After training the next day, Starfire showered and headed down to Raven's room. It was hard to believe they had only been at the manor for a week. So much has happened in that amount of time. She lightly raps on the door, and suddenly a small green lizard slips under the crack, running down the hallway. She giggles as she watches Beast Boy make his escape, but it cuts off when the door opens. She looks at Raven, cheeks flushed and hair just slightly out of place.
"I will not do the asking," says Starfire.
"Thanks." She motions her hand for Starfire to come in. They walk across the room and take a seat on her bed. "Alright, just relax." Raven places her hands on Starfire's head, mainly over the right side. She closed her eyes as warmth spread over her face, causing her to slightly flush. Starfire didn't speak, letting Raven concentrate. But in minutes, she was finished.
"I thank you, friend."
"No problem at all. Like I said, it's not taking too much out of me."
"Yes, you said gunshots were more difficult," says Starfire. Suddenly, her eyes grew wide, finally realizing what Raven was referring to when she had said that. Richard had been shot! It was the first year they were dating. She remembered sitting with him in the hospital wing of the Tower as Raven healed him, then placed bandages around his shoulder. He was so frustrated and angry with himself.
"You remember." Starfire nods. "Yeah, I didn't know if I should bring that up."
"That was not a pleasant experience."
"I agree."
"But I remembered! Oh, thank you Raven!" Starfire leaned across the bed to give her friend a hug. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the small green lizard appear from under the door. She breaks the hug with Raven, pointing in the direction of Beast Boy.
"Well, I guess we should make out now, huh?" says Raven. Starfire giggles.
"Yes, it would be most enjoyable." Raven laughs at her lack of acting skills.
"Say what?" says Beast Boy as he turns back into his normal self. The two girls laugh and Beast Boy makes a face. "Fine, be that way. Starfire, I heard a beeping in your room. Sounds like your communicator."
"Oh! Thank you for telling me." Starfire stands up from the bed waving "goodbye" to Raven.
She walks back down to her room, going over to her dresser to grab her communicator. Cyborg had a new one made for her, seeing how she no longer had one. The rest of them had kept theirs over the past few years.
She looks at the screen, seeing an image of Speedy with "missed call" below it. Suddenly, it beeps in her hand again. She takes the call.
"I am sorry, Roy, I did not have my communicator with me."
"S'okay. You busy tonight?"
"I do not have the plans."
"Great. Wanna go to this party?" Her eyebrows furrow.
"I do not know…" He makes an annoyed face.
"C'mon princess, it'll be fun. Look, I'll send you the address. We're going as civilians, so you'd have to wear your holo thing. Bee's going to be there, too. If you feel like having fun, fly on over. See ya." His image disappears, leaving a torn Starfire. She doesn't know if she really wants to go. She knows that there will be alcohol, and Speedy was handsy enough when he was sober. But perhaps when they're in public, he'll act a little more modestly.
Her phone beeps again, displaying a message in text. Speedy has sent her the address and the time… 7:00. So she has five hours to decide.
"Starfire?" asks Cyborg's muffled voice from outside her door.
"Yes?" she calls as she walks over to the door, opening it.
"It's time for lunch, my lady," he says playfully as he holds out his arm to her. She giggles, linking her elbow with his. She always loved Cyborg and Beast Boy's playfulness towards her. They always made her smile even when she was down.
After they've finished their meal, Richard clears his throat, getting their attention.
"So, um, I was thinking that maybe we could have a movie night?"
"Dude, yeah! There's that new horror that just came out on DVD. We totally have to get it," says Beast Boy.
"I'm in. My only plans were to kick green beans' ass on the game console," says Cyborg smugly.
"Oh that was so not going to happen."
"Yeah, okay."
"I think it's a good idea," says Raven.
"But we'll have to run to Gotham. We don't have any good movies here." Richard looks over at Starfire, realizing that she's the only one who hasn't spoken out. "How about it, Star?" The other three look at her.
