Chapter Seven

Some call loneliness a phase; something that will come and go with time. But time is most always misunderstood, for it ticks longer, moves slower, and never ends in a state other than pity. Time is a deathtrap in which all have become victims to. And that's just the way things are.

Robin left the morning following Gabe's first birthday and he took the little Cricket with him. Beast Boy was completely aware of his reasons, but kept his mouth shut to Starfire, who continuously convinced herself into believing that no matter what would or could happen, Robin would return. One day, he would return. But things weren't looking good for that prediction after a few months had somehow slipped past them, way out of all reach. And it became clearer to her by the six month point that he was gone for good. But she just didn't want to admit it and no one could force it out of her, not that Beast Boy would really try. And although Beast Boy could never be too sure about what was going on in that mind of hers, Beast Boy often wondered if she'd already proclaimed Robin dead to herself. But she knew how unpredictable Robin could be. He could show up at any minute...And then again, he never did.

When Beast Boy first discovered the note from Robin, tucked neatly beneath his bedroom door, and then read it aloud to himself, and then in the quiet of his mind for a second, he wondered if maybe Starfire would be better off thinking Robin was dead. But over time, things just worsened. Starfire became depressed and lonely and cried. She cried every night and sometimes she cried for days, and she often prayed, for Robin, and for Gabriel. And nothing ever got any better. From days to weeks, the weeks turned into months, faster than time itself could state. And those months collided to form a year and they continued moving. And by then, Beast Boy wanted her to know the truth. But he couldn't tell her. For some odd reason, he just felt he shouldn't. But the Starfire he used to know was now buried in heavy dunes beneath the awful grip of time. And as Beast Boy spoke nothing of Robin's intentions, Beast Boy wondered if he'd actually expected him to show the note to Starfire. But with a match in hand, Beast Boy did not, and he rid the world of any evidence at all that Robin even had his reasons. They were locked forever in ashes.

There was something after Gabriel. And that's why Robin left. Not because he'd had enough or because he was on a chase or because he wanted something more. It was to protect Starfire. In some way, it was to protect Starfire. And as Gabriel had awoken, morning after morning, scratches and bruises and all sorts of unexplainable marks all over him, Robin's fears had deepened, and his courage had also strengthened, and so he left. As far as Robin was concerned, whatever was after Gabriel was getting way too close to Starfire. And so if something was out there, it would have to go through Robin. And Starfire would not be in the way.

But after a long while, Beast Boy began to wonder. Was a little longer than a year not even the tiniest bit harsh on Starfire? Beast Boy thought that even Robin himself must have been suffering. But by now would this thing not have been discovered? Or would it not be time to at least send a letter or ask for a talk between Beast Boy and Starfire? But robin did nothing, and probably didn't even consider them, for what Beast Boy believed. Beast Boy wondered what was going on with Robin, right at that moment. But of course, there were some things that didn't even reach his mind.

A little boy searched the kitchen drawers quickly. He shoved aside all sorts of kitchen supplies and utensils. He found no interest in the spoons and forks and can opener that was stuck to the bottom of the drawer with some sticky yellow goo, which was probably previously stuck there by himself. He grabbed a cheese grater, studied it carefully and threw it over his shoulder, letting it slam into the wall and fall to the tiled floor with a hard metal clank. Leaving the drawer open so far that it was on the verge of falling out, he stumbled clumsily across the room where he found a wooden stool in the corner. He pushed and pulled at it until reaching the kitchen counter, where he then brought a broom and climbed atop the stool with it. One hand gripping the stool seat, and the other on the broom's bristles, he pushed the plastic handle against a cabinet door until it swung open and hit into the wall with a bang. He dropped the broom and swung himself onto the counter. From the middle shelf, the boy pulled out a silver blender. He brought it down to the floor and stuck his little hand in it, pulling the blade out with a loud crack. The sharp blade snapped out quickly and sliced into the blender's glass bucket, shattering it to pieces. The boy disregarded the glass shards and suddenly the kitchen door swung open.

"Gabriel, wha-"

"Hah, Doddy..." the child said excitedly.

"Gabriel?! Gabriel..."

The boy moved closer, blender blade raised in his bony little hand, a wicked grin stretched across his face, his lips cracked and dry and small scratches from his forehead to his cheek were all too noticeable. He moved closer. And closer.

"Night, Dah."

Beast Boy lay alone in his room, staring up at the ceiling from his bed, letting his eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. And for the first time in so long, he heard it. That laugh. That twisted, psychotic laugh that seemed to take the tone of a child. And at that moment, it seemed not only in his head, as it seemed so close, so meaningful all of the sudden. And he then heard strong, rapid knocking at his door.

"Come in..." he said, sort of surprised at the uneasiness in his voice, the way it seemed so unnecessarily shaky. And the door burst open.

"Beast Boy!" Starfire gasped, no doubt out of breath from hurrying to his room. "Beast Boy, we must find Robin!"

Beast Boy sat up. A wave of guilt swept over him. Starfire ran to him, her face ghostly white except for the red rings around her eyes from trying to fight back the urge to cry. Knees bent and leaning forward awkwardly, she looked as though she was going to collapse, and perhaps she was.

"Star, what's the matter?" And that was probably the worst question to ask at the moment, and of course he just had to ask it, didn't he?

Starfire broke into tears and she tried to swallow it down but could do nothing over them and she choked on them and Beast Boy stood and brought her into such a tight embrace that her face had become temporarily purple.

"Beast Boy..." she whispered, forcing the words out through her sobs.

The two ran down to the living room, Beast Boy following Starfire, trying the best he could to keep up with her and suddenly, something strange and unexplainable came over him. The closer they got to the living room, the stronger the feeling became and something was just terribly wrong. And then he stopped. In the middle of the living room, he stopped and stood as still as possible, like an all too realistic wax figure, and now he stared at Starfire and grinned. That same evil grin that Gabriel had on as the doors suddenly burst open and he stood there, a mad, shadowy figure emerging from the darkness behind him. And it carried the same evils as Gabriel, and now Beast Boy. And Starfire stared horrified into the ghastly whitened face of Robin. And yet it was obvious there was something quite unnatural about him, he was not grinning.

"Hello, Mother," Gabriel hissed, still grinning widely, "We're back..."

Well, ok, that was that. Both Chapter Seven and Eight are pretti short as they were originally one chapter, but I decided they would be better off separate. Anyways, hope u enjoyed!!!