Seeing Red

I don't own Teen Titans.

Chapter 9:The truth can hurt

Starfire walked through the door, ignoring the order that BB had yelled out. She was in a staircase that seemed to stretch up many floors. She looked up as the door closed behind her. "I am sorry my friends," she said to herself as she walked to the railing," but Red X is my problem." She wrapped off the top bar of the railing and wrapped it around the handle. She then jammed an exposed part if it into the ground, allowing no access. She then charged up her Starbolts into a beam and fired at the sides of the door, melting the sides into the wall, further sealing it. "I don't care if they can get through. I will bring X down." She said as she started fly up the stairwell.

As she flew, the back of her mind kept telling her that she should have got the team to follow her. After what X had done so far, there was no telling what he had planned for her. But, she blocked this away with one thing on her mind. Why was Red X obsessed with her? He stole a gift for her. Told her that he wanted to protect her. And he did protect her, by killing Aqualad and Speedy. She didn't even have crushes on them like she did anymore, but she didn't even like X. But, he assumes that she does and goes out and kills them. She had to confront him and tell him that she didn't like him. Also, if it came to it, she would have to kill him if he was going to threaten her friends. He had to be stopped.

She reached the top of the stairwell, looking at the door that lay before her. Like the door that Specter had found, it too had a red X across it. But, this X was different. She moved her finger against it, the red coming onto her finger. She put it to her nose and smelled it, but then immediately rubbed it off on the wall. "Blood." She said. To be more precise, his blood. She remembered how he had that red mark across his arm when they broke in to stop him. With a sense of fear in her mind at how insane he could be, she opened the door.

She stepped out onto the roof of the building. The moon was full and clear against the backdrop of the night. On the ground, cars looked like little dots of light as they traveled down the streets. A cool breeze blew through the night, blowing Star's hair behind her. She charged her Starbolts, ready to blow him to straight to hell, but he wasn't there. She thought to herself that it could be a trap. X was probably hiding somewhere, waiting for her to put her guard down, then he would strike, ether kidnapping her or killing her. Of course, he could of escaped, off to kill another, to spill the blood of an innocent in her name. She couldn't allow it. She wouldn't allow it.

She then turned to her right a saw a message on a cooling unit. Unlike the X on the door, it wasn't written in blood. But, the red writing still gave off a feeling of death that ran a chill down Starfire's spine. The message read,

I would give up my own blood for you. Come. Come to me.

Just then, she heard a whistle behind her. She turned to see Red X behind her. His arm was wrapped in a makeshift bandage that stopped the bleeding of his cut. He blew a kiss to her in a smug fashion. When he did that, Star just felt that, deep inside her, she was disgusted by him and wanted to throw up. He then fired a grapple to a higher building that was next to this one. It attached and he reeled himself up to the roof. As he got onto the roof, she flew after him. Ready to stop him once and for all.

She landed on the building on high alert; all set to take on any challenge that would come at her. Just then, something came out of the air and landed at her feet. She picked it up and looked at it. It was a rose. She figured this out after she pricked herself with one of the thorns. She let out a small yell upon feeling the thorn hit her skin. She held the rose as to not harm herself again. It was a normal rose, with the green stem and thorns, but it was different. The petals of the rose were black. The center of the rose was red. "I made that one especially for you. I would have given it to you along with the headpiece, but I thought the best thing to do would be to give it to you personally." Red X said. She looked up from the rose to see X leaning against a wall, his arms crossed against the center.

"Why?" she asked him, her eyes focused on him with both anger and calmness. "Well, you see. You are like a rose," X began," you are beautiful. But, you are deadly if not handled properly. The black and red mix of the rose doesn't symbolize me, yet us. I will protect you, care for you, and love you. All you have to do is join me." "Forget the damn rose!" she yelled, throwing it to her said," That's not what I asked! I asked why you have committed wrongdoings by murdering my team member's allies?!" "Why?" he asked," because. It was all for you. They would of taken you away and then killed you. They were a danger to you and me." "Stop saying that! I don't even like you! You are nothing but a...a...Uertiful Edrutyug! Red X then shook his head in displeasure. He walked over to her. Star readied her Starbolts and prepared to fire, but he didn't attack. He said," Star. Star. Star. You have to tell me your feelings. I know deep down, you want me." He then placed his hand to her check. She saw this and slapped him across the face. He moved back, holding the place he had been hit. "The only person who is in my future is Robin!" "Yes, him," X said," did you wonder why he isn't there? I tricked him with some of my convincing talk. And, let's just say, Robin is taking a very long nap."

