It was the morning after Slade had decided that he was content to live his life out as Robin. He had spent an hour last night writing in the Boy Wonders journal about his plans for his new life as well as read up on everything he could find on him. If he was going to be Robin forever he wanted to make sure he made no mistakes.
Slade was humming a merrily tune as he walked down the halls of the Tower for breakfast. Entering the main room he breathed in deeply and smiled at the sight of Starfire preparing her first normal earth breakfast of pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. Raven was helping her cook it. Cyborg had bought some doughnuts and Beast Boy had set the table. Silky was wearing a ribbon around his neck eating his breakfast of Tameranian food. They turned towards the door shocked to see him.
"Robin! We didn't expect you up for another hour. We wanted to surprise you. You have made such a great recovery in a short amount of time and you have been so nice to us we thought you deserved something special. So we have been planning this special breakfast just for you. Do you like it?" Starfire asked her eyes full of hope.
"Guys I don't know what to say. I'm speechless. Thank you, thank you so much." Slade said.
"I know one thing you could say. Lets dig in!" Beast Boy shouted tossing confetti all over him. Laughing heartily he plucked himself down and began devouring his share of the doughnuts.
"Come on Robin take a load of your feet. For one morning lets forget everything. Training, crime fighting, and saving the city from dangerous perilous. Lets just be regular teenagers having the best times of our life." Cyborg said escorting him to his seat.
He sat down between the girls and began to eat his breakfast surprise. The pancakes were awesome and the orange juice tasted great. He especially loved the doughnuts, which were a real treat. "This is the best breakfast I've ever had. You both did a real good job preparing it."
"Thank you Robin. Raven was the one who suggested that we do this in the first place. After all your sessions with her have helped you greatly and you have become a far more effective leader because of her teachings." Starfire said politely.
Turning to face Raven he saw her blush slightly. "Its no big deal. You helped me when I was going through hard times dealing with my father. You taught me there's always hope and that friendship is a great thing to have. So I thought I return the favor. Do you want to play a game of chess a little later?"
"Sure Rae. I love to. I bet I can beat you in six moves." Slade slyly told her. He was a great chess player and he was dieing to match wits with her.
The rest of the morning was spent playing volleyball on the roof. Then they went to the movies and had a blast. Upon returning home Slade and Raven sat down to their chess game. Cyborg and Beast Boy cheered Raven on while Starfire cheered for Slade. It was an intense match both players equally matched. Raven seemed to know every trick in the book, but Slade finally took a gambit and won the game. "Good game Raven. You did well. I guess I just got lucky."
"Luck had nothing to do with it. You played better then you've ever played before. Your game was a little different then usual and that's how you beat me. Congratulations. If you excuse me I have to go mediate." Raven said disappearing.
"Yeah and Beast Boy and I have to go work on the T ship. She's running a little sluggish and I want to run some test on it. Let's go BB." Cyborg said heading down to the hanger.
"Well I guess that leaves just you and me. Do you have anything you want to do right now?" Slade asked.
"Well it is time for me to give Silky his bath. Would you like to help me?" Starfire inquired picking up her pet and cuddling him close to her chest.
Slade looked at the little maggot with disgust in his eyes. He had tried all week to get along with Silky but Silky seemed to hate him. It was like he knew he wasn't the real Robin and was determined to protect his "mother" from harms way.
Starfire ran the bath water and got the sponge while Slade put in the bubble bath. Starfire dipped her soapy sponge into the water and began to scrub hard. "Now hold still Silky. This won't take that long. Why don't you play with your rubber ducky?" she said merrily handing him the toy to chew on.
Silky chewed contently on his toy and began to splash around causing the bubbly water to spill all over Starfire and Slade. "Silky stop it. You're ruining my cape." Slade laughed as a particuly large load of bubbles landed on his head.
Starfire giggled at the funny sight. Slade laughed and threw bubbles at her. With in moments the entire bathroom was covered in purple bubble bath mix and Silky was chewing on Slade cape while Starfire had the duck in her mouth. Gasping for breakfast they quickly cleaned the bathroom up and returned to her bedroom. "That was a most pleasant experience. Usually I wash my little bungorff with my tongue like we do on my home planet, but today I wanted to give him a proper Earth bath."
