Shattered Diamonds
Summary: After leaving for five years, Robin returns to find many surprises: Not only does Starfire have a kid, but she's engaged! And Beastboy and Raven are getting along? Jinx is a real hero? What's going on?!(RobStarOC)(BBRae)(KidFlashJinx).
AN: Thank you for your patience and kind reviews. I love you!... Not really...
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CHAPTER SEVEN
INNER TORMENT
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(STARFIRE'S POV)
I raked my fingers through my hair, trying to soothe the tension that had knotted in my body and coated my skin with a cold sweat. The Titans listened intently to Raven, eyes wide with horror and shock. My daughter, Claire, clutched tighter onto my arm. I knew she couldn't comprehend the scene in front of her, but she could still feel the tension arising, rattling each of our bones.
After Raven's long explanation about my sister and her immense power, I spoke, my voice barely a whisper, " This is why we must stop her. With such power, she is capable of ruling the whole universe. And what has Slade have in this plot? What is his key role?..."
They were equally stumped, and I bit my bottom lip, a habit that I usually increase in when I am stressed or frightened. Robin, understanding my emotions, spoke now, determined. " Don't worry, Star...We'll find your sister and Slade, and we'll stop them."
He punched his gloved fist in his palm and glared at the ground, eyes fierce. I knew the old Robin was resurfacing- the foolish, brazen, irrational, stressed, introverted Robin; the one who it took me a few months to melt the ice walls that guarded his heart. Instead of lying on the medical bed and sulking about him, I concenrated on the more pressing matter- or maybe his sanity was the more pressing matter?
" We should go now, while they're still at the warehouse", Robin interrupted, glancing at each of them. His eyes fell on me, and I knew he was pleading with me to agree with him, but I merely shook my head, " No. My sister will see it coming- although greedy and cruel, she is not to be mistaken as an idiot..."
An awkward silence followed, before Beastboy cleared his throat and spoke up, his voice strained. " M-Maybe we should wait. I think it'd be better to get some rest, ya know? No use in sitting here and wallowing, right?" He unsucessfully gave out a laugh.
Raven nodded in agreement, and Beastboy stalked slowly out of the medical room, glancing at Raven as she lay on the bed. Cyborg stood there for a minute, shifting his feet, before whispering his goodnight and hurrying out of the room. I redirected my attention to Robin, who stood near the window, staring solemnly out into the bay.
" Um, Robin?" I managed to voice out. He turned suddenly, anxious. " Could you tell Ja-"
" I already have", he interrupted, smiling warily at me, " He said okay and that he hoped you would feel better. He'll come to pick you up in the morning...What about Claire? Do you want me to take her home?"
Hearing this, she clutched tighter to me. I sighed and shook my head, tiredness overtaking my body. " No. She can sleep in my room. Claire, follow Robin to my room, 'kay? I'll see you in the morning..."
Claire, taking one last glance at me, jumped off the medical bed and ran to Robin's side as he now stood near the door. Smiling, he and Claire vanished behind the door. I exchanged a glance with Raven, before falling back on my bed.
" Starfire?" she spoke up. I cocked by head, concerned at the tone of her voice, barely above a whisper.
" Yes?"
" Before Blackfire...attacked me, me and Beastboy had a moment, as I call them. But this one was...different, more foreign to me...I-I think I might actually like him more than a friend..."
" Since when have you considered him a friend", I teased, giggling lightly. She actually cracked a smile, but it quickly faltered, causing me to feel guilty. "... Sorry, friend...So...You think you might...love him?"
After a few seconds, she nodded slowly. "...Yes. But, maybe we shouldn't get into the category of love, just yet, okay? You know me... I'm not the type of person to show my emotions 'openly'. I just keep them locked behind layers of the fake calmness I walk around with everyday... But I guess you can say that I do feel close to him, okay?"
I nodded and giggled some more. Raven rolled her eyes, then turned to the light switch. Her eyes turned bright white, and the switch moved down, the room becoming ingulfed in darkness. Sighing, I lay back down and close my eyes. My eyes suddenly feel heavy, and I drift into a deep sleep.
