Chapter 7: Who are you?
(Rosefire)
Rosefire zoomed after her parents, her new motorbike humming along. Within a few moments, they arrived at their destination, a bank on Main Street. The others immediately prepared to enter. Robin came up beside Rosefire.
"Stay out here. We don't know who this is, so watch the action through a window, K?"
Rosefire nodded, respecting her father's wishes. He nodded back and then ran through the door. She moved up to a nearby window and blinked, confused. The Titans were staring in shock at the man inside.
He looked normal enough though. He was wearing a suit of armor that was orange, black and silver. He was also wearing a mask that was half orange and half black. Only a single eye showed…and he was wearing an S. Could this be the Slade she had heard about?
(Inside)
"No…" The word barely escaped Robin's lips as a whisper, but it seemed to echo in the room as a roar. In the instant after the shock wore off, emotion flooded onto all of the Titans faces. Robin glared at the man in front of him with malevolence and hate. Cyborg glared as well, his circuits sparking blue. Beast Boy bared his teeth and growled. Raven's eyes had multiplied, glowing red. Her body shook with barely contained rage. Terra gasped, her feet glued to the floor. Starfire paled, eyes wide. She stiffened at the sound of the man's voice, whimpering with fear and revulsion.
"Hello Starfire. You looked shocked to see me." He laughed. "What's wrong? Can't I come visit the mother of my child?"
(Rosefire)
WHAT! Did he just say what I think he said?! Rosefire started. Is that man my father?! No! It can't be! She paled when she saw her mother break down, collapsing onto the floor, sobs racking her entire body. What did he do to her?!
She ran into the building, unable to contain herself.
"MOM!" She ran past the other Titans and crouched near her mother, embracing her as tears flooded from her eyes. She had never seen her mother this…this…this upset before in her life! She glared at the masked stranger.
"What did you do to her?!"
He smirked.
"I merely said hello. Now allow me to introduce myself. My name is Slade. I'm your father."
Silence rang out for a few moments, yet it seemed to ring with Rosefire's pounding heart. So I did hear that. But…how can he be my father?! He's a villain and my mom's a hero…and…he can't my father! He's lying!
As if he could read her thoughts, Slade spoke once again.
"No. I am not lying. It is the truth. Why, just ask Robin."
Rosefire slowly turned so that her gaze rested on Robin. She looked at him with wide questioning eyes, on the verge of tears. When she spoke, her soft voice shook with doubt.
"Dad…is this true?"
Robin looked at her guiltily, avoiding eye contact, and turned away. When he replied, the single word he spoke slashed Rosefire's heart and the tears welled up and overflowed, running down her pale cheeks.
"Yes."
"W…why didn't you TELL ME?!" Rosefire's voice reached a shriek. "You…and Mom lied to me eight years! WHY! WHY! WHY!" When Robin did not reply, her voice lowered and she spoke again. "I hate you. I hate you both!"
Starfire flinched on the ground, more sobs escaping. Robin looked at Rosefire sharply, his own voice rising.
"Don't you EVER say that again! You have no right! Your mother was going to tell you the truth, all of it, when she thought you were ready to handle it! She did NOT want to lie to you! So hate me if you want, but don't you EVER EVER saythat to your mother again!"
Rosefire flinched and looked at her mom, sobbing on the floor. She scooted over and embraced her, whispering her apology. Starfire's sobs lessened.
"He's right you know." Slade's voice echoed in the room. "Your mother didn't want to lie to you. You see, she thought I was dead. After you were conceived, the other Titans were angry, so they came after me in a routine inspection of the city. I barely managed to escape and the Titans told your mother I was dead. Rather than have you grow up without a father, she chose to let you believe that your father was Robin. She was going to tell you when you were older. That's why she was shocked into tears when she saw me."
Rosefire blanched. "You…you mean that they lied to mother… and to me?" Her voice hurt.
"You…YOU LIAR! DON'T YOU HAVE A CONSCIENCE?! AFTER WHAT YOU DID, YOU THINK YOU CAN WALTZ BACK, LIE, AND RUIN HER LIFE EVEN MORE!" Raven screeched, her voice rising, eyes glowing a dangerous red. Her voice lowered, but it still contained a dangerous edge. "Rosefire, don't you listen to anything that monster says. It's all a lie."
Rosefire's eyes flashed. "All a lie? You mean like everything you've told me my entire life?" Her voice was filled with scorn.
Cyborg spoke up "Rosie, we can explain ev…"
"And how do I know you're not going to lie to me now? HUH? Why should I trust you? GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON!"
Beast Boy glanced at her and looked away. "We can't"
"And WHY NOT?!" Rosefire yelled, her eyes glowing with fury.
"Because it's not our place to tell you!" Cyborg bellowed, his voice wrenching with unshed tears. The other Titans nodded and looked at the two, mother and daughter, who had gone through so much and, with the presence of the man behind them, would go through much more.
"Then I'm sorry." Rosefire glared at the other Titans, tears sparkling in her eyes. She stood up, using her alien strength to lift her mother into her arms. She walked toward the man who she now knew to be her father. She whispered a word to him, and, at his nod, turned back to the Titans. "I thought you were my friends. Goodbye."
Before the other Titans could react, Rosefire, her mother, and Slade disappeared in a flash of light and smoke.