Hi…not really in a chatting mood at the moment...I think I may be an insomniac…either that or a vampire…
Azarathangel: Hey. I'm really glad you like the story, especially since you usually don't go for fics like this. And, have no fear, for Raven may have a bigger part to play than you think!
Kazzy: (Wink, wink.) How did you know! Yeah…Glad you like this; I'm going to update sooner now, but you'll have to give me a break for tomorrow night. I'll be gone for the night, but as soon as I get back in the morning, I'll post. Have no fear.
Cheerin4danny: Yeah, I know how much a finger burn can suck. I tried as best as I could to imagine how I would look and how I would feel, and then transferred that to Starfire. I do that a lot with my characters, in and out of Fanfiction. It helps you to understand your characters better. And, of course: poor Robin…
Pickles12 and Spud 1359: Hey, Spud. Nice to meet you-and I'm glad you're reading. The more the merrier. Anyway: The student is Robin. Also, Slade usually tests people before he makes any sort of bargain with them. Now, about Cyborg…I thought someone would ask that. I chose Cy for a few reasons: 1) I might've picked Raven, but personally, I'm a bit too attached to go after her just yet. Plus, it'd sort of suck if two girls got hurt at the same time. 2) Slade probably has no respect for Beast Boy, regarding him as if he's the weakest of the group. No real threat there, according to him. 3) I think that, if Cyborg really had the chance to cut loose, he'd be a pretty darn good fighter. Besides: he'd also replace Robin as the automatic replacement leader. Now, Pickles12: Starfire? Will she be all right? Hmmm…interesting question, no?
Alexnandru: Hey, man. Yeah…Slade didn't send Holocaust after Robin because he wants to deal with him first. He's got to…mess with his mind a bit, to twist Robin's thinking a bit…screwing up his thinking…plus he's never really been one to pass up an opportunity to meet with his "apprentice." Slade Wilson-Deathstroke? Hmm…yeah, the name sounds familiar…oh yeah! He's that guy that was reviewing "Not Again," and was trying to get you to work on a story with him...He's writing now? Weird... Why do you ask?
Anzu: (Growls.) I TOLD you not to call me that at school today…
…I feel like crap.
Chapter Eight: No
Robin-
He hadn't really realized how much energy had been building up inside him until he finally got the chance to release it. He'd started off walking, trying to avoid the ruined area, but everywhere he went, barricades of dirty, fear-stricken people blocked his way, begging for help, and firefighters asked politely (though Robin detected a hint of pleading in their voices) if he could assist them with their job of putting out the remaining fires.
No matter where he turned, screams broke through the air, adults and children alike, desperately calling out names of the people they belonged to, reaching out for that faint sliver of hope…He'd never felt so much loss trapped within one place, and the very effect was slowly suffocating from it.
Robin retreated to the rooftops, where he burst out into a frenzied run, as though he were being chased by an enemy that wasn't there. The air up here was clearer and cooler, and less contaminated with smoke; it gave him a chance to let his mind wander, from the injured Starfire, laying half dead in a hospital room, to the now surprisingly distant subject of Slade, to the utter anger and pain he'd heard in Raven's voice, to the new villain that had entered only today.
Who was this guy-if he even deserved to be referred to as a human being-? Was he after the same old, newbie villain thing: "I have come to take over your city, surrender now or die"? Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't…
So, why'd he feel he was leaning more towards the "no"? Robin had a knack for picking things out in people, like their personalities, and this guy seemed smarter than all the other weirdoes, such as Control Freak, or Johnny Rancid.
The last thing he needed in his life was another Slade…
Robin skidded to a halt at the very end of a skyscraper, surveying the place that had been his home for the past two years. Though most of it was still in tact, blackened buildings and tendrils of thick smoke clouded his lungs and vision. Who knew how many people had died? The idea haunted him…
This isn't your fault.
How could his conscience be so sure? What if he hadn't left his friends behind, where would he be then? Would all this have happened? Would Starfire be in her current condition? His head ached so badly…
He turned rubbing his head with his palm, and a black fist slammed into his face, knocking him over the side of the roof.
Cyborg-
Raven was still standing by the window, and her glare hadn't let up even a fraction of an inch. Beast Boy kept glancing edgily at Cyborg out of the corner of his eye, silently asking which one of them should make the first move. Personally, he didn't know how to respond. Everything was going so wrong…Were the Titans even a team anymore? What team could exist without trust tying together all the loose ends? He sighed, ran a hand over his forehead to clear away sweat, before he cleared his scratchy throat and said:
"Y'know, Rae…maybe you were a bit too hard on Rob-"
Raven turned her head slowly, the look in her eyes freezing him on the spot.
