Shattered Diamonds
Summary: Five years after leaving, Robin comes home to discover that Starfire has a daughter and is engaged! But worse, with the return of Blackfire and the unexpected death of one of their greatest foes, how can Robin cope? (ROBXSTARXOC)(BBXRAE)(KIDFLASHXJINX)
Author's Note: I. AM. SO… SORRY! I feel like such a horrible person because of how much time it took to post another chapter! Oh, god… I should really find some way to repay you guys who have been waiting. I think I'll update sooner! How 'bout I post before one week? But seriously, I'm very, very sorry. But here's another chapter! Oh, and I've revised chapters one and two.
Chapter Twelve
DARK MELODY
Raven watched as Starfire stumbled out of the tower, an aura of panic and horror engulfing her statuesque body. Slowly, her eyes traveled to the hall where Starfire had sprinted out of. The sweet energy of passion lingered in the air.
It made Raven's knees weak and shaky.
"Robin," she muttered darkly.
With her fists clenched, she stormed up the steps of the main room and made her way down the hallway, trying hard to ignore the heated aroma of love and guilt that coursed through her pulsing veins as she drew closer and closer to Robin's room.
What had he done…?
Growling, she raised her fist and pounded on his door, determined to figure things out.
"What?" Robin demanded, his voice cold.
Raven stepped closer. "Open this damn door!" she ordered.
After a heavy amount of thundering steps, the door slid open and a furious, irritated Robin stood at the door. She could feel the piercing glare that lie behind his mask. She folded her arms across her chest and stared at him, not at all intimidated by his false anger.
"What did you do?"
He scoffed. "Nothing…"
"Don't lie!" she hissed. "I have empathy, remember?"
Robin's firm stature seemed to falter as he absorbed my words. Recollecting himself, he shrugged. It was obvious to both of them that he was lying. And that fact made worried him.
Raven smirked.
"Just tell me," she said, softly now.
He gazed at her, contemplating. With a resigned sigh, he allowed her access to his room so they could talk privately. Hurriedly, she shoved past him and sauntered into his dark, shadowed room. Torn paper and toppled furniture littered the floor while only a single dim light shown from the ceiling.
"What did you do?" she repeated, her voice a whisper.
"Destroy my room," he muttered.
Raven whirled around, her eyes boring into him. "To Starfire!" she snarled.
"I…" Robin's voice trailed off as guilt laced through his voice.
"What?" she pressed, eager to discover the truth of their situation.
He gulped. "I sort of… kissed her…"
"You what?" she gasped.
This was an odd thing for her – to lose her composure. Even in such situations she was able to remain calm, but with Starfire and Robin (over these past days) was beginning to leave her exhausted. Their emotions and thoughts continuously changed – from content to awkwardness; happiness to sadness.
And now… this.
"You heard me…"
Raven sighed, exasperated. Never once has she stumbled upon such frustrating dilemma. Even her ultimate transformation into the source of the end of the world wasn't as terrible.
Honestly, I could deal with Trigon better than this, she mused.
"Do I have to do everything?" she sighed.
Finally, Robin showed an emotion other than guilty pleasure. It was a sign of hope, in her opinion.
Confusion.
"What?" he asked, perplexed.
Raven eyed him. "You seem to cause more problems, not fix them…" She paused. "Which leaves me."
"And what were my previous problems?" he inquired, anger evident in his harsh tone.
Her hand rose to her chin as she stared at the ceiling, insultingly thoughtful. "Oh, let's see?" she started, sarcastic. "Well, you and Starfire obviously have a thing for each other still, oh, and not to mention that Claire's actually your daughter!" Her eyes narrowed. "And you just ruined her happy engagement!"
Robin barred his teeth, fury now snapping each nerve. His face felt heated.
How dare she…
"Stop acting like this is easy for me," he spat.
Raven leaned closer, her face inches from his. "I know it isn't easy, but you sure are making it a hell of a lot harder than it should be!"
"Not everyone is as emotionally detached as you, Raven."
His words were full of venom. He didn't mean it, but she was sending so much painful hatred –for himself– through his bones, that words of past belief began to form in his mind. He wanted to cause an equal amount of pain that she was stabbing into him.
And –to his self-loathing– it worked.
Her mouth shut tight. Only a whimper escaped. Slowly, her eyes flooded with sorrow that she quickly masked. Everyone knew how much she had despised herself for having a lack of ability to feel great proportions of emotion.
"Stop being a bastard to everyone," she commanded softly, "And apologize to Starfire…"
As if trying to prove him wrong, she –although she tried to shield it from him– willed herself to shed a tear; to feel saddened by his false words. And to her disappointment, no salty tear slid down her flushed face. She wanted to show emotion: she wanted to sob; sob into her pillow like a normal person.
Swiftly, she glided out of his room.
"You seem to cause more problems, not fix them…"
Her statement rang through Robin's head, haunting him.
He sat on the edge of his bed, feeling as if he was the king of all scum. Once again, his anger had gotten the better of him. Flashes of age-old displays of coldness toward his friends flashed across his mind.
