Falling Even Now
Boy Wonder.
It had always stung him, he admitted privately, how he was the 'Wonder' instead of Hero. He wasn't 'Hero' because he couldn't protect anyone. Not even his friends. All he really was was an ordinary boy pretending to be better than he actually was.
Only 'Wonder' because he couldn't protect anyone, let alone his teammates.
Starfire stilled, starbolts flickering as the lack of oxygen took its toll on her. He froze, unable to move as the black shadow cackled, holding its hand over her face until her eyes rolled up. Grinning, it let brought her to the edge of the roof and let her drop, laughing as she plummeted downwards, unconscious. Robin was pulled back to the time when Terra had done the same thing and when he had helplessly watched Star fall down to the ocean; once again he was helpless.
The other Titans had been separated by the pack of shadow villains and he had been able to find Starfire after a minute or two of fighting- but here there was no one else who could save her. And now she was falling to her death, over a hundred feet below on the streets of Jump City. The girls, all the members of the Titans, had been badly beaten up before, but there could be no way she could survive.
"STARFIRE!" Time froze.
Only 'Wonder' because he couldn't protect anyone, let alone his friends.
He lunged, coming to the edge of the roof, hand outstretched as he watched her red hair whip around, covering her face, body twisting as gravity reclaimed its proper use.
"STAR!" She couldn't hear him. Wouldn't hear him ever again. No.
Only 'Wonder' because he couldn't protect anyone, let alone the person he loved.
NO! This wasn't going to end up how he thought it had last time- the fury that had filled and enabled him to fight Terra returned.
Without thinking he acted, diving off the edge as both shadows stared. The air screamed past his ears as his cape fluttered wildly. Closer… closer… Somehow he caught up with her, grabbing her and flinging out the grapple as the pavement loomed, promising death for one or both. The line snapped taunt, jerking the two of them to a stop suddenly. Robin held onto her, feeling the shock as the bones in his body try to continue their downward descent but were held back. Starfire moaned, opening her eyes.
"Robin? But was I not falling?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"I would never let you fall, Starfire." Robin said seriously. Her green eyes looked into his masked ones.
"But I believe I am still… 'falling'." She whispered. His heart skipped a beat and Starfire tilted her head up, gently kissing him.
"Ahem." Startled, the pair pulled guiltily apart at the sound of Raven's cough. She stood nearby, her trademark black holding three squirming shapes while Cyborg and Beast Boy looked away, whistling. Both of them had a thief in each hand, with innocent, I-have-no-idea-what-is-going-on faces. With a blush Starfire floated the few feet down to the ground, holding Robin's hand while he released the grapple and then placing him on the cement. No one said a word when their hands remained linked on the way to the police station.
:T:
Author's Note: My 'forte' is Raven and Beast Boy stuff, so apologies for any OOCness or such things. Thanks to all who reviewed the first time around!