wouldn't let any sound escape his lips. He wouldn't let any scream fill the chamber. He wouldn't let any inch of teeth snarl or any bunch of fingers clench.

And the bolts bolted and the agony agonized. A maelstrom of struggling green built a wavering aura around him.

But it wouldn't get brighter….

Booker shook. With gritting teeth, he waved his hands again.

The bolts faded. Nova'm shook, twitched, and hung his panting body again.

Booker walked forward and stood with his face mere inches from the boy's. He tilted his head to the side…narrowing his eyes.

There were two green streaks trickling down Nova'm's cheeks.

"What……," Booker traced his finger across the boy's face and looked at the green colored liquid on his digit, "….is this?"

Nova'm hiccupped. His eyes opened. He tilted his weary face up. He sniffed and tried to hide back the sobs as he said:

"I…..am……Tamaranian……"

Booker squinted.

"…..anger…..a-anger is not…..the fire….inside of me…."

The associates looked on. The computers flickered.

"I…..I-I know…..who I am…..n-now…."

Booker leaned forward and hissed into the boy's ear. "You will burn for me, freak. You will give me your fire…"

Nova'm whimpered: "The fire….is not mine…..to give…..f-for it is not y-yours….to have…."

Booker stepped back. He took a deep breath. "If you will not show me the anger that is your pathetic excuse to exist, then I have no choice but to tear it out of you." He gestured towards the men behind him. "Increase the frequency by twenty percent."

One of the associates gasped. "B-But sir….we've never done it that high befo—"

Booker flashed a glare over at him.

The subordinates gulped.

Booker turned back and bore his teeth at the panting boy.

"Learn your place, you little shit. You're a demon…and it's about time you practiced burning in hell!"

They typed at the number pad.

They turned the key and---

FLASH!

Nova'm arched. It was like a steel rod was shoved through his spine.

He had no choice, he…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGHHHHHH!"

Green flashes of light strobed brighter and brighter…illuminating a thin grin on Booker's face.

T-T-T-T-T-T-

Inside the bathroom of the Titans' cabin…

Starfire was slipping on her long purple boots…a compliment to her hastily assembled, purple two-piece outfit. She was breathing heavily. Her jaw clenched tight. Her eyes unblinking…

Knock Knock Knock.

Starfire was silent. She slipped on the last of the two boots.

Knock Knock Knock.

She fumed. Her glaring green eyes flashed up.

"Please relocate yourself to some spot of the cabin far from that door, for I must pass through it soon in my exit from this building!"

"Starfire?" Robin's voice came muffled form the other side. "Open up, please! I want to see you!"

The Tamaranian fumed even more. "Robin…it is not my desire to talk to you, nor hear from you. In case my emotional declaration earlier did not properly inform you, please know that I am still intent on rescuing Nova'm and your will shall not get in the way!"

"Yeah, yeah…I know that! Will you just—"

"Silence!" Starfire stood up, adjusted her gloves, and marched to the door. "For the love of X'Hal!" She unlocked the doorknob and yanked the door open. "Will you please leave me al---"

She froze. Her green eyes blinked.

"About time!" Robin exclaimed. He stood in his full costume, finishing attaching his cape to the back of his trademark garb with green gloved fingers. "Cyborg just informed me that Noir knows where Nova'm's being held. If we hurry now, we might catch Booker in the act!"

Starfire's lips parted. "You…..y-you changed your mind?"

"Yeah….I did at that…," Robin said. "Basically….I'm not about to let you do this alone. So it's up to you, Star. I can help you…or you can go on your own. What'll it be?"

Starfire swallowed. "Let us proceed to the location of Nova'm's trepidation."

Robin nodded. "Southwest district of Asheville. Besides a lumber yard. It sounds like Noir's actually seen Nova'm taken into the building."

"Understood," Starfire replied. She was halfway through exiting the cabin when she froze in place.

"?" Robin gave her a sideways glance. "Star? Something up?"

"Yes….something is 'up'," Starfire nodded, facing away from him. "T-Thank you…..Robin…."

The Boy Wonder took a deep breath. "No, Star. Thank you."

Without saying anything else, the two walked outside.

T-T-T-T-T-T-

First thing, Robin headed towards the T-Car. "Let me start it up…then maybe the others can jump in and we can---"

Starfire reached over, grabbed him by the cape, and soared up into the air.

"WHOAH!"

"We must make haste!" she said with a determined look and bolted southward.

Robin dangled for dear life as the two formed a rocket through the late afternoon sky. Piercing gold in a purple and green aura.

Below…Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven ran across the asphalt and looked up. Gawking.

"So….um….," Beast Boy blinked. "Did the vacation just take off without us?"

"They're going to where Nova'm is…," Raven droned.

"Man…think we should go help them?" Cyborg exclaimed. He looked at the others.

Beast Boy sweatdropped.

Raven took a breath. "Well, I'm bored."

"Me too, dude."

A beat.

Cyborg smirked. "Let's go."

Raven turned and headed for the cabin. "I was missing my robe, actually…."

"Woo hoo! Back in action, dudes! I'll bring pop tarts!"

T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Star!"

Starfire zoomed southward at a hurtling pace.

"Star!"

Wind and low-lying cloud whisps kicked at her hair. "C-Can you….I dunno….save me from choking!"

The alien girl glanced down in mid-flight.

Robin was dangling from her strong grasp by his cape alone. And by that point in the travels, he had twirled around at least six times. His cape was turning slowly into a thin, twisted rope. Any more turns and she'd be practically hanging him.

The girl bit her lip, blushed, and reached down to hold an arm under each armpit.

"Th-Thanks…," he breathed, quite relieved.

"Do not m-mention it…," she said against the wind. Holding Robin thusly, she soared the two of them onward towards their destination.

A beat.

"I'm sorry, Star…."

"For what, Robin?"

"Treating you the way I have."

"And how have you been in error?"

"Just…t-trying to be so protective and stuff," he shook his head and sighed. He looked down and legitimately gulped at the sight of trees and mountaintops soaring underneath his dangling boots. "I should know that you're more than capable of keeping yourself safe and—"

"Is it truly just a matter of 'safety', Robin?" Starfire inquired.

"……..," Robin looked up towards the alien girl carrying him. "As the leader of the Titans, I feel responsible…"

She nodded and looked off towards the blurring horizon. "And as a Tamaranian…I have a sense of duty toward ensuring the safe recovery of Nova'm. These are the sorts of things we sacrifice ourselves for, are they not?"

Robin limply nodded in the beating wind. "Yeah. C-Can you do me at least one favor, Starfire? It's a favor I'd like to do for you as well…"

"And what is that, Robin?"

"Let's not sacrifice ourselves to death…..o-okay?" the Boy Wonder asked.

Starfire bit her lip. She silently nodded.

He took a deep breath.

The two of them looked down.

Asheville loomed ahead. Shaded by an early evening overcast. The edges of the city were lined with pine and the rise and fall of ridges. On a summit overlooking the nestled spectacle of the town, the Biltmore Estate presided like a weathered judge. And in the southwest corner, a lumberyard…..and a granite, two story building.

The two soared down for a landing…

T-T-T-T-T-T-

The keys turned.

The juice was cut.

Nova'm hung limply in the compartment. His limbs were literally smoking.

He panted for breath.

Booker smirked. He looked at one of his associates. "Well?"