"I am sorry, friends, but I have the plans. I shall join you next time."
"Well we can wait till tomorrow," says Richard.
"No, that is okay. Please, do not do the fretting." She fiddles with her hands, trying not to meet Richards devastated gaze.
"Alright," he says. "Well, do you still want to run to Gotham with us? We'll probably head over in about an hour… is that okay?" The other three nod, agreeing.
"I suppose I will come along."
"Great," he says, grinning at her. She blushes and smiles back reflexively.
Alfred steps in from the kitchen. "Pardon me, Master Dick, but Master Bruce has requested your presence in the cave. He says it's urgent." Starfire watches as Richards smile falls.
"Alright. Well, if I'm not back up here in an hour, you might have to go on without me. This will probably take a while." He gives them all a wave and exit's the room. Starfire stares after him.
"Looks like Starfire's got a little pink to her cheeks," says Beast Boy.
"Heart skippin' a beat for the bird boy?" teases Cyborg. They laugh with each other, and she blushes again.
...
"We got anything?" asks Dick. He skids to a stop, seeing that Bruce isn't alone. "Oh, hi Babs, Selina."
Babs sits at the computer with her back to him, but flicks her hand up in a wave. She's always been amazing with computers. No one can hack a computer like she can; she's able to breach even the highest security systems. She's always been a genius, but after she became Oracle, we relied on her brains even more. Selina lounges on a chair on the other side of the room.
"Hiya, honey." She seems to be filing her nails.
"To answer your question," says Babs, "Yes. I found a transmission from a ship to its base in Gotham. In the transmission, something was said about a guy in a red mask. Turns out he paid them some money to bring him over to Gotham. I found some images from the cameras on the ship." She presses some keys and brings up a number of clips.
"Red Hood," says Bruce.
"Yeah, so we know how he got here. What I also know is that he beat the crap out of everyone on that ship before he got off. Seemed a little unnecessary to me."
"He runs on rage."
"I've found him running around with many Gotham gangs, and he's, like, controlling them. He seems to be sending some of the gang members out against Black Mask's guys. Which reminds me, Black Mask has a shipment of Kryptonite coming in. Scheduled to enter Gotham City tonight."
"Damn, the one night I had plans," says Dick.
"Cancel them. You're patrolling tonight."
"Can I come?" asks Selina. Bruce nods. Dick thinks he heard her purr.
"Be at the docks by nine. And you'll probably find Red Hood there as well. It's weird. We've seen him beating up innocents and cops, but also Joker's and Black Mask's guys. I don't know what he's doing."
"Well we'll just have to have a chat with him," says Bruce. "We're done here. Dick, be ready for my call." Dick nods, heading out of the cave to go up to his room. But he senses a presence behind him.
"You haven't been around in a few days."
"Figured you needed some time," says Babs.
"I don't know what I need."
"I do." She stays a safe distance away from him. "So… you had plans tonight?"
"Yeah, movie night with the team. I mean, with the Titans."
She was quiet for a moment. "Did that include another red head?"
"She had other things to do tonight."
"I can tell by the way you say that… you think she's going out on a date?"
"Another date. With Speedy."
"Ouch," she said, somewhat teasingly. "Why haven't you broken up with me yet?"
Dick's eyebrows furrow. "Are you waiting for me to break up with you?"
"Look, I'm just surprised. For the past week I've been waiting for that conversation. Starfire's back. That kind of eliminates me from the picture."
"You've always been one of my best friends, Babs. You'll always be in the picture."
"But not as the girlfriend. Just say it, okay? I've always known that I would never replace Starfire and I never wanted to. If I could've brought her back, I would have in a minute. I knew how much it hurt you not to be with her. So just tell me why you haven't dumped me, 'cause I'm pretty damn confused."
