robin and star fan: Now that's not fair. I can't have a death on my conscience and still wirte fanfics. promise you won't fall over dead? LOL I really like getting your revews.

TitansFan: Course you did you deserve it. Glad you like the story so far.

clueless90: Glad you like it, now heres teh update.

Jadedea: Well you'll just have to read and find out.

moezy-chan: Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I really like suspense too.

Thanks for the reveiws and sorry this one is kinda short, oh well. Commence chaptering!

Chapter Four

What is his name?

Starfire looked toward the open sky and remembered something, or rather someone. "Raven you and Beast Boy must return to the tower and help Cyborg. I must see someone."

"Who," asked Raven.

"Someone whom we thought to be dead." Starfire took flight and left Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg in a state of perplexity.

BACK WITH ROBIN…………………

Robin lay curled up in a ball in the corner of his pitch-black cell. His breathing had become quickly and wheezing as if the air inside was more smoke than oxygen. The gel in his hair had slowly seeped out from the continuous flows of sweat that came with each of Blackfire's visits. She was absolutely relentless in her attempts to torture Robin into leaving the Titans, thus far he had been able to resist her efforts but everyday a little more strength leaves him. The small door in the wall opened to reveal the moonlight and Robin scrambled on over to it trying almost breathe in the light. He faced the blue tinted light with closed eyes hoping to absorb it like a plant.

"Interesting." He jerked around but only saw a vague shadow of someone at his door.

"Who's there," asked Robin with a scratchy voice.

"Who else could it be," the voice answered. Robin's face fell and he lowered his head.

"Go away, please." Blackfire stepped into the meager amount of light and shook her head at it.

"You now crave the light as though it were food or a narcotic of some sort. Simply interesting."

"What do you want with me?" Robin was nearly in tears from the sheer lack of just about anything. "Why are you doing this?" She smiled and bent down so their faces were level.

"I want what makes Starfire happy, what gives her the strength and the guts to get up each morning. I want you." She held her hand over his head and he felt the waves of numbing pain he been routinely feeling. This must've been an upgraded version of the Psion hand device, for he suddenly stopped feeling intense pain and a strange gentle sensation filled his mind. His face slacked and he let out long slow sighs. "It feels so good doesn't Robin?" Robin was glad he was in the corner or he might have been able to support himself. It was as if all of his muscles had suddenly switched off. "Starfire could never give you these feelings could she?"

"N-no." An evil smile spread across her face. "Sh-She gives me better." Her smile faded faster than a burnt out light bulb. She promptly switched the sensation back to agony mode and bore into his forehead.

"This is unacceptable Boy Wonder! I never give up until I have what I want and your no exception." Robin gritted his teeth hoping the image of Starfire wouldn't fade from his mind to quickly this time.

ELSEWHERE………………..

A man walked into his house and closed the door behind him with a snap. He carried a single bag of groceries and a small bag slung over his shoulder. The most noticeable thing about him though was that he hobbled on a cane and moved in a limp as he walked. He made it into the kitchen and opened to pantry door to put away his newly bought groceries. Just as he was about to place a box of macaroni and cheese he paused and pursed his lips together.

"Don't you people have better things to do than harass me?" He closed the door and Starfire was standing before Kitaruo Himora. "After all, I thought we were done with each other." Starfire glanced around for a moment.

"I was surprised to hear of your survival," she said as he placed the last of his food in the fridge. "As was Robin."

"Oh sure he was, was he happy, sad, mad, or just glad?" He added with a small laugh. "What do you want?"

"Robin and Cyborg have been attacked," said Starfire. "And Robin has disappeared."

"Now that's a shame, I'm sure that will cut into his crime fighting time." Starfire didn't answer but continued to give him a no-nonsense look. "And you think I know something?"

"I believe he was taken by the Psions, is it therefore not reasonable to assume that you might be knowledgeable on Robin's whereabouts?"

"Perhaps, if he was even taken by the Psions."

"If not would you know who did?" Himora waved her off.

