A. Note: Thanks for the support! It is deeply appreciated. Don't feel bad, Tigeress419, your observations and corrections are needed and noted. Also, Beast Boy said "Italian sucks", because he was trying to say "comprende?", as in Spanish. But he thought it was Italian, as in "capiche?". This is a play on when he said "su casa es mi casa", typical gringo mistake. Also, people who want more Starfire scenes, don't worry. Starfire will be the main heroine later in this first saga, as she's the only one who can save Robin, who will fall under the taint of darkness.
General information: Robin will be feeling some very dark taints in his soul, and will go slightly psycho. Hopefully people won't find it discouraging as a story, because it's leading up to a grand portion of an adventure that I think will be great. More will be revealed in later chapters.
Standard disclaimer of ownership and properties apply readily.
---TT
Chapter 2
--
I ran in the darkness, chasing something, but chasing what, I don't know. Was I chasing anything at all? No, I feel it now. I'm running away. Away from the darkness, the white, black, gray, guilt, fear, hatred, all of it. I didn't want to stay here, wherever here was.
"You are where you belong, Robin."
I skidded to a halt, and immediately went into a defensive stance. I reached for my staff, only to find it absent.
"You won't need that insignificant weapon, Robin. Your strongest weapon is your viciousness."
I sneered at the voice, but my senses were blaring with warnings. I willed myself to remain composed, and surprisingly, did it with ease.
"That's right. Stop running away, you've been doing that for far too long."
I finally found my voice. "I recognize that voice, Slade! Show yourself! What have you done this time!?"
"Silly child, I have done nothing. It is you who has created all of this."
Slade's form suddenly stepped out from the darkness, as if the pitch black was a curtain. I growled, but didn't find the incentive to attack.
"You bastard......!" My voice dripped with venom. "Why won't you disappear!? Why won't you die!? Why.....!" I grimaced.
"Why won't you stop!!!???"
Slade grinned, at least I assume he did, his mask was inorganic after all.
"I will not stop, because you cannot stop." He stepped forward and I stepped backwards.
"I will not disappear, because you refuse to accept the truth." Another step forward, another step backwards.
"I will not die, because I am the black spot you so sourly despise, the taint on your white record." I felt my mouth go dry as Slade spoke.
"Death is a normal cycle of life. It is the way of things. You have accepted this naturally, when you took the persona of Robin." Slade began walking around me in circles.
I gasped. "What do you mean? Do you know-"
"The death of your parents was a tragedy, a wounding strike to your soul, a bane that you still cringe from. But death has become a part of you, when you believed you accepted the world, understand it."
Slade clenched his fist in front of me, and I watched it shake with passion. "Death is innate to you, my dear boy, it is a part of your nature. Though it only visible and tangible when you become emotional, then again, humans' true nature is always shown through an emotional state."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, from Slade, again.
"Shut up!!! You don't know anything about me!!! You're a psychopath, bent on destruction!! I'm nothing like you!"
"Stop running away, Robin. It's unbecoming."
"I don't run away, I confronted you! At every corner! At every chance! At every waking moment of my life! I-I....I......!"
Slade chuckled, and I felt the rage swell up in my chest again. I saw my own fist clinch and vibrate from my pure anger, dangling with an unwonted passion.
"Robin." Slade's insufferable calm voice shattered my intense emotion like a mallet, and I cringed.
"It doesn't matter whether or not you are similar to me, because that is not the concern."
Now, I was really confused. Wasn't the entire point of his constant tormenting appearance to convince the world and me that evil prevails?
"What are you talking about now? Is this another one of your cryptic clues?" I was surprised at how level my voice sounded now, as if everything I felt before was only an illusion.
Slade chuckled. "Huhuhuhuhu. Robin, I must have told you before, none of this is about anyone else, it's been about you. It's always been about you."
Before I could react or speak, Slade placed his fingers firmly on his mask and with a swift stroke, flung it into the darkness.
I could feel the overwhelming sensation of horror and shock as I saw the face of Slade, my face.
Slade, with my face, but still with Slade's voice, spoke with finesse.
"Like I said, this has always been about you."
