Chapter Nineteen-The Power of Love

Robin searches for her with no luck. But with a lucky guess he might just find her-and another surprise...

I walked around town. To where, I don't know. Just wherever my feet took me, in which was a back ally. It was a cold and dark night, the streets swarmed with happy faces and laughter. The sounds were delighting, yet so horrifying. I have not heard them in a while thanks to Slade. I wanted to be alone. Crazed fans swarmed around me in the streets wanting autographs and photos, but I wanted to be alone.

Alone. That was the last thing I wanted years ago. Starfire was gone, and there was nothing I could do for her. Now it was all I wanted.

My heart was broken, and my soul shattered. I could not be healed by Raven's powers, or medicine. The only medicine that would heal me was Starfire. I familiar voice cornered me in the ally. "Hey, Robin. What'sup? Didn't expect to hear from me so soon, didja?" it asked. I turned. I looked up...I found myself face-to-face with an old friend. Blackfire. "B...Blackfire? Uh-heh heh-no hard feelings about last time...right?" I asked hoping the answer was no. "No, not really. I came here to apologize to Starfire. Where is she?"

I couldn't answer. She traveled all this way for nothing. I shrugged. "Don't know. She left." That was as simple as I could say it without crying. "She...left? To where?" Blackfire asked. Nowhere, I thought. "I thought she went back to Tamari." Blackfire flew away, giving me a simple nod. I left the back ally.

"Where is Robin?" Raven asked, seeing nothing in my bed or in the main room. Well, besides Beast Boy and Cyborg fighting over video games. "'Said he was going for a walk. 'Should be back in a few," Beast Boy said looking at her. Lightning lit up her shaded face, Thunder filled her ears with a roaring boom. Rain patted the towers roof with its fingers. Terra came in seconds later, drenched in water.

Several minutes they waited. I never showed up. "He left. He left us," Raven said looking at the time. "He'll be back," Cyborg said, turning back to his video games.

The pole fell with a clink to the ground, Starfire moving from its path. She rolled into his trap, a corner. Slade hurled another blow with his pole. He was pushed before it landed to her head. Slade rolled to the ground, Robin on top. No, not Robin. Me. Her hero, her friend, her brother-so it felt. I rose above him. "Nice try, Slade. But it has to end, now," I said.

We fought. I didn't want to, but if he was calling, I was ready to fight to the death. He was as well. I was strong, only to honor his training, but he was still much stronger than I. My head submerged in crimson oatmeal, chunked with skin. My arms sheltered in agony. My legs dripping with fear. He was not scratched. Starfire sat in confusion and horror at the gory sight of me. Fright filled her. And also me.

I then realized the one way to defeat Slade. I backed away, careful to step in front of the gyrating gears. He charged. I moved, striking my hand on his shoulder. Flame engulfed the matched. Slade turned. I injected the glow of death into his skin. He caught fire. I seized Starfire into my arms, running as fast as I could for life. I was weak. I stumbled several times, each time hurting even more. I fell once more. I was unable to rise from the floor. Flames consumed me as the world went dark.

I could feel the heat and Starfire's tears as she made an attempt to carry me. The heat suddenly cooled. "Robin? Robin?" I heard a voice repeat. I opened my eyes. A building sank below us in an ocean of flames. I looked into her eyes, she returned my gaze. I felt our lips touch for a second. Love. Love had saved us. "Why did you leave, Starfire?" I asked. "I...was afraid, Robin. You have told me many times to never give up the hope. I had. I could not face you with the truth, Robin. I doubted you. I am sorry, Robin, I am a bad friend!" She began to weep. "I did what was best, Star. For you, for the Titans."

The pain was unbearable. Not just physically, but mentally as well. Rain clattered on our bodies as we helped each other walk. We arrived at Titan's Tower. We walked in, drenched with rain and blood. Raven rushed me to the med.-lab. "Where was Starfire?" Raven asked as she bandaged my cuts. "With Slade," I answered simply. "Where is Slade?" she asked back. "Dead...I set him on fire, and he burned to bits," I responded. She finished without a word. She walked to the door. "Can Starfire come in here a minute? There is something I need to tell her," I asked. Raven nodded.

"You...wanted me?" she asked. I found this interesting. Way back when, I asked her the same question. The last question I asked her, was that. "Yeah...I saw Blackfire today. She-" "Blackfire? She has escaped?!" Starfire shouted. "No. She wanted to apologize to you. About...last time..." Starfire was speechless. I couldn't blame her.

Love saved her life more than once. Love saved my life...from myself.

author's note: :) this was HAPPY!!!!!!!! YAY! Nother one ASAP!

Niobe