"Will you just leave me in peace?" Starfire's eyes turned bright green and she grabbed him by the collar. She threw him into a chair and held him at bay with a starbolt.

"Why are they still after me!"

"I don't know," he answered putting up his hands.

"Why has Robin become involved in this!"

"I don't know."

"WHERE IS ROBIN!"

"I-don't-know!" He paused with his mouth hanging ajar. "If I did know anything, do you suppose I would still be among the living?"

"Then, you are not carrying out any assignments for them or any other?"

"In case you haven't noticed I'm not really in any condition to do so." He tapped his leg with his cane. Starfire stayed rooted on the spot but fell into a nearby chair and put a hand to her eyes, obviously trying to conceal her apparent tears. "Oh god, your not going to cry are you?" But as soon as he said this he regretted it for she suddenly let out a short gasp and a stream penetrated her hand. Himora scratched the back of his neck and rose up to the counter. "You uhh, you want some tea?" She looked up at him. "I've got earl gray and apple cinnamon." Starfire wiped her eyes and sniffled.

"May I have apple cinnamon?" Raven had of course introduced her to many different types of tea, but Starfire found she liked non-herbal ones the most. He nodded and turned back to the counter.

"Good, I hate earl gray." He mixed the leaves into a pot and heated it up. He glanced at her over the stove and sighed. "It's alright to cry." She tore her gaze from the floor slowly rose to her feet.. "I find I wake up crying these days."

"You-you do?"

"Being an assassin by profession will do that to you. Once your start seeing ghosts, they become the only thing you see. It's a nasty business to get into, and you should never ever get mixed up in it."

"But I was once," she said timorously. He shrugged.

"Well you didn't have much of a choice then." Starfire noticed a barely seeable bruise on the back of his neck.

"That is where my sister struck you yes?" He reached behind him and rubbed it.

"Yeah she didn't kill me but she did a number on a few of my nerves and screwed up my equilibrium; I'm permanently off balance." The pot reached it's boiling point and he took it off the stove. He poured her a cup then served himself. He sat down again and looked over his cane. "And now this is what I have become. A god damned cripple!" He threw it aside making Starfire jump slightly. "The only thing I'm good for now is living off government welfare checks." He sighed. "Maybe I should have gotten up so she would have just killed me and gotten it over with."

"No, you realized your mistake and though I did not approve of your method, you made amends." Himora cocked his head form side to side not really believing her. "I am truly sorry to disturb you….but I must find Robin." He took a sip of his tea and set down on the table.

"I'm sorry too, because I can't help you."

"Please you do not understand Robin is more than my teammate, more than my best friend. He is my soon to be." Himora looked up at her with an arched eyebrow.

"Really?" She nodded. "Congratulations," he said taking another drink.

"I do not expect you to understand but I feel as if a part of me is missing, I love him very much."

"I don't doubt that."

"Then why will you not help me!" He looked up into her wide imploring eyes.

"There are some things that some should just stay out of." She couldn't believe this. Himora was either unwilling to give her the information she wanted or he truly didn't know anything. Either way Starfire felt as if her time had been utterly wasted.

"Very well, I will leave now. I thank you for your time." She turned to leave and he couldn't help but totally cave in at her desperate state.

"Wait." She stopped and closed her eyes in hope. "I may know something." She let out a breath she had been holding in and turned back to him.

"Please, what do you know?"

"I don't know where Robin is being held but I think I may know who is holding him."

"My sister Blackfire of course."

"Yes your sister is a given, however there is someone else at work here and it's not her."

"Who, who is it?"

"He is very old, possibly a couple centuries and counting. I once carried out a job for him though I never saw his face, I only knew his name." By now Starfire was ready to jerk the information out of him.

"Who! Who is it!"

"He is called…. Ra's Al Ghul."

Sorry for the mega shortness of this chapter. It basically was a "talk" chapter anyway. I promise the next one will be longer and with action. Hope your liking it so far. See ya lata!