Koriand'r or as she was known on earth, Starfire, was surprised when the Raven's head manifested in front of her while she was in the privacy of her bedroom. It wasn't surprising to see the girl suddenly appear from one of her magical portals anymore, even if it was just her head. Kori had gotten used to the girl's party trick a while ago, but what was surprising was the girl announcing that Percy could use her assistance in the kitchen.
Koriand'r of course nodded and said she'd be there in a moment.
The portal promptly closed after that, and the former Tamaranean princess sunk back into her bed with a sigh. Only begrudgingly a few seconds later did she force herself free of her navy blue blanket. The picture that she had clutched moments before was carefully placed back onto her nightstand, facing down. It did not do anyone favors to dwell on the past, for it was already decided and nothing could change it. There was only ever the now which would shape tomorrow.
Clearing her throat of emotion and wiping just below her eyes, she looked herself over in the mirror once before straightening her back and nodding to herself. She was a Titan of Earth, a protector and leader. She was strong. She was beautiful. She was happy….
Kori took one more deep breath, bottling her feelings for later, before putting her room and the picture behind her. She walked the short distance of the dimly lit hallway and reached for the elevator call button.
The door opened on its own accord.
"Cassie." She waved at the young Amazonian, but the blonde stormed past her, clearly upset. Kori watched her go, rushing to her bedroom where the metal door closed the girl off from the world. Hesitating and wanting to confront the girl, the team leader turned back to the elevator and stared at the empty contraption. One problem lay at the other end of and another behind her.
What would Richard do?
She could see him in her mind. His arm crossed over his chest as one held his chin. He'd give a small hmm before speaking aloud, explaining his thought process. He assert which one had greater priority: the girl upset or the one asking for help?
Kori stepped forward, pressing the button to force the doors to shut. She would talk to Cassie after. It would give the girl time to cool down while she answered the call for help.
The elevator was quiet in its ascent, but Star's mind made up the difference.
What did Percy need of her? Was the most pressing thought. He was capable by all accounts, so what did he need of her?
During the hours of quiet, there was usually little of note that required Kori's presence. She knew Cyborg and Beast Boy had left the tower to go into town to buy one of their games, so it was unlikely that one of the boys had caused a problem that Percy would've been dealing with. Perhaps he had hurt himself? No, that didn't make sense. Raven would've handled that without needing her.
What of Cassie, though? She had seemed more than angered. Had there been a disagreement? Cassie seemed over the moon at Percy earlier. Had something changed on that front?
The elevator dinged as it arrived on her targeted floor.
Kori hid her frown and forced herself to hover off the ground like she always did around others. As her mother and queen had drilled into her since she was born, appearances matter. Only when she was certain that nobody would need to think twice about her did she approach the common room.
Percy was there, no longer in the kitchen. His back was to her as his vision was set on the distant storm. It looked to be a strong one by her estimates. Its clouds were nearly black. She'd need to check with Cyborg that the emergency generators were ready, and she'd also need to make sure Beast Boy's noise-canceling headphones were charged. He would not be able to sleep through the thunder if their battery was dead. Hopefully, the two would make it back before the rain hit.
"Big storm coming," Percy remarked, turning to her. His eyebrows were scrunched down, she noted. Perhaps he and Cassie did argue. "My father must be upset about something."
"Your father, one of the gods of this world?" She had not studied them much. Earth had a plethora of gods that may or may not have existed. It was quite overwhelming in fact. She preferred her singular deity.
The demigod nodded. "Poseidon, the Stormbringer, among other various names and titles." He waved the notion off as if his father being a god was nothing, just some boring detail of little note. Kori did not agree. The children of her deity, X'hal, were not minor details in the Vega Star System.
"We did not have a storm god back on Tamaran."
"Did it rain much there?" he asked, earnestly.
Memories of hundreds of nights of sitting in her room, forehead pressed against the glass of a window overlooking the kingdom flashed through her mind. She could see the rain as it came in sideways, splashing against the window with a pattering that would keep her awake into the late hours of the Tamaranean night. She'd sit there, a blanket wrapped around herself as she prayed for X'hal to take away such sleepless nights. "Just enough to not be worshipped or feared by the masses."
