Disclaimer: Property of DC.

Beta Reader: Naveena

Rating: T

Edited: 07/12/22

Gotham Holiday: A White Door

Chapter Five: Forgotten

Robin stood at the top of the staircase that led down to the crypt. He considered the stone-carved steps with a furrowed brow.

"Robin?" Thea called from behind. "Are you lost?"

Robin scratched the back of his head as he turned towards her. "Maybe. I was looking for something... or someone, but I can't remember."

"Are you hungry?" Thea asked.

"I ate a few hours ago. At least, I think I did. Is it morning yet?"

Thea shook her head. "There used to be day and night on Azar, but now it is always night. Would you like to see more of the temple now?"

Thea led Robin through long, torchlit halls, eventually stopping before an arched doorway. Inside the room beyond, Robin saw several people dressed in hooded white robes that reminded him of Raven. All of their faces were hidden except for a woman who sat on her knees in the middle of the room. Her hands were clasped as if in prayer. The others sat around her in a circle.

Robin saw that she wore a Ring of Azar. It appeared just like the one Slade had given the Titans during Trigon's invasion of their reality. To Robin, the woman seemed deeply focused, as did all the people in the room. They were all statue-still, and a faint, blue glow surrounded their bodies.

"What are they doing?" Robin asked Thea quietly, not wanting to disturb them.

Thea gestured towards the woman wearing the Ring of Azar. "They're helping her amplify its power. It takes a lot of energy and focus, but with the help of many, she can stave off fatigue longer. See how she draws energy from the others in the room? It's how the magic of my people works. We pull our strength, as well as our powers to mend and to repel, from the world of life around us."

"So, she's pulling energy directly from them?"

"Unlike myself, they lack the powers of a Safeguard," Thea told him. "Their lifeforce is what they offer to keep us all safe. It is a noble sacrifice."

"Wait. Are you saying they're all dying to keep the barrier up?" Robin glanced around the room with concern. He couldn't tell if any of the people were in pain.

Thea took his hand and started leading him away from the Ring of Azar. "It's the only way, Robin. As Safeguard, I can amplify the Ring alone, but that leaves the temple unprotected. I spend most of my waking life keeping the monsters that threaten us at bay. I knock them back with my bo-ran. But don't worry, now that Azar has sent you here, soon there will be no more need for anyone to sacrifice."

Robin felt deep relief, slipping his hand from her grip. "I wish we could have helped your people sooner."

He glanced at the escrima-like sticks hanging from Thea's belt. He'd seen other Azarians wearing them, too. "Are those what you used to save us from the Bixbite?"

Thea nodded as they walked. "Yes. I can channel energy borrowed from the world of life through the bo-ran to defend us, or the gems on my gauntlets."

"I know your people are pacifists, Thea, but wouldn't it be better to just destroy the Bixbite rather than just push them back all the time?"

"Such words are terrible, Robin," Thea admonished, glancing at him in disappointment.

Robin frowned as he followed Thea outside the temple's front doors. The mossy ground squished beneath his sandaled feet.

Thea grabbed his arm. The blue stones on her gauntlets glowed as her eyes shined brilliant white.

Robin's arm felt as if she'd dipped it in ice water. His skin prickled. "Hey! What are you—!?"

Thea pulled him right off the ground. She flew them up to the temple's domed roof. Rattled, Robin stumbled away from her. His fists raised in defense, but Thea only laughed.

"I'm sorry if I scared you," she said.

Embarrassed, Robin dropped his guard. "I wasn't scared. You just surprised me. I didn't know you could fly."

Thea laughed again. "Weren't you listening before? My powers come from the world of life around me. I borrowed a little energy from you to get us up here. I thought you'd appreciate the view. I... I really am sorry if it scared you. ...Are you angry with me?"

She frowned. Robin could see worry creeping over her face.

"No, I just didn't expect it," he assured.

Thea brightened with relief.

Robin looked out over the sprawling forest that surrounded the temple. The forest truly was a dark island amongst the ocean of orange lava. Robin's mind struggled to make sense of how the planet had fallen to such a state. Where was all the lava even coming from? His gaze lifted to the stars overhead. Thea was right. The view from the temple's roof was beautiful, if eerie. He did appreciate it.

