Alone in the Shadows
by Blue Ten
Summary:
Robin has been alone all his life, even in the presence of his mentor he felt isolated. The Titans take a break from crime fighting to go camping in a beautiful forest and Robin is not too thrilled by the prospect of leaving his city behind. When a bizarre turn of events finds Robin and Starfire lost deep in the woods, can they save themselves from a strange new enemy? RobinxStarfire
Disclaimer:
I do not own Teen Titans.
Chapter 5: Finding You
Heavy droplets of cold rain, what seemed to be the physical embodiment of sadness, descended from the sky with incredible force and speed. The forest, which before, could be seen extending off into perpetuity, was now veiled by the unrelenting sheets of rainfall. Plummeting from the heavens, the impending flood created a sickening tempo on the terrain, with each tap and splash reminding Starfire of the helplessness that now dwelled silently within. The angry, chilling wind picked up the raindrops in its iron grasp, casting them like razor-sharp blades, slicing through the wintry air. The rain struck her sharply on the back; sitting in the midst of the downpour, the sounds of her cries were drowned out by the inexorable thumping the rain had created. The water washed away her tears before they could fall from her eyes. She remembered how warm she had felt by his side, safe and protected from the wind; she longed to feel that way again, but the forest would not allow it.
Looking up and staring longingly into the trees, Starfire ineffectively wiped the tears from her eyes. She searched herself, trying to find the strength to stand and walk. Deep within, she came across something. Memories.
- - - - - -
After a terrifying ordeal escaping the Gordanians, Starfire stepped out into the open, looking at her new friends as they stood together in victory on the small bay island they would later call home. She had since changed into a new uniform, leaving the old one behind with her past.
"Please," she started, causing the others to turn their attention away from the bay, "I look... nice?" she asked, looking at the others for reassurance.
Robin, the one Starfire found herself most taken with, stepped forward, a smile on his face. "I still don't know your name," he said.
"In your language it would be 'Star Fire,'" she explained.
"Welcome to Earth, Starfire."
"I thank you all for your bravery and help, and I wish to ask permission... to remain here," Starfire paused for a moment, looking over the group once, "where the people are most strange...' she trailed off, turning her gaze to Robin who stood but a few feet in front of her, "...but also most kind," she finished. Finding it hard to resist for some reason, Starfire turned her face away, blushing.
- - - - - -
Starfire sat on the edge of the tower, staring off at the sea and the rising sun, unsure of her place on the team, feeling rejected. The mere thought of her sister saddened her. She didn't want Blackfire to hate her, but her own actions had intensified those feelings. She placed the blame on herself.
Robin walked onto the roof, sitting down beside Starfire at the edge. "Hey, how are you doing?" he asked.
"I am... sad for my sister."
"And, for yourself?"
"I am just glad that the truth was discovered before I was replaced."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well... You--Everyone was having such fun with her, and then Cyborg said--"
"Look, your sister was... interesting, but she could never take your place. No one could ever take your place," at that, the two traded smiles as the memory faded.
- - - - - -
"Flowers that grow from trees. I have never seen this before," said Starfire, also captivated by the many trees.
"They're called cherry blossoms; sakura. They bloom around this time every year," Robin happily explained.
"They are quite pretty," Starfire reached up and picked one from a low branch. She looked at it closely, admiring the simple beauty of its colors.
"Don't pick any more," Robin advised calmly.
"Why not?" Starfire asked, looking a little disappointed, however, she knew there must be a reason.
Robin examined the blossom closely, "if we come back here tomorrow, you'll see," he said, giving her a smile that seemed to say 'it's something good.' Starfire smiled back.
- - - - - -
Starfire's heart began to beat faster as memories of the times she spent with her friends and Robin flooded her mind. Understanding how foolish she was being by letting sorrow overtake her, she stood and looked up to the sky, letting the rain fall on her face. She would not simply let these beautiful memories fade away and die; they were far too precious to be forgotten.
"I wish to find him and leave! Will you not let me leave?" Starfire shouted up to the forest, stepping down from the rock. Breathing in deeply, she closed her eyes and began walking, relying on sightless conviction to lead her. She traversed without apprehension, believing fully that she would soon see Robin again. As she continued, the raindrops became thin and slowly faded; the wind steadily died down, becoming a soft and comforting breeze; the air began to warm, and she felt a magnificent light spread across her face.
