Unexpected: XI

Raven had been looking for Starfire for half an hour before she had finally given up and retired to her room for the night. Admitting to herself that she had... feelings... for her best friend had made her confident enough to think that asking Starfire to go with her to the mall tomorrow was a good idea. Unfortunately, the bubbly titan was nowhere to be found. Raven may have been slightly worried and curious as to where Starfire might've gone, but the Tamaranean Princess could take care of herself. Plus, the Starfire was often out of the Tower, taking long walks or enjoying a wandering flight.

Raven was just about to settle into her meditation pose when she suddenly sensed the other girl's bright, bubbly aura approaching the Tower. The corners of her mouth shot up into an unconscious smile and she immediately phased through the floor of her bedroom and down into the living room, making sure to grab a book on her way out. Once there she settled on the couch, turned to a random page and forced her eyes to the print, trying to appear nonchalant.

It wouldn't do to have Starfire think she was too eager for her company, after all.

When she heard the sliding doors activate from behind her, she made herself count to three before turning her head. And when she did so she did so slowly, unhurriedly. She chanted 'Keep it cool, Keep it cool, Keep it cool,' over and over in her head, but in the end it proved futile. Fire still rushed to her cheeks, and her mouth went dry at the sight of her teammate; Starfire's long, curvy legs were encased in denim, and somehow the sight of them detailed and outlined with the material was more alluring than catching that hint of skin usually exposed just under the edge of her purple skirt. The top was just as distracting, though that too hid more skin than the titan's usual attire.

The gleeful, dreamy light shining in her eyes as she strolled down the stairs also had Raven's heart fluttering.

Shutting the book she hadn't been reading, Raven stood and made her way to the kitchen, her knees getting weaker with each step. The Tamaranean didn't seem to notice her presence and strolled over to the kitchen, humming to herself. Raven paused, suddenly nervous and unsure of herself.

What am I supposed to say? 'Where've you been'? She's not a child... plus she'll probably think I'm yelling at her or something. Even she'd have trouble telling my 'angry' face from my 'desperately trying to hide adoration and love' face. They probably look a lot alike.

But when she looked up she saw Starfire retrieving her jasmine leaves from the pantry, and found an in. "Could I get a cup of that?"

"Of course, Raven."

Starfire smiled at her before moving to the stove to tend to the boiling water. Raven watched her work; the pureness of the other girl's energy never ceased to amaze her. The happiness and joy that practically radiated from her like light does from the sun was tainted by no shadows, no impurities. Or at least, it always had before. Today though, Raven noted with a frown, there seemed to be the slightest of hesitations hiding away just underneath the positivity: a bizarre touch of anxiety discoloring Starfire's aura like a black smudge on a highlighter.

"Star?" Bright green eyes turned from their work to meet her gaze, as curious and bright as always. "Is everything alright? You were gone for a while. Did something… happen?"

Starfire stared at her for a long moment, and Raven found herself blushing under the firm, unwavering green gaze. At the mention of her well-being, particularly her having been gone for a long time, the Tamaranean princess had tensed up, the smile sliding away and dropping into a firm line. She didn't speak, but her eyes dropped to the floor and she turned to face the kettle, leaving Raven with only a profile view of the sudden fear that had risen to the surface, smashing through the calm and happy light that personified Starfire's aura.

Raven reached out and laid a hand on the bronze shoulder put towards her, concern etching hard lines across her brow and dragging down at the corners of her mouth. "Starfire, what's-"

The sudden eruption of steam through the spout of the kettle snapped Starfire out of her daze; her face seemed to open as a flower does for the sun, though the look of surprise that spread across it didn't quite meet the level of brilliance Raven would have been comfortable with. Raven wanted a smile, a genuine smile. So, as Starfire went to prepare the tea Raven reached out and took the hand reaching for the kettle into her own, and when Starfire's gaze turned to hers once more Raven forced herself not to meet it. Instead, she poured the boiling water into the pot to let the tea simmer and (after reluctantly releasing Starfire's hand) retrieved each girl's favorite mug from the cupboard.

Starfire continued to stand there, looking lost. Raven's heart hung heavy in her chest as she poured the steaming tea into the mugs, eyes glancing over at the beautiful alien standing beside her every few moments and lingering a little longer each time until finally, the tea was poured and the pair of them were standing there, Raven staring at Starfire and Starfire staring at the floor.

Raven's eyes narrowed. This is getting on my nerves. Gathering up her power, she focused on their two bodies and drew them straight through the walls to her room in a wave of black energy, being sure to bring the tea along for the ride. Once cloaked in the secure shadows of the her quarters, Raven let loose a long sigh and guided an unprotesting Starfire to her bed. They sat down on the edge, the tea mugs drifting down in front of them and into waiting hands.

Raven took a sip to calm herself before starting.

"Starfire… what's wrong? You know you can come to me with anything, right? What's bothering you? You know I'm here for you," And I'll always be here for you, "But don't think you'll get out of this with a smile and a hug; your aura's a mess. What's happened to make you feel this way? Why are you so… uneasy?"

Starfire glanced at her shyly from the corners of her eyes, the look on her face reminiscent of a reluctant child being confronted by a fretful parent. A full minute passed by with her gaze shifting to the floor and back before the eyes slid shut and Starfire answered in a whisper.

"I fear I may have done more than… the even."

Raven's brows knit together in confusion. What was she talking about? What 'even'? But then she remembered what it was that Cyborg had said earlier that day when the Teen Titans had returned from a gratifying retribution victory over the Hive Five.

