Evil: The Other Side
by Blair Lebeau, SocialButterfli
Summary:
Starfire has always been sweet and innocent. But when Slade realizes her power, he brainwashes her to become his next apprentice and the Titans can only watch as she embraces the other side. Is it possible that Starfire has become truly evil? RobStar
Disclaimer:
You'd think that if I owned Teen Titans, I would have told you by now. But I don't. Still. Damn.
Quote:
"I can't." –Robin
Part Three: Evil
Chapter Ten
Robin lay on his bed, staring at the plain white ceiling. He could just barely make out his friends' hushed voices, talking in concerned tones about what would happen the next time they had to face Starfire. It was only a matter of time. Slade would want to strike again when the pain was fresh, when they were still weak. They all knew it, and they all knew Robin knew it, but they wanted to spare him as much as they could after all he'd been through. They thought he was still asleep, blissfully ignorant of what had happened the day before. But if they thought slumber would cure his heart of its sickness, they couldn't have been more wrong. No matter what he did, she haunted him. Her face with those narrowed eyes was imprinted in his mind, her cruel and mocking laughter was still ringing in his ears, and he could still feel that deceitful kiss on his lips. He couldn't escape her.
All of a sudden, the quieted voices stopped, followed by reluctant footsteps and a delicate tap on his door. Even though he knew it was impossible, he hoped beyond all hope that when he opened the door it would be Starfire, and she would shout, "April Fool's!" because she didn't understand that the fooling part had to take place on the first of April, and it was all just a big, terrible joke. But the door slid open to reveal Beast Boy, and Robin knew he shouldn't feel disappointed. But he did.
"Oh, you're awake," Beast Boy said, looking surprised.
"Yeah." There was a moment of silence while Beast Boy waited for Robin to invite him in. Robin was about to say that he'd rather be left alone, but then thought better of it. Instead, he motioned for Beast Boy to come in. The truth was, the last thing Robin wanted was to be left alone.
Beast Boy and Robin just stared at each other for a minute, both knowing what Robin wanted to ask but neither being ready for it. Finally, Robin just came out and asked. It did nothing just to sit there and stare. He needed to relate to someone, and Beast Boy was the only one there who could possibly understand.
"Did you ever get over it?" Beast Boy shuffled his feet uncomfortably, then took a seat in an empty chair. Robin sat down on his bed.
"Not really. I had, kinda, come to terms with it, but this whole Starfire thing . . . it's bringing it back up. I always think about her, though, especially when I'm alone and lying in bed. When I have time to think, she's who I think about."
"How long?"
"How long what?" Robin struggled with himself. He didn't want to ask, because he didn't want to know the answer if it wasn't what he wanted to hear. But he needed to know.
"How long until the pain goes away?" He knew the answer as soon as he asked it, seeing the despaired look on Beast Boy's face, and knew that it was exactly what he didn't want.
"It doesn't." Robin put his head in his hands.
"I don't think I can handle that." Beast Boy shrugged.
"What else can you do? I went through it, Robin. I know how it feels. I know how you wonder how life can go on and how the sun can still shine when everything is so wrong. I know how you can't believe that you're still alive, how you don't know why you haven't died from heartbreak. And I also know the drastic measures people take to make the pain go away. Cause themselves physical pain instead, get drunk or drugged so they won't think about it, kill themselves so they don't have to feel anymore. Any of those options sound good to you?" Robin shook his head. "And even if they did, that would be too bad because none of us here would let that happen to you. You just have to deal with it." Robin noticed that though Beast Boy was trying to act calm and collected, the changeling was gripping the arms of the chair so tightly that his green knuckles were paling to white.
"Harsh," Robin mumbled. He was used to this from Raven. Not from Beast Boy.
"Yeah, well, the situation is harsh." They sat there in silence a moment longer.
"So what do I do?"
"Do?" Beast Boy asked, confused.
"Yeah. I mean . . . I don't feel like doing anything. But I can't just sit here and think about what I've lost. I need to . . . do something. But I don't know what." Beast Boy shrugged.
