Here's another chapter of the Afterglow, for you cartoonstar … X is a little ooc, but I hope you all like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans … wish I did though …

The Afterglow Bar

Lifting his mask halfway up his face, he put his glass to his lips and sipped on his drink. As he brought the glass back down, a translucent mustache was left. The night was young and he didn't want to turn in early, so tonight he was drinking a cold glass of milk. Leaning back in the wooden chair, he looked around the bar.

It was a pretty busy night. Bushido and Bumblebee were trying to communicate with each other in one of the corner booths while Kitten was fighting with Johnny Rancid at the bar; her screams annoying most of the night's patrons. In yet another corner, he found a familiar face.

He found himself lost in her beauty. The amber lights accented her tan skin and her auburn hair as she listened intently to a conversation between Aqualad and Herald. She laughed at some comment being made, yet her smile made Red X smirk.

"See something you like?"

Red X looked up to a stern Robin and gave him an amused smile before bringing his mask back down.

"If I do … it's none of your concern." X bluntly replied.

Robin pulled out the chair opposite the vigilante and sat down. He gazed at the position of Red X's head and looked over his shoulder, finding Starfire in the corner. Turning back to the vigilante, Robin frowned at him.

"I thought I told you to stay away from her."

"You seriously need to loosen up …" Red X mocked Robin as he straightened in his seat.

"If I ever see you touch her"

"… You'll what? … Kill me?"

Robin clenched his fist, but didn't say a word. The look on his face was priceless to Red X; Robin bit his lip to prevent himself from lashing out.

"Look at her … beautiful, yet innocent. I can't see how someone can live with her under the same roof and not get with that …"

Robin gritted his teeth. Red X found himself smiling under his mask as the boy wonder held back. It was like shooting fish in a barrel, he thought to himself.

"… let alone at least be boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Shut up …" Robin coldly responded at the vigilante. "… she's not like that … you don't even know her …"

"Yet, wasn't it a few weeks ago that you found us two together? In fact, where do you think she's been going the past couple of weeks? She just disappears late at night, doesn't she …?" X told Robin.

"Fuck you … Star would neve"

"Think about it."

"Hey Robin, have you seen Star, she's not in her room?"

"She's not?"

"No, she wanted to borrow one of my books, but she's not there."

"Hey Beast Boy, where's Star?"

"Uh, I thought she was with you."

"It's almost midnight … this isn't like her."

"Hey Cyborg, I tried calling Star on her communicator, but she isn't picking up."

"Oh, she told me earlier that she was going out with a friend to the movies … she didn't tell you?"

"No …"

"… Um, you okay?"

"Yeah … I'm fine … just fine …"

"Starting to piece it all now?"

"No … she wouldn't lie to me … we're best"

"Friends … yeah she told me. She told me everything …"

Robin pounded his fist on the table. He stood up and grabbed Red X by the shirt, bringing him forward.

"There's a reason behind this … Starfire wouldn't betray my trust."

Pushing Red X back, the vigilante laughed as he leaned in his chair again.

"I don't get you … you two live together, you're best friends, and you both know that you like each other … what the hell are you doing!?!" Red X said in curiosity.

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at her …"

Robin peered back over to Starfire. She looked at the boy wonder in concern before turning back to Herald and Aqualad.

"… One day, she's not going to be there … one day you'll find her room empty because you didn't say the words that she wanted to hear the most …" Red X finished.

Robin turned back and stared down at the table.

"Why are you telling me this?" Robin silently questioned X, yet still kept his gaze down.

"Because." X grudgingly responded. "… we're the same, you and I."

Robin stayed silent. He knew that denying that fact would just lead to nowhere.

"We both want to show our true skill, but through different means. I look out for number one, but you try to be a team player …"

"Try?"

"I know what you're true skill is … you fight me with everything, yet when it comes to someone like Dr. Light … you tone it down and let the others feel like they accomplished something. If you wanted to, you could take down every villain in this city with ease, but that's not like you … that's more like …"

"Slade …"

"You're on the line birdboy … with one push, you could go off the deep end, yet it seems that someone is preventing your plunge." X warned the boy wonder.

"… S-Starfire?"

Red X nodded before peering back over Robin's shoulder. He found her booth empty, yet as he gazed over at the doorway he found a familiar shadow illuminated under the neon sign of the bar.

"She's waiting."

Robin stared down at his hands, hesitating.

"You gonna leave her out in the cold … because if you do, I might steal her away." X mused.

"Why are you concerned about me and her?" Robin asked.

Red X shifted in his chair, obviously uncomfortable about the question. However, he obliged.

"It's obvious that she loves you … there's nothing I can do to try to change that, believe me, I've tried … It seems that cutie has been feeling abandoned by the person she cares most about … so I guess I find myself being the good guy in this."

Robin pushed himself off his chair and stood up.

"Thanks." He said to the vigilante and turned away.

"Hey …"

Robin turned back.

"… you owe me one …"

The boy wonder walked out the bar and found the alien Titan. A few words were spoken before they both hugged. X looked away, he hated the fact that he gave up so easily. Looking up, he found someone smiling back at him.

"You're sweet, you know that." She said to X.

"I do what I can … even if it does mean giving up your sister …"

Red X stood up and wrapped his arm around Blackfire.

"What say we go commit a crime to get over my sorrow?" He said with amusement.

She smiled as they headed out the bar. Even though he was giving up something, he at least wanted to have a little fun to get over it.

Ooo

Hoped you all liked it … thanks again cartoonstar, an sorry it took so long to finish it, had a lot of school junk … don't forget the reviews!