Teen Titans © DC Comics

Set after Snowblind.

9. Death

The blizzard stopped. Roaring, harsh winds rippling with blistering hail and snow halted. Red Star managed to sit up, gasping Starfire's name. The Russian teen struggled to his feet, rubbing his head as weariness overtook him. Wobbling, Red Star wondered if he was in Heaven.

Gripping his head, Red Star grunted and fell to his knees. Pain seemed to explode along his masculine frame. He gasped, falling back over into the frigid snow, but his body no longer felt the icy cold. Red Star groaned, lying on his back and stared up at the midnight sky. He safely assumed Starfire was okay along with her friends, but what about the villagers? The ones who scorned him for trying to help his country by becoming a monster?

But I did it. I saved her. Me, Red Star.

Red Star felt a tiny smile tug along his square jaw. He was the hero. He finally gained a friend and defended her for as long as he could. Red Star trembled with happiness, wiping his eyes of oncoming tears. He won, proving himself, hopefully, the ones that previously feared him.

However, even the radioactive superhero could not resist the hellishly frigid temperatures. Even though the storm stopped, the night was entirely black, and he could no longer see. Crimson eyes could not pierce through the darkness. Red Star's legs seemed to freeze over, and he could no longer move. Realizing this in slight horror, Red Star struggled to get up, but a surge of agony ripped through his left arm.

It is broken, he thought, biting down on his teeth.

Groaning from the excruciating pain, Red Star feebly grabbed his fractured limb and howled in torment. He sat up, legs refusing to budge any further. Everything seemed to freeze over. Muscles, bones, ligaments, joints, all of Red Star's body were like an icicle. Red Star knew he was too weak to use his powers; the explosion took everything out of him to save Starfire and everyone else that loathed him.

Still…he was happy.

He had a friend.

A stunning, true friend named Starfire.

It was something he never had before. For most of his life, he was in self-exile, his own seclusion. Society deemed him untamable, a monstrous freak of nature. Red Star only wanted to help his countrymen by becoming this…this thing called Red Star. At one point in his life, he was Leonid Kovar, but not anymore. From now and forever, he was Red Star, and he succeeded in his patriotic duty.

Lightheadedness came to Red Star's mind, and like slow butterfly wings flapping, his shining, scarlet eyes dulled and began to close. Red Star trembled, falling over to his right. Still, there was a budding frivolousness in his chest as his breath began to slow. There was pride he finally attained, and Red Star loved it. Of course, he wished he could stay awake for just a little longer to see her angelic, warm face again that told him to fight on. Red Star's eyes closed, and he thought of a life he could have lived: the life of a Titan.

Maybe…maybe if I met them earlier, my life would have been better. Oh, well, at least I died doing what was right…

…

Red Star woke up days later. He remembered falling into the white snow, being greeted by the blackest of nights. The iciness of the ground still prickled his emerald uniform and skin, and Red Star glanced around and…

…he believed he was crazy. There was a little green imp beaming down at him.

"Dude! You're awake!" Beast Boy shouted excitedly like a child on Christmas.

"Uh…I am sorry? Where am I?" Red Star requested nervously and politely.

"In the T-Ship. We were searching for you, Star Red."

"…Red Star."

"Oh, right!" Beast Boy sheepishly rubbed his head. "You okay? You arm was busted, but we put it in a cast."

Red Star glanced down to his left arm, gazing at the white, tightly-wound cast. It was signed by the five core Titans, all with different markers with their names and wishing for him to get better soon. Thanking Beast Boy for his help, he noticed the changeling scampering to the door.

"Star! Hey, Star! He's up!" he cried cheerily before running out of the room.

Starfire, his savior, flew into the room with moisture around her eyes. Her arms wrapped around Red Star's neck, laughing delightfully. "Oh, friend! You are awake and unharmed…for the most part!"

Reddening, he nodded bashfully and hugged her back. "Oh, um, yes, I am fine. Thank you, Starfire."

"We were looking for you once the storm ended. When we located you, you were…not breathing." Starfire pulled away, downtrodden all of a sudden. "We revived you with Raven's healing powers."

"I am grateful you found me." Bowing his head, Red Star removed his hand, smiling broadly. "Also, thank you for everything."

Starfire stared at him in confusion, head slightly cocked.

"By telling me to stop living in fear." Red Star shrugged, glancing away. "Uh, hopefully, my people will let me come out of hiding to help them. Perhaps, I can learn to control my powers even more."

"Robin said that he is creating a program for training. He would like for you to join so you would no longer be destructive." Starfire gasped quickly, pulling out a Titans communicator and placed it in Red Star's hand. "Please, join us in our fight against the Brotherhood of Evil, fellow Titan, Red Star."

His eyes dilated slightly in paralyzing shock, gaping at her. An Honorary Titan? Him? Red Star stared at it, flicking it open as Starfire's beeped a catchy tune. As she listened to Cyborg's voice, Red Star deliberated his choices, and the decision was easy.

"I am sorry that our getting together must be cut so short, but I have just been alerted to trouble by the Doctor Light," Starfire stated sorrowfully.

"Do not worry, fellow Titan, Starfire," Red Star earnestly replied. "I will be here."

"You will stay?" Her voice, filled with hope, enlightened him as he nodded. She cheered, joyfully throwing her hands into the air. "Oh, glorious! I shall see you soon, Red Star!"

As he watched her fly out with an aura of unbridled happiness, Red Star felt tangible, blissful radiation emitting off from her and into him. Red Star's grinned tugged at his peach skin, stretching across his face. Lying back down, he wiped his teary eyes and sighed.

A friend was somebody that cared for him.

He realized he suddenly had a lot of friend.