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(ROBIN'S POV)
I slammed my fist on my desk, anger and frustration clouding my ability to think. Maybe if I had gotten there on time, Starfire and Raven would not have been so severely hurt. Especially Starfire, who has a daughter...I know how it feels to lose a parent, someone you love dearly- I know the pain that stabs at your heart when you realize they're dead and never coming back into this world...
I gazed up at the wall in front me, seeing the articles and evidence of Slade and his whereabouts. They were in the warehouse, so why not just get them now?
" Robin?" Cyborg called from behind the door. Sitting up, I walked to the door, my steps purposely loud. When I opened it, I was greeted with Cyborg's confused, slightly annoyed face.
" Man, you need to chill", he spoke, his voice low and his eyes narrowed. " Now, I came to check up on you to see if you hadn't left. I know how you can be, so please...Don't do anything stupid, alright?..."
I glared at him. " Right", I mumbled, and slammed the door shut. My mind was telling me to calm down, but my body objected, and I marched back to the desk and slumped down on the chair, my fists clenched. I sat there for a moment, before finally deciding; I was going to the warehouse, and I was going to defeat Slade and Blackfire.
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I pressed my back to the wall and inhaled, a cold sweat covering my body. Turning around, I grabbed a pipe that scaled to the top of the warehouse and started climbing. Within seconds I was on the roof and running toward the glass window. Halting, I tried to peer through but it was too foggy. Glaring, I decided I'd make the noisy entrance. Gritting my teeth, I slammed my fist into the glass. It shattered, creating a hole that I quickly jumped in and fell, landing gracefully on the floor, which was plastered with shards of glass.
" Slade!" I shouted, whirling around. No response, nothing to prove that he was there. Crouching, I walked toward a chair, my eyes narrowed. Growling, I charged at it, but when the chair twirled around, I stopped myself. It was Blackfire, smirking at me, her legs crossed.
" Hello, Robin. Stupid enough to come here, eh?" I stepped back, and pulled out my bo-staff, ready for a fight. She laughed with amusement.
" I'm not going to fight you- I'm too tired."
" Where is Slade?" I demanded.
"...Over there", she replied cooly, motioning with her head. I turned, ready, but my eyes widened in shock. There he was, lying on the ground, a pool of crimson blood soaked around his body. His eyes were still open, horror struck. My staff fell from my hands, and the memories flooded my mind once more. The memories -the ones I've forgotten a long time ago- raced in my head. My parents, who had fallen to their death, and the way Slade's dead body lay on the ground, reminded very much of my parents, lifeless.
" What's the matter?" she taunted with mock concern. " Sad that you weren't the one to kill him?"
I couldn't find my voice, and the room began to spin. It had been a long time since I've seen such a brutal scene, and the images were coming back. Every damn one of them. It hurt- it hurt like hell. Not phsyically, but mentally and emotionally- twisting my mind. My heart beat faster while my throat became raw.
" Why?" I managed to choke out. All these years I've wanted to kill Slade, but now that I see it, I doubt that that could have ever been a true wish to me. Blackfire laughed, cold and cruel.
" I simply didn't need him, anymore. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
" Everything's wrong with it!" I shouted, standing more erect and clenching my fists." You can't just go an murder people you sick bastard! What do you get in return? Why do you want the universe so badly?"
She cocked her head, giving me a quizzical stare. "... Robin, of all people - you should understand my reasons. I mean, you've handled loads of vilians, before, right? You understood their motives, so why not mine? I'm greedy and selfish, but there is a major difference, though...I am doing this for my people..."
" Your people?" She was doing all this for her people- the Tamaranians?
" Not those people", she added, understanding who I was thinking of. " But if they were in need, I might have helped them. But, apparently they enjoy my sister's help, instead of mine."
" Whose people, then? The Servix?" I shouted, frustrated.
She stepped back and examined me, impressed. " So you already know? Good. At least you'll know my intentions before I kill you, too!"
