Chapter 11
The next morning Robin woke early, feeling refreshed and energised. He turned in his bed in the hope that he might get a few cuddles from Starfire before they rose, but found his bed to be empty. The sheets were cold too, so she must have been up a while, if she'd even joined him at all. Usually she woke him up if she went to bed later than he did, but perhaps he was more tired than he thought. Still, it was just before dawn. The sun was just starting to peak on the horizon. Unless she had decided she wanted to greet the sun earlier today.
Ignoring the rantings of his mind, he got dressed and make his way to ops, with nothing but the need for a cup of coffee pushing him to do so. When he got there, he was surprised to find Starfire sat at the table, eating cereal. He'd fully expected her to be on the roof. "Morning Star, you're up early." He gave her a swift kiss to the cheek and went to go make his coffee.
"Indeed, I woke to get a drink, and found the computer beeping. I did not quite understand what it was beeping for but I elected to stop the sound. It took longer than I anticipated and I did not wish to wake you so early in the morning." She smiled at him as he looked towards the computer.
"You know you don't have to worry about waking me star." He moved over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, coaxing her out of her seat. "Let's go see what the computer was trying to tell us." Taking a sip of his coffee, they journeyed over and he took the seat letting her stand behind him. "The programme Cyborg was running last night has finished. That's all. Though it didn't find anything the first time so I doubt it's got anything now."
Starfire hid a small knowing smile emerging on her face. She leant over to watch as he was typing, and looked at him inquisitively as his motions slowed and he squinted at the screen. "Robin?" She was ignored for a minute as he kept typing, new windows popping up on the screen.
"I don't believe it." He ripped his communicator from his belt. "Cy, sorry to wake you, but you need to come see this." He didn't get a response from Cyborg but knew he was on his way. "Star, look at this." She stepped round his chair and stood next to him, bending to see the screen. "We've managed to break the code! This is all the information that was on that microchip you found. We should be able to get a location of the computer the files were uploaded from."
Just at that moment, Cyborg bundled through the doors, sleep still evident on his face. "Alright Rob. I'm here. What's so important?"
"Take a look." Robin moved from the seat and let Cyborg take his seat. Cyborg skimmed through the information a little before sitting back.
"Well, that sure is something. I didn't think we had the power to get through the encryption. Leave this with me, I'll find an IP address and see if I can't locate where the video was uploaded onto the chip from." He leant forward again and stated typing, his fingers dancing over the keyboard.
"Thanks Cy." Robin turned from him and to his love, her green eyes shining with joy. "See Star, were at least half a step closer to Slade than we were. Cyborg should be able to get a location from that information. But we wouldn't have been able to do it if you hadn't known how to dismantle that ball." He grabbed her hands and smiled at her.
"You need not thank me Robin. Come, let us go enjoy the sunrise." She pulled him towards the door. and he just managed to grab his coffee before he was too far out of reach. Out on the roof, they sat in companionable silence, Robin's hands wrapped around his coffee, and Starfire sat absorbing the sunlight.
He was content. Starfire was relatively safe, and was one step closer to removing her scar. They were one step closer to finding Slade. And his coffee was probably the best cup he'd ever made. A small sigh escaped his lips as he looked out over the water. Robin snook a glance at Starfire as she rested back on her hands. Really she was stunning, and the glow of the sunrise enhanced that. "You're beautiful, you know that Star?"
She blushed as she looked at him, sheepish in her actions. "Oh thank you Robin." She sat up and turned to him. "You seem relaxed this morning."
"I am. I just... I love you, Star. I don't think I tell you enough. But I do. I love you." He placed his cup down and pulled her towards him, each had one leg hanging over the roof, the others touching between them as they faced each other. Starfire wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer.
"I love you too, Robin." She leaned into him, her eyes fluttering as she did. He smiled into her as they connected, the ever present sparks tingling between them. It was tender, and sweet. Robin would never get tired of kissing her. They pulled apart, Starfire's eyes sparkling with love only for him.
They were interrupted though. As they were about to kiss again, Robin was grabbed by his cape and pulled harshly onto the floor. Starfire shrieked his name as he was ripped from her grasp, but then was pulled back herself, her arms pinned to her sides as she was hoisted upwards.
Slade Bots.
Robin got to his feet, his face a picture of seriousness. The bot that had gone for him ran full pelt towards him, but Robin easily evaded its attacks. Starfire broke free of the robot that had her and ran towards the one that was fighting Robin. In her fury, she shot it with her eye beams, sending it across the roof. She reached Robin who was dusting himself off. "Robin are you injured?"
"No I'm alright. Send the distress call."
She did as she was instructed and pressed the distress button on her communicator. The other Titans would be here soon. Both robots had recovered and were standing ready. Robin pushed Starfire behind him, his bo-staff poised. "Starfire go inside."
"No! Robin I am not leaving you." She stepped beside him to show her defiance.
"Star, that's an order. You're not allowed to fight."