Thea smiled and took a seat on the roof. She drew in her knees and wrapped her arms around them.

Having nowhere to go, Robin sat beside her. "So... how did Azar get like this?"

Thea's smile faded. She sighed. "It happened not long ago, and very fast. The sky erupted with thunder and filled up with black ships. Monsters far worse than the Bixbite flew out of them. Eventually, I learned that they're called parademons. They dragged thousands of people into the ships and somehow transformed them into more parademons, making their numbers even greater. Of course, all of Azar had surrendered immediately to the invaders without a fight, but it meant nothing. We were annihilated. Only the Temple of Azar and those who managed to seek shelter here were spared, thanks to the Rings of Azar and the Safeguard's power."

Robin gave Thea's arm a comforting touch. "I'm sorry this happened to your world. You've survived something so terrible, I can't even imagine it, or maybe I just don't want to."

Thea smiled at his gesture. Her dark eyes met his gaze. "Such was our fate. Now that you've come, I have hope again that perhaps it is also our fate to escape Azar's destruction. Perhaps we've been chosen by Azar herself to survive. Surely this is our reward for enduring so much for so long..."

The aroma of cooking meat drew Robin's attention down to the few Azarians that stood about the temple's mossy courtyard. They cooked over a big fire bowl. The sweet smell made his stomach feel tight and his mouth water.

"Robin," Thea said, "if you or your father are hungry, only eat from my garden. Don't go near those people below. They have sinned greatly and chosen exile. You must never speak to them."

Robin looked to her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"They've eaten the flesh of Bixibite, so they're not allowed in the temple anymore. Hunger will keep driving them into the forest. Eventually, they will be the ones consumed."

"You'd let those things eat them?" Robin couldn't hide his shock. His brow furrowed. "Why don't they just eat the food in the garden?"

"That food is only for the Safeguard and her protectors," Thea said, "and the ones who must be strong enough to wield the Ring of Azar. It's only shared when there's a surplus. Sadly, the plants have begun to wither. And yet, people are free to decide their own fates. Those who have chosen self-discipline will be rewarded by survival now that Azar has answered our prayers."

Robin watched Thea carefully, not liking the sudden flatness in her tone. "But is it really a choice? They don't have the same options as you."

"The others tend their own gardens," Thea said. "Fate decides whether or not those gardens thrive."

"I don't believe in fate."

Thea looked at him sharply. "Don't say that again. It's a very obscene thing to say."

Robin regarded her with surprise. "Sorry. It's just how I honestly feel. I can't pretend to believe in destiny when I don't. Wouldn't lying be worse?"

"Some thoughts are better to keep in your head," Thea told him. "I understand that your beliefs may differ, but I'd hate for my father to hear you talk like that and decide you're a blasphemous idiot. He'd want both you and your father thrown out immediately. He wouldn't believe that Azar sent you to me. I am the Safeguard, but as the Temple Father, he outranks me. Do you understand?"

Thea placed a hand over Robin's. "I would have to make a hard choice. My father is at peace with dying here, but I don't believe it's my destiny to waste away like this or to just disappear while the rest of the universe goes on. I know I am meant for a greater path beyond the ashes of this planet."

Robin held both hands up in mock surrender, but also as an excuse to move his hand away from hers. "Hey, I'd never want to cause any friction between you and your father. I just don't like seeing people suffer."

Thea took Robin's hand again, sending a deep chill up his arm all the way to his shoulder. He didn't want to hold her hand, but her fingers intertwined with his anyway. She met his gaze and he found himself unable to move.

His voice seemed trapped in his throat.

Panic rose in his chest.

Thea's eyes glowed. "My people are my own concern. Don't worry about them anymore."

Thea looked away.

Robin blinked.

He absently pulled his hand away and ran his fingers through his hair.

His mind drew a blank

What were we talking about?

Then he remembered.

Black ships.

Parademons.

The destruction of Azar.

