Starfire followed Raven as they weaved around the manor up to the top floor. When she led her onto the roof, she had to ask again.
"Friend, where are we going?"
"I told you, to meditate." Raven walked over to a glass structure, reaching for the door.
"Yes, but where?"
"Just come on."
Starfire stepped into the structure behind Raven and felt immensely warm. The heat radiated around her and she could feel it in her bones. Plants hung from the ceilings and flowers lay around on the ground. There was a path bordered by rocks which led to an open area near the back. She looked over at Raven, eyes wide.
"What is this place?" Raven smiled.
"It's called a greenhouse. It's used to grow plants. The glass brings in the sunlight," Raven pointed up to the ceiling, "and kind of feeds it to the plants."
"It feels wonderful," says Starfire, lifting up her arms as if she were reaching for the sun itself.
"Dick recommended we come up here. He said you'd love it," says Raven.
"He was quite right." Starfire followed Raven down the path to the open area, where they crossed their legs, closed their eyes, and began to hover. Starfire felt a tingling in her stomach at the though of Richard. She thought back to the night before. She remembered when they used to run together, starting when they were younger and were merely friends. Best friends, she thought. She hated that term back then. She had always wanted to be more, and he always fought her on it. Now they had switched roles.
"Azar, Starfire, what's bothering you?"
"I am sorry, Raven, I did not mean to disturb you."
"I've been very attuned to you lately. I notice even the littlest of things." Raven sighed as she opened her eyes. "So, what's up?"
"What is always up, Raven?"
"Oh I know you're thinking about Dick, I just want to know why?"
"I had fun with him last night."
"Uh, do I want to ask?" Starfire giggled.
"We went for a run and we had a pleasant conversation."
"About…?"
"Oh Raven, it is most exciting. We are to attend a charity ball this Friday."
"I don't know if I'd call that exciting."
"We can do the shopping for our dresses together! Alfred recommended a few stores on the square of Gotham."
"Gotham Square?"
"Yes," says Starfire, slightly blushing at her mistake. "Oh you must where dark blue, Raven, it would look lovely."
"So Dick told you about this?" Starfire nodded. "Is it, like, a date?"
"I… had not considered that. Do you think he meant for it to be a date?"
"I have no idea. He invited us too, so maybe not."
"Raven, you are doing the freaking me out!"
"Would it really be so bad if it were a date?"
"Yes! No… I do not know." Starfire dropped her head in her hands. "Let us forget about me now. How was your date with Beast Boy?" Raven looked down, trying to hide her smile from Starfire. A blush graced her cheeks and Starfire new something happened.
"It was alright."
"You cannot do that, Raven. Tell me what happened!"
"We went out to dinner, which was really nice actually. And then we came back and went walking around the grounds of the manor. Dick suggested it to Gar. There's a path that goes through the forest."
"Glorious! Tell me, how was your walk?"
"It was great. Out here at the manor, away from the city, you can see the stars…" Raven started to blush again. "Okay, I'm done."
"Raven," says Starfire, edging towards her friend and trying to maintain eye contact with her. "You may be the empath, but I am doing the sensing of something. What happened?"
"We just talked about things is all."
"About what?" A smile burst across Raven's face and Starfire knew she was giving in.
"We talked about marriage," says Raven, her voice containing some excitement.
"Are you engaged?!"
"No, no, not yet." Starfire's eyes lit up when she said "yet". "We were just talking about our future, and we said marriage will be happening. Possibly sometime soon."
"Well it is about the time, is it not? You do the living together."
"Starfire, we all lived together at one point."
"Yes, but you share your own home."
"It is nice, living with him. At first I was a little scared that he'd trash the place. But we compromised. I clean, he cooks." They giggled.
"It must be wonderful, being with someone whom you plan to marry. I am very happy for you, friend."
"It's weird. I'm actually excited. I want to know how he's going to ask me."
"And you will tell me as soon as it happens," says Starfire, clasping down on her friends wrist.
"I promise," says Raven, taking Starfire's hand as they hover. "It wouldn't have been the same without you. If you had never come back…well, it wouldn't be right without our sister."
"You need not worry about that now. Have no fear, your maid of honor is here!" They laughed together.
"I'm not getting married yet, Starfire."
"Perhaps I will ask Beast Boy to do the hurrying up. I'm looking forward to wedding planning." Raven laughs nervously.
"Let's not rush things."
"Raven, you are so fun to do the teasing of." They release each other's hands, moving again to hover in front of one another.
"Alright, you ready?" Starfire nods. "I kinda missed the girl talk, Starfire."
"As did I, friend." They both smile as the close their eyes and being to recite Raven's mantra.
...
"Hey, Dick." He turned around toward the voice, seeing Raven leaning in his doorway.
"Hi, Rae. What's up?"