"Well I recommend that you stop licking him clean because that's not very hygienic. Still you're pretty amazing. I mean I don't think I could keep a maggot like larva for a pet. You make Silky seem like a cute little dog or cat." Slade said as he set up Silky's bed. With in minutes the little monstrously was asleep.
"Shh. I don't want to wake him. Let's go to your room to continue this conversation." Starfire whispered as they left the room. They walked down the hall to Robin's room. Slade opened the door to his room and gestured for her to come in. "I took the liberty of preparing something special last night. I hope you like it."
Starfire gasped as her eyes widened in amazement. There was a table for two set up in the middle of the room with candles and fine china. The food smelled delicious. She looked at Slade in wonder? "What is all this?"
"It's late lunch early dinner for two romantics. I thought I treat you to a home cooked meal. It took me most of last night to make, but I assure you it's the best. Please take a seat." Slade said taking a chair out for her and helping her get seated.
Dinner consisted of roast duck, squid plata, caviar, snails, and white wine and for dessert flaming soufflé. Everything was perfect. There was even violin music and afterwards there was dancing. Afterwards the two of them went outside on the roof to watch the moonrise and gaze at the stars.
"Robin I have never had such a wonderful romantic evening in my entire life. Back on Tameran I would slip away from Galfore and watch the stars wondering about what it would be like to fall in love with someone. I had always thought that my betrothed would be my soul mate. I was wrong. You Robin are my soul mate and I want you to know that I will always love you no matter what." Starfire told him gazing at him fondly.
"I to have never felt this way about anyone else Starfire. Before I met you the world was a dark place. I kept to myself and preferred to lead others yet I was stuck as a sidekick. But then you came along and now my whole world is brighter. You make me want to be a better person. I love you Starfire." Slade said passionately leaning in and kissing her on the lips.
Both were in deep lip locking embracing one another. Neither one wanted to let go. Time seem to stop for just a moment. Everything was just perfect.
Then there peace was shattered. Slade's desire to dominate everything wouldn't be suppressed. He had to own Starfire like he had owned Addie. He began to force himself on top of her his arms roaming all over her. Starfire started to struggle but he couldn't stop he was too far gone. Before he could began the final plunder a starbolt forced him ten feet away from her.
Starfire was livid. Her hair was flying all over the place and her eyes were glowing brightly. Her hands were tightly clenched and her body was tense with anger. "Robin how dare you! That is no way to treat me. Even my people have respect for people's privacy and sex life. Never try to force me to do that again or I will hurt you. I'm going to get some air. Hopefully when I get back your head will be on straight. Good night!"
"Starfire wait I can explain!" Slade called after her but she was already gone. "Good going Slade. Now she hates you. Just when you got in her all time good graces you blow it. Well I better go downstairs and see what the team up to. She'll come back soon. I hope."
Meanwhile Starfire was flying above downtown muttering angrily with herself. What was the matter with her boyfriend? He was so different lately yet at the same time he was the same boy she had fallen in love with. But the Robin she knew would never had tried to have sex with her without her permission so what was wrong with him.
She was so engrossed with her thoughts she didn't see the Slade bots following her nor did she feel the eye of someone on her. She had just landed near the pizza parlor when the first Sladebot appeared from the shadows and grabbed her by the hand.
"Let go! Urh!" Starfire yelled breaking free. More Sladebots appeared and attempted to grab her. She flew into the air and began firing starbolts after starbolt at them. Grabbing her communicator she flipped it open and shouted into it, "Titans! Emergency. Sladebots attacking me in downtown I need back up now!"
"We're on our way Star just hold on." Slade told her. He watched in horror as on the screen a Sladebot leaped on top of her and forced her to the ground smashing her communicator. "Titans go!" he shouted urgently
Starfire continued to struggle using her superior strength and eye lasers to take out rows of Sladebots but her attackers just kept coming. "Leave me alone! What do you want?" she demanded
"Isn't obvious Starfire? What we want is you. Now why don't you peacefully surrender and come with me? There's something of great importance I have to talk to you about." Robin said in a smooth calm voice. He just seemed to melt away from the shadows. He stood there in the middle of the street hands behind his back calmly looking at her.
