Earning My Stars (Part Four)
By TheLostMaximoff
Disclaimer: Don't own these characters. The POV is different in this one but it's for a good reason. R/R and it will all make sense.
He swore it would never happen again. He gave them his word, gave her his word. Robin remembered that day very clearly, the day they buried Raven. He had stood at her grave and promised her that no Titan would have to make that kind of sacrifice ever again, not while he was around to prevent it.
"I'm sorry," said Robin to himself as he stared at Beast Boy. Everything had changed on that cloudy, overcast day they put Raven in the ground. This was no longer fun. It wasn't simply go out, save the day, and then get some pizza. This was serious now; sometimes war even. In wars, people got hurt and sometimes they died. Not on his watch.
"Robin, I wish to speak to you," said Starfire quietly as she entered the room. Robin recomposed his face before turning around. He hid the anger and frustration and tried to make it look like everything was okay.
"Go on," he replied as he tore his gaze away from Beast Boy, "What's up, Star?"
"Robin, please do not act like everything is okay," pleaded Starfire, "because we both know it is not. You know what I wish to discuss."
"Terra," replied Robin as his eyes narrowed, "I did what I thought was best for the team, Star. I have the responsibility as leader to put the team's well-being first."
"Yes," agreed Starfire, "but she is also your friend or else she would not be on this team. You have a responsibility as her friend to at least believe her. You suspended her, Robin, but it does not mean your belief in her should be suspended as well."
"Star," began Robin in a somewhat exasperated tone, "The H.I.V.E's running loose somewhere in the city and Beast Boy's badly injured. I can't worry about chasing ghosts."
"So instead you pass judgment on her," finished Starfire, "You are not the Robin I know." She turned away, not wanting to let him see her eyes water. Robin turned and looked at his reflection in the glass. He looked the same as always: spiky black hair, ever-concealing mask, black and yellow cape, and red and green costume. No, there was something different. His reflection dissolved before his eyes. The hair turned into a cowl with laughably ridiculous, pointy ears. The cape grew longer and the costumed darkened. He stared at his reflection, now the image of the mentor he had left so long ago. He left because he felt unloved, unappreciated, and most importantly, not trusted. He had taken another vow that day. Never would he push those he cared about away. Never would he turn into that.
"Star, wait," he asked. Starfire turned in the doorway and looked at him with hopeful eyes. Robin stared into those eyes and felt something inside him melt.
"Yes?" she prompted.
"I was wrong, Star," Robin explained, "Ever since we lost Raven, I've tried to be a leader first and a friend second. I've got it all backwards though. I let this thing with Beast Boy get to me in the wrong way. I promise I'll check out Slade, Star."
"Thank you," replied Starfire, "but I am not the one who needs the apology the most." Robin nodded. He had been stupid, absolutely stupid. What kind of detective was he? He should've known that every potential lead should be given equal consideration no matter how implausible it may seem.
"Uhm, not to be rude or anything but why do I have more wires stickin' outta me than our digital cable box?" Where was that voice coming from? Robin turned back to Beast Boy's room and smiled. The little clown was finally awake.
"Beast Boy," cried Starfire as she quickly entered the room and enveloped him in a huge hug, "You are awake."
"Easy, Star," warned Beast Boy, "I may still need those ribs even if they are a little cracked."
"It's good to see you," said Robin as he entered the room and smiled. Beast Boy smiled back and gave him a high-five.
"So," said Beast Boy, "did we win?"
"Uhm, not sure," replied Robin, "That's kinda something we need to talk about."
"You can tell me later," assured Beast Boy, "Where's Terra? Is she okay?"
"I believe that is what needs to be discussed," explained Starfire.
"First thing's first," decided Robin, "Let's see if you can get out of that bed."
"Gee, and here I thought I'd get a day off," replied Beast Boy with a grin, "Don't I at least get some candy for being a good patient?"
She looked so beautiful lying there sound asleep. Beast Boy ambled slowly over to the couch and gently sat down so he wouldn't disturb Terra. He looked at her for a little bit. She was still beautiful. He still loved her but he was simply afraid of getting hurt again.
"No," she cried out a little in her sleep, "Stop. Don't hurt them. Please, no."
"It's okay, Tara," whispered Beast Boy as he stroked her long, golden hair, "Nobody's going to hurt you." Her hair was so soft. He moved his hand to her cheek and gently stroked it.
"It's going to be okay," he repeated to her. She let out a small sigh as his hand continued to graze against her cheek. He watched her relax and sleep peacefully again.
"She's been worried sick about you, man," said Cyborg, "I'd let her get her rest."