"You-you, this isn't real, this can't be real!!!!"
I held my hands to my face, gripping my cranium, just wishing to expel all of these nightmares out. Nightmare......... that's it!!! This is all a dream, none of this is real! It's an illusion, something someone concocted to confuse me, to disillusion me.
"This isn't real!" I pointed at Slade who wore my face. "It's exactly like that reagent you drugged me with in your mask! This darkness isn't real, and neither are you!"
I felt as if the advantage of the mind was in my control once again, as if-
"Of course none of this is real." Slade spoke, with an amused tone.
"Wh-what!?" What in the hells is he pulling?
'Robin' smiled, and bore several sharp teeth. "Did you think Slade would truly be here? A domain you created yourself?"
"My.....domain?" I was confused, alert, and curious.
"Hehehehehe. Yes, your domain. This isn't a warp hole of complete nonsense, this is a part of you. All this blackness is a part of you." Slade, or me, stepped forward again, and I recoiled backwards.
"This entirety is merely a reflection of yourself, your soul, bared to the last bit." He swept his arm to his chest.
"No, I should say, our soul." My eyes widened.
"I am not Slade." He frowned at his own voice, then chuckled. Slade coughed a few times, and I briefly wondered if that' how Slade really sounded when he coughed.
"Hehehehehe." I recoiled more as his voice was mine now, down to the last frequency. As he chuckled, I watched in horror as his body began to sizzle with smoke. His body was shrinking! Decreasing in size until it matched mine like the reflection of a mirror.
"As I said, I am not Slade. I am you. The deepest desire of you, what you want to be..."
"That's a lie." I couldn't fathom how two of the same person could be arguing. "You're not me, you're dark and evil. You're wearing that suit."
'Robin' traced his fingers over the metal plates and grinned. "Indeed, and it feels rather enticing."
"I would never think that!!! I didn't think that back then and I don't think that now! You're. NOT. ME.!!!!"
'Robin' just continued to grin. "Lying to yourself is pointless. I know everything about you, simply because we're the same person." He stepped to the side, and peered into the darkness.
By now I was desperate for some kind of weapon I could use. Though my utility belt was there, nothing was in it, void of any content of my usual gadgets. My staff was never there to begin with, and I was shocked to discover that my boots lost their metal edges.
"Feeling weak again?" I growled at my own voice, my own face, and got into an offensive stance.
"I. AM. NOT. WEAK."
I watched as 'Robin' lost his grin and stared emotionlessly into the darkness.
"You're lying and running away again."
I sneered.
"I know you feel weak, because I feel weak."
I lost my stance.
'Robin' rubbed his eyes. "I am the same as you, I feel what you feel. And what I feel is that abominable feeling of being a weakling, of being Robin. And I tire of it."
I could feel my muscles tense up again.
"Do you know why we feel weak?" 'Robin' turned back to look at me, and I flinched despite my hard resolve to not to.
"It's because we feel the need to be the white record, the white spot in the names of heroes. We have limitations, to what we can perform, as the good guys. But we're much stronger when we allow the freedom of our talents to flow, we're much more imposing."
The imposter's grin returned when he said the word 'imposing'. "Don't you remember Red X? The most commanding persona we've created! He was, what Starfire would say, glorious!!!"
I decided to speak again, whether or not it was only to a phantom of myself, but was immediately interrupted.
"Don't-"
"No, WE were glorious!!! We could even take out the Titans as easily as shit!!!" It felt disturbing to hear myself cuss.
"You were-"I briefly wondered why he changed back to saying 'you', "-unstoppable, Robin! When you allow yourself to accept the greatest part of yourself, the entire personas of your soul, you can become an entity worth recognition in any realm! Not even Slade can defeat us!!!"
His face became maniacal, and I felt fear creep into my chest once again.
"Become what you want to be, become what you can be.........you enjoyed the thrill, you were pleased with being dark...............!"
"No......NO!!!" I screamed fiercely. I pointed a finger at 'Robin'.
"You are the black stain of evil that cannot exist in this world, because I'm the one who stops criminals like you, Slade, and even Red X! I can't allow things like you to exist!!!"
