She set Silkie carefully on the seat, giving him a pat. "Stay here. I shall return."
They burst from the cabin, Hikaru's wings snapping out as Starfire ignited with green energy. Below, Mumbo had conjured a giant rabbit that was currently terrorizing the food court.
"Mumbo Jumbo!" the villain declared, spotting them descending. "Prepare to be amazed and astounded!"
"Prepare to be punched," Starfire countered, diving straight at him.
Mumbo waved his wand, and the rabbit intercepted her with shocking speed. She grappled with the creature mid-air, starbolts flashing as she tried to blast through its conjured hide.
Hikaru landed near a group of trapped civilians—three kids and their parents cornered by animated playing cards that sliced the air like throwing knives. He created a barrier of solid light, the cards bouncing off harmlessly.
"Run!" He held the barrier as they scattered, then shaped it into a cage that trapped the cards. "Kory, crowd control!"
"On it!" She broke free from the rabbit with a powerful starbolt, then swooped low to grab civilians and deposit them outside the carnival grounds. Her speed and strength made her perfect for evacuation.
Hikaru engaged Mumbo directly, light constructs taking different forms as he adapted to the villain's tricks. A sword to slash through conjured chains. A shield to deflect rabbit projectiles. Ropes of light that Mumbo simply teleported out of with a puff of smoke.
"You're ruining the show!" Mumbo complained, dodging a photon blast.
"You're ruining our date!" Starfire shouted back, returning to blast the giant rabbit into sparkles.
Hikaru couldn't help but grin, even as he formed a net to catch falling debris. "At least we're doing it together?"
They fell into their combat rhythm effortlessly—the same coordination they'd developed through weeks of training and missions. Starfire drew Mumbo's attention with aggressive aerial attacks while Hikaru worked from below, cutting off escape routes and protecting bystanders.
When Mumbo tried to trap them in a giant card house, they combined a starbolt and light beam to blast through it. When he summoned scarves to bind them, Starfire burned through hers while Hikaru simply phased to light form.
"This is most frustrating!" Mumbo stamped his foot. "You're supposed to be dazzled by my magnificence!"
"We've fought actual villains," Hikaru created light chains that wrapped around the villain's wand hand. "Your card tricks aren't that impressive."
Starfire grabbed Mumbo from behind, pinning his arms. "The performance is over."
Mumbo struggled, but without his wand, his magic sputtered uselessly. His conjured props dissolved into sparkles, the chaos settling as quickly as it had begun.
Police arrived minutes later, taking custody of the still-protesting villain. The carnival staff began damage assessment, though most of the destruction had been illusory.
Hikaru and Starfire stood amid the aftermath, both still annoyed at the turn of events. Around them, families gathered their things, the evening's entertainment thoroughly derailed.
"I apologize." Starfire looked genuinely distressed. "Your Earth dates are not normally supposed to involve combat."
Hikaru caught her hand, threading their fingers together. "Kory, I wouldn't have it any other way. This is our normal."
She searched his face, then smiled. "I am glad you feel this way."
"Come on." He tugged her toward the Ferris wheel, which had resumed operation. "We never got to finish our ride."
They climbed back into their cabin, Silkie still waiting patiently on the seat. As the wheel lifted them again, the carnival below showed signs of recovery—lights flickering back on, music resuming, people cautiously returning.
At the apex, the cabin stopped. This time, it was intentional—the traditional pause at the top for couples.
Jump City spread before them, the bay reflecting city lights like scattered stars. The ocean breeze carried salt and distant music.
Starfire leaned against Hikaru's shoulder, Silkie in her lap. "Despite the interruption, this was wonderful."
"Yeah." He wrapped an arm around her, feeling the warmth she radiated. "It was."
She lifted her head, meeting his eyes. The distance between them disappeared naturally, and inevitably, like gravity.
Their kiss was soft at first, tentative. Then deeper, her hand coming up to cup his face as he pulled her closer.
Below them, someone must have restarted the fireworks display that Mumbo's attack had delayed. Colors exploded across the sky—gold and blue and brilliant white.
They broke apart as light painted them in the shifting colors.
"Worth the interruption," Hikaru murmured.
"Most definitely." Starfire's smile was radiant.
They flew back to the Tower hand-in-hand, Starfire carrying Silkie in her free arm while stars emerged overhead. The city stretched beneath them, quieting as the hour grew late.
"This was a most wonderful evening," she said, the wind catching her hair.
"Even with the villain interruption?"
She laughed, the sound bright and unrestrained. "Especially with the villain interruption. It was very... us."
Landing on the Tower's roof, they descended through the upper levels. The common areas were dark and empty, their teammates long since retired. Only dim emergency lighting guided their path through familiar halls.
At Starfire's door, they stopped. Hikaru turned to her, reluctant to let the evening end.
"Here you are. Safe and sound."
Starfire set Silkie down, then stepped closer. Her hands came up to cup his face, thumbs brushing his cheekbones. "Thank you for tonight. For everything."
"Anytime, Kory."
She pulled him into a kiss—deeper than before, more certain. Her fingers threaded through his hair as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him.
When they finally separated, both slightly breathless, she whispered, "Goodnight, Hikaru."
"Goodnight, Kory."
She retrieved Silkie, then slipped into her room. Just before closing the door, she looked back with a smile that made his chest tight.
The door clicked shut.
Hikaru stood there for a moment, processing. The taste of her still on his lips, the warmth of her touch lingering. He felt like he was floating, weightless despite his feet firmly on the ground.
He turned, heading toward his room.
Unexpectedly he met Raven in the hallway.
She'd emerged from the kitchen, a mug of tea in her hands and her hood down. In the dim lighting, her violet eyes seemed unreadable.
"Oh." Hikaru stopped. "Hey, Roth. Late night?"
"Couldn't sleep." She took a sip, steam curling between them.
Silence stretched, but it wasn't quite comfortable.
"You're back late," she observed.
"Yeah, took Kory on a date. It was nice." He couldn't quite keep the smile from his voice.
Raven paused mid-sip, the motion almost imperceptible. "...That's good."
"Yeah we got interrupted by this magician guy called Mumbo, but we made it work."
"You usually do." She resumed walking, passing him in the narrow hall.
As she drew level, her gaze flickered—just for a second—to his lips. Where Starfire had kissed him. Where a faint redness still lingered.
"You seem happy." Her tone was carefully neutral.
Hikaru looked down, suddenly self-conscious. "I guess I am."
"Mm." Unreadable. She continued toward her room.
"Raven?"
She didn't stop, didn't turn. "Goodnight, Hikaru."
Her door opened and closed with soft finality.
Hikaru stood alone in the hallway, the warmth from earlier cooling slightly.
Was that... something?
The pause. The way she'd looked at his lips. The careful neutrality that felt like it was hiding something deeper.
He shook his head, resuming his walk to his room.
No. I'm probably reading into things.
But the doubt lingered—tiny and nagging, like a splinter he couldn't quite locate.
Behind his door, in the darkness of his room, Hikaru touched his lips.
...Right?