She didn't have time to respond as the bots both threw projectiles at them before running in for an attack. Robin pushed her back so harshly she fell to the floor, before he met the bots head on. Raven appeared behind Starfire, helping her sit up, while Beast Boy and Cyborg headed over to help Robin. It didn't take them long to dispatch of the two robots. Beast Boy turned into a T-Rex and completely annihilated one, while Robin held the other to the floor, Cyborg's sonic blaster ripping through it. Robin dropped the remains of the robot, and steadied his breathing.
"Dudes, what happened?" Beast Boy bounded over, scratching his head in confusion.
"These two came out of nowhere. No idea why." Robin crouched down to search the uniforms on the robots. Raven and Starfire joined them from across the roof.
"Anyone injured?" Raven scanned her teammates.
Robin stood and moved over to her. "Just a scratch on my neck. These things have sharp claws." He pulled the collar of his cape away for her to see.
"They've gone through the cape, but they're not that deep." She places a glowing hand over his neck before pulling away. "There, you'll be fine."
"Thanks Raven. If those claws can cut through this cape, I might need to upgrade it..."
"Probably a good idea considering the circumstances. So what was the end game here?" Raven picked up the remains of the robots and sent them through a portal to the basement where Cyborg and Robin would dispose of them later. Robin rubbed his neck as it tingled from the sensation of Raven's healing.
"Probably a scare tactic. Star, are you okay?"
She was standing back from the group hugging herself. "Indeed Robin."
"Alright. Cy can you set up the perimeter sensors, I don't want any more surprises."
"Well, today's not your lucky day then. Is it Robin?"
All five of them turned towards that sickeningly familiar voice. And there he stood, his arms behind his back, his mask glowing in the orange light of the sunrise. Robin glanced round to see that the Titans had put themselves as a barrier between Slade and Starfire, just as he expected.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Robin spat the words out, his anger bubbling over.
"Just come to see if my robots completed their mission. It seems they did."
"What mission? They were both destroyed."
"Come now Robin. I can't give away all my secrets. I've also come to see my little protege over there." Slade moved his gaze from Robin, to Starfire who was glaring at him, her eyes aglow. "I see you've got your powers under control again. Such a shame, we'll have to rectify that. I have no use for you inhibited. And your flight will no longer be an issue of emotion."
"It would not be an issue at all had you not branded me like the Earthen cattle!" She let her fury overtake and as her hands balled into fists, her starbolts pulsed to be let loose.
"A necessary procedure, my dear. The inspiration actually came to me from that small tattoo you have on your inner wrist, that I can only assume was given to you by your previous captors during your time in the Citadel. A constant reminder of your servitude. I wanted to give you a reminder of your services to me. After all, you're destined to spend your life in one form of slavery or another."
Robin audibly growled, his anger peaking. "That's enough Slade!"
"On the contrary Robin, I'm just getting started. Besides, I'm not wrong. If she isn't taking orders from me, she's taking them from you. Not that it's surprising, since you and I are so very much alike. It's only natural that she would bow down to me as she does to you. But unfortunately only one of us can claim her." As he finished speaking, a powerful starbolt hit his gut, sending him onto his back across the roof, and before he could recover, Starfire had stepped out from behind her friends and was running at him.
"Robin is nothing like you! And I am not a possession!" She hit him further into the ground with her eye beams and was about to loose another shot but was stopped by a black barrier.
"As I thought," Slade got to his feet and brushed himself off. "Your powers are not fully under control yet. And your anger is marvellous. We'll meet again soon, Starfire." In a puff of smoke, he was gone. Raven let the barrier down and cleared the smoke away. Starfire stood still, eyes still glowing.
"Star?" Her friends gathered around her, Robin put a comforting hand on her shoulder as he spoke. "You can't let him get to you like that. No one owns you."
"Yeah!" Beast Boy piped up. "You're our friend Star, no one thinks you're anything less than that."
"Please, may I return to my room?" She didn't look at any of them as she spoke and Robin dropped his hand from her shoulder.
"Sure Star, I'll come check on you in a bit." He watched as she rushes to the door and disappeared down the steps. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
Cyborg placed a hand on his shoulder, sensing his friend needed comforting too. "It's alright Rob, she's safe."
"I know. Thanks for your help guys. Slade's planning something, we need to see if we can find out what!"
"We're ready Rob. Just tell us what we need to do."
TTTTTTTTTTT
Slade sat on his throne like chair, monitors scattered in front of him. Different footage of the Titans was playing on repeat. Next to him stood a small squat figure in the darkness. "I'm very impressed. You did exactly as I asked."
"Of course I did Mr Slade, Sir."
"Prepare the footage, and any more you can acquire from now. I need it in three days.
"Yes Mr Slade, Sir. Right away, Sir. May I ask why?"
"The girl is too heavily guarded by her friends. I need to get her here to be able to control her entirely. So I need a way to get her alone and get her to come without a fight. Once again Robin is standing in my way. I need to rip the two of them apart before I can succeed."
"What about the rest of the Titans?"
"Tip one over and the rest will fall. Robin will no doubt take her betrayal the worst, but the other three will follow his lead."
