Disclaimer: I own nadda.
0 0 0
The Gray Divide
It all happened so fast, and no one could move. From behind Robin, Beast Boy made a small noise in shock. It looked as though Robin had finally fallen off his rocker, he was going to hit Star and there was nothing no one could do to stop it.
0 0 0
Star's eyes grew wide as she looked on in horror, she too was frozen in her spot. There was no time to make a starbolt, no time to duck. Robin was faster then just about anyone, it was too late there was nothing she could do but close her eyes and wait for the blow.
0 0 0
Speedy expected better from Robin, he'd never expect he'd hit Star. He was the all around guy, a gentleman, one who still believed in chivalry.You know, he'd pull out a lady's chair, help an old lady across the street. He wasn't the kind of guy who would hit a girl. Then it dawned on Speedy, a bit too late, Robin wasn't going to hit Star, he was going to hit him.
Everything seemed to go in slow-mo. Speedy could see Robin's hand drawing back, as he tried to move out of the way, but just as he started to move everything sped up. Robin's hand pushed forward like ball in a pin ball machine, and after that it there was no use in fighting it. He'd take the blow like man, he knew he deserved atleast a good hit in the face. In all truth it made him feel a bit better about himself.
Seconds ticked by that seemed like hours, but nothing happened. Speedy didn't feel anything. He couldn't help but wonder if Robin hit him so hard that he had passed out. If only that was the case, he slowly peeled his eyes open unaware that he had shut them, only to find Robin's fist so close to his face that Speedy could smell the blood. The orange haired titan blinked, afraid to say anything.
Slowly, Robin lowered his hand back to his side and took a step back. Anyone could see that it took something deep inside to hold him back from jumping on Speedy and wripping him from shreds. Aqualad noticed that his hand shook, but as to whether it was from rage or from the sheer pain of everything he couldn't tell.
0 0 0
Robin took a deep breath, wondering what in the world was holding him back from killing Speedy. He felt as if there was an actual force field in front of him so all he could do was lower his hand back to his side. There was something in the back of his mind, a soft voice, monotoned and deadpaned but it was there. 'Robin, you're better then this.' it spoke, and he believed it. His eyes darted over to Star who still was squeezing her eyes shut. But feeling his gaze on her she slowly opened them, little by little, until one was open and then the second one. She looked amazed, and her gaze feel on Speedy who was unharmed. Her green eyes turned to Robin, sorrow was in her eyes, but there was something else. Robin stared trying to figure it out, was there a glimmer of hope for him?
No, there wasn't, because that emotion in her eyes was pity. That wasn't what he needed.. Robin could handle anything the world threw at him, everything but.. pity.
He swallowed hard and leaned in closer to Starfire, his mouth by her ear. Speedy stiffened, you could see he was ready to snap Robin's neck, but that made him smirk. A small sadistic kind of smirk.
0 0 0
Starfire peeled her eyes open after not feeling anything, or hearing anything. Afraid for the worst, she was surpised to see Robin just standing there, hands at his side, and Speedy seemed just as shocked as she was. She was watching her boyfriend, when she felt his hand go stiff in her's. Star turned her head, and next thing she knew Robin was leaning in, closer and closer. She completly missed his smirk, she'd have nighmares about it for weeks if she had seen it, because at that moment Robin would have reminded her of one person, and one person alone: Slade. A chill shot up her spine, she could feel Robin's breath on her neck, on her ear. It was creeping her out, but she didn't move, didn't pull away.
0 0 0
"Starfire, I hope you know that I hate you. With every fiber of my being, from the deepths of my soul I hate you. With everything in me, the whole me. I hate you with everything I have, with everything you know, and everything you don't know."
He pulled back, that smirk from his face gone. Robin saw the tears in her eyes, and though he'd regeret what he said later, and years to come, right now it felt right. He needed to say it, it made him feel just a bit better knowing that he still had some power over her.
Robin watched the tears fall with a taste of satisfaction that he made her cry, that he had caused her pain. Maybe his little speech would make her feel a fraction of what he was feeling. Maybe that would make her understand heartache and pain. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and that was an arctic chill.
