Eye of the Hurricane

By: A. Kiwi

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or related characters.

  Part I: Battle of the Mind

   A/n: Part II may not come for awhile, and for that, I'm sorry.

~

It's Friday night.

It's raining.

Starfire hovered two feet above the ground, Indian style, and her hands over Raven's crystal ball. "Azareth… Metrion… Xinthos…" (A/n: May I interlude? Yes, I know that it's Zinthos, but it looks so much cooler as Xinthos ^_^) Muttered Raven, repeating the spell that she had known since birth. Starfire was daydreaming. She knew this was rude; since Raven invited her into her room to meditate once a week, not daydream, but today, Raven looked especially attractive.  She had taken off her cape for a change.  She said it helped her to meditate better, or something like that.  It could be declared fact that she was crushing on Raven. 

"Try to stay focused…" said Raven, opening one eye to look at the Tamaranian teen.  It was true that she had not been focusing either, but she wasn't about to admit it.  Starfire looks especially attractive today… She thought, and then mentally slapped herself for ever even thinking such a thought.  It could be declared fact that she was crushing on Starfire.  Starfire's tank top and miniskirt didn't help stop Raven's cravings… it more increased them.  

"I sincerely apologize Raven," came Starfire's automatic reply.  They replaced their hands over the crystal ball.  To hell with meditation, thought Raven, peeking over at Starfire, who had her eyes closed and was chanting 'Azareth Metrion Xinthos.'  She looked so pretty…Raven resisted the urge to plaster Star's face with kisses as she looked at the alien's flawless face.  She didn't know if Star had yet realized if she was alone in chanting.  She suddenly, on a whim, touched Starfire's face, stroking it gently.  Starfire's eyes came open, and Raven drew back her hand. 

"I am sorry, did you wish to continue?"  Starfire asked.  Raven looked longingly at the teenager, now knowing that there was no hope between them.  Right at that moment, she wanted nothing more then to hold Starfire in her arms, and be with her forever.  Stop… she pleaded herself in her mind.  She touched the gem on her forehead, which was beginning to hurt, as it did when she was feeling a great deal of emotion.

"Sorry… I thought… there was a smudge on your face," said Raven lamely. 

Teen Titans opening theme song

When there's trouble, you know who to call (TEEN TITANS!)

From their tower, they can see it all (TEEN TITANS!)

When there's evil on the attack

You can rest knowing they got your back

'Cause when the world needs heroes on patrol

TEEN TITANS, GO!

TEEN TITANS, GO!

With their super powers, they unite (TEEN TITANS!)

Never met a villain that they liked (TEEN TITANS!)

They got the bad guys on the run

They never stop until the job gets done

'Cause when the world is losing all control

TEEN TITANS, GO!

TEEN TITANS, GO!

One, two, three, four, GO!

TEEN TITANS!

~

Starfire knocked again that next afternoon.  Raven didn't answer.

"I am sorry to have bothered you," Star said, her voice just above a whisper, that made it sound like she was whimpering. Why did she have to sound so damn  SAD?! Raven thought, her love for the girl making her open the door for the teen.

"Yes, Starfire?"

"I have brought you your favorite tea… essence of herbs, I believe it is called." She held up a tray with two cups of herbal tea on it. Apparently she meant to stay.

"How… thoughtful," said Raven, taking a cup off the tray. She had always thought Starfire's head was as empty as a flowerpot.  Perhaps she would return the favor.  She thought of a way to do so as she sipped her tea delicately. Starfire took the other cup and sipped it. Ugh. How can Raven stand this… this… glorbag varblaken?  She scrunched up her face and tried to force the bitter liquid down her throat, hoping it would stay down.  She had trouble understanding Raven's taste sometimes. 

"Something wrong?" Raven lifted an eyebrow.

"Nothing," said Starfire, too quickly.  She saw Raven's eyes narrow at her obvious white lie, and then a plan formed in Raven's mind.  She didn't know if this was something Starfire would like.

"Don't lie to me Starfire," She said, in mock anger.  She tackled Starfire and they tumbled out of the air, and landed with Raven lying on top of Starfire.  Starfire giggled. 

"Oh Ravie, I am so sorry," said Starfire, playing along.  Raven picked herself up of Starfire and tickled her abdomen, making Starfire giggle even louder.  Raven laughed too, but at her own expense.  All the items in her room were now spinning at an alarming speed around her and Starfire like a whirlwind.  Raven used her mental powers to stop the items, and set them down in their respected places. 

"Heh… I guess that's enough emotion for one day."  Raven blushed, and saw disappointment flicker in the Tamaranians eyes.

"I guess.  Thank you for the good times," Starfire lifted her body from the floor, winked at Raven, and left her room.

~   

Raven has not invited me to her room for three days… nor come out of it.  Perhaps I will check on her… There were no easy ways to get into Raven's room.  You either had to be hurt, or coming to meditate.  Starfire picked up a knife and made a nick in her skin, then pushed it deeper into her flesh and drew it across her arm.  Droplets of blood started seeping out and she withdrew the knife.  The cut was deeper then she'd expected.  She staggered out of her room, and headed if to Raven's room. 

