Comforted by The Stars

A Good Night's Sleep

It had been two weeks since Raven had broken her ankle, and Starfire couldn't help but notice that her injured girlfriend had been rather..cranky in the mornings. Grumbling at the breakfast table, not having enough energy to meditate..perhaps something was wrong? Carefully knocking on Raven's door, she flinched when it suddenly opened and Raven floated there, levitating to keep her injured ankle off the ground. "Dearest, I-" She paused, watching Raven's grumpy expression shift into a tired smile. "Hey..Starfire..sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Starfire frowned and examined Raven's expression closely. "You did frighten me slightly, but I am more concerned with your behavior lately." She looked confused, raising an eyebrow. "My behavior? What do you mean, Star?" Starfire sighed and shook her head. "You have been rather grumpy at the food table lately, especially in the mornings." Raven chuckled at Starfire's phrasing, leaning against the door frame. She barely had enough energy to keep levitating. "That is exactly what I mean." Starfire said as she picked Raven up in her arms, flying back to the bed and sitting her down. She made sure she was comfortable and went back to shut the door, carefully sitting down on the bed when she was done. "You are..fatigued, yes?" Starfire frowned and looked at Raven. She looked down at the bed, toying with the soft blanket. "I..yeah, I'm pretty tired. It's not real comfortable, sleeping sitting up like this." Starfire blinked in confusion. "You have been sleeping in a sitting position this whole time?" Raven shrugged. "Yeah. I don't have enough pillows for my back to sleep lying down safely..while still keeping my ankle propped up." She giggled, getting off the bed. "Why did you not say so? I have many pillows in my room. I will be right back!" Starfire had opened the door and flown out before Raven could say another word. Coming back, she had her arms full of dark colored pillows. She knew her girlfriend preferred non-bright colors. "There we are!" 

Starfire began arranging the pillows and laying Raven down on them carefully, smiling at her work. "This is most perfect. You look as though you are on a storm cloud!" Raven blushed and rubbed the back of her neck, chuckling a little. "I guess I do. But Star, it's not just being uncomfortable.. I can't sleep-" Starfire frowned, crossing her arms and thinking silently. "Well.." She shut her eyes, letting out a sigh and opening them. "Would you like to hear a story? Perhaps it will help you sleep." Raven raised an eyebrow, watching Starfire move to sit behind her. "Fairy tales, Star? I don't think-" She paused when she felt Starfire gently toying with her hair. Her voice was quiet, and soft as she spoke. "My Dearest, this will not be a tale of fiction. Do you remember a few weeks ago as I drew on your healing bandages, you told me that I do not speak of my life before the team?" Raven gave a gentle nod, not wanting to break Star's concentration. "Then.." Starfire began as she braided a few strands of her beloved's hair together. "..I will tell you the story of my homeworld and parents." Raven frowned, leaning her head back for a moment to watch her. "Are you sure?" Star leaned down and gently kissed her before pulling away and moving her head back to where it had been. "I am. As you know from our past visit to my home, my full name is Princess Koriand'r. My parents.." She paused, shutting her eyes as she gently ran her hands through Raven's hair to calm herself. "Were Myand'r and Luand'r. The Gordanians attacked my home planet five years before I came to earth for the first time. My father and mother had sent my younger brother..Ryand'r.." Starfire sighed, and then continued. "They sent him away to preserve the royal bloodline, in case the planet was devastated, and our people slaughtered." Raven tensed a little, gently rubbing Star's leg in reassurance. "Its okay, you can keep going-but you don't have to." Starfire took her hand and brought it to her mouth, gently kissing it before letting it rest back at Raven's side. 

"The only solution toward the end of the five years was to offer a token of the peace. An olive branch." She sighed and stared at Raven's hair while she worked. "But my parents had not planned this token of the peace. My eldest sister conducted a secret treaty in the dark of night with the Gordanians, offering me as a slave to pacify their need for conquest-a trophy of war...they accepted. I am told my parents died of grief upon learning the atrocity my sister had committed. When I came back to my homeworld with the team..as you know..I had to fight my sister, and I was forcibly betrothed-" Raven tilted her head back again, giving Starfire a smile. "Hey..I know you would never want to be married by force." Star looked to the side, a slight blush crossing her face as her voice quieted. "Yes, I suppose I would much rather be betrothed to you-" Raven blinked and a heavy blush filled her cheeks as Starfire mumbled a bit. "What did you say?" She looked as though she'd been caught, laughing it off and rubbing the back of her neck. "Oh, ha-ha! Dearest, are you hearing things again? I have said nothing." Raven grumbled and got comfortable on the bed. "I..guess so?" Starfire sighed in relief and shut her eyes. "You know..I am aware you do not like bright colors too much.." Opening her eyes, she began braiding again, slowly smiling. "But I truly believe you would have loved my planet when it was in its fullest bloom.. a walk with you in the royal garden would've been most wonderful." Raven only made a soft noise of confirmation, shifting again while Star toyed with her hair. "Raven.." Her voice slowly went quiet, and her hands stilled in Raven's hair. "You are..wonderful. I do not think I could be any happier than I am at this moment. I am.." It seemed the English language had escaped her again, and Raven chuckled. "Content?" Starfire frowned. "What does this word mean?" Raven leaned her head back, giving her another smile. "A state of peaceful happiness." Star nodded and chuckled, kissing Raven's forehead. "Then yes, I am content."