Beside him, Thea watched the stars. Her arms were wrapped around her drawn knees in a way that reminded him of Starfire. In fact, there were a lot of things about Thea that reminded him of Starfire, and Raven, too. Robin felt a deep pang in his chest. He frowned up at the black sky, hoping his friends were safe. He sighed as he looked down at the courtyard. Several of Thea's people were cooking meat again in the big fire bowl. Even though Robin was getting hungry, something about the sweet aroma churned his stomach. He swallowed to keep the bile down.

He faced Thea. "So, when are we going after the ships?"

Thea picked at the hem of her white cloak. "I sent a group after them while you slept. They've been gone for hours, so I'm sure they'll return soon. Remember, Robin, my people are far stronger than yours. The group I sent will be able to work faster without worrying about protecting you or your father."

Robin wasn't used to being thought of as a liability on a mission. Still, he couldn't deny that Thea's people were much better equipped to handle the Bixbite.

Movement in the forest caught his attention.

Robin stood quickly, squinting to make out the dark shape. He gasped as a pair of red eyes returned his gaze. Realizing he could still move, Robin sighed in relief.

It wasn't a Bixbite. It was a creature that wore green and gold armor. Its clawed hands gripped the thick branch it perched upon.

"What is that?" Robin pointed it out as Thea got to her own feet.

"A parademon," she replied with disgust. "Most of the invaders I told you about left, but not all. That's one of their spies. There's always a few lurking about, checking our numbers. They wait for us to either die or to become too weak to protect Azar's Library."

Robin kept his wary gaze on the parademon.

It watched him, too.

"Why the library?"

Thea crossed her arms. "Kanto, their leader, is obsessed with it. I don't know what book or prophecy he seeks, but he values it enough that he hasn't attacked the temple directly. It's possible the Ring of Azar bars his entrance, but I don't think so. It's more likely he knows that I'll destroy the library myself the moment he or his minions dare cross our walls. We have such mechanisms in place, and he knows it. He can see into minds and hearts, Robin, so he does not doubt us."

Robin spotted several Azarians flying above the treetops. They carried the ANNA's remains as well as the alien ship. Carefully, they put the damaged ships down in the courtyard. The Azarians then slinked away, looking exhausted. Two sunk to rest by the temple's front door. The others disappeared inside.

Relief at the sight of the ships spread through Robin. The quicker Slade and he got off Azar, the better. He wasn't sure what would happen after that, but anything was better than death by lava or Bixbite.

Robin wondered if Slade knew about the parademons. Concentrating, he noted Slade was far below the ground, possibly all the way down in Azar's Library. He doubted Thea had shown him the way. Then again, Slade had been there before.

Robin glanced at Thea. Not for the first time, he considered what would happen if he told her Slade was the one who'd attacked her temple.

Robin dismissed the thought.

Even Slade didn't deserve death by Bixbite.

Robin wasn't sure what he deserved.

Blackgate? A Tamaranean prison cell? Maybe we could freeze him like the Brain...

Getting off Azar would have to come first. Robin turned to Thea, intending to ask for help in getting off the temple's roof.

A portal of light spun into existence just beyond the temple's main gate. With it came a sound like thunder that resonated deep in Robin's chest. Lightning flashed from the portal, and soon the light coalesced into a spiderweb-like tunnel. Dozens of parademons flew from the light. A man wearing black and crimson armor stepped out after them. His dark cape billowed in the crazed wind kicked up from the distortion. The man was tall with black, shoulder-length hair and striking blue eyes. There was a sword hanging from his hip.

Thea stared, frozen momentarily in shock. "Oh no."

Robin glanced from the man to her and back again. "I'm guessing he's not a friend?"

Thea grabbed Robin with both hands and quickly flew them through one of the temple's carved windows to land on the stone floor inside. Dizzy, Robin regained his bearings only to lose them again as she shoved him towards the nearest hall. He shuddered and found his footing. The air was freezing!

"Hurry!" Thea urged. "Go to your room and stay there! My father and I will deal with Kanto."

Robin's masked eyes widened. "Wait. The same Kanto you just told me about? The guy who conquered the planet!?"

Thea nodded, throwing the temple's entrance a nervous glance. "He comes in intervals. He's early! He shouldn't be here for days! The parademons must have told him about the ships, or maybe about you. Either way, don't come outside. Don't let him see you! Go to your room and try not think about anything. Just imagine an empty void, and nothing else!"

