I. Am. Back. Prepare to watch Red cry! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Red-Handed

Robin wants revenge. And, by golly, he's going to get it! Hehe.

Rated PG.

Disclaimer: I only own Red. STEAL HIM AND YOU SHALL PAY!!! No, seriously, I'll hunt you down like a dog and… uhm… never mind…

Red-Handed

Now that Starfire knew Robin was there with her, she had stopped crying. Her friends worried about her sudden recovery, but she insisted that she was fine. Beast Boy had caught her talking to Robin, and mistook it for her talking to herself. He made Raven and Cyborg once-over her to make sure he hadn't gone insane.

Personally, Robin found it utterly hilarious.

"Robin, what are you going to do about Red?" Starfire asked, rocking back and forth on the bed and gripping her toes. She looked like a small child, sitting cross-legged and shifting around unceasingly.

"I don't know," Robin said thoughtfully, watching her with interest.

"You have not thought of it?" she asked, surprised.

"Oh, of course I have," Robin said suddenly, his voice dripping with venom and hatred. He blinked, and sucked back all of the darkness in his tone. "I just haven't thought of anything good."

Starfire smiled at him. "Well, then, I'll help you. But… Robin, why can I not see you? I have read that some ghosts can take human from. Why can you not?"

Robin blinked. "Uh… I don't know," he admitted. "Hold on. Let me try." He closed his eyes tight and concentrated. He channeled all of his energy, wishing all of his soul to become human. He suddenly felt very peaceful, in control, powerful…

Starfire gasped.

Robin's eyes snapped open, but he kept himself tensed and concentrated. He looked at her through narrowed, focused eyes. "Can you see me?"

She nodded, eyes wide. "But you are see-through," she whispered. "Oh my goodness." She reached out and touched his chest. Robin flickered, and then he was gone. Her hand went through him. She shivered and pulled back. Her eyes darted across where Robin's face would have been.

"I'm still here," Robin said breathlessly, hearing her unspoken question. "That takes a lot of energy… and I didn't do it all the way either." He paused. "Maybe I can… hold on…" He concentrated again, but quite as hard.

"Robin?" Starfire asked carefully.

"Yes?" he asked, not opening his eyes.

"I can see you. But not well. You are just a see-through… something…"

"I know," Robin said, opening his eyes. After a while, the feeling became like a second nature, and he could remain this way until he wished to stop. He stood up and looked down at his silvery, semi-transparent hands. He vanished and reappeared with ease.

"Robin, you are but a silver outline," Starfire whispered.

"I know," he repeated. "A drawing without the color. Just the lines. It's called 'intangible.'" He looked down at himself. "I'm solid, you can see me. Come here, I'll show you."

"How do you know all of this?" she whispered, walking up and taking his shining hand.

"It just came naturally, after dying, I suppose," Robin said, shrugging. He closed his hand over hers, and she could see her own hand floating on a hand-shaped silver cloud. "That's weird," he commented. He looked at her through his semi-transparent eyes. "I can feel you."

Starfire smiled.

"Ever see the movie 'Casper the Friendly Ghost?'" Robin asked, wrapping an arm around her waist.

She nodded.

"Not the cartoon one?"

She nodded again.

"I look like the Boo Brothers," Robin said. "I look like Casper. I look like the evil lady. I look like the girl's dad. Right?"

She looked thoughtful, then she nodded. "You do."

Robin grinned. Very slowly, he slipped out of her grasp. Or rather, he phased through it. "I just got a great idea."

And he vanished.

Starfire smiled. "Good luck."

"Thanks."


Robin floated soundlessly through the hall, turning off his 'intangible' state for the moment. He found Red's room easily (it used to be Terra's) and he took a look around. There were posters covering every inch of the room.

Perfect.

Robin dug around in the supply closet until he found what he was looking for. He dragged the large bucket of red paint down the hall, and into Red's room. He dipped his hands into the paint, and began smearing all over the posters on the ceiling and walls. Crude letters began to take form, ones that were only slightly legible. When Robin was finished, he washed his hands and put the bucket of paint back where he had found it. Then Robin had fun rearranging things, breaking things, and messing up the bed. He ripped down the posters he didn't paint on, and tore them up then threw them like confetti all around the room.

He grinned at his work, then hovered in the corner to wait for Red's return.

When Red did get back, there was a healthy thunderstorm brewing outside. The door opened in time to a loud clap of thunder and Red stumbled into the room. He turned on the light and shook back a mop of wet hair. His eyes widened.

"What happened to my room!?" he cried, the door closing behind him.

Robin silently glided past and half-phased into the wall. He disconnected the lights. The room went dark. Robin ignored Red's whimpering as he floated back to the bed. Lighting zigzagged out the window, lighting up the room.

Red took the time to read the message painted on the posters. His eyes widened.

"No," he breathed.

"That's right, Red," Robin said darkly. He became intangible, smirking. His ghostly light lit up the room like a lone flame. "I'm back."

Red sank to the floor, mouth open.

"I'm back, Red," repeated Robin, slowly floating up to the teenager kneeling on the floor. Thunder rumbled loud and deep outside. "Thought you could get rid of me, didn't you? Thought that once I left my body, I'd be gone forever?"

"I-I…" stammered Red.

"No, no," Robin sighed. His eerie light reflected in Red's fearful black eyes. "It's too late to apologize, Red." Robin touched the floor and stepped up to Red, grinning evilly. He grabbed Red by the collar and heaved him to his feet. "You watched me die, Red. You watched me die." His voice became louder to drown out Red's whimpering. Their noses were mere inches apart. "You watched me die, and you knew how to stop it. Didn't you?"

