. T h i s . I s . H o w . I . D i s a p p e a r .
By Streetlight
"Don't even try to catch me, you-you…snot brains!"
Gizmo's insufferable laughter had heads turning all the way down the street. Then, in a booming chorus of screams, the people of Jump City dove out of the way as a giant, globe-shaped object bounced up and down the street, shattering concrete and asphalt as if it were glass. The boy was strapped securely in the center of the clear globe, and, with each bounce, became more and more pleased with himself.
"Great! Jinx is gonna love this one!"
With a crack, the contraption smacked into a building, then continued on down the street, unharmed. Gizmo turned to see his damage, a smile plastered across his round face. A bit of the building was hanging delicately over the sidewalk, which just happened to be swamped with running people.
"Aw man, this is too good."
A few blipping noises later and the contraption rolled to a stop, the boy hopping out and watching the people run in terror. He took out a small weapon, which somewhat resembled a gun in the sense that it had a muzzle, a barrel, and a handle. Yet it had five buttons instead of a trigger and its exterior was a striking shade of blue. He aimed recklessly, and then shot; the bit of building dipped lower, yet still clung stubbornly to its larger counterpart.
"I wonder where those snotty teen titans disappeared to."
He aimed again, this time a bit more carefully, before shooting. Another crack graced his ears and he watched as it began to fall; each inch it fell making his heart pump faster with anticipation. The sudden screams filled his ears, and a deep laugh tickled his throat. Then, unexpectedly, another crack snapped above the screams. A green light blinded him and he felt his body stumble backwards, his back smacking against his contraption. He yelled out, small bits of the falling building smacking into his body. Blood slipped over his face and he risked opening his eyes to see five silhouettes.
"It's too early for this…" Beastboy groaned, stepping into the sunlight with heavy, emerald eyes.
"Sorry to disappoint you…!" Cyborg called out, ignoring the yawning changeling.
"But the Teen Titans don't just disappear." Robin finished; his voice was sure as usual and his fists clenched, "Titans…go!"
Immediately Starfire dove forwards, flying in over Robin's head, straight towards Gizmo. Her hands and eyes were alight with green star bolts and her jaw was locked with secure determination. The charging noise of Cyborg's gun, followed by a reassuring click, sounded at Robin's left and, in his peripheral vision, he watched as Beastboy transformed into a green eagle. Raven was lifting the shards of concrete and asphalt, her darkness spreading across the street.
Robin looked up to jet forwards himself, when he noticed gizmo handling a weapon behind his back, the kid's eyes fixed on the pretty alien girl charging at him from the air. "Starfire, wait!" Robin yelled, running towards Gizmo. The blue gun was yanked out from hiding and another one of the buttons was shoved down by Gizmo's chubby thumb.
"Star move!" He yelled again.
Darkness enveloped the area and, without thinking, Robin dove out of the way of it. Explosions rocked the ground and Robin felt his skin crawling from the heat, sweat slipping down his body. He couldn't stop his fall…the street rammed against his face and the air was punched out of his chest. Oh God, he thought, his body shaking in misery, I dove away from Raven's shield!
Heat clawed at his body, as if some sort of large cat was on top of him, digging its claws into his back and ripping his skin away, layer by layer. He was inhaling smoke; he could feel it filling his throat and polluting his lungs. His mouth was so dry, yet he felt his throat, underneath the smoke, trembling as if he had swallowed a feather as well; he had to choke, but he didn't even have the energy for that.
I have to move. Move…c'mon…MOVE!
This Dark Night
Ice.
His body was lying across a mattress of ice. Had it been just a moment ago he had been face-down in the street, explosions rocking his body? Or had it been days, and was he already lying underground; if he opened his eyes would he see the inside of his own casket? Yes…surely he was dead. How could anybody experience that kind of pain and still be alive?
His body was trembling from the cold, yet it was the cold that had numbed him. He felt no pain, just a strange emptiness, as if he had no organs, no blood, no heart.
His eyelids slipped back into his head and he realized his mask was still resting across his face, the fabric soft against his frostbitten skin. He half wondered if there'd be cobwebs across his face, or if he'd feel an eerie stillness beneath his chest, that emptiness in his heart. He lifted his arm; his bones felt stiff, but they were still usable. Each finger shifted as he willed it to. He reached over to his other hand and felt his wrist. Beneath his thumb his skin pulsed; an odd sense of relief washed over him, warming his quivering body.
I'm not dead.
Slowly sitting up, he looked around, trying to decide where he was at. A tunnel, a dark and very dank tunnel surrounded him, dripping from the misting rain outside. The road he had been lying on was filthy with stains of oil, mud, and God knows what else. Muffled by the thumping rain, he could hear the thwapping of helicopter blades and a distant whisper of thunder.
"I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore." Robin joked, forcing himself onto his feet.
Footsteps, clicking across the hallow shelter like the ticking of a clock, grew steadily louder. Robin turned towards one of the entrances to see a thick silhouette smoothly walking into the tunnel, rain-water dripping from its bulking body. Robin squinted through the darkness and noticed the silhouette pulling something inside with it…something large and too awkwardly formed to be a bag…
"Hello, Robin."
Robin's heart turned cold and he reached for his belt. "What?" He hissed, his eyes shooting down to his waist…no belt, "Shit."
His eyes snapped back upwards, his mind racing as he watched Slade's black figure step further into the tunnel, dragging the shadowed object with him. "This," His red eye blinked alive, "is no time for heroism."
