Starfire flies through the skies towards Steel City. After going back to the manor to touch up her hair and makeup, she grabbed her communicator and sent Roy a message to let him know she was going. She entered the address he gave her into the GPS in her communicator to guide her there.
She flies over the clouds, avoiding the eye of the public. Her green dress hugs tightly to her body. She rather likes this dress. The thick straps lay across her shoulders, cutting out into a circle on her back to display more of her humanly-tanned skin. She knows that it looks good on her; she liked the way Richard's eyes bugged out when he saw her.
As she neared Steel City, she made the decision that she would try to forget Richard as best she could. She would forget everything. Her goal was to have fun, but safely. If she didn't get back to the manor tonight, the Titans would do the parental grounding of her.
Starfire lifted her communicator to her face. The red dot, which symbolized her, was fairly close to the other dot, which represented the destination. She lowered herself down to find a good place to land, noticing a couple of tall buildings with empty alleyways between them. She touched down, adjusting her dress and hair before stepping out onto the sidewalk. She looked at her communicator again, seeing that he destination was just down this road.
She walked, feeling slightly uncomfortable in the dark. There were not many other people walking down this sidewalk, but there were quite a few cars driving around. She noticed that many of the cars were turning into the same parking lot. It was some kind of nightclub, she figured. Her communicator beeped, indicating a message from Roy. The message in text read "r u here yet". She looked at the GPS, discovering that the location of the party was at this club. Without replying, she crossed the street and headed to the club entrance.
The music was deafening even before she opened the door. She stepped in, her skin changing color with the wide array of lights. There were streamers hanging from the ceiling, balloons upon every table. She walks past the tables, looking around for familiar faces.
"Oof!" Someone suddenly slams against her.
"Oh I'm sorry, I'm sorry… Starfire?" She looks up to see Aqualad. She smiles brightly.
"Hello friend! Oh, but call me Kori," she says.
"And my name is Garth," he whispers to her. His breath smelled vaguely of alcohol.
"It is so very nice to see you. Where is, uhh, Bumble…? I do not know her name either."
"Karen," he says. He points towards the bar, "Last time I saw, she and Roy were over there."
"Thank you, friend."
"You're welcome. Nice to see you, Kori." He smiles as he walks away. She noticed a wobble in his step.
"Kori!" calls a drunken Roy, practically falling off the stool, as she approaches the bar. The girl next to him turns toward her.
"Oh, that's Kori!" Starfire realizes that it's Karen; she's just wearing a holoring. "Honey, it's sooooo good to see ya. We gotta have more girl time!" Starfire giggles at her excitedness. She must be drunk as well.
"It would be wonderful to have the girl's night. Perhaps when we return to Titans Tower?"
"It's a date," says Karen.
"Hey, stop flirting with my girl," says Roy as he stands to wrap an arm around Starfire. She stiffens, not quite sure if the gesture is welcome or not.
"Don'tcha mean Dick's girl?"
"Nope. Stole 'er away."
"I-" begins Starfire, but is cut off by Roy.
"Have a drink, princess." He reaches for one of the shots in front of Karen.
"Only if you want to, honey, don't let him pressure you." Starfire considers this, staring at the shot in Roy's hand.
"Why not," she says, before taking the glass and tossing it back. Her face puckers, but she enjoys the taste. Karen cheers, Roy smiles, handing her another. She drinks that one too, and another. She loves the burn down her throat, settling in her stomach.
"Wanna dance?" asks Roy. Starfire nods, allowing him to take her hand and lead her to the dance floor in front of the DJ. He holds her close, hands on her lower back as she swings her hips. She giggles as they dance, the alcohol making her feel invincible. After a while, Karen shows up next to them, dancing with a guy who Starfire recognizes.
"You remember Herald?" Starfire nods. "Well this is him." Karen smiles up at him. He extends his hand towards Starfire.
"It's good to see you again. The names Malcolm Duncan, but you can call me Mal."
"Nice to see you, Mal." Karen releases him from her embrace, reaching for Starfire.
"Why don't you boy's go get some more drinks. We need to have a little chat." They do as she says, leaving us alone on the dance floor. "So Kori, what's up with you?" Karen asks, but keeps them both dancing. Kori's eyebrows furrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you here with Roy?"
"We are on the date. This is our second one."
"How can you go out on dates when you're still in love with Dick?" Kori averts her eyes, slightly losing her rhythm. "I'm not going to tell you that it's unfair to Roy. He's my friend, but even I know he's an ass. It's unfair to yourself, Kori. To you and Dick."
