Disclaimer: *Sigh*...no...I don't own Teen Titans. *Huger sigh*...no...I'm not making money with this little story.
A/N: Originally completed on June 19, 2010. I always tell anyone who'll listen that "Apprentice" was not only my favorite episode of Teen Titans ever-it was also one of my favorite episodes of anything I've watched. Nothing could compare to the adrenaline rush when the viewer realized that Slade had Robin trapped beyond negotiation. IT WAS AWESOME!
I Doubted You
"Lies!" Starfire had shouted in her friend's defense. "Nothing could ever make him betray us!" she had cried vehemently. But in the hidden reaches of her heart, she was not so full of conviction as she seemed. Raven's calm conclusion of the fact that the Teen Titans' leader was now a criminal had torn at Starfire inside. It tore at her because she was beginning to believe that Raven was right.
How could it be true? Yet how could it not be? Starfire was at a loss to declare Robin's innocence, at least to herself. It was true that he had stolen before. Starfire wanted to believe that this was like the time before, when Robin had masqueraded as the Red X, a thief who was dangerously adept at his work. Red X had stolen thrice, and when Starfire had discovered that Red X and Robin were one and the same, she had almost lost faith in her leader. Robin, however, had been quick to assure her, and all of them, that the disguise was something he had to pull off convincingly, right down to looting and picking battles with his friends. He did it, he argued, to catch Slade. Although Starfire's trust in him had been shaken then, she had come to accept his decision as right—because Robin always fought for truth and justice, and never let anything get in the way of his being a hero.
If only it could be that way now. If only she could believe that Robin had infiltrated Slade's inner defenses, and was even now spying on Slade, working to save them all. But when Starfire recalled the night when he'd appeared through the darkness, crouched so defensively . . . wearing a suit just like their enemy wore . . . bearing Slade's symbol proudly over his heart . . . gripping his prize protectively . . . with no emotion on his face except a faint rancor . . . all her certainties regarding him were gone in an instant. Even then she had been willing to disregard the suspicious appearances and believe the best about him—but that was before he attacked. Without the slightest hesitation, he had thrown a bomb at Starfire—she who had been trying to discover what was wrong with him and make peace. And then he had vanished into the smoke.
Robin looked like Slade. He acted like Slade. And he had no air of reluctance about him—nothing to make Starfire believe that he was a double agent. Was the Robin they all knew and loved gone? Was there nothing left of the brave, selfless superhero? Starfire wanted to uphold hope, like a candle in the night. But the trouble was, she didn't know what to believe anymore.
—The End—