Starfire's fists clutched instinctively. Red X. She remembered him vividly. Raven moved to the imposing control panel, and looked up his location. "Do you think he's after Zinothium again?" she asked blankly. Robin frowned.

"I would guess… but he doesn't have the belt. Either way, we're bringing him down," he growled. "Titans, let's go," he ordered. Beast Boy moved lithely to the door, springing into the garage via rabbit form. Raven rolled her eyes as she levitated primly out to the T-car. Cyborg hastily unlocked the prized automobile and said three titans hurried into it. Robin vaulted easily onto his bike, jamming his helmet down on his unruly ebony hair. Both vehicles roared to life, Starfire flying swiftly from the garage and waiting for the others to pull out.

Robin took the lead, heading towards the docks where Red X had been sighted. Presumably headed to the same warehouse as before. Starfire easily kept pace with him, flying just behind him and above the T-car. The team raced towards the impending battle, gracefully defying the speed limits. The R-cycle jerked to a stop, spraying loose asphalt out across the road. Cyborg expertly parked the car behind him and jumped out, followed instantly by Raven and BB. Star dropped to the ground to stand beside them.

Robin gazed critically at the warehouses ahead of them. "Titans, split up. Look for forced entry and call us over," he barked. Raven nodded and disappeared into a pool of black. Cyborg and Beast Boy darted off to scrutinize the first building. Starfire launched into the air to conduct her own search but was called back down. "Starfire, stay with me," Robin said sternly. Star stopped and dropped down so she hovered a few feet off of the ground. He started off, stalking towards the second to last warehouse. She assumed he had seen something.

They moved slowly along the side of the warehouse, Robin inspecting the doors running along the sides and Starfire checking the windows higher up. "Robin, I believe I have detected something," she informed. Robin looked up. There wasn't much of a window sill to perch on, but he figured it to be sufficient. A grappling hook shot up to the sill with pop. Robin swung himself up onto the tiny ledge and crouched precariously on the edge. The window was closed, but from the scrape marks on either side, it appeared to have been forced open earlier. He nodded.

"Call the others," he said, peering through the glass. His trained eyes sought out a flicker or movement inside. "Let's go," he said. Starfire quickly alerted the other titans while Robin reopened the window. She slipped past him and hovered just inside. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she brought Robin to the ground. Red X whipped to face them. Raven appeared through a black portal to stand beside them and Beast Boy and Cyborg burst in through the front door, obliterating it nicely. Robin cringed. X tilted his head to the side, his eyes showing his mirth at the entrance.

"Hey kid, come to play again?" he chuckled. Robin clenched his fists, eyes drawn into slits.

"Titans, Go!" he snapped. Cyborg rushed into action, the mechanical clicks of his sonic cannon the prelude to fire. The wide, blue beam shot out with a rush. X jumped lithely out of the way, diving to the ground as another beam was aimed at him. Raven took the opportunity and summoned four crates off the ground and hurtled them at the thief. Red X dodged the first three and regained his footing, narrowly dodging the final crate. Robin rushed at him, bo-staff whirling. He landed a hard blow to the thief's shoulder.

X retaliated and drew out his own staff from a black utility belt, similar to the one the Titans had recovered. The two began to spar, both missing their agile opponents more than landing blows. Robin reeled back as Red X kicked him hard in the gut. Starfire flew into action. Eyes blazing, she hurled a torrent of starbolts at him and succeeded in knocking him to the ground. She flew down towards X, two more bolts ready. X leapt off the ground and rammed her with his bo-staff. She fell back, and Beast Boy charged in bull form. Red X dodged him.

"You guys a little rusty?" he snickered. X grabbed the previously dropped stick of Zinothium from the ground with a black, gloved hand. Robin gave an enraged snarl and charged at him, throwing a bird-a-rang. The rang knocked the Zinothium to the ground with a clatter. X cursed. "Kid, this is dangerous stuff. Don't play with me here," he growled, diving for the Zinothium again. Starfire swooped down and snatched it, darting out of reach.

"You will not be doing the playing either!" she stated imperiously. Red X narrowed his eyes, ready to spring as he watched Starfire give the Zinothium to Robin.

"Cutie, you made a mistake this time. We would've been perfect for each other…" Red X clucked. He lunged forward and grabbed Star, swiftly jumping out of reach of Robin with her. The Boy Wonder stiffened and stood with clenched fists.

"Let. Her. Go." He hissed. Red X drew a dagger and held it to her throat. Robin's eyes widened. No. The other titans stood rigid, all eyes darting between X and their leader. Starfire slipped a frightened whimper, her jade eyes wide. Robin flinched as Red X brought his face close to Star's ear.

