Author's Note: Hey guys, I thought I'd be nice and update two days in a row. Amn't I great? Course I am! Did I really need to ask? Lol. Anyway, this was a longer chapter than I expected, and has some very eeny weeny minor fluff in it. Hope you enjoy!

Knife Edge: Part Two

A Teen Titans fanfiction by J.S.Danskin (a.k.a. Invader Jed)

SCENE FIVE –Slade's Headquarters -

Again, the look of total anguish on ROBIN's face is shown, both KNIFE and SLADE's laughter ringing out through the cavern, echoing through ROBIN's head, causing him to screw up his face and move his eyes away, as if expecting to look back and see it will all have been a horrible dream. Of course, it is not so, and ROBIN has to face this. He reaches for STARFIRE's face tentatively, her head still propped up on his knee, but her angry eyes flash and she grabs his wrist with her hand tightly. ROBIN's mouth opens in surprise and he tries to pull his arm free but fails.

ROBIN: Starfire...?

SLADE: That is not Starfire, Robin. I have made her more efficient; flawless...better. More than you could ever offer her.

ROBIN keeps his head down, not facing SLADE, who slowly walks up behind him. ROBIN blinks and stares at STARFIRE.

ROBIN (pleadingly): Star, please...please wake up!

SLADE: Look at what he has lowered himself to, Knife. The great leader of the Teen Titans begging...to a zombie.

KNIFE: Evidently not what he's cracked up to be.

ROBIN: NO!!!

He whirls out his Bo-Staff and slides it along the ground, tripping up KNIFE and causing SLADE to jump backwards expertly. KNIFE picks himself up angrily, glaring and cursing ROBIN. There is tension between them as the two enemies face each other, each of their eyes narrowed.

SLADE: Knife, control your emotions.

KNIFE steps back reluctantly, keeping his eyes steadily fixed on ROBIN. STARFIRE is still staring blankly up at him, and as ROBIN turns back to face her, his head is filled with only one notion.

ROBIN (meaningfully): Starfire, I'm not leaving here without you.

He leans over and kisses her cheek tentatively, half-expecting her to attack him, as this clearly isn't STARFIRE. His lips linger on her face for a second before he pulls back. ROBIN can hear KNIFE's laughter again, and can feel SLADE's eye on him. He ignores them and is shocked as STARFIRE's eyes slowly fade back to normal, and she gasps as STARFIRE returns, her eyes filling with fear and he hand flying to her sore cheek. ROBIN winces at the thought of him hitting her.

ROBIN: ...Star? Are you okay? (he leans forward again and touches her hair)

STARFIRE (whispering): R...Robin?...Robin, I-

ROBIN: Shh, Star...I'm here...

He moves his face down towards hers a fragment, but an agitated voice interrupts him. He moves backwards in surprise.

KNIFE: Impossible(he turns to SLADE) Slade! How do you explain this?

SLADE steps forwards, and ROBIN stands, bringing out his stick again and preparing a defensive stance in front of STARFIRE.

SLADE: Knife! Retrieve the girl!

KNIFE smirks and darts forward. ROBIN's eyes widen and narrow in the same moment, and he blocks three knives thrown at him by KNIFE with his staff, but KNIFE turns invisible. ROBIN looks around in confusion and suddenly cries out as he is picked up and hurled across the cavern, slamming into the wall and causing several rocks to fall on his head.

ROBIN: Unnghh...Starfire!!!

He cries out as KNIFE makes himself visible again, grabbing hold of the Tamaranian, whose eyes have since turned a bright green showing she is once again under SLADE's influence. KNIFE drops her beside SLADE and the three stand side-by-side again before ROBIN, who stands helplessly with his arms swinging by his side.

ROBIN: What do you want, Slade? You've played your game, now release Starfire; your battle is with me.

SLADE: On the contrary, Robin. It is not my battle we are fighting. This is Knife's.

KNIFE steps forward in front of SLADE who sinks back into the shadows to observe. STARFIRE stands slightly behind KNIFE until he motions her forwards.

KNIFE: Dagger, go! Destroy him!

ROBIN gasps as STARFIRE takes to the air, no longer having to hide her identity, and starts barraging him with Starbolts. ROBIN manages to dodge them, but he is still tired from the earlier battle.

ROBIN: Star...Starfire! It's me, it's...gaargh!

He is thrown to the side by a Starbolt hurled just to his left. He picks himself up and faces her.

ROBIN: I won't fight you, Starfire! So, either you destroy me, or you come home. We all miss you so much, Star...especially-

STARFIRE nosedives into an attack, aiming a flying kick at him. ROBIN crouches and rolls forwards, standing and turning clutching his Bo-Staff instinctively before remembering whom he is fighting. His shoulders droop and he tucks away his weapon. He shouts at STARFIRE as he dodges and blocks her attacks.

ROBIN (yelling): Remember how we always laughed together, Star? How we sat on the roof and watched the sunset? That was your favourite thing, Starfire, and...

He jumps up onto a rock ledge, which leads to a small cave which he crouches in. STARFIRE flies up to it and lands. ROBIN sees her legs and bottom part of her torso from his position. She will have to crouch down to get in. ROBIN tenses himself.

ROBIN: You once saved me from, Slade, Star, and if I can't return the favour then I've failed you...I've failed us all...(he pauses) You once said that I was your best friend, Starfire, and I never said that back. I always...I always thought you'd have known.

STARFIRE crouches down, and ROBIN takes a deep breath, shielding his face with his arm. He braces himself for impact.

