A/N: So I haven't updated for a few days because I've been working on the newer chapters. Especially this one fight scene, which I've carefully outlined and written the steps to. Yeah, I know, I'm a freak that way. It's like a fight choreographer or something. But I just find it really interesting to plan out a fight and make it as creative and exciting as possible.
"Robin."
It was with a sense of déjà vu that Julia entered the Operations Room to see Robin sitting in a chair in front of the computer console. This time, however, the Boy Wonder was backed up slightly, watching the wide screen monitor, which was showing the recent news.
The team leader, engrossed in a report on a fire on Fifth Street, didn't respond to Julia as she descended the stairs and strode over to stand behind the couches. Tilting her head back, the girl listened to the female newsanchor's account.
"-was dealt with by the city firefighters. There were no fatalities, and only minor injuries. However, many witnesses and firefighters alike wondered - where were the Teen Titans?"
"Robin?"
This time, the boy swiveled around in his chair to look at Julia, who saw that he was frowning, his eyebrows knitted together in frustration.
"What?"
Forcing herself to look calmly disinterested, Julia settled her hands on the back of the couch.
"I'm going to be spending the afternoon meditating and relaxing," she told the youth. "You know, since my powers are mostly drained. So unless it's a life or death matter, I'd like to be left alone."
For a moment, Robin considered the Asian girl. Julia had never before asked to be left alone while she practiced her powers or meditated. So why now?
"-seems Jump City's own Boy Wonder has found a new interest."
Instantly distracted, Robin and Julia shifted their attention back to the TV screen, which was showing a clip of the two of them speeding down Main Street on the R-Cycle.
"Witnesses around the city report seeing Robin, the team leader of the Teen Titans, riding on his famous R-Cycle with an unidentified girl with black hair." A close-up shot of Julia, helmeted head lowered and hands on Robin's waist.
"No one seems to know who this mysterious girl is, except that she has a connection to our own Boy Wonder. The question is: what kind of connection? And if it's more than friendship, what will the super-powered alien Starfire say about this?"
With a click, the screen blacked out as Robin calmly shut the TV off. Julia, on the other hand, was horrified. Not only was her picture posted all over the city for everyone to see, but it was also implied that she had some kind of relationship with Robin.
This is so mortifying, was Julia's first thought. Her second was, Oh my god. How will Damien react to this?
Robin, for his part, didn't seem too fazed. He merely scooted closer to the computer console and started typing into it again, muttering something that vaguely sounded like 'Star'. The youth didn't acknowledge Julia, who, when the shock wore off her, left the Operations Room silently.
The dark building on 712 Evergreen Street loomed over the girl as she made her way quickly and quietly towards it. Even in broad daylight, it looked just as ominous as it had before. Remembering the events that had taken place inside it, the teen repressed a shudder and continued to walk up to the front door, trying to build her own confidence.
"Well, I've made it this far."
But before she could make it to the front step, a red metal weapon, glinting in the afternoon sunlight, sliced through the air. It landed inches from her foot, forcing her to take a step back to avoid her toes from being chopped off.
"And you're not going any father."
Jump City's finest landed in front of the girl, then straightened, his black cape settling around his shoulder like a cloak.
"Robin." The girl's voice was low and calm, seemingly unsurprised by the youth's sudden appearance.
"Athene." The boy's voice was similarly low, but it held barely restrained fury. "You were part of all of this. You helped kidnap the Titans."
At this, the thief took another step back, her hands held up in front of herself defensively. The superhero took a step forward to close the gap as his opponent inched backwards.
"Whoa. Slow down there, Boy Blunder. I had nothing to do with the Titans being captured. At all."
Robin didn't look convinced. He continued to move forward, eyes narrowed, as the girl walked backwards into the street.
"Then why are you here?" the youth demanded, voice harsh. "Why come to this place if you had nothing to do with the Titans' abduction?"