'Robin' grinned, yet again.
"Then who stops you?"
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm a crime fighter, I stop evil!"
"And when you lose control, who's gonna stop you? Your friends?" I gasped.
"You call me the black stain of evil, when I'm part of you. Isn't that ironic? So, I ask you: who stops you?"
I honestly didn't know how to answer, or what to say, all my edges in mental advantages were absent.
"Hahahahahahahahaha.... You yourself said once, 'It's supposed to be simple, but it's not.' Nothing is just black and white, pure and simple, true or false. It's a beautiful blend of all those complicated colors, squished-"'Robin' held his two hands up to his face and pantomimed a crushing motion. "-into the most magnificent, ideal color of grey."
I serious began to feel like vomiting then and there.
"You are not pure of white.... Robin.....you are the grey that holds no bound to responsibility.....you're a mix......"
"No......"
"It's not difficult....accept the freedom.........."
"I won't....."
"There is no distinction between good and bad, they're all the same...."
"Shut up....."
"Stop running away......"
"Raaaaaaaarggghhhhhhh!!!!"
Nothing existed anymore.
------------------
------------------
"Gah!!!" Robin shot up, once again covered in sweat.
He frantically looked around, and relaxed slightly when he saw that he wasn't in that horrible space, surrounded by the darkness.
"Déjà vu..." He breathed out as he slumped back into whatever he was lying on, one arm lying across his face.
The Boy Wonder felt around his eyes, and was relieved that the eye mask was still present.
He then peered at his surroundings a little more, trying to find out where he was exactly.
Some comfort came as he noted he wasn't in the sick bay, where he was restrained and left alone with the haunting images of Slade and the darkness.
The room was actually one of the newly created rooms that were supposed to be used as a spare room for items and equipment. Apparently, the other Titans decided to turn it into a better infirmary. There was white. A lot of white.
Robin felt the presence of another, and shifted his sight to find the source. His eyes fell on the slumbering form of the Tamaranian girl, sitting on a chair right next to his bed. Her hand was folded on her lap, and her head tilted downwards slightly.
His eyes softened, and guilt immediately filled his senses and his heart. He observed her peaceful face, tranquil and serene, and it made him feel at ease. She must have been there for a while, to fall asleep.
He saw that there was a blanket placed over her shoulders, and surmised that one of the other Titans had been courteous and caring enough.
Robin reached out a hand, reluctant and tentative, as if he couldn't will himself to touch the girl. But slowly and surely, his now ungloved hand made way to touch the girl's hand, as if the boy needed to reassure himself that she was real.
Suddenly, he heard the door of the room beep, and retracted his hand.
Expecting to see either Cyborg or Raven, as Beast Boy was probably still mad at him, Robin got ready to either be yelled at or scorned.
Instead, he saw a stranger walk in. A very creepy looking stranger.
"Who-ack!!!" he coughed suddenly from the lack of usage of his voice since he passed out.
The stranger held a hand up. "Do not be alarmed, I am here to assist you."
Robin held his hands to his throat, and glanced at the stranger, still wary and alert.
The man, if that was what it could be called, wore a black and dark blue robe that covered his entire body under the neck. His face appeared organic and mechanical at the same time, and Robin immediately surmised that he was part machine like Cyborg.
The Boy Wonder watched intently and carefully as the stranger walked closer, and stopped at a machine, most likely an analytical contraption.
"I am Fixit, a friend of Cyborg's."
Robin registered the name instantly. "I remember.... Cyborg told us about you, right after we got out of the junkyard...."
"Yes......that is where I and Cyborg initially met." Robin stared at the organic machine, trying to recall bits and pieces of information on Fixit, since it was always second nature for him to do so.
Fixit inserted one finger into the machine, and his fingers began to slightly glow, as well as other parts of him.
Robin then noticed that he was wired to the machine on the arm, chest, and neck.
Fixit extracted his finger, but said nothing, just resumed calculating until Robin spoke up.
"What happened?" Fixit's helm stopped glowing.
"I would think it would be obvious for observation."
Robin snickered, sardonically. "Yeah, well, I've been sullied in the field of observations lately."