"And what do you think of Earth's storms?"
She shrugged. In truth, it was all the same, but on Earth, X'hal had no influence over such weather no matter how many prayers were given. "I do not like the rain. The winds make it annoying to fly, and the electrical surges are discouraging." She had been zapped more than twice when chasing a target into the dark clouds. Perhaps that was the fault of Percy's gods?
"So, not a fan?" he turned back to the window. There was a distant flash of lightning, barely illuminating the incoming darkness.
"No," she replied honestly, joining him at his side. The storm would be on them within the hour. Already the waves below them were churning and choppy. She'd need to ask Cyborg to keep an eye on the radio for any mayday calls. She glanced over at the man. "It looks to be a violent storm. You may have to stay in the tower for the night."
A roll of thunder punctuated her words. Even inside it was loud. The best she could describe it would be the sound of the Citadel's seismic charges that had toppled Tamaranean cities in one ear-shattering blast.
He shrugged, eyes removed from the room but lost somewhere in that storm. "Unlikely."
The word lingered between them. Kori wasn't sure how to follow up. Despite being next to her, she could tell he wasn't fully there. Was there something about the storm that bothered him as well? Or was his distances more likely related to why Raven called for her? What had happened in the hour or so since the interview ended?
Kori had retreated to her room, trusting the kids to their own devices especially since it was only Cassie and Raven who remained in the tower. Those two were usually quick to busy themselves with their practices, be it meditating or training. So what had made Cassie storm off? Logically it had to have been the man in front of her. He was the only unpredictable variable in an equation she should have already known the answers to.
If only Richard was still here. He'd have easily handled whatever this situation was.
But he wasn't. He was back with the Batgirl and the city that wanted him dead.
He had left her.
The far sky flashed once more.
Koriand'r cleared her throat, pulling Percy's attention to her. His eyes were narrowed, not in anger or displeasure but thought. His lips were tugged downwards as his thoughts displeased him. His vision glanced to something behind her before returning back to her. Was he really why Cassie was so eager to run to her room? What must they have said? The Wonder Girl was not someone who would run in the first place.
"Did Raven get you?" Percy confronted her, neutrally. There was no hostility in the accusation or even a hint of hope. It just sounded like acceptance, and that he had already heard the answer.
Starfire didn't know how, but she nodded. Lying was not something she enjoyed, nor would it help.
He sighed, "Cassie didn't like me saying no. Was vocal about me training her to become the second coming of me or something."
Kori frowned. "But that is our job, Percy. They are our wards."
He nodded, and it only confused her. "I know, and I will train her." He moved toward the elevator, and she promptly followed him. She could see Raven in the corner of the room, half shrouded in the shadows with a book in hand. Perhaps she was reading, but Kori had her doubts. Raven was always an observer, a silent watcher.
"I do not understand," Kori muttered.
Percy called for the elevator, and since she had recently gotten out of it on this floor. It opened immediately. The demigod stepped inside, arm out holding the door for her. "You coming? I'll explain on the roof."
She hesitated, "The storm?" Who would want to go up to the roof on the brink of a horrible storm?
"We have fifteen minutes before it makes landfall, and I can divert the rain around us as needed," he replied easily, before looking up at her. "Have you ever stood in the eye of a storm?"
"I have not." Nor did she want to.
The doors tried to shut, but his arm held it back. His hand remained outstretched towards her, beckoning her in. She floated inside, and his hand fell away from the door allowing it to close.
"Cassie wants to be taught how to fight like a demigod, not a hero," he stated as if that explained everything. It didn't.
Koriand'r took a moment to recall what she could of the man's file for a clue of what he meant. He had fought and overcome a number of powerful enemies according to Wonder Woman's notes. She had remarked about him being the Hero of Olympus and his gods multiple times. "Are they not the same in your culture?"
"In my culture, sure, for the most part." He shrugged. "However, there are many who aren't. There are always bad eggs when it comes to power."