Starfire's eyes widened in fear and anger. Slade was after her this time? Well she wouldn't give him the pleasure of capturing her. "Whatever you want with me you can forget it. You're not capturing me. My friends will be here soon." She boasted.
"Your pride will be your downfall. But you are right your friends will be here in moments. In fact here they are now. Hello Teen Titans it's been awhile. So nice to see you all again. How are you feeling Robin?" Robin asked innocently to Slade who growled.
"Your not getting our teammate so you can back off. Raven, Beast Boy take out the robots. Cyborg protect Starfire. Slade's mine. Go!" Slade ordered extending his bo staff and leaping at Robin whose own bo staff was extended. The two pieces of metal clashed as their battle began.
Slade attacked Robin with a high sharp right kick, which Robin blocked. Robin attacked with a rabbit punch, which Slade avoided. He threw smoke bombs to the ground to confuse him but he expected that and he tossed Slade over his shoulder. Slade then tried a freeze disk, which didn't work before going back to using the staff.
"What's your game Robin? Tired of my body are you? I've been keeping an eye on you. You seem to be quite content with being me." Slade hissed into his ear.
"Well at least I'm not stuck in the body of a powerless teen and living out my fantasies. If you've been keeping track of my activities then you know I've found a way to switch us back. Why don't you come with me? Starfire doesn't have to be involved with this." Robin pleaded
"Forget it. I like my new life. I have everything I've ever wanted. A home, friends, and a loving girlfriend. You think I'll give that up then you don't know me." Slade enlightened him.
"I am NOT going to spend the rest of my life as an immortal psychopathic freak!" Robin shouted shoving him away with his staff. Charging him he gave him a good roundhouse kick sending Slade tumbling into Cyborg. Beast Boy and Raven ran to check on them leaving Starfire wide open.
One of the robots fired an electrical blast at her sending her tumbling to the ground where it got her. Before she could begin to struggle it gassed her with a sleeping agent. Signaling for his robots to disappear they threw down a smokescreen and left the Titans on the streets.
"Starfire! We have to go after him. We have no idea what he wants to do with her but it can't be good. Come on let's go!" Slade said urgently rising to his feet ready to go after her.
He knew Robin was hoping to convince her that he was Robin not Slade. He couldn't allow that. He had to get to his hideout, which was situated. He hit his head in disbelief. He couldn't remember where his hideout was! He was so use to being Robin it wasn't relevant anymore. He growled in frustration and hoped beyond hope that Starfire escaped.
Starfire fought her way back to conscience. She blinked a few days before sitting up. She was lying on a cot in a dark room. She could hear the sounds of an electronic device up an running. She saw a door and walked over to it and to her surprise it opened up to a lit corridor. She hesitated for an instant then followed the corridor till she came to the main room. There she saw Slade furiously typing away on a keyboard. He sensed her presences and turned to face. "I'm glad to see you up and about. Please take a seat we have much to discuss."
"Stay away from me you monster! Whatever you wish to discuss with me is nothing but lies. You will release me at once and surrounded yourself to the police!" Starfire ordered him her hands igniting in with twin starbolts.
"Starfire please don't do this. I need your help. If you will just listen to me for a second I'll be able to explain everything ow!" Robin yelled as she hurled her starbolts at him. He flipped out of the way as she flew an attack run at him.
Starfire let loose a barrage of starbolts. She then shot out at him with her eye lasers. Slade ducked out of the way trying to avoid being hit. She picked up one of the computer counsels and hurled at him. He cut it in half. He then threw a smoke bomb down and extended his bo staff stabbing her in the stomach and bringing her to her knees. Slade picked her up and held her tightly by her wrists. "Let me go this instant! I will not help you! You are wasting your time."
"Starfire enough! I don't want to hurt you, but if you continue to struggle I can't guarantee your safety." Robin warned already feeling the desire to slap her across the face to shut her up.
