Falyn Anjel: I am amused that you find The Ring Master "hott", lol. It hasn't been the first time I've heard this, but it's always amusing to hear it again! Glad you like him!
Blue Eyed Dragon Girl: I'm glad you pay attention to the little details of the story and thanks for the pointers, lol!
Thank you everyone else who has reviewed and for the compliments! I love you all!
Chapter Seven: The Assistant
Robin allowed his eyes to trail off into the gray and lonely distance; he didn't feel the happiness he once had to ''cherish'' the moment. There was nothing to treasure as long as the beautiful Tamaranean was gone, the air that was once believingly cool was now harsh and cold. It said no words for they were stolen away, the boy wonder only pondered of his beloved one, he was so lost in heartbreak and thought he did not sense or hear someone coming.
''Hey man...''
Robin grunted hollowly.
''I don't wanna talk about it''
''But you need someone to talk to''
''She's not here''
The android tenderly sat down next to him, the seat that was usually occupied from the alien beauty; Robin had an urge to push him off the spot for poisoning such a sacred area with his own being. However, he was not in the mood to argue, he managed to look away as he felt the mechanical human's heavy hand pressed on his shoulder.
''But I am'' Cyborg assured "we all are here for you to talk to''
Robin shut his eyes tight restraining himself not to scream.
''There's nothing to talk about''
Cyborg stared at him dumbstruck.
''That is the worst lie you ever said, probably, why do you insult my intelligence and tell me something bogus like that? You think we all don't know why you're upset? Do you THINK you're fooling ANYONE?''
''I don't want to fool, I just want to hurt, kick and punch, to bring pain to that ruthless criminal... the same pain he brought to me'' he ended with a sigh
''Hey man, I know you're upset about Star, but it's not like she's gone forever. Terra and BB will wake up soon and as soon as they do, we're gonna bring back Star and take down The Ring Master, ok? Just wait a little longer'' he persuaded
Robin shook his head.
'' ''A little longer'' is not soon enough, Cyborg. I want her back: in this home, in her room, in safe arms, now, every second she's with that thug could be a second too late. For either her or me'' he concluded burying his face in shame with his hand
Cyborg paused a moment observing Robin's heartache and misery.
''...You really miss her, don't you?''
''...Even I can't comprehend of what I'm feeling, much less yourself or anyone else, it's just..." He sighed, caught in the heat of the moment, he thought it might as well be all right to tell him the truth. "...Whenever she's gone, I still feel alright because I know she's safe and she can come to me...but when she's gone, and I mean TRULY gone, I feel...like something's missing in me. Like incomplete, she just doesn't make me happy, she makes me feel: safe, warm, free...and loved. And no one else in the world or anywhere else could make me feel this way...and I just want that feeling to come back because it's so beautiful and pure...just like her'' Robin explained with a noticeable tone of grief and loss to his voice, talking more to himself than to Cyborg
Cyborg knew discussing about their missing teammate was not doing any difference to make Robin feel any relieved; if not, more worse and miserable. He stood up and offered a strong, yet gentle hand to his friend.
''It's getting cold, let's go back in tower and get some rest, you need it more than any of us tonight'' he suggested
Robin glanced at Cyborg just once before rising up to his feet, clearly rejecting Cyborg's supporting and walked past him without a word.
''I'll go back in, but I think sleep is not possible for me right now'' he declared depressingly
Cyborg frowned at the sight of Robin's fury and heartsickness that he had stored in his lifeless masked eyes and followed slowly behind, closing the door after himself.
Robin walked down the dim stairs to find Raven on their city radius and locating system typing away. Beast Boy frozen in his position, going through the peak of his venom draining and Terra laid on the couch still out with a large bandage on her head. The minute Raven heard Robin's footsteps terminate, she turned her head to see his cold sulking; in an attempt to make him feel better, she cracked an insecure smile stating ''Stop that, please'' written across her eyes. Robin completely denied Raven's plea as he just turned to go in the kitchen, Raven frowned at his rejection as she saw Cyborg trailing down the stairs with relevant sadness on his face.
''He's still hurt, isn't he?'' Raven asked
''No doubt about it, he hasn't eaten or drank anything since he came home, and has no intention on going to bed...he's heartbroken'' Cyborg replied dully
''I don't need to be telekinetic to see or sense that, it's all because of The Ring Master. I've been trying to find his locations, but he's hidden well. No scanner within Gotham's entire radius can find him... until he strikes again, there's really nothing else we can do'' the Azarathian frowned
''There must be...and there is''
Raven and Cyborg turned their heads to see Robin still cold in his eyes and fists clenched, their discussion of The Ring Master's location had triggered Robin's memory of what he found earlier. The Boy Wonder slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the perfect strand of the culprit's hair.
''See what you can find with this'' he ordered harshly
Raven surrounded her energy and levitated the hair strand to her: observed it curiously and placed the hair on the scanner, typed in data, and instantly, a location dot was marked across the radius screen.
''He's in an abandoned circus station, City section 8'' Cyborg reported
''Good, as soon as Terra and Beast Boy wake up, we can go and stop The Ring Master before anything else goes wrong''
About and hour or so later, Robin heard Terra's groans as she opened her aqua eyes finally regained in consciousness, and not long after that, Beast Boy moved, and finally flexed his body.
''THEY'RE AWAKE!'' Cyborg shouted in relief
Robin was barely hinted with the same emotion, but was not satisfied, not fully until he can have Starfire back with him.
''It's time to take that clown freak down''
they all speeded in the T-Car across Gotham, finally arriving in city section 8 at the peak of the night. Robin was the first to get out of the vehicle and saw the old abandoned circus station, he closed his eyes tight, trying to convince himself that what happened before was in the past and must concentrate on his present: Starfire. She meant much more than a horrific memory as Robin gulped loudly and marched to the old door.
It was locked, but it didn't stop the titans from coming in, with a simple tug from Raven's telekinesis the heavy lock that secured the door was off and free. Robin tossed his explosive disks as they blew the doors down, the five titans sprang into action and was readied behind the smoke.
''Aw, the Titans! Please, my friends come in, come in! Forgive me for my domain and its untidiness, but you came on such short notice…." chuckled the ear piercing voice of The Ring Master noting that they have busted in his hideout from behind a hiding spot. "Please, make yourselves at home..."
''The show's been cancelled, Ring Master, now where's STARFIRE!'' Robin barked harshly
''Starfire? Starfire who?'' The circus imposter played childishly
''Shut up and don't play dumb, asshole---IF you can help it--- just let her go, and you can get a minimum of 30 years in prison for cooperation'' Robin fired
''How tempting, but sadly I must decline'' he chuckled menacingly ''For I cannot cancel my performance...after all, the show MUST go on!''
''WHERE IS STARFIRE!'' Robin repeated
"do you mean, my beautiful and lovely----ARGH!''
Robin had just thrown a violent uppercut from his bow-staff
''NOW TALK, WHERE IS---AARRRGHAAHH!''
At that second, a blazing green energy orb had zoomed past by out of the corner of Robin's eye, the burning sensation knocked him completely off his feet as he landed hardly and mercilessly as he looked up to the one who had shot the attack.
The blood was sucked from his face as his jaw dropped and his mouth sucked in a tight gasp.
The Ring Master chuckled heavenly to himself as Robin was gaping with his bottom lip quivering.
''Robin, I'd love for you to meet my new beautiful assistant'' he purred
''S-STARFIRE!'' Robin gasped