A/N: welcome back! i know its been a crazy few weeks with the holidays so im not expecting a lot of people to read this immediately. But when you get a chance let me know what you think and keep me on track! your reviews make ALL the difference and inspire me to continue wirting. As always leave a fav/follow and i hope you enjoy!
The silence from the vacuum of space couldn't compare to the awkward silence in Red-X ship. They both couldn't look at each other and dared not to breathe louder than a soft exhale from the fear it could start another conversation neither of them wanted. But the painful silence finally fade away when the beeping of the red dot on the control panel of his ship began to pick up speed ever so slightly.
Both Nightwing and X looked down at the control panel to see if it was just their imagination or if the sound really was beginning to hasten... As Nightwing focused on the blinking red dot with fixed eyes he was convinced,
"Does this mean-" he began before getting cut off by X who was expecting his question...
"Yep," X respond nonchalantly, "we're gaining on them."
"They could have landed then," Nightwing instantly replied, "she might not have much time. We need to move faster!"
"Calm down kid," X sent back as if talking down to his comrade, "if they wanted her dead, why would they take her alive?"
Nightwing sat back in his seat and crossed his arms angrily. At this point he started to think X might not care about Starfire at all. More over, he just wanted something from her... And he knew exactly what that something was. It made his face coil in disgust.
"Do I sense a feeling of distrust?" X mocked with his robotic voice.
"Yeah. You're damn right you do," Nightwing said instantly without thinking or even looking at X.
"Oh c'mon partner," Red-X replied with sarcasm, "if we're gonna save her we gotta be on the same side here." It almost seemed like X was enjoying the torment Nightwing was going through.
"Alright," he responded as if accepting the challenge, "then you start. Answer one question."
X felt a surge of regret pulse through him. he walked right into that one. If he said no Nightwing would be able to justify any reason to not back him up if he needed it. But if he says yes... what kind of question would he be forced to answer?
"Well?" Nightwing spat, getting impatient.
"Alright fine," X respond in an irritated tone.
"Why Starfire?" He wasted no time hurling that question at his current rival, "she's a hero and you're a spineless crook who only does anything when it benefits you. You're nothing alike. So why would you want her?" He asked as if he already knew the answer. In his mind X was a man who played women. A man who only wanted one thing from them. He would die before he let Starfire be with someone like that.
X tilted his head towards Nightwing with an expression that read really? thats your question? He could have literally asked anything about him but instead his question revolved around his girlfriend. X chuckled softly and shook his head in disbelief.
"If you really think that about me... then you haven't done any research at all," X hit a small button in the center console and the contol panel displayed a new screen over the blinking dot showing his actions from the past year, "I may not be a hero... but I definitely not a crook."
The screen began to play scenes of him taking down alley muggers and low level criminals who prey on the weak. Usually women and elderly who had valuables that evil men could take easily.
Nightwing's face went to complete shock. He was in disbelief. It take every ounce of his being to find something about the footage that seemed to be staged or fake. But the more he looked at the scenes playing out in front of him the more he knew they were authentic.
"Don't think I haven't been trying to become someone Star could be with..." he said with confidence, "I haven't stolen anything since you swiped that belt off me after we took down Professor Chang." X said with pride.
"But..." Nightwing said looking for a response. But nothing came to mind. His tongue was tied in multiple knots.
"I built all this kid," X continued, "I may have acquired a lot of the materials through my connections in the underground... but I didn't steal anything."
Nightwing thought about that... How? How could someone like X build his ship? His car? His make shift home? It seemed all too perfect. What was the missing piece of this puzzle? It began to drive him insane as be started to ask a follow up question...
"Then who did-" Again he was cut off of the robotic voice...
"I answered your question... I think its fair I get to ask one in return. After all..." he glared at Nightwing, "we're building trust here aren't we?"
Nightwing sat back in his chair and sighed. He was stuck. He got an answer from X and as much as he disliked the result. It was only fair...
"Fine." He said under his breath.
"What happened between you and Rose Wilson?" X spat instantly.