"Starfire's going to leave me. She's going back to Jump when they're done with training and I have Bludhaven. I just know that things are going to get bad again, and… God, I feel like such a jerk." Inhale, exhale. She looked at him expectantly. "If I break up with you, I'll lose you too. And you're the one thing that kept me somewhat sane."
"Dick," she said, stepping closer to place a hand on his shoulder. "Like you said, I'm one of your best friends. And you're one of mine. Plus we work together. You can't get rid of me no matter how hard you try."
"But-"
"This may sound weird, but I always kind of felt like we were never really dating. I always felt like just your best friend. But a little more. I feel like it was my job to comfort you when you needed it. I've loved you for a long time, Dick, but not in a way a girlfriend should. So don't worry, I'm not mad at you. We'll make this mutual, even though I promised Starfire I wouldn't break up with you."
"She's going to kill me when she finds out."
"Just send her to me. I'll straighten it out." Dick was surprised when she stretched up to give him a hug. "You'll reel her back in, Dick. Don't you worry. You're irresistible." He chuckles.
"Can't disagree with that." She laughs as she steps back from him.
"Alright, well I have a lunch date with my dad. See you tonight."
"Thanks, Babs." She flashed him a smile before he turned around to head up to the manor.
Dick rushes into his room, changing into jeans and a white t-shirt, tossing a thinner light blue sweater over it. It's not too warm in Gotham, even in late August. When it's almost September, it can feel like November. He goes into his bathroom to fix up his hair. He combs out some of the. It's a little too long for spikes now.
He tosses his mask on his dresser. The Titans will be wearing their holorings to look a little less extraordinary. They'll be playing Dick Grayson's old friends from college. They've all been out in Gotham before, but it's been years. The press knew Starfire as Kori Anders… Dick Grayson's girlfriend.
He looks at the clock. It's 3:30. They'll be ready to go by now. He runs out of his room, taking the stairs at a quick pace. He gets to the main hallway just as Cyborg -well, Victor- is reaching for the door.
"Well look who decided to grace us with his presence," said Rachel.
"Yeah, yeah, lets go," says Dick. He takes the door from Victor, holding it for everyone to walk out. Kori is the last one to exit. Dick has to fight not to let his mouth drop. He always loved it when she curled her hair. It falls in long, beautiful waves down her back, the green color of her dress accentuating her red hair and green eyes. She blushes as she notices his gaze. He can do nothing but smile, closing the door behind him and walking faster to catch up with her.
"Alright, y'all, we got the Titans back out on the town!" exclaims Victor as he moves into the front seat of Dick's black Mercedes-Benz.
"Who says you get to drive my car?" asks Dick.
"It's tradition. I always drive." With a chuckle, Dick climbed into the passenger seat.
He said that he wouldn't pester Kori, and he's keeping his word. He's not going to try too hard. Sure, he wanted to sit next to her in the back, but that might make her uncomfortable. He has to respect her decision, while trying to sabotage it at the same time.
"So, movie store first? Or are we gonna chill for a while?"
"Dude, is there a comic book store here?"
"Gar, you're 24 years old."
"Never too old, baby, never too old." Dick hears Kori giggle in the seat behind him. He smiles at the sound.
"Why don't we park the car outside of the movie store and walk around from there. When we come back to the car, we'll rent the movies."
"Sounds good to me," says Victor. They reach the store in ten minutes. Dick puts some change into the parking meter, claiming the spot for the next three hours, just to be safe.
"So seriously, comic book store? If I had known we were going to be here for so long, I would have brought mine."
"Yeah, Gar and I only packed a weeks worth of clothes. We might have to run back to Jump some time."
"Yes, I left most of my new clothes back at Rachel and Gar's apartment. I did not believe I would require more than I brought."
"Just use some money out of the Titan account." They all gave him a look. "Yes, we saved it. Just in case. We haven't replenished it in a while, but it's still there. I even have my card." He fished into his wallet, handing a credit card to Kori. "We'll just have to go shopping."
"Oh, we cannot use this card, Dick, it is your money."
