Chapter Four : Revealed
Robin's thoughts of criminals and justice and the sort had been, in the least, temporarily damaged by the events of that early, fateful morning. Thieves do not help the good guys. And the good guy does not let the thief get away. In his fury, he got out of his chair and stood facing the window, overlooking the water. He wanted to slam his fists against the glass, but he did not want to wake her…
Starfire had been unconscious since the incident. After Robin awoke from his own brief slumber, he had refused to leave the fallen Star's side. Her wounds had been cleaned and she was put on oxygen, just like Keena had instructed. That just made the anger inside Robin boil. How dare they take advice from their own enemy? Since then, he had refused to talk to any of them. Soon, Star would awake, and Robin would go out and catch that vile fox.
He'd make her pay. How could she act like she was the hero, when she clearly wasn't? How could she even be considered a hero? Why did she have to make herself look so innocent, like Robin was the villain and she was the saint?
He shook his head and glared at the sky. Perhaps it was the opposite of everything he knew. Maybe he was doing wrong. Maybe the gem should have been destroyed. Maybe her methods of helping were extreme, but righteous?
No! No! Robin stared at his reflection in the pane and narrowed his eyes. How could he even think like that? How stupid could he be? She was no angel, she was no saint. She may not have been evil, but she had, and more than likely would continue to, break the law. She was not a constructive member of society. She was trouble and a rebel and the city had enough problems. She needs to be captured, thought Robin, or at least chased out. He kicked the glass before him.
Starfire moaned and sat up straight. Robin made a face, now aware of his error, but then rushed to her side and knelt by the side of her bed.
"You OK?" he asked, concerned by the look of confusion on her face.
"Where's the fox one?" she asked, looking around desperately.
"She… she got away," Robin mumbled.
"Oh, I am sorry. Do not worry, we will catch her!"
Robin didn't dare tell her the extended truth, how she had saved Star's life, and the other titans let her get away. No… that would come at another time.
"Yeah, well… how are you feeling, now?"
"A little dizzy, a little sick. I think I am fine."
"That's good… do you remember what happened?"
"I was looking for you, when the sky fell."
His emotions punched him lightly in the stomach. He just tried to smile and smoothed the beautiful girl's red hair.
"When you're ready, come downstairs and have something to eat."
With that, Robin left the room, his shoulders weighed down by his own guilt.
"What else she has done does not matter… the only thing I am concerned about is the fact that she has committed numerous crimes right under our noses, and admitted to them, too!" shouted Robin at his three so-called friends, who sat mildly on the couch.
"I think she's doing society a favor," said Raven.
"Wasn't it you who said it wasn't your place to judge her!" Robin growled at her. He didn't realize until seconds later that he had, in fact, crossed the line with Raven. She glared at him, willing him to fall over or trip.
"Dude, just get over it. It's not like she's been out robbing banks and killing people, right?" asked Beast Boy.
"Let me remind you that she has done both in the past!"
The boy wonder's harsh words did not deter the trio's protest.
"She saved Star's life!"
"That doesn't matter!"
"She's always had that gun with her, and yet she never shoots you."
"She might!"
"She's brave, and would fight against the law to do the right thing."
Raven had finally opened her mouth, and her words stung Robin although it seemed unnoticed by the others.
"She does NOT do the right thing!" Robin seethed through clenched teeth.
"Yes she DOES! You can deny it all you want, but the truth is self-evident."
Robin and Raven shot death glares at each other. Cyborg had stood up and attempted to stop the two, but Robin ended it himself by turning around and walking out the door.
Cy began, "What are you-,"
"Going to catch la Zorra," he rumbled in anger.
It was dusk when Robin returned empty handed. He knew he'd never catch her during the day, but he could not stand to be with the others when they were trying to defend her. He still couldn't believe that his own team members had betrayed him. He didn't know who angered him more, that disgusting, murdering wench, or his fellow comrades. Just thinking about it made him sick. He shouldn't have to compare his best friends with his worst enemy.
He sulked into the tower, his fists balled at his sides. The others realized how angry he was and decided to stay out of his path. All except Starfire, that is.
"Robin! You join us once again! Did you catch la Zorra?"
Robin didn't answer. He was happy to see Star out of bed, but the question made his stomach turn.
"Star, leave him alone," said Cyborg from the kitchen.
"But-," she started, but couldn't finish.
"No, Starfire. He's just being a jerk because he finally met his equal."
At first, Raven's words hit Robin with shock. In a split-second, he had turned and stepped right up to her and looked down into her face. She glared back, daring him to make a move.
"She is NOT my equal. She is a petty low-life, who tries to brainwash the public into thinking she's a goddess by justifying her criminal activities with bullshit excuses. And you are all idiots to accept that."
With that, Raven pushed Robin back and growled, "Robin, leave it be! I doesn't matter if you didn't catch her-,"
"It isn't MY fault you let her get AWAY!"
"She saved Starfire! What were we supposed to do, leave her there, dying in the rubble, just to catch Keena?"
Starfire's eyes widened and she looked from Robin to Raven, confused yet aware. She spoke slowly, "Are you saying… Keena, she… she saved me?"
"Liar!" screamed Robin.
"Face it! She skilled and she's not as stupid as you make her out to be! And she's not out trying to take over this damn city, just DROP IT!"
"I will NOT drop it, I will NOT let her get away. She will pay for what she did to me!"
The words came out too fast and too heavy with his emotions. Everyone quickly realized what this was about. Robin was offended. He always got the bad guy, always. And yet, this one got away. To add insult to injury, his friends were siding with the only person to ever get away from him. The only person to ever beat him.
"She did nothing to you."
"Don't be so naïve. She ruined me."
Cyborg finally stepped in, trying to console his friend, "Listen, man. First, it isn't your fault she got away. And we know you're undefeated. You still are. She didn't defeat you, in fact, you defeated her. She got away, she retreated."
Raven was still angry, but she had cooled down considerably. She had lowered her voice again, "If it's meant to be, you'll catch her. But I doubt it."
Robin nodded his head. He looked at her, ashamed of his outburst. He held out his hand as a treaty and smiled sheepishly. "I'll set out tonight, looking for her."
Raven took his hand reluctantly and shook it limply. "If you go out there, blind to her whereabouts, then you'll know that if you find her, its destiny. But I'm hoping that you'll talk to her. Maybe you understand her a little more, and she can understand you."
Robin sighed. Maybe he should calm down a little. If Raven could trust this complete stranger… maybe she was trustworthy.
"Robin?"
Starfire entered Robin's room, where he was sitting on the computer, browsing at nothing in particular.
"What?"
He didn't have to ask what. He knew what she was going to ask.
"Keena. Did she really save me?"
"Well… I…"
He turned off the computer and looked at the floor. That was enough of an answer for Starfire. She sat on the edge of his bed across from him.
"I don't know. I guess she sort of did."
As hard as it was for him to admit that, he felt so much better. He was on the first step to recovery.
"I see," she said. He turned to face her and they looked at one another.
"I'm going out to catch her tonight," Robin said softly.
After first, it appeared the girl would plead for him to do otherwise. But somewhere within, she understood what his true intentions were. She took his hands and nodded. He turned an almost unnoticeable shade of pink. He then stood up and left the room.
"I'm going to train for a little while. I might… need it."