"I can't tell you that. It's different for everyone. I moped a hell of a lot, but there was always trouble that we had to go out and deal with and it helped to keep my mind off her and what happened. It kept me busy, and that was good. I just had to go on like things were normal. Then again, Terra wasn't a big part of our normal lives. Starfire was." Beast Boy saw the pained look on Robin's face, and quickly tried to correct himself. "Is. She is." But it was too late. The use of past tense made the situation seem permanent.
Was it?
And then, it happened.
They had known it would, but nothing could have prepared them for the dread they felt as the alarm blared throughout the tower. Robin felt his throat close up, knowing exactly what the danger was. Slade.
No. Not Slade. Starfire.
He couldn't do it. He couldn't face her. No matter what she was doing, he wouldn't be able to stop her. He remembered the face-off they had back when Slade blackmailed him to be his apprentice. Robin had been able to get past the other Titans. But when it came to Starfire, he couldn't do it. And neither could she.
The problem was, she would be able to now. But he still wouldn't be able to.
"We have to go," Beast Boy prodded softly. Robin shook his head.
"I can't." Beast Boy stood, and held out his hand to help Robin up. He didn't take it.
"I had to. And you're stronger than me, Robin. You're our leader." Robin looked up at his friend, anguished. He was glad he was wearing a mask, because tears were beginning to bead up in his eyes. He couldn't help it. He couldn't hold them back.
"What if I don't want to be anymore? I can't lead you into battle against her. I just can't."
"Yeah, well, that's not an option. You have to." Robin just shook his head again. "We'll find a way to stop her without hurting her. We will." There was another pause. "You have to face her eventually." Robin knew it was true.
"Okay," he whispered, finally taking his friend's outstretched hand. "Okay."
Slade smiled, pleased, as Starfire stepped into his view, wearing the outfit he had picked out for her. When the Titans saw her in it, they would get the message: she was working for him now. The Starfire they knew and loved was gone.
"Excellent," Slade said, turning to his computer. He pressed a button, and the information from the computer was transferred to the big screen that covered an entire wall. "I believe you are ready for your first task." The Jewel of Charta filled the screen.
"It is beautiful," Starfire whispered, gazing at the picture in awe. "I do not know why I did not see it before." Slade nodded, pleased at his apprentice's renewed fascination.
"I have found who is holding the repaired Jewel of Charta, and where. Luckily, though it was recovered on Tamaran, I was able to contact your planet, drop your name, and have it brought here. This was long before you joined me, but I knew that you wouldn't resist." Slade smiled at his apprentice, who smiled back. "It was a brilliant plan. I would reassemble the Jewel of Charta, and through you I would be invincible. However, a museum right here in Jump City intercepted the pieces, which turned out to be favorable because they repaired it for us. Now all we–or, rather, you–have to do is retrieve it, which I'm sure you will do with ease along with the help of a new . . . friend." Out of the shadows stepped a large silver robot, much bigger and more highly-developed than Slade's others. It was his secret project, and hopefully his most dangerous weapon yet.
"Ooh," Starfire giggled, clapping her hands with delight. Slade frowned at this. It was an innocent gesture, something she would have done before the transformation. He began to question whether or not Starfire was really ready to face the Titans yet. Perhaps such a confrontation would trigger her innocence. But it was now or never for the Jewel of Charta, and the evil smile on Starfire's face as she examined the robot was reasonably comforting.
"His sonic power well exceeds that of your old friend Cyborg," Slade boasted proudly. "He will go after the Jewel first, to throw the Titans off. They will think it is you they are to be fighting, but will be relieved to find my latest creation instead. And once they defeat him, which I have no doubt they will, they will have let their guard down and you are to fly in there, take the Jewel of Charta, and maybe cause a little emotional pain while you're at it." Slade smiled, tapping his fingers together, forming a steeple shape. He loved messing with the Titans.
Starfire, however, was more concerned with the robot.
