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Starfire wasn't going back.........she couldn't. There were too many memories back at the Tower. All she wanted to do was think about something else for one moment.........but that wasn't possible.........Robin was her every thought.........her every dream.........Robin was her every moment.
She moved to the large city of Gotham to be alone with her pain. She couldn't stand the sullen atmosphere throughout the Tower. She had to get away so she left.
Gotham was only a few hours away from Jump City but that was far enough for her. She didn't have enough money for an apartment so she lived on the streets. She collected recycled cans to pay for the payphones so she could stay in touch with the rest of the Titans. She didn't care that she didn't have enough money for food. She wasn't hungry anymore.
She slept in a cardboard box in a small dark alleyway and used newspapers for blankets when night came. She didn't know how long she had been away but it seemed like years. Her uniform was tattered and dirty, her hair was tangled, and she had large bags under her eyes.
She was walking into an alleyway a few days after she lefty and was either extremely tired in deep thought because she didn't notice the shadow of a large man enter the alleyway after her. She didn't notice the man pull out a large wooden baseball bat and raise it above her head. She just heard the faint whoosh of the blow being made and a painful hit to the back of her head. Then she fell to the ground unconscious.
Robin was right there, why couldn't she reach him. Every step she took toward him the farther away he became.
"Robin!" she yelled into the darkness, hoping that the game would stop and he would come to her.
"Come on Star!" he yelled back. "Run faster Star!"
Slowly he was fading into the darkness.
"Robin!"
"You were too late," she heard. "To late........."
"Robin!" her eyes opened and she found herself in a strange place. It was dark and there was a creepy kind of quiet surrounding the place. It seemed like a large cave. Yes she had to be.........there were sounds of bats not too far away.
She sat up and looked around. She was lying on a small cot with a blanket covering her. Her head hurt terribly and she felt a large lump on the back.
"Oh good morning my dear," a kind British accented voice said from behind her. She turned to face him. He was an older gentleman with grey hair around the top of a partially balding head. He had a dark mustache and was wearing what looked to be a very expensive tuxedo.
"Hello," Starfire said quietly. "Excuse me sir but may I ask a question about this place? Where am I? This place is not familiar to me and I am very confused."
"Of course Miss........." he waited for her name.
"Starfire."
"Well Miss Starfire you are in the Batcave right now which is the lair of the Batman. If I am not mistaken you worked with a former friend of mine. You probably called him Robin."
She was quiet for a moment and then gave a small nod.
"Robin and I were the best of friends," she said quietly. "How do you know of him Mr........." Now it was her turn to wait for his name.
"You may call me Alfred," he said with a smile. "And as for your question maybe my master could answer it better than I when he returns from his errands."
"Why am I here?" she asked slowly standing trying not to lose her balance.
"Right now you are in the Batcave home of Batman," Alfred said walking over to a table and gesturing her to sit down in one of the chairs. "He saved you and brought you back here instead of the local hospital because we haven't heard from Robin in quite some time and we thought you might be able to tell us about him."
He went rummaging through a small cabinet and pulled out a box of crackers and set them in front of Starfire.
He didn't know about Robin. He didn't know he was dead. He didn't know.........he didn't know............how would she be able to tell him and this Batman character about the death of someone apparently very close to them. She couldn't.........she didn't want to ruin their lives with grief as hers had been ruined. She couldn't destroy their lives like that. But she knew she had to but how? How could she tell them?
Alfred was staring intently at her. She looked absolutely famished yet she made no move to touch the food. She was deep in thought and her appetite would obviously not sway her thinking.
"Eat young mistress," Alfred said politely. "When my master returns we shall eat a full meal together."
"Alfred," she said looking at him pain visible in her eyes. "There is something I know I must tell you."
She was about to tell him but then a large black car drove in through the opening of the cave. Alfred excused himself and walked to the car. Starfire followed distantly; curious about the man in the car. Was he a friend of Robin's too? Did he know of his death?
"Good evening sir." Alfred said as a man stepped out of the vehicle.
He was a tall muscular man wearing a dark costume with a large bat printed on his chest. He had a long black cape and a dark cowl that covered mot of his face. He had a gold tool belt on that was similar to Robin's. His cowl had to points on the top like horns. He was the Batman.
"Sir Miss Starfire has awoken," Alfred said taking Batman's cloak.
"Hello," he said walking toward her his gloved hand extended. His voice was gruff but there was a flit of a smile on his lips. "So your Starfire huh?" he said as she took his hand in a shake.
"Yes sir," she said keeping her eyes on the floor afraid to meet his gaze.
"Robin speaks highly of you. It's nice to finally meet you."
He went over to a large high backed chair and sat down still keeping his eyes on her.
"So how has Robin been? He hasn't been slacking off now has he?"
He didn't know about his death.
"What is this slacking off?" she said looking confused.
"It means being lazy and laid back," he said surprised by the girl's confusing. "You know like giving orders and doing nothing."
"Well if that is slacking off then yes," she said quietly thinking of his last few days. "He had to do this slacking off."