Robin watched her fly through the temple's opening towards the wall that surrounded the courtyard and separated the temple grounds from the rest of the forest. She glided to land atop the wall, facing Kanto's direction. Robin debated running after her to help or doing as she'd said.

A familiar presence alerted him to the fact he wasn't alone.

Slade wore his combat suit, cleaned but still badly ripped, and his weapons. "I see you've made a new friend."

"You should try it sometime." Robin gestured towards the temple's open doorway. "The guy who wrecked this planet just showed up outside. Thea—"

"I know" Slade interrupted, motioning for Robin to follow him deeper into the temple. "I've overheard her speaking to her father about that monster. His presence adds an unexpected variable to our visit here. If we're lucky, he'll leave without noticing us."

Robin walked alongside Slade. It seemed like they were heading for the stairs that led to the temple's sublevels. "What if she needs help?"

"Her quarrel with Kanto predates us," Slade replied. "It isn't your problem, and it's over your paygrade anyway. Besides, this distraction provides us with the opportunity to see what she's done with Alfred."

Robin shot Slade a questioning look as they hurried. "Who?"

Slade's eye fell on Robin. "You've really forgotten him that easily? Interesting. I wonder what else you've let slip your mind…"

"What do you mean?" Robin winced. He touched the side of his head, feeling an odd, cold pain stab at his left temple.

Alfred.

An image of Alfred walking with him up the torchlight halls suddenly flashed in Robin's memory. It slipped away as he recalled next his last conversation with the butler. Robin frowned with worry. "Alfred isn't in the room? Maybe's he's checking out the library."

"Perhaps you should keep your allies closer."

Robin scoffed. "Funny coming from the guy who kidnapped me, threatened to destroy my allies, dragged me to outer space, dragged me here, and—whoa—what!?"

An invisible force snatched Robin off his feet.

Pressure squeezed and wrapped around his body.

Robin thrashed. He couldn't escape!

Slade reached for him, but it was too late.

Kanto smiled up at Thea. Behind him waited a contingent of forty parademons. They stood in neat lines—a small army of monsters brainwashed to only move at his command.

He didn't yell, yet his words reached her clearly. "Greetings, Thea the Safeguard."

"Our answer is unchanged!" Thea yelled down to him. "We will not surrender the temple or its treasures!"

Unsurprised, Kanto spread his hands in a gesture of understanding. "My king remains patient. As a scholar, he is willing to wait for you to see reason and allow our peaceful entry. He only ever seeks to bring order to an aimless multiverse. Surely, as Safeguard, you understand his burden."

"He doesn't wait out of patience." Thea armed herself with a bo-ran in each hand, but kept the weapons lowered at her sides. "The Ring of Azar shields us from your plundering hands, and it will continue to do so!"

Kanto barked a laugh. "Is that what you tell these pitiful waifs who so blindly serve you? I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm here because I noticed quite recently that you have something in there that doesn't quite belong."

Kanto stretched out a hand, his fingers searching as if they might pluck the object they sought right out of the empty air. A wry smile spread on his lips. "A few things, in fact."

He closed his hand.

Thea's eyes widened.

Seeing her reaction, Kanto yanked back his fist.

The temple blurred past as Robin was carried backwards. He saw flashes of doors and windows—the mossy courtyard—the spinning black sky—and then he was deposited on top of the thick wall that ringed the Temple of Azar.

Dizzily, Robin got to his feet. Thea was there beside him, helping him regain his balance. He wanted to vomit.

"Careful. Don't fall!" Thea looked him quickly over for any injuries. She steadied him with both hands, letting her bo-ran drop to hang at her sides.

"Hello again, Robin," Kanto greeted.

Robin stuffed down his nausea and fear. He scowled down at the man despite the warning he felt deep in his chest. Putting an edge in his voice, Robin asked, "Do we know each other?"

Kanto grinned. "Of course! Our mutual friend, Raven, introduced us. Don't you remember?"

Icy alarm spread through Robin's shoulders, but he kept it from showing. "You know Raven?"

"Robin, be careful," Thea cautioned quietly. "He is an evil god—the Harbinger of Death."

