Obsession
The late sunset hovered slightly over the marshes surrounding the Titans' Tower. Inside, conflicting thoughts were being thrown around, anger boiling inside some. Inside the incredible large entertainment center, was Beast Boy flopped on the couch alongside with Cyborg letting their anger be expressed through their video game.
"Dude, your not gonna pass me!"
Beastboy yelled in frustration as his thumbs began to become terribly tired.
"Aint gonna pass me? Watch me!"
Retorted Cyborg, his face contorted in a mix of a joyous expression and an angered one.
"I'm not gonna let you pass me. I'm not gonna be left standing like an idiot while that dumb guy who stole the Red X suit laughs in my face!"
Beast boy said, letting the tip of his true frustration win over his facade.
Cyborg suddenly stopped and turned of the video game slowly, he face Beast Boy seriously whose face was in shock.
"Dude, I was so beating you!"
Beastboy retorted, same tireless grin on his face.
"That's not why I turned it off."
Cyborg grumbled.
"That Red X guy is making us all edgy, Cyborg paused momentarily, suddenly his face was looming over Beast boy; "and your pressing so hard on my controls you're gonna wreck them!"
"Wha--"
"Listen man, we've all got to wait this out. That Red X guy must be laughing at us right now, and I know it makes you mad. It makes us all mad. The point is we can't get all worked up about it. I just hope Starfire can convince Robin."
"I agree."
Came the monotone voice of Raven who now stepped out of her slightly ajar door.
"On both terms."
She added and a grim expression filled Cyborg and Beast Boy as they wondered what the leader of the titans might be thinking about now. After all he had made Red X, who knew what he was planning to do to destroy him?
"Please stop moving."
Starfire asked gently of Robin who was squirming refusing to be bound by the bear hug of the Tamaranian princess who would not allow him to go out and search for Red X.
"Star---Starfire, let me go."
His voice was cold, but Starfires was persistent.
"I will not. You are hurt; there is not sense for you to look for Red X in this condition. We are the Teen Titans, we are a team Robin. If I am not incorrect that means we work together, no?"
Robin's face furrowed in despair knowing that Starfire was indeed right, and he was loosing the argument.
"Star, you don't understand--"
A look of hurt momentarily crossed Starfires face. Robin caught it.
"Star, I didn't mean to---"
"I know, but please Robin, stay until your wounds are healed."
She meant much more than his physical wounds, obviously the last shard of pride that he had left had been shattered.
"I just don't get it. I made him! Why can't I destroy him?"
Starfire was not used to seeing Robin this upset and frustrated without the matter being related to Slade.
"Because you are human, and it is human to fail sometimes. If someone should be blaming themselves, it should be me. I am a Tamaranian; I should have been able to defeat him."
"Starfire don't carry the burden that I made."
Robin said quietly shielding himself from Starfire's comfort.
"You are trying to save this city from harms way, you already carry too many burdens, which is why we are here. We are your friends; Starfire extended her hand to him releasing him from her embrace, "let us help you."
Robin returned a rare smile and then nodded.
"Hello master X."
Red X looked curtly at Alfred, the confident of Bruce Wayne, the man that had saved him.
"Hi Al--"
He quickly left the statement, reminding himself that he had learned the Robin had called him that.
"Alfred."
Red X corrected.
"Is he here?"
"No, master Bruce is---"
"I see, goodbye."
Red X walked over to his room, the thoughts of his arrival at Wayne Manor flooding his mind.
That's right, I was found by Batman after my encounter with the titans for the first time. I had wandered into Gotham City; decided it would be fun to crash there to give the titans a fake sense of security. But as Batman found me and rendered me like a helpless child, I was forced to reveal my story. That or he made me eat a plate of vegetables. Alfred can be intimidating when he wants to.
Red X shuddered, silly how he feared vegetables of everything in the world.
He was interested in my story and allowed me a home at Wayne Manor and a pass to come and go as I pleased under one condition. The one condition that was the partial reason why I made frequent visits to Jump City.
"Robins been spoiled, Bruce started, after he left for Jump City he was revered to be one of the greatest--I don't know how, but he got it though his head that he was the greatest. I want you to give him a challenge. Make him realize that he has yet to reach the top."
And I had agreed, it was fun seeing Robin become frustrated. Of course, my deal with Blackfire had nothing to do with Bruce. He didn't even know about it. But I think he has a hunch about my ongoing thoughts of Starfire. I think he rather liked the motivation so he didn't question me.
I had been lucky.
Being interrogated by a guy who was barely in my existence didn't interest me in the least bit.
Starfire on the other hand was quite a different matter.
I noted that Blackfire will be getting albeit angry at the long period of time that will progress before I contact her again. I need to make my plan foolproof, and that meant Robin.