"Thank you."
- - - - - -
The columns of fire dotted the landscape, as numerous as the trees. Through Cyborg's eye, they illuminated the night like a wildfire that suddenly spread through the forest. They seemed to grow more abundant further into the forest as if they surrounded an epicenter. Cyborg stood still and blinked before turning his attention back to Raven and Beast Boy, who were looking at him expectantly.
"...The circles, they're everywhere around here. Raven, how come you didn't sense these before?" he asked, astonished.
"The same reason you didn't. I wasn't looking for them," she answered simply, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well that makes sense... It looks like they gather around a center of some sort, let's just head there and see what we find. I don't think Robin and Starfire are going anywhe--" Cyborg stopped as he looked at his arm; both of the blips had moved, suddenly much farther away than they had been when he last looked. "Whoa, they're on the move, looks like they're heading the same direction as us too. Let's get going," Cyborg began running deeper into the forest. Raven and Beast Boy followed close behind.
"Cy... What are we gonna do when we get there?" Beast Boy asked, catching up to Cyborg, still uncertain of how they could possibly help Robin and Starfire.
"Whatever we can. We've gotta try," Cyborg looked down at his arm, watching as the fire still radiated through his body. He wondered if it would ever dissipate. "Hey, Raven. Am I gonna be stuck like this forever?" he questioned, looking over his shoulder at the empath.
"It's hard to say. The nature of this energy is very strange... you might just be," Raven replied as she levitated herself forward through the trees.
"Great... So one day I might wake up in another dimension, right?" Cyborg asked, a little worried about his new situation.
"No. It's just attached to you, I wouldn't worry about it."
The trees gradually became less numerous as the three Titans continued running. In the distance was the sound of water. As they reached the border of the forest, all three came to a quick stop, trying to avoid falling off the short cliff in front of them. The ledge dropped off into a familiar lake, its surface brightened by the full moon.
"Hey, weren't we just here earlier today?" Beast Boy asked, regaining his balance as he backed away from the ledge.
Cyborg looked across the lake through his cybernetic eye. A huge plume of white fire extended far into the sky from the island in the center. "That's gotta be it. The source of the energy," he said, pointing toward the tower of luminance.
Raven concentrated on the energy and her eyes widened... it had a tremendous presence in the forest. "You're right, we have to get to that island," she said, now taking Cyborg's previous question into consideration... why hadn't she sensed it before? The only explanation she could think of was that this huge plume of energy appeared only recently.
"Huh, just looks like an island to me..." Beast Boy commented, looking perplexed.
"...Forget it. Just help Cyborg get over there," Raven ordered. Beast Boy nodded; turning into a pterodactyl, he grabbed Cyborg by the shoulders and began flying over the water. Raven followed by levitating. The closer she got to it, the more Raven realized how intense the energy truly was. As they neared the island's shore, the Titans' gazes centered on a figure sitting next to a tree. For Cyborg the figure was washed out, but still visible through the immense amount of light the column was emitting. Raven could sense that the energy was emanating from this person, who was at the heart of the island. The Titans landed on the shore, Beast Boy released Cyborg from his grasp, and they cautiously approached the center of the island, making sure to hide behind the trees as they advanced on the figure.
Holding their positions, the Titans looked around to the other side of their trees, examining the figure closely. "It's a girl..." Beast Boy said. The girl was sitting down in front of a tree, wearing a white dress. Her silver hair waved in slight the wind. Her eyes were open, but seemed vacant of consciousness.
"Who is she?" Cyborg asked, not expecting to hear an answer.
"She's cute. But kinda creepy... reminds me of someone we know," Beast Boy commented, absentmindedly.
"What--" Raven shot a penetrating glance at Beast Boy.
"Nothing!" he replied quickly, trying not to incur Raven's wrath. Turning his face away, he attempted to hide a bit of crimson that had suddenly rushed to his cheeks.
"All right, let's see what she's up to," Cyborg said. About to walk up to the girl, he was quickly pulled back by Raven. "Hey, what's the--" he started.
