Richard sat in Slade's lair doing nothing unparticular. Slade came up to him.
"Will you be arranging another meeting with Starfire, Richard?" Slade asked tauntingly.
"No…..that won't be necessary." Just then a loud explosion broke the wall and the titans stood there.
"Richard, I trusted you not to tell."
"I didn't!"
"He is right," Starfire began, "I planted a tracking device on him."
"Very well. Apprentice, attack." Richard did as he was told and to escape Cyborg's blast he jumped up to the roof from the big hole in the wall. He was about to jump off when Starfire flew up in front of him, Starbolt in front and ready to fire.
"Do…..not…..move." She said sternly.
"Richard! Don't just stand there! Get you're thermal blaster!" Slade commanded. Richard did so and Starfire and him were in a face off.
"Starfire, move!" She shook her head, "Please move!" She still did not and they were like that for a while.
"Richard, you are my best friend and I love you," Richard's face showed a look of surprise, "But if you are truly evil, if you are truly against us…….I will not move. You are a criminal and I can not let you pass. I do not wish to live in a world where we must fight, but if you are truly gone……do what you must." Richard's eyes faltered only a little before he blasted and so did Starfire. The attacks collided with each other and both of them flew back at the impact of the attack. They looked at each other once the smoke cleared. Richard's eyes showed hurt and sorrow, and then ran up to Slade as they left. Starfire dropped her head and let tears flow.
"Very good, Apprentice. You are getting much better."
"Please," Richard said barely above a whisper, "Please don't make me do this. I can't stand having to face her."
"Why? Oh, because you've let her down?" Slade said emotionless.
"Please!" He said louder, "I know what I've done, but I can't stand looking at her in the face. I can't do this anymore."
"Well you'll have to, or else she dies." Richard dropped his head. The next day, the Teen Titans attacked Richard again, as he was trying to do a mission. He fought them all and then came to Starfire, hate filling her eyes, as well as hurt.
"Starfire please! I don't want us to fight!" Starfire prepared a star bolt.
"I am sorry Richard, but I do." She sent the star bolt and it hit him directly on. He flew across the room. He looked up and saw Starfire flying at him. They were in a full out fight.
"Starfire! Please I have no choice! I'm doing this to protect you!"
"Do me a favor, and stop trying to be the hero." Starfire said, and punch him in the gut, "Nothing can change what you have become, so stop fighting it, and start fighting me." She said, hatred boiling in her eyes. Richard glared through his mask.
"As you wish." This time he was really fighting her. His punches made connections, but she recovered quickly. Richard was surprised at how skilled she was, not to mention she had powers of her own. They fought for at least twenty minutes, neither one of them backing down, "Starfire I have no choice! Nothing you say can make me change my mind! I will not leave Slade and lose you!"
"In a way you just have." She said. He looked confused.
"Huh?" her gaze shifted behind him. He turned around only to be blasted by Cyborg's Sonic Cannon.
Richard woke up to be greeted by his head whacking against the floor. He was moving. He sat up and went to hold his head and discovered his hands were handcuffed, "What?" He said to himself. Soon the car screeched to a halt. The doors opened and Richard cooperated as he was lead to his chamber. He was there for three days, just thinking about Starfire, 'Her eyes, they were painful to look at. She was so angry with me. They were full of anguish and hatred and…..god I can't stand thinking about her anymore!' he heard a guard come down to his chamber.
"Mr. Grayson, you've got a visitor." Richard was lead out to the visiting area and had a seat behind the glass. Who he saw was someone he didn't expect.
"Bruce?"
"Hello, Dick." Richard winced at how he had said his name, "Well I must say, this is the last place I'd ever think to see you."
"Bruce I—
"I don't want to hear it, Dick; there is no excuse for what you have become."
"I had no choice!"
"There's always a choice!"
"Not this time!" they yelled at each other drawing some attention, "Bruce, Slade had the upper hand! If I quit and went with the titans then he would've killed Starfire."
"Why her? He could threaten anyone's life, why would he choose her?" Richard looked away ashamed.
"Bruce, I…..I love her—
"Dick," Bruce said in an angered voice, "How could you do one of the biggest mistakes! I told how many times to never reveal feelings! I told never to even get those kinds of feelings!"
"I'm sorry! I couldn't help it! She believed in me and now, she hates me, she put me here……where I belong. I've been informed earlier that I'll be receiving the death penalty. This and Salt Lake city Prison are the only two places in America that still shoot people to death for the death penalty. Did you know that?" He said sarcastically.
"Dick I don't want talk of this."