0 0 0
Cybrog watched on in horror, he had heard what Robin said to Star, although the others did not. He saw the small sadistic smirk, which the others missed as well. It seemed as though Robin was more like Slade then anyone had ever thought. Cybrog swallowed hard, wondering if the line between evil and good in Boy Wonder's mind was even there anymore.
0 0 0
Speedy had his arms around Star before she could crumple to the ground. Whatever Robin had said to Star he didn't hear, and he never did find out what was said in that minute. He didn't want to, because he was afraid he'd kill Robin. Star melted into Speedy's embrace, she felt safe, and loved, but still her tears didn't stop falling. She knew what she did was wrong, but she never thought Robin would hate her. Maybe she should have thought more about it. But still she thought that after awhile they'd be friends again, but it seemed they'd never be more then a leader and his teammate.
Speedy watched as Robin walked away, trying his best to comfort Star who shook in his arms.
"This.. this.. cannot... be... so..." She said between sobs.
"Star.. shhh.. , we'll get through this. We'll all sit down and talk when everyone's calm." He said softly.
"No, not that.. Raven.. it's just that Raven..."
"Raven what?"
"She said that it.."
Robin had almost reached the elevotor when he heard Raven's name. What did she have to do with it?
"What did Raven say?" Robin and Speedy asked at the same time.
Starfire lifted her head from Speedy's neck, wiping her eyes and taking a few breaths. They both waited quietly as she composed herself.
"She said that these things happen, that it was okay." Star was talking about falling out of love, but she didn't make it clear.
"What?" Robin asked shocked. He didn't believe Star, she was lieing, she had to be. There was no way Raven knew about this and didn't tell him. "She knew?" he asked softy, his hands were shaking again. This time though one could tell it was because he felt betrayed.
"Yes, she knew. I talked to her about it.." The redhead answered, not seeing the harm in what she was saying. "She had told me not to string you along." Star finished off recalling events that happened not that long ago.
Robin stood there dumbfounded, first he found out the woman he loved, loved someone else, and then he found out his best friend, the one person he trusted the most, had known about it and didn't tell him? He couldn't decide what hurt worse, there was a saying 'lovers come and go, but friends are forever'. There was still a small doubt in his mind that Star was lieing just to get the blame off of her, but then he remembered his conversation with her that afternoon.
-flashback-
"Robin?" He turned at the door. "Promise me something." He raised his brow. "You'll always come to me for help even when you don't want to. Even when you think you can handle it on your own. Promise me that you'll always remember that I'll be here."
He was a bit confused but he brushed it off, Raven always had a reason for doing, or saying what she did. If he didn't understand now he's understand later. "Always.. I promise. You're my best friend."
-end-
It all made sense now. Perfect sense. Robin felt betrayed in every sense of the word, he'd never trust again. He couldn't help but wonder if Raven and Star stayed up at night and talked about him. How gulliable he was, how stupid he was. A horrified look washed over Robin's face, what if she told? Raven knew the most about Robin out of everyone on the team, she knew his secrets, his past. He swallowed hard, all the color drained from his face. It explained why no one questioned him about his mask anymore. Raven had said she took care of that, and everyone stopped asking, it never accured to him that she had told them what he had told her.
"Robin, dude, are you alright?" Beast Boy asked, Robin looked like he was going to faint.
Sweat trickled down his forhead, and he turned to look at BB, then to everyone else. How many others were lieing to him? Had he put Bruce in danger? He forced the lump in his thoart down, as Beast Boy took a step closer.
"Stay away!" Robin yelled, and took a step back away from everyone else. He slamed his hand against the wall, hitting the button as he did so. "I don't fucking need this shit anymore." The ding of the elevator sounded and he slipped onto the lift before anyone could say or do anything else.
