Once the anger subsided, the team moved their attention onto the wall Slade had been in front of, a white piece of paper was now tacked. A large X covering the page.
"It's just an X." Declares Cyborg dryly, taking the parchment into his hand "How on earth is this a clue?"
"Maybe it's like a treasure hunt, X marks the spot? " Speaks Beast Boy
Starfire's eyes fill with tears, she couldn't hold them back, this X was very bad on Tamaran "On my planet, an X signifies ones death, my people give the card to the family members as a way of informing them their loved one is now gone."
All eyes roam to Starfire "He's not dead, Star. Slade wants us to find him" Says Cyborg as he comforts the alien girl "We're going to save Robin and once he's back, we won't let him out of our sight."
Raven nods her head "Cyborg's right, I can feel Robin's emotions, he's alive." She kept out the part where the connection continued to weaken.
Starfire perks up at this new information "Oh, please friend Raven, tell me what Robin is feeling? He is ok, yes?"
That stopped Raven dead in her tracks, could she really tell them Robin was scared? "He's angry at Slade, but he knows we're coming for him." Not a total lie
"The X has to mean something! If it's not a treasure map, maybe a video game prize?" Asks Beast Boy, they had to figure out this clue, even though he knew that they're grasping at straws.
"I doubt Slade plays the games of video." Answers Starfire sadly, she just wanted her Robin back.
"What about a place? Maybe not buried treasure, but somewhere on a map?" Asks Cyborg
"It might just be a letter, it's just like Slade to give us a simple clue that we over estimate." Responds Raven
"Ah man, Robin would have solved this in no time!" Yells Beast Boy, his green hands clutching at bits of his hair.
"That's it!" States Cyborg "This X means something to Robin."
Starfire gasps, she knew what that meant "Red X."
"So, do we have to track him down?" Asks Beast Boy
Cyborg shakes his head, he doubted Slade would involve any other villains "The suit was stolen, but what did Robin keep?"
"Umm that freaky mask that almost made him kill himself!" States Beast Boy, he was unsure what that had to do with anything, they already knew who had Robin.
"Where's the mask?" Demands Cyborg, he was on to something, he could feel it
"Robin left it in that box, as far as I know, he hasn't touched it since." Says Raven "And I would know if he had."
The robot teen droops, he was so sure he had solved the riddle "Then it can't be the mask, what all did Robin do as Red X?"
The room quickly grew silent, no one wanted to re-live that time, Robin was a hero, he was their leader, not a thief "He stole things for Slade so he could get close to him." Breathes Beast Boy
"Robin very much regrets that decision." Clarifys Starfire, her right hand clutching her left wrist, head bowed and eyes closed
"I know he does Star, I'm just trying to think of anything this X could mean." Begins Cyborg "None of us view Robin as a bad guy, he made a mistake, we all have."
Raven nods in agreement, her eye catching sight of something else "There's more on the paper."
Everyone turns from Raven to the location her finger was pointing towards "These dots are all around the X"
"So, it is a map?" Asks Beast Boy
"I'm not sure, all I see are five dots all around the X, but something about the formation is familiar."
Starfire turns and twists the paper, head following as she goes along "A map will lead us, yes?"
"Yeah, Star. Maps are meant to help guide your way when you're lost or not sure which way to go." Answer Cyborg
"We are most lost without Robin." Whispers Starfire in sadness
"We'll get him back, Star. Robin's coming home." Declared Cyborg, robotic hand consoling the red haired alien "Solving this clue is the first step."
Beast Boy holds the paper close, inspecting every inch, even sniffing the vanilla clue "Anyone got any ideas?"
All Titans shake their heads, not one of them had any idea on what this map was to.
"Let's start from the beginning, put the paper back on the wall." Says Raven
The clue is once more attached to the wall, the teens all staring as if it would grow legs and run "Well, that didn't help at all" sighs Beast Boy
Starfire continued turning her head, judging from every angle visible, finally a loud gasp leaves the aliens lips, hands fidget the paper onto its side "It is our home, is it not?"