"How am I going to fix this?" he asked aloud, his head in his hands.
-
Beastboy whistled happily as he strolled down the hallway. Over the past weeks, everything seemed so… pleasant. It was as if –with the arrival of Robin– things have gone back to normal; Cyborg and him bickering over breakfast, Raven sitting on the sofa, read (although she has been warming up to him).
He sighed.
If only Terra were here… However, that definitely wouldn't suit well with Raven or his own raging emotions.
His relationship with Terra and his –almost– relationship with Raven were different, although both were/are equally wonderful and extraordinary.
With Raven, he felt so mellow and open. He knew how easily she read emotions, and this knowledge made him at ease – he wanted her to understand what he was thinking and feeling; it calmed him.
And when he was 'with' Terra, he felt this undying need to be what she wanted – to please her more than necessary. It did bring joy back into her empty life, but when she betrayed him, his heart hit rock bottom.
How can anyone be so cruel…?
His heart had already suffered a lot; his parents' inevitable deaths and his long ago departure from the Doom Patrol. And worse: when society and its people rejected and shunned him because of his power and his appearance.
But I suppose Raven has suffered much worse hardships, he thought.
Maybe that's why he felt so 'in love' with her? Because she was like him and it pushed him into wanting to make her life brighter. After all, that's what he had done with Terra.
Before he could sink any deeper into his thoughts, a blur of purple moved past him.
"Raven?"
Beastboy turned and stared at Raven. Hearing him, she halted, her body going stiff. Her hood had been pulled over her head, sheltering her eyes, and she was slouched over. He walked steadily toward her, worried.
"What's wrong?"
She stood more erect and turned around. Nothing seemed wrong…
But it felt wrong.
"Nothings wrong," she assured, a weak smile stretching across her face.
Now he knew something was wrong – even when happy, she rarely smiled.
"Just tell me," he urged, walking to her until he was standing in front of her. She stepped back, hesitant, and shook her head in denial.
"I'm alright…"
Beastboy crossed his arms, skeptical. "No, you're not," he said matter-of-factly, "And if you tell me, I might be able to help…"
Raven, shakily, let her hood fall down. She stared at him, right into his green eyes. He waited patiently, slightly startled by her strange behavior. With a sigh, Raven began to speak.
"Do you think I'm normal?"
Stunned, he stared at her. "Of course you are…"
"And that I can show emotions?"
Beastboy chuckled. "Yeah. Right now you are…"
Raven arched an eyebrow. "How?"
"You're being insecure."
They stared at each other in silence. Raven processed his words, relieved. I'm just being irrational, she told herself, ignoring Robin's words. He was angry, and he had every right to be… But she still felt so… terrified by his words with reasons she couldn't comprehend.
"Why'd you ask, anyway?" Beastboy pressed, eager to escape the awkward stillness.
She sighed once more.
"…Nothing."
-
Starfire lie on her bed, her breathing heavy. She could still feel his lips on her own, the sweet, pure thrill of their kiss lingering in her mind. The confusion that etched into her soul began to take a toll on her body.
I'll probably not b able to use my powers, right now.
Jason was at work (he had gone back), and Claire was staying at a friend's house…
Leaving her to wallow in her guilt.
"It meant nothing," she whispered. She was trying to convince herself, and –so far– it wasn't working out too well.
Ever since Robin had come back, old emotions had reawakened; "With a vengeance," as Beastboy or Cyborg would frequently say. She knew that her feelings for Jason were strong – he was her healer.
But every emotion –chaotic or mellow– with Robin was much more… adventurous.
It was as if she were spinning and tumbling, loop-after-loop, on a roller coaster, never once ceasing speed. And at the moment she and Robin had kissed, the roller coaster had rocketed down a hill; like her dreams.
She inhaled, the feeling in her stomach dispersing.
Would things ever be less difficult and mind-shattering…?
It was then, while she lie on her bed, that she felt a different presence.
"Hello, sister…"
Quickly, Starfire sat up.
Blackfire stood in front of her bed, a smug look on her dark face. And again, that strange glint of metallic black surged through her once violet eyes. Without hesitation, Starfire slid off the bed and marched over to her sister.
"Why are you doing all of this?" Starfire cried.
Blackfire cocked her head. "Oh, you'll find out. First, you have to come with me…"
"No." It was a firm and dominant command.
However, only seconds after Starfire had spoke, Blackfire seized her arm, and flew up, breaking through layers of plaster and concrete. She flew through the sky, Starfire struggling fruitlessly in her arms.
"Where are you taking me, sister!?" she demanded.
Blackfire sneered. "To Servix…" A smirk carved onto her cruel face. "The Forbidden Planet."
"W-Why?" Starfire stammered.
Blackfire sigh with mock regret. "You're their sacrifice, 'royal blood'"
Starfire couldn't even scream as they barreled through space, zooming past stars and planets. Not even the scenery could calm the terrible fear that became livid in her glistening emerald eyes.
No…