"I'm supposed to take this lightly? My friend and team mate is as good as dead, and all you're worried about is me being too harsh? There is no excuse for his actions, and you know it!"
The vase carefully placed on the bedside table exploded, smoldering lilies falling gently to the floor. Beast Boy squeaked in surprise, but said nothing.
"Raven…I-I know that what Robin did wasn't right…disconnecting his communicator, not telling us where he went…it isn't right. But he's our friend. He deserves the chance to explain his side of the story to us, no matter what we think."
Raven narrowed her eyes, thinking.
"But we don't know where he is…again. What now? At least one of us has to stay with Star, in case the doctors come back and ask some questions."
Cyborg looked over at Beast Boy, who remained silent, though he had a slight begging look in his eyes. And personally, Raven was in a bad enough mood as it was. She might blow Robin up before they even got the chance to speak with him. So…
"I'll do it."
Cyborg turned and pushed the door open, heading out into the city to find his friend…but he'd find a lot more than that…
Holocaust-
He could hear the kid coming almost a mile before he actually came into sight. That was another thing about the fire-thrower: years of experience and harnessing his powers had also given him the chance to sharpen his senses, mainly in the areas of hearing and sight. It gave him an advantage when it came to tracking and hunting…human beings, that is.
A glimpse of silver caught his eyes, and Holocaust ducked behind an electrical generator on the roof, watching the Titan pass by…Idiot. He'd never see him coming. Holocaust gathered a gentle glow to his fingers…the boy's back was to him…he jumped forward, ready for the fight to begin-
Robin-
He was falling through the air, hurtling towards the ground at a break neck speed-
Just like your parents…
"NO!"
Robin whipped his jumpcord out of his utility belt and shot wildly, praying to God above that it would hook onto something before it was too late-
A shuddering jerk yanked him sharply to the left, swinging towards the side of a building-he was going to splatter on the stainless windows, like an insect on a windshield-
Robin pushed his legs in front of him, bracing himself for impact. He hit the windows full force and went flying through, landing behind a desk. An office building, with a faint smell of something musty and old in the air…oh well; He'd been in worse.
Brushing dark hair out of his face, Robin crept to the edge of the broken window, peering at the building he'd just been smacked off of. Who'd done it? He hadn't tripped-his sense of balance, and the aching lump on his forehead rejected that theory. What the hell had happened?
There seemed to be nothing up there at first…and then, Robin thought he glimpsed a dark, imposing shadow, right before it melted into the shadows…
"Oh no…"
He hurried away from the window quickly.
Maybe Slade hadn't noticed him?
Yeah. Right.
Robin would've used his jumpcord to get out, but there was still the chance that Slade was waiting for him to do that. Better to take the stairs or elevator…
Stairs would take a bit too long for his liking, seeing as he was so high up, but in the elevator, there was a better chance of getting caught. Of course, in the elevator, there were various escape routes, and the stairs didn't really offer that much room for fighting…
Robin crossed to the chromium doors, jabbing the button quickly with his finger. He bounced impatiently on the balls of his feet as he waited; every second that the elevator took to get here was another second that Slade could creep up on him. He didn't want to see Slade that badly.
Finally, the metallic doors shuddered open, and Robin took a step forward, but gasped and came to stop at a screeching halt.
Slade stood in the doorway's frame, his single, granite colored eye as cold as ever.
"Robin: Good to see you again."
"No…"
Cyborg-
Duck, turn, roll, swipe-damn, he'd missed-punch, kick, turn again-
WHAM!
Cyborg flew backwards into the short cement wall that bordered the edge of the roof; he could hear it crack audibly beneath his weight. This guy was almost as bad as Slade…
"You ready to give in?" Holocaust asked tauntingly, sending a ripple of anger up Cyborg's spine. The teen lunged at the mocking form in front of him, hands ready to tear him in half. Both of them hit the rooftop with a smack, and Cyborg drew back his fist to punch-
His hand went right through the other man's head, leaving a dent in the concrete.
"What!"
"You should be careful-" Cyborg turned around and received another hit that sent him flying. "-Things aren't always what they appear."
Cyborg groaned, reaching for the roof border for support…
Only it wasn't there.
He fell himself slipping, and grabbed wildly for a hand hold of some sort but there was none.
Wind whistled in his ears and he felt his heart beating wildly in his chest-right before he hit the ground with a sickening crack.
The last thing he saw was a spiral of fire, heading towards him like a symbol of death.
Then his eyes closed, and he knew no more.
To be Continued…
This one's a bit shorter than the others, so I'm sorry about that. God…I feel miserable…I really hope I don't get sick. I've got things I have to do tomorrow…
Please review.
Over and Out:
Rebel-Aquarius