Title: Hey Jealousy

Author: Blair Lebeau, SocialButterfli

Summary: When a stranger named Derek appears at the door of Titans Tower seeking refuge, it leads to friendship, romance, and not to mention trouble. It seems to follow Derek everywhere he goes, and when he gets the Teen Titans sucked into it, Robin begins to believe that maybe Derek isn't what he seems. Is Robin onto something, or is it just the result of a little thing called jealousy? RobStar BBRae

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, which you already knew, but I can't afford to be sued so I'll just say it anyway.

Chapter 16 – Final Triumph

"He's not coming out of it," Raven said with great sadness as the four Titans watched their leader open his eyes and look around blindly. He was in pain, that was no secret, and he was dying a death too horrible to imagine.

"No," Starfire said, realizing what this meant. "No! Robin cannot die! No! He is our friend and we must help him!" Before anyone could stop her, Starfire tried to enter the burning energy surrounding the one she loved. She was blasted backwards and landed just short of next to Derek. The Titans gasped as Derek lifted his weary head and gazed at the crumpled girl in front of him. His tired face slowly began to twist into a smile.

"Boy Wonder couldn't overcome it, huh?" he asked, breathing hard. "Who would have thought that of all five of you he would be the weakest? It's sad, really." Derek had more to say, but had to pause to catch his breath. The unexpected attack fueled by the fury of the four Titans had taken a heavy toll on him. In that split second, someone could've, should've, attacked him. But no one did. It was strange; there was no exact reason for it. Perhaps they were tired of fighting, or they were too sad, or they were too busy paying attention to Robin, or they wanted to hear the rest of what Derek had to say. Either way, no one moved or said a word.

"Oh, come on, Titans, you're not being fun," Derek wheezed. "Don't look so down, all hope isn't lost. With Robin gone, you'll need a new leader, and I think I'm perfect for the job, don't you?" The fallen Starfire rose at these words, eyes flashing with a green so bright it could blind you.

"You could never measure up to Robin," she spat out with strong animosity. "He is better than you could ever hope to be." Angered by the words, Derek rose also.

"You stupid girl," he snarled. "I'll show you how much stronger I am." Derek reached out and grabbed Starfire by the throat, lifting her into the air. Starfire gasped as her air supply was cut off. "You chose him over me. Wrong choice. Now you'll pay."

"Starfire!" Cyborg called out. "Guys, we gotta help her!"

"No!" Derek shouted, and thrust his free hand out towards the three remaining Titans. An unseen force flung them back into the wall where they fell to the ground. Cyborg was unable to get up, but Raven and Beast Boy stood up shakily.

"Let her go," Raven said, but Derek could hear the weakness in her voice and forced his hand towards her. She staggered and fell, but Beast Boy caught her.

"Stop this," he cried out desperately. In his arms, Raven was still, her eyes closed. "Raven, please, wake up. Raven...." Beast Boy began to shake, tears unwillingly forming behind his eyes. Derek drove his hand forward once more and Beast Boy fell to his knees, losing consciousness. He was the only one left who could do anything. Robin was dying, powerless to his weakness, Starfire was also dying in Derek's grip, and Raven and Cyborg were both out cold. He tried to stay awake for all of them, but he could feel himself slipping away, until he fell backwards, comatose, Raven still in his arms.

Derek's laughter was shrill and maniacal as he watched the Titans fall. Starfire's breath was shallow, and Derek brought her down to eye level.

"You made a mistake rejecting me," he growled. "I could have found a place for you in our plans. But you chose to die with your Boy Wonder instead of to live and thrive with me. What kind of choice was that?"

"The best one," she choked out, and Derek tightened his grip, infuriated by her words. Even threatened with death she would not back down from her true love for Robin. Well, soon she would be dead, as would the rest of the Titans, and Derek would be left with the satisfaction of being stronger as an individual than the strongest team around.

It had been over from the second he walked in the door.

"Good night, Angel," he whispered in her ear.

Robin could feel death coming upon him. He looked at Starfire, wanting his last memory to be of her. He realized, now, that is was not a dream; his friends had risen above their greatest weakness. It wasn't that surprising, really. Robin never knew why he was the leader anyway. He had no special power. He just had his physical strength. But his teammates had mental strength he could never even hope to possess. Of course they could overcome it. They could overcome anything. They were his team. He, however, was weak.

He smiled as Starfire reached out towards him. He wanted to take her hands and pull her to him and just hold her forever. But he cried out in unheard anguish as she was blasted backward. She was hurt trying to help him. Robin wished death would just take him completely and get it over with. It was agony letting it just eat away at him. This really was the worst kind of death possible. But there was no alternative for him. It was too late, and Robin wouldn't have it any other way. He didn't deserve to live. Though he did wish for Starfire and the rest of his friends to be alright.

Though Robin was drained, he could still summon anger when Derek recovered and started speaking. He couldn't hear what he was saying, but he knew nothing coming from that jerk's mouth could be good. A spark of happiness filled him when Starfire rose, but suddenly Derek's hand snaked out and grabbed her around the throat. A rage and hatred so passionate filled Robin that his energy was completely restored. As Derek brought down his other friends, Robin only grew stronger. And as Derek brought Starfire towards him, still cutting off her air and life, Robin found the power inside him to break through his weakness. He was not a failure if he could save his love's life. And he would save her.

"Get away from her." In a second, Derek was down on the floor, and Starfire was in Robin's arms, gasping for the air that had been denied her for too long. Kissing her on the forehead, he set her down on the ground next to Cyborg, and turned around to face Derek who was getting back up. Robin whipped out his Bo staff, prepared for the fight of a lifetime. He had never even hated Slade this much. There was no way Derek could live through Robin's attack fueled by such loathing. And Robin was going to make sure that Derek died in the most painful way possible. Derek knew this. And Derek knew the only way to escape such pain was to destroy himself in a fashion similar to Raven's total shut down.

"Drigon, take me back!" Derek shouted out to his father. "Back to whence I came....destroy me! AZERATH!" In a flash of light that sent Robin flying backwards, Derek was engulfed and slowly erased from existence. There was no explosion, no pain, just a simple ceasing to be. Derek had chosen his own weakness to kill him rather than die by Robin's fury. Yet it was painless because of the simple fact that his weakness was weakness. But the details really didn't matter. All that mattered was....

Derek was gone.

YAY!!!! FINALLY!!!! I wanted to have him die painfully, but it wouldn't have been nearly as quick, and if it wasn't quick, Robin would have torn Derek apart limb from limb. Not that he didn't deserve it or anything, I'm just not to fond of describing such graphic violence. That would not have been pretty. Hooray!

ANYWAYS, did you guys see last night's way too cool episode? RAVEN HUGGED BEAST BOY!!! RAVEN HUGGED BEAST BOY!!! OMG RAVEN HUGGED BEAST BOY!!! SHE HUGGED HIM SHE HUGGED HIM SHE HUGGED HIM!!! And, um, wow, stank ball? Creative. V. creative.

Sneak Peak: Robin and Starfire finally get their fluffy moment

Blair