"The Titans will rescue me. They will find you and once they do you will pay for all the pain you've caused us! Robin will find me and save me. You can count on that!" Starfire informed him while she continued to try to break free but his grip was iron tight.
"Princess Korianders of Tameran you will stop resisting me this minute and shut the hell up!" Robin snapped at her. Her eyes widened in horror and her jaw hung wide open.
"How dare you address me by my true name! No one is allowed to call me that except my people and my friends. You are neither! Don't think just because you know that little bit of information I'm inclined to listen to you. You could have gotten that information by hacking our systems." Starfire pointed out defiantly
"I could have done that but I didn't. Starfire I'm not Slagh! Argh! I can't tell you who I really am. But I can tell you that your Robin isn't the real Robin."
"Lies! Stop trying to fill my head with nonsense!" Starfire screamed
"Its not lies and I think you know that. Your Robin hasn't been himself. His mannerisms are slightly off, and he has gaps in his memory. I bet he doesn't remember your trip to Tameran, but I do. I remember climbing the wall up to your balcony to talk to you about your upcoming marriage. I consoled you and later I fought for you. Don't you remember?" Robin asked urgently.
"You are trying to confuse me. I don't know how you gained this information, but it won't work. I mean just cause Robin is a little different doesn't me he isn't who he is supposed to be." Starfire replied hotly, but he could tell she was starting to have doubts.
Robin decided he had to take a big gamble. It was the only way he get the help he needed. He gently placed her hands on either sides of his mask. "If you think I am lying then prove it. Remove my mask and look into my eye and see my soul. Remember the eyes are the window to the soul."
"Fine I will do as you say. Do not move or I will attack. I am prepared for a trick. Now lets see who you are underneath this mask." Starfire said. Taking a firm grip on the sides of the mask she pulled tightly and the mask came right off. She dropped it on the ground and took a good long look at her boyfriend's most feared enemy.
His hair was very pale and his face was very worn. He had a patch over his missing eye and he had the start of a goatee. He took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eyes. She looked into his single one trying to see who he really was. His eye told the story of pain and lost. But it also told the story of a boy who enjoyed protecting people and loved her deeply. There was no mistake. She didn't know how but somehow this was Robin, her Robin.
"Oh Robin it is you! I'm so sorry I doubted you before. How is this possible?" Starfire asked amazed.
"It would take to long to explain Starfire. It's just so good to see you. I've missed you." Robin said glad that she believed him.
"Oh Robin I love you." Starfire said throwing herself into a tight embrace with him. They held each other for a long time just glad to be in each other's arm. Then she leaned upward and the two of them began to kiss passionately.
Suddenly Robin shoved her away and fell to his knees gripping the side of his head. "Get away from me Star. I'm not safe. I can't control this body's urges. I want to strangle you and I can't stop myself." He moaned.
"Fight it Robin. You can do it. Take control of the situation. Its not just Slade's mind in there it's yours. Let me help you. Raven has taught me some techniques to control dark impulses." She said placing a glowing hand on his forehead and let it flow through him. Robin took a deep breath and focused hard locking down on the dark impulses. Finally he stood up and put the mask back on.
"Thank you Starfire. I think I'll be able to control those urges better now. Now I think an explanation is in order. You better take a seat this will take some time to explain." Robin said pulling out two chairs for them to sit down. It took him the better part of the hour to explain everything. At certain points in his story he got choked up and couldn't continue but Starfire put a reassuring hand on his shoulder to help him out. Finally he finished his story. "Well that's everything. I'm turning into a monster and its all Slade's body fault! I almost killed someone! And to make it worse I was enjoying it."
"That's not entirely true Robin and you know that. As you know on Tameran we need our emotions and instincts to use our powers and guide us. We believe that that no one is born entirely evil but the choices we make determine who we are. Yes Slade's instincts are their guiding you but your mind is also in there. You've allowed the dark persona inside of you to come out. In other words you have to take some responsibilities. Freedom is power and once you accept all parts of you everything will be fine." Starfire lectured him.
