Authors Note: Sorry, this one may be a bit crazy seeing as I wrote it at one in the morning.

SLADE

Blackfire leaned tiredly at the ragged brick walls of an abandoned pier, her eyes slowly closing. It was around two in the morning in earthen time, she presumed, and although her exhaustion was undeniable the guilt that taunted her was slightly more undeniable. Questions that had been thrown at her by peasants in Tamaran while she was still Grand Ruler haunted her. Questions that the brittle remains of her conscious still threw at her during sleepless nights such as these. Sometimes she herself questioned her motives--and pondered the possibility that she could truly be insane.

If not, how could one despite and detest a sister with such intensity? How could she be planning a plan to kill her own sister and kill her beloved friends just to torture her? From where was this jealously borne that she had resulted from framing her sister in her crimes to setting her up in a marriage she knew she'd be miserable in to becoming allies with one of her teams most detested enemies?

If one had asked her these questions, she would have to be truthful and answer that she had no sort of idea whatsoever. The deeper she searched inside herself, the more confused she became. Not being in control did not amuse her and so she left it alone--until it would come and haunt her again. Rain would soon fall, she realized as she looked at the fogged sky, and she would need to seek shelter.

Who would have known; Blackfire first in line for the throne of Tamaran would be hiding like a coward from her little sister. The very thought infuriated Blackfire and her eyes snapped open but succumbed to the solace of the black shielding of her eyelids once again. Soon she fell into a deep slumber, and not even the drizzle that fell, awakened her.

Starfire felt a strange sense of foreboding as the rain fell and rendered her teammates to sleep on the couch that evening. Only Robin and herself were awake, Robin deeply engrossed in the movie; she thinking about other matters. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on what was troubling her, but not clear image entered her mind. Only a mixture of emotions and episodes in her life appeared. She shoved them aside, such bitter and sad memories she should have had forgotten.

Starfire quietly slipped away from the couch, unnoticed by Robin, and into her room. She wondered what Galfore could possibly be doing now that he was Grand Ruler of Tamaran. She imagined something to mend the mistakes and shortcomings that Blackfire had caused. Pain seared through her as her sister came into thought and she decided to shove the thought aside. But she could not help but feel guilty. At the moment, banishing Blackfire from Tamaran had felt right--but now, she felt terrible about it.

She had left Tamaran for her own reasons, Starfire could not imagine having been banished from Tamaran and having no place to go. Even during her transformation she had left Earth by choice, and although she was no accepted by many of the planets she ventured to; she always knew she had a place that she could think of as home. Even if she had felt she was too hideous to return there and face her teammates.

Starfire yawned and decided to leave Titan's tower and refresh herself with the falling rain--even if Robin had told her she could catch some kind of disease while doing so--she needed to get away. She went downstairs and slipped by Robin undetected, and out the door. She let the rain fall upon her red tresses and soaked in the cold solace.

Suddenly she felt strong arms wrap themselves around her. Starfire struggled as the voice whispered in her ear; "Miss me?"

Robin pressed the remote control button tiredly as the movie had finally finished and was about to tell Starfire that he was off to bed when he saw she was gone. Sudden panic and worry overcame him. He ran upstairs and into her room--empty. He knew that Starfire would not leave him without saying goodnight or recounting one of Tamaranian night rituals and so, his alarm was understandable. Trusting his own instinct her went outside and found in the distance green lights.

Either Beast Boy was trying to morph into fireworks again, or Starfire was in some serious trouble. Robin ran quickly to the sourced and found Starfire gasping for breath, her firebolts dimming. Robin tried to look for the person who had attacked Starfire, but there was none to be seen.

He took Starfire in his arms and tried to make out the words she was saying.

"I am sorry I went out in the rain, Robin. Someone attacked me, I believe it--"

"Shh, you can tell me in the morning Star."

Robin interrupted, but was not heard as Starfire had already fainted from the unbearable exhaustion.

Robin looked around one more time and then turned back into the tower.

He gently placed Starfire in her bed and closed the door behind him. Only one word emerged from his lips.

"Slade."