SQ: It's Friiiiday! Thanks so much for the comments, favorites, and follows thus far. Here's the next chapter!
[Chapter 17: Poetry]
Raven gawked. She couldn't help it. Starfire stood close to the edge of the roof. How long had she been there? Long enough to see the awkward encounter with Orion? Raven shuddered. She hoped not.
But Starfire had never looked better, backlit by the moon and stars, clothed in her usual Teen Titan's outfit. Her hands and eyes glowed. Ready for battle.
Raven stood, meant to run to her, but Orion grabbed her hand. Pulled her back down. Raven landed with a thump and looked at Orion.
"You will not touch her," Orion said. "You cannot. Or Hoarfrost will know."
Raven arched an eyebrow. How would that woman know? She and the others were downstairs, behind two doors. And Meiji had left. So how would she find out?
Orion tilted her head to their clasped hands. The pale thread twined between Raven's fingers, connecting her to Hoarfrost. Orion said, "She would feel it. The difference in your powers because of her."
Raven swallowed. She couldn't deny it. Her powers, so dark and uncontrolled before, would settle around Starfire. "Of course she would," Raven whispered. "How did you free Starfire?"
Orion chuckled. "Your darkness locking the door couldn't withstand me."
The image of Orion running her hand over Starfire's door came back to Raven. That was when it happened. With a simple touch, Orion had broken Raven's powers. The threat tugged. Raven ignored it.
A muscle in her jaw twitched. Why did Hoarfrost go through all this trouble and mess with Raven's life if they didn't really need her? The idiots in her room could just use Orion.
A smile spread on Orion's lips. "They tried. But mine works differently than yours. Your darkness runs on emotions, something easily swayed. Mine does not."
Raven shook her head. "You can still read me like a novel, Orion."
"I prefer poetry, actually," Orion said.
Of course she would.
Starfire cleared her throat and Orion dropped Raven's hand. The thread pooled in Raven's palm. She wanted to break the thread. Wanted to slash this magic to shreds. But she couldn't. So she looked to Starfire instead.
"Once I realized the door had been unlocked, I followed you as quietly as I could," Starfire said. "I tried to go down the hallway but a man stepped out, not one of our friends, so I evaded him and opened my window, flying up instead. We have a plan." Starfire lifted her chin. The glow in her eyes faded. "You and Orion will go back to the others. I will free the boys and come to your aid."
"As quietly and quickly as possible, Starfire," Orion said. "Once we initiate the soul snatch there will be only a few minutes before it's done."
Nodding, Starfire replied, "I assumed as much."
This time Raven did stand. "How though? It's almost impossible to break Hoarfrost's trance."
Starfire raised her hand, a green sphere glowing between her fingers. "I will punch them and they will awaken. Friend Robin and Beastboy and Cyborg will have no other option."
Laughing, Raven went over to her, careful to stop a few paces away. "I love you, Star."
"And I, you, my arhaie." Starfire smiled. "We will get through this. Hoarfrost will not succeed." She paused, then said, "Is it true you no longer have powers?"
"Yes, but only until I break my connection." Raven lifted her hand, the threat drifting upward with it. It tightened again. A wave of nausea crashed over Raven, twisting her stomach, pounding inside her head. She ignored that, too.
Starfire bit her lip. "Then we will get through that, as well."
Starfire was so sure, so determined, that Raven stepped closer. Less than a foot separated them now. It took everything Raven had not to draw Starfire in for a hug. Not to pull her in for a kiss.
Raven wanted Starfire more than anything else. Her entire being longed for this woman standing in front of her. She reached out her hand. Starfire responded by reaching out as well. They had almost touched…
"Don't," Orion said, her voice low.
Raven stilled. Starfire stopped, too. Their hands still raised between them, Raven's fingers trembled.
She just wanted to hold Starfire. Just wanted to feel her. The curve of Starfire's cheek. The soft hair resting in tendrils on her neck. Starfire's eyes burned into her. Through her. The air between them seemed to dissipate.
Breathless, Raven stepped back. If she hadn't, she would breach the space between them.
Starfire dropped her gaze. Rubbed her arm and turned away.
Orion barked a laugh. "And now that that is over and done with. We need to move on."
Raven nodded. "Yes, we do." The thread pulled at her hand. She rubbed her palm.
She walked to the door, her knees wobbly. Like she experienced a kiss when she hadn't. That was Starfire's power over her. Heat spread over her cheeks. And she really, really liked it.
Orion opened the door and guided Raven down the stairs. The door swung shut behind them, the resounding clang following Raven all the way back to her room.
Raven stumbled, she felt weak. Was that from the kiss, too? The feeling left, disappeared instantly, when she lurched into her room.
Sitting in a circle, her old gang held hands. Chanting, they murmured old words, rocking in time.
They had already started the soul snatch.
SQ: What did you think? Comments, questions, constructive criticism, anything your little heart desires! Just let me know what you think! (Also, some awesome news, I'm going to be starting a Frozen/HowToTrainYourDragon crossover soon. Check back for updates!) Until next time!