"Just got done meditating. You were right, of course. She loved it up there. I couldn't pull her away, so she stayed."
"I knew it was for her. Only Alfred really goes up there anymore. I completely forgot about it."
"Well she seemed happier. Gotham is too cloudy for a Tamaranean." Raven crossed the room and took a seat on Dick's couch, motioning for him to join her. "How've you been?" Dick quirked an eyebrow as he took the seat.
"Better actually. But you know that." Raven smiles.
"Yeah, just thought I'd ask." He draped his arm over the couch behind her shoulders, angling himself toward her.
"How are you, Rae?" She smiled again, brighter this time.
"I'm just fine, thank you. It helps that yours and Starfire's moods have improved over the past few days. I don't feel so grumpy."
"How was the forest?" Raven nudged him with her elbow.
"You've got to let Gar figure things out for himself sometimes."
"Hey, I just want to share my moves with others."
"What moves?" It was Dick's turn to elbow her. "I'm just kidding. It was really nice, Dick, thank you. We had a great time."
"I'm glad," he said, smiling as he thought about what Beast Boy had told him and Cyborg about that morning. He had shared his conversation with Raven about marriage. He and Cyborg were very excited for the two of them. It was good that things were working out between them. At least things were going well for some people.
"Feeling a sudden change in your mood, Dick, don't start your brooding."
"I'm not, I'm not. I was just thinking about how happy I was for you two." Raven frowned.
"You and Starfire both seem to think you can lie to me." He chuckled.
"Rae, all I do is whine about missing Star and wanting Star, needing Star. I figure you're sick of it by now."
"It is getting a bit repetitive," teased Raven. "She's opening up, Dick. You're getting somewhere."
"Really?"
"Yeah. And saying that she's excited for the charity ball would be an understatement. But there is a problem. I may have accidentally planted an idea in her mind." Dick's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. "She might now be concerned that… you think it's a date."
"A date? Raven what did you do?"
"Nothing! Sometimes I just forget how impressionable she is… So is it a date?"
"No! I would totally scare her away if I asked her out."
"Yeah true. Well she didn't say she was opposed to it. But she didn't say she wanted it to be a date."
"You're so helpful, you know that?" Raven laughed as he grimaced.
"You're doing fine. And you're kinda getting back to normal, which is good. She was worried about you."
"About me?"
"She was afraid you had changed. That you were a different person."
"Well, I guess I was," says Dick. "I became the guy who lost Starfire. But like I said, I'm getting better now."
"Good, I missed you," says Raven as she pats Dick on the knee. "Alright, well I really just wanted to let you know that you're getting warmer with Starfire. Thought that would perk you up a bit."
"Thanks, Rae." He stayed sitting on the couch as she walked to the door.
"Love you, brother."
"Love you, sis. See you at dinner," he called after her as she closed the door. Dick considered their conversation. What can he do to show Starfire that he's still the guy he was when she left? He frowned as he realized what day it was. Friday night was the charity ball, and he had been planning on returning to Bludhaven on Saturday. Sure he can always teleport back here, but he won't get to be around Starfire as often as he would like. He'll have to get back to work, and back on patrol to relieve Flash. Dick looked over to the nightstand by his bed, walking over to it and opening the drawer. He slightly smiled as he pulled out the key, thinking of the perfect thing to do.
...
Starfire hummed as she glided down the staircase and made her way to the kitchen. It was nearly four o'clock, and she knew Alfred would be starting dinner about now. She had been feeling a little bored and cooped up, so she thought she seek him out.
"Hello, Alfred?" she called as she opened the door.
"Miss Starfire?" The Englishman stepped out from behind the refrigerator door, a handful of ingredients tucked into his arm. "What can I help you with?"
"Well I was hoping that I could help you." She walked into the kitchen, taking a seat on the barstool at the countertop.
"Oh it's not necessary, Miss Starfire. I can handle it."
"Please, Alfred. I would like to learn." Alfred smiles at her.
"Okay then. Here." He pulls a board out from the drawer and places it in front of her. "This is a cutting board." He sets a bundle carrots on the counter next to her, then reaches into another drawer for a knife. "You can dice up these carrots for me."
"Very well," says Starfire, looking down at the items in front of her. "Umm…"
"Watch me," says Alfred, taking the knife and settling a carrot in the center of the cutting board. She watched as he cut the carrot into smaller pieces, his one hand moving quickly and carefully with the knife as his other held the carrot. "Now you," he says, handing her the supplies. She copied his actions, just moving at a slower pace. "Perfect. Now let me know if you need assistance or when you are finished." Starfire nods as she gets back to work.
It was rather calming, chopping up a carrot and moving onto the next. She focused her attention on her task, removing herself from the world around her. She barely realized that she was humming once again, or that Alfred was humming as well. And she didn't realize when someone else had entered the room.
"Hey Star?"
