Chapter 21- Battle on the Rooftop

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimer

Moonlight shimmering down; strong wind blowing wildly like seasonal monsoons; buildings and life still as death itself; and Slade stood above it all waiting for Robin. He'd left Starfire behind him on the apartment roof top, leaning against a wall. It was just a matter of time now when that idiot boy would come around to save her. Slade grinned to himself knowing he had the upper hand in this. Robin would learn to never defy him again.

Without having to look up Slade knew he was there regardless of Robin's disguise. "Ah, you are here."

"Where is she?" Robin growled coming closer.

"I believe she is the least of your problems, don't you agree? I'd say she is safer than you are. Take a look," Slade's cool voice murmured. He gestured behind him a few yards away where Starfire sat fixed to a metal pipe; hands, arms, and mouth constricted, leaving only her expressional eyes to the viewer. Robin felt her eyes burning at him with some kind of hurt and confusion. He made a step towards her when Slade drew Robin's attention to him again.

"I never knew you were such a coward, Slade. Stooping down low enough to hold hostages when it's really me you want. That's not something I knew you for." Robin snarled already pulling out his weapon from beneath his cape.

Slade took a mock step backwards. "Now, now, don't get testy, Robin. I see you already resource to violence before anything happens. Look at you, the image of pure malevolence."

"You bastard!" Robin moved for a first strike which Slade easily moved out of the way now crouched over to Robin's left. "If you'd look in the mirror, you'd see a similar image. Not to mention a seriously ugly bastard; heck you could probably break the poor thing."

"Insolent boy!" Slade rushed for Robin, the young teen merely flipping out of harms way, now perched atop the stairway leading inside the apartment. He spotted Slade's foot coming in for a walloping kick, and once again he narrowly escaped an obviously dodgy fate. He jumped onto a vertical wall and instantly used that momentum to kick off of Slade's back. The older man growled in frustration. He ran over to Robin who back tracked while facing his uncle preparing for his next attack.

Starfire could feel the hairs on her skin stand on end watching the two battle. Their moments were so similar yet poles apart. They equally read each other's moves like a book, almost looking like a dance of fire flies chasing one another on a summer night. Slade's style was certain and precise, yet harnessing the power to keep up and Robin's in contrast was dodgy, lithe, and above all swift. It was amazing, like nothing she'd seen before. Seeing acrobats at cheerleading and karate competitions on TV… none of that could compare to the sight before her. This was no practice or competition; this is what it looked like when one was fighting for his life. The aura of fighters each holding his own to determine the winner. This was a game neither was willing to loose.

She was stuck in such a stupor that she couldn't even feel the movements of rope loosening around her. Suddenly, a panicked face moved in front of her vision finally taking her thoughts to the body now shaking her. Her face remained blank regardless of that.

"Cyborg…"

"Come on, we have to move while we still can." He whispered non-too softly. From her jerky movements, Cyborg knew she was shaken up. He wanted to take her away from here even though his thoughts screamed to reside and help Robin out, stay with him, help him, anything than running away. But Starfire was more important right now. Of the group, Cyborg knew she was the most vulnerable and having her in harms way… well that wasn't the smartest thing. It was Robin's instructions to take himself and Starfire away once he'd gained Slade's attention. Staying would only put more pressure on Robin.

They had to leave.

He felt a tug on his sleeve and followed Starfire's eyes. He felt himself take a sharp breath, the feeling of a million pieces of glass flying into his chest, all piercing and making him endure the painfully real sight.

Slade took a leap at Robin, his arm pulled back for a hit while Robin flexed out his bo-staff, blocking the incoming hits. Suddenly, to Robin's surprise, Slade locked Robin's staff between his arms, allowing no movement of Robin's upper torso, now being locked with Slade's. Slade used this lock to force Robin downwards, knocking the boy with Slade's own head. Robin fell down with an excruciating yell of pain only to open his eyes and make out Slade coming after him, now armed with his bo-staff.

Robin hastily rolled out of the clean, hard pierces at the floor that barely missed his head by centimeters every time. He could feel his heart racing and his nerves tingling with a sensation of thrill. He would beat Slade no matter what! Robin flipped over onto his feet seeing that he met a wall and dropped for his life when his eyes came face to face with the sharp end of his staff. It all happened so fast as he moved out the way to the right. Slade used the other end of the pole to knock Robin off his feet mid roll. Robin fell over careful to not let his back left exposed to a blow when in the blink of an eye the battle was over.

The pole lingered right above his throat.

With both of the fighter's heavy panting and slightly rigid but confident body languages, it was hard to tell who had prevailed. Did Robin have another elusive move or did Slade have Robin under the gun? Slade grinned and pushed the threatening pole dangerously close to Robin's jugular. Robin swallowed hard hoping to God he'd made enough time.