Star then charged at him and delivered a swift blow to his head. He got knocked back a few feet by the blow. As he got up from the ground, he said, "That really wasn't necessary." "You tell me where Robin is." Star said. "That does it," he said, "if you wouldn't stop talking about him, I'll just have to make you stop saying his name!" He then threw a few of his throwing stars at her. She fired Starbolts, each one precisely hitting and destroying the bladed weapons. She then charged up a good amount of energy and fired it at X in a huge energy beam. He was knocked back into a wall, his body leaving cracks as it hit. When she ceased, he slowly lifted his head. His suit was cut in most places, some of it hanging on as if for dear life. She then saw hints of red on his exposed flesh. She had seen that before, but it couldn't be. "What...?" she began, but cried out as one of X's throwing weapons cut the side of her arm. She grabbed where she had been injured, still staring straight at X. "I'll make sure you never speak of that bastard!" X yelled as he readied another throwing weapon. Star saw this and retaliated by firing Starbolts from her eyes. Upon hitting X, an explosion occurred, sending out a cloud of smoke from where he originally stood. She walked over to see if X was either dead or incredibly injured. In the back of her mind, for some reason, she wanted him dead. She knew she shouldn't think of this, but for everything he had done, all of the people he had killed or harmed, she just wanted him on the ground, dead and done with.

Just then, rushing out of the smoke, X lunged at her, knife in hand and all set to assault her. In the moment that was to come, everything just seemed to slow down. Star ducked under the raised arm, the knife moving a few inches from her head. She then brought her hand up, catching him right in the neck. Her hand then, by accident or by chance, grabbed the line of his mask and gripped there. As the two moved away from each other, X's mask came off of his face in a jerk, the clothing ripping off his face. As soon as Star stopped, She looked down at the torn mask that lay in her hand. "She turned to X, whose back was turned to her. "Show your face to me," Star said," so I my lay eyes upon the one who have done these wrong doings. Show me, you coward." You shouldn't have done that. I have to say the truth does hurt." X said as he slowly turned his head. His face was now clearly seen by Starfire in the moonlight. She then dropped the mask, her eyes wide in shock as the mysterious was finally revealed to be...

"Robin?!" She yelled in both confusion and surprise. She continued to stare at the person who had been unmasked. And there he was, with his black hair and mask, Robin. She dropped the mask she had ripped off and placed her hands to her head, her eyes starting to water up with tears. She didn't want to believe it was him, but there he was. It couldn't be Robin. Robin, the hero. Robin, the one who would always fight for the good of people. Robin, the one who loved her as she did and would stay together from now until the end of time. But here he was, wearing Red X's costume and holding a knife in his hand, ready to murder her. "No." she said under her breath in a voice filled with sadness.

Robin, or X, seeing this as a chance to strike, fired an X from his palm. It shot out and wrapped around Starfire. She flew against a wall and was pinned there. Just then, she looked up and her vision was darkened. Robin had fired another X at her, this one covering her eyes. "I always learn from my mistakes." Robin said, but it wasn't voice. Star picked this up with her ears. She knew this wasn't Robin's voice. No, this was Red X talking. But why? "Robin, stop," she said," something is wrong. I can help you." "You have done enough," Robin said, "I showed you love, but you throw it out. If you wouldn't confess your love for me, then I say its about time I help!" He then raised the knife, preparing to stab Star straight through the heart.

Star held her breath, knowing what was coming. She waited for the knife to make contact, to pass through her skin, to pierce her heart. And yet, it didn't come. She waited a few seconds, but the feel of sharpened steel didn't come. Had the device that covered her eyes wasn't there, she would of seen what was occurring. Just as the hand that held the knife came down, it stopped only a few inches from Starfire's chest. The gaze on Robin's face suddenly went from a look of hatred and rage soon began to fade. His eyes moved in a way as though he was trying to recollect himself. "What...What happened?" he then looked at his clothes, the knife in his hand, and then at Star. He became horrified as he looked at Star, bond and cut by weapons only X would use. And now, as he looked at the knife that lay in his hand, his mind was now swimming with the idea that he was going to kill her, the one she loved. The knife slid from his hand and dropped to the ground as he fell to the ground on his knees. His head hung over the ground, as he said, "No. This isn't happening. I would never something like this. What is happening to me?"