Nightwings heart stopped in its place. He began panic as this was something he really didn't want to talk about let alone remember... He kept his composure as best he could to not give anything away but his body language spoke louder than he intended.
Red-X saw his hesitation and took note. This seemed to be a very, VERY sensitive subject for the hero. It peaked his curiosity.
"Well?" X shot back at Nightwing as if repeating his own words.
Nightwing grit his teeth and his muscles clenched as is fighting the urge to tell the truth. But how would it look if his rival could speak the truth but he couldn't? He was stuck...
"She..." He hesitated, "she was a mistake."
"What?" X replied confused.
"I... I let my guard down," he confessed, "I trusted her..." His voice grew heavy, "and she nearly killed me."
Red-X eyes went wide. He was not expecting that. Though... he wasn't surprised. That entire family was completely insane... But for a man like Nightwing to get caught off guard like that? Seemed unrealistic. Almost like there was more to this story than what Nightwing was leading on...
"Wow," X said with disbelief, "I never would have thought that she could get the best of you..."
"What do you know?" Nightwing said angrily through his teeth.
"Sorry kid," X sounded sincere, "seriously... I wouldn't wish that crazy chick's insanity on my worst enemy."
Nightwing looked at X with a sense of confusion...
Did he just... show sympathy?
It took him by surprise. Of all people... He was the last person he expected that from.
After a moment they continued their travel in silence but the energy in the ship was different. It almost felt as if their little chat did actually gain some trust between them. And that... was unexpected to both of them.
--
Sitting on the cold floor of the powerful cell built specifically for her, Starfire felt a shift in the ships trajectory. She looked up from her lap at the ceiling to focus her senses on the shifting and swaying of the ship to get an idea of what was happening. Then it dawned on her. They had reached her sister's destination and they were landing..
Before long the ship made a loud thump that echoed through her cell followed by an immediate jolt causing her to shift her body weight to maintain balance. Then it went silent and the ship stood still.
They had landed.
Starfire's mind began to race and her heart began to pound as if trying to keep pace with her thoughts. She had no idea what was going on or what to expect. Then her attention shot towards the sound of doors opening down the hallway.
She rushed to the edge or her cell where she placed her hands flat against the dome and stared down her captures as they approached.
Rose stopped short leaning back against the wall crossing her arms with a smug look on her face while Blackfire stood infront of her prisoner on the other side of the cell with an evil grin on her face.
"Where have you taken me?!" Starfire shouted demanding answers, "why do you do this, sister?!"
Blackfire reveled in the pain she saw coming for Starfire's plees. It made her feel powerful.
"I'm just keeping my promise sister dear," She exclaimed.
"Promise?" Starfire said confused.
"Have you really not figured it out yet?" Blackfire laughed, "the Centari moon diamond, the arranged marriage, all these simple yet brilliant plans to get you back where you belong," her evil grin turned to a sour scowl, "yet you just couldn't go quietly like a good girl could you?"
"Enough of these ridiculous claims!" Starfire lashed out, "I demand you tell me what it is you want from me!"
"What do I want?" Blackfire asked rhetorically, "I want my crown."
Blackfire's eyes began to glow dark purple with her anger rising inside her. She stared at her little sister with the most intense look of detest like she was staring at nothing but a lower lifeform. An insect. A fly that no matter how many times you swat at it, it won't go away.
"I want to make our people suffer for the way they treated me. They deserve whats coming to them!" Blackfire's fists began to glow with purple starbolts as if she were about to annihilate a plant with a single blow.
Rose looked up from the corner of her eye through her silver hair, draped down like a skirt over her face, and cracked a smile. This reminded her of her father. It felt like she was right at home.
"You still make none of, the sense!" Starfire screamed back with her eyes beginning to glow green with fury, "you feel such disgust for our people, that you would harm your own sister? Your own family?!"
Blackfire calmed down as her glowing fists returned to normal and her eyes fade back to the dark purple of her natural eye color before grimly smiling once more with an evil laugh.
"It wouldn't be the first time..."
