Author's Note:

Name change! You may notice its now called Masks: What if? It was pointed out that the title didn't really tie it in to Masks very well and I agree (and kicking myself cause I should've thought of that). So yup. Name change. Thank you Robert!

Clair: Fourteen is a little young, even if you do gloss. Fortunately most of my stories remain about a T, with occasional M factors. I'm glad to know you benefit from the notes though.

Jayjayxoxo77: Health classes have to deal with things like School curriculum, parents, religions, bare facts, abstinence. They're not supposed to appear like they're encouraging kids to go out and have sex (I'm not encouraging!). I don't have to deal with that. If parents don't want their kids reading my work, they should be policing their computer time better. Although I do have a note about some parents using Bases as Sex ed... anyway... more Red X/Robin fighting, yes?

Some of the stuff that occurs in this chapter is straight from Masks (omg lame copy paste job), because I felt it would still happen. (Queue worryworryworry that I'm offing Jason).

Chapter 14

Three bullets impacted me before I had a chance to dodge, many more missing. Three branches of pain, sliding away from the point of impact until it encompassed my whole chest. The shock of their hits took my breath away as I threw myself backward. It was like a herd of blorg had rammed into my chest at the gallop. With little control, the room spun wildly as I looked for cover.

I somehow managed to hit the floor behind the rim of the well, concealed.

Gasping, I scrambled until my back was against the rim, ducked down as far as I could.

"Starfire!"

So hard to catch my breath, it would not come easily. I was just thankful it the men had not been closer.

More bullets splattered against the side of the well, I heard Red X swearing.

"Stay down," I forced out.

"Star!"

More gasping before I had the oxygen to get a full sentence. "Allow me to draw their fire!"

"Are you hit?"

Men were yelling, reloading weapons, taunting me. From the brief look I had before they were all behind large wooden crates, huddled up in twos. I counted at least twelve, but I suspected there would be more, especially alerted by the gun fire. By the speed of the bullets I would chance they were semi automatic weapons.

I was hurt, bleeding on my back, bruises on my front. It hurt to breathe, the bullets scraped against me every time I did, so I stopped. The men were taunting and jeering. My boyfriend was trapped within a well, unable to lift his head, lest it be shot. There was little light here, just a few overhanging ones, so the darkness could be a cover for the others.

But not for me. I did the only thing I could think of. A quick prayer, a snatch of breath and I charged.

Green fire enchased my hands, flames burning in my eyes, I leapt over the top of the well and did not land. My body was supercharged, starbolts flying, crashing against crates and impacting bodies, I headed directly into at their lines.

Regular humans cannot aim as fast as I can fly, even Red X has difficulties predicting my movements, so I was safe from aimed bullets. Stray bullets were an entirely different matter and I was acute aware of that but I hoped as long as I kept moving, I would be okay.

The first man I reached was picked up and thrown into another duo. The second man was kicked in the jaw before I sped through the air after the first thrown man. More kicks, to the soft stomach, crack against ribs, knee against chin. I cartwheeled in the air, legs over head and over the top of another crate, landing between two more men who then had their heads bashed together as they turned toward me. Then the machine gun they were setting up was starbolted until it was worthless.

I could hear Red X yelling at the others to "Gogogo!" A flicked glance and I could see the Red X yanking Batgirl out of the well, bullets sparking against his cape which he held out like a shield. I followed their trajectory and found my next target.

Launching myself into the air, I cast several starbolts at them to distract them and they swiveled their guns in my direction. I turned evasive, still casting starbolts, as I dodged their bullets. Then Robin was amidst them, punches and kicks and two downed men.

"Can't let you have all the fun," he bellowed up to me, grinning.

I laughed and fisted my heart, he had true warrior spirit. Looping the loop, I dove toward the last remaining men. Three swift kicks and everything fell silent.

I panted and sagged, flopping on the ground in my knees, before my fingers traced along my corset to find the bullets to pry out. I winced as I reached one, the bullet plinking to the ground.

A soft footfall behind me and I spun, rising to my feet, glowing hand level with Robin's face.

"That was amazing!"

I acknowledged that with a nod and let the starbolt die. "Thank you," I murmured, my fingers now looking for the next bullet.

He stepped toward, his hands against my ribs. "Here, let me-"

A step backward and I raised my fist again. "You do not get to touch me."

