These Black Eyes Chapter 261: Break the Circle part 21, a teen titans fanfic

261. Break the Circle part 21

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I acknowledge that I have been through times of great severity and turmoil.

And you are right, I have used such instances to grow.

X'Hal knows what kind of a person I would be now had I not learned to survive a devastating world that burned its way onto my beautiful Tamaran.

But I know that I need not feel shameful for living in the present and looking forward to the future.

Tamaran is my home, Robin. But Earth has….has stolen my heart.

I choose joy.

I choose joy as something to live and die for.

The people of Earth are wonderful and beautiful, but they are also very sad and pessimistic. Many of them do not understand how truly strong the forces of Life are. They cannot open their eyes to salvation…a thing which emanates from their very own heartbeat. Their very own essence of being.

I have…always carried about me this ideological consideration. And perhaps that is why I have not been so quick to admonish you for your vehement acts of daring that put your life on the line so many times daily, Robin.

I know that—in spite of your obsession and in spite of your penchant for danger—deep down inside you truly, truly love life.

You love life's warmth and the justice that secures it and all the faculties you are able to employ in preserving it.

I admire that about you.

I admire it about all Earthlings. But I admire it about you the most.

For I feel it in you, Robin.

I feel that life.

It is….hehehe….m-most addicting.

…………….

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"HAAAAUCCHKKKTT!"

SLICCCCEE!

The rooftop ripped asunder from Deathstroke's blade and swam towards Starfire's figure.

She gasped and dove aside.

SLIIIINK!

The kiss of the red metal cut deeply into her fleeting leg.

"Nnnngh!" she groaned and collapsed, rolling over against the huge, bright letters of the 'Wayne' Enterprises buildingtop. She clutched the shredded jeans just above her knee where thick green blood dripped through.

"Hckkk-Clik-Clik-Clik…..," Red Aviary marched towards her. Throbbing. Cascading vapors of red. "You alwayssss did move the fasssstessst—snkkkt—of the bratsss…."

Starfire panted……panted….panted…..and stood up—shaking—with a lean against the huge letters. "S-Slade….How……H-How do you—?"

"Snkkt-'Live'?" Deathstroke leaned his cowl to the side. The twin tails danced behind his cloth mask as his single eye shimmered red. He raised his sword and pointed at her. "Hckkk-But I don'tt…..LIVE…..I DDDIE……snkkt-clik-clik-clik…..now…..cccccome DIE with me! HCKKK!" STOMP-STOMP-STOMP-STOMP! He charged at her, swung the two-sided sword, and hissed—CHIIIIIIII-IIIIING!

Starfire gasped. She ducked.

CRACCCCK!

Glass and neon fixing shattered above her.

She rolled to the side and limped towards the rooftop.

Deahstroke pivoted around, glaring at her. "Hckkkk…." He raised his smoke-warbling foot……and slammed it down.

RUMMMBLLEEE!

A wave of Destruction billowed a ravine through the rooftop, traveled over to the Tamaranian girl's position, and exploded beneath her—POWWW!

"Aaaah!" Starfire was thrown to the edge of the building. TH-THWOMP! She landed hard….wincing.

"Hckkk…..do stay a whillle……" He marched towards her.

She shuddered.

She looked up at him.

Green eyes twitching.

"X'Hal…..y-you are…..far more powerful!"

"Even an aliennn likkkke you—snkkkt—mussst know the Reaper when she sees HIM!" TH-TH-THWISSSH! He dove down at her with the sword swinging. "HCKKKKKTTT!"

Starfire gritted her teeth, charged her lower limbs with green fire, and shot up. FWOOOOSH!

CHUNKKK! Red Aviary's sword shattered the rooftop where she previously was. SKKKKT!

Starfire flew up in the air. She spiraled, hovered over the 'WAYNE' letters, and tossed a flurry of starbolts down at Red Aviary.

FLASH!

FL-FLASSH!

FLASH!

Slade spun….hissed….and swung his sword twice, deflecting the green charges effortlessly. SWOOOOSH! CL-CL-CLANG!

Starfire tensed her muscles, clenched her fists, and glared at him until—"RAAAAUGH!" FLAAAAA-AAAAAA-AAAAAAASSSSH!

Twin optic blasts soared down at him.

They ate into his chest….burning.