"Yo, what'd I tell you? I told y'all we'd get even with those little…"

She hadn't remembered the insult but knowing Cyborg it had probably been witty and appropriate; the exact opposite of whatever Beast Boy would have said.

"Are you talking about Jinx? Starfire, I know you may have hit her pretty hard the other day but you've gotta remember: she hurt you first. And today? You were just doing what was right! You can't be afraid to hurt her in the future, otherwise she could end up hurting a lot of innocent people."

"But-"

"But nothing. Knowing you, you'll keep fretting about this until you've managed to convince yourself that that's the truth, but until then I want you to know that you've done nothing wrong." Starfire was staring at her in utter disbelief, confusion and uncertainty written across every inch of her face, but she pressed on. "Now drink your tea and smile; you've been doing too much frowning lately for my taste."

That made Starfire grin, at least, but Raven knew that it was really just for her sake, more than anything else. Starfire was still upset; that much was obvious. Raven could see it in the way her eyes quickly fell back to the floor, and in the way that her aura continued to project that muddled, cloudy array of black and yellow.

Starfire clutched the mug in her hands, staring into its swirling depths and wondering if she should tell Raven the truth. The whole truth. She hadn't necessarily lied, she was still a tad sensitive about the last time she'd lied to her friends, but allowing Raven to believe that the battle was all she was talking about probably wasn't the right thing to do. But she couldn't risk losing a chance to get to know Jinx better; she'd probably never get one again.

Spending the night with her had shown Starfire that there was more to Jinx than met the eye. When she fought, yes, she may have been a cunning, calculating thief, but off the battlefield all threat of violence disappeared and Jinx became a charming, intelligent young lady. There was another level to her, a truth hiding behind a lie; the spark of intelligence and soulful light shining in her eyes betrayed a deeper character that Starfire desperately wanted to see more of.

There was this... and then there was the fact that kissing the shorter girl on the cheek had left her lips tingling long after pink hair had been lost from view… and somewhere inside Starfire knew that she wouldn't pass up a chance to do it again.

I cannot simply return to the way things were, and surely she feels the same! She was the one to ask me for the 'second date' after all, and the way her eyes lit up when she smiled… I do not think I have it in me to crush that smile. If I could, I should like to help it grow. More people should see that smile… more people should see that there is more to her than what her reputation might have them believe…

Where that thought had come from, she had no idea, but she was glad for it. Because with it came the thought that maybe, just maybe, more people could see Jinx the way Starfire had seen her tonight: kind, bright, fun, alluring…

She sighed.

The more I think about her, the more I want to see her. She stood, missing the questioning gaze Raven fixed on her. I need to meditate; that's the only way I'll be able to calm myself, and Raven.

"Will you meditate with me, my friend?"

Raven stared at her curiously for a moment more before nodding and using her powers to send the mugs over to the nightstand. Rising into position, the pair of girls began to chant, the air around them growing quiet and still as their voices became the only sound left in the world. Everything else fell away, as it always did with meditation, leaving nothing but Starfire and Raven and the slow, gentle chant.

Starfire continued to contemplate her situation.

I cannot tell my friends about Jinx. I can tell no one about Jinx, not yet. I must get closer to her; I must know for certain that she is as whole-hearted in this as I am. Only then will I know if she is worth saving… from herself and from the demons hovering about her. There is a good heart hidden underneath the harsh words, cruel deeds and wicked grin. Those are a farce, a facade.

There is another person hidden within.

And I will find her.

She tried, for the first time during meditation, to seek something out rather than retreating within. She cast out her senses, leaving the tower and washing over the city. The sound of chanting was joined by the music of the city night: cars, music, people. People sobbing, people rejoicing, people sleeping, and people loving. She heard it all, felt it all, became part of it all but continued to search, searching for a splash of pink mixed within the grays, reds and blues.

She almost gave up, but just as she began to pull herself back she found it. A pink haze, fuzzy and edged with anxiety, hidden away within one of the cities darker niches. There were other figures in the vicinity, her teammates, but their figures were dull with sleep. The erratic fluctuations of the pink figure told her that Jinx, where ever she was, was having trouble falling asleep.

The thought made her grin.

Starfire let out the tiniest of laughs, and in response the pink figure snapped into alertness, rigid and stiff. Jinx must not have been expecting visitors... most definitely not ethereal ones.

Her smile fell as she probed the pink haze with her senses and felt the anxiety, the worry... the hope. She remained as she was for a moment more before she tried to project a feeling of warmth, of security, and send it to wherever Jinx might be. Unfortunately, the pink projection of feeling remained taut and nervous. Starfire tried a different tactic and simply smiled, as kindly and as warmly as she could.

The effect was immediate. She could feel the warmth rolling off of herself in waves, flying out over the city, following her senses and filling the room. The warmth settled over Jinx's emotional projection. The harsh edges of the pink figure relaxed and evened themselves out.

A single thought, in Jinx's voice, was returned to her... the tone one not yet heard by the young alien. It was soft, gentle, vulnerable.

Starfire...

Her name, whispered in a quiet breathe that was one of the last Jinx took whilst awake. The color of her projection began to dim, and Starfire knew she'd managed to send the other girl peacefully to sleep. She withdrew her senses and found herself chanting alone. Raven had stopped, and was now staring at her again. She simply smiled wider, her grin stretching from ear to ear.

"You are right, Raven. I've done nothing wrong."

Short, unexciting chapter, I know. Life has been hectic (I spent 10 days in Italy, came home, then moved into college), and since I've found out that Victorious won't be coming back for a fourth season I feel the need to give my Jori story all the love I can afford. Don't hate me for it!

Enjoy. The next few chapters will be better, I promise. When they come.