Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. "The Hollow Men" was written by T.S. Elliot, and the use of passages to open each chapter is done with the utmost respect for one of the English languages best craftsmen. Thank you, and enjoy.

Titans Broken

Chapter 17: Resurrection

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

- T.S. Elliot's "The Hollow Men"

"Oh God… No!" A familiar voice shouted.

"She's flat-lining, stand clear!" Another voice she knew shouted. "Clear!"

Energy shot through her and she gasped in a sudden breath, her eyes snapped open. "Star!" A voice shouted and suddenly two familiar arms pulled her up into a hug. She cried as her mind broke down the last few barriers and she hugged him tight.

"Richard… oh Richard." She murmured. "I love you too."

"Stand back Dick, I need to make sure she's alright." Cyborg's voice shouted and Starfire opened her eyes. She heard a strangled gasp of surprise from Beast Boy and blinked away her tears.

"What?" She asked. "Is there something wrong?"

"Your eyes Star… we can see the pupils of your eyes again." Dick said as he ran a hand along her cheek and softly caressed it. "Are you okay?"

"I… I think so. I remember…" She stared at him. "You… you still love me? Despite everything I did?" She burst into tears and clung to him. "I'm so sorry Dick… I… I don't understand why I… I don't…"

"Shh… it's okay. You're better now… just give yourself time to heal." Richard whispered in her ear and massaged her back. She shuddered and closed her eyes.

"What do we do now?" She asked.

Richard shook his head. "I don't know Star… I really don't know."

The door hissed open and Batman stepped inside. Starfire swallowed at the sight of the man. She could feel Richard stiffen at his presence. He glared at the Batman. "This was your plan wasn't it?" He snarled.

"It was… you both needed to confront the truth." Batman said sternly. "You wanted out of my shadow so long and then… you were in Blüdhaven, you were in Gotham, you wore the suit. I never understood why until now."

"Bruce, don't you dare!" Barbara Gordon's voice snapped. "You did this to break them again, is that it?"

Richard stiffened. "No… everything I did that supported you has blown up in my face, a failure. I won't be a part of it anymore. Richard Grayson the playboy… the ward of the Bruce Wayne… the kid that looked up to you? He's dead and gone." He snarled. "The only thing I did that stood, was the one thing I did in rebellion against you! The Titans where I had friends… a woman that loved me more than I could ever love her back and you kept dragging me back to Gotham!"

"I asked to marry her because it was the one thing that I had that was going well in my life… it's time I remember that. Everything you asked me to do has ended in a bloody failure." Richard snarled and turned to Starfire, his shoulders dropping. "I'm so sorry Star… I screwed us up so bad."

She stared down into his eyes and a slight smile played across her lips. "Richard… not all the fault is yours."

"Thank you, for everything." He said and held her tight. "Since… since we broke up, everything I did turned to ash. I… I can't do it anymore. I want you back."

"I am glad. Would one of you please come when I tell the Outlaws I'm done with being a mercenary?" Starfire asked the assembled group before looking back at Richard.

"I'll come with you." He said hugging her side. "Are we… together again then?"

"Yes, I love you still… when I gave you my heart it wasn't a loan. I've been missing it for a long time, now that I have you back… I think I found it again."

"About damn time you figured this out, the both of you." Bruce said. "It's time Nightwing became his own damn man."

"And Dick?" Barbara asked. "How will you get him out of Gotham and out of the Wayne spotlight?"

"I can have his death faked and an alternate identity setup for him, or we can just create a public falling out." Bruce grumbled. "All he ever had to do was ask."

Richard stared at Bruce for a long moment then nodded. "You're right… it's time to be my own man."

"We'll help." Cyborg said and the other former Titans nodded.

Richard smiled to himself and glanced up at Starfire. "Are you sure about this… we've been away from each other so long…"

"We will make it work." She said. "I could not bear to lose you the first time… what makes you think I could ever give you up willingly?"

He leaned in and kissed her, holding her close to his chest as her lips played against his. Finally she smiled at him. "Oh how I've missed you."

"Dick…" Barbara Gordon sighed and pulled out the small engagement ring he'd given her from a pocket. "I don't think this is for me anymore." Richard's eyes went wide as Barbara stepped up to Starfire and laid the ring in her palm. "It's yours now… always really was I think. Take good care of him." The redhead wrapped the two of them in a hug and cried. "Damn it all…"

"Babs?" Richard asked.