Slade shook and quivered all over. The meat-muscles and gears inside him were aflame with green. He shuddered….twitched….hissed—"Hckkkkk-snkkkkkt—" and flexed his arms up and out in an ear-splitting scream. "HRAAAAAAUCHKKKT!"

FLASSSSSH!

REDDDD!

A sphere of red smoke frothed across the skyscraper's summit. Shaking the lit letters. Rattling the joints that held the roof together.

Starfire shuddered in mid-air. Her body froze from the inside out. Red mist billowed from between her lips as the green blood seeping from her chest and leg froze and hardened.

She shuddered….a sudden, inescapable fear overtaking her and exploding out of her eyes.

Lips quivering…she spun and attempted to fly southward.

"HCKKKKTT!" Red Aviary tensed his body and—

FWOOOOOOSSSH!

In a blink, Slade streaked across the rooftop, leapt up the edge, soared skyward, and tackled Starfire's body.

WH-WHAM!

"Aaack!"

"SnkkkkKKT!"

THWOOOOSH-SLAM!

The two landed…..

Starfire first.

She winced as pain wracked through her skeletal frame…..

Which was magnified when Deathstroke next stood up and kicked her straight in the ribs.

THWAPP!

"Ughh-ghhh!" Starfire exhaled and rolled painfully across the rooftop.

CHIIIII-IIIIIIING!

Deathstroke stomped slowly after her, dragging his red blade across the rooftop.

Hissing.

"You are not leavinnng---snkkkt—girl. One month ago……I KILLED….ROBIN…SnnKKKTT!"

Starfire gasped.

Green eyes wide…tearing.

She shook…shuddered….sat up and looked in horror at him.

"And nowwww…..clik-clik-clik……I have hisss spiritttt lefttt to slay. And it sleeeepsss……inside you…..snkkkt-HCKKK!"

Stomp-Stomp!-STOMP!-STOMP!-STOMP!

SLASSSSSH!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"Heh….,"

"Does something amuse you?"

"I never thought I'd see the day when you'd be saying that you saw life in me."

"Why….whatever do you mean, Robin?"

"Do you not see how incredibly good and innocent and…..just plain righteous a person you are, Star?"

"I do get a….s-slight impression of people's opinions."

"It never fails."

"What is it that ceases to fail?"

"Never mind, Star….Ugh…I am so out of it. I can even think let alone…..think wisely."

"You have been subjected to unsettling revelations within the last hour or two, One cannot blame you for physiological exhaustion."

"Starfire?"

"Yes, Robin?"

"You said….for some reason….th-that you feel life in me, right?"

"Mmmhmmm."

"By feeling that…..can you tell me……….am I the same person right now that you have always known?"

"Earlier today, Robin. When……Wh-When you let me 'hold' you….."

"Yes?"

"I-I felt that very same life tenfold. I realized truly how precious this 'life' that I sensed was. It amazed me, yes. But not because it was different coming out of the person I have always known. I knew it was 'Robin'. I had sensed it before. Only so close….so intimate…..it was……..stronger."

"Heh heh heh……Starfire…..I've got to say….your existence is the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Truly?"

"Uh….yes, Starfire. Truly. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

…………………

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Robin ran.

Robin panted.

Sprinting down the empty streets.

Gazing upwards.

Eyeing the skyscrapers.

The rooftops.

The spires of the City.

Feeling…..

Feeling………

He came to a stop in an intersection.

He shuddered….reached a hand into his pocket….pulled out a grappling hook…and aimed at the highest building he could see.

P-POW!

CLANK!

THWOOOOSH!

He soared upwards on the cord, grabbed onto the building's ledge, retracted the grappling hook, stood up, and began running again.

Breathless.

Streaking.

Desperate……

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

TH-TH-THRUMP!

Starfire rolled across the rooftop.

She got up on one knee.

Wincing.

The cut across the top of her breasts bled into the night.

Her leg throbbed.

Tattered….battered…..

She panted and squinted at Red Aviary.

"It was you…..I-It was y-you! You killed Robin! Th-The Radioactive Depository…..the carbonite explosion….it was your nefarious signature!"

"Hckkk-clik-clik-clik…..a job well donnnnne…..," he marched towards her. Smoking. Dripping red…. "….but the musiccc of your sobbing sssscreamssss echoing into the nighttt for Robin'ssss patheticccc carcasss was something that I did not expectttt…..nor have I forgottttten….."