The thug smiled. He said: "One hundred percent, sir!"

"Good…." Booker signaled the other two.

They adjusted instruments on computer consoles.

The wires completely stopped sparking.

Nova'm gasped.

Booker walked over to him, thinned his eyes, and grinned evilly: "Now that playtime is over…," he pulled out a gun and toyed the boy's butchered bangs with the barrel, "….it's high time we head on home."

"Booker!" one of the associates gasped.

Frowning, the man spun and sneered: "What!"

The associated pointed at his computer screen emphatically.

Booker stomped over and looked from behind the man's shoulder.

A radar-like sensor reading was showing two blips coming in from the north.

"I think they're Titans, sir! They're heading in here fast!"

"Well then….we'd better lock and load," Booker smirked. "The prototype must be protected at all costs."

"How…..h-how did they know where our base is!"

Booker rubbed his chin. "Now that's a good question, isn't it?"

Suddenly, the radar screen went blank. The computer practically died in a shorting-out.

Booker's brow furrowed.

"I….I-I dunno what happened!" the associate exclaimed. "It's like the sensors just went kaput!"

"Go out and check the utilities…," Booker hummed. He looked at the others. "You two! Arm yourselves! We may have company!"

They nodded and rushed towards a gunrack in the back. They picked up shotguns and pumped them.

In the meantime…the third apprentice rushed past a sighing Nova'm and opened the locked doors to the laboratory….

T-T-T-T-T-T-

HISS!

The huge, double doors to the lab opened and closed.

The thug slithered into the dark, marble hallway of the building's basement. The keycard dangled around his neck as he breathed heavily and groped down to the most shadowed end where a metal cabinet hung on the wall with master power switches. He stopped right before he could touch the thing.

"Huh?"

There was a fresh, sparking slash mark across the wall….severing a few of the pipes housing wiring up into the floor of the first level. A slash liken unto……a sword swing.

"The hell is that?" the man exclaimed.

SLASH!

The man blinked. Suddenly, his shirt fell in two as if cut by giant, invisible scissors. The loop of the keycard hanging around his neck was severed.

He gasped and hugged himself…suddenly cold and exposed to the basement.

WHAM!

A wooden, splintery two-by-four shattered across the back of the associate's head.

"Ugh…..," his eyes rolled back and he fell forward in a meaty slump.

My body materialized behind him. I held a broken half of the two-by-four and grinned. My long black hair was disheveled…my face and exposed limbs covered in bruises, a dozen splinters, and a few cuts here and there.

There were tears in my outfit from the collapsing lumber of the yard falling on me. But before so much as a bone broke, I managed to blur out of the way, cloak myself in smoke, and collapse in exhaustion beyond where the starbolt-empowered Booker could spot me.

I reached down and snatched up the broken loop with the keycard. I swung it around, smiled, turned around, and tossed it down the hallway…..

……just in time to fall into the gloved hand of Robin as he and Starfire came down the stairs.

Both froze.

"………."

"………."

I smiled and waved.

"Er….," Robin blinked behind his eyemask. "Good to see you too, Noir…."

Starfire stepped forward, her hands clasped together. "Nova'm?"

My face turned serious. I pointed a jabbing finger towards the double-doors.

They looked.

Robin saw the keypad. He glanced at the keycard in his glove…then back up at me.

"I have a plan…."

T-T-T-T-T-T-

Booker and his two other thugs stood in the laboratory.

Breathing…

Anxiously watching the double-doors.

"What the Hell's taking him so long?" Booker mumbled…suddenly sweating.

He glanced over at Nova'm.

The boy was still limp. Panting.

HISS!

The other thugs jumped.

Booker looked over.

Slowly…the doors parted ways.

The man that was sent out stood in a hunch in the middle of the basement hallway. His legs were awkwardly bent. His head lolling…

"Well? What did you find?" Booker demanded.

Silence.

The man…..dangled….

Booker raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" The man didn't reply.

The other two were apprehensive.

And suddenly…

"!" Nova'm tilted his head up. He gasped. His eyes glowed a bright green.

Booker's eyes narrowed at that. Then his jaw dropped. "No!"

FLASH!

A starbolt sailed in.

SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

A birdarang twirled through the doorway as well.

SMACK!

"Ugh!" the first thug was knocked back by the alien blast.

THWAP!

The second stumbled back as the birdarang ricocheted hard off his skull.

Growling, Starfire and Robin dove into the room.

"YAAAAGH!"

"RAAAAUGH!"

Booker gritted his teeth. He raised his pistol and fired.

BLAM!

Starfire skirted out of the way.

Robin dove towards the man.

Booker fired again…and again.

BLAM! BANG!

Robin dodged, twirled, and came up with an extending, metal staff that twirled one and a half times before sailing up to fiercely uppercut the former FBI fiend.

"RAUGH!"

THWACK!

The man dropped his gun and stumbled back.

In the meantime, I materialized behind the 'dangling' man in the doorway. I dropped him, whipped out Myrkblade, and dove into the fray.

Both thugs were wearily getting up. I kicked one into the other and started slashing computer equipment like crazy.

CRACK! SMACK! SPARKLE!

Electricity danced, arched, and burnt out in gray smoke.

Starfire soared straight towards Nova'm's body. With Tamaranian strength, she snapped the clamps free of his limbs, carefully pulled the electrodes out, and reached two gentle arms to cradle the boy as he slumped out of the device and into her embrace.

"K-Koriand'r?" he wheezed.

She hugged him deeply to her chest, palming the back of his head and running hands through his hair as her green eyes watered. "I am so…so sorry, Nova'm. But I am here now. You will be safe. I promise you that…"

"I…I-I felt it….Koriand'r….," he trembled into her grasp as the noise of combat filled the rest of the chamber beyond. "The fire….the g-good fire….I knew you were coming for me. I knew you l-loved me…..I knew…."

"Shhhh…," she rocked him. She looked out at the door. "I-I must get you out of here, Nova'm. Somewhere safe…"

"B-B-But your friends…."

"They can handle themselves…trust me…," and she proceeded to truck him towards the exit.

In the meantime, Robin was advancing mercilessly on Booker, swinging his staff madly. "RAAAUGH!" SWOOOSH-CLANK!

Sparks showered from computer console, desk, and medical bed as Booker desperately dodged the Boy Wonder's metal attacks.

Robin jumped off a chair, spun, and came down with a heavy swing of his staff.

SWOOOOSH!

Booker fell back onto his rear. The staff struck the granite floor hard between his knees.

CLANK!

He gritted his teeth and kicked up.

WHUMP!

Robin stumbled up.

Booker reached into a nearby cabinet, pulled out a taser, and pressed the trigger while aiming at the vigilante.

ZAAA-AAAAP!

Sparks danced out…burning the air.

Robin hoisted himself over a metal railing and leapt over a string of computer consoles.

Booker re-aimed.

The sparks followed Robin…sailing into the computers.

POW! BANG!

The computer fried. The monitors shattered and tiny wisps of flame erupted from the keyboards and buttons.

Robin slid atop a desk, spiraled around, leapt, swung from a hanging bar above, twirled, and sailed down at Booker like a comet with his fist flying.

Teeth gritting….

Booker aimed the taser again--

SMACK!

It was knocked out of his grasp with a green glove.

Robin landed. He gripped the man by his collar and hoisted him up. "You hang from a thin rope now, Booker. Consider your anonymity a thing from the past, torturing creep!"