"Damn right," Red X spat, then turned to me. "How many got you?" he asked in a gentler voice.

"Three from the first volley." I twisted and grimace at the dull pain at my back, the scratching of another bullet. I had not even noticed that fourth one. "My apologies, four."

Red X nodded and began prying bullets loose while I stood passively. When he got to the one on my back he said, "You tore your shoulder."

I turned my head, reaching around to inspect it. Bracing, I lit my hand with a starbolt and prepared to burn it closed, when Red X grabbed my wrist. "Don't. You'll make it worse."

"But-"

"Not to mention the scar you'll get," Robin said.

"She likes scars," Red X muttered. "The water, Star. It wasn't very hygienic. If you burn an infection closed in that, it'll be bad. The bleeding should wash anything out until we can clean it properly."

I sighed. '"Very well."

Batgirl was searching through the pockets of one of the unconscious men and I heard a rip. She tossed the piece of shirt she tore to Red X. "Here, bind it up."

"What's the plan?" Robin asked as Red X tended to my shoulder.

Red X lifted my arm until it was parallel to the ground, winding the shirt around it. "Impedes movement?"

I shook my head, fighting not to wince.

"Batgirl, you getting a signal?"

Batgirl tapped her ear a couple of times. "Nope. Jammer maybe."

Red X nodded as he made a small knot in the torn up shirt. "As tempted as I am to get Star to fly us all out of here... I need my belt. Xenothium is expensive shit. Batman'll have my head. Starfire, I want you to take Batgirl and get to safety, Robin and I will-"

"No."

Red X paused. "Star-"

"I am not leaving you here."

"Safety in numbers," Batgirl said, her arm folded on her chest. I do not believe she liked to be excluded either.

"Starfire's the one with the tracker," Robin said. "Right? Batman'll come to us."

"And kick our asses for losing our belts," Red X muttered.

"Assuming he's not playing nice with Catwoman and has noticed we're missing," Batgirl muttered.

"How are we to even locate your belts?" I asked, lowering my arm and turning to face Red X.

Red X sighed. "They'll be with the Joker."

Robin flashed a grin. "Awesome! I always wanted to fuck with the Joker."

Red X and Batgirl groaned in union.

I shifted my weight. "I do not understand. Who is the Joker?"

All three of them stared at me.

"Um..." Red X rubbed his neck. "Think of... Slade's ruthlessness and mind mixed with Mad Mod and Mother Mayeye, in terms of wackiness. He's a psychotic madman, like really, really crazy, we can never tell what he's going to do. He's not motivated by money or power or greed. He's got his own set of agenda, some insane logic. He kills indiscriminately, murders and mains, even his own. His soul purpose in life seems to be to create elaborate plots to mess with Batman and his goal is to have Batman kill him."

I blinked. "Why?"

Red X shrugged. "To break Batman, I guess. If Batman kills him, then he wins. If Batman doesn't, he still wins because he gets to think of another plot to have Batman kill him." He turned his head to Robin. "He planned all this in your honour... which means, either he knows there's a new Robin and he's testing you. Or he thinks you're me. In either case, you're in danger."

Robin's grin died a little.

"He's haunted me my entire Robin career," Red X said, looking at each of us, then locked eyes with Batgirl. "Some of the things I've endured by his hands I still have nightmares about. If we're going to do this, we need to be aware of that. Clear?"

Batgirl nodded. "Absolutely."

Red X looked at Robin, who said, "Gotcha," and mock saluted.

"What about you two?" Batgirl asked, looking between Red X and Robin.

"You should've told me," Robin said. "You smug bastard, you fucking toyed with me when I asked you about Red X."

Batgirl sighed and covered half her face with a hand. "Here we go. Stupid idea."

"I couldn't," Red X said. "Besides, you were supposed to put together the damn clues, I dropped enough. C'mon, it's Batman. Did you really think you were just going to walk into the suit and not be tested?"

"I would have thought my fucking brother would have the balls to stand up to him and tell him to fuck off."

"I spent months saying that. Then you practically begged me to come back so you could have the suit. I did it for you, fuckhead. You wanted this. I told him it was a stupid idea, but when does he listen to us? Besides, isn't it better to be tested by someone not out to kill you?"

