Titans, Act One, Scene One

Starfire paced worriedly around the room. Pacing wasn't the most accurate way to describe her movements: her feet never touched the floor. Normally, her powers of flight were based on positive emotions, but she was filled with a nervous energy that desperately needed a release. The other Titans had left the room under the guise of helping Raven pack, leaving Star alone with their leader, Robin.

"I do not understand why we cannot come as well," she said. Her large green eyes puffed as if she were on the brink of tears. "When Cyborg went under-the-covers he made a holographic projector to mask his appearance!"

Robin turned to the Tamaranian girl and narrowed his eyes. He realized his stern look was unsettling her and soon smiled softly. "Where ever Cinderblock turns up, you can bet Slade is in the same area. And he'd be sure to detect something like that. Raven and I are going to scout ahead and see if we can find him. Once we do, we'll call you, and we will take him down."

"But," Starfire protested. She was cut short by Robin's gloved finger gently placed on her lips.

"I need you here," Robin said soothingly. "If Raven and I are to succeed, you, Cy, and BB need to keep things going as regularly as possible." He gave Star two globes the size of golf balls. She recognized them immediately. They were the holographic projectors Robin used during his guise as the Red X.

"Try not to use these," he said smiling. "But if you have to, there's one of me and one of Raven. Slade can't find out we're not here."

"I understand," she admitted sullenly. Her feet touched the ground and she folded her hands in front of her. Her magnificent head hung slightly and her red hair fell across her face.

"Star," Robin started. He desperately wanted to say anything that would make her feel better, but all the words died in his mouth. He picked up his suitcase and softly said, "I'd better go."

Starfire threw her arms around Robin. He gasped, expecting one of her usual bone crushing hugs, but she embraced him with great tenderness. "I am missing you already," she said. "Be safe."

Robin closed his free arm around her. "I will Star. I promise."

Cyborg had the T-car packed up and Raven waited impatiently. She rolled her eyes skyward as Robin and Starfire walked into the garage holding hands. The two of them have been obnoxiously "couple-like" since they all defeated Raven's father, Trigon, months ago. And Raven didn't want to be around the mushiness.

"Can we go now?" she said.

"All packed and ready to go," Robin announced, not taking his eyes off Starfire. He smiled at her reassuringly and gave her hand a gentle squeeze before putting his suitcase in the car. He sat in the passenger seat, Raven directly behind him, as Cyborg started the engine.

"Next stop, the airport," Cyborg announced cheerfully.

The T-car rolled forward and then accelerated out of the garage.

"We're not going to the airport," Raven said as if reading Robin's mind.

"That's right Raven. I've made other arrangements. Cyborg, take us to Cady and Aparo."

"That's in the warehouse district," Cyborg said. He didn't turn, but he felt Robin's gaze burning into him. "All right, all right. Keep your shirt on. Cady and Aparo it is."

"What's wrong?" Robin finally asked.

"We're all worried about you becoming obsessed with stopping Slade again," Cyborg said. "It nearly killed you before, and well, we didn't fare so good ourselves."

Robin nodded. "I won't."

An uneasy silence filled the car for the rest of the ride. For Raven, the anxious tension between Cy and Rob was stifling. She put up her mental defenses and centered herself. She buried her own apprehension and concentrated solely on the goal: Find out Slade's plan then call in the rest of the Titans. That became almost her new mantra.

"All right," Cy announced. "We're here."

Robin got out of the car and helped Raven out. She carried a small duffle bag that could be easily concealed under her cloak. Robin shook Cyborg's hand and thanked him for the ride. The massive teen hero wished his friends luck and drove off. Raven looked around. Dilapidated warehouses surrounded the teens, and Raven thought she saw a large rat scurry across the street. She sourly curled her lip and look to Robin with a "Why are we here?" arch to her eyebrow.

"Come on," Robin said. He tapped a hidden panel in the wall of the warehouse and pushed the six-digit access code. A door, which seamlessly blended to the wall, slid open. It was just big enough to squeeze through and Raven doubted that Cyborg could fit in it at all.

"We'll have a taxi waiting for us at Pete's Pasta Palace in two hours," Robin confided. "Since we can't go to the airport in costume, we'll have to change here."

"Ch-change?" Raven choked. Robin had already taken off his cape and peeled off his shirt. Raven stared at his back: lean, muscular, and powerful. She felt her cheeks blush and pulled her hood over her head.

"Yes, there's a room to your left," Robin called. Raven could tell he had moved behind a screen. "I took the liberty of getting your things."

"Great," Raven muttered. She walked into the room and feared that she'd be bombarded by bright rainbow colors and sundresses. To her surprise, a simple black pair of denim jeans and a tee shirt with Death of the Endless painted on it awaited her. A stylish pair of sandals rested on the floor.

"They're probably four sizes too big," she complained, but peeled out of her midnight blue leotard and folded her cloak over the chair anyway.

To her great surprise, the clothes fit perfectly.

"Not bad Boy Wonder," Raven said looking in the full-length mirror.

"Ready, Raven?" she heard Robin call from outside.