Kuri walked down the hallway. She didn't notice that Robin was standing next to her classroom doorway. He grabbed her arm before she could enter.
"Starfire told me what was happening to you," he said. "You know you're doing this to yourself."
Kuri sighed. "Look, Robin, I've been getting sick…but that doesn't mean it's part of the curse."
"As I remember, Kuri," Robin responded. "The writing you read said if you couldn't contain your quirk, you would die. You've been doing a pretty poor job of containing Loki lately."
Like you do such a good job of containing and finding All For One, Kuri thought, but she didn't say it. "Fine…you're right, I'm dying. Don't tell the Titans…or Deku."
"Don't you think they should know?"
"They would act…different. I can't tell them."
Xxx
Deku couldn't concentrate in class. Kuri was right behind him, and she sounded really out of breath. Suddenly there was a crash as she collapsed onto the floor.
Deku and Starfire jumped up at the same time, lifting Hana and taking her to the nurse's office. Robin followed close behind them. The nurse was nowhere to be found.
Starfire checked her comrade's temperature. "She's so cold. Robin…I'm scared. Why is she so cold?"
Robin sighed. "Sera Vee is dying. She may already be dead."
Starfire checked her cousin's pulse. "I…don't believe it. My best friend…and she's gone…"
Starfire turned and sobbed into Robin's chest. Robin stroked his girlfriend's hair. He didn't say it would be okay, because he knew it wouldn't.
Deku felt frozen. Kuri was…dead. He was too late.
"Kuri…I love you…" he whispered to her. There were tears falling down his cheeks. His hand brushed hers, and then he realized that her hand was warm. "W-What? Why is she warm?"
"Of course…" Robin said. "Loki…his magic..he turned into her one too many times…it melded with her."
There was a flash of red light, and Kuri shuddered…Loki appeared. He sat up. He was laughing. "You were too late, Deku. You weak…pathetic human. I thought for sure Kuri had a fighting chance…but you made sure she didn't."
Deku started to say something, but then stopped. There was nothing to say. Loki was right.
Robin reached out and grabbed Loki wrist. "Leave Kuri alone, Loki. You lose. You know that Deku's confession came just in time."
"You are very observant, Robin," Loki said. "But how are you going to make me?"
Robin narrowed his eyes at Loki, then took out a power dampener and fired it at him. He vanished, and at last Kuri began to come to.
The first person Kuri saw upon awakening was Deku. "Deku?"
Deku looked at her seriously. "Don't…ever die again, okay?"
"Um…okay, I'm sorry," Kuri said. "And Deku…did you really mean what you said?"
Deku was still for a moment, and then without thinking, he kissed her. Kuri froze for a second, then returned the kiss.
Starfire smiled, turning to Robin. "I didn't think he had it in him…"