"What should it matter? I've got two days, and then it's over. I must say I am a little relieved that I'll be free from Slade."
"If there wasn't glass separating us I would kick your quitting little ass! What is the matter with you, Dick! How can you talk like that?"
"Bruce! Have you not heard anything I've told you? It's over! I'm over!"
"Dick, it could've ended long ago. You can beat Slade easily, and he knows it, and fears it. That's why he had to use Starfire. He knew that was your weakness." Bruce stood up and left. Richard sat in his cell again, thinking about what Bruce had said, and knew it was true. Soon the day came for his time to end. He was brought out and stood up against with wall with permanent blood stains smeared all over. Ten guys with guns stood there, ready to fire. He looked at them and saw the third one from the right noticeably shorter than the rest, and smiled inwardly not wanting to laugh. He heard the guns all cocked, only one of them had bullets. He shut his eyes and waited for it. Numerous gun shots went off, and he lost all thought and feeling.
He felt himself open his eyes, and saw he was in some kind of van. He looked around, "What the hell?"
"Hey, glad to see you're awake, this is the white van that takes you to heaven." Richard's eyes widened.
"A van? Heaven drives a van?"
"Naw I'm just messin with ya."
"That voice. Why does it sound so god damn familiar?"
"Hey watch yo mouth! There is a lady present!"
"What? What is going on?" Richard was completely confused. He was dead and in a van taking him to heaven, well he thinks that's what it is, "Please tell me we're almost there."
"Yes we have almost reached are destination." He heard what was no doubt the voice of an angel. He looked up at the passengers seat and saw the short guard. His eyes widened and he stood up.
"Hey, hey! No standing while the van is in motion!"
"Shut up Cyborg." Richard said automatically without even thinking. He made it to the passengers and the figure turned to him with the greenest of eyes. He pulled the hat off the guards head and red hair cascaded down. He just stared at her and in an instant he kissed her.
"Aw yah!" Cyborg said and then looked at the road almost missing his turn. They got to the tower and Robin had still not parted with Starfire. He picked her up and carried her in. They were kissing even when Beast Boy greeted Richard
"Hey dude, what's…..up?" Richard walked by and went to his room with Starfire, "Dude," He said to Cyborg, "Is Robin going to get action?"
"Looks like it." Raven smacked them with two books thrown at them by black energy. They both said Ow.
"Richard." Starfire moaned. He kissed her again and Starfire sat up, "Richard, I am…..sorry for doubting you—
"Don't. You were right to."
"But I did not wish to fight you."
"I know that now. Don't worry Starfire, I won't let Slade do this to me anymore," He pressed his forehead against her and smiled, "I love you." Starfire smiled and he kissed her once again, lowering her down on the bed, now being on top of her. He sat up suddenly, "Hey, how did you…..I mean well. How did I not die? How did you get the gun with the bullets, and how did you know. They never know who has the bullets in it."
"Well we did not send you to jail not knowing what would probably happen. Raven helped me sneak in and we took care of one of the guards and I simply changed into his attire. I found my way to where the guns were and found the one with the bullets and made sure to remember where it was. When the day came of your execution I got the gun and I took the bullets out and put a kind of tranquillizer that Cyborg had made to make you appear dead. I volunteered to take your body to where they go and then I met Cyborg out in the van."
"Wow, I really didn't expect for you to do that. I thought you guys hated me…..and I didn't blame you."
"Richard please, do not be like this."
"But Starfire! The way you looked at me, you were so mad! You hated me—
"I did not, Richard. I could never hate you. I was just…..well angered! You would be too."
"Starfire, when Slade finds out, well…..I'm not going to give in again. I'm going to finish this." They heard a knock on the door.
"Is it safe for us to come in or will our minds forever be scarred?" Beast Boy said and then, "Ow! Raven that hurt!"
"Yah come in." The three walked in and Cyborg tossed Richard something.
"You know, it was getting pretty dusty." Robin looked at his Teen Titan Communicator.
"You…..You want me back?"
"Naw we just busted you out of jail with a faked death to kill yah ourselves." Cyborg said sarcastically.
"Robin," Raven started, "We know why you did what you did, and it doesn't make you a bad person. You love Starfire and just wanted to keep her safe. There's no crime in that."
"Except for the crimes you did." Beast Boy said and received a pound on the head from Cyborg.
"Guys, I don't know what to say," The alarm went off flashing red. The team looked at Robin. He smirked, "Well that's not entirely true," He stood up, "Titans! Go!"