Athene's only response was silence. "That's what I thought," Robin remarked, whipping out two birdarangs and pushing the folds of his cape behind his back. With a yell, the Boy Wonder dived at his adversary.
To his dismay, she didn't seem to fight back. The thief girl merely sidestepped his tackle, leaving him to roll on the ground, then spring back up, ready. Athene made no motion to counterattack as Robin sheathed his birdarangs, then threw a flurry of punches at her. Instead, the girl ducked and dodged the blows, using her metal arm guards to defend herself. The whole time, she kept her face carefully calm.
Frustrated – he wanted a real fight, not this kind of useless hitting-and-blocking – Robin did a few back flips, then hurled two explosive discs at his opponent. To his disappointment (and anger) the girl did cartwheels to dodge them.
By the time the smoke cleared, the two adversaries were still crouched in fighting positions. Robin's eyes were narrowed as he assessed the situation, his brain flying through explanations as to why Athene wasn't fighting back. She was merely fighting to defend herself.
Was she up to something? Did she have a hidden motive?
Or maybe, the youth mused, she just doesn't want to fight me.
That seemed preposterous. Why wouldn't she? They were enemies – superheroes and thieves were meant to fight against each other. Weren't they?
Another thought flitted through his mind.
She doesn't want to hurt you.
That was just as absurd as the previous thought. Athene shouldn't have cared about whether she was hurting him or not. She was a criminal – they weren't known for being caring towards superheroes. They were selfish, egotistic, sometimes sadistic...
Athene isn't like the others.
Remembering the kiss from the night before, Robin flushed, then shook the thoughts from his head. It didn't matter why Athene was on the defensive only. All that mattered was that she had a hand in his friends' disappearances, and she must have had some kind of information, some kind of clue, about their whereabouts.
These thoughts took a space of a second.
"I'm not here to fight you, Robin," Athene called over to him. She held her hands up, palms forward, as a sign of peace. Robin scowled, theories of a trap flying through his mind. Was she here to capture him? To bring him to the other kidnapped Titans?
Fury – the kind that he hadn't felt for some time – roared inside him as his imagination conjured up possible places where his friends could be hidden, and what was happening to them. If they were hurt – if Starfire was hurt...
The Boy Wonder flung his two birdarangs at Athene, so that the curved weapons arced inwards, crossing each other mid-flight. As the thief swiftly lowered herself to the ground to avoid the razor-sharp blades, Robin sprang towards her and tackled his opponent before she could avoid him.
The youth pinned Athene to the ground, one knee on her stomach, one foot on her left wrist. Robin's left hand was clamped down on the thief's right wrist, and his right hand held another birdarang at the girl's throat.
"What did you do with them?" His voice was roughly edged with rage, a sound that would send even the hardiest of criminals cringing. Athene was flinching away from him, trying not to move her neck.
"Nothing."
Robin made an angry noise that could almost be described as a growl.
"Liar."
As the thief twisted her wrists, trying to break free, the superhero pressed down harder, his eyes never leaving her grimacing face.
"If you had nothing to do with the kidnappings, you wouldn't be here," the Boy Wonder snapped. Despite the fury ground into his voice, his hand on his birdarang was still and sure. "Explain."
"I'm not here because I'm in league with...whatever went on here," Athene retorted, her voice faltering for a moment. "I'm investigating."
Robin's eyes narrowed even more, if that were possible. At the same time, unconsciously, his hold on the girl tightened.
"Investigating what?"
Suddenly, something small and light hit the Boy Wonder's back, where it latched on securely. Before the youth could react, the thin device sent a paralyzing shock through his body. Gritting his teeth and trying not to yell, Robin rolled off of Athene, eyes shut against the pain. Call him paranoid, but his mind went immediately to one name.
Red X.
A/N: Some RobinxStarfire hints there, for all your Rob/Star shippers. I'm one, myself. But I downplayed it in this story, since Julia is the main focus of the story. Maybe in another story, I'll do a Rob/Star one-shot. I've already got an idea for one, but I'm busy writing this story.