"I am only trying to have fun, Karen. Can we please change the subject?" Karen narrows her eyes at her, but nods in agreement.
"Well, since you asked… I have some news." She slowly lifts up her hand in front of Kori's face. On her ring finger is one huge diamond. "Mal and I are getting married!" Starfire squeals.
"Oh X'hal, Karen, what wonderful news!"
"I know right!" The two girls giddily laugh as Karen shows off her ring. "Kori, will you please be one of my bridesmaids?"
"Of course!" A tear slides down Starfire's cheek. She can't contain her happiness for her friends, especially when she's a little buzzed. "When is the wedding?"
"In February. On Valentine's Day. Pretty cheesy, I know, but I'm a sucker for love."
"No, I think that is a beautiful day. Come, we must do the celebrating!" Starfire grabs her wrist and leads her over to where Mal and Roy are leaning on the bar.
"Shots, ladies?" asks Roy.
"Nahhh, we'll take two green apple martini's, please." She leans into Mal, looking up at him. "I told her. She's going to be a bridesmaid."
"Yes, congratulations friend! I am most happy for the both of you. And you must tell the other Titans about it so Rachel and I can do the gushing." Starfire takes her drink from Roy and hands Karen hers.
"Well you can go ahead and tell them for me. We'll be having an engagement party within the next few weeks over here at Titans East."
"Glorious! If you need any help, do the letting me know."
"I might take you up on that," says Karen as she lifts her drink up to her mouth. Starfire takes a drink as well. They finish those, asking for two more.
"I rather like these," says Starfire as she finishes off her second. Her head is so fuzzy, but it's a great feeling.
"They're my favorite."
"They're sissy drinks!" shouts Roy. He seems even more intoxicated than before, and he's being a little touchy. He rests a hand on Starfire's hip, almost cupping around her bottom. She's hugged close to his side as he takes another shot. "You need one of these," he says as he pushes a shot towards her.
"No thank you, I am fine with the martini's." He makes a face at her.
"Fine, be that way," he says as he tosses that back. She wonders how many he's had. If her senses weren't affected by the alcohol, she's sure he would reek of the bar.
It feels like another hour goes by at the bar. The girls chitchat about weddings while the guys talk about the bachelor party. After a few more martini's, Starfire is leaning heavily on Roy who is leaning heavily on the bar. He grips around her stomach, somewhat close to her breast, but she doesn't stop him. And perhaps she should have.
At some point, Roy leads her away from the bar and down some hallway. She can hardly remember, her eyes stayed half closed, and she was constantly on the edge of sleep. She remembered being pushed up against the wall, which was okay because she couldn't hold herself up anyway. But then she felt lips on her shoulder, her collarbone, her neck. They moved up her throat and to her lips. She barely responded, and she could barely think. Roy was kissing her. Does he actually like her? Or does he just want her.
She doesn't mind being wanted. In fact, it's flattering. But Richard wants her too. He wants her in the right way though. For her heart.
His hands rise to cup her breasts, and that's when she starts fighting back. She doesn't want him to touch her. She doesn't love him, she loves Richard. Stop, please just stop. She realizes that she isn't speaking out loud.
"Roy," she says, he voice hoarse. "No. I don't want…" She grabs for his hands, using her full strength to pull them away.
"Come on, princess."
"NO." She shoves him back against the opposite wall, his head smacking back. Looking up at her, he falls to the ground and holds his head.
"Stupid bitch," he says. But he looks fearful when her eyes begin to glow green. He knows she's stronger than he could ever hope to be.
"Do not call me anymore, Roy." Her voice breaks with emotion as she begins to sob. She runs down the hall and opens the nearest door. It's a bathroom, but at least it's away from him.
She throws herself against the sink counter, sobbing. She cries because of Roy, because of her "death", because she misses Richard, and because she can't believe she came out here. She's such an idiot.
"Oh, um, excuse me miss?" Starfire turns around to the voice, not caring about her tear-stained cheeks. She meets eyes with a tall, tanned boy. "This is the men's room." Starfire gushes again, all new tears spilling over. She lowers herself to the ground and curls her knees up to her chest. Her body rocks with her sobs. "Hey hey, it's alright." The boy scrambles over to her side, lightly placing a hand on her back. Starfire throws herself against his chest, crying. She doesn't care that this is a stranger. All she wants is comfort in this terribly strange place. The boy lets her cry against him until finally her tears stop and her sobs turn to hiccups.