"A bad egg? I thought you humans did not lay eggs. Are demigods expectations to this?"
Percy gave her a side eye as if he had heard the most insane thing. Perhaps he just did, but Kori tried to not take it personally. No matter how many years on this planet speaking English, there were still so many times she did not understand what was said.
Richard was always kind to resolve her confusion. He often enjoyed it, according to him once. Yet, not enough to stay….
"Most of us are natural births. Others I'm not too sure." the elevator doors opened. Immediately the two were assaulted by the wind. Kori felt her hair flare backward, nearly parallel to the ground from the sudden burst. "Not from eggs, though. I think some are birthed from headaches or something. Mr. D came from a thigh. The Pegasus came from Medusa's severed neck, and I'm sure that's just top-of-the-barrel weird things."
The princess did not know how to respond. Morbid curiosity whispered in her ear to ask more about his culture, but the voice of purpose was louder.
"Perhaps you can tell me more, another time, but I would like to return to Cassie."
"Right," Percy nodded, walking forward onto the empty reinforced roof.
In the city, you would perhaps see fans or skylights on the roof, but for the Tower it was barren. Years ago with the old team, they had exposed ventilation systems, but only until they were used against them. The fans that were meant to be pushing out reversed and in came a knockoff of Scarecrow's fear toxin. Needless to say, nobody on the team was eager to fight for the vents to stay. The team took proactive measures the following month to iron up the external weak points after that, especially on the roof. The elevator itself had more security protocols than a federal bank.
Starfire floated beside Percy as the two neared the edge of the building. The once distant thunder was now nearly upon them. The ominous clouds lorded over them, and Star really hoped the two boys were close to home by now.
"So, why did you refuse her?" she asked. "I'd like to be inside before I get wet."
"A superhero and a demigod hero are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Cassie cannot be both."
"Why not?"
"One, she's an amazon. I'm not even sure if she is a demigod," he explained. "Her armor and gear give her powers. Two, my blade isn't for show. It's kill or be killed with no room for mercy. Not exactly the Boy Scout way."
"And what if that is the only option she has?"
"Then Diana needs to sign off on it, and I doubt she and the others at the Justice League are going to be thrilled about that. I'll teach her anything and everything else that Diana wouldn't want her to know, but I'm not going to teach Cassie or any of these other kids how to take a life just cause they asked. They are just kids."
She understood. She really did, but she also had seen those kids bleed. "They are long past being just kids, Percy." She wanted to reach out to him, turn him to face her, so she knew he heard her. But she did not. She continued to stare at the side of his face. "They don't even see themselves as that anymore. It is only you and the rest of the people who are wishing for their collapse that keep coming back to their age." She took a breath. Her emotions were always quick to escalate. "They deserve more respect than that."
He didn't respond right away, and that was fine. She hoped he understood who these kids were and what they had become.
After half a minute of silence, he broke it. "They can be heroes and kids at the same time. There exists a balance, and I'm not going to stand by and let them throw away all these years. That said, I want to take them to the fair that's coming to town in a week. Mandatory fun for all."
"One fair will not alter their mindset."
He shrugged his shoulders. He did that often, she noticed. "Then, I guess I'll buy some tickets to that adventure park upstate." He sounded pleased at the suggestion. "Maybe grab some movie tickets for the week after. Buy a new baseball glove. Maybe a fishing rod even. I can find ways to do it."
"Why do all this?" Kori asked. "I am sure the League did not bring you aboard to be a fun guru."
He scoffed. The noise sounded more like a disapproving laugh yet not quite there. "No, they did not, Starfire. They brought me on to watch over Raven above anything else, to be honest. Protecting her is job numero uno according to what Clark told me before we all sat down." His fist balled at his side. "But like I said in the interview. They deserve a better life and not just Raven. That starts with the basics of having a normal human experience even if it is just for an hour a day or a week. Personally, I'd want to send these kids to school if I could. Maybe I could get them into New Rome, but I'm not sure if the Romans would be happy about it."