CHIIIIING!

He brandished the blade and angled his quivering, rotting body at her.

"SNkkkt—Skkkt…….sing for me, girrrl….."

FWOOOOOSSSH!

He dashed over.

She braced herself up against the huge bright 'N' and screamed. "RAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!"

FLAAAAAAA-AAAAAA-AAAAAAAAAAASSSH!

Two green optic beams soared at him….hotly burning the air.

"Hckkk-SNKKT!" Deathstroke ran straight into the green fire and slashed, hacked, sliced through the pulsing energy stream. FL-FL-FL-FL-FLASSSH!

Starfire gritted her teeth and growled the entire time she unleashed the air-boiling punishment at him.

"Nnnnngh! I sh-should have know….th-that you would…..nnghh….resist the death….that so justly swallowed you…..just to ruin Robin's life!"

"HCKKK!-HRAAAUCHKKK!" Deathstroke broke through the green stream with a sailing fist.

WHAM!

"UNNGH!" Starfire stumbled back, green blood trailing out from her nose.

Deathstroke spun and slammed his foot into her bleeding chest.

WHUMP!

Starfire wracked all over with pain---

SLIIIICE!

His swinging sword grazed her shoulder.

Splorch! A fountain of green splashed across the rooftop.

"Aaaa-haaaa!" Starfire sobbed.

SMACK! He slapped the broad-side of the sword across her face.

The alien girl spun two times in the air before landing hard on the rooftop several feet away.

Th-Thwump!

"Mmmmmfff…..," she stirred…..in pain….

"Hckkkk…..," he marched towards her. Hissing. "I did life. I….TOOKKK IT!"

Starfire winced….looking up at him.

Quivering all over…..

His one red eye pulsed as he loomed above her. Sword hanging in his clicking grip…

"I tookkkt hissss life….snkkkt—and letttt the world know….snkktt-clik-clik-clik….I took his lifffe soooooo eassssily…..becaussse weaklinggg dreamerssss like you could not—Hckkk—PROTECTTT him ENOUGH—snkkkt!"

Starfire gasped. Eyes wide. Eyes that burned with a fire. A fire that coursed through her body and rocketed out her hands as she shot herself towards him. "M'berelliut chorfarker!"

SWOOOOOOOSH!

FLASH!

A steady stream of starbolts flew at Deathstroke.

Slade easily held his sword up and split them all.

CL-CL-CLANG!

Starfire flew at him, fist flying.

"RRRGHHHH-RAAAAUGH!"

"SNKKKT!" He drew his body back, twisted, and spun back with his metal-and-flesh palm grasping over her fist.

GRIPP!

FWOOOOOOOSSSSH!

The two combatants froze together in the center of the rooftop.

Hand and hand.

Green Tamaranian fury meeting red destruction.

A crater of smoke and ashes.

The 'WAYNE' letters shook and wobbled.

The air crystallized red frost.

The night howled…was silent.

And….

A beat.

…..

POWWWW!.!.!.!.!

An exploding pulse of RED from Slade's palm sent Starfire flying back through the air….flailing with a gasp—

CRACK!

She landed hard into an a/c unit, denting it.

"Hckttt…clik-clik-clik…." Slade shivered and twirled his red blade. THW-THW-THWISSSH! "And now….snkkt….you can't even protect yoursssself….."

FWOOOOSSH!

He charged at her.

She winced, held her breath, and rolled far to the side. "Nnngh!"

CHIIIIING!

The red sword swam at the rooftop where she was and shattered the a/c unit apart.

CRACK!

Starfire hopped up to her feet, gritted her teeth, and shoved two starbolting hands flat-out. FLAAAA—

"SNKKKT!" Slade spun with a swish of his blade.

SL-SLIIIINK! The swordtip cut two green rivers in Starfire's outstretched palms.

The starbolts burned back into her.

She screamed: "AAAAA—"

WHAM! His boot slammed into Starfire's face. "HCKKKKT!" He dove on top of her.

SLASSSH!

SLASSSSSSH!

SLIIIIIINK!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"You are the best thing to ever have happened to me, Star. I meant it when I f-first told you that last night. And I mean it now. It is just that….th-that….I can't always…….e-express it. N-Not when I am really….'myself'…."