"Hm… stupid child." With that, Slade slowly withdrew the pole and turned around to walk away while just as slowly, Robin raised his head. "You should learn… to obey the apparent superior!" Slade made a quick turn to have his fist make contact with Robin's head, he flipping over in pain. "Why is it you keep defying me?"

Robin could feel his ribs acing for the pain to end and his head throbbed with unbearable pain. If only the physical hurt would over come what he felt inside. He sagged his weight onto his forearm while grinding his teeth in bitterness. "I'm done working for you! I owe you nothing, you were just using me to do your…!"

"Silence!" Slade flung Robin's staff at him, the metal clicking against the concrete floor. After a moment, Slade spoke again this time a bit more composed. "You were always too stubborn for your own good. Just like your mother."

"Hey!" From no where a shoe hit Slade on the head making him turn over his shoulder. Cyborg and Starfire stood to the side glaring at Slade. "Leave him alone!" Starfire yelled out.

Both Robin and Slade turned their attention to the pair. Slade's eyes widened as he growled about how Cyborg got there to untie Starfire. Robin on the other hand smirked despite the small amount of blood trailing the corner of his mouth. After the momentary shock, Slade made a throaty chuckle. "Oh, look, it's the air-head and the orphan." He stepped toward them as both Starfire and Cyborg unconsciously moved back. "If you do not want the same fate as Robin here, I suggest you leave. This matter does not concern you anymore."

"Aren't you looking for this, big shot?" Cyborg raised his hand to show the beautiful statue into the air. Slade snarled and made an attempt to snatch it when Cyborg lifted it over the ledge.

"What are you doing, boy? Are you stupid?"

"No, but o-obviously you are!"

"Although your actions are so bold… your voice is so fearful. I can feel you quiver. Are you afraid? Afraid I will snap your neck like a tooth pick?"

"Y-you shut up!" Cyborg yelled threatening to drop the artifact over the ledge.

Slade's eyes narrowed. "Oh. I'm so. Scared."

"Maybe you should be!" A voice from behind cried.

Slade whipped around only to be kicked in the gut and crash into a brick wall, smoke rising up from the broken debris. Robin landed on the ground, huffed and stood up to grin at his friends. "Good job, Cy. Now you and Star get out of here."

Cyborg held Starfire by the shoulders while she watched Robin's breathing patterns change with every move he made. "Are you sure, man?" He asked as his mind still in sheer turmoil.

"Slade's power is too great, and neither of you are suitable to fight him. Hurry!"

Cyborg nodded and he and Starfire shot for the door.

"What, leaving so soon?" Slade emerged from the rubble earning a shriek from Starfire and a trip from Cyborg, comically falling on his face at the more inappropriate of times. Robin threw blows at Slade to avert his attention, most of them hitting on target until Slade grabbed Robin by the collar, pushing him out of the way like an annoying fly. Slade then ripped Starfire from Cyborg's embrace, grasping her by the hair producing a cry of pain making both Cyborg and Robin gasp and stare. They froze in their attempts to save her.

Starfire reached for Robin, her skin paling with fright. "R-Robin!"

"If you want her to live… give me the statue…" Slade said slowly, backing up to the edge of the building. "I'm not afraid to do it. It's so easy; I'll make it look like an accident." Robin could tell behind Slade's own mask he was grinning like a cat. This scenario all brought haunting memories back to him. He could feel his heart twisting with unforgotten pain deep within him. Starfire's fate resembled Barbara's. He wouldn't take the chance. He didn't want to feel the snow covered ground cover his heart again knowing there was something he could do to save a friend. But yet… Robin would be giving Slade the satisfactory of knowing he now had a weakness.

Correction: four weaknesses.

Robin's fist clenched and Cyborg nudged the bag with the item within towards Robin. "Dude… do we…?"

"Yes. Give it to him." Robin finally said releasing a breath he didn't know he had been holding. Robin wanted to kick himself. Giving Slade the item was like feeding a fire. Slade would use them—any of them now as pawns to get Robin to do his biddings. Tonight was supposed to end it all with a final battle but Slade had another thing up his sleeve. That fox.

Cyborg threw the bag over to Slade who caught it with his free hand. He bent to Starfire's ear as the young girl shook and writhed in his grasp. "My dear, it is a shame it will end like this. In a way… I really did like you. Unfortunately despite all your ambitions, Robin will never be free. You can hope all you want—all of you, but he will forever be within my grasp." He grinned seeing Starfire choking on her tears as Slade pulled her hair harder, his arms now wrapped around her neck and her hands grasping at his forearm, her nails digging at his skin. Slade wasn't holding his end of the deal. Starfire was scared. "Any last words?"

