Chapter 12

Following the events on the roof that morning, Robin set the Titans on finding Slade and protecting Starfire. Cyborg had found a location on the chip, and sent the co-ordinates to the League, as per Robin's request. He didn't want to leave Starfire alone and they needed all of them to even consider taking on Slade. So, let Batman deal with it.

Raven and Beast Boy were tasked with making sure all the Tower security measures were in complete working order. Even down to the things that weren't usually needed. Laser grids, motion sensors, extra cameras. Yes even in your bedroom Beast Boy, we can't have Slade sneaking in through your windows. Robin assured them it wouldn't always be like this, just until the threat was eliminated.

Robin had checked on Starfire a few times, but she was refusing to leave her room. Obviously the mornings events had shaken her, and she was electing to let Robin do what he felt he needed to do. He had also had a small, stern word with her about listening to him when he gave her an order, boyfriend or not. He was slightly annoyed that when he told her to go inside she ignored him, so he reminded her that actually she wasn't allowed to fight because the Justice League said so. Also, he pointed out that Slade wouldn't have been able to aggravate her had she been inside like he asked. She took it well, seemingly just agreeing with what he said and apologising at the appropriate times.

The next few days were uneventful. The location Cyborg had found had been a dead end, the building had been destroyed leaving nothing but rubble, so they didn't actually have any leads on Slade. But the tower could detect even the rats, so Robin felt confident that Starfire was safe. Still, he'd been bothered by Slade's words for days. What mission had his robots completed? They didn't do anything. Just got themselves destroyed. Unfortunately, Robin didn't realise how right he was to worry.

The unidentified person that Slade had helping him, had finished their assignment, and phase one of Slade's plan was about to begin that night.

Robin had settled down into a peaceful sleep that night, Starfire wrapped in his arms. They'd had a nice evening together, Robin teaching her how to play card games. It was something new she was eager to learn about, and he was more than happy to help her, being a master card player himself. They went to her room and snuggled together under the duvet, each finding comfort in the other's presence. But Robin's comfort wasn't set to last that night.

He woke to darkness, lifting himself from the ground, surveying his surroundings. He had no idea where he was, or how he had gotten there. Pulling his communicator from his belt, he tried to call his friends, and got static in return. Sighing, he replaced his communicator and looked around again. It was just darkness. "Hello?" His voice echoed even though he hadn't spoken that loudly. Silence was the response he got.

Then his thoughts went wild. If he was here, and had no way of contacting the other Titans, where was Starfire? Was she okay? Were her and their friends also in similar situations? Was it Slade who did this? Or someone else? And why?

A large screen lit up in front of him, showing him and Starfire asleep in her bed, just as they had been that night. He could clearly see from the footage that it was camera footage. From the one that had been set up a few days earlier. Then, multiple screens started lighting up, all showing different footage, Starfire the focus of each one. Only, they weren't just of Titans Tower. There were a few he recognised of Jump City, Gotham, and the Bat Cave. But no one had access to the cameras in the Bat Cave. Not even him. He just stared, not really focusing on any one screen in particular. Not really watching any of the footage to see what was happening. He just wanted to get out.

And then one caught his eye. It was of a girl he had never seen before. She was pretty. Brown eyes. Brown hair. Glasses. He stepped towards the screen and watched. This girl was sat at a table in a diner in the city. She was talking to a man he'd also never seen before. He couldn't hear them, but he watched as the man handed the girl a piece of paper and swiftly left. The girl finished her drink and also left, leaving her money in the table. She made her way down the street to an alleyway, and the footage cut to a different view from down the alley. He watched as the girl looked around and then took off her glasses.

"Starfire?" His eyes grew wide as the girl turned into his girlfriend. What he can only assume was a hologram, revealing her true self. She stored the glasses in her belt, and took to the skies. The footage replayed again, and Robin watched intently. The date on the screen showed it to be the day Slade had come to the tower and Starfire had spent most of the day in her room. She'd not been alone for any longer than an hour at a time that day. Surely she wouldn't have had the time to sneak out without Robin knowing about it. Besides, where would she get holo-tech from?

Shaking his head Robin moved away from the screen, his gaze scanning the others. There were a few showing Starfire's room. Some showing her sneaking in and out if her bedroom at different times. Not only just over the past few days but weeks even. A few showed her looking at a black tablet Robin had never seen before, and a black device that looked like a communicator. Still there was no sound, so he couldn't hear what she was saying on any of the screens.

There were others showing her working on computers in the Tower and at the Bat Cave. There were a few of her stood talking to Batman in Jump City. One that really caught Robin's eye was of the date Slade came to the tower three days ago. It was 2am so the cameras said. He recognised the camera feed as it followed Starfire through the tower. She peaked into Robin's room, and quietly shut the door behind her, making sure he was still asleep. The footage then followed her back to ops where she sat at the computer and started typing. Zooming in, the camera caught a clear video of what she was doing. Hacking that microchip. The screen went black as the footage stopped. Starfire sat back in the chair triumphant, and the little light blinking to show the programme was finished.

So... what? She'd cracked the encryption and then set the computer to make it look like the programme had done it? But why? Why not just tell them she knew how to crack it? But then... how did she even know how to do that? In the many years the Titans have been together, she'd never mentioned or shown any knowledge of computers other than basic stuff.

"Unless, she's been working with someone."

"Very good Robin."

Robin spun round so fast he nearly slipped. Behind him, Slade stood. Taking a step back, Robin took out his staff and prepared himself for a fight. Slade didn't move.

"Where are the rest of the Titans?"

"Robin, put the staff away. We can't hurt each other here."