She looks up from the cutting board. "Yes?"
He fiddles with his hands nervously. "I, uhh, was wondering if you… can I show you something?"
She tilts her head. "Show me what?"
"Your old stuff. I figured, since you're going back to the tower, you might want to look through it again."
She smiles at him, remembering how he had told them that he saved her belongings. She begins to nod her head, but then looks at Alfred.
He waves his hand. "Go on ahead, Miss Starfire. Dinner will not go unfinished."
"I am sorry, Alfred, I promise to help you tomorrow."
"It is no problem. All I will be missing is your company." She smiles at him before following Richard out of the kitchen. He leads her to the library, where suddenly the bookcase moves to reveal the entrance. She doesn't know how he opens it, and she doesn't think he'd ever tell her.
They are soon standing in front of a set of metal doors. There is a red button to the side of it, as well as a small computer screen. It reminds her of the elevators in Titans Tower. She watches as Richard types something into it the computer screen, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. What is this?
"Teleporter," says Richard, as though reading her mind. He turns his head toward her, giving her a half smile. "It'll take us to Bludhaven faster than you could fly."
"It, too, travels at the speed of light?"
"Ehh, maybe faster." There was a beep as he pressed the red button, opening the elevator-like doors. He took a step toward the door, looking back at her. "You ready?" He reached out his hand. She hesitantly placed her hand in his and was pulled through the doors. She squeezed her eyes shut in fear, and when she opened them, she was in a completely different place.
The floor was gray, and the walls were white. There was a black couch with a black coffee table in front of it, which were both centered in front of a large T.V. screen. Richard lightly pushed on her back to direct her further into the room. Starfire heard a "whoosh" sound behind her and turned around to see it. She watched as a wall came down over what looked a lot like the bat computer. On the wall that set over the computer was a medium sized picture frame. She recognized that picture. Starfire took the few steps necessary to reach it, placing her fingertips on the frame. Richard, who stood beside her now, looked at the picture with her.
She remembered it from his room. Richard had hidden it away in his closet, but after he had told her his story, he brought it back out. It used to sit on his desk in his bedroom. There were three smiling faces, two parents and one child. The small black-haired, blue-eyed boy grinned brightly at the camera. His mother looked down at him lovingly, and his father looked at the both of them.
Tears sprung in her eyes as she felt that pain for him once again. She knew what it was like to lose your family. She ran her fingers over the little boy, his eyes so pure and innocent.
"Don't cry for me, Star," says Richard as he brushes away a tear that she didn't know had escaped. She sniffled, wiping under her eyes before smiling up at him.
"I cannot help it," she looks back at the picture. "So beautiful," she said, somewhat to herself. When she looked back at him, she could tell he was fighting his tears. He cleared his throat.
"Well uh, you're stuff is in the basement storage. We can come back up and I'll show you around, but for now lets go downstairs." Starfire nodded, following him out the front door and into the hallway. He led her into and elevator and pressed the button indicating the basement. They were quiet on the way down, but it wasn't an awkward quiet. Starfire shuffled her feet nervously. She was excited to see her things again, but she wasn't looking forward to the emotion they might bring with them.
"Will we be bringing my things back to the manor?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"I'll have Cyborg and Beast Boy help me with your furniture before you all go back to the Tower. But for now you can bring any other things you might want." The elevator thudded to a stop before the door opened. They walked out into another hallway lined with multiple doors. As they walked, Richard pulled a key out of his pocket. "Right here," he says as they stop in front of a door. He unlocked the door and stepped aside for Starfire to enter in front of him. She felt up the wall for a light switch, but Richard found it first.
The room was filled with boxes and furniture covered by sheets. The boxes we all different sizes and were labeled; there were many that said "Clothes". The first box she opened said "Pictures" on the top. She kneeled on the ground as she unwrapped the picture frames with the images still inside them.
"You saved all of these things?" She looked down at a picture of her and Raven, who was wearing her old blue uniform at the time.
"Of course," says Richard as he sits next to her on the ground.
"But you thought I was dead. I would think that you would have disposed of these things."
"Nothing could make me get rid of your stuff. Sure, it's a little creepy and obsessive, keeping all of your dead girlfriend's things. But… I don't know. I just couldn't."
"I do not see it as creepy or obsessive. It is quite sweet," she said, pulling out another picture frame. "And sad." She unwrapped the frame in her hands, gasping as she looked down at the image. "Silkie!" she cried as her eyes bore into the picture of her and the little larva. "Oh, Richard I have forgotten him!" Tears streamed down her cheeks and she held the frame to her face. "My poor, sweet little bumgorf. I am so sorry." She felt Richards hand on her back as she cried. She couldn't help but feel guilty for leaving him behind, and not even remembering that she had done so. "Please, Richard, what has happened to him?"