She ran toward me, eyes glowing purple, and swung her fist. I dodged and grabbed her arm, twisting it painfully behind her back and pinning her to the clammy ground, her cheek pressed down hard. Smirking, she turned her head slightly, enough for me to see the amusement and malice in her narrow eyes.
" Now what are you going to do, Robin? Kill me?" I glared, my anger rising.
" No! I'm going to have you sent to prison where you'll rot with the other pathetic villians..."
Seeing my distraction, she threw her head back, slamming into my face. My grip loosened and she broke free, turning sharply and sending a powerful blow to my stomach. Before I had time to fall, she swiftly slid her leg under my feet, sending my to the ground on her will.
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(RAVEN'S POV)
I jerked up, my heart beating rapidly.
" Robin!"
Starfire's eyes snapped open and she sat up, eyes wide as she stared at me, confused and apprehensive. " Robin? What about Robin? Are you alright, Raven? Say something!"
I blinked, then rubbed my temples, trying to think back to the vision. Suddenly, it hit me, and my eyes narrowed. Stupid, idiotic, stubborn, independent Robin! Always has to go and do things on his own!
" Robin...", I started, my voice low, " He went after Blackfire- to the warehouse..."
" And Slade", she pressed, anxious to hear more. My eyes widened, as the image flashed across my mind and the knowledge of his death came back... He was dead... Slade was actually dead...
" Raven?" she whispered, leaning over the bed to reach out to me. I shook my head and turned toward her. " Slade... He's...dead..."
Starfire recoiled, shocked. " Dead? But how? Who?..."
I frowned. "... Blackfire."
Starfire's pale hand flew to her mouth as she gawked at me. Even though I wasn't looking at her, I knew her eyes were wide with an even worse shock, and also- though she wouldn't admit it- shame. Starfire was ashamded of having such a sister- a murderer. Sighing, I pushed the blanket off me and stood up, Starfire quickly following as we walked out of the medical room and toward the warehouse.
" Raven?" I glanced behind me at her.
Her tiny eye brows pulled together and her eyes were solemn as she stared at the ground. "... My sister. S-She is truly a... murderer?"
Sadly, I nodded. " Yes, she is..."
" I see..."
" Don't feel so ashamed", I said softly, staring straight ahead as we left the tower, my boots scrunching on the dirt." She may be your sister, but that does not mean that your are the same. She wants to ruin lives, and you want to save them. You have nothing in common..."
" Except in blood", she whispered harshly, her jaw set. I shook my head.
" Not even blood. Her blood is cold and vicious, while your's is warm with compassion... Remember that."
The edge of her lips twitched as she fought the need to smile. Once we were near the edge of the tiny island, we charged in the air, flying to the warehouse. I could feel Starfire's anxiety building inside of her.
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(ROBIN'S POV)
I slammed into a stake of crates, and fell to my knees, my hand pressed against my stomach. Blackfire stopped in front of me and kneeled down, smirking with triumph as she stared at my beaten body. Reaching out, she plucked a strand of black hair and flipped it away from my mask. Glaring, I balled my hand into a fist and strcuk her in the face... Or, that was what I intended to do, but she grasped my arm and pinned it behind me, causing me to fall forward.
" Already weak? I haven't even used my powers, yet- not even my super-strength", she mocked. I struggled away from her grasp and stood up. She also stood and stared at me. It was then that I noticed something strange. Her eyes weren't their normal dark purple, but pitch black. My eyebrows pinched together in confusion. She misunderstood my puzzled state.
" What? Confused by the fact that I'm beating you?"
My eyes narrowed. " No!... It's your eyes... They're black..."
For some odd reason, this brought fury to her and she stepped back, her fists turning a bright purple. I dodged the stream of purple energy and ran for cover, stepping behind a tall wooden crate.
" Don't hide, Robin. I'm not that angry, but you must not be so perspective! My eyes are black because..."-Hesitation-" Tamaranians go through such phases. Our eyes turn this color... And it's because I have grown in the past years..."