"I….I understand, Robin…."

"I……….I just need time….t-to gather my senses. To try and start to…..understand myself. I wouldn't doubt it if you know who Robin is better than I do, Star."

"And of the boy beneath?"

"……….."

"I see….."

"………"

"Robin…..?"

"Y-Yes, Star?"

"Would it….W-Would it be too much to ask sometime if…..….if sometime you were to….l-let me hold you again sometime? Like you did yesterday? Would you be so willing to let me h-hold you again?"

"Yeah, Starfire…..that sounds doable…."

"That is…..m-most glorious…."

…………..

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Robin ran.

Leaping from rooftop to rooftop.

Breathless.

Numb.

If he squinted his eyes, he wouldn't see the buildings beneath him.

And it would almost be like he was flying.

The air grew colder and colder.

And it chilled him.

With frigid familiarity.

Atop a twenty-foot building on the northern edge of Downtown, he froze.

He spun around.

Panting.

Hair slick.

Forehead a sheen.

Somewhere….the Crunch burned gold.

The City was falling apart.

Souls huddled in the hundreds…thousands…millions…

Underground in the dark.

And for a moment, the boy named after a bird shriveled into himself.

And everything was naked and everything was shivering.

And he was standing on the balcony to his apartment complex.

Sobbing his four-year-old eyes out.

Weathering the frost and the frothing shouts from his father.

Staring out with a hand outstretched…

Fingers uncoiled…

Trying to touch the sky beyond the alternating gray and red.

Making a wish.

Saying a prayer.

And sobbing…..

Running into himself.

'Bring her back!'

'I can't! She's gone!'

'Run Robin! Hurry!'

The blood pulsed in his hidden, blue eyes.

Hot….and RED.

Robin gasped.

He spun….and faced 'home'.

'WAYNE ENTERPRISES.'

He felt it.

Somehow, in the corners of his heroic heart, he felt it.

The feeling that everyone can taste but never truly get far enough to swallow.

The screaming between the air molecules.

The invisible tornadoes that shake the world into sleep and shock.

The unseen colors.

The spectral nightmare of spinning, flexing existence.

And it billowed….pulsed…screamed red….

…from atop the Wayne Enterprises skyscraper.

"……Starfire….."

……..

Thwpp! Robin's green hand flew to his utility belt.

He pulled out a grappling hook.

He ran over the nearest ledge of the building he was on….

Aimed in mid-plunge…

And fired.

POW!

Cl-CLANK!

THWOOOOOOSSSH!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

WHAP!

TH-THWAP!

SLAM!

"Ughhhhh!" the alien girl shook and quivered all over.

She rolled across the rooftop.

Cut and bruised in a dozen places.

Her pink shirt and gray jeans tattered beyond repair.

She clenched her eyes shut in pain and tried to stand up—

STOMP-STOMP-STOMP-STOMP!

WHAM!

Slade's shoulder plunged into her side.

"OOF!"

"HCKKKKT!"

Followed by a fist to her chin.

WHACK!

She flew back from the uppercut.

SLIIIINK!

His sword caught her between the skin of her shoulder and the material of her shirt.

"HRCKKKKT-SNKKKT!" Red Aviary screamed, spun his body around, and slammed her via the sword into the ground.

WH-WHAM!

She shuddered and shook all over.

He withdrew the sword, cutting a green slice wetly into her shoulder meat.

CHIIING!

"AAAAH!" she screamed.

"HCKKKKKKTT!"

WHAM!

His foot slammed into her chest.

WH-WH-WH-WH-WHUMP! Starfire rolled into the letters. She coiled up into a fetal position. She coughed. She spat up blood. Her face tensed and her lips quivered as she shook….teared….and sobbed.

"Mmmphhh….mphhh……k'norfka…..," Starfire cried. "Nngh….k-k'norfkaaaaa……"

"Hckkktt…clik-clik-clik….," Deathstroke hissed as he walked towards her….dragging the sword. "Why do you ssssob…girrrlll? SNkkkt-clik-clik-clik….is ittt that Robin wassss ripppped from yourssss and—snkkkkt—your friendssss' life by pure Desssstruction? Or maybe it'sss because you are still oh…..so….snnnkkt...CONFUSED!"