Booker winced in the Titan's grasp, but managed to grin and say: "All right…so there weren't any job positions in the FBI for torturing pre-puberty freaks from outer space! Where else was I to go!"

Robin's eyemask narrowed. "You can try the seventh layer of Hell for starters, asshole! RrrrRRAUGH!" And he spun, swung, and tossed Booker's limp body across the laboratory.

The man slammed into the metal lockers besides the compartment…denting it considerably.

CLANG!

"Ughhh…."

Robin took a deep breath…that bout of fury satiated. He glanced over at me.

I was demolishing more and more technology….and enjoying it too.

I shattered a monitor and motherboard—fully wrecking Booker's understanding of the Tamaranian powers---and smirked.

There was a glint of something in the shattered glass of the output device.

I narrowed my black eyes.

Someone was behind me……holding something--

SWOOOSH! SLASH!

I blurred around and ripped Myrkblade up through the air, severing the barrel of a shotgun in one of the recovering thugs' grasp.

He gasped as shot spilled all around him. He stumbled back.

I was about to smash his head in with the hilt of my sword when the second associate came in, a shotgun in his very own grasp.

BLAM!

I blurred backwards and into a slide. I scraped Myrkblade into the ground to anchor me still.

The thug aimed again.

I bit my lip.

BLAM!

Robin dove in front of me, twirled his staff, and deflected the blow. Growling, he leapt straight into the thug, kicked the shotgun out of his grasp, spun, and reverse-kicked him in the face.

THWUMP!

"AUGH!" the associate fell back into the wall, wincing.

The other got up, pulled out a dagger, and went for Robin's back.

I blurred forward and slashed the knife out of the man's grasp with Myrkblade.

CLANK!

I elbowed him, pushed him back, and advanced again with my weapon.

In such a manner, the Boy Wonder and I unleashed our punishment on the two helpless thugs. Clanking metal and cries of surprise filled the room.

We were both too busy to acknowledge either the absence of Starfire and Nova'm or the sight of Booker sitting up, rubbing his head, frowning, and reaching to the metal cabinet to open it up….

T-T-T-T-T-T-

"I…I was weak….Koriand'r…," Nova'm wheezed in Starfire's grasp.

The girl carried the two of them up the stairs from the basement to the first floor of the building where the glass windows of the place displayed the exit in full glory.

The girl Titan gasped and looked at Nova'm. "What do you mean, Nova'm?"

"The anger…..," the boy nestled his face in her shoulder and shuddered tearfully. "H-He got it….Booker got it. It hurt so much…..I-I couldn't help it…."

"Nova'm…I am getting you out of here," Starfire simply said as they rounded the steps and limped down the hallway. "Far away from this torturous place of desecration. Maybe then, I can try to convince you of your innocence."

"M-Mommy and Daddy….a-are they okay?"

"Yes, Nova'm. But only if I get you out of here."

"Th-Thank you, Koriand'r. Thank you…."

T-T-T-T-T-T-

WHAM!

I kicked a thug in the face.

He stumbled back.

I took a breath and swung my sword in a downward slash.

SWOOOOSH—SLIIINK!

He gasped as Myrkblade grazed his left shoulder, leaking blood.

I pivoted forward and smacked him in the forehead with the hilt of my weapon.

THWUMP!

He fell down cold.

I panted.

I glanced over.

Robin's opponent swung at him.

The Boy Wonder jumped back and kicked the man's knees.

The thug was strong…he stumbled only partially, but regained his strained balance just in time to block a swing of Robin's staff and punch the boy back in the chest.

WHAP!

Robin stumbled back, panting.

The thug grinned and made to charge him--

WOOOSH!

I came in from behind, twirled Myrkblade in lengthwise, and hoisted the blunt side of the blade up. I gripped the sword on either end of its wooden length with expertly placed hands…and in so doing I pinned the man's head to my chest by the blade resting against his chin. He struggled and tried to grab me with panicked hands as he struggled for breath.

"RAAUGH!" Robin dove in, swung twice, and fiercely punched the prone man's cheeks twice.

SMACK! WHAM!

The man's eyes rolled back…and he moaned as he fell unconscious.

I lowered my wooden sword, and he slumped to the ground. Robin panted. He looked up at me. He nodded.

I nodded back.

SNKKT! Robin retracted his blade and pocketed it in his utility belt. "Now that that's over with….just where the Hell have you been?"

I smirked and shrugged.

"Yeah….I suppose you were…," he mumbled. He wiped sweat off his brow and looked across the room. "Wait a second…where's Booker?"

I narrowed my black eyes from behind my shades.

"I thought I took him down. Where is he?"

I looked across the room. I saw the compartment that Nova'm was in. I saw the lockers wired to it. I saw that they were wide open and empty.

I let out a sigh and rolled my black eyes.

"?" the Boy Wonder gave me an awkward glance through his eyemask and uttered: "What is it?"

I swiftly dove into him and slammed the both of us into the ground as---

FLASH!

A green starbolt exploded over us, searing computer consoles and causing plastic and metal to fly.

The two of us shuddered as another starbolt struck, this time in the ceiling. Huge light fixtures fell down and pinned us painfully between a desk and the floor.

CLANK!

Booker jumped down before us. His metal braces and suit glowing with an emerald aura of previously unheard of proportions. The last ounce of additional fire that Nova'm had to provide was now surging through the tall, dark-haired man's arms, chest, and fingers. He grinned with the immensity of what he now possessed, and his eyes bloodlusted for our fiery demise.

"I never understood you vigilante wyrdos and your penchant for costumes until now…"

He aimed two glowing wrists at me and winked.

"Allow me to write you a place in folklore."

As a starbolt charged, I gritted my teeth, teleported out from underneath the light fixture, and leapt up at him with an upwards slash of Myrkblade.

I deflected his discharging wrists upwards.

CLANK!

FLASH!

A wave of green energy slammed into the laboratory ceiling. Sparks and shards of granite showered down.

I landed, twirled Myrkblade, and charged at him.

He aimed two wrists at his feet and created a green shield.

I slammed into it, wince, rolled off, and fell across a desk.

He laughed and launched a starbolt at me.

I flipped myself off the desk and dove towards the opposite side of the room amidst a spray of varnished splinters.

CRASH!

In the meantime, Robin got up….kicking the light fixtures off him with a shout. "RAUGH!"

Booker looked his way.

The Boy Wonder jumped to his feet, whipped out a birdarang, and tossed it hard at Booker's forehead.

SWISH-SWISH-SWISH--!

Booker raised a green-charged wrist and deflected it.

CLANK!

The birdarang flew up and embedded itself into an a/c unit.

Booker then stretched an arm out and let loose a green wave.

FLASH!

Robin ducked, rolled across the floor, leapt up to his knees, and tossed a bolo at Booker's chest.

TH-TH-THWAP! The weighted cords wrapped around the man's torso. He struggled in a standing position.

Not for long…

WOOOSH-SLAM! I blurred into him, elbow first.

He went sprawling back across the laboratory, metal-braced feet scraping against the metal floor.

I charged at him with Myrkblade raised.

He struck a wall in reverse, grit his teeth, burned the cords off him with a wave of green fire, and aimed at me.

FLASH! FLASH!

I deflected the first starbolt and slid down into a crouch to avoid the other.