That was the last they saw of Robin for the night, and no one dared to chase him. They all turned to Star and Speedy. Star looked at all of her friends, a look of shock, betrayal, anger, pity, and shame mixed on thier faces. If anything, she felt even lower then before, she thought they'd understand. The redhead loved Speddy, love conquers all doesn't it? This, the look on her friends faces, was the last straw, she couldn't take it any more. Star broke down into sobs once more, but this time she floated down the halls at top speed, leaving Speedy there with an angery bunch of Titans.
0 0 0
Once the doors shut Robin leaned against the cool steel walls. His breath caught in his chest, making it hard to breath. His breath came out in shutters as if he was stuck out in the frigid air. But really he was trying not to cry, his bottom lip trembled as he held back his tears. 'Stop it!' he yelled in his mind. 'You're Robin, the Boy Wonder! Sidekick to Batman, you're a superhero! You don't cry! Men, don't cry, get over yourself, suck it up. There's nothing you can't handle!' Though the voice in his head sounded confident, and stable, he didn't. That voice in the back of his mind was shut out by a different one. 'Bullshit Robin, bullshit. You're just like the rest of us, you have needs and wants. You have feelings...' It sounded too much like what Raven had said earlier, but this voice spoke the truth that'd he'd never admit outloud. Something else bothered him about that voice, it sounded way to much like Raven for his liking.
The elevator dinged, and he stepped out, rage coursed through his veins. The Boy Wonder didn't want to cry anymore, he wanted to hit something, or someone.
0 0 0
"And you were afriad of a bunch of drunken idiots disgracing the Titan name!" Beastboy more or less yelled as he began to move towards Speedy. There was something in his eyes, Speedy felt like a trapped animal and it didn't help that Cybrog was looming over him as well.
"I-I-" Speedy studdered, not sure of what to say.
"Just, can it! You're so lucky right now that you're a Titan.." Cybrog said cracking his knuckles as if he was infourcing his point. "Because if you weren't, well then I'd don't know what would happen to you." He snarled. Anger was not something Speedy liked on his face, there was no doubt in his mind that the half man half machine could squish him like a bug. The two Titans continued to walk towards him, Speedy seemed to shrink in size.
Until, a speak of black stepped infront of him and held up his hand. It was none other then Aqualad, and he seemed to protecting the arrow shooting Titan. Beast Boy looked hurt, and rejected for a spilt second then it was gone, the fire was back in his eyes, with a new blaze to them.
"How can you take his side!"
"I'm not taking his side." Aqualad defended himself. "I'm just as ashamed as you are." He glanced over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes at his teamate. "He's a disgrace, but this will not solve anything."
Cybrog sighed, and lowered his hands. "He's right man." Aqualad was right, pounding Speedy into a bloody pulp wouldn't solve anything... despite how much he wanted to.
Beast Boy was glad that Aqualad wasn't taking his side, he was afraid that his ebony haired friend had a soft spot for Speedy. "Alright dude, you seem the be the only one thinking with a clear mind.. " Cybrog held back a scuff, even if BB was right. "What do you think we should do?"
Aqualad lowered his hand, and stood there for a moment as Cybrog leaned against a near by wall. He was having issues trusting himself not to pounce on Speedy. "I've been thinking about this for sometime now.. What if Star goes back with Speedy?" Cybrog was about to point out one rather larger flaw in his plane: They'd be a Titan short. "I know what you're thinking, and while Star returns with Speedy.. I'll stay here."
Beast Boy liked this idea, but as much as he liked it, he'd miss Star. Even if she was a two timing meanie-head, she was still his friend. And the sole person who laughed at all his jokes. Cybrog felt the same way, Star was like a little sister to him (even if she was older) and despit the fact of what she did, she was still a good person.
Aqualad seemed to see the doubts in his friends' eyes. "Look, I know you're not with this plan one hundred percent, but just think for a second... If she stayed here do you really think things would work out? Would the team be able to perform just like before? Life here back the Tower wouldn't be so easy either. You guys would be like the middle man, feeling torn between two friends.."
"I guess you're right, I know Star messed up and all, but she's a good person deep down.. I'd hate to see her go, but no matter what we do things would never be the same." Cy said, and he smaller, green, teammated showed he agreed by nodding his head.