"I'm going to miss you…" She said to him.

"I'm sure we'll coordinate every once in a while… you've still got the Birds of Prey and I… I've got my old network to restart." Richard smiled at her. "Plus, you've got a whole crop of other Robins to torment."

She chuckled at that and drew back from them. "I… you know it'll be hard on dad right? He was so hoping…"

"I'll make sure he knows I'm still alive… You can tell him I'm in witness protection or something." Richard said and stepped back. "Or maybe the public falling out is a better idea."

Cyborg straightened up and looked at Richard. "Are we really reforming the old team?"

"Yeah… if you want in?" Richard said.

"Sure."

"Garfield, Rachel?" Richard asked as he glanced at the two of them.

"You bet!" Beast Boy said with a thumb's up. "I missed you guys."

"Of course." Raven said with a slight smile.

Richard smiled and wrapped an arm around Starfire's waist. "How about you?"

"Where you go… I will follow." She said before leaning down to kiss him.

Roy Harper leaned back in the deck chair and put his hands behind his head. "What we doing Jason?"

"Waiting." Jason answered as he drummed on the top of his helmet. "You know we can't do the same sort of jobs without her."

"Do you really think she'll be coming back to you?" A female voice asked from behind the two of them. A woman with gray-green eyes, wild wiry black hair, and an athletic figure asked. Roy swallowed as he saw her, noting the two Sai that hung from her belt and the small crossbow clasped in her hand.

Jason spun toward the woman lifting a pistol threateningly. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled and Roy grabbed the slid of Jason's pistol. "Don't."

"Who is she?" Jason asked.

"My name is Jade Nguyen…" She said calmly. "I heard you lost your little squeeze, eh Roy?"

"You know this bitch?" Jason spat.

Roy nodded once and pushed the gun out of line. "I do… what do you want Cheshire?"

Jason Todd froze, his face growing pale for a moment. Jade stepped forward, sauntering up to Roy. "I'm just here for a contract… I was wondering if you two wanted in."

A brilliant white light flared down from the sky and the two Outlaws spun toward it. The familiar form of Starfire stepped out. The two stared at her for a long moment as Roy's mind went into overdrive. She looks different… her skin is lighter, more a bronze then an orange and… her eyes. I can see pupils in her eyes.

"Right on time." Cheshire muttered before lifting the crossbow.

Her face hardened as she stared at the two of men, her brow furrowing in anger. "I just came to tell you Jason… I'm leaving."

"Wait, where are you going?" Roy said before stumbling forward and reaching out with a hand.

Star batted the hand aside. "Do not touch me!" She snapped at him and green energy coiled around her hands. Roy stumbled back as she floated up from the ground. "I am tired of being used for your own gratification… I will not be your sex toy anymore."

"Kory?" Roy asked looking totally befuddled. "But…"

"You used me Roy, and I used you… I was broken, I'm fixed now." Starfire said. "A stable person has no place in the Outlaws."

"True that…" Cheshire muttered.

Starfire's gaze flicked to her. "Why are you here?"

"To kill you." A poison tipped bolt shot from the crossbow as Star's eyes went wide. An armored arm swept the bolt aside before it struck and Cheshire's gaze flicked toward Nightwing as he stood between her and her target.

"Get your cash from some other corpse Cheshire." Nightwing snapped before a bird-a-rang sliced through the bowstring of her hand crossbow.

"Got a flare for the dramatic, do you Nightwing?" Cheshire growled as she dropped the crossbow and went for her sai. She froze as Roy grabbed her wrist.

"Don't…" Roy growled. "Just don't."

Cheshire slowly stood down as Nightwing took a step back toward Starfire. "She with you?"

"Is now." Roy said without any real conviction. "What about Star?"

"I am my own person once again… would you truly be surprised if I was with my Nightwing again?" Starfire answered.

"What about all that you said about allowing something else define you? What about…"

"I lied, Roy, and I used you to feel something again… I was broken, that defined me, and that is why I did what I did. You do not see that you took advantage, but you did as I did to you. We were never lovers, for I never loved you… I could not. I was Z'hom… a dead shell and I'm only now a living being once more." Starfire swallowed and glanced at Cheshire. "If I was not… better I would have gladly accepted the death you offered. Now…" Her gaze flicked to Nightwing. "Now I wish to live."