They reached the warehouse, and were attacked by Slade's drones. They fought them as usual. Starfire had flown off after a small group running away and took care of them, and found herself staring at Slade.
"Slade."
"Hello my dear." She fired a star bolt at him but he dodged it easily. She did it again and again but he still did. He reached her and punched her. She hit the ground. He jumped at her but she kicked up and sent him back. She flew up and attacked him with a stream of star bolts. Most of them made contact. He grabbed her foot and threw her down. She still battled but was weakening. Slade's mask was cracked, from a star bolt. He walked over and kicked her down. She yelled in pain. He grabbed her by the hair, "I must say, you are quite the fighter. I'll give you that much credit." A freezer disk flew and hit him.
"Sorry, but you have overdraft!" Robin jumped and delivered a spin kick at Slade.
"You never learn your lesson do you Robin?"
"Actually, I have…and it's this!" he punched him square in the jaw. He kicked him in the chest and Slade grabbed his foot and tossed him. Robin got up and took out his retractable Bo Staff, as did Slade. They fought again and soon Slade had control over both. Robin stood there for a moment before Slade attacked. Robin dodged as best as he could, but he still got hit a few times. Slade knocked him down on his back, the two Bo staffs aiming downward at Robin. He saw his chance and grabbed both Bo staffs by the ends and twisted them around, twisting Slade's arms a bit. Robin kicked his feet directly into Slade's chest. Slade let go and fell to the ground. Robin had the Bo Staffs in his hands, "No more Slade. I'm through with being your Apprentice, but most of all, I'm through with you. It's over. You're over."
"I'm afraid not." Slade jumped up and attacked Robin. Robin wielded the two instruments but Slade knocked one of them out and it slid across the floor. Robin fought with one and Slade did the same, "You see Robin? You can't beat me. You never could and never will. I'm simply better."
"No!" the fought and Slade was winning.
"Give it up Robin, you've lost yet again."
"I will not lose!" they battled but Slade still was beating Robin.
"You already have! You can't defeat me." Robin stood up.
"Yes, I very well can. And you know it…..Don't you?" He asked in a curious and taunting voice. Slade glared and attacked but this time, Robin was the one sending the hard blows, "I'm as strong as you, skilled as you. And as smart as you. And that very thought scares you. I scare you! You fear me, and what I've become." Slade tries to yet again beat Robin, but Robin still is winning.
"You can't defeat me! You are a mere child!" They battle again, but Robin blocks all of Slade's shots and delivers powerful blows.
"That's no excuse, and I don't want another." Robin did a spinning kick at his head and Slade fell over. He tried to get up. Robin walked over, "And you won't give another." Poles were surrounded by dark energy and began to bend. They wrapped around Slade's almost unconscious body. Cyborg picked it up and as he past, Robin stopped him and went over to Slade and removed the mask. His eyes widened. He put the mask back on and gave the nod to Cyborg to take him away. Later that night, the titans sat on the couch.
"So," Beast Boy started, "What face was behind the mask?"
"The dark side of the gene pool." Robin said as he got up. Beast Boy looked confused as Robin walked away.
"What? I'm totally lost."
"It was his father stupid." Raven said. Starfire got up and followed Robin to the roof.
"Robin, do not be—
"Starfire, I just found out the very man that I hate is my own father. How would you feel?"
"Robin, he is no father of yours. He is nothing like you."
"But then he is Starfire! We both think alike, act alike. We are alike! His very blood runs through my veins."
"But you are so, compassionate. Loving, kind, gentle. You are not evil like him. You may share the same genes but you do not share the same fate. You are good, always doing good to help others."
"You call murdering people good?"
"You felt no other choice. You are no criminal. You did your job to save others. Robin it is in the past. You must not worry about things then when it is now. Please, I do not wish to see you like this." Robin sighs.
"You're right, I know that. But, it'll just be hard to, well get used to for a while. But, I am glad that it's over." Cyborg and Beast Boy barged through the door, and Raven stood behind.
"Alright Ya'll! It's burger time!"
"Tofu Berger time!"
"Oh hell no, we ain't eatin your tofu crap!"
"It's not crap! It's tofuy goodness!"
"You're eating burgers!"
"I will not eat meat!"
"There's no meat in burgers!"
"What are you talking about!" they argued the whole way into the kitchen as the rest of the team went downstairs.
"Oh goody, I'm glad I won't have a headache tonight." Raven said sarcastically.
"Let's hurry up Starfire, we don't wanna miss when Cyborg stuffs Beast Boy in the oven!" Robin ran downstairs with Starfire flying close behind.
it is finished. lol r&r!