If Fixit picked up on the dark tone to his voice, he didn't show it, and if he did, he didn't care.
"Your cardiac had exceeded the norm in which normal humans would have spontaneously combusted. 87 of your muscle tissues were severed. The joints in your leg and arms were damaged, though they have healed in your recovery time. The constant strain you had exerted on yourself has dehydrated much of your organic components. Additionally, your right hand has been severely stressed, and is obsolete for usage the next 24 hours. Also, there was a slight chance of contracting internal organ ischemia."
"Hehehehe......"
Fixit stared at Robin as the boy began to chuckle.
"The report has proven humorous?"
"Ehehehehehe....obsolete..."
Fixit said nothing.
Robin's became passive again. "Sorry, just crazy human talk."
Fixit went to the side of the wall and retrieved some water with a cup from a water dispenser. Apparently, the room was adequately prepared and furnished, as there were also a few couches lined up in the wall, and a plant.
"I was once completely human." He didn't offer an explanation for the sentence, and gave the Boy Wonder the cup.
Robin drank it gratefully. "Thanks." He said after the water was drained from the cup.
He then turned to gaze at the girl beside his bed, and wondered how long he had been incapacitated.
"You have been in an unconscious state for approximately 20 hours and 13 minutes since Cyborg has contacted me for aid."
Robin thought he should be surprised, but the news seemed to be logical.
"Sure felt like that long......" He commented under his breath, keeping his gaze on the Tamaranian.
Fixit shifted his view between Robin and the quantum efficiency analyzer.
"The Tamaranian female has been at your side for approximately 19 hours and 56 minutes.
Robin frowned. "Did you install a new mind reader device that we don't know about?"
If Fixit could grin, there would have been a warm smile there.
"Human behaviors are at times surprisingly obvious."
"Whatever..."
Robin was struck with a sudden notion, a pique of curiosity.
"Wait a minute, aren't you a professional on machinery? How is that you're here, playing medical doctor!?"
Fixit processed his answer and Robin waited for one.
"I was once completely human." Fixit repeated. "I have recovered several lost data files, in other words, my memories, over the past few months when Cyborg had assisted in my recovery process."
Robin hunched a little, listening.
"The data files have showed that I was a physician, when I remembered what it was to be human, when I was still human."
Robin noted how Fixit's words seemed redundant. He decided that it was because it was a sign of his human side.
"I see......" Robin made motions to move and get off the bed, and tore off the wires.
"I would strongly advise against any strenuous activity for the next 10 hours. You must rest for your body to fully recover."
Robin made no effort to stop. "I'm fine."
Fixit's helm glowed. "I would advise against any activity in the next few hours."
The Boy Wonder found himself held back into the bed by a restraint on his feet, which he didn't notice since it was covered by the sheets.
"Huh? Nnnnnnnnnn..! What?" He looked to Fixit, whose helm ceased glowing.
"I simply must insist. I have been slightly informed of your situation and circumstances that have led to your rigorous attempt of self destruction."
Robin flinched.
"I do not desire to see Cyborg's expression if you were to escape and continue your dangerous actions."
"I will inform your friends that you have awakened."
And the organic android was gone.
Swoooooosh!
The Boy Wonder stared at the door that just closed.
His mind drifted back to the dream, and he shivered. He shook his head, trying to clear out the haunting images, trying to convince himself that he didn't understand any of it, so he wouldn't dwell on it.
Robin once again looked to Starfire, who was mumbling something in her. Though he could not hear it clearly, it felt comforting, just to know that the Tamaranian girl was still there.
Robin raised a hand, once again trying to will himself to go back, to go back to his friends. The boy arduously tried to reach for the girl's hand. To reach a sense of salvation.
"Starfire........."
Gingerly, he finally placed his hand over the girl's, and he watched in satisfaction when she smiled in her sleep. He rubbed the upper portion of her palm, and his eyes became pained.
He didn't keep his hands there long, he had some reassurances, and that was enough for him now.
------------------
Fixit exited the room and trailed down in the halls, where the main computer room was located. As he stepped in, he saw the man he was looking for as well.