"Do not fight," I said, annoyed. "Please."

Red X glanced at me and nodded.

"Why do you two fight so much?" I asked.

"Sexual tension," Robin quipped.

"No, it's 'cause you're an asshole," Red X growled.

"You know you want me." Robin even blew Red X a kiss.

"As is. But I'm beginning to wonder at your motives, especially after the pretty skin comment the other day."

Robin's grin was malicious. "Dude, I always heard Batman and Robin were gay as—"

"And you want in on that action? He's our father, fuckhead. That's just disgusting."

"Adopted father," Robin replied. "Hey, did you ever wonder why he only adopted boys?"

"Oh, grow the fuck up," Red X snapped. "You know how many girlfriends he has."

I sighed. "You two are as stubborn as the triple horned cyrasdoak beast. Please do the kiss and make up so we can escape."

Robin threw back his head and laughed, while Red X's posture was scandalised. "Starfire!"

"Actually, that's not a bad idea," Batgirl included. "Seriously, this isn't the place."

"Pucker up, big boy," Robin drawled, grinning, reaching for Red X.

Red X hit him in the solar plexus. "Get fucked."

"Fine, I'll kiss Batgirl then."

Batgirl clenched her fist. "Did you forget what happened last time you tried that?"

"Starfire?" Robin asked, making a kissy face at me.

"I will not be as kind as to hit you in the face."

"No, she'll kick you in the balls if you try anything," Red X said with a smirk.

Robin went white and flinched.

"We'll settle it later, when we're all safe," Red X said, stern. "Won't we."

"Look forward to it."

Red X fixed his gaze on me. "Robin, Batgirl, scout the door, don't go out." He held out his hand. "Star, a word."

Robin snickered. "Suuuure. Just a word, huh?"

"Believe it or not, we never mix business with pleasure," Red X snapped and led me away.

The was the sound of a smack and an 'ow!' and I looked over my shoulder to see Batgirl smirking and Robin rubbing his head.

Red X pulled me until we a little away from them and hidden by a crate. While one hand lifted up his mask, the other one pulled mine up so he could see my face. "Are you really okay?" he asked, his eyes brimming with concern.

I nodded.

"Star, you're pale. You're sweating." He lifted my hand. "And your fingers are shaking."

I clenched my hand into a fist. I would not succumb to weakness. Not ever. "It is fine. I have survived worse."

"Pain, scale one to ten," he said in his leader voice.

I sighed. "Six."

His eyes narrowed. "Emotions?"

"Stable."

"First sign of trouble?"

"I will fly us out."

"And you'll be able to?"

I nodded. "But," I conceded, "perhaps not long distances."

He let out a slow breath. "For the record, I don't like this. If we were in Jump, I'd insist Raven see you home."

"Dick-"

He sighed and squeezed my hand. "But we're not in Jump, are we?"

I studied him.

He smiled at me. "I need you close too. Easier to protect then."

I smiled briefly.

"Ranged combat only. I need you able to get us out of here, otherwise we're sunk. Got me?"

"Yes."

"C'mere," he murmured and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, steering clear of my stab wound as he pulled me in for a tight hug. "You be careful."

"You too."

He yanked my face to his for a hard kiss, then said, "Let's get this done."

I gave him a curt nod and pulled my mask back down.

"Report," Red X snapped at Batgirl and Robin as we reached the door.

"Empty corridor," Batgirl said. "Maybe. We can't see either end without sticking our heads out and risk getting shot and all that ruckus before is sure to have drawn attention."

"We need weapons," Red X said, looking around. "Metal piping. Something."

Robin pointed at Red X's gloves. "Don't you have blades or something like that in there?"

"No belt, no power, dipstick. I said that before."

"How the hell am I supposed to know that?"

"Maybe because I told you when I debriefed you on the suit."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, then glanced around the room. Spotting some piping on the brick wall to our left, I went to it and pulled it off. "Do you prefer the staff or sticks?" I asked as I pulled of another pipe.

"Staff, please," Batgirl said, having followed me.

"Are they always like that?" I asked, as I burnt through the metal in both end. I held it up to check her height then sheered more off one end. The wasted metal clanged to the ground between our feet.

"Pretty much. They're brothers. Fight all the time, but right there when they need each other. Thanks," she said, taking the makeshift staff.