Cy turned to Speedy, who still hadn't moved, but had been listening the whole time. He liked the idea of having Star closer to him, but he didn't want to lose Aqualad. Something inside him told him that he had already lost him. "You, go tell Star to pack and get ready. Tell her not to worry about trying to take everything, just enough to last her a week or two, then she can come back and pack everything up. And hurry too, you've guys got a plan to catch at six thirty." Speedy looked at him watch, it was a bit after five.
With one last glance back he saw alot of emotions, but the one that stuck out the most was dissapointment. His friends was disappointed in him. What happened to "Love Conquers All?", he thought his friends would understand. Not at first, of course, but in time he hoped to get them back.
Speedy walked passed BB, who shot him a dirty look, and pressed the button for the elevator.
"Shouldn't we ask Raven about this? This is a team decision, isn't it? Besides, she might not like being the only girl.." Aqualad asked, looking at Beast Boy and Cybrog.
"No, who cares." The green one answered cooly.
"Why not?"
"What should she care? I mean, heelllo, she's the one who told Star it was okay to cheat on Robin."
"Yeah, man's got a point." Cy added in, what happened to the big brother?
"If she doesn't care about the team, about Robin, who you know she's the closest with, then why should the team care about her? She doesn't even like me that much, never laughs at my jokes.. And have you seen her room? Crreeepy."
Aqualad made a noise that sounded like an 'Oh' and shrugged. It explained why Robin freaked out more when Star said Raven had something to do with it. 'What a bitch.' he thought to himself, following his green friend down the hallway, with Cybrog in tow.
Speedy was still standing there, they had carried on without knowing (or caring) that he was still standing there. He was a bit dumbstruck. How easy were they willing to forgive Starfire, and here they were bashing Raven. Speedy shook his head, and stepped onto the elevator, his thoughts still swirled in his head. He didn't understand why they had forgiven Star without batting an eye, and yet hate Raven so suddenly.. And she wasn't even there to defend herself. He sighed and leaned on the back wall. Speedy never believed there was a set line that seperated the good and evil in the world, black and white if you will. He always thought, no he always knew, that there was a section of gray, where the two met. It's what made a man stealing bread to feed his family alright, he couldn't excatly explain it. It was wrong to steal the bread but his reasons for doing it was good.
The archer shook his head, it was begining to ache. His thoughts drifted to what he was going to tell Star.
0 0 0
Author's Note: Whee, it only took me less then two weeks to update! Feel proud! Some important things have happened since my last update (March 1st). One is I turned Fifteen on March 2nd, and the second thing is on March 9th my mommy had a beautiful baby girl! So that makes me a Big Sister times 4, hehe. That brings the total of daughters up to four, and there's only one son. :D
Now the story, I'm not sure if Speedy and Aqualad are in character at all. I missed both Titans East Part l & ll, so yeah, I winged it. I also hope I was able to explain what the title meant, and that it didn't seemed to forced. Like the whole "We hate Raven thing" If it was forced, me sorry. For those who didn't notice, that small voice in the back of Robin's head is Raven. She's what keeps him grounded. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and how I made Robin like Slade, he's alot like him. Atleast I think so.
Raven next chapter, I promise!
Thanks to: Rinagurl13
The Wings of a Raven: Yeah, I don't like Star that much either. I don't think they're will be much Star bashing, sorry. Heh, Robin's going to feel real dumb.
Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: Lol. I wanted to make Star look bad, and I wanted her love for Speedy to seem legit. That seems like a great idea, but as you might have noticed, that's not going to happen. Robin's pissed at Raven too, all because of naive Star. But everything will work out in the end. And was this fast enough for ya?
otakualways: Raven's still in bed, but her voice stops him. She has a big role in his life. The summary will make sense in the next chapter or so.
Lain the Fluff-Master: Well I think my story loves you too. Don't worry about sounding like character-nazi, I want to make sure the are atleast somewhat in character. I hate it when I read a story and there are so OOC that it's not even funny.. I never wanna be like that.