"Well this is convenient… If you have a change of heart, don't hesitate to look me up," he whispered, repulsive amusement lacing his voice. "Titans, I suggest you allow me take my leave now… that way your little Princess will be fine. We'll have to have another get together soon," Red X took a step back and managed an awkward little bow before releasing Star and throwing a few smoke pellets. When the velvety grey lifted, the thief was gone and Starfire was huddled on her knees, rubbing her neck.

"Star!" Robin rushed to her side. "Are you ok?" he asked, studying her critically. She nodded.

"Just a tad bit shaken, yes?" she offered a meek smile as he helped her to her feet. Robin took her arm, and led her out of the warehouse in silence, beckoning the others to follow suit. "I am fine… truly… I am capable of proceeding on my own…" she protested. Robin ignored her and continued to escort her possessively to the T-car. Starfire sent a pleading glance at Raven who simply rolled her eyes.

"Robin, I am fine," she assured him. He sighed and released her, his masked eyes darting warily around for any signs of a rogue, aggressive dagger. The young man seemed satisfied, and opened the door for her. "I was just going to fly…" she trailed off and got into the car obediently, the look on his face informing her she would not be flying.

He stalked off to the R-cycle. Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg joined her quickly. "Uh-oh, Star, you put him into one of his little moods again…" Beast Boy patted her back. Starfire looked up at her friend, eyes betraying her confusion.

"But I have done nothing…" she tilted her head quizzically and BB snickered.

"You don't have to do anything to get his feathers ruffled. Rob ruffles 'em fine on his own. It's the paranoia," the changeling nodded his head sagely. Raven snorted. Cyborg pulled onto the road and they followed after the Boy Wonder, who was already turning onto the next street.

"Robin is just possessive," she stated dryly, still a hint of amusement laced her voice.

"Of what?" Starfire inquired. Cyborg laughed.

"Everything," the three responded. Starfire giggled. BB, Raven, and Cy had lived with Robin for almost a year before she'd joined the team. "Either way, you're ok… right?" Raven asked, her stoic expression returning. Star nodded affirmative. "Good." She said vacantly. Starfire peered out of the window as they made their way home, her mind whirring. Robin would probably head to his room to brood for the next few hours, blaming himself for the whole thing… Red X, the dagger. No one had been hurt but Robin… well… that was just how Robin was. He had so much anger and hurt inside…

Starfire gave a frustrated sigh. "What?" Cyborg asked. The Tamaranian cracked a half-hearted grin.

"I shall need to find yet another creative means of coaxing lunch into Robin's sleeping chambers. I am doubtful he will be joining us," she shook her head, the mid-afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows danced on her ruby locks.

"Creative?" Beast Boy inquired. Star nodded, a twinkle in her eye. The last time she had attempted to get Robin to eat a meal during one of his moods had resulted in the boy getting trapped under his mattress and Starfire spoon feeding him. To say the least, he had requested that she never do that again. But it had gotten him to laugh and come out of his cave.

She chuckled absently to herself, gaze on the sky and the wispy, feather clouds. Her thoughts drifted from Robin and back to what Red X had whispered into her ear. It had, much to her distress, almost seemed like an enticing offer. The man was a criminal, yes, but the interest he had expressed in her during their first battle had been vaguely flattering. She didn't usually get such kinds of attention around the tower. There were times when Robin would decide to be bizarrely playful and he would be sickeningly flirtatious with her… and about any other remotely "feminine" object in the tower, but that was rare.

She recalled the boy sweet-talking his bike just to get on Raven's nerves as she waited for BB and Cyborg to come out. Starfire was fairly sure Raven had opted to sit at her own table for that dinner. Star remembered Raven warning her never to give Robin brownies. Evidently this was the cause of most of his "flirting spells." Starfire wondered if Red X liked brownies. Her eyes snapped wide. The girl scolded herself harshly for even thinking about the thief. They would lock him up soon enough.

The T-Car pulled smoothly up to the tower.


TBC

Author's Note: Thank you for all those who reviewed, it is great to see you are enjoying it. Here's chappie two for ya! xox.Annie Potter.xox, I'll be sure to keep writting my one-shots! I supose I could make Life's Canvas my next project. I hope the ending of this chapter wasn't too out there but I felt like putting it in there. Robin gets hyper off of brownies... tis a fact of life. lol. well, I'm off to chappie three! Ugh... I feel like I'm being really cliche by writting this but... oh well.

Love, Princess Starfire of Tamaran