Gravis:
I decide to dust off this relic, edit it, and continue writing it. I am working on chapter three and editing chapter two. Also I am sorry about the long absence.

Chapter 1: Midnight Reminiscence

Robin's head lay on the cool, smooth surface of his desk, a small pool of drool forming around his mouth. The area surrounding him was littered with crumpled sheets of paper and numerous newspaper clippings. He had been up late for the third night in a row, working on the Slade case. The only light in his room came from the tiny bedside alarm clock on his nightstand. It glowed an ugly blood red, its digits reading 1:05 a.m. Those ugly crimson numbers mark the first wee hour of December. Knock. A gentle tap came from Robin's door. Knock. Another rang out, this time louder.

"Robin?" A soft muffled voice called out through the door. Slowly itopened to reveal a famine figure, silhouetted by dim light coming from the hall The figure glided across the room to where Robin laid hunched on his desk, snoring softly.

"Robin?" The voice was innocent, but still that of one in the later years of childhood. The figure reached down and slowly placed a hand on Robin's shoulder, shaking him gently and saying, "Robin?" Robin stirred slightly, he groaned, then jerked awake, jumping back from his desk and the figure. His body tensed up into a defensive stance.

"Who are you and what do you want!" He barked harshly. There was a soft click as the figure turned on his desk lamp, bathing her face and body with a warm yellow light. It was Starfire.

"I am sorry to wake you Robin." She said, her head drooping slightly, distressed by Robin's reaction.

"It's okay Star, I didn't know it was you, I'm the one who should be sorry." Robin said, allowing his body to relax.

"I have made you the hot chocolate," Starfire said, holding out a steaming mug in offering, "Beast Boy says that it is very good for cold nights, and tonight is very cold."

"Thanks Star," Robin said, he walked to her and took the mug from her hand, "but you really didn't have to." He took a small sip of the warm dark liquid and smiled to himself, it was awful, but he drank the rest down just the same.

"I know, but I could not sleep, and I heard you mumbling to yourself when I passed your room." She was blushing slightly now. "Any way," she said, regaining composer, "I wanted to ask you what you have been doing. I have noticed that you stay up much later at night then you did before." She knew the answer to her question before she had asked it, but thought it was only polite to ask.

"I was…" He trailed off, he knew how Starfire and the others viewed his obsession with Slade. Of course their view was perfectly justified. Slade was as much of an enemy to the others as Robin. So why should Robin try so hard to bring him in?

"Robin?" Star's voice pulled him back to reality. "Robin, if I may ask, why do you try so hard to capture Slade?"

What was he supposed to say to that? Never in the three years since they had formed the Titans, had any of the others asked him that. In his attempts to catch Slade he had done worse thing than lie to his friends, and he didn't want to lie or hurt them anymore, especially not Starfire. He sighed at sat down at the edge of his bed; Starfire sat down beside him.

"Star, do you know a man name Bruce Wayne?" He looked at her, not really knowing what to expect. At times Starfire could be surprising in the things she did, and didn't, know about Earth and its customs.

"No … I do know Wayne Enterprises … does that have anything to do with Mr. Wayne?" She looked at him, and he couldn't help but to admire her - even after all the years she had spent on Earth she still remained pure, untainted.

"Yes, he was the President, his father founded the company back in the 1950s." Robin said quietly, quickly bringing his mind back to the subject. "He was killed … seven years ago."

"I am sorry, was Mr. Wayne a friend of yours?" Star asked, her eyes began to droop, it was getting late, and despite her best efforts she was having trouble staying awake.

"Yes, you could say that." Robin said, a small smile playing across his face. He knew that if he were being more honest with himself he would admit that Bruce had been more like a father to him. His mother and father had died when he was very young in a trapeze act. Bruce took him in, and taught the young Robin everything he knew. Eventually Robin joined him in fighting crime, as the famous Batman and Robin of Gotham City. He looked to the window and stared out at the city across the river, snow had begun to fall. He sat, not really seeing Jump City, but Gotham, and remembering the many nights when he and Batman, the great Capped Crusader, had fought on those dark streets.

He didn't know how long he sat starring out that window. Finally he broke his gaze to look down at Starfire. She had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He smiled down at her, a soft breathing noise was issuing from her half-opened mouth, and a lock of fiery red hair had fallen over her face. He carefully tucked the lock of hair behind her ear, then gently laid her down on his own bed, covering her with an extra blanket from his closet.

"Good night Starfire," he said softly and closed the door to his room, he decided to sleep the next few hours until morning on the couch in the Living Room.


Gravis: Well that's it for Chapter One, I just edited a few factual errors (that is mostly what I am doing to Chapter Two). Like I said, I am working on the next chapter, but my time is stretched thin, I will try to get to it as much as I can. Also, sorry about the bland commentary, It'll get better I promise.
"You are my angel - come from way above to bring me up." -Massive Attack: Angel