"I prefer the God of Wonderous Illusions," Kanto corrected, waggling a finger. "And yes, I met your friend very recently. A strange, charming creature indeed. Quite the family tree. I was almost impressed, but her silly, sheltered mind was so easy to exploit. Predictable. Boring."

Robin hands tightened into fists. "Did you hurt her?"

"I killed her." Kanto's grin widened. "And the rest of them. Batman. Starfire. Beast Boy. The Justice League. All of them."

"He's lying," Thea said. "I can still feel Raven's influence in your aura. In fact, it's stronger than ever."

Thea's eyes searched Robin. "It's as if she's here... Your bound is how he found you."

Robin couldn't help but think of how Thea had described her own planet's downfall. He tried not to imagine such horrors unfolding on Earth.

Kanto said, "You know, we were so sure you Earthlings were content to stay in your cradle at least a thousand more years. And yet twice I've found you where you don't belong. And you—you're not even one of Earth's infant gods. Yet look how far even you've strayed."

"Robin!" an out of breath Slade called from the temple's entrance.

Abidan had emerged there, too. He held out an arm in warning, silently telling Slade to wait. His eyes flashed white and every parademon was blasted backwards into the forest.

Only Kanto remained standing.

"Why, hello, old friend," Kanto greeted without paying attention to his contingent's dismissal or the fact that a wall and a gate blocked his view of Abidan. He gestured in the direction of the two battered ships now lying in the temple's courtyard. "I see it's true. You are planning to leave. But why waste precious time repairing these primitive machines when I, in an instance, can arrange for you all to go anywhere in the universe you wish?"

Kanto snapped his fingers and both ships burst into flames.

"No!" Thea cried, reaching a hand towards the glowing remains. The ships had been reduced to slag.

Robin could almost feel the raw despair rolling off of her body, but then the air dipped icy cold.

His skin prickled as Thea turned a furious gaze back to Kanto.

Kanto tsked, waving a finger. "I see the creeping certainty in your eyes, Thea. Soon that ring of yours will fail, and you won't be able to keep the precious knowledge inside your temple safe from this planet's environment. If you're that determined to horde Azar's secrets, then why don't you simply throw down your defenses and let everything burn? Why stave off the inevitable? Perhaps part of you is tempted to see reason. Your people only starve to death because you choose loyalty to a dead, would-be goddess over their precious lives. Allow me entrance to Azar's Library, and I swear by all the stars and upon my godhood that I will ensure your people safe passage to a world untouched by suffering."

Suddenly, an invisible force seized Slade and two nearby Azarians. They were lofted into the air and pulled fast over the wall, right over where Robin and Thea stood. The three fell towards Kanto. Several parademons rushed from the woods to catch them.

Midfall, Slade drew his reloaded guns and managed to shoot back the creatures and their golden, reaching claws. He landed in a crouch, moving quickly to avoid being tackled. His bullets ran out fast. Slade drew his sword, but Robin knew he'd be overwhelmed in seconds by the swarming monsters.

The two Azarians were already on their knees. Their heads were bowed in acceptance of their fate, though one man had tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Slade!" Robin moved to help, but Thea's hands tightened their grip on his arm.

"What are you doing!?" Robin pulled and twisted to get himself out of her iron grip. He failed. "Thea, let go! We have to save them!"

Slade sliced through the parademons, attempting to hack his way back to safety.

"Let go!" Robin tried to free himself from Thea without striking her. The more he struggled, the closer he felt to breaking his own arm. Robin winced at the sharp pain shooting from his shoulder to wrist. Thea's grip tightened further.

Robin winced. "Please, we can help them!"

"It's too late!" Thea insisted. "Stop, before you hurt yourself!"

The parademons swarmed Slade and drove him to his knees. His sword was left on the ground.

Thea made sure to catch his gaze.

She bit back a smirk at the promise of vengeance burning in Slade's eye.

His fate was to perish on whatever dark world Kanto hailed from.

"What an interesting turn of events." Kanto gestured to his right and a portal thundered into existence. The parademons quickly forced the Azarians and Slade through.

Robin watched, horrified by how fast it was all happening. "No! Wait! Thea, stop them!"