She felt him go rigid beside her as she looked up at him with her tear-blurred eyes. He looked upset and torn, and something else.
"Starfire, I- We-" he sighed. "You know how the Titans went to JLH after you disappeared, and I went to the manor?" Starfire nodded. "Oh God, Starfire, I'm so sorry." He dropped his face in his hands.
"Richard, what is it?" She coaxed him into looking at her.
"We… forgot about him. We left him at the Tower. We were all so heartbroken, and I don't even remember seeing him anywhere, but when they went back Cyborg said-" his voice broke as he dropped his head again.
"Oh, no. Oh my poor Silkie."
"I'm sorry, Star, we didn't mean for-"
"I know, Richard. I do not blame you. It is just… most unfortunate." Another tear fell down her cheek.
"I didn't know how to tell you."
"It is the okay, I just-" she took a deep breath. "Oh I feel terrible."
"Star, it's not your fault. If it's anyone's, it's mine."
"No, you were grieving. I understand." She wiped her eyes. "Let us take the boxes up. We can look through them upstairs." She began to stand but Richard placed a hand over hers, stopping her.
"Are you okay?" She smiled sadly up at him.
"I will be. It is just… the bad news." She got up from the ground, placing the frames back in the box before picking it up. They didn't have to make many trips seeing how she has super strength, and Richard is pretty strong for a human. They were lucky no other inhabitants of the apartment building were walking around the halls. It would have been hard to explain how Starfire could carry so many boxes.
After about an hour of rummaging through her old things, Starfire had sufficiently cried herself out. She felt bad for getting so upset around Richard, but she knew he didn't mind. She couldn't find anything she wanted to get rid of, even her old candles. It was just nice to see her old things again. They brought back memories.
"It's probably dinner time back at the mansion," says Richard as he closes up the last box. They had piled her boxes up by the teleporter so they were ready to transport. "But we still have time for a tour." He smiled as he directed her down a hallway.
There were no other pictures on his wall besides that one of his family Everything was gray and white and black. She wasn't surprised though. The kitchen was simple and ordinary, but still too big for one person.
"Your apartment is very large," she mused as they walked around.
"Yeah. I'm not here that much either. Work during the day, patrol at night." They walked into another room that was obviously his personal gym. There was all sorts of equipment that she recognized from the batcave.
"Seems lonely…" her voice trailed off as she ran her finger over a metal barbell.
"Flash keeps me company. And Babs…"
"Speaking of, I heard you did the breaking up."
"Uhh, who told you?"
"Does it matter?" Starfire crossed her arms. She didn't plan on ratting out the boys. "Why?" Richard sighed.
"I didn't love her Starfire. And she didn't love me. Not in the way that two people dating are supposed to. She's like… a Raven to me."
"I see."
"You're not mad at me, are you?"
"No, I suppose not. Only because I heard it was the mutual decision." She walked back toward the door, looking back at Richard when he didn't follow. "I have not seen the entire apartment yet, have I?" Richard chuckled.
"Nope. There's still my bedroom." Starfire turned her head away so he wouldn't see her blush. They walk down the hall to the last room. "Go ahead." He lightly pushed her through the doorway. There was really nothing special about the room. Once again, the floors were gray, the walls were white, and the furniture was black. Nothing looked out of place and it was pristine. The bed was made up with black blankets and pillows, looking as if it had never been slept in at all.
It reminded her of a hotel room, where every room was the same and there was absolutely no personal touch. It reminded her of that until she saw the photo.
On his bedside table sat a small picture frame. She walked toward it, hearing Richards intake of breath behind her. She crossed the room until she was kneeling in front of the table. The little frame surrounded her face, smiling and happy, her red hair blowing around her. She recognized the Jump City park in the background, but here was no one else in the picture. She wasn't focused on anything and she appeared to be laughing. She wished she could remember that moment when the photo was taken.
"Richard," she breathed, lifting the picture.
"I never forgot about you. Not once," he says. His voice was closer than she thought it would be, causing her to jump. "And I never would have." He encircled his hand around hers on the picture frame. She let him.
"I am sorry," she says, looking down at their hands on the frame. She noticed that he stiffened.
"For what?"
"For forgetting about you."
"No, Starfire. That wasn't your fault." He placed his hand on her cheek. His thumb grazed her cheek bone, and she closed her eyes at the touch. She sensed him moving towards her, realizing that he might kiss her.
"Perhaps we should return to the manor," she says, opening her eyes. Richard cleared his throat as he dropped his hand. But Starfire saw the hurt in his eyes.
"Uh, yeah. Okay." He turned sharply and walked out of the room. Starfire sighed as she turned back to his bedside table and set down the picture. She lifted her hand up to the cheek that Richard had touched.
"Oh, X'hal," she says to herself. "What am I doing?"
Next chapter is the charity ball! Reviews :)