In the meantime, Robin—who was running behind me—forward flipped to avoid the second starbolt, pulled out an ice disk in mid-air, and tossed it on the descent. "YAUGH!"

SWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISH-CRUNCH!

"Nnnnghhh!" Booker twitched and groaned as a layer of frost ran up and down his body, encasing him in an icy sarcophagus.

I got up…panting.

Robin got up…panting.

The two of us stared at Booker's translucent, shadow of a froze figure.

We both sighed in relief…..

…….and then the 'ice statue' began to glow green from the inside.

Robin moaned. "Awwwww son of a---"

SHATTER!

Booker's arms shot out with the unleashing of green energy.

I flinched and deflected flying ice shards with my blade.

Robin jumped behind the protective body of a desk.

"You wanna skate, boys?" Booker grinned. "Let's dance!"

In a green blur he tossed himself into the center of the laboratory. He charged up his whole body with unnatural emerald fury and spun around and around and around and around…unleashing random starbolts like a hellish acid sprinkler.

FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!

Desks shattered. Computers exploded. Light fixtures collapsed. All of Booker's and Booker's men's work was being demolished. The former FBI agent had achieved the fruition of his dreams in that starbolt-powered suit. Everything else now was just refuse. And he did a good job of showing it.

CRASH! SMASH! SIZZLE!

Robin and I scurried behind furniture and equipment and blockade, shading ourselves from flying shrapnel and falling debris.

Robin shouted something, but I couldn't hear it. I was preoccupied with the blinding sensation of the multiple starbolts' aura screaming through my shades.

Booker laughed at the top of his lungs. His spin came to a grinding stop and—grinning—he enclosed both hands together and aimed a double fist at the Boy Wonder and me.

"It's been fun….but I have greater quarry to catch!"

FLASH!

His blast sent Robin and I sailing hard against the far wall of the laboratory. We were buried by the splinter remains of two desks and three medical tables.

Booker relaxed….sighed….smiled…and spun insanely around to dash out the double doors and run up to the first floor of the building.

Where the two aliens had departed….

T-T-T-T-T-T-

Starfire half-carried Nova'm out into the middle of the street beyond the front entrance of the building.

She panted…looking around as if to find an avenue of escape amongst the three hundred and sixty degree avenue of escape illuminated around her by the golden sunset of the North Carolina day.

The twelve-year-old boy was shivering against her…the last waves of pain and aftershock slowly beginning to dwindle away in his system from the torture he had gone through.

"B-Booker….," he said. "Your friends….th-they are in trouble…"

"Robin! Noir!" Starfire looked at him. "What makes you say that?"

Nova'm swallowed his dry throat. "Because Booker has copied my fire….he's strong, Star. Perhaps as strong as you."

She blinked at him.

There was a loud clanking sound.

Both Tamaranians gasped and turned to look at the building's entrance.

Someone or something was struggling to exit…

"N-Nova'm…," Starfire stammered. "Can you fly?"

"I….I…"

"Can you fly, Nova'm?"

"I-I can't….I'm sorry, Kori!"

Starfire took a deep breath. "Then I shall carry you…," she hoisted the boy up in her arms, cradled him, and took off into the gold-littered air.

SMASH!

The glass front of the building shattered behind them.

Booker emerged, his metal joints creaking and green spheres strobing.

He looked up at the escaping two…grinned evilly…and unleashed long-ranged starbolts.

FLASH! FLASH!

Nova'm let out a shriek.

Starfire swiftly dipped, rose, and swayed in mid-flight, avoiding the green traces of fire eating up at them from behind. She and Nova'm made a bee-line towards the elevated treetops bordering Asheville. She pushed her powers into full throttle in a desperate attempt to return the boy to safety.

Booker would have none of it. With superpowered limbs blurring, he ran down the road. Cars swerved and smashed into each other as he rocketed across lanes, through alleyways, over the backs of vehicles, and even through the windows of a shop or two in his furious strive to keep up with the escaping Tamaranians.

Just as the edge of the forest approached…Booker knew that he was running out of room. He charged up two armfuls of starbolt energy. He gritted his teeth. Synthetic sparkles of replicated Tamarania danced from the edges of his youthful eyes. Just as his arm braces reached the limit and he could no longer charge the wave without risk of melting his own bone structure, he let out a huge howl and shot forth a starbolt the size of a person at the distant figure of the two.

FLASH!

Nova'm gasped over Starfire's shoulder. "Kori! A big one! A big one, Kori!"

She turned to look over her shoulder and gasped. "Hold on, Nova'm—"

WHAM!

The starbolt practically exploded into them. Starfire's body took the brunt of the explosion. The emerald fire seeped into her, sucked her of her very own livelihood, and stripped her of vitality. She gasped as if invisible lungs had been emptied of all reserves. Her eyes teared green trails as she fought to keep the two of them aloft. But inevitably…they plummeted downward and downward. Twisting and curving in a gradual fall from the height of the air over Asheville. Trees of a mountainside blurred ever the more close to their sprawling figures. And beyond them—in direct opposition—rested the tall windows of the second floor of the Biltmore Estate.

T-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Inside the lengthy Living Hall, a smartly attired woman with a nametag was giving a group of people a pleasant tour across the lavishly set interior.

"And in here we have what was once a common resting area for whenever guests of the Vanderbilts' just happened to drop by…."

SMASH!

The people shrieked and ran back against the wall as Starfire and Nova'm tumbled in through a spray of glass from a window. An antique chair went sailing through a Victorian coffee table, decimating its priceless quality.

Slowly, the two Tamaranians stirred. Nova'm sat and clutched his head, wincing.

Starfire got up, limped to the window, and looked out.

The distant, glowing-green figure of a man in a high-powered suit could be seen soaring up the mountainside under the tree tops.

"What is the meaning of this!" the tour guide stammered. "You can't just barge in here and---wait a second, you're—"

Starfire spun around and waved everyone off. "Please! You must hurry! There is a madman coming to do battle with us!"

People murmured. People trembled.

"I-I'll call the police!"

"Just evacuate the building!" Starfire insisted. "As a Titan and a superhero, I am imploring that you protect yourselves and everyone else on these premises! Go! Hurry!"

Everyone ran off in a panic.

Starfire stumbled over and helped a dizzy Nova'm up to his feet.

"Kori….wh-what'll we do?"

"Just stay by my side, Nova'm," she held his shoulders tightly and walked the two of them through a nearby door into another parlor. "I shall think of something. Just stay by my side…"

T-T-T-T-T-T-

Outside the Biltmore Estates…in the garden and the entrance area….visitors and attendants filed out in a nervous cluster of chattering, shuddering, murmuring souls. There were tons of workers on cellular phones. Calling in emergency assistance. In the distance—the downtown cluster of Asheville---police lights flashed a trail up the roads and towards the elevated location of the manor.

And unseen by the chaotic populace…a man in a metal outfit was stumbling up an embankment towards the windows of the first floor.

He clenched green glowing fists….and grinned.

T-T-T-T-T-T-

CLANK!

Starfire kicked a door open and led Nova'm by the hand hurriedly through a hallway and down a set of stairs.

They found themselves in an ornately furnished library. There were walls full to the brink with bookcases for a story and a half to the ceiling. The two Tamaranians descended a small winding staircase and reached the floor. Starfire looked all around an assortment of reading chairs, tables, and sofas. There were exits on at least three sides, and a stretch of windows illuminated the floor with fading amber.