Kori tentatively nodded. She understood some of what he said. The New Rome aspect was beyond her, but his response did not satisfy what she really wanted to know.
So, she pressed, "You still have not answered why."
She watched as the man faltered. He knew what she was really asking for. His balled fist slowly found purchase on the edge of the roof. His knuckles were white, and she felt the wind push and swirl around them as if they were in the beginning of a hurricane. It howled as it battered into her. Her feet landed on the ground, anchoring her to remain steady. Kori knew her hair was probably all over the place at this point, but appearances were secondary at this moment.
Then, with a sigh from the demigod, the wind eased up enough to allow her hair to settle. Her eyes lifted from his fist to his face. Percy gave the world a tight smile that looked like it might fall apart at any moment. His eyes were lost in the almost black cloud above them like sailors sinking into the depths.
"Because I need to do this," he whispered. His voice was just above the whistling winds.
Kori did not push him again.
She understood that trauma was a powerful motivator and that those who were hurt wanted the best for everyone else. Just because they could not reach for X'hal's light, did not mean they couldn't help another reach it.
Richard had helped her, lifted her up in his arms, even.
"You should head inside, Starfire." He said, his voice only slightly unsteady. He hid it well. "The rain's coming."
She didn't want to leave him. It didn't feel right after provoking him. "And what about you?" she asked, gently.
"I think…. I think I'm going to go for a swim."
The sky burst open. There was no ease into the downpour. No gradual sprinkling of rain that built into a steady hum, it was just sudden like a damn breaking. It was as if more water was falling from the sky than there was in the sea.
Yet, through it all, as winds churned her hair and thunder roared, trying to scare her inside, she remained dry. She watched in growing fascination as water diverted itself around her as if she were in a bubble. It beaded itself on this invisible wall and streaked downwards onto the roof like rain on a window.
"Head on in, Star," Percy told her again. His voice was now steady, but still tender. "Tell Cassie to ask Diana, and that she makes sure Diana understands exactly what I would teach her."
Kori nodded. Her hand came upwards to the edge of the invisible bubble around her, and she watched as the water adapted against gravity and shifted to continue to avoid touching her. It was like magic. She swished her hand out, and even at such a speed the water escaped her.
"I thought you didn't like the rain?" Percy smirked or rather forced one.
She chased after another raindrop, and it flew away from her, defying physics in the process. "I don't, but this is different. I've never seen this planet's weather behave in such a way."
"This is only the beginning of what I can do."
Kori met his soft gaze, the sullen smile on his lips was so familiar, especially with his black hair. Her heart lurched at the connection. "Could you show me, sometime?"
He raised his hand as if offering the heavens a token, and the world froze around them.
Every single drop of water remained suspended in time. Then they began to move one by one as the demigod's hand slowly closed. Bewitched, the water morphed into a child that looked no older than twelve. The little girl made of water smiled at Percy, waving at him.
Then it turned to her, repeating the action.
Kori waved back at the little water girl with her twirly long hair. The creation was so finely crafted, that she could see even subtle dimples in the cheeks. Then there were the eyes that stared back at her. They met Kori's own as if she was truly making eye contact.
It was uncanny. The detail was beyond her understanding that water could do such a thing. It was like looking at the magnum opus of a Renaissance stone mason. Yes, she had seen their work. Richard had taken her to a museum more than once. Dare she say this watery girl was even more finely crafted. Down to even her knee-length skirt, the water disregarded its purpose as rain and conformed to this image, to be this little girl.
"She's beautiful," Kori whispered. Just as she spoke, thunder roared, drowning out her words, angry at its fury being held suspended. She turned her gaze away for half a second to look at the clouds above. Then, just as the noise died down and her vision fell back to earth, the water girl was gone, and once more, the rain fell in its horrendous might.
Kori turned to the artist. His back was to her as he looked out to the sea. She could barely see beyond a hundred feet into the storm. She couldn't even see the waters below.
"I'm going for that swim, and then heading back to my place. Call me if you guys need anything."
Then Percy Jackson jumped the edge of Titan's Tower.