Cyborg and Beast Boy get up close, fingers trailing the lone dots "I guess that could be my room."
"Yeah, and here's mine!" Yells Beast Boy, finger trailing the page further "there's Star's!"
"Raven's" metallic finger pointing on another dot "Robin's would be here, so the X would have to be ..."
Eight eyes all fall to the subject of all their movie and game nights, the lone sofa they all enjoyed so much.
"Let's tear this thing apart." Declared Cyborg "When this is all over, Slade owes us a new couch."
Beast Boy tips the sofas legs, Starfire flying above the seats, Raven knocking the wood in search of any hollow points.
Minutes pass as nothing is found, no clue is revealed. Starfire floating down, anger clearly written across her features "It must be here!"
"Look, Star-" tries Beast Boy, only to stopped and having to dodge a female fist..
Starfire seethes as she punched a whole straight through the bottom of the sofa, a golden envelope falls onto Beast Boy's green hair.
"You gotta be kidding me! It was inside the couch the whole time?" Cries Cyborg, rivers of angry tears fall from his eyes "Oh, man!"
Starfires's mouth remained open, the key to saving Robin had been right there "Friend Beast Boy, what does it say?"
Beast Boy rips the copper sealing open, revealing a series of numbers "It's just a bunch of numbers! I can't read this."
Raven grabs the paper from a now fuming Beast Boys hand, she instantly knew how to solve the second clue "It's a book code, one number states the page, another a line and lastly the word on that line."
"We are in need of a book?" Asks Starfire
Raven nods "Not just any book, the exact book this code was written for."
"But we don't even know where to start! The only one who reads books is you!" Yells Cyborg as he motions towards Raven
"Guys? I think we're neglecting something." Comes Beast Boys voice, the green mutant begging he was wrong in his assumption "How did Slade slip the envelop inside the couch?"
This question was a correct one, Slade had been on the opposite side of the room when he first appeared, either he had somehow hidden the note and then announced himself or a much worse conclusion that left only one other option
"Slade's been in the tower before." Rants Cyborg "How could he have bypassed my security?"
"The same way he managed to take Robin from us." Answers Raven "He watched and he planned." Robin's words from earlier playing through her mind, he hadn't known why the alarms had gone off "Slade snuck in while we were asleep, hid the message then started the alarm to lure us into his trap."
"No! Slade could not have gotten in our home." Reasons Starfire, no one could get through Cyborgs security without anyone knowing.
"Robin updates the security constantly, I always thought he was being paranoid ... Do you think Robin knew?" Asks Beast Boy
No one can answer, had Robin known? Why didn't he say something if he had?
"Robin probably didn't want to worry or scare us, but he had a hunch someone was in the tower." Sighs Cyborg "Didn't think it was Slade though."
"Friend Cyborg, how could Robin have known while we did not?"
"Ever heard of Batman? Robin was trained by him, they were the Dynamic Duo that protected Gotham, Robin would have noticed if something was wrong." Answers Beast Boy
Suddenly Raven yells, her hands clutch her now throbbing head, she had felt that jolt of pain from Robin
"Raven! Are you alright? What happened?" Yells Cyborg as the team moves towards the cloaked girl
"Friend Raven, please respond!"
One more jolt of pain racks through her body before calming down once more, in seconds the pain is gone and her eyes stare at her worried friends.
"Dude, what happened? All of a sudden you screamed like you're in pain or something." Claims Beast Boy
Raven checks herself before standing straight up once again "I felt Robin, he was in pain."
The Titans eyes widen, Robin was hurt? Slade was going to rue the day he'd ever laid eyes on the boy "We're solving this, grab every book in the tower!"
Everyone nods and rushes to do just that, each had assigned areas to check, they would bring back anything that could be read, each trying not to think of the pain Raven had felt from their friend.
It has been awhile! I apologize so much for the delay, I honestly had lost all inspiration for this story, however, my amazing boyfriend helped me re-ignite that fire! I hope you all enjoyed the update and there's more to come, so stay turned.
Sent from my iPhone