"No, it was the Titan money. Now come on, the next block over has a couple of popular stores."
They spend the next hour jumping from store to store. All of the store clerks gush over the group, going out of their way to help them. Gar likes the attention. The clerks loved dressing up Kori. She looks great in just about everything. They all get enough warmer outfits, seeing how the weather will get chillier within the next few weeks of their stay. Kori insisted that she didn't need sweaters; she doesn't get cold. But Dick told her it was necessary to blend in.
After an hour of shopping, the five of them head back down the street toward the movie store. But after Gar's whining about how he's so hungry he could eat his own hand, they decided to stop for a bite. Dick took them to a pizza parlor, seeing how they were aiming for tradition. They walk to a round table by the window, where Dick notices the assembling paparazzi.
"Well, somebody ratted us out. The snakes of Gotham have slithered out of their holes." He jabs a thumb in the direction of all the photographers. "They're waiting for us to leave so they can pounce."
"Perhaps we could disappear out the back," says Kori. She must remember what the paparazzi were like when she used to come to Gotham. They always made her very uncomfortable, asking her questions about their relationship. And the flashing of the camera's always gave her a headache.
"We'll figure something out," he says reassuringly. He slides onto the booth across from her, Victor next to him. They ordered two pizzas; one that Gar could eat and one that met Victor's standards.
"So," says Victor before he takes a sip of his soda. "What are your plans for tonight, Kori?" Dick sees her lower her eyes to the table nervously.
"I am going somewhere with Roy." Dick suppressed his growl.
"Well, as your big brother, I demand to know where." She smiled slightly, still not lifting her eyes.
"I… do not know," she said, clearly lying. She was always a terrible liar. She never had the heart for it.
"Oh really," said Gar. "Does Rachel know?" Dick looks over at Rachel, seeing her eyes narrowed at Kori.
"I'm guessing she doesn't," said Dick gruffly.
"It is the surprise. I shall tell you about it when I return. But I must do the hurrying now, it is an hour's journey to Steel City."
"You're going all the way out there?" asked Rachel. Kori merely nodded. "Are you still going with us to the movie store?"
"I am afraid that I do not have the time," said Kori as she rose from her seat on the booth. "But I thank you all for a lovely afternoon. I shall see you back at the manor when I return tonight. Have fun watching the movies." She began walking to the back of the restaurant, stopping to speak to a waiter, who then led her down a hallway.
"I'll be right back," said Dick as he got up. He made a beeline for the hallway that Kori went down. He caught her right before she walked out the back door. "Kori, wait," he called as he jogged to catch up to her. She held the door open, waiting.
"Please go back to our friends, Dick."
"Just tell me where you're going."
"I think it is best that you don't know."
"I'll worry about you all night. And I'm going on patrol. You don't want me to be distracted, do you?" Kori chewed her lip, considering.
"It is a party. Do not do the freaking out. Bumblebee will be there as well."
"A party? Kori, don't you remember earth parties?" She nods her head. "So why do you want to go?"
"Just stop-"
"Please, Star." His voice sounded strained. She knew she was hurting him.
"I do not owe you an explanation, Dick."
He sighs, not wanting to let her go, but not wanting to piss her off either. "Fine, just try to stay out of sight when you fly."
"Be careful on your patrol tonight," she says.
"You be careful, too." She frowned at his knowing tone.
He watches her leave, the door swinging shut behind her. God, he wishes he could be Red X tonight. He just wants to protect her.
Starfire lets go of the door, leaning against it when it closes. She feels a clenching around her heart. She doesn't know if she really wants to go to this party. She doesn't know if she can really stand to be around Roy. All she knows is that she wants Richard. And a tear slips down her cheek.
Next: Starfire's party, Nightwing's patrol, and the aftermath.
P.S. Sorry for taking so long. School's back in session. I will post at least one chapter a week, but probably no more than two unless I have a lot of time on my hands.
And review please! :)