"Hey, doc. How's Rob doing?" Cyborg greeted upon seeing the other android.
"Robin is awake, and his condition is stable."
Cyborg's eye widened. "That's great! Let me go tell the others, and we'll all go in there and check on the little guy! Is he impressed with what we did with the room!? 'Cause we had to haul ass to organize the whole place, and Beast Boy kept getting in the way-"
Fixit raised a hand. "I am afraid I must advise against such a thought."
Cyborg's excitement deflated a bit.
"Is this one of those doctor routines? We're not going to drag him out to play football or anything. We're just worried, man. Can't we at least go see him? Or is visitor's hours that short?"
Fixit moved next to the computer and Cyborg. "The young man is much more stressed than I have anticipated. His issues stem deep into his psyche, a complicated issue that I am hesitant and unqualified to confront."
Cyborg groaned. "We kind of know that already with the 'overworking himself to death' crap. Why can't we help? Raven said the same thing, and now you."
The teen android stood up and sighed.
"We just want our leader back. We want our friend back."
Fixit considered for a second. "Still, I would advise against going to see the young man at this moment."
Cyborg grimaced.
"I believe the Tamaranian female would like to be the first to speak to her, 'best friend', is it?"
Cyborg's mouth went wide, and he saw one of those rare moments when Fixit managed what resembled a smile.
"Hehehe. And here I thought you were Johnny the Stoic."
"I believe I was the one who did not think I could possess any capability of feeling. You were the one who helped me remember. I thank you."
Fixit bowed, and Cyborg bowed back.
"You saved my friend. You bow to no one here." Cueing a rather Lord of the Rings conversation, though Fixit didn't catch on.
Fixit rose straight and nodded.
"So.....you leaving now?" Cyborg asked.
Fixit glanced at the Titan's mainframe computer.
"I believe I would stay and upgrade the tower's security systems. Also, I would like to see your 'infant', as you called it."
Cyborg beamed. "Oh yeah!!! You gotta check out my baby, she's the damn prettiest girl you'll ever see! I've got the new titanium thruster packs, imported straight from Japan! Come on, I'll give you a tour of the tower while we're at it."
"I would like that." Fixit tried saying, and found much pleasure that he could. "I could also assist you in tuning and upgrading the T-car."
Cyborg gave a sour look. "Tuning, she needs every once in awhile. But upgrading? My baby's top notch! She's the best car in the whole freaking world!"
"Installing an electric suspension module will improve a vehicle's acceleration."
"What!? Those things scrap the engine, and it makes oil changing difficult!"
"Then it is advisable to......"
The two part-machine and part-human individuals made their way to the garage, arguing the whole way.
------------------
Beast Boy had taken a nice nap after he was convinced repeatedly by both Raven and Cyborg that Robin was going to be fine. He had actually fallen asleep before he could even enter his room, however, and woke to find his face pressed against his own door, with some drool still sliding down the door's frame.
He had decided that he was hungry, and so began cooking his delicious tofu......whatever. He couldn't tell whether to call it dinner or breakfast, then again, he didn't care.
A digital clock in his room blinked 6:45 p.m.
So when Raven entered the kitchen, she found the green teen trying to shove a tofu sandwich into a toaster.
"Ummmmm Beast Boy....what are you doing?" She asked cautiously.
"I'm trying nnnnnnnnnn to nnnnnnnnn... make ..nnnnnnnnnn.. my tofu meal!!"
"Wouldn't it be easier to just use the microwave?"
"The toast ...nnnnnnn... wouldn't be crispy ... nnnnnnnn...!"
Raven sighed, and went to brew another cup of tea, finding that the liquid always calms her.
"Nnnnnnnnn...... aha!!!" Beast Boy had somehow managed to shove the tofu substance into the toaster.
"Alright, now to press the up-and-down-thingy, and we'll be ready to go!"
Click.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos." Raven chanted as a shield appeared and blocked the pieces of flying tofu and the remains of the toaster.
Beast Boy, charred, huffed a puff of smoke.
"Haff! Couldn't you give me some coverage too?"
"I thought it would teach you a lesson." She paused. "Idiot." She added for effect.