Jason nodded. "Goodbye Starfire, it's been… interesting." He scowled at Dick and holstered a pistol. "Bro… take fucking good care of her this time." He growled at Nightwing. "Or I will kill you."

"I will Jason… and I will get you back for all the 'cutie' comments you used to make someday." Nightwing said before grabbing her hand and thumbing a communicator. With another flash the pair was gone, beamed away.

"Damn…" Cheshire glanced at her crossbow. "Roy, I need a bowstring."

Roy snorted. "So what now?"

"Back to work." Jason observed sourly.

A manic grin slipped across Cheshire's face. "I hear you've got an opening on the team… how do I apply?"

"You just did." Jason said.

Raven let out a long sigh of relief as she stood in the middle of the room, her gaze flicking across the familiar book cases and Azarathian artifacts she'd kept. The entertainment center stood across from the couch and she walked over to the shelves to organize them for a moment.

Already she was thinking about the weekly counseling and therapy sessions that she and Black Canary had planned for Kori and Dick. Bruce had given in to Dick's demands and provided him with a new identity, apparently one he'd had prepared since before the simulation began.

There was a thump as Garfield dropped his duffle bag beside the couch. Raven felt herself blush as she felt his arms wrap around her from behind and hug her tight. "Rae…"

"Garfield." She whispered back and smirked. "How are you going to keep that job on the show?"

"Oh… easy, I asked Cyborg and he said he can get the Justice League to beam me to the studio when I need to be there." His hug tightened. "I missed you Rae…"

She nodded and leaned back against him. "I missed you too."

"You did good… they're both coming back to us now Rae." Garfield said before squeezing her affectionately. "Life's looking up."

"It is, isn't it," She answered and let out a sigh. "That's all we needed… a little hope." She felt Garfield's tale wrap possessively around her hips. "And a lot of love."

"Yeah… Cyborg really needs to get a girlfriend… You got any ideas?" Garfield said with a laugh.

"Garfield… I don't think he has those parts anymore." Raven said quietly. "I don't know… most girls would like that to be a possibility eventually, I think."

"I suppose you're right… that sucks," Garfield muttered. Raven froze as she felt his lips press against her cheek. "So… I'm moving in with you?"

"So long as you don't make a mess." Raven said with a sarcastic tone. "You do know this is a one bedroom apartment, right? You sure you can stand my creepiness at night?"

"I'm sure… I love you, creepiness and all Rae." Beast Boy snuggled against her back. "What say we celebrate the Titan's return?"

"That sounds… good." She whispered back.

Dusk had begun to fall over New York. Behind the counter of one of the ritziest hotels in the city the manager was slowly typing on his computer when a couple clad in a pair of Hawaiian shirts stepped inside. The woman had bronzed skin and wore shades despite the growing darkness. Her head was topped with a white sun bonnet. She was also tall, over six feet and clearly rather well-proportioned as the clothes she wore were snug on her body.

The man with her had windblown black hair and wore a set of black glasses as well. As they approached the manager caught a few snippets of whispers between the pair.

"I'm sorry Kory, it'll just take a few days for Bruce to get it all arranged okay? I'll be back as soon as I can."

The girl nodded once and leaned against him, settling her head on his shoulder. "I do not wish for you to go Robin."

"I know." He whispered. "Please, this will be better for us… no more demands from him, no more running back to the place."

"I will miss you… I do not wish to have a relapse." The woman whispered back to him. "Can I not go with you?"

"No… I'm sorry Kory. It'll just be a couple of days, and then I'll be back, okay? I'll call you every day." He answered.

The pair had reached the desk and the manager stood. "Can I help you?"

"We need a room for a week…" The man said simply. "Maybe longer, you do have vacancies right?"

"Yes sir." The Manager said. "A double or a single?"

"Single please…" The girl said quietly and the man nodded.

"Alright, I'll need a deposit, credit card, and identification." The manager said.

The woman set a card down on the top of the register along with a driver's license. The man chuckled quietly. "I didn't know you could drive."

"Robin…" She slapped his hand playfully. "I do know the driving."

The manager quickly swiped the card and entered the information before returning it to her. "Thank you Miss Anders." He glanced at the man. "Your ID?"

"Oh right, just a second." He fished out a card and slid it across the counter. The manager studied it for a moment. It looked to be brand new, almost as if it'd just been printed. He quickly entered the name and waited for the card scanner to finish working. "Thank you Mr. Robin Blake… your cards, room 1404."