I made another metal staff quickly, then two batons for Red X.

"You're pretty handy," Batgirl said, spinning her newly made staff to check balance. "Weaponsmith too."

I giggled. "I have my moments."

"Good balance."

"For a pipe." We shared a giggle as I picked up the other piping and carted them back to the pair of bickering boys. Shoving the staff at Robin and the batons at Red X, I snapped, "Here. Weapons. May we go?"

Red X spun his batons, then held them back out to me. "Little off the top please."

I nodded and complied.

"Thanks."

"This being the only obvious exit," Robin said, rubbing his chin. "They're gonna expect that we come out this way, right?"

Red X lowered his batons. "Shit. Yeah."

Both the boys turned to study the rest of the room. It was not much, solid brick, but there were a lot of darkened corners and crates against the wall that could conceal a door. The roof was rather high as well.

"Good," Batgirl whispered. "Working together. We might just make it outta here alive."

"Let's see if we can find another exit. Star, check the roof."

I lifted off to conduct my search while the others searched the ground. I discovered a lot of disused and dust filled spiders webs. A few rats. Lots of wooden beams crisscrossing the roof and a small hatch.

I lit my hand to study the hatch, then called, "Red X."

He stopped what he was doing and looked up at me, saw what I was examining and extended his hand. I dove down to retrieve him and brought him up to the hatch. He stood on one of the beams so that he could gently push the hatch up and peer through. "Clear," he whispered once he had looked in all directions. "Leads to the roof. Get the others."

I nodded.

Batgirl accepted my hand without hesitation, allowing me to cart her up to the beams. Red X was already carefully inching his way out of the hatch and I simply passed Batgirl up to him.

Robin was a different story.

We really should have been watching the door. The men, who must have been waiting in the gloom of the hallway for us to appear, had come to investegate. One second, I was reaching for Robin's hand and he was smiling at me, the next, he was forcing me to the ground, his cape held up like a shield. He pressed as small clasp at his neck and the cape became rigid, impenetrable. I winced as I heard a gun fire, the bullets splattering along his cape, felt the indentations of the destroyed bullets against my arms. Of course, I had not expected to be pressed against him so very hard. Although I excepted some sort of sexual advance, it did not come.

"Return fire," he snapped at me, over the sound of the guns. "Shoot around me."

I nodded.

He shifted his weight from me so he could crouch, moving the arm that held his cape as shield as he prepared. Starbolts coated my hands as I extended my arms.

"Go!" he shouted, pressed his neck clasp and flung the cape away from me.

I returned fire, continually allowing my energy to flow through my hands and discharge. I aimed for the guns first with extra strength starbolts as Robin pushed away from the floor and broke into a run. I spread my arms wider, shooting around him, continuing by covering barrage.

There was yelling as Robin reached the men. I concentrated my fire on those away from him as Robin punched them in the jaws and kneed them between the legs. I winced in sympathy as he fought, he was truly brutal in a controlled sort of manner. I caught flashes of the action as my starbolts exploded in their faces.

"Got 'em," Robin called and I stopped firing. "Nice shootin', Tex," Robin said as he brushed his hands together.

"You okay?" Red X called down from the rafters.

"Yup."

"I would like to go back to Jump now please," I muttered, still lying on the floor. Shifting painfully, I lifted my knee so I could pry yet another broken bullet from my leg.

"Star?" Red X called, sounding worried and I looked up to see him and Batgirl peering through the hatch.

Robin approached me, crouching down by my side. "Regular old bullet magnet, aren't you?"

"So it would seem."

"You're gonna feel this is the morning," he said, extending his hand.

"I feel it now," I muttered, allowing him to pull me to my feet.

"Wanna feel some more?" a voice asked.

Robin and I jerked our heads toward the door. There was a man standing there, shrouded in shadow, with some massive cylindrical object on his shoulder. A bright flare of light, a high pitched laugh, the man's white face, green hair and purple costume briefly lit up before I recognised what the object on his shoulder was.

Rocket launcher.

Little time to react, I threw myself at Robin and we crashed behind some crates just seconds before the rocket hit the brick wall behind us.

Author's Note:

It appears that the restraining order Muwhahaha has between me and cliffhangers failed. Again. You just can't keep us apart! It's true love, I say!

I miss my computer =( Stupid grammar.