"What do you mean 'had to'?" Batman asked with a strange look on his face.
"Because of his.........illness he could not........."
"His illness?!?" Batman cut her off. "What do you mean 'his illness'?!"
"He was ill for almost a month sir........."
"What? Is he alright? What was wrong with him?"
"He mentioned a disease with the name Cadar Syndrome."
"Cadar Syndrome........." he said faintly. "How is he?" He put his head in his hands and took off his cowl revealing his black hair and ice blue eyes.
"Sir.........," she started; trying to hide her tears, but they came as always. "Sir.........he's.........he's dead."
"No.........," he said his head in his hands. "No........."
"Miss Starfire," Alfred said quietly leading her to a large staircase. "Can we trust you with our secrets?" He looked her straight in the eye.
She nodded slowly.
"Then come on my dear. We'll leave Master Bruce alone for a few moments."
Starfire could see how much Alfred wanted to cry, yet he didn't let one tear fall. She didn't understand why he didn't show how he truly felt. Finally she concluded that he was just unable to cry.
Alfred led her up the stairs and into a rich colored room full of space. They entered through a passage hidden by a bookshelf. It had high ceilings, wooden floors, and a large crystal chandelier and Star could see another large staircase that led to upper rooms. Through the many windows she could tell it was early morning.
He led her up[ the large staircase and to a room with a four poster bed. It was large and had high windows. There was also a chandelier in that room also.
"Here my dear," he said and led her to the bed. "This is where you can stay. You may stay for as long as you would like. I will bring you some clothes for you to change into later but now I'll leave you to rest. We will tell you everything you wish to know later over dinner."
He started to back out of the room but Starfire called him back because she wanted to know something before he left.
"Alfred are you able to cry?"
He chuckled a bit before responding.
"Yes my dear I am able to cry."
"Then why don't you?"
"Well.........it's not proper," Alfred said thinking.
"It's not?"
"It makes me vulnerable.........shows others I'm not as strong as I seem to be........."
"I thought tears were a sign of utmost love and care. Was I wrong?"
"No my dear not wrong. Not wrong at all. If anything you are perfectly right. You're perfectly right........." And at that moment for the first time in many years a tear fell from the warm mans eyes as his loving heart broke.
This story has gone way beyond anything I ever imagined. I want to thank all my reviewers. I think there will only be 2 or 3 more chapters left to this story. Sorry for the long wait. I'm not sure how long it'll be for the next chapter but please review...............hopefully it'll be sooner. RR
Starfire wasn't going back.........she couldn't. There were too many memories back at the Tower. All she wanted to do was think about something else for one moment.........but that wasn't possible.........Robin was her every thought.........her every dream.........Robin was her every moment.
She moved to the large city of Gotham to be alone with her pain. She couldn't stand the sullen atmosphere throughout the Tower. She had to get away so she left.
Gotham was only a few hours away from Jump City but that was far enough for her. She didn't have enough money for an apartment so she lived on the streets. She collected recycled cans to pay for the payphones so she could stay in touch with the rest of the Titans. She didn't care that she didn't have enough money for food. She wasn't hungry anymore.
She slept in a cardboard box in a small dark alleyway and used newspapers for blankets when night came. She didn't know how long she had been away but it seemed like years. Her uniform was tattered and dirty, her hair was tangled, and she had large bags under her eyes.
She was walking into an alleyway a few days after she lefty and was either extremely tired in deep thought because she didn't notice the shadow of a large man enter the alleyway after her. She didn't notice the man pull out a large wooden baseball bat and raise it above her head. She just heard the faint whoosh of the blow being made and a painful hit to the back of her head. Then she fell to the ground unconscious.
Robin was right there, why couldn't she reach him. Every step she took toward him the farther away he became.
"Robin!" she yelled into the darkness, hoping that the game would stop and he would come to her.
"Come on Star!" he yelled back. "Run faster Star!"
Slowly he was fading into the darkness.
"Robin!"
"You were too late," she heard. "To late........."
"Robin!" her eyes opened and she found herself in a strange place. It was dark and there was a creepy kind of quiet surrounding the place. It seemed like a large cave. Yes she had to be.........there were sounds of bats not too far away.
She sat up and looked around. She was lying on a small cot with a blanket covering her. Her head hurt terribly and she felt a large lump on the back.
"Oh good morning my dear," a kind British accented voice said from behind her. She turned to face him. He was an older gentleman with grey hair around the top of a partially balding head. He had a dark mustache and was wearing what looked to be a very expensive tuxedo.
"Hello," Starfire said quietly. "Excuse me sir but may I ask a question about this place? Where am I? This place is not familiar to me and I am very confused."
"Of course Miss........." he waited for her name.
"Starfire."
"Well Miss Starfire you are in the Batcave right now which is the lair of the Batman. If I am not mistaken you worked with a former friend of mine. You probably called him Robin."
She was quiet for a moment and then gave a small nod.