Red squeaked, his eyes bulging. "Y-You… you're…"

"A ghost? You bet." Robin grinned, giving Red a little shove. "And you know what that means, don't you? You can't hurt me anymore. I can't die." He tilted back his head and laughed. "I'm invincible!" Robin was lying, he knew, but he wanted to scare Red as much as he could.

Red looked faint. He sank to his knees. He shook with horror, and tears of fear and panic ran down his cheeks.

"So, Red, tell me," Robin said softly, bending down to look Red right in the eye. "Why did you do it?"

Robin took a deep breath, and screamed. Long and loud, piercing through the rumbling thunder like a banshee's cry.

Robin grinned.

Red jumped to his feet and stumbled out the door. Shouting indecipherably, he raced down the hall and out of sight.

Robin put his hands on his hips, grinning at where Red had disappeared. He saluted. "Take your time, Red," he said. "I've got all the time in the world."


"You DID!?" Starfire squealed in delight, clasping her hands together. "Marvelous! How clever, Robin!"

Robin smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I heard him scream," Starfire told him. "I knew it was you."

Robin nodded. "It was fun."

They talked a while about nothing until Starfire brought up Robin's prank again. "Robin, did he tell you why?"

Robin shook his head. "No. I wish he would have. I'll just have to chase him until I find out."

"Do it now," Starfire whispered, a note of dangerous glee in her voice.

Robin shrugged. "Alright then." He disappeared.

"Robin?"

"Yeah?"

"I want to see him in jail."

"You got it."


Robin drifted down the hall, listening for Red. Red wasn't in his room, or in the bathroom, so Robin checked the living room. He wasn't there either. Robin, puzzled, decided that Red must be outside. He wasn't even on the roof. Amazed, Robin drifted down to Starfire's room, just to have a look. After all, if Red couldn't be found Robin should at least have SOME fun.

He phased through the door and bit back a shout. Red sat on Starfire's bed, rummaging around through her many things.

"Red, what a pleasant surprise meeting you here," Robin said, becoming visible and dropping to the floor. He folded his arms, smirking.

"You!" Red stammered breathlessly. "I-I thought I was hallucinating that night! You can't be real! I killed you! I killed you! You died! I saw it!"

"True," Robin granted, "you did kill me. And you did watch me die. But Red, I'm not gone. I'm not ready to go. I've got a few things left to do. And one of those things, Red, is to see that you pay."

Red leapt off the bed and hit the floor with a thud. He scrambled for the door but Robin blocked his way. Red gave a horrified gasp and crab-walked backwards until he hit the bed. He stared up at Robin's outline with utter fear in his wide eyes.

"W-What do you w-want with m-me?" he squeaked.

"I told you. I want answers. I want you to pay."

"Anything! Anything! Just… just stay away!"

Robin slowly stepped back, narrowing his eyes. "Well, Red. Now that I have your cooperation, I would like to ask you a few questions." He smirked.

"What?"

Robin decided to play around before he got the real answer he wanted. "Where'd you get your powers?"

"I-I don't know. I got them w-when I was a little k-kid."

"Have you been using them against the Titans, Red? Have you been lying to the team?"

"Y-Yes. Yes I have."

"Who with?"

"Slade. I-I've b-been working for Slade."

"Interesting." Robin grinned at him. "And WHY did you have a fight with Starfire the morning you killed me? What did she say that got you so wound up?"

Red shook his head. "I-I… can't…"

"I can make your life so miserable you'll wish you were never born," Robin snapped. "Tell me."

"S-She…" He stopped, sighing. "I asked her out, she said no."

"Is that all?"

"No."

"Well then, tell me the rest."

"She s-said she wouldn't go because… because he loved YOU," he spat. "And I know you love her too. Don't you? DON'T YOU!?"

Robin blinked, his mouth opening slightly. He knew Red wasn't lying to him, but if Red was telling the truth then… that meant Starfire HAD admitted to actually loving him. The feeling made him suddenly feel very light-headed indeed. "Oh."

"Answer me!" Red shouted, his voice holding a note of pleading. "I need to know! I need to know!"

"Yes," Robin said suddenly, looking right at Red. "I do. One last question Red, then you'll hand yourself over to the police, understand?"

Red nodded.

"Why did you kill me? Why… would you poison me? What did I ever do to you?"

Red rubbed his eyes, looking suddenly very weary. "The same reason I fought with Starfire. You took her from me, and you… you were too BLIND to do anything about it! You didn't deserve her! She deserved someone better! And she would have, had you not been so STUPID! I could have had what I wanted, what I needed! But you were there, polluting her thoughts. So I decided to get rid of you… once and for all."

"But you didn't," Robin pointed out.

"No, I didn't."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Red. Turn yourself in."

"No… no. I'll do better than that." Red stood up, and pulled a thin vile from his pocket. He held it up.

"Is that the poison?" Robin asked, eying it warily.

Red nodded. Deliberately, he popped open the cap.

"Don't," Robin said firmly.

Red narrowed his eyes, slowly bringing up the vile.

"DON'T!" Robin shouted. He moved forward and, in one swift motion, swatted the vile from his hand. It hit the floor with a thunk, and, with the sickening sound of braking glass, it shattered. The greenish liquid seeped across the carpet. "Starfire wants you in jail," Robin hissed, staring right into Red's eyes. "If you love her enough to kill me, you'd better do what she wants."

Red gulped, shaking, and nodded. Carefully, he picked up the receiver and began to dial…


Author's Notes: Meh. I'm not too pleased with this chapter, but I still like it. This IS NOT the end, so keep watching. It's not the end until either Robin "passes on" or he comes back to life. Personally, I wigged out writing this. So… uhm… please review? O.O