Her hand pressed against the window pane, Starfire innocently gazed into Jump City. She had always been so intrigued with the behaviorally customs of the Earthen people, therefore, the routine of the traffic she had memorized.
From seven to eleven on a weekday, black and yellow taxies swarmed the city, getting workers, bosses, and children here and there to and fro. A small fraction of time between eleven and noon, the city rested for a moment, preparing itself for rush hour that would sweep Jump in total chaos—villains usually bent the rush hour to their advantage. Little did they know that they made a pattern out of it—so noon was when the Titans were usually equipped and ready to kick 'the butt.' Afternoons were Starfire's favorite. By four o'clock, usually the sun had knelt low enough to peak beneath the smog that drowned the city and cast forth a sunbeam or two. The grayness would melt in such way that the town would glow with golden and orange hues—the colors reminded her of the Tamaranean cliffs… Oh how she missed them.
However, unlike most days, the crime rate had plummeted—in fact, had completely disappeared since the attack on the Watch Tower. Perhaps an intergalactic war had shaken the Earth into shock as it did for Titan's Tower. Still suspicious, the Titans remained in uniform.
Judging by the appearance of the street-life, it was eleven in the morning, Tuesday. Thunderheads toppled above Jump City, soft drizzle caressed the pane of the massive window, and the waves ravaged against the rocks of Titans' Isle. 'It is best for the city hidden by the fog, presently.'
Cyborg approached the alien. "How you holdin' up?"
A heavy sigh escaped. "I am most conflicted, friend Cyborg." She hesitantly took her print from the pane looking to his reflection upon the window, "In a sense, I do not feel as if I belong here. My skin, my eyes, my hair are traitor qualities now."
"You're not thinkin' 'bout leavin' us, are ya?" His voice was calm… gentle… accepting, but most sorrowful, embracing for the worst.
"I truly wish to stay!" She bellowed softly, "I feel… I feel this pull however, friend." Turning back from the window, she met his direct eye contact finally, "Cyborg, perhaps there is something to be done!" Her voice hinged hysterically, "Perhaps, I can talk to my father or perhaps I can convince him to retake the decree, or—"
Cyborg placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his sincerity pacifying her.
She hunched over in exhaustion, "There must be something, friend Cyborg."
"And you'll find it… somehow. You need time though."
She smiled weakly up at her friend in gratitude.
"I thank you for your encouragement, friend."
"No need to…" He grinned back. "Now, for Robin's orders: let's get away from the win-"
*BOOM!* A blast rocked the tower!
The two dramatically ducked to the floor and clutched their crowns in refuge.
"A sonic boom?"
"Tamaraneans!"
Instantly, Robin erupted out from the hallway. "STARFIRE! GET DOWN TO THE BASEMENT!"
Cyborg suddenly threw a protective arm around the alien, boosted her onto her feet, and pushed her towards Robin. "GET OUTA HERE! NOW!" He lashed back, ready to fire a beam at any given moment. Robin held the princess protectively, ready to carry her to the situation room against her will. She fought back desperately, wishing to help her friends if engaged in combat. They were too desperate to keep her: three more days or one-hundred more days, the others made it their plan to stow her away from both Earth and Tamaran. Robin suddenly scooped her up and locked her in his arms, his stride aimed for the spiral staircase.
"HOLD IT!" Raven evaporated into the room with a black glow, Beast Boy at her side. "They're not Tamaraneans!" The room was frozen for a moment, all warily scoping the premises. Beast Boy ducked down, his frame conforming to the shape of a dog, and sniffed the air. His eyes widened with pulsing glee, he leaped up, and transformed back into his original self.
"You guys aren't going to believe this!"
Suddenly, a man covered in blue and red spandex, sealed with a defiant "S" across his chest, eclipsed the window, heroically postured and proud-faced.
"Superman!" Beast Boy cheered, "I can't believe it's you!" The heroes sat around their counter that encased the kitchen area, locked in awe of the Man of Steel.
"It's good see the Titans well, Beast Boy, Robin, Cyborg, Raven… and Starfire." His eyes dawned upon the Tamaranean: she understood why he was here and matched his gaze solemnly, innocently folding two hands together upon her chest..
Robin cheered brightly, "Superman, how did you survive? We scoped the Watch Tower… We thought you guys were… were-"
"Dead, no." His voice shifted, "Divided…yes."
"Where are the others?" Raven stepped in.
"The battle was horrible, Titans." He fastened his fist to his forehead, attempting to drown out the images that crept along with his words. Starfire fell back, not wanting to hear the story… Yet, she an emotion brought on by a strong heartbeat kept her feet planted where she was.
"We were at the tower when the UN and NASA sent word of probes eclipsing our solar system. As we investigated further, the probes seemed to be absorbing an alarming amount of the sunlight's energy for a certain reason. The Earth was in danger… we attacked." His voice died alongside the pride the once uplifted his grin. "Little did we know of two things. One: Tamaraneans were aboard the probe. And two… Those probes were not constructed to absorb or harm… just to learn from the Sun's energy." Shame descended upon the man who hung his head, then turning to Starfire, his eyes apologetic. "Princess Starfire, I give you my greatest… fullest apologies and give you my word: we did not know Tamaraneans were aboard those probes."
