Chapter Three: Robin's Choice

The next day, Robin was wide awake and working when the Titans walked in.

"Hello, friend Robin! We have brought you the food of junk!"Starfire announced happily. Robin looked up, grinning, as they entered.

"Hey guys,"he greeted.

"Okay, so we managed to sneak in an assortment of cupcakes, gummy bears, chocolate bars, a few cookies and some of Star's pudding of well-ness,"Beast Boy listed, whipping out a large container of junk. Robin laughed a little.

"Thanks guys, I appreciate it, but I'm really trying to stay fit and healthy while I'm in here so I can go back to my work outs and exercises when I get out,"he explained.

"So you don't want any of this stuff?"Beast Boy asked in shock. Robin shook his head apologetically.

"Sorry Beast Boy-"

"Sorry? Are you kidding? This means more for me!"he laughed, quickly digging into the cupcakes. Robin grinned.

"It's really good to see you guys again,"he said. Cyborg grinned too.

"It's not the same without you back at the tower, man,"he said. "Hey, have they told you when you can come back to the tower?"Robin sighed.

"Dr. Whitmore said I should probably stay in a rehab center while I'm recovering. She doesn't trust me not to try and work if I'm back at the tower, and she says she wants me to forget completely about work and concentrate on getting better for now,"he explained.

"Dude, does that mean you'll be gone for months?"Beast Boy cried through a mouthful of cupcake. Robin grimaced, nodding.

"Yeah...they said nine months at the best,"he admitted.

"You're going to be gone for nine months?"Cyborg and Beast Boy cried in unison.

"No! This is a...a...an outrage! We cannot work without Robin for nine months!"Starfire shrieked.

"Robin, that's too long for us to continue without you,"Raven replied reasonably.

"Which is exactly why I've chosen someone to take my place in my absence,"Robin declared. The others all stopped, staring at him.

"You picked someone else?"Raven asked sternly.

"Yes I did. I thought about it all night, and I've finally decided who can take my place. Someone who's as strong, quick and deductive as I am. Someone who I believe will be a strong leader for the team, and who can successfully take down Jericho,"Robin explained. The Titans all looked at each other in confusion.

"...who?"Cyborg asked cautiously.

"Red X."The entire room went completely silent. The Titans stared at Robin for a minute, trying to decide whether or not he was serious.

"Robin, man...look, those pain killers are pretty intense, why don't you give this some more thought..."Cyborg began.

"I know it sounds crazy, but if you think about it, it's true. He's just as good as I am,"Robin pointed out.

"Only he's a criminal! Dude, you can't seriously expect a thief to be the leader of a crime-fighting team!"Beast Boy cried.

"He's the only one who can fill my place,"Robin insisted.

"Oh, so you'd rather have a criminal take over than your own best friend?"Cyborg snapped.

"Cyborg, you know why I can't let you guys face Jericho alone! Red X may be a thief, but he's good, and you know it. He'll come through for you. He's just as good of a fighter as I am, maybe even better. And his thinking is just as quick. Trust me, he can do this!"Robin said.

"Friend Robin, he is the enemy! We cannot do this!"Starfire insisted.

"Robin, Starfire is right. He's a villain. Our enemy. He's done bad things, and he can't be the leader of the Teen Titans. Just think of the city, think of our reputation..."Raven said.

"He saved all of our lives. Is that an enemy to you?"Robin returned. The room went silent again. "He deserves a chance. I know he's a thief, I know he's a potential enemy...but I truly believe he can come through for us. Trust me."There was a very long pause, as all the Titans looked around at each other and at Robin. Finally Raven spoke.

"He is just as good as Robin...I'm just not sure his intentions are as good."

"Give him the benefit of the doubt,"Robin pleaded.

"I'm sorry man, but I can't do this. I just can't."And Cyborg turned, marching from the room.

"Cyborg!"Robin tried calling after him. But Cyborg was gone. Robin sighed. The others all watched him carefully. He stared back sternly. "I'm not changing my mind. Red X is who you need, and I'm sticking to that. If he gives you any trouble then you can come to be and we can talk about getting rid of him. But he deserves a chance. Can't you at least give him that?"

"I do not like Red X...but I do trust you, friend Robin,"Starfire said.

"Thanks Star,"Robin replied.

"Okay, next question: How do you plan on getting in touch with him?"Beast Boy asked.

"I have my own ways..."Robin replied mysteriously. "I'll talk to him as soon as I can and get the answer back to you guys."There was a small pause as the Titans all looked at Robin carefully.

"Robin...are you really sure about this? Maybe you need to put more thought into it..."Raven began. Robin shook his head.

"I'm decided,"he said firmly. And the others knew he was serious.

"Okay...we'll see you tomorrow then."And Raven walked from the room.

"Yeah, later dude,"Beast Boy added, grabbing his box of junk and following Raven. Starfire lingered for a moment.

"Robin...please try to get well soon,"she begged. Robin smiled at her.

"Don't worry, Star, I will. And you guys will be fine,"he assured her. Starfire forced a smile back, and left the room after the others.

The Teen Titans all met out in the hallway of the hospital. Cyborg had slumped to the ground, head in his hands. Raven was sitting cross legged across the hall from him, Beast Boy was hunched in a corner, cradling his box, and Starfire was pacing nervously.

"Hey guys...you don't really think Red X is actually going to do this...do you?"Beast Boy asked.

"I don't know...it's too hard to try and guess what he'll do,"Raven replied.

"I can't believe Robin is serious about having this guy leading our team,"Cyborg said, shaking his head. "I mean, he's a bad guy! He'd choose a bad guy over one of his own teammates!"

"Robin does not wish for us to be injured like he was,"Starfire said in Robin's defense.

"No, he doesn't trust us!"Cyborg snapped back.

"Come on man, you know that's not true,"Beast Boy said.

"Really? How do you know? Can you get inside his mind? Can you see what he's thinking?"Cyborg asked angrily.

"He trusts us, Cyborg,"Raven said suddenly. She gave Cyborg a stern look. "I do know what he was thinking about."Cyborg stopped, blushing a little.

"Friend Robin merely wishes for us to stay safe. This Jericho he speaks of sounds quite dangerous," Starfire said.

"Tell me about it. If he could mess Robin up like that, just imagine what he could do to the rest of us!"Beast Boy said.

"Robin needs someone just like him to be able to take his place, and that's Red X. We've seen them fighting together. They're practically identical. Red X could easily step into Robin's place, and we all know it,"Raven insisted.

"And what if it turns out he's no good? What if he just uses this as a way to do more crime?"Cyborg asked. Raven sighed.

"I don't know what Red X might do once he's in charge, but I do trust Robin's decision. He wouldn't be doing this if he didn't believe it was right. We have to respect his choice,"Raven said.

"And Robin did say that if we do not like this Red X, then we may make him leave," Starfire pointed out.

"Yeah man, we'll be fine,"Beast Boy agreed. Cyborg took a deep breath. There was a long, awkward silence, as he opened and closed his mouth, trying to decide what to say.

"Okay,"he finally said. "But he gets one chance. One."The others all nodded.

"Thanks Cy."