" You're lying!" I shouted, showing myself from behind the crate and standing a great distance away from her, my eyes narrowed. Blackfire gritted her teeth and stepped back, truly furious, now. I held up my hands, beckoning her to halt. She squinted her eyes at me, not understanding, and the glow around her fists dispersed.
" What now?" she groaned. It was odd- the way she acted. It was as if nothing mattered to her; it could be her incomprehensible new powers- the powers that have some how gotten a hold of her. She was... too evil... or at least too evil to be Blackfire.
" Why are you taunting me so much? Why are you acting like you're unstoppable when I know you're not- everyone has a weakness... All I have to do is find your's."
" Weakness?" she muttered, arching an eyebrow. She then threw back her head and let out a loud laugh, and when she stared back at me again, I knew she was going to taunt me. I've already figured out her "new" personality.
" I don't have any weaknesses", she continued. Lie. " No one can stop me." Lie. " Now, there was something I've been meaning to ask you... It's about my sister, Starfire." She spat out the name with malice, then continued on.
"... She's engaged and has a daughter- engaged to someone who is not you. How do you feel about that? Tell me... Do you... love her?"
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(STARFIRE'S POV)
Raven and I landed on the hard ground on the roof of the warehouse. I growled when I saw the broken glass and carefully peered inside. Before I could fly down, Raven held up her hand and tilted her head, apparently trying to listen for something.
" Raven, wha-"
" Shhh." She motioned for me to listen. When I crouched down and cocked my head to the side, I could hear Robin and Blackfire speaking, there voices slightly muffled- but I could tell this conversation was about me.
"...Tell me", I heard her say,"... Do you... love her?"
I let out a gasp, as did Raven, and glanced at her, my eyes pleading. She nodded, and together, we charged down. There was no way I wanted to hear his answer- I wouldn't be able to take it. Everything was fine, and I didn't want to shatter that peace. And... I couldn't return his feelings.
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(ROBIN'S POV)
I stepped back, unable to answer. Suddenly, two shadowy figures appeared from behind, Blackfire. Dark energy wrapped around Blackfire, holding her in place. I smirked, knowing that it was Raven and Starfire.
" Sister!" Starfire called, landing in front of Blackfire, who struggled once she saw her Starfire.
" You", she hissed, lashing out, but the energy held her back. Swiftly, Blackfire pulled out her hand and pressed her palm to Raven's energy. Before Raven could react, Blackfire's own power destroyed her's, sending a savage amount of dark purple energy surging through Raven, who fell to the ground, her elbows supporting her weight.
" Ra-" Blackfire punched Starfire in the jaw. She staggered back, her hand covering the red, burning skin and she gazed at her sister with loathing and anger.
" I have been waiting for this moment", Blackfire snarled, her voice fueled by her bitter hatred. "- The moment I would have a chance to finally beat you down. The other day was nothing; and I take it you're still weak?"
" Why not kill me?" Starfire mocked, eyes narrowed to slits.
" Starfire", Robin growled, warning her as he stood next to her. " Don't provoke her."
" I can't kill you", Blackfire explained, although they knew that was her one desire at the moment. " It will ruin the plan."
" What plan?" Raven demanded, sitting up and standing behind Blackfire, fury seeething through her as she fought the urge to use her powers to beat Blackfire down.
" That's for me to know, and you to find out." And with that, she threw her glowing black fist into the ground, the cement breaking. A circle of black energy surrounded her and suddenly covered the whole warehouse, shrouding it into darkness. After a few seconds, the darkness faltered and finally vanished, leaving no trace of Blackfire. Raven, Starfire and Robin stood there, glancing at each other.
" Tell us everything", Raven commanded, walking up to Robin. His head slowly turned, and Raven followed his gaze. She gasped at Slade's lifeless body, and rapidly turned to Starfire, her voice loud. " Starfire, don't look!"
" I shall not." But she had, and her eyes were fully of agony and horror, leaving Robin and Raven to calm her down. Minutes later, they were awaiting the abulance to arrive and take Slade's body. None of them spoke of the events that had taken place. It was too stressful to think about, and they needed rest.