In the distance….Crash!

The two spun and gasped.

Muffled silence.

Heartbeats.

Nova'm swallowed and clung to Starfire.

The alien Titan blinked her green eyes. She spun around. Saw a sofa with its wide back pressed to a corner…and rushed towards it with Nova'm in tow.

She lifted him, dropped him behind the sofa, and then slid in herself. The two hid behind the furniture…scrunched up to the wall. The smell of antique books and old upholstery filled their noses. Nova'm had the urge to sneeze, but Starfire shook him out of it.

They stilled their lungs and squat there….

Waiting…..

Barely breathing…..

Silence.

Nova'm trembled.

Starfire slowly reached a hand over and steadied him by cuddling his neck to her shoulder.

He leaned against her, swallowing and trying to keep still.

But his anxiety was still great.

And she sensed it with the burning.

So she whispered to him: "Do you know how I realized you were a special person, Nova'm?"

He slowly shook his head. "H-How, Kori?" he squeaked back.

She had her eyes fixed to whatever little bit of the rest of the library she could see.

"I felt you, Nova'm," she whispered. "I felt you long before I saw you. In my heart when I entered this place…I knew. I knew without a doubt that there was someone precious in this town. Someone beautiful….and needing warm, warm company for once in his life…"

Nova'm bit his lip and his eyes moistened as he listened and trembled.

There was a secret shuffling at the other end of the library. Starfire sensed it. She clenched her fists and continued whispering to the boy: "When I came to this earth…I felt so alone. The Titans made me feel worthwhile…but they could not eliminate all of the loneliness. Because—like them—I require the presence of others of my kind to truly be happy. I need the fire of my people to thrive and survive. Otherwise, the joy risks fading and falling into nothingness…"

The shuffling came closer. A tiny clanking of metal to tile.

"Out of all the odds…the sheer impossibility of it…," Starfire breathed, "…I found you, Nova'm. I came to one in a million planets….and found you. If that is not the mere whim of X'Hal, I know not what is." She stroked a hand through his short red hair and whispered into his ear. "Nova'm…never forget the angel that you are by birth. That fire inside of you…that hidden sun…its purpose is for joy, peace, and tranquility. It is a fire that burns without a threat to anyone or anything. And it is strongest when you share it with the fire inside everyone else. And I believe…Nova'm….I believe that there are countless blazes bound to be blessed by what you have to offer…."

"K-Kori?" he gasped.

She let go of him, faced the back of the furniture, and the shuffling beyond. She took a deep breath. "I love you like a sister, Nova'm. Now run away…"

His eyes widened.

She grit her teeth and lifted her knees to her chest. "Run away and keep the fire burning!"

WHAM!

She sprung her legs out with Tamaranian strength and kicked the antique sofa away completely.

SWOOOOOSH!

It sailed clear across the library and smashed straight into the body of Booker who was in the middle of charging a starbolt.

WHAM!

"AAUGH!"

He fell down amidst shards and splinters.

Starfire jumped up to her feet and sprinted across the room. Her arms glowed.

Nova'm got up. "Kori!" he shouted desperately.

"Nova'm! Go!" she shouted and thusly dove into the recovering body of Booker.

WHUMP!

"MMMPHH!"

"RAAAAUGH!"

With charged limbs, she shoved him across the tile—SCRAAAAAAPE—through a table—SMASH—and through the wall on the other side—CRASH!

The two were sent sprawling into a thick hallway.

Booker tumbled hard to his back.

Starfire caught her footing, took a breath, and charged him again. She glowed clenched fists of burning jade.

FLASH!

Booker slid across the floor like a hockey puck.

Starfire jumped up, caught an invisible wind, and sailed straight down at him with two starbolts: "RAAAUGH!"

FLASH! FLASH!

He deflected with the metal braces of his arms and suddenly there was nothing but air between the two combatants.

Starfire's eyes widened and she gasped.

Booker reached up with a snarl and grabbed one of her thin arms.

She shrieked as he flipped her over him and straight through another wall.

SMASH!

Her alien body broke through the foundation and emerged inside the wide dining hall. Tapestries hung on the wall. Medieval light fixtures hung from overhead. Monstrous fireplaces blazed heatedly with red glory. A long dining table stretched beyond twenty feet down the chamber, lined with antique wooden chairs.

She hobbled up to her feet, shaking a dizzy head.

"Nnnnnghhh!"

She looked up.

Booker was charging her. He flung a starbolt into her skull.

FLASH!

"OOF!" she flew back, rolled off the top of the dining table, and smashed through a chair to come to a tumbling stop on the other side…moaning.

Booker ran. He leapt. He sailed over and down at her, tossing starbolt after starbolt.

FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! She rolled left—dodged—rolled right—dodged—and jumped up in an uppercut just as he landed.

SMACK!

His head tilted back unnaturally.

Starfire pivoted her arms back, swung them forward, and double-punched the villain in the chest. "RAUGH!"

WHUMP!

He fell back against the table, gasped, and stretched a wrist at her. FLASH!

Starfire backflipped, flew upside down, dodged the starbolt, and landed upright…sliding backwards.

The tapestry behind her was struck with the starbolt and burned a hole through.

Starfire bumped into a tall candlestick holder: a metal stand about the same height as herself.

Booker stood up straight and charged two hands' worth of starbolts. Frowning.

Starfire grabbed the stand, spun it, and struck it across his hands.

FLASH!

A starbolt exploded in his grasp. His fingers burned. "AAAAUGH!"

She wasted no time in twirling the stand around and shoving it—candles first—into his chest.

WHAP!

He fell back and tumbled atop the table.

Starfire let out a yell and swung the stand down at his body.

He rolled to the side, got up on a knee, and launched a starbolt at her.

FLASH!

CLANG! She deflected with a twirl of the metal stand.

He flung another starbolt.

FLASH!

She leapt the glowing projectile, flipped, and came down on him atop the long table with the stand swinging down. "RAAUGH!"

CLANK!

He rolled out of the way before it could strike. He swiveled up to his feet…sliding a metal-braced leg out and knocked the stand out of Starfire's grasp.

She stumbled backwards, catching both her wits and her breath.

Booker got into a fighting position. He spun his limbs around and rushed her—two fists outstretched.

WH-WHAP!

Starfire slid back across the table, her skidding feet knocking away candles and placemats and empty dishes.

The friction caught up.

She grit her teeth.

She dashed down his edge of the table and lifted a knee.

WHUMP!

He slid down across the wooden surface. He caught himself, took a deep breath, and swung a green-charged fist just as she ran up a second time.

SWOOOSH!

She dodged and elbowed him hard in the sternum.

He held his arms out, took the impact, and wrapped his upper body around Starfire's. He held her in a death grip. Her alien strength tried in vain to match up against his synthetic one. He grinned. Sparks of green danced around his eyes. He increased the energy output of his wrists's metal and gradually burned into Starfire's shoulders.

The girl winced in pain. She angrily snarled and swung her leg up the only part of his body not equipped with the metal mesh outfit.

WHUMP!

Booker's eyes bulged. He hobbled back…wheezing and grasping his groin.

"HAAAA!" Starfire leapt, spun around, and side-kicked him in mid air across the face.

WHAM!

He spun three times in place atop the varnished tabletop.

Starfire landed, clasped together two hands, and flung a starbolt straight into the careening man's side.

FLASH!