The rain began to punch the roof of the tunnel mercilessly and lightning lit up the misty tunnel. In a split instance of light, Robin felt his body churn and his stomach flip.
Oh god…Starfire!
She was unconscious, her red hair up, tangled around Slade's fingers. Her body was filthy after being dragged for so long, and bruises spotted every inch of her pale complexion. It was obvious she had been beaten hardheartedly, abused to shift from a strong, young woman, to this state of helplessness.
Robin felt his fingers curl against the palm of his hand, his fists shaking, "Let her go."
"Trust me, Robin, you shouldn't try anything rash," Slade mumbled, still gripping Starfire's beautiful red hair underneath his fist, "at least not until we've had a talk."
"I'd rather die than trust you." Robin retorted, his arms tensing, heart stomping.
"Ah yes, you and I both know you'd die, but would you allow her to, due to your stubbornness?" Slade questioned, his voice slipping through the air, adding a slimy filth to the icy breeze. His fingers opened and Starfire was released. She fell, face-down, onto the filthy ground, her hair falling in strands over her bare shoulders, brushing over the bruises. Her arms began to tremble, her fingers gripping the ground as she tried to lift her torso up.
Rage filled Robin's body, making his temples pulse and his bones quiver. A sense of recklessness fogged his mind and his body launched forwards, a wordless yell quaking from his throat.
Slade didn't move; He stood still as a stone, which only enraged Robin more. He wanted the bastard to scream in fright, to run from him and plead for forgiveness; Robin wanted the chance to deny forgiveness, to pummel the son of a bitch until there was nothing left.
Then, when Robin was mere feet away from Slade and Starfire, his legs gave out beneath him. His chest smacked into the ground, punching the air out of his lungs. Robin felt blood slip from his nose, crawling down over his lips and down his chin and neck. He lifted his head up to see Starfire lying just in front of him. And, for the first time, he noticed the difference in her face. She was older, by at least a few years, her hair shorter.
How long has it been?!
"Damn it, Robin…" Slade sighed, "You just never listen."
His feet were numb, and the sensation was spreading up his legs, paralyzing him. He had to stop Slade before it reached his spine, had to; Starfire could still get out.
"Consider this a warning…" Slade murmured from above him.
Starfire looked up, her blank eyes staring into Robin's. Red hair slipped over her beaten down face, tears stained her cheeks. Robin reached his arm forwards, his fingers wrapping around the side of her face. "Star, listen-"
"I warned you not to act rashly, but I have to teach you, Robin. After all, you are still a child…in need of a teacher." Slade continued. He was holding something, standing over Starfire, his heavy shadow falling over Robin.
Robin looked up at Slade, dreading what he would find clutched in his hand.
A gun? He's going to kill me, Terror stabbed through his heart; he was going to die, die and leave Starfire here, and I can't even move!
The click of the gun sent chills through Robin's body. Any second now the shot would end it all. Yet, no amount of pain could make him want to die. He couldn't leave Starfire here, alone and helpless, with Slade.
"Slade, don't…pl-"
The gun fired.
Robin instinctively buried his face in the ground. He felt wetness crawl through his hair, down his face and tickling his ears. No pain, but no escape either. He was still on the ground, still holding Starfire's face in his hand. He looked up…
"N-No…"
Slade dropped the gun and stepped back, away from the two of them, "I'm warning you now, Robin."
"No."
Starfire's eyes lost their glow; her red hair became redder. Robin felt his fingers slip away from her shattered face…the numbness spreading up through his legs onto his back.
"NO!"
A Séance Down Below
Starfire's heart jumped into her throat as her eyes snapped open. She sat upright in her bed and turned towards her door, fiery red hair cascading over her shoulder and in front of her tired face. She slipped off her bed and rushed out her door, into the hallway of the Titan's Tower to hear the yelling growing louder and more painful.
"Robin?"
She jumped up, flying down through the tower. Seconds later her bare feet smacked into the carpeted floor in front of the infirmary. The door slid open and she stepped inside to see Robin lying on his back, his mouth wide open in mid-scream, and his body thrashing about. Beads of sweat formed at his burnt forehead and slipped down over his face, onto the base of his naked neck.
Star grabbed his shoulders and squeezed them gently, "Robin! No more screaming! Wake up, please!"
He stopped thrashing, and his yell faded to a dull groaning noise. Starfire could hear the rest of the Titans rushing towards the infirmary as well. She kneeled down next to the bed, still gripping one of Robin's shoulders.
"Robin…?"
There're Things That I Have Done
Slade reached down, grabbed Robin's hair, and yanked his head back to stare straight into that red, glowing eye. "It's horrible that a boy, who gets enough violence during reality, must experience even more as he sleeps. Yet, nightmares have always been rather nasty for you, haven't they, Robin?"
Robin's heart was tearing, ripping itself to pieces excruciatingly slow. God…just kill me, you-you… "Bastard."
"This is just a nightmare, stupid boy, quit crying like a child." Slade hissed, disgusted, "If you want it to remain only a nightmare then you will do this one thing." He yanked Robin up, slamming him against the wall of the tunnel, "You will disappear…permanently. Never show your face in Jump or Gotham City again. If you do…this nasty nightmare will become a reality. If you listen like a good little shit," Slade chuckled darkly, letting Robin's body crumble to the filthy ground, "I might just leave the girl alone. But I wouldn't count on it."
You Never Should Ever Know