"Robin and I were the best of friends," she said quietly. "How do you know of him Mr........." Now it was her turn to wait for his name.
"You may call me Alfred," he said with a smile. "And as for your question maybe my master could answer it better than I when he returns from his errands."
"Why am I here?" she asked slowly standing trying not to lose her balance.
"Right now you are in the Batcave home of Batman," Alfred said walking over to a table and gesturing her to sit down in one of the chairs. "He saved you and brought you back here instead of the local hospital because we haven't heard from Robin in quite some time and we thought you might be able to tell us about him."
He went rummaging through a small cabinet and pulled out a box of crackers and set them in front of Starfire.
He didn't know about Robin. He didn't know he was dead. He didn't know.........he didn't know............how would she be able to tell him and this Batman character about the death of someone apparently very close to them. She couldn't.........she didn't want to ruin their lives with grief as hers had been ruined. She couldn't destroy their lives like that. But she knew she had to but how? How could she tell them?
Alfred was staring intently at her. She looked absolutely famished yet she made no move to touch the food. She was deep in thought and her appetite would obviously not sway her thinking.
"Eat young mistress," Alfred said politely. "When my master returns we shall eat a full meal together."
"Alfred," she said looking at him pain visible in her eyes. "There is something I know I must tell you."
She was about to tell him but then a large black car drove in through the opening of the cave. Alfred excused himself and walked to the car. Starfire followed distantly; curious about the man in the car. Was he a friend of Robin's too? Did he know of his death?
"Good evening sir." Alfred said as a man stepped out of the vehicle.
He was a tall muscular man wearing a dark costume with a large bat printed on his chest. He had a long black cape and a dark cowl that covered mot of his face. He had a gold tool belt on that was similar to Robin's. His cowl had to points on the top like horns. He was the Batman.
"Sir Miss Starfire has awoken," Alfred said taking Batman's cloak.
"Hello," he said walking toward her his gloved hand extended. His voice was gruff but there was a flit of a smile on his lips. "So your Starfire huh?" he said as she took his hand in a shake.
"Yes sir," she said keeping her eyes on the floor afraid to meet his gaze.
"Robin speaks highly of you. It's nice to finally meet you."
He went over to a large high backed chair and sat down still keeping his eyes on her.
"So how has Robin been? He hasn't been slacking off now has he?"
He didn't know about his death.
"What is this slacking off?" she said looking confused.
"It means being lazy and laid back," he said surprised by the girl's confusing. "You know like giving orders and doing nothing."
"Well if that is slacking off then yes," she said quietly thinking of his last few days. "He had to do this slacking off."
"What do you mean 'had to'?" Batman asked with a strange look on his face.
"Because of his.........illness he could not........."
"His illness?!?" Batman cut her off. "What do you mean 'his illness'?!"
"He was ill for almost a month sir........."
"What? Is he alright? What was wrong with him?"
"He mentioned a disease with the name Cadar Syndrome."
"Cadar Syndrome........." he said faintly. "How is he?" He put his head in his hands and took off his cowl revealing his black hair and ice blue eyes.
"Sir.........," she started; trying to hide her tears, but they came as always. "Sir.........he's.........he's dead."
"No.........," he said his head in his hands. "No........."
"Miss Starfire," Alfred said quietly leading her to a large staircase. "Can we trust you with our secrets?" He looked her straight in the eye.
She nodded slowly.
"Then come on my dear. We'll leave Master Bruce alone for a few moments."
Starfire could see how much Alfred wanted to cry, yet he didn't let one tear fall. She didn't understand why he didn't show how he truly felt. Finally she concluded that he was just unable to cry.
Alfred led her up the stairs and into a rich colored room full of space. They entered through a passage hidden by a bookshelf. It had high ceilings, wooden floors, and a large crystal chandelier and Star could see another large staircase that led to upper rooms. Through the many windows she could tell it was early morning.
He led her up[ the large staircase and to a room with a four poster bed. It was large and had high windows. There was also a chandelier in that room also.
"Here my dear," he said and led her to the bed. "This is where you can stay. You may stay for as long as you would like. I will bring you some clothes for you to change into later but now I'll leave you to rest. We will tell you everything you wish to know later over dinner."
He started to back out of the room but Starfire called him back because she wanted to know something before he left.
"Alfred are you able to cry?"
He chuckled a bit before responding.
"Yes my dear I am able to cry."
"Then why don't you?"
"Well.........it's not proper," Alfred said thinking.
"It's not?"
"It makes me vulnerable.........shows others I'm not as strong as I seem to be........."
"I thought tears were a sign of utmost love and care. Was I wrong?"
"No my dear not wrong. Not wrong at all. If anything you are perfectly right. You're perfectly right........." And at that moment for the first time in many years a tear fell from the warm mans eyes as his loving heart broke.
This story has gone way beyond anything I ever imagined. I want to thank all my reviewers. I think there will only be 2 or 3 more chapters left to this story. Sorry for the long wait. I'm not sure how long it'll be for the next chapter but please review...............hopefully it'll be sooner. RR