Robin tried to leap down from the wall and chase after them, but Thea's grip was unbreakable. Robin shoved her back, but it had all the effect of pushing against a solid wall. Exhausted, he watched as Kanto performed a slight farewell bow.

To Thea, Kanto said, "I'll return soon to see if you're prepared at last to bend to the will of Fate and end this silly game. Until then, these three unlucky souls will be tortured by our most skilled blood artist. Sleep well as you think of them. They will not be permitted death."

Robin's arm ached from Thea's bruising grip and his own attempts to tear free of her. He struggled anyway. "Thea, do something! Tell him you'll blow this place up if he doesn't give them back!"

Thea ignored Robin; her steely gaze was locked with Kanto's.

Robin threw Abidan a desperate glance, but the old man wore a blank face. Other Azarians standing around the courtyard wore the same look. To his horror, Robin understood that none of them were going to do anything.

Slade was gone.

They didn't care.

Kanto flashed Robin a knowing smile before stalking through the portal. Most of the parademons followed. The rest disappeared into the trees surrounding the Temple of Azar.

Robin's mind raced. He stared in disbelief at the empty space where the portal had closed.

Slade was gone.

Anger colored Robin's voice as he faced Thea. "How could you just let him take them away? Don't you care what he's going to do to them!?"

Thea's face crumpled. Tears began to gather in her eyes. "Please understand, you were the only one I could save, so I did what I had to… even though I knew you'd hate me for it."

"I don't hate you, Thea, I just don't understand. Why didn't you repel them like the Bixbite? I thought you said he couldn't get anyone who was inside the temple grounds. How could you just stand here and watch those things drag your own people away? And Slade! Yeah, he's a huge jerk, but—Ow! Hey, wait!"

Thea left the wall and pulled Robin after her, flying fast. The sudden jolt sent pain rocketing through his shoulder. When their feet hit the ground inside the temple, Thea ignored his attempts to break free of the hand she'd locked around his wrist. Thea dragged him towards the stairs that led down to the temple's sublevels. Robin's body reeled from being forced about so violently.

"Wait!" Robin's sandaled feet slid across the stone floor. He couldn't slow her down. Anger filled him again. He couldn't believe she was using her strength to drag him around like some sort of prisoner! "Thea, stop! Let go!"

Thea whirled to face him with glowing white eyes so fast Robin barely avoided running into her. The blue gem on her forehead and the ones embedded in her gauntlets shined bright. The temperature in the room plummeted as if all its warmth was sucked right into her.

Taken aback, Robin froze.

Her gaze blanketed him in cold light.

With every heartbeat, he found himself caring less and less about the freezing magic he could feel running over his skin, or about the way her fingers dug into his wrist. The dread he felt for Slade shrank with all the other feelings in his chest. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he realized her eyes were no longer glowing white.

They shined a brilliant red.

Thea's tone was icy and soft. "Robin, do not ever raise your voice at me again. I am the Safeguard, and you are no one to tell me what I can and cannot do. It is wrong to talk to me with such disrespect."

Robin's chest felt tight with shame. His free hand absently pressed hard against his right shoulder as his gaze shifted to the ground. Colorful dots danced in his vision from the blinding red glow of her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Thea."

"You hurt my feelings. Again." She paused for him to apologize, but Robin hesitated. She watched his fingertips dig into his right shoulder. Thea batted his hand away. "Stop doing that."

Robin let his arm drop to hang by his side.

Thea wanted him to look up at her.

He did.

Paralyzed by her gaze again, he waited.

The glow faded from Thea's eyes. She gave him a comforting smile, though he didn't react.

Thea reached up and peeled off his mask. His blue eyes were unfocused.

"It's a nightmare, Robin," she assured, "but it won't last forever. Your arrival confirms what I've prayed to be true. What I've always known. It is my destiny to escape Azar. You were sent to aid my exodus. Your memories of the White Raven surely hold the key to unlocking my own potential. Surely, I can do so much more than a mere demon-spawn. Perhaps I can become even more powerful than Azar herself was. I have several hours, perhaps days, to make a few important decisions about that... about the library, and about you, Timnar."

She placed her palm against his forehead. "There's so much more I need to know before I make up my mind."