He didnât mind doing this for her. Staying the night and giving her a massage. It was a little like how things used to be. Long nights together. Just talking and being near one another. It called to mind their teenage years in the tower. Sneaking into one anotherâs rooms. Staying up just to talk about things that didnât seem all that important now. She was the first of Teen Titans to ever see him without the mask and to know his real name. Their friendship was precious to him. She was precious to him⌠and he wouldnât hurt her again. That was why he didnât go any further than a massage and a shared bed.Â
She said she enjoyed the benefits of friendship and he let out a boyish laugh. It wasnât too complicated right now. There was still something there between them. A shared torch. It was sometimes hard to tell if that was why he felt like there was this warmth between them. Or, maybe, it was simply because Starfire had always ran hot. He gave her a bit of a smile and laid down beside her on the bed. âThis isnât reallyâŚâ He trailed off, deciding not to explain it after all. âI guess it depends who you ask.â As for the other question, Dick paused. âI used to do this kind of thing for Babs sometimes.â He told her in a softer voice then heâd normally use.Â
Koriandâr cuddled in closer to him when her returned to the bed. One hand reached up, tracing his arm, up the side of his face, through his softly tussled hair, and back down. She continued repeating the motion as he spoke. She paused briefly at the tone change when he mentioned Barbara, but quickly resumed. It was a delicate situation. She knew the woman held a special place in his heart, and she would be lying if she claimed to not be jealous over it. But the jealousy had faded over the years, what was once a roaring fire had been doused into embers by heartbreak and time. âDo the benefits refer only to those you have been involved with intimately?â she questioned. Kori was a curious creature (korious if you will.... donât look at me). She enjoyed learning about Earth and itâs customs. Sheâd been on the planet for quite some time now, but still she learned more and more every day.Â
âOh. I had almost forgotten. I spoke to my sister about those two Tamaranian children.â she said to him. It had been the original reason for her wanting to talk but she had become.... sidetracked. Dick had a way of making her worried fade into the depths of her mind. But this was one worry she could not let slip away. Â âShe claimed to have no association with them. I know Komandârâs word is not one to be trusted, but I believe her. She seemed genuinely surprised when I asked her about them.â