Starfire sniffed…winced from the cuts and bruises….and forced her teary-green eyes opened. "You a-are a monster….Sl-Slade……you always were. By X'Hal….y-you shall not get away w-with the treachery you caused Robin…."

"Hckkkt…..but how…..did I committttt that treacherrrrry to begin with?"

PLANT!

Deathstroke slapped his boot squarely over Starfire's throat.

"SSSssssss!" she hissed, struggling for breath under his weight.

"Clik-clik-cliksnkkkkt….," He leaned over and breathed red vapors down towards her face. "Do you know why Robin died ssssso easily?"

"………..," she shuddered…shivered…staring at him.

"Hckkkkt….he….….never………………..loved……..you……."

Starfire froze.

Beneath him, she stared.

Still as a statue.

Moist eyes wide….

"Snkkkt…..you KNOW this…….don'ttt you?"

Her eyes narrowed.

Her teeth showed.

"Silence……"

"Whatttt did he ssssay to you afterrrr you confessssed—snkkkt---your DEEPESSSTTT feelings to him on the night that he died?"

"Be……silent….."

"Snkkkt—HCkK! He….did not say a THING—Clik-Clik-SNKKT!—DID….HE?"

"Nnnnngh!" Starfire's eyes burned fiery green. "I said…..SILENCE!"

TH-THWOMP!

With sudden, warrior strength….the alien girl tossed Deathstroke off of her.

He effortlessly backflipped through the air and landed on the edge of the rooftop. PL-PLANT!

Starfire jumped up, levitated into a burning hover, and soared---bleeding---at him with fists flying. "YAAAAUGH!"

Deathstroke stepped backwards and twirled his blade. TH-TH-TH-THWOOSH!

Starfire's heated hands jabbed and punched and stabbed at him, pulsing green. CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

"RAAAAAAAAAUGH!" she screamed.

He hissed and calmly deflected her every attack as he drew back with his word twirling. "Hckkkkt…everytime you everrrr got close to him….he walked away. Everrrry time—snkkkt—you were passionate…..he was cold. FACE IT….GIRL! Snkkkt—CLKKK! He neverrrr loved you….in fact—SNKKKT"

CLANNNNGG!

Slade crossed his blade with Starfire's burning arms and stared into her face. Exhaling a wave of red smoke.

"YOU…..WERE….snkkt-A BURDEN…TO HIM!"

She howled at him. "V'dratta cleniulskraat, chlorfrak!" Her optic beams fired—FLAAAAA-AAAAAA-AAAAASH!

FWOOOSH!

Red Aviary disappeared in a puff of red smoke, teleported and materialized with an upswing of his blade into Starfire's back.

SLIIINK!

"AAAUGH!" she screamed under a spray of hot green blood. She stumbled forward—

SW-SWISSH! CLANG!The broad side of his sword slapped into her rib cage.

She gripped her sides, shuddered, and fell to her knees….facing away from him.

He stood behind her.

Hissing.

Gripping the sword and looming above her shuddering frame.

"Robin...could never….allow himssself the joy……of intimaccccy…..snkkkkt….not even for you, girrrl……"

Starfire shuddered.

Staring away from death.

Moist-eyed.

Lips quivering as the endless red of night lingered cold and frothy before her.

"….so when you persssisted…..and there wassss no way out for him……he chossse the easiest route for an icon like 'Robin' to go….hckkkt….he walked into my trap, girl. Alone…..that night…..at the depository……snkkkkt—ROBIN….WALKED….hckk-clik-clik-INTO…MY FIRE! Because he could not STAND….TO FACE….THE HEAT OF YOUR OFFERRRRING!"

Starfire's breath came out in a thick red mist.

Her heart stopped.

As she listened.

"Don'tttt you seee….girrrrl? Snkkkt-clik-clik-clik…." He leaned his head down….he hissed just beside her ear. "You…..killed him……"

Starfire's jaw clenched.

Her hands joined into two fists.

She shook….shook…..shook.

"The only essscape that Robin had from you…..from the life you promisssed him……was to escape life…ITSELF…."

"Nnnnnnghh-RAAAUGH!" she spun and tossed a monumental starbolt at him.

FLASSSSH!

Red Aviary absorbed the blow and slid backwards across the rooftop.

"HCKKK!" He raised his blade.