Beast Boy looked around the kitchen. "This is not sweet." Black stains were all over the countertops, the floor, etc.
He looked over to the gothic girl. "Ummmm, a little help here?"
She glared at him.
"Right, My mess, me clean."
She used her telekinesis to move a broom out of a closet and threw it at him.
Beast Boy held the broom quizzically. "When did we have a broom?"
"Clean."
Beast Boy grudgingly began sweeping the floor, all the while muttering under his breath.
"We've got a mega-computer, automatic doors, obstacle courses, but no robot servant to do our bidding? This is lame."
What the boy didn't know was that Raven was actually very troubled and worried, though not as much as Starfire, but worried nonetheless. Robin's black out didn't surprise her, the eerie feeling he emitted did.
Robin wasn't normal, he was unique, special, and talented. He was beyond the norm of normal humans. But he was still human nonetheless, he still shared the same limitations of normal people. So why did she feel a chill when she touched his unconscious form?
She didn't want to think about it now, it reminded her too much of her own predicament. Deep within her subconscious, she felt Trigon, the evil essence of her father lingering. But as she thought, now was not the time.
Raven was about to go back into her room and perhaps read a book and drink her herbal tea, when she suddenly picked up on the presence of another person.
"He's awake." She said, not caring if anyone heard, but Beast Boy did.
"Who?"
She sighed. "Who else?"
Beast Boy threw the broom away. "Woohoo! Rob's awake! C'mon lets go check on him! He'll feel better once I bake up some tofu cakes!" He began running towards the infirmary when he was suddenly held back by Raven's powers.
"Oooooff!!!" He grunted as he landed on the floor. "Okay, I'm starting to feel like mattress scrapes."
Raven peered at the fallen teen. "It's not exactly a smart idea for you to go in there."
"Huuuuhhh, not this again. What? We just gonna leave him alone with his insanity?"
Raven sighed again. "Starfire's in there."
Beast Boy beamed. "That's right! Maybe we can't get to him, but Star definitely can! Heck, she's the only one of us who has!"
Raven looked solemn, and unsure.
"Uuuuuuhhhh, please tell me I'm right."
"No, you're right. Starfire is the only person with the capability to reach Robin. I'm just uncertain everything will come through this time."
"What cha' mean!? If Star can't get through that jerk, then we're through!!! The Titans will break up, then I'll have to work at the circus!!!"
He started shaking on the ground, actually seriously considering the ridiculous possibility.
"Don't be stupid, we're not going to split up."
"Eeeeeeeeeeeee......"
"Beast Boy, stop being idiotic."
"Okay."
She thinned her eyes. Beast Boy smiled nervously.
"Ehehehe, so...... everything's going to be okay?"
"........clean."
------------------
------------------
The storm was still raging on the city, the rain and the clouds dancing thunderously. But the tower's atmosphere had actually begun to lighten, the horrible dread had faded somewhat.
A loud thunder strike entered the auditory senses of the Tamaranian girl, and she stirred awake. Slowly, her emerald eyes opened, and immediately widened in delight to see Robin in a sitting position on the bed.
Starfire made a sound that was a gasp of delight.
Robin turned to look at her. "'Morning, I think."
"Robin! You are in good health!!" She shrugged off the blanket and hugged the Boy Wonder, very hard.
He always dreaded the murderous yet amiable hug. "Ehhhhhh, y-yeah. Go-od h-health....aahhhhh......Starfire....I think I won't be in a few seconds."
"Oh!" She released him. "Hehehe, I apologize."
Robin didn't smile, like he usually would, and this worried Starfire. She began to remember why she was afraid of him earlier.
"It's okay, Star."
"Do you..... require some refreshments?" She asked gently. He nodded and she quickly flew over to the water dispenser with a cup, filling it with water.
He took the cup and grunted his thanks.
As Robin drank, Starfire silently built up her courage to speak.
"Robin, what is wrong? Please tell me, you are never this troubled. You had......frightened me beyond the simple 'willies'. When I saw you lying unconscious on the ground......I did not know what to think nor what to do...."
Robin threw the cup into the corner of the room. Starfire watched the light plastic hit the ground.
