Honorary Titan Fan Week 2021 Prompt 2: "Titans Together" Aftermath

Talk With the Hands

"Well, that was very anti-climatic, huh?" Herald asked. "At the same time, that was pretty much expected."

Jericho nodded, an amused smile playing on his lips. When Dr. Light saw the massive gathering of Teen Titans prepared to defeat him, he had fainted. His eyes simply rolled into his head, and he slammed face-first into a minivan before collapsing on the concrete. Starfire had offered him medical aid, but the laughter stemming from the other Titans, particularly Raven, had stopped her query dead in its tracks.

Jericho and Herald stood on the sidewalk among the Titans. The elemental brothers were together with Beast Boy, who had led them during their decisive battle. Departing from the group, Pantha, Wildebeest, and Titans East headed to a nearby pizza venue. Other Honoraries convened around Cyborg, Raven, and Robin, offering congratulations and praise for their work coordinating the final attack on the Brotherhood of Evil.

One of the Titans flew toward Herald and Jericho. The alien with hair as scarlet as flames landed in front of them, her teeth sparkling white as she flashed a smile at them. She clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes glittering like sharp cuts of emerald, and she exclaimed, "Greetings, new friends! My name is Starfire. I originally hailed from Tamaran, but now, I reside on Earth. I do not believe we have had the exchanging of identities."

Herald grasped her hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you. I'm Herald of-oh." He gave Jericho a thoughtful glance before chuckling. "Now that I think about it, my dimension didn't have a name. Let's just say I came from the void."

"Still, it is a pleasure to meet you!" Starfire leaned forward to break the barrier of Herald's personal space. "So, now that you have already answered one question, I must ask the rest. How did you get here; what is your favorite color, and do you wish to be my friend?"

Herald uttered a confused hum, dumbfounded. He quickly shook his head, looking around as if for clues. "Uh, through a portal that I can summon with my horn. I prefer blue, and yeah, I could use more friends," he said, and he wrapped his arm around Jericho's shoulder. "Just like my bro here could."

She gasped, raising her hands to her mouth. "Oh! You two are related?".

He laughed and shook his head. "No, no, it's just a way to refer to a friend."

Starfire nodded and lightly tapped her fist into her open palm. "The idioms of this culture are truly fascinating."

Jericho placed his fingers to his mouth, miming the gesture of laughing. He did not know much about Starfire aside from what little trivia Beast Boy imparted to him. She seemed to be a girl with a pleasant, slightly naive nature, but when her eyes locked on to his gaze, she held it firmly, a confident air around her.

Raising his hands, Jericho signed his answers. His name was Jericho, and he came from the mountains. He arrived in time to help the Titans because Herald had rescued him from his potential captors. His favorite color was purple, green a close second. And he wanted to be Starfire's friend, telling himself that his stint on the mountains was rather lonely now that several people his age surrounded him.

He expected her to be confused as he signed. Most people did not know sign language, preferring to read his lips or asking for his responses to be written down. But to his bewilderment, Starfire nodded along, her smile seemingly frozen on her face. Then, adding to his shock, she raised her hands and stretched them out, giggling in giddy glee.

"Forgive me should I make a mistake. I have practiced how to use the sign language, but I am no master like you," she said.

Jericho quickly moved his hands, interrupting her before she could begin. Wait. You learned sign language?

Starfire hesitated for a moment, appearing to process what he asked. Then, she nodded, and slowly, she moved her hands as carefully as she could to make the proper signs. There was imprecision in her movements, her fingers not as tight as they needed to be or mistaking a letter for another, but it was evident that she had taken the time to practice.

Speaking with her hands, she thanked Jericho for his bravery against the Brotherhood and for accepting her invitation to be friends. Starfire pulled her hands back to her chest, adding, When I learned there was going to be a Titan who used the language of signing, I took it upon myself to understand it. There is a lot of memorization involved, yes?

Jericho nodded, inclining his fist forward. For someone to take the time to learn how to communicate with him, despite never meeting him before, it touched Jericho. The last time he had an extensive conversation through sign language was several months ago when he left his mother's home to venture into the world. And he felt as light as air as he chatted with her, his hands moving a mile a minute, slowing down when she faltered, and he couldn't stop grinning.

It's been a long time since I've spoken with someone like this, Jericho admitted, glancing at his hands.

I believe this makes the phrase 'talk with the hand' more meaningful! Starfire replied, beaming.

"Talk to the hand, you mean," Herald corrected, showing her his palm.

"Oh! Yes, indeed." She paused, then pointed at him. "Are you also skilled at the sign language?"

Herald signed for yes, and Starfire squealed, quickly involving him in their conversation with rapid, positive hand gestures. Jericho observed them in silent wonder. He stretched his fingers, his knuckles quietly cracking, and he felt a special connection with Starfire, someone who had made him feel welcomed with a gesture more meaningful than any gift.

He hopped back into the conversation, the three of them signing away without a care in the world.