"Yeah," agreed Beast Boy, "Lemme tuck her in, okay?" Cyborg nodded. Beast Boy closed his eyes and tried to shift into a gorilla so he could pick her up. He grimaced in pain and gave up on it.
"I got it," assured Cyborg as he cradled Terra's lithe form in his hands. Beast Boy followed behind him as Cyborg carried Terra to her room and gently laid her down in her bed.
"She really loves you, BB," Cyborg told his friend as they both looked at her sleeping soundly.
"I know," replied Beast Boy as he kissed her lightly on the cheek and then closed the door as the two boys exited the room.
"So, about that fight with the H.I.V.E.," prompted Beast Boy as the remaining four Titans gathered around the table, "We kicked butt, right?"
"Uhm, sorta," replied Cyborg, "See we had it all good till Terra freaked out and . . .you know. After that we were too focused on you. They ended up getting away."
"Which means they're still at large," finished Robin, "and we need to track them down."
"There is also something else we need to check," added Starfire. She nudged Robin a little.
"Yeah," agreed Beast Boy, "What's up with Slade coming back anyway?" All of the other three Titans gave him surprised looks. Beast Boy looked around, "What, did I suddenly grow an extra head or something?"
"You saw him?" asked Robin, "You saw Slade?"
"Yeah," replied Beast Boy, "Tall guy, ugly mask, wants to kill us. Any of this ring some bells?" Starfire turned to Robin with a look that blatantly said, 'I told you so'.
"We haven't checked that out yet," admitted Robin, "and that's totally my fault. We're going to check it now though."
"All of us?" asked Beast Boy hopefully.
"You're staying here, little man," assured Cyborg, "You're still on the injured list." Beast Boy's expression soured.
"Star, you're staying too," ordered Robin, "Cy, you're coming with me and seeing if your tracking and scanning equipment can pick anything up."
"Don't think it can," replied Cyborg, "They couldn't pick up anything on Slade before. It's like he really was a ghost." Robin arched his eyebrow and thought for a moment. It was always possible that Slade had created some sort of device that allowed him to be undetected by scanners. Still though, with as many different methods as Cyborg had, it seemed highly unlikely he could evade them all. Then again, it could be someone else in Slade's costume. Unfortunately, Terra seemed certain it was really Slade and if there was one person she knew about it was him.
"We'll see what we can find," assured Robin, "Star, you stay here for now in case the H.I.V.E. attack us. They kicked us out once, I'm not letting it happen again."
"Return swiftly and safely," replied Starfire, "Everything here will be fine."
"Yeah," replied Beast Boy sourly, "I'll just go watch some TV. Don't kick all the bad guy butt without me."
Robin stared at the rooftop and cupped his hand under his chin. He rested his gaze on a pile of rubble that looked out of place. Terra's handiwork. Obviously she had tried a straightforward attack, which he suspected Slade had easily dodged.
"So that was where he was standing at first," muttered Robin as he tried to visualize the scene in his head.
"Robin, there's nothing here," stated Cyborg. Robin motioned for silence as he moved over to the scattered rocks and knelt down.
"You were saying," he replied as he swiped his gloved hand over something and then held it up for Cyborg to see. There was a stain on the glove.
"What is it?" asked Cyborg. Robin sniffed the glove.
"Oil," he replied in a puzzled tone.
"Refinery, pumping station, industrial complex?" guessed Cyborg, "Any of these seem possible hideouts?"
"Possible," replied Robin. He studied the smear on his fingers again. There was something else going on here. Why would Slade come back now, a month after Raven's death? Why not the day after or a week later?
"He's out there somewhere," said Robin as he turned his gaze to the skyline, "and when I find him, he's going to wish he really had died."
"Get in line behind Terra then," said Cyborg. Robin nodded and pulled out his communicator.
"Any news to report?" asked Starfire hopefully.
"Not much, Star," replied Robin, "We found something but it doesn't make sense."
"You should return home then," suggested Starfire, "We should not be divided in case of an attack."
"Alright," agreed Robin, "We'll sweep one more time and then go." He ended the transmission. He turned back to the rooftop.
"Let's get home," suggested Cyborg. Suddenly something beeped on his arm.
"Girlfriend paging you?" asked Robin sarcastically.
"Wish," replied Cyborg seriously, "I got three very familiar bio signatures comin' this way."
"The H.I.V.E.," replied Robin grimly. Cyborg nodded. Both Titans were about to move when suddenly an army of robot ninjas appeared.
"Guess we can safely say Slade's back," stated Cyborg.
"Yeah," nodded Robin, "Guess I owe Terra an apology when we get back home."
"A bit presumptuous, my young friend," said a familiar voice, "You assume that you'll make it back to your little tower."