"Starfire, is… everything ok?"  Asked Robin.  He had been watching the door to her room all day, trying to work up the nerve to go talk to her. 

"Um… yes," she replied.  Robin, not believing her, walked over to where the alien was standing and touched her hand. 

"Star, you're bleeding.  We should get you down to the hospital wing."  He began leading her away.  Raven was meditating in her room, her thumb and forefinger's tips pressed together, the rest of her fingers in their natural position, and her legs crossed Indian style.  A vision of Starfire leaning on Robin, losing blood fast came to her.  A vase exploded, and Raven walked into the hall, her cape whipping out behind her, and jogged to the hospital wing.

Robin took out an Ace bandage from a medical cabinet and he began wrapping her hand.

"Star… this is a deep cut, what happened?"

"Nothing," she squeaked.  Robin wrapped the last of the bandage around her hand.  He wanted her to smile at him, like she used to, before she began meditating with Raven.  Then she never smiled at him anymore.  He had heard the laughter Raven and Star shared when he walked by Raven's room.  Robin was- to put it simply, jealous.

"Star… I noticed that you-"  He was interrupted by Raven's walking into the hospital wing. 

"Starfire, are you ok?"  She walked over and examined Starfire's hand, then began ripping off the bandages Robin had so tenderly put on.  Raven's eyes glowed temporarily white, and her hands lit with blue energy, unlike their usual black.  She needed no magic words for a healing spell.  She held her hands over the cut and slowly, the cut resealed itself and stopped bleeding.

"I thank you Raven."  They left together, and Robin watched them go.  He gathered up the bandages at his feet and carried them to his room, where he dropped them on the floor and pounded his fist into the wall.  A few newspaper clippings fell off, and he kicked them with his foot.  One of them rose into the air and did a lazy loop before falling back on the floor and remaining there.  He looked at the bandages, stained with Starfire's blood.

"I need a break…" he muttered.  He stepped outside his room and climbed into the elevator, pressing the button to take him to the roof.  A certain green shapeshifter sat on the roof, looking out at the lake, which was glimmering pink and orange because of the sunset.

"Oh… hey Robin, what's up?"  He patted the spot beside him and Robin sat. 

"Still bummed over the whole Starfire Raven thing?"  Robin nodded.  Beast Boy somehow knew about this too.

"Are you going to say anything?"  Beast Boy asked.  They sat in silence for awhile; Robin glared into the sunset like he hated the skies, and the earth.  He almost did, for taking away what was most important to him.  His beloved Koriand'r.  He heard the lift door open and close behind him.  That would be Beast Boy leaving.  He heard the lift door open and close again.  Who was that?  He spun, and saw Starfire walking to the other side of the roof, and sit down.  She probably hadn't noticed him.  He got up, his gunmetal shoes thumping softly as he walked towards her.  She didn't turn.  She knew he was there.  He placed a hand on her shoulder, and then she turned. 

"Hey," he said.

"Hello Robin."  Her reply was short.  She obviously didn't want to be near him, and he realized her shoulder had gotten tense.  He withdrew his hand.

"Sorry about that."  Starfire nodded.  He sat down by her. 

"So… How's it going?"  His first attempt to break the ice didn't go that well.  She didn't respond, merely sighed and slumped down. 

"Starfire… what's gone wrong between us?"  Her green eyes peered questioningly into his face.

"I mean it Star, what's happened?"  Starfire sighed.  Maybe she could walk her way out of this. 

"I have to go Robin," she said, rising to her feet.  Robin made no attempt to stop her.  She was never his.  He went to his room and placed his Linkin Park CD in his player and pushed the button for song 7, then play.  The lyrics came out strong and clearly.

I am

A little bit of loneliness

A little bit of disregard

A handful of complaints

But I can't help the fact

That everyone can see these scars

I am

What I want you to want

What I want you to feel

But it's like

No matter what I do

I can't convince you

To just believe this is real

So I let go

Watching you

Turn you back like you always do

Face away and pretend that I'm not

But I'll be here

'Cause you're all that I got

I can't feel the way

The way I did before

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

Time won't heal

This damage anymore

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

I am

A little bit insecure

A little unconfident

'Cause you don't understand

I do what I can

But sometimes I don't make sense

I am

What you never want to say

But I've never had a doubt

It's like no matter what I do

I can't convince you

For once just to hear me out

So I let go

Watching you

Turn your back like you always do

Face away and pretend that I'm not

But I'll be here

'Cause you're all that I got

I can't fell the way

The way I did before

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

Time won't heal

This damage anymore

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

No

Hear me out

You're gonna listen to me

Like it or not

Right now

Hear me out

You're gonna listen to me

Like it or not

Right now

I can't feel the way

The way I did before

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

I can't feel the way

The way I did before

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

Time won't heal

This damage anymore

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

I can't take

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

Time won't heal

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored