A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Anyone besides me think that Kommie needs a cold shower?

Chapter Twelve: Epic

Robin casually took a step backward. He glanced away from Blackfire and leaned once more against the window. It sure has been a strange day, he told himself. He was used to Starfire's over-the-top signs of affection, but Raven's kiss caught him more than off guard, and now Star's very beautiful older sister was throwing herself at him. His detective training took over. Robin organized his thoughts and blocked out the more than tantalizing distractions. The Teen Wonder glanced back at Blackfire, who was still sipping her tea and revealing a little too much flesh. He walked back to the dark haired alien woman and smiled. He leaned over her and breathed in her perfume. The Teen Wonder ran his fingertips under the hem of her gown, and Komand'r's eyes narrowed as she leaned up, her lips closing for a kiss.

"I'm flattered, Kommie, but you really aren't my type," Robin said as he closed her gown, knowing how she hated the shortening of her name.

"My name is not…"

"Yeah, I know. And if you wanted to kill me, or do whatever else you could think of to me, you've had twelve hours or so to do it. Trying to seduce me is low, especially since you know how Kory feels about me. And it's not something I'd expected of you, Princess Komand'r." He narrowed his eyes and forced Komand'r to meet his gaze. "Do you really hate your sister that much?"

Blackfire jumped to her feet, wrapping her gown tightly about her, and glared at Robin. The leader of the Teen Titans stood his ground and met her stare with a withering one of his own. The alien woman turned away from the handsome youth and curled her dark hair over her ear.

"I…" she started, "I did. I hated her for being perfect: the perfect daughter, the perfect princess," her voice started to trail off, "the perfect little everything."

Robin reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Komand'r's shoulder. "Kory told me how that a lot of your people believe that dark hair is a bad omen, and how the Gondorians attacked and destroyed a city the day you were born. You've been treated like a pariah all your life, and you're understandably angry." Robin turned Blackfire to him, "But, you know she's forgiven you: for being a typically rotten big sister, for the Centauri Moon Diamond theft, and for Glgrdsklechhh, too. And even now, all she wants is to be close to her family."

Komand'r looked up, her large lavender eyes glassing over with unexpected moisture. She suddenly leaned against Robin's strong shoulder and let a lifetime of pent up tears flow.

…..

"I don't understand why all this sneakin' around," Argent grumbled. She flew high over the Gallows Way Inn and watched the grounds for activity.

"Because we don't want them to spook and hurt our friends," Cyborg said loudly in her ear. "When we hit, we're going to hit fast and hit hard."

"Way to maintain radio silence, boss," Speedy said with biting sarcasm. "And here I thought we were trying to be stealthy."

The Titans slowly approached the Gallows Way Inn. A large wooded park spread around two sides, and derelict buildings flanked the remainder. The old hotel stood six stories and was built in the neo-gothic style of the early 1900's. Speedy, Jericho, and Cyborg crept through the woods, Argent flew, and Kid Flash stood ready to appear wherever he was needed.

Speedy leaned against a large oak and rolled his eyes. "Amateurs," he spat under his breath. "Freaking amateurs."

Only then did he see the grinning cat hiding in the canopy.

…..

Raven stroked Starfire's hair softly as she sobbed. The young witch then placed her fingertips on the alien girl's temples and slowly pulled the pain of Star's sore muscles into her own body. Rae's shoulders tightened and cramped, and her eyes closed as a grimace masked her face. The ashen girl fed the pain to her dark shadowy powers and then lifted her fingers. She thought how happy Robin would be, knowing that Starfire was okay. His exotic, precious, beautiful, angelic alien princess… And the realization of never knowing what it would be like to actually be with him slowly sunk in.

Raven stood and walked away from her best friend, drawing her hood up and her cloak tight about her body. Starfire wiped her eyes and slowly sat up.

"Raven?" the willowy girl said softly, "are you well?"

"Yes," Raven spat quickly. She took a slow breath and added, "No. I don't know."

"Are you injured?"

"No, at least not physically. Star, Psimon is here."

Starfire gasped, "He is? You have seen him?"

Raven nodded. "I'm sure he's taken control of Beast Boy, so we need to be centered, focused."

She walked over to the hidden mirror and put her hand against the false wall. The pale witch narrowed her suddenly glowing eyes and the mirror shattered. Star yelped in shock. Raven's eyes locked on the sallow glowing eyes of the now revealed Psimon.

Hello my little ones, a voice boomed inside the girls' heads.

Raven doubled over as if she'd been kicked in the stomach. Starfire fell to a knee as the pain centers in her brain erupted violently. Her eyes glowed hot, and she snarled. The alien princess would not scream. That was what the hideous miscreant wanted to hear, and Star let out a low, hissing growl.

We are going to have so much fun, Psimon projected as a cruel grin spread across his face.

…..

Cyborg rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Jericho. At least two hundred yards separated the tree line from the Gallows Way Inn, two hundred yards of open ground. At best, he could cover the distance in twenty seconds. That was at a straight sprint. He knew neither he nor Jericho could cover the distance, but there were two people that could. He raised his arm and reflected sunlight of his polished metal. High overhead, Argent saw the flicker and smiled.

She swooped out of the sky and surrounded herself with red energy. The pale girl laughed as she shaped her power into a shield and a ram. Cyborg and Jericho ran as Argent launched the ram at the oaken doors.

"Kid Flash, go!" Cyborg yelled in his communicator.

A blur of gold and scarlet appeared and vanished in an instant. Kid Flash appeared at the broken door and bowed, smirking confidently. He glanced around and saw the diminutive green skinned Titan peering though the opening.

"Yo, Beast Boy!" Kid Flash exclaimed. "What's up?"

Beast Boy cocked his head to the side and leapt at the speedster, transforming into a giant python and wrapping around Kid Flash so suddenly, the surprised hero could not react. Cyborg skidded to a halt, his mouth agape with shock. His best friend was attacking a teammate. Jericho grabbed Cy's elbow and pointed frantically at the suddenly cracking ground beneath them. A giant fist punched through, knocking the two Titans away.

Cinderblock pulled himself up, and roared. He stalked over to Jericho, picked him up with his massive hand, and slammed the youth to the ground.

Argent dropped her shield. Her eyes widened with fear, "Was this part of the plan, too?"

Cyborg rolled to his feet. His human eye narrowed, and his cybernetic eye glowed hot. His hand transformed into his sonic cannon, and he growled, "Titans, go!"