"She's in a trance. I can jump in her mind and see what she sees," Raven explained, releasing her friend. Cyborg nodded in response, feeling foolish as he retreated back to his position. Taking in a deep breath, Raven placed her fingertips on her temples, concentrating on the mysterious girl's mind.
- - - - - -
Robin stared at the ground as he walked, the words Cross had spoken coursing through his thoughts; he didn't want to believe them, but a great deal of what she had said was true. Robin had always felt alone... with his friends, with his mentor; isolated, misunderstood, and hidden in the darkness. He wondered if perhaps he had no one to blame but himself for the way he felt. He had shrouded himself with an impenetrable wall all his life. Forgetting about certain things, Robin looked up at Cross; she remained still, silently making her way through the trees. The things she claimed about Starfire couldn't possibly be true--she was as far from selfish as anyone could be. It was the mention of Starfire in Cross' words that seemed to signify deception more than anything else.
Robin thought about the cherry blossoms on the island and how he wanted to take Starfire back to watch the petals fall. He knew she would have loved to see it, but it was too late now; another opportunity missed. Robin clenched his fists. He wouldn't leave this place until he found her, no matter what Cross said. Turning away from his thoughts, Robin examined his surroundings; the trees seemed to come to a stop in the distance. He could hear water beyond the edge of the forest.
There was still time and Robin knew he could get Cross to reveal more. "Where are you taking me?" he asked.
"To the center. The way out lies there," she replied, sounding surprisingly honest.
"How did Starfire manage to find the way out?" Robin decided to play along with Cross' story.
"So, you believe me now?"
"I suppose I have to... Well, how did she find it?"
"One can find their way in this place, they need only understand what they are looking for."
Robin dwelled on her answer for a moment which sounded remarkably like she was telling the truth. He wondered if he could find Starfire this way. "She and I both wanted to leave, why didn't I find the way out?"
"She obviously wanted it more than you. You should ask yourself why you stayed, not me."
Robin scoffed at her answer, 'another lie,' he thought. "Why haven't you left?"
"..." Cross didn't answer. "We have arrived," she said, motioning her hand ahead of herself.
Looking away from the object of his frustrations, Robin could see they were now standing at the shore of a lake. The water was unusually still and didn't seem to carry waves--or any manner of movement for that matter--however, it still made the sounds of moving water. The surface held no reflections, clouded and ugly. Robin's eyes widened as he looked to the center of the lake; there was an island populated by trees, the same island he had walked on before with Starfire. The cherry blossoms had not fallen from the trees, but they no longer retained their beauty, now a sickly shade of gray.
"Follow me. The way out, is on that island," Cross stepped out on to the water, which astonishingly held her weight like it was frozen solid.
Robin made no movements, remaining on the shore. "Sorry, I've got other plans. I'm not leaving without Starfire," he said.
- - - - - -
Hearing the sound of water, Starfire opened her eyes, looking upon a lake, finding herself standing at its shore. In the distance she saw three figures on the other side of the lake; the first, standing on the surface of the water, a bright white silhouette at this distance; the second, on the shore, his cape rustling in the wind; the third stood tall behind the one on the shore, a towering dark form. Immediately, Starfire recognized Robin and began flying to him.
"Robin!"
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. Saturdays aren't good update days for me... what with work and all. However, I did watch the season premiere of Teen Titans. It's cool to get a little back story on Beast Boy. However, what I really can't wait for is seeing the Robin and Starfire centric episodes they have in store for this year. Inspiration!
Whoo! Random "Sisters" flashback!
Again, I apologize for the delay. Expect daily updates from here on out. Reviews are appreciated :).
(Edited on 5/23/06)
Wow... daily updates? I did that back then? Hehe, and I just reminded everyone too ;
Well, anyway, this chapter actually has a major change to it in contrast to the last few chapters' minute edits. I added a new memory (that's gotta be an oxymoron) during Starfire's flashbacks. One from the very beginning; her first meeting with Robin and the others. Also, I made an already intentional BBxRae moment a little more prominent :).
As usual, there was an excess of commas and quotation problems that needed to be dealt with.
Next Chapter Preview: Starfire has found Robin, but who is this dark man who shadows him? Next, Chapter 6: Losing You.