"I am truly sorry," says Starfire as she leans away from the boy. She wipes the back of her hand against her cheek. He reaches up to the paper towel dispenser and hands one, in which she blows her nose.
"That's alright, but do you mind my asking why you are crying in the men's bathroom?" Starfire looks up at him. She begins to giggle, which slowly builds up to hysterical laughter. She laughs so hard that she has to hold her stomach. She barely notices that he begins to laugh to, but he clearly doesn't understand why.
"I'm- I'm really," she tries to fight back the laughter. She takes a deep breath and sighs as she lets it out. "I thought that I was no longer drunk, but apparently I am," she giggles again. "But to answer your question, it is merely the boy trouble. Nothing to worry yourself with."
"Well I'm already worried," he said. She looked at his eyes. They were blue, but not Richard's blue. These were dark, such a navy blue.
"I do not know how I feel about a stranger worrying over me."
"I'm Xavier Redd," he says, extending his hand to her, which she takes. He gets up from the ground and lifts her with him. "And you are?"
"Kori Anders." His eyes widen.
"I remember you. Dick Grayson's girl, right?"
"Not anymore."
"Is that why you're crying?" She shakes her head.
"Different boy."
"I see. Well, I don't remember inviting you here tonight, cutie."
"Inviting me where?" He lifts up his hands in some sort of gesture.
"This is my birthday party." She looks around the bathroom, suppressing another laugh.
"I do not know why you would choose to have a party in a bathroom."
"Oh, you know what I mean." They laugh together.
"I was merely doing the joking."
"Cracking jokes, now are we? You get over that guy yet?" Her shoulders slump.
"There was nothing to get over. This was only our second date."
"Well the guy doesn't know what he's missing, cutie." She smiles slightly.
"I must be going home. But I do not think I can fl-" She's a civilian. It is not normal to fly. "Catch the ride with Roy."
"Roy Harper, huh? Yeah, he's a jerk."
"But he is your friend?"
"One of the many," he says smugly.
"Then you must know Karen and Malcolm?"
"Yeah, they're cool. Why don't you go home with them?"
"We are not going to the same place. I would not ask them to go out of their way."
"Alright then. Here, I'll call you a cab." He walks over to the bathroom door, holding it open for her. They walk down the hall, moving through the club to find the main entrance. The music pounds against her head like a hammer. She watches as Xavier fishes in his pocket, pulling out his cell phone. "Alright, where are you headed?"
"Gotham City." He looks at her, waiting for more information. "Wayne Manor." He blanches.
"And you said you and Dick were over?"
"We are, but a few of our friends and I are staying there for a little while."
"Uh huh," he says as he dials. She hardly listens as he asks for a cab to Gotham. Instead, she looks about the club, hoping to avoid Roy. She does wish to say goodbye to Karen and Mal before she goes, but she figures that Roy would be with them. She'll just call her later.
"Alright, the cab should be here in five minutes. I convinced them to hurry."
"I thank you," she says. She follows him out the door and onto the sidewalk.
"You have a strange accent, cutie," he says. "No offense." She smiles.
"I was not offended. I am not from around here."
"So where are you from?"
"Small country in Europe. You probably wouldn't know it."
"Try me." The cab pulls up to the curb. She steps toward it, opening the door.
"I must go. Thank you for your assistance." She slides into the back seat. Xavier holds the door open.
"Maybe next time then?" He flashes her a smile as he drops a couple of bills on her lap. "For the cab," he said. Then he closed the door before she could protest.
The cab drives off and she rests her head back against the seat. There's a pressure in her head, and she feels so, so tired. As she nears sleep, all sorts of thoughts run through her head. Like, Xavier Redd. What a strange name. And it reminds her so much of… Red X. And he kept calling her cutie. Is that just some sort of strange coincidence?
She hopes that she remembers this is in the morning. Maybe Raven can shed some light on thing.
Raven, she thinks. She will be so upset with her. She never told her about the party, or about Roy's attempted kiss for that matter. She knows that she's going to end up telling her friend everything that happened, even though she's afraid of the scolding sure to come.
Xavier Redd. Red X. Cutie. Hmm…
Alright, so I lied... I'll put up the chapter with Nightwing's patrol next. I just had some ideas for Starfire's part and needed to get it done.
Oh, and nice twist? I thought I'd confuse Starfire with a little Xavier Redd.
Reviews!
