Robin POV. I don't really like this one, but I spent time writing it, and I haven't posted in months so…here you go, I guess.

Apprentice

"I doubted myself, Star…"

I wish I could say that I only said that to make her feel better, but I didn't. I did doubt for a while if I was truly one of the good guys. Heck, I sometimes still do.

If I'm honest with myself, some sick, twisted part of me kind of liked my brief time as a criminal.

Looking back, I could have got out of the deal a lot earlier than I did.

His plan was full of cracks, little defects that I could have taken advantage of to escape and save my friends right from the start.

Slade may be cruel, manipulative, and downright evil, but he's not stupid.

He knew about everything, and he knew it didn't matter.

He knew I didn't completely want to leave.

Although I didn't want to hurt my friends, I did get some warped pleasure from fighting them, exploiting there weaknesses and displaying my strength.

Stealing, and being caught, it was a thrill.

Where I stole from… felt like freedom. I was rebellious. Reckless. Dangerous. A threat.

I was having the time of my life.

That is, I was until I faced Starfire.

I'd been trying to avoid fighting her the entire time, trying to keep her distanced from me.

She'd always been there for me. She always defended me even when I acted like an idiot. She always trusted my judgment no matter how crazy my plan was. She could see through every defensive wall I built.

I couldn't fight her. But I had no choice.

All the rest of the team were down, and as long as there was a Titan left to fight, Slade intended for me to fight them.

She aimed her starbolt at me, and I raised my blaster, fully intending to battle. It was for her own good, right?

Her eyes held anger, focus, disgust, determination. She was challenging me. Daring me to move.

I'd seen that look before. It was that look that she gave all the evil, low-life scum that dared hurt her friends.

Only this time, that look was directed at me.

And then, her eyes softened and she lowered her arm. I can't say exactly what went on in her head right then, but between her visible emotions and her next words, I can make a pretty good guess…

It finally hit me. I was the scum she was fighting. At some point, this whole thing went from protecting my friends to me truly being a criminal.

Her eyes held new emotions completely different from those of a few moments ago. She floated there vulnerably and straight out told me to do what I had to do.

It may have sounded like surrender, but she was really offering me a choice.

I felt sick. Incredibly sick. Moments ago, I was ready to fight my sweet, trusting, dependable best friend.

She left herself unguarded, fear and doubt in her mind, but trusting me to make the right decision as I had done so many times before.

That was the wake-up call that I needed.

For a brief moment I forgot my deal with Slade. I lowered my blaster, wanting to explain and apologize and reassure her that I was still her best friend, that I was still me.

Slade had different plans.

As she began to glow, I felt her pain. As her flight faltered, I felt true terror. As she fell into my arms, tears of pain streaming down her face, I felt my heart breaking.

As I saw my friends collapse and groan in pain, I knew that I had let this go too far.

As I shot the thermal blaster at my best friend, a part of me died inside.

And as I watched my friends weakly try to stand, I made a decision.

I was a hero. I was not Slade and I refused to ever be him. I wasn't letting my friends suffer anymore.

It was time for this to end.