She clenched her teeth fighting back tears of panic. She had to be brave now. Cyborg had been brave to come save her; Robin had been brave in stalling time to get her to escape. She couldn't let them down now. Slade had to be wrong; Robin could be free! As long as there is hope, Robin's destiny can be changed. She prayed for courage and strength as she bit back her fears. This wasn't a story with heroes and heroines that would always save the day. This wasn't a book where friends would always be there by your side and everyone just knew your secrets. She was confused but she'd accept it. Everything in life wouldn't be black and white, everything wouldn't be normal. This was her life and that of her friends. She had to… she had to be the best person she could for Robin! She couldn't turn away in fright like she did to Raven when they were younger. Just because she was confused and hurt she wouldn't back down and make that same mistake.

She took a gulp knowing this would not be the end. She wouldn't let it end this way for her friend. "You… shall not triumph so easily." She spat up at his face and bit his arm making Slade yell out in pain as teeth marks marred his flesh. He stared down at the small drops of blood and then slapped Starfire cold nearly pushing her off the building. Her ankle twisted and she could feel her entire body freeze up at the loss of balance. Both Robin and Cyborg leaped.

"AHHH!"

"Got ya!" Cyborg's hand shot out holding onto her wrist. Cyborg felt a flood of relief as he carefully pulled her up holding her in an embrace on the floor while Robin stared out into the sea of black. Slade grunted and jumped off to another building, disappearing into the shadows of the night.

Robin ran to the ledge. "Slade!"

Into the night, his figure slowly faded and the three teens could hear Slade's silky voice echoing off the empty streets and buildings. "Don't worry Robin. This is far from the end. I'm just getting warmed up and I know a few other people who are dying to see me."

After a moment, a slight breeze picked up the silence broken by Cyborg.

"Starfire, girl, are you okay?"

She muffled a few sighs in his chest and looked up smiling with tears tracing down her face. Her voice was broken up. "Yes… I'm so s-scared but… happy. How can tha-at be? It doesn't make a-any sense."

Cyborg stared at her for a moment and didn't know the answer to that. He simply hugged her close muttering apologizes for one thing or another.

On the other hand, Robin stood on the ledge glaring at the moon. "Damnit, he got away! I was so close." He jumped off the ledge and walked over to Cyborg and Starfire. He was about to yell at them for getting in his way but suddenly seeing the two hugging made his realize what horrors they must feel right now. He felt all his muscles loosen and he fell to his knees finally feeling the tiredness and exhaustion flood through his body. He had to understand this… his friends— they weren't him. They had not seen or felt such catoptrics before, how could he expect them to handle all this so well? They were perhaps scared now, fearing for their lives. They were just ordinary high school students trying to make it along their days. The kind of teenager he should have been. How could they have ever known these horrors? How unlikely, they must be thinking, that their friend would turn out to be a criminal? That their friend would put them in mortal danger; their friend would deceive them; their friend would be…

…a monster.

His eyes widened and he steadily looked up to Cyborg and Starfire. It wasn't his friends who would hurt him in the end. He had been wrong. All of this… it was his entire fault. It all happened because of him. He caused all this pain.

Robin saw their faces turn to him and they began to mix in with the color of the sky.

It was his entire fault.

He could feel Cyborg lift his head and he could hear Starfire calling him back.

But how could they?

Robin felt a rush of cool air graze his skin—the feeling of his mask being peeled off before he was rendered unconscious.

How could they? People like them… still care about him?

Robin made out a fuzzy world blend together as he was falling into an unfathomable darkness slowly engulfing him.

Still care about…a monster like him?

Author's Notes: So… how was it? I think this chapter came out pretty well. The only thing about this story being AU, is that well… the Teen Titans don't have super powers! If they did, I'm sure Starfire and Cyborg would be more in Slade's face beating down his a—I mean… butt. But they don't have these powers and surely, normal high school teenagers don't just go around picking fights with an obviously stronger guy who just sent Robin flying. Despite Robin loosing this battle, he and Slade will have a round two. I don't really like stories where the good guys win ALL the time. Seems too unrealistic, they have to loose sometimes, right? That's how they get better! Characters with flaws make them more relatable… but I bet some of you rabid Robin fans are thinking, "what flaws! He's PERFECT!"

Yeah yeah…

Next chapter will have more Raven and Beastboy in it so don't worry. And Robin keeps saying he doesn't owe Slade anything! What's up with that? Why is it, exactly, that Robin steals for Slade? Even as the story unfolds, secrets revealed, and things begin to reach the climax, there are secrets even Robin doesn't know…

R&R, it makes Ochako-chan VERY happy! And thank you ALL so so much for all your support and great responses to Circles! Till next time, peoples—peace.