His body sailed off like a projectile.

In mid-air, Starfire stared. She focused her energy through her optics and shot two eyeblasts of Tamaranian fury. The lasers struck dead center against the mid-air Booker and knocked him clear across the long dining room…and straight into a blazing fireplace.

CRASH!

PHWOOOOMB!

His body was swallowed up by the flames.

A green burst of light intensified….then died out.

Silence…

Starfire heaved. She slowly marched across the length of the table. She jumped down to the floor. She approached the fireplace.

Frowning.

Her lip was bleeding green blood. Two bruises splotched her forehead under tussled red hair. There was a tear in her purple skirt and a limp to her walk.

She marched up to the hearth of the fireplace and stared in.

Nothing but flames….

She took a deep breath. She hung sad green eyes, pivoted around, and began a funeral walk back to where she last lef--

SWOOOOSH!

Booker's body flew out of the fireplace, slammed hard into Starfire's side, grabbed her by the long red hair, and slammed her skull to the floor with a roar. "AAAAUGH!"

SLAP!

"UNNGH!" Starfire exclaimed, her upper body wracked with pain.

Smoking, he let out another growl and kicked her hard in the stomach.

WHUMP!

She wheezed and curled into a fetus position. Green tears poured out of her eyes and mixed with the blood from the lip.

He let out another growl and kicked her again…sending her tumbling across the dining room floor and towards the stretch of amber-scattering windows.

Starfire coughed…sputtered…and looked up weakly at the villain.

His whole body was trailing smoke. Like he was bathed in ashes and embers. Clearly he had survived the flames through some miraculous means. There were scorch marks all over his skin. But it didn't look natural. The skin was somehow acting as a heat shield. And that very same shield was melting away. Collapsing in on itself. Wrinkling.

As Starfire watched, Booker morphed from a dashing figure in his mid twenties to a wasted soul of the mid sixties. The fire had burned his mask away. It had annihilated the plastic persona. The true ex-FBI agent now loomed before her, panting. Seething. All but foaming at the mouth.

"You realize what this suit will do?" he wheezed, staring wide-eyed at her as his voice also betrayed his true age. "It will give me everything! Everything I need! Money! Resources! Friends in high places! Everything I need to stay YOUNG!"

He rushed down and gripped her by her hair roughly.

She winced.

"The Enoch Project!" Booker hyperventilated. "Have you ever heard about it! Of course not, you alien bitch! You're not even a citizen of this damn planet! And no citizen knows what it is! But I did! I knew so many secrets…so many techniques used in preserving our god damn leaders in office….keys to extended mortality…..an answer to age itself! So I fell in love! So I pursued scientists who were an expert in the field instead of national security! So what! They called me crazy. And you know what I say! Everyone's crazy! Everyone's crazy if they think they can live forever! I had it all! And I can still have it all! But it's freakish pieces of shit like you and that damn kid who don't…show…me…MERCY!"

He let out a warcry, picked her up, spun around, and threw her straight through one of the stretches of window.

SMASH!

Starfire's breath left her as she sailed through the glass and came out the other side in a river of shards. She rolled to a stop on the front lawn of the Biltmore Estate. A throng of employees and tourists evacuated outside gasped and stepped back in a retreating bulge of wide-eyes and dropped jaws.

Starfire's green eyes weakly blinked at them. She tried sitting up—wincing—and turned to look as Booker leapt through the window, landed in a hard squat with metal braced legs, and then marched towards her.

His hair was sizzling. His body red hot. His fake skin sagging. Graying eyes hauntingly saucering out and down at her.

She tried to scamper away—but he clutched her skull hard with one hand and hoisted her face up to face a free, green-glowing hand.

She struggled and strained in his grasp.

He narrowed his fake eyebrows and wheezed menacingly: "I hope in death, you face a pure hell of irony, freak. Your power…your ugly, alien power…it shall be harnessed for the pure obliteration of tons of people at the hands of criminal organizations the world over. And where will I be? I will be in the fountain of youth. And my only regret will be having to admit that I used worthless, foreign species like you to step my way up the ladder! Smile, pretty one….I'm about to send your space back to the galactic shithole you call home!"

His knuckles glowed a bright emerald and sailed burningly at her face.

She closed her green eyes and held her breath.

"No!" A small hand reached out and clamped over Booker's wrist.

The man let out a torturous grasp. He looked over from where he held Starfire.

Nova'm stood. Looking up with wet eyes of green. He was holding Booker's burning hand in place in a trembling gasp. The twelve-year-old bit his lip and pleaded: "Please…..d-don't hurt Kori. I-It's me that you want….r-remember?"

"N-Nova'm….," Starfire weakly breathed.

Slowly…..evilly….Booker smirked. "Come to think of it….it isn't her that I want after all!"

WOOOSH-GRIP!

The people watching gasped in fright.

Booker was now holding both Starfire's and Nova'm's necks in one hand each. Both struggled in vain to get free…then simply hung limp in his synthetically strong grasp.

"I want the both of you! Because as far as I know…you're the only two freaks of your kind on this planet! I'll be doing myself—and the world—a lot of good by exterminating your sorry asses all at once!"

Starfire gasped for breath.

Tears rolled down Nova'm's grip.

The evening wind from the North Carolina mountains rolled down the side of the Biltmore Estate and kicked at the burning ends of Booker's fake hair, the splotched remains of his fake eyebrows, and the flaking bits of plastic off his fake lips as he grinned and sneered: "Pure irony! The fruit of my efforts! Two pitiful freaks ended by the very same fire that screams inside of them! Some people are dead before they're even born. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

Starfire's eyes thinned. Regardless, she looked over at Nova'm.

The boy hiccupped in Booker's grip and looked back.

"……"

"……"

Something in the wind lifted them up. They remembered each other's faces. They remembered the smiles. The glow in their skin. The warmth that caused that glow. The fire that caused that warmth. Burning deep inside of them. Hidden joy. Hidden suns.

And for once, it didn't matter if they came into being centuries apart. With or without suspended animation. With or without billions of miles and billions of zygotes in between them.

They were brother and sister.

And they smiled.

Booker's maniacal laughter was cut short by a red hot sensation. He gasped. He looked down. The half-sphere on his metal breastplate was glowing brighter and brighter. The alien energy inside was surging madly for some reason….

Starfire and Nova'm smiled more and more. Somewhere deep inside, their lungs sighed dreamily.

The sphere started to vibrate. A heat seeped out throughout the length and width of the metal braces strapped to Booker's plastic skin. And it burned. It burned like hell. It burned harder than any grand fireplace or any starbolt or any sparking computer console.

"Aaaaugh!" the man shouted. He hurriedly dropped the two Tamaranians. "Get it off me!" He fumbled with flapping, melted 'skin' to pull the braces off. "Get it off!"

But Starfire grinned. Nova'm even giggled.

"NOOO! AAAAUGH!" Booker shouted. He gripped the breastplate. The surface burned his fingers…producing skin and the smell of melted skin. Fake or not. He popped the thing finally and moaned in pain and gasped for breath all the same.

CLANK!

The breastplate fell to the floor. The half-sphere shook….clanked…and exploded in a fury of translucent polymer.

CRACK!

Booker stumbled back, shading himself with singed limbs.

A tornado of green fire spiraled up into the thin summer air of the Carolina mountains and got lost in the amber sunset. Eaten by mosquitoes.