"SIIIIILEEEENCCEEE!" Starfire shrieked. Hovering up. Summoning two burning wrists. She screamed and rocketed straight at him. "I SHALL SILENCE YOUUUUUUUU! YAAAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAAAUGH!"

FWOOOOOOSH!

The alien girl flew at him.

"Yesssssss-snkkkt….," he twirled his sword like a batter. "Let it all out…..snkkkt…..green guttsss and all…LET…IT ALL…hckkk-OUTTT!"

FWOOOOOOOSH!

"HRAAAAAUCHKKKTT!"

Starfire flew in.---SLASSSSSSH!---She jolted to a stop.

Her eyes bulged.

…..

"Hckkkkt…..HRAAAUGHT!"

He kicked her back, twirled his sword, and ran forward…..

….shredding.

SLASSSH!

SLIIINK!

TH-TH-TH-THWOOSH-SLASSSSSH!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Robin, you were not meant to fly...

But—

X'Hal be praised….

You were meant to do other things.

I know for a fact that you were meant to greet me the day I first landed here on Earth.

You were meant to teach me what it is to be a hero.

And you were meant to be with me every step of the day as I acquainted myself with your people, culture, and customs---as well as your nightmares.

I feel so much more competent and—yes—powerful now that I have had the chance to serve under your leadership.

But most importantly...I feel glorious for having been graced with your freedom.

I know you do not have superpowers, Robin.

But…

I do know that you are powerful in and of yourself.

Because...

B-Because you are a paradox, Robin.

You are ever-so-strong and courageous.

But also—if I may say so—you are immensely precious...

…………

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Robin was perched on a twenty-story ledge of the Wayne Enterprises Skyscraper.

He pulled out two birdarangs.

He twirled them, jabbed them up in the air, and stabbed them hard into the metal and glass surface of the tower.

SNKKT!

CRKKK!

Robin panted.

Robin struggled.

Grunting….he pulled himself up.

Hair kicked by the cold air of the night.

The red sky looming above him.

As he climbed…climbed…climbed….

Snkkkt!

CRKKKT!

SNKKKT!

Crkkkt!

'When I was really young……I-I had this……this little 'prayer' of mine………'

Robin panted.

Scurrying.

Upwards.

One birdarang stab at a time.

A floor every twenty seconds….

'I said it when I was really young….and when my dad told me that my mother died. I prayed….th-that she would come back as an angel…'

Snkkt!

Crkkkt!

Robin sweated.

Hyperventilating.

Trying to focus.

Trying.

His every muscle aching as he pulled himself….

Carried himself….

Up the blinding length of the skyscraper.

'I prayed that she would come back. As an angel. I wished to god that my mother could just……fly down.'

"Nnnnngh!"

Snkkkt!

"Nnnnngh!"

CRKKT!

Robin stabbed and stabbed and stabbed.

Climbing.

Towards the pulsing red far above.

Breathless….

'I spent every night of my childhood years praying for that. That little hope h-helped me endure my dad. It kept me alive and ticking the winters I spent begging and robbing in the streets of Gotham.'

Snkkt-CRACK!

"Aaaugh!" Robin gasped and hung by one arm when the other birdarang slipped free from the building.

He dangled thirty-five stories up.

Legs flailing.

Cape fluttering.

He shook all over.

Gritted his teeth…..

Flung his other arm up…

And stabbed once again with the birdarang.

"Nnnnngh-AAAAAAUGH!"

CRKKKKT!

He stabbed in.

Panted.

Shook all over.

And practically screamed in the strain of ascent.

"Nggghaaaugh!"

SNKKT!

"Yaaaugh!"

CRKKKT!

"Nnnngh!"

SNKKKT!

'But more than once……that prayer didn't come true. And so I changed it. I……asked for an angel. Any angel.'

Robin panted.

Climbing.

Stabbing.

His eyemask was thin.

His vision dizzy.

He pulled himself upwards.

Defying gravity.

Defying himself.

Until he finally climbed up into shooting distance of the rooftop for his grappling hook.

'Just as long as someone……or something could swoop down and wake me from the nightmare that never-ceasingly climbs back to rip my heart out from the inside out……'

Robin took a deep breath.

Another.

Then….

"Nnngh!"

He flung one hand down to his utility belt…

Hung by one arm.