Robin looked at her like she had slapped him. How could she condemn him so easily? But after examining the last few days in his mind he saw that she was right. He had wanted to steal and use the full extent of his powers. He could have resisted but he didn't. Slade's body and instincts just gave him an excuse to let out a hidden part of himself. If that was true for him was it the same for Slade?
Robin looked at Starfire and for the first time noticed her diamond star earrings. "Starfire tell me what has been happening at the Tower this last week. What has Slade done? Has he harmed you or anyone else?"
Starfire sighed and stood up and turned slightly away from him. "How do I explain what has happened to you? So much has happened but I'm not sure what to tell you. Slade has acted quite differently then you would expect. I don't know what turned him into the man he is today but I can tell you there is good that was buried deep inside of him that he know allows to shine through. At first he was cold, distant, and rude to us. Silky would bite him and he would try to harm us but something stopped him. It was shortly after that he began to change. He trained us to be a better team, became a great leader even saved my life, and he did fun things with us such as going roller skating and doing one on one things with us. I believe he truly loves me and not just because of the gifts and the dinner, but because he treats me with the highest amount of respect and is always there when I needed him. The only time he was disrespectful to me was a short time before you captured me. He tried to have intercourse with me and I blasted him away. I guess the desire to be with "Addie" was too much. I still have no idea who she is yet he mentioned her name with a deep loving passion."
"Addie Kane his wife. He had two sons and a daughter, a lover, and a best friend Star. Now they're all gone and he's alone and bitter. I don't know about him but I'm learning he's a much more complex person then I thought he was." Robin admitted.
"Indeed it would seem your worst enemy has his own private life. But that is not important right now. What is important is that we find a way to return you and Slade to your proper bodies. You have successfully rebuilt the device responsible for transferring your brainwave patterns?" Starfire asked looking at him hopefully.
Robin nodded his head and lead her to the table that had the portable MET resting comfortably on it. "All it's missing is the gem emitter crystal to focus the beam so that the transmitter array can send the brainwaves to the proper bodies. I've run hundreds of simulations and I think I know how to recreate the accident successfully with no chance of anything going wrong. There are only two problems."
"What? What problems are there?" Starfire inquired
"Well one Slade has to be wearing the matching neural interface headband in order for the procedure to work at all. The second is a little more complicated. I've been running test on my Slade's body and I've discovered something. My brainwave patterns have almost been completely reformatted to work with this brain. If my patterns aren't restored to my body within the next twenty four hours then I'm going to be stuck forever in Slade's body." Robin informed her.
"Then we will fix the problem before then. Do not worry Robin I will help you. And if even if by the smallest chance you are forever bound to this body I will always love you. Now I must return to the Titans. Since there is no way to convince them right now that you are you we will have to do that when we meet up at GemTech. Don't worry I'll keep an eye on Slade you can count on me." Starfire assured him.
"Wait you can't go looking like that. It has to look like you fought to escape. I hate to harm you, but I must. Forgive me please." Robin said softly as he punched her in the stomach and gave her a few bruises. When he was done he turned away ashamed.
Starfire kissed him gently and whispered, "Its okay Robin. I forgive you." She then pocketed something and flew back to the Tower at top speeds. When she arrived the rest of the Titans rushed out to greet her. Slade swept her up in a big hug and whirled her around.
"I was so worried about you. Did Slade do this you? When I get my hands on him he will pay." Slade growled angered the Robin would attack his own girlfriend.
"That's enough. What is done is done. Right now we have more pressing matters to attend to. Slade is attempting to rebuild the device that he used at GemTech last week. He wanted to test in on me, but I escaped. I heard him saying he was going to go to GemTech and personally secure the gems he needs sometime between today and tomorrow. We must be ready for him."
"And we will. You go clean up and I'll back up the T-Car for a late night stakeout. Nobody harms a Titan and gets away with it. Nobody." Cyborg vowed as the rest of the Titans followed him inside.
"Are you sure that Slade didn't do anything to you at all?" Slade asked curious to know what she knew.
"Yes Robin I am. Trust me everything will be alright." Starfire said brushing her hands against her pocket were her little secret lay hidden. She was going to need it very soon.