"Robin......speak to me, please....I-I....."
"I'm tired, Starfire......" She thought he meant for her to go, and so tearfully began getting up.
"No. Stay, Star. I didn't mean for you to go."
Her eyes were filled with glee and forbidden hope. She moved her chair closer to Robin's bed.
".......I don't know what's happening, Starfire, but I'm so tired."
"You have eradicated much of the population of the bags of punching, it is only normal that you would feel strain. Human circulatory systems are very fragile and-"
"Fragile......" He breathed.
"Robin....?"
"Obsolete......"
"Robin, you are scaring me, pl-"
"Running away......"
"-ease. No more Robin reprimanding Robin. You are not running, you are sitting, wh-"
"Starfire." She cringed at how he said her name.
"Y-yes?"
Robin looked at her with an expression she had never seen him with before, it was a look of absolute defeat, but oddly mixed with the gleam of vengeance.
"We're the good guys, right?"
Starfire was now perplexed, and her fear was further enforced.
"We are on the side of righteousness, correct."
"We stop the bad guys, right?"
"I-I......evil doers and bad men must be stopped."
".....there's no room for the confused......" He mumbled.
"Robin.....please. Look at me."
He obeyed.
"Do not place the blame on Robin. You were not of yourself. You were only fighting demons we could not see. Slade is to blame, not you. You are not fragile, or obsolete. You are the Boy of Wonder." She placed a hand on Robin's shoulder.
"You are our leader. Please do not lose faith in yourself, for we have not lost faith in you."
Robin seemed to be absorbing the girl's words, but shown no reaction.
Starfire's fear was etching for her to remove her hand from the boy's shoulder, but she commanded herself to remain. Robin needed her and be damned if anything was to disturb that.
He placed an ungloved hand gingerly over hers.
"...............thanks."
Starfire smiled a genuine smile of peace, one Robin couldn't help but return, however small and tired his was.
"I welcome you......"
They remained in silence for a short while, until Robin removed his hand from hers and laid down on the bed.
".........you're a godsend, do you know that?"
"Teehee. I thank you."
".................." He smiled a bit, but only briefly.
"I will go and inform our friends of your glorious awakening."
"Fixit already went to tell them."
"Truly? Then why is it our friends have not come as of yet?" Starfire wondered, confused.
"It's all right, Star. I don't want to be disturbed anyways. Go get something to eat, I'm going to rest, doctor's orders."
Starfire nodded her affirmative. "I will return at a later time, rest well, Robin."
She stood briefly at the door, reluctant to leave the Boy Wonder alone, a huge contrast from when she couldn't expel the fear of the boy.
Swoooooosh!!!
She stood just outside the infirmary, and leaned her back against the door. Her heart was beating slowly, and she felt warm. Matters with the Boy Wonder are difficult, she knew, but now she could pinpoint some of the issues.
Whatever problem Robin had drawn up in his world, his ability to fight was a core issue. His responsibility as the leader of the Titans and as a crime fight in general was pressuring him. He felt he had failed his friends in the many occasions regarding Slade and Red X.
Starfire frowned sadly as she recalled the crestfallen expression of the boy when he said 'running away'. She didn't truly understand, but she knew it was a feeling that she could relate to, if he would only be more open with her.
She held her hands to her heart, as if asking it for directions and guidance. Her eyes sparkled, as an idea came to her, and she smiled. She didn't know if the idea would work, but Tamaranians are known to take risks for their friends.
Starfire left for her room, hoping and praying that everything will turn out all right, and the glorious days of the Titans will return.
Alone in the room, Robin held a hand up.
It's supposed to be simple, but it's not.
Become what you can be.
It's about you, it's always been about you.
Magnificent, ideal color of grey.
He clenched it, making a determined gesture.
The thunder storm outside the tower had yet to cease.
---
Some closing notes: Don't worry, anyone who thinks I'm ending this, I was just being weird. I'm still thinking about if I should try soy milk. Rose said it was good with chocolate soy milk, so I'm going try that with cooking. Also, Robin's problems have yet to be confronted fully, this is just an aspect.