"May I name him?" she asked. Slade grimaced. What the hell? She wanted to name him? That most certainly wasn't a good sign. But it wasn't a good idea to go against the girl right before she went up against her old friends. If he angered or upset her, she might be more easily triggered.
"I suppose," Slade said. She giggled again, causing the villain even more unease.
"I believe I will call you . . ." she trailed off, pondering the perfect name. Slade waited, tense. If she named it Muffin or Mr. Shiny, the Jewel of Charta would have to wait. Starfire would need another dose of evil. "Deathstroke." Slade's eyes widened, surprised, but a sinister grin soon spread over his face.
"Deathstroke," Slade repeated. "Perfect. And now, my dear, I believe you are ready to face the Teen Titans."
Okay so for those of you who didn't know, Deathstroke was Slade's villain alias in the comic books. I just threw that in there because 1.) I wanted to show that even though Star's heart had gained control earlier, she's still evil and 2.) I needed something to call the robot. So Deathstroke was born.
Guess what else? I'm going down to my beach house. Again. And I won't be back until July 8th! Which means more time to write, but no updates. Aww. It's just too bad I couldn't have left you on a more suspenseful chapter.
Also, another note I want to make clear: Slade is not hitting on Starfire. Eww. Yes, I am aware that he seems perverted at times and that in the comics he and Terra were sleeping together and in the show he does seem to act like a pedophile if you have a dirty mind, but in my story, he's trying to be more of a father figure towards her. So don't get any dirty thoughts, okay? That's just gross. And oh so wrong.
And now for reviewers!
Sugarland31: Robin's grief is definitely going to be a focus point in this story, so don't worry, there will be plenty of that.
xBxMYxJaMeSxDeANxcandyclouds: Aww, please don't be depressed and cry! That would make me sad. But thanks for saying that my writing is talented and heartfelt, that means a lot!
xox.Annie Potter.xox: Starfire being Slade's is not dirty! Get your mind out of the gutter,now! lol
darklight989: I have no idea who Erika is, but your review was continually entertaining all the same.
dragonofraven: He didn't snap, he was just defending her. What I meant by handling the situation was that he wasn't having a mental breakdown.
CidGregor: I freaking love you. You picked up on the father/daughter thing. You are my hero. Again. And there will be quite a few Terra references in the future.
Riles: You updated, therefore I'm laying off the harassing for a while. But you need to accept inspiration, missy, because I might get bitchy if you leave it for too long.
lil lanie121: I write all my chapters ahead of time, but I went back and found a place where Starfire calls Robin "Boy Wonder" and changed it to "Birdboy" for you. You can find it when I post Chapter 12.
Samanthe2121: No, I can't see Starfire having an evil laugh either, which is one of the ways she's terribly OoC. I can't stand it, but there's nothing I can do about it. Sorry.
JulesFire: Your computer always seems to get rid of your long reviews. I hate it, it's mean! But I absolutely loved loved loved how you called that section "artfully written". That was a major compliment, so thank you so much. And as for the grammar, I'm glad you picked up on that, because I can't stand awful grammar. Please don't apologize for it, I'm an AP English student and grammar is pretty much my life. Lucky me. As for the sound clips, TTHPfan told me that you can find them at www(dot)wf(dot)toonzone(dot)net and click on Teen Titans. And hopefully I will continue to meet those high standards . . . ooh, pressure.
TTHPfan: Aww, Beast Boy cries? Gah, why is CN taking so long to get The End out to us! That's so sad. And yeah, I wrote the explanation for what happened to Starfire after she fired off her star bolt in Chapter 9 because I wanted to wait until after everyone discovered that she was evil. Sad.
And that's all for me. The first part of The End is Saturday night! (Supposedly.) I heard rumors that CN was going to do all three of them in a row on July 4th, but I don't think that's happening now, which is a good thing because I'll be at a party and not near a TV, but a bad thing because I could have taped them and then watched all three in a row. Bah. Oh well. From what I've heard, it's going to be amazing.
What are you going to do now? Review! Sha-laaa! And try not to miss me too much!
Blair