The woman giggled to herself as Robin slipped an arm around her. "Come on… I've got your bags… Gar, Vic, and Rachel will be here tomorrow when I head over to Gotham."

"Yes Robin." She giggled again and the man grinned.

The manager guessed it was some sort of inside joke and sat down behind his desk as the couple walked over to the elevators.

Dick smiled at Starfire as he leaned back in the elevator. She gave him a cheeky grin, the first of the sort he'd seen from her in a long while. "Robin?"

"I'm going to kill Bruce, of all the things to name my new identity…" Dick shook his head.

Her smile vanished and she seemed to pout. "But I do miss calling you Robin."

The elevator slowed to a stop and Dick glanced at her. He felt an upwelling of affection for her and sighed. "I kind of missed it too."

"Then you do not mind?" Starfire asked.

"No I don't Kory." He said with a grin. The doors slid open and he walked out of into the hall and glanced around for a moment before spotting the door labeled 1404. "Come on… our room is waiting." He teased her.

Starfire giggled and Dick was delighted with the sound as he tugged her to the door and opened the hotel room. Inside was a relatively lavish one bed hotel room, complete with couch, television, and minibar. He tossed the luggage he'd carried onto the dresser as Starfire glanced around the room and then closed the door behind her. She suddenly looked sheepish.

"I do not understand… I propositioned Roy and was not even nervous and now… I have the little winged insects in my stomachs. It is most distracting." She said quietly. "Why am I nervous?"

"Because this means something to you." Dick said as he stepped toward her and took her hand. "We just got back together Star, there's no rush."

She nodded. "I know… but I am so scared. I do not wish for a relapse." She shuddered as Dick ran his hand up to her eyes and slowly pulled off her sunglasses. Her green eyes glowed softly in the dim light and her emerald pupils focused on him. "I am more myself around you."

He nodded and slipped his glasses off. "I know Star… I don't want to leave you."

"Richard…" Her voice cracked and she looked down at him, her gaze locking onto his blue eyes. "I… I'm scared. I'm scared of myself, what I became…" She closed her eyes and tear ran down her cheeks. "I never want to be that person again."

"Shh…" Dick ran a finger along her chin and smiled. "I'm here. You'll never be that person again, I promise."

She nodded once and hugged him, burying her head in his neck and sobbed. Her shoulders shuddered as she cried. "I missed you so much. I never want to lose you again… I love you."

"I know." Dick whispered before kissing her behind the ear. She shuddered and leaned against him before another kiss on her neck made her shiver. "I love you to."

She grabbed his head and pulled him into a burning kiss. Dick could feel her hunger for him as she grabbed at his belt. He slipped her Hawaiian shirt off and gazed longingly at the bronze flesh he'd exposed.

Her breath hitched as his hands explored her soft curves and caressed her belly. She purred with delight and tore his belt free before going for his shirt. The thin fabric of the Hawaiian shirt ripped as she struggled to remove it, revealing a simple white t-shirt beneath it. She plunged her thumbs under the waistband and yanked the pants he wore down, dragging a set of black briefs along with them.

"Star…" Dick gasped as he fumbled with her shorts. He felt her warm hands grab at his white tee and yank upwards pulling it off. Starfire grinned at him before she tossed the shirt aside and snatched him up in another burning kiss. Her shorts slid down her legs as Dick's hand caressed her soft bronze skin.

Starfire moaned into his lips as his hands caressed her, sneaking toward the back of her bra. She slid the lacey white undergarment off her chest a moment later and leaned back, pressing herself against him. Starfire murmured in a husky tone. "Richard…" Her hand caressed his face and Dick tugged the string of her panties loose so that they dropped to the floor. He cupped her rear in his hands and carried her to the bed before dropping her atop the sheets. She beckoned him to her. "Richard…" She growled and pulled him down atop her.

He kissed her throat and neck as he lowered himself over her, feeling her legs wrap round his waist eagerly. He loved her… and a part of him was worried she wasn't in love with him anymore, that this was the predatory persona coming out to play once again. But then she stared up at him with a longing that couldn't be portrayed by acting. Another kiss to her collarbone made her twist and moan almost begging for more. Dick felt his heart throb with affection for her as she tossed her head against the pillow.

His hips pressed into her and he heard a gasp. Starfire's eyes fluttered as she whimpered. "Richard… I love you."

"I love you too, Star."

THE END – Continued in Titans United