Chapter 2.
Raven's foot was tapping menacingly when Robin pulled into the garage at Titan's tower. She also noted that Starfire had her arms crossed like she was royally peeved. Cyborg had made record time getting them back to the tower and then politely excused himself to go check on Beast Boy and Terra… in person.
"Welcome to Titan's Tower." Robin said expansively as he got off the cycle.
Raven and Starfire closed in on their boyfriend and Raven began preparing her interrogation of the girl while Starfire prepared the tirade for Robin.
"You're not traveling with Batman anymore?" Annie asked in confusion.
"Not for a while now." Robin said smiling. "Come on, we'll go find you a room to stay in."
Both Raven and Starfire were getting ready to object when Annie broke in. "Robin, there's no time for that! Slade still has my father. We've got to find him before it's too late."
"What do you mean?" Robin asked seriously.
"Slade is trying to build an army, and he's going to use my father's powers to do it." Annie said desperately.
Robin let out a low whistle and Raven glanced uncertainly at Starfire. The two girls glanced to each other and nodded. Their browbeating of Robin would have to wait until the current crisis was over. They'd each seen what damage Slade could do with a powerful army.
"So, do you know where Slade might have taken your father after his base collapsed?" Robin asked.
"I don't know. He never bothered with me much. I think he forgot he had me in a holding cell." Annie said shivering.
To the dismay of the two female titans, Robin put his arm around Annie's shoulders in comfort. "Don't worry, I have a pretty good idea of how to track him down. Come inside."
Raven followed after Robin and this girl, which he still hadn't stopped holding, and mutely vowed to make Robin's next few days particularly uncomfortable. Starfire looked ready to chew through steel.
Robin led them to the medical bay where he got out a syringe. "I'll just take a quick sample." Annie held out her arm and Robin stuck in the syringe. "I hope I didn't hurt you."
"Of course not silly, but why do you need a sample?" Annie said with a giggle.
"Batman discovered that you and your father have a few unique elements in your physiology. I should be able to figure out where Slade has your father using this." Robin said seriously. "Raven, Starfire, could you stay here with Annie while I go analyze this."
"I would be happy to." Starfire said dangerously as Robin cluelessly smiled as he turned to leave.
"Robin." Annie said suddenly.
"Yes?"
"I'm really happy to see you again. I've missed you." Annie said sweetly.
"I'm happy to see you too." Robin said with a smile. "I'll be right back."
As the boy wonder left, Raven got ready to interrogate the girl. "So… how do you know Robin?"
"Oh, we met a long time ago. I first met him when he saved me from a gang of bikers." Annie said shyly.
Raven and Starfire nodded sagely. They'd each seen any number of girls fawn over Robin for similar acts of heroism. "So tell me, what was Slade doing holding you captive?"
"My father was concerned that I'd try to escape and get help. He had Slade imprison me so that I couldn't get away to cause trouble." Annie said fearfully.
"So your father is in league with Slade?" Starfire asked aghast.
Annie nodded sadly. "He's helping Slade build an army using his powers, powers I share. I still can't use my powers as well as my father though. I was trapped in that cell for a long time until I finally began to figure out my powers enough to be able to escape."
Raven sighed, great, another super heroine competing for Robin's affection. "So how did you know to get in contact with Robin?"
"Slade keeps track of the whereabouts of all of his enemies. I got to his control room after I escaped and I found Robin's name on his console. It took me a while, but I finally figured out a way to contact him using Slade's equipment. I was so happy when I saw he was alright." Annie said with a warm relieved smile. "I was so worried that my father had killed him. The last time I saw Robin, he and Batman were fighting my father. For a long time I didn't know what happened to him. I know he always thought that he failed me, but in the end it was he that saved me."
Raven was now quite confused. "You mean you were separated from Robin during the fight, and yet he still saved you?"
"Yes. My father had never given me an identity. Robin gave that to me. He named me 'Annie' when he found me. I was alone, scared, and on the run from my father. That simple act made me think of myself as a person, apart from my father. It's all that's kept me sane all these years. You have no idea how happy I was when Slade separated me from my father." Annie said shivering.
"Have you ever kissed him?" Starfire asked darkly.
"Pardon?" Annie asked.
"Have you ever kissed Robin?" Starfire asked seriously.
"Just once, why do you ask?" Annie said looking confused.
Starfire was about to reply when Robin returned to the room with a map printout. "I think I found them. If Slade is trying to raise an army with your father's powers, this is where they'll have to do it. It's the only place that has all the resources he'll need."
"Let's get going!" Annie said excitedly.
"No, Annie. I don't want to risk losing you again, especially if we're going up against your father." Robin said stubbornly.
"Robin, I'm not the same girl you knew. I've learned how to use my powers a little now. I can take care of myself." Annie said patiently.
"I still don't like it." Robin said crossing his arms.
"You'll get over it." Annie said rubbing his cheek warmly. Raven expected to have to pull Starfire off the girl, but the alien was strangely subdued.
"Whatever the case we'd best get going. We'll meet you there Robin." Starfire said turning to leave. Raven jumped to follow after her.
Robin's cycle sped below them with the boy wonder and Annie riding behind him. Raven flew silently next to Starfire and finally couldn't hold in the question any longer.
"What's with the kissing question?" Raven asked.
Starfire did not answer for a long time. "On my planet, there is great significance given to someone's first love. In many cases, these two end up being mated together for life."
Raven suddenly began to understand. "It's similar here, but I don't think it's that extreme."
"Annie was a part of Robin's life long before either of us knew him. She has the hoynosh for Robin." Starfire said sadly.
Raven smiled at the irony. "Starfire, things are different on this planet. On this world, Robin's feelings determine what he does. The fact Annie knew him before we did doesn't make a difference if he doesn't feel anything for her."
"It's obvious that he DOES feel for her though." Starfire argued.
"He might not be in love with her like he is with us." Raven said trying to calm the girl, though her words did little to comfort her own uneasiness. "Either way, we'll just have to wait and see."