Booker panted. For once, he wished he had his old sweat pores.

"Our power….it is not a destructive power…."

The man looked back down.

It was Nova'm who spoke. He smiled and helped Starfire up. The two stood side by side, weakly leaning against each other.

"It is a gift….," Starfire said.

Nova'm nodded, "….and you can't handle a gift, Booker."

"You lost your hands a long, long time ago. The rest of your body as well, for that matter."

"And….your soul."

The man's lungs heaved. He frowned. "You…..r-ruined my dreams…."

The two merely smiled.

Booker gritted gnarled, old teeth. He reached into his pocket and suddenly produced a magnum. He aimed it at the two aliens as the crowd beyond on the Biltmore Estate gasped.

"I may not have a future anymore……but I think it's about time you damn freaks learn what it's like to be human. Join mortality with me, shitheads. Lord knows….y-you just invited yourselves."

Starfire and Nova'm took deep breaths…holding each other.

Booker pulled the trigger---

suddenly, a field of black energy encased his weapon.

"Wha---!" he gasped in shock.

The gun lifted from his grasp and flew in the air towards a blue-haired girl with gray eyes and a billowing robe.

Booker took a step towards her--

WOOOOSH-THWUMP!

A green ram charged up out of nowhere and slammed the burnt man's chest hard with sailing horns.

"OOOF!" Booker flew ten feet and landed in the titanium embrace of a tall android.

He looked straight up and gasped.

Cyborg smirked besides the T-Car. "Don't even think about it." And he brought his fists down into the man's face.

WHAM!

T-T-T-T-T-T-

When Robin and I marched up the last of the rise in the road and approached the Biltmore Estate, it was an hour and a half later into the fall of night. Random citizens and pedestrians circled a scene full of police squad cars with blinking lights and investigators discussing the chaotic events of the last day or two that had come into fruition.

Robin and I exchanged glances. Our bruised up and slightly bleeding glances. We both chuckled.

It felt like home…

We hobbled our way to the T-Car, where Starfire and Nova'm could be seen sitting on the hood. They were talking to each other.

Robin stepped immediately up to Cyborg…who stood proudly with his hands on his hips next to a fully costumed Beast Boy and Raven.

A beat.

Robin lifted his eyebrows….smirked slightly….and shrugged. "Report," he said.

"Report yourself," Cyborg smirked. He smiled and folded his arms. "Everything's a-okay over here."

"You're sure of that?"

"Dude!" Beast Boy stretched his arms behind his back and smiled boastfully. "It's vacation! We're all too good!"

Robin blinked behind his eyemask. "You all just came in at the last second after Starfire royally kicked ass, didn't you?"

Cyborg and Beast Boy lifted their fingers and opened their mouths to respond--

"Yes." Said Raven.

The other two glared at her.

She smirked slightly.

I chuckled breathily.

"Well then….," Robin spun around and faced the scene. "Sure beats Disney World."

"Whatever you say, dude. I hate Florida."

Cyborg remarked. "Too many meat-eating tourists?"

"Yeah…that and republicans."

"Ah."

I took my shades off, rubbed my black eyes' lids, and squinted across the way at the two on the T-Car.

Starfire and Nova'm sat together. Content. Lively. Starfire had parts of her shoulder in a makeshift bandage. Nova'm's legs dangled childishly off the edge of the T-Car's hood.

The two Tamaranians watched as Booker was carted off into the back of a squad car, handcuffed. His starbolt emulating outfit of metal was carted off in a separate vehicle. Staring deeply at his weathered face, the alien nomads had no idea how they could not have seen the aged fool under the cool exterior before.

"This is the…s-start of something new, I guess…," Nova'm blinked.

Starfire glanced down at him. "The start?"

"Y-Yeah," he nodded and looked back up at her. "The creep's gone. My parents and I will be safe. I-I won't have to hide out in that boring cabin all the time…."

Starfire smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Is that all that has changed?"

Nova'm blinked. He blushed. "I…..I-I suppose that I'm…..ya know…."

"Hmmmm?"

He hugged his knees to his chest and bashfully looked away. "…..I-I'm happier now….," he murmured.

She smiled. "And is that all?"

He looked at her with a flash. "And I'm not ashamed of who I am anymore! Are you happy!"

She giggled. She reached a hand down and ruffled his mat of red hair. "I am always happy, Nova'm. But you know what?"

"Hmmm?" he leaned his cute head to the side and blinked at her with clear green eyes.

She leaned down and whispered I his ear. "You started being this happy and shameless a long…long time ago. All it took was the burning to wake up to it….to embrace yourself….Nova'm."

He took a deep breath. "I-Is it okay if I embrace you, Kori?"

"Hmmmmm," she mock 'thought about it'. Then brightened. "Affirmative!"

He giggled and practically tackled her off the hood of the T-Car in a hug. "You always talk funny!"

"I do my best," she winked and stroked the small of his back in their hug.

A beat.

Nova'm sighed into her. He stared off into space. "It's all…..s-so intense. Me? A prince?"

"A monarch…," Starfire nodded over him. "A piece of our planet's history. Indescribably priceless, Nova'm…."

He bit his lip. "I….I-I don't think I could….face all that. So soon. So suddenly…."

She swallowed…and smiled gently into the night air. "I assumed such of you, Nova'm."

He looked up at her, fearful.

She stroked a strand of hair or two away from over his forehead and said soothingly: "And I know that—although Tamaran lives inside of you—Earth is what you know. And I believe—for the time being—you should get to know Earth a bit more before you venture on the revelation of yourself to our people."

"B-But….Kori….," Nova'm stammered. "Now that you've found me….won't our people be trying to grab me and sit me on a throne and stuff?"

"Hmmmm," she glanced off. "You know what….I just had a wonderful vacation. I went out 'hiking the trail' with my friends, spend evenings performing 'braiding maneuvers' on Raven's hair, and even sat down to a movie with Beast Boy! Oh, what was the title….'Feet and Lounging In Las of the Vegas'?"

Nova'm blinked. "But…..what about me?"

"Who?" Starfire looked at him dumbly. "Who are you? I certainly do not know of any boy named Nova'm, long lost on a planet after years of drifting through space in a time capsule! Oh…all the boring things I will have to report to my contacts on Tamaran! Another uneventful day! But a glorious vacation!"

Nova'm grinned wide. "You mean…i-it's our secret!

"For now…," she whispered with a smile and a wink.

"Oh Kori! Thank you!" he hugged her deeply. "I promise! I will be ready for you! I will be ready for you when the time comes to….t-to go back home."

She leaned in and pointed behind him. "I believe home is just two hugs away…"

His mouth dropped. He spun around to look.

Another squad car had pulled up in front of the Biltmore. Out of the back—assisted by an officer—emerged Kevin and Ruth Sanderson. They looked over…brightened…and reached out for their boy. "Nova'm!"

"Mom! Dad!" the redhead jumped off the T-Car's hood, bounded across the pavement, and practically leapt into their arms. The family of three knelt together. Amber and ebony. Green tears and clear tears. Six arms identically holding…warming…loving….

"Thank god you're allright…."

"We prayed….we prayed so hard…."

"It's over, mommy! Daddy! It's over! You don't have to worry about me anymore!"

"Shhh….it was never worry, Son. NEVER worry…."