"What?" Robin relaxed from his stance a little, distrust evident on his face.

"This place isn't real Robin. Look, you're staff has gone. Now we can talk."

Robin looked to his hands to find his staff was Indeed missing. He looked round, completely baffled. "How did you...?"

"You're dreaming Robin. Now come, let us observe." Slade walked closer to the monitor. Robin still didn't trust Slade, but figured he didn't really have any choice but to hear him out. "You and your friends are still sleeping peacefully at home. Blissfully unaware of any of this." Some of the monitors switched to show each Titan's rooms where, just as Slade said, they were sleeping.

"I don't understand. This can't be a dream. How do I know you're not lying?"

"A fair question. And one that has a good answer." Slade didn't move, but Robin looked on in amazement as a pig literally flew through the room. No wings. No wires. Just a plain pig, floating across the darkness. "Good enough?" Wordlessly, Robin just nodded. They turned back to the screens together.

"So, what is this then?"

"Just wanted to show you a few things. You were right Robin. Starfire has been working with someone."

"She'd never willingly work with you."

"Not me Robin. She's been working with someone else in the hopes of taking me down. Without you."

Robin's brows knotted. "She wouldn't..."

"She has. Take a look for yourself Robin. This may be a dream, but all this footage is real."

Scanning over the monitors again, Robin frowned. "She hasn't been out of my sight. One of us has known where she was for the past six months or more. She hasn't had time to do any of this?"

"Robin, who's to say that the person she's working with isn't also on your side?"

"You mean one of the team?"

"Take a closer look."

As he scanned over the footage, a small itch was forming between his shoulder blades. Other than Starfire and the Titans. There was one other consistent figure in some of the footage. Robin narrowed his eyes as his brain put the pieces together, and then widened as he realised. "Batman?"

"Batman. Your girlfriend and your mentor have been working behind your back to bring me down Robin."

"No that's not possible. I would know!"

"Would you Robin? Perhaps you would also then know that it was Starfire who aided in my release?" Slade turned to look at the young hero who was staring at the monitors. "Come, look at this one." He pointed out a particular monitor that showed the Batcave, dated the day Starfire went to her consultation with Bruce. And as it played through, Robin couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. It played right through even to where Starfire hit Robin with a starbolt as he raced through the manor to find her and tell her of Slade's escape.

He couldn't deny it, but he believed it to a certain degree. The timings on the videos all added up, and so much was starting to make sense. How she knew to dismantle that metal ball, spending hours by herself in her room. The night she had said she didn't want to disturb him, but he knew she hadn't come to bed at all. Still, this was Slade, and this was just a dream.

"You're lying. This isn't real. This is just my mind playing tricks on me."

"Robin, The day I escaped I sent you that message as a way of telling you that it was Starfire who hacked the facility. I knew she wasn't with you at the time. My little helper has been very good at keeping me informed of the Titan's movements. Face it Robin, she helped set me free. She's the reason you're so stressed right now. And she doesn't trust you enough to protect her that she's gone behind your back to a higher power. To someone who she deems more capable than you. To Batman."

"No. She wouldn't do this to me." Robin stood defiant. His hands balled.

"She has Robin. And if you don't believe me, check the footage yourself. Everything on these screens has happened. This may be a dream, but everything she has done is very real. You can find that Tablet and communicator under the bed you're both sleeping in. And trust me Robin, Batman has been in your city more times than I care to mention. To see her so they can plot and scheme without you. Because they don't trust you. Because she can't trust you. You think she loves you? Think again."

"Stop. Just stop. You're doing this to frighten me and it's not going to work. This is just a dream."

"Well don't day I didn't warn you Robin. I'll be back to see you tomorrow night, if you haven't already changed your mind about her." Slade disappeared in the blink of an eye. And the monitors switched off, leaving Robin in the darkness again. He twisted round, trying to see anything. A sliver of light, Slade, anything. The floor beneath him started to shake, before it cracked beneath his feet. He tried to step away from it, but it cracked even more under his footing, before giving way completely.

And then he sat up, gasping for breath and sweating. He frantically looked around, and saw a harsh shade of pink, rather than the darkness he was previously consumed in. Steadying his breathing, he realised he was back in Starfire's room, back in her bed. It really had been a dream.

"Robin, what is the matter?"

He looked to the side to see Starfire sitting up beside him, concern on her face. He placed a hand on his head and sat up properly, dragging the covers off him to try and cool him down from his hot sweat. Starfire followed him, sitting up properly beside him, and grabbing his arm in an attempt to comfort him.

"Robin?"

"I'm alright Star, just a bad dream." He placed his hand over hers, closing his eyes as he put his head back, trying to process just what had happened in his dream.

"Do you wish to talk about it?"

Did he? He could just tell her everything that had happened, after all they were trying to be truthful with each other. Really he should just be honest and tell her. But something was telling him not to. Some itch he had was telling him to keep it to himself. Why? Well, what if it was the truth? Slade has told him it was a dream, but that the footage was true. And what if it was? Then what? Maybe he should just wait and see what happens the next night. See if Slade really would rejoin him in his dreams like he had said.

"No, sorry." He pulled her closer and she cuddled into his chest. "It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just... it freaked me out a bit and I just need time to-"

"Say no more Robin, I shall be ready to listen when you are ready to talk."

She drew circles on his chest with her finger as his hand laced through her hair. "Star?"

"Yes Robin?"

"You don't have anything you want to tell me, do you? Anything you think I should know?" He looked down at her to see she had gone still.

"Not at all, Robin. Why do you ask?"

"Just my dreams playing tricks on me. I think."