Just then, a voice from his side said," Finish it, Robin." Robin turned his head to see Red X standing there, looking at straight at him. "What is all this?" Robin asked as he got to his feet. "She has not showed her affections to me. She only likes Robin and only Robin. Its time she goes. Like they say, 'There are other fish in the sea.' "This is sick, but know I know what you want. The tattoo on my chest. While I was sleeping, you put it on my chest. IT then became some sort of mind control. This lead to my return to the life of Red X and a path of death." "Robin," Star asked as she was still being confined," who are you talking to?" "I'm talking to X. And now, I'm going to kill him." "But Robin. I only hear you're voice."

Robin's eyes widened in shock when Star said that. "What?" he asked. "She's perceptive. That's one of the reasons I like about here." "Shut up!" Robin said," I think I got it figured out. It's just like the chemicals that made me see Slade. They must have resided when I saw the belt." X then started to circle Robin, shaking his head. "Poor, poor Robin," he began," you know, I better just end the mystery right now. Robin, there are no mind control devices, no chemicals, no super villain revenge plans, nothing. It's just you and me." "I don't get it." Robin said. "I knew you wouldn't," X said," you see, I was created when you made the super villain half of you to hunt down Slade. But, you foolishly decided to seal me away. For years, I wasted away in the back of your mind, rotting. But, there was one thing we had in common. Her. Starfire was the one thing keeping me from going away. When you confessed your feelings to her, I got lose. You wanted her to be protected, but I decided to do something a little better. I eliminated those who posed a threat to her. I thought see would see the good in my work, ignore the side of you that was Robin and chose the side of X. I would then become you and you would be gone. But, she resented me and still chose you."

"It's all becoming clear," Robin said," this isn't a plot. The murders. The tattoo it's just that side of me I wanted to banish. The side of me that I never wanted to bring out again. Its finally is returning." 'That's right," X said," Now, finish Starfire off. And then, I can be in control." "No," Robin said as he picked up the knife that lay by his side, "I will not allow you to make me harm my friends and especially her. Now, its time I end this." With that, Robin plunged the knife into his chest, right where the tattoo was. "No!" X yelled as blood started to flow from where the knife was. Robin fell to the ground on his side; his face cringed with pain. He then turned his side and looked to where X stood. He smiled and said," Look's like you've meet your end, X" "X looked down at his chest. Blood was flowing from it as well, but at a much faster pace. "Damn you." X muttered. For these were his last words as he fell to the ground. His body then remained motionless as it started to disappear from Robin's vision. When the body was gone, all that remained where the eyes. The eyes then narrowed in a look of hatred, and then soon disappeared from site. "Go to hell." Robin said as he too, closed his eyes and his body became rigid.

Star, completely unaware of what happened, felt the X that binded here start to loosen. She got it off her and body and she stood up. As she removed the X that blinded her, she gasped as she saw Robin on the ground; the knife plunged into him. She ran over to him and dropped to her knees. Her eyes started to water as he ran her hand through his hair. "Robin," she said, her voice full of sadness," please don't go. You have to stay." She then started to cry; her tears falling onto the Red X costume that Robin was wearing. Just then, he coughed. She looked at his face as his eyes opened and he said," Don't be crying for my death just yet. "Robin!" Star cried as she kissed him. As she broke away, she asked, "but how?" "The thing is," Robin began," I tricked him. While I did impale myself and I am bleeding, I tricked my body into thinking it was dead. With the body gone, Red X couldn't exist. So now, he is gone. That is that matters." "Its good to have you back." "But now Star," Robin said," I don't think we should be together." "What?" she asked. "I have killed two of our allies," Robin began," I have threatened our friends. But most of all, I tried to kill you. I don't deserve any sort of kindness from you." "Don't' say that Robin," Star said," The person doing all of those wrongdoings, that wasn't you. That was Red X. You beat him. You managed to finally put to rest the evil that has resided inside of you." "Just then, they heard talking coming near the building and slowly approaching. "They're coming back," Robin said," I hope they'll forgive me." "Robin," Star said," you shouldn't dwell on the sins that you didn't commit in your name. They will forgive you."

That ends it. My next FF will be up soon. Later!