"We will," assured Robin, "Right after I get done taking you apart."
"Pleasure as always to see you, Robin," replied Slade with a grin.
"Robin, I'm not getting a bio signature from him," stated Cyborg, "That's just really freaky."
"I think I might know why," replied Robin, "So what's the master plan this time, Slade?"
"Oh, no real grand design," assured Slade as he stood on the rooftop in front of the two Titans, "You see, my friends from the H.I.V.E. needed some fresh faces so I thought I could help them out."
"Yeah, like we'll ever work for them," scoffed Cyborg. Gizmo, Jinx, and Mammoth suddenly appeared.
"Oh maybe not as students," said Slade, "but I'm sure the school is running low on punching bags, tackling dummies, or other such items. Of course I expect to be compensated."
"Terra," guessed Robin as his eyes narrowed.
"And maybe you as well," added Slade, "I haven't decided that yet. You weren't as 'cooperative' as her."
"I'm not getting a signal through to the tower," said Cyborg as the two Titans stood back-to-back while surrounded by foes.
"Thank Gizmo for that," answered Slade, "The lad's quite the wonder with frequency-jamming technology."
"Guess we'll just have to fight our way out then," replied Robin with a smirk.
"Bet I can take out more ninjas than you," declared Cyborg.
"You're on," replied Robin, "Go!". The two heroes sprang in opposite directions as the robots pulled out their laser weapons. Robin rolled sideways to avoid some laser blasts and released a flurry of exploding discs.
"These things aren't gonna give us any room," said Cyborg as he grabbed one ninja and threw it off the rooftop, "Think we should take it to the streets?"
"Works for me," replied Robin as one of his birdarangs sliced the head off of a robot. The weapon returned to his hand just in time for him to move away from more lasers.
"Might as well take one with me," he muttered as he fired his grappling hook at the ledge of another building. Before swinging down to the street, Robin fired another grappling hook and wrapped the cable around a ninja. As he swung down, Robin jerked the robot off the roof and released the attacker from the grappling cable, effectively flinging the robot into a parked car.
"Figured I'd make it easier on you," he called up to Cyborg as a squad of robots broke off to follow him.
"Oh thanks," muttered Cyborg as he blocked an incoming punch by grabbing the robot's wrist before it struck him. Cyborg blasted the robot with his sonic cannon, ripping the arm he still held clean off.
"Booyah!" he celebrated, "That's what you get for using outdated hardware." His celebration was cut short as the severed arm he still held glowed pink and suddenly exploded, throwing him almost off the roof.
"Too bad you were too busy giving yourself a hand," smirked Jinx, "or you might have noticed your luck's run out."
"No fair," mumbled Cyborg, "How am I supposed to beat Robin's count if I have to bother with these clowns?"
"I wouldn't worry about that, runt," snarled Mammoth as he grabbed Cyborg by the throat and dangled him off the edge of the building. Cyborg kicked Mammoth in the face and blasted him with the laser concealed in the bottom of his foot.
"You two can fight over the tin man," stated Jinx as she somersaulted off the roof and grabbed onto a lamppost. The acrobatic witch swung herself upwards and perched on top of the post, "I want the little birdie." She gleefully cast a hex on a nearby car. The car suddenly started and turned in the direction of Robin.
"Oh great," mumbled Robin as the car surged towards him. He kicked the ninja he was fighting into the front window of the oncoming car and jumped to avoid the speeding vehicle. The car crashed into the wall behind him and Robin quickly landed on its roof.
"Okay, getting a little tired," he stated. The car underneath him glowed and suddenly stood up on its front end, pinning him to the wall of the building.
"Ow," groaned Robin, "Not a good day." He heard Jinx giggle and looked above him. A chunk of rooftop was about to crash right on his head.
"I got it," cried Cyborg as his sonic blast toppled the lamppost Jinx was on and stopped her from finishing her hex.
"What's the score?" asked Robin as Cyborg grabbed the car and moved it away.
"We're losin'," replied Cyborg as the other two H.I.V.E. members joined their fallen teammate.
"I hate losing," replied Robin. Both Titans sized up the opposition. The three H.I.V.E. members were regrouping and Slade hadn't even inserted himself into the conflict yet.
"Is it too late to retreat?" asked Cyborg. Robin scanned the area. He smiled as he saw something in the sky, two somethings rather.
"Not when the cavalry has arrived," he replied with a smile.
"Don't celebrate just yet," advised Slade, "Having all of you here means it will only save me the trouble of hunting the others down." Robin let out a gulp as the H.I.V.E. members came at the Titans again.
(Author's Note): Another cliffhanger. Will the other Titans manage to reach Robin and Cyborg in time? Stay tuned, folks.