Starfire hugged herself and took a deep breath as she watched. The edges of her eyes were moist. She was only half aware of Robin wandering over and leaning by her side. Gradually, she looked over and smiled brilliant teeth at the Boy Wonder.

Robin smirked. "Happy about something?"

Suddenly, she pounced him in a deep hug.

His eyemask bulged. He fought for breath.

She nestled her face into his cape and said with a shudder. "I feel….so complete, Robin. That is all. That is….all…."

He steadied himself, managed a weak smile, and patted her shoulder back.

"It is a good thing that you found Nova'm…"

She sniffed, looked up, and smiled. "It is not all because of Nova'm…."

T-T-T-T-T-T-

The next day…

Outside the Titans' cabin in Little View….

Pluck!

I winced. I gritted my teeth. I exhaled and continued sitting—shirtless---on the tree stump besides the house.

Cyborg sat behind me. More like 'squat', actually. He was busy running a dermatological scanner over my bare back and shoulders and using a pair of fingers converted to tweezers to yank out the dozens of splinters still in my skin from the scuffle at the lumberyard.

"Will you relax?" he exclaimed, his lips crooked. "I don't know how you ran into so much wood…but the wood sure didn't like you, man!"

I took a breath and shrugged.

"Found another!"

Pluck!

I bit my lip. My black eyes clenched shut. When they reopened….there was Beast Boy.

With a camera.

FLASH!

Light tortured me through the shades much like Cyborg's administrations did to my back.

I winced all over and frowned at the changeling.

"Hehehehehehe!" he held the Polaroid over his head and did a victory dance. "Gawd! What priceless memories! Speedy's gonna love seeing this when we all get back!"

"Yeah…well, that won't be for a while," Cyborg smirked. "Cuz it's westward ho! after this debacle!"

"Pfft…yeah," Beast Boy pouted and waited for the Polaroid to form. "I'm getting kinda tired of North Carolina. It's so….Northern…and Carolinan…."

"We could have gone to Mammoth Caves together, but noooooo!"

Pluck!

I jolted. I hadn't expected that one.

"Easy, pal," Cyborg's titanium hand patted my shoulder calmly. It felt hauntingly cold. Almost like where my left arm met the joints of my prosthetic. "Really, Beast Boy, I think the key to having a vacation is….having a vacation! This place has been nothing but bad luck! And quite frankly…I haven't gone much further than these woods. I'm getting city-sick."

"Then what's going west gonna do for us?"

"It's gonna get you to fall asleep and shut up for once."

"Huh! Why!"

"Cuz you'll be riding in the car, man! And you always fall asleep when in the car for a long time!"

"Dude! I do not!"

"Heheheheh! And you drool too!"

"DUDE! ALL LIES!"

I smirked and shook my head.

Pluck!

I grit my teeth, shuddered, and looked out across the road. I caught sight of Raven and the old innkeeper walking together. Calmly talking about something.

The dark girl seemed so serene. She was still her stoical self. But her movement was less rigid…more relaxed. About as casual a the vacationing clothes she was wearing.

I sighed.

Cyborg seemed to pause in his administrations behind me.

I heard him say: "Ya know….she was really worried about you when you were gone yesterday."

I shrugged.

"Really…she was." A beat. "Kinda makes a guy envious, you know?"

I glanced back behind my shoulder.

Cyborg wasn't looking back. I wanted to scratch my head about that. Instead, I simply looked in Raven's direction. And again…I felt the death of something.

I shrugged it off as everything else and sighed.

Pluck!

T-T-T-T-T-T-

"So…I hear you folks might be taking off soon!" Jared Feldman smirked.

Raven strolled alongside him up the asphalt. The pine stretched overhead majestically. Shading….

"I'll take life as it goes," Raven said. "That's how I've always done it."

"Do I sense a regression?" Feldman remarked.

Raven shook her head. "No. Reinforcement."

"Do tell."

"I was right the first time," Raven took a deep breath. "I should keep to worrying about what I know about myself and my emotions. Not what others know about myself and my emotion. I protected everyone around me earlier just by focusing on myself. Not by stressing over them."

"So the great emotional experiment---"

"Was worth it," she nodded. "But benign."

"Ah. Is this something you desire?"

"I try to do away with desires," Raven smirked ever so slightly. "As should you."

"Oh…but I'm only a wanna be Buddhist by day!" Feldman exclaimed.

Raven screeched to a halt and looked at him funny. "By day! What else are you!"

"Well….," Feldman scratched his chin. "By night…I am a chip'n'dale dancer!"

"……."

"……."

"……."

"……HA! I'm just kiddin'!" the man chuckled.

Raven gritted her teeth….but tried in vain to hide a smile. "I swear to god…you ARE a crazy old fart!"

"Now THAT!" Feldman grinned a wrinkled grin. "THAT is a religion I've been holding more and more faith in as these days come and go…"

"Want to go fishing?"

"Sure, little lady!"

T-T-T-T-T-T-

Overlooking the old man and the dark girl—high above—Starfire sat on a branch of a looming pine tree. Dressed again in her casuals and cardigan sweater, she smiled, took a deep breath, and stared off across the tree canopy blanketing the foot of the nearby mountain. The wind blew at her hair and soothed her face from the previous day's battles.

POW! SWOOOOSH-CLANK!

A grappling hook swung around the body of the branch.

Robin hoisted himself up, wearing slacks and a t-shirt again. He climbed and took a position next to Starfire.

"This seat taken?"

"A branch is hardly ever taken, Robin," Starfire blinked. "Unless there is a real estate for trees available in this neck of your country—"

"I was only kidding, Star," he smirked.

She giggled. "I know. I actually do 'know' sometimes."

"Then why do you……ya know….."

"Hmmm?"

Robin sweat. "A-Answer so cutely?"

She cupped her hands together and fluttered her eyelashes. "Because I am a 'cute person'!"

Robin chuckled, sighed, and stared off at the mountain.

A beat.

"Why did you do it, Robin?" she asked.

He looked his way. "Hmmm?"

"Why did you help me?" she blinked. "You said you came along to save Nova'm as a sense of responsibility as the Titan leader…"

He nodded.

"Was that all, Robin?" she leaned her head to the side. "For I greatly sense that there is more."

He swallowed. He said: "There is always more…while you're still alive, Star."

She blinked. "And that is supposed to mean…."

Robin blushed. Instead, he suavely ran a finger across his mouth and said: "'Mum's the Word, Star.'"

"….," She blinked. "Your statement is supposed to mean 'Mum'?"

That was genuine…and it made Robin laugh.

The Tamaranian blushed.

The Boy Wonder helplessly hooked an arm around her and hugged her toward him. "Glad to have you back, Star…"

She smiled and held a hand over her glowing heart. "Sometimes…we never truly leave……"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Suddenly things become unsound
Stumbling on the shaky ground
Given arrows to shoot tornadoes down
Shoot them down, to the ground

Saw a falling leaf, a good luck jump to grab
Much to our surprise, a butterfly
Then it sunk in this enduration,
enduration in our lives

Inside ourselves
A hidden sun that burns and burns
But never does any harm to anyone

Shivering madly in the dark
Like an animal abandoned in the car park
And she held me and then she showed me the
Beauty of the human heart

Inside ourselves,
A hidden sun that burns, and burns
But never does any harm to anyone
A hidden sun that burns, and burns
But never does any harm to anyone,
anyone, oooh, anyone.

-~-"Hidden Sun" by Barenaked Ladies