Shook…quivered….

Produced a grappling hook.

Aimed it up.

Squinted one half of his eyemask.

Breathless….

'And the day that angel comes for me, I won't have to fight anymore. I won't have to……pretend anymore.'

POW!

CLANK!

The grappling hook stuck snugly.

Robin pulled at it.

Took a deep breath.

Kicked off the glass of the skyscraper.

Hung from the handle….

And flew himself up.

Thwwwwwwp!

'I can throw the mask away and be myself. I can cry. I can scream. I can kick and wither and die. Just to be free to be……to be human………'

Fw-Fw-Fw-Fwoosh!

The windows blurred down past the Boy Wonder.

He shuddered…hanging.

Ascending.

Up towards the deepest of crimson.

The freezing chill in the air.

The vapors and the clouds.

He shuddered….

Shuddered.

'All my life, I have dreamed and prayed and begged for that angel. Silently.'

And Robin reached the summit….

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

THWAP!

Starfire wobbled from the blow to her head.

WH-WHAM!

A knee to her hip sent her spiraling.

"HRAAAUCHKKT!" Deathstroke swung the blade.

SLIIIINK!

Blood flew from her shoulders.

She gasped.

Voiceless.

She twirled and stumbled in front of him before the letters.

Knees weak.

Arms dangling.

"HCKKKK-Skkkt-CLIKKT!" He spun and twirled his sword.

SL-SLASSSH!

Two green gashes cut into her upper arms.

They hung uselessly to her sides.

Her lips quivered.

TH-THWISSSH!

SLIIIIICE!

Two more gashes were cut into her lower legs.

TH-THWOMP!

She fell wetly to her knees.

Shivering all over.

Green eyes thin.

"Hckkkk…snkkkt….," Deathstroke slowly marched around till he stood behind her. "….such….uselessss…..breath….and blood….snkkkt-clik-clik-clik…."

Starfire was kneeling.

Staring dazedly….sickly towards the red horizon.

The sky of Terra Firma.

World asleep.

World aflame.

The pine trees scattered in a crater around her space pod.

The handsome, dark-haired stranger in a cape that greeted her.

The tower in the shape of a 'T'.

Warm smiles.

Warm hands.

The jokes at the pizza parlor.

The jars of mustard hiding in 'her corner' of the refrigerator.

The DVD nights.

The occasional dozing-off of Titan against Titan.

The hushed camaraderie in the corners of still lips.

Passing by the door to his bedroom on a cold night.

Awake from a nightmare.

The way he breathed gently when he was asleep.

So small and fragile.

Cradled in her arms on the couch…a bench in the park….somewhere in her bloody-green dreams.

Like the sunset on Tamaran.

The plains of stone burning in the cold sun.

The glimmer off the towers and spires of her people.

Her little brother skipping in through the door with a bundle of wildflowers.

Her mother and father holding each other gently in the corner after the war.

Kormand'r's letters and how they smelled like her.

Balcony naps in the rain.

The touch of summer.

The stars that twinkled…twinkled…twinkled under a cold night—

TWHACCCCK!

The flat of the sword collided with her skull and sent her collapsing…groaning….into the ground.

The warm arms of Robin that burned and shrieked and climaxed in an explosion.

Swallowed by carbonite.

Swallowed……

"………..," Starfire lay silent on the ground.

"Hckkkk….join him……by ssssummoning himmm….."

And Red Aviary sheathed his sword….

And pulled out his shotgun.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Robin ascended the top letters of 'WAYNE' Enterprises.

"Nnngh….NNGHh-Augh!" He climbed halfway over the huge 'A'.

Panting.

Breath filtering vapor into the night.

He peered over.

Shuddering….

And froze.

……

Deathstroke stood over Starfire.

Towering.

TH-TH-THWOOOSH! He twirled the shotgun.

CH-CHTUNG! Cocked it.

"………." He glanced up at Robin.

Red Eye glaring.

Piercing.

Robin's mouth hung open.

"Hckkkkk….too late, Robinnn….snkkkt……you'll have to pray for the angel anotherrrr day….."

And Deathstroke pivoted—THWOOSH—aimed the gun squarely into Starfire's grounded forehead—

……and fired.

BLAM!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!

Robin saw it….

"NOOOOOOOOOOO-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!"