STARFIRE (puzzled): ...Robin?

ROBIN gasps at the calm, familiar voice and looks up to see her rather confused face staring at him in wonder.

STARFIRE: Robin, I do not think this place is safe. I do not understand...the last thing I remember is you kneeling over me, and after that is nothing...what is happening to me?

ROBIN: I think you've been brainwashed, Starfire. To fight against me, because Slade and Knife know I won't fight back...

STARFIRE crawls further into the hole so their faces are about two inches apart.

STARFIRE: Who is Knife?

ROBIN looks at her in the eye profoundly and moves even closer, beginning to bend his head and close his eyes, until a harsh green light floods the cave and he moves back, stunned. STARFIRE has gone again, ROBIN realises, and DAGGER has returned.

KNIFE: Dagger! Get out here! Bring the boy!

STARFIRE grabs ROBIN by the back of his cape, and he knows he can't fight her, but he does try to escape but her hold is too great. They emerge from the cave and she drops ROBIN onto the cold, hard stone floor. He cries out and he lands successfully, if a little ungracefully. He picks himself up and finds himself face-to-face with SLADE. All of a sudden, ROBIN knows exactly what he has to do.

KNIFE (standing behind SLADE with STARFIRE): Dagger, atta-

SLADE (rationally but firmly): No. Wait.

ROBIN narrows his eyes and KNIFE seems taken aback. ROBIN and SLADE regard each other.

SLADE: You are not fighting me, Robin. What's the matter; too tired to go on, or have you another idea in mind?

ROBIN (unemotionally): The last one.

KNIFE: Slade, remember our deal...(his tone is threatening)

SLADE turns to face KNIFE angrily.

SLADE: You arrogant little...(he calms himself and faces ROBIN again)...forgive my rudeness, Robin. What is it that you wish to offer me?

ROBIN stares SLADE straight in the eye and swallows nervously, before standing up to his full height and appearing proud, his face deadly serious. He glances at STARFIRE and once again his mind is made up.

ROBIN: I offer...myself. In exchange for Starfire's freedom.

KNIFE (in outrage): NO! Slade, don't agree!...Our deal!

KNIFE runs over and tries to talk to SLADE.

KNIFE: Slade, you can't, rememb-aaarggh!

ROBIN looks on as SLADE pushes KNIFE away from him roughly. SLADE's eye studies ROBIN carefully, and the two nemesis' regard each other with an odd kind of respect.

SLADE: Is this your wish, Robin? Her freedom for yours? Is she really worth it?

ROBIN takes a long, long look at STARFIRE and nods.

ROBIN (very seriously): You wouldn't believe how worth it she was.

-SCENE CLOSED-

Author's Note: Shrriieeekkk! I liked writing that! WOOO, mini-fluffiness! Hope it was okay, and that you enjoyed it! What will happen now? Will Slade accept? How will Knife react if he does? OOHHH it's so exciting! Heh. If any of you guess, I will give you a personal hug of love. Okay. Phew, not too many reviews to reply to today

Answers to reviews:

DIWaRIa: Yeah, the look on Robin's face was kinda the effect that I was going for, the main thingy I wanted to portray and all that. WOOOO! I did it, I'm so clever, yay. Anyway, here's the next chapter!

Anwen: Well he was a little slow maybe, and a tad daft, but I wouldn't call him totally thick, that's a bit nasty. (hugs Robin) awwww poor ickle Robbo! I love him. Glad you like it, please review!

Broken-Mask: It's okay, I've updated...on an even BIGGER cliffhanger! I think...I dunno, is this the biggest cliffhanger? (shrugs) Okay, what's been the biggest cliffhanger to you so far, then? I know, I love Beastboy, he's such a dude. I find him funny. Especially in Date With Destiny, when Fang pours goo all over him and he's like "super loogy...pleeuughhh!" and sticks his tongue out; it's so funny! I thought he was crap with Terra; I didn't like her much though. Star and Robin are just meant to be though. Hope you'll review again!

starrobin4eva: Yeah, homework kinda sucks, unless it's on Life of Pi, which is a book that just rocks all other books. WOOO! It's so funky cool! Hope you had an okay day at school, mine was kinda pants, but not so bad as tomorrow cos I have P.E. (throws up). Man I hate P.E. EWWWWW. hope you liked this chapter! What's been your favourite one so far?

ShadowSage2: I was especially proud of the ending, thanks for picking up on it! And Robin only sat on her to stop her beating him up...and then he hit her (sniff). Poor Robin, he regrets it so much. I'm so sorry I made him do that! Yeah poor BB, having to beat up the rock guy by himself, he's such a hoot though isn't he! (blushes at comment bout Apprentice) well, I wouldn't say that, cos Apprentice is such a good episode and this is nowhere near the standards, but thank you anyway. Aftershock 2 is an okay episode, especially cos Terra dies in it...MWAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ahem. Please don't let them bring her back, please! (begs) Can't wait to see the return of Kitten though, or Blackfire! It'll be class!!!! WOOO! Hope you review again, cheerio for now!

Lhaewen: Okay, okay, I've updated, and I am no longer a cheesy person. WOOO! Did you like the fluff? Was it okay? Not too fluffy? Let me know, I have to know the level of fluff!!!!! (dies)

AntimatterManticore: Awwww hunni, just keep writing you get them eventually. Yeah I intended it to be funny, just cos BB is a funny character, and I love using him and his funniness. So I'm glad you found it funny. It's quite an odd mental picture, though, isn't it? Hope you liked this chapter!

Luv u guys!

Jules xxx