She stood there heartbroken… her hands clutched around her mouth, biting back the anger, sadness, and confliction that tripled together in one punch. The most difficult part was that this, to her, made sense. Tamaran, she knew, was dying… the light from their three Suns were weakening when she departed seven years prior... Flashing back to reality, the images of her home faded away to reveal the concerned expression of Man of Steel locked onto her. Upholding her body from collapsing, she accepted it and nodded in rash forgiveness—a difficult act she was too good with. The team inched closer, their presence helping her dearly.
"After we received further investigations, we tried to stop the missile Earth launched," he paused for a moment of silence, respecting Starfire who was very much touched by the act. "Once the damage had been dealt, we darted back to the Watch Tower to make things right. Batman scrambled to file for a treaty negotiation. He was so close too…" His tone broke for him to quickly fix, "Then the army blasted into the Milky Way and obliterated the power system." He paused, the images possessing his mind.
Two conflictions ripped the alien apart, snapping her into a free fall. But she stood strong. She needed to hear this. Perhaps, she could help in some way.
"The heat they radiated from their stances shriveled the rest of the tower… and they… oh they... so strong… so quick … However, they could not produce starbolts as you do."
Robin stepped in for her, "Her and Blackfire are the only Tamaraneans who can."
He nodded, seeming to take note much to the alien's suspicion. She shook her head violently and casted her attention back onto the hero.
Beast Boy lunged forward onto the table, grasping the rims anxiously. "What happened next?"
"They took us captive, Titans."
"So they're alive!" Robin chimed, retaking the voice of his childhood.
The man grinned with pride, "Robin, my boy, do you dare doubt your family?"
"I did for a moment…" He glanced over at Starfire affectionately, "but someone reminded me of who I was raised by."
"I was the only one who managed to escape. Alive they may be… but who knows for how long." He paused.
"They will remain alive," a small voice came for the first time. "Tamaraneans do not terminate prisoners of war... Enemies they might be, but they are still honored warriors…" Starfire looked up from the ground, "like ourselves."
"Princess Starfire, I-"
"Please, Superman. Why must you currently address me as princess?"
There was a silent pause, the four flicking their heads to the man and the girl he oversized dramatically. "Titans, my I speak to Starfire alone?"
They all looked to her and received her reassurance. They nodded warily and turned to the hallway. Robin was most reluctant to move, but encouraged by Starfire's nod, and walked away, turning back every-so-often. The room centered on the two heroes.
"Starfire, how are you doing?" He spoke with a comforting tone of concern.
"Not well, Sir Superman."
"You are brave to be here."
"I simply do not know where else to be."
Superman placed his massive hand on her soldier, taking a firm breath powering the strength of his voice. "Starfire, I come in secret—what I must do for a daughterly figure. Believe me when I say You. Are. In. Grave. Danger."
"What do you mean?"
"Now listen to me: the United Forces of Earth are reaping heroes and villains from all over the world to form a massive army of super-beings. Do not take my words for granted, Starfire, their conquest to Jump City will occur in the matter of days. You must leave before they arrive!"
Fear-shocked, she gasped, "What will be the conseq-?"
"You must leave before they can take you as hostage. You are needed by us and the Tamaraneans. But if you leave there is less of a chance for your-"
Starfire chimed in, confused. "Superman… why come in secret? Why us?"
Superman looked down to the floor, quiet, his breath strong.
Horror pulsed strongly and she cupped her mouth, her eyes flooding to the floor. "You said 'us.' Superman? Why are you here in secret?" She knew the answer and shook her head, devastated. She deserved to know-she just needed to hear it. Perhaps a small hope may still be there. "How do you know so much?"
Superman beckoned slowly with great sorrow, his hands surrendering a badge from his pocket, flashing the bronze front of her, "I am so sorry, Princess Starfire. This is what I must do and I cannot keep such things from you."
"PLEASE, HOW CAN YOU LEAD THEM?"
"They have my family, Starfire!"
She lunged forward in attack mode, her blinding white disks blasted into her grip uncontrollably. "BOTH are my family!"
Suddenly the Titans rushed out of the hallway to the sounds of shouting.
Robin lunged forward, demanding, anger driven, "You're leading the UFE!?"
Superman hung his head in silence, their eyes beating down on him. "Titans, I suggest you stay put—the UFE has agreed not to touch you if you remain here. Getting in the way of President Roak will cost dire consequences." He turned back to the princess on the verge of tears, her fists still locked in his direction. "Starfire of Earth, Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran. I need to protect the earth." He looked defiantly at the Titans, "and I will plan to do it justly. However, I refuse to take you, princess, as hostage. I long for your safety and I came to persuade you to flee."
Her arms fell to her sides, heart shattered, "…please..." Her voice shook and eyes watered, "…please leave…"
He buckled his lip to hide his determination and pride drowning in sorrow, beckoned, bowed to her, and sailed from the exit and into the fog of the skies.
She stared beyond the windows, they fog washing the city into deep darks, lights, and shades of gray.
"Starfire?" Robin inched closer.
She murmured, bravery breathed into her tone.
"Friends, it must not end this way. There is something I must do...I can feel it."
A bullet of anger shot through Roak, "AND YOU DID NOT RETRIEVE HER?"
"I could not have. She had fled long before I had arrived, President!" Calmly, Superman remained firm in his stance, deceit hidden from his irises.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to leave a comment if there is anything I can improve on! Right now, there are flashing images of this story that consume my mind and I can't wait to show you guys what happens! Stay tuned!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.