Chapter 29

Blackfire PoV

I had slipped up. It was obvious to me now that I look back on my actions of which was the correct one to take. The truth was my emotions had gotten the better of me. Nothing that’s really surprising considering I’m a Tamaranean, but even still, it was a flaw.

A flaw that my enemies had exploited and used against me.

Perhaps the real mistake had been attempting to infiltrate the Titans. Maybe if this had been different, or maybe if that had happened, were thoughts that were constantly running in my mind.

It wasn’t as if there was much else for me to do here in this cramped little cell, all tied up. Even when I was wounded, they had restrained me. Which had been…very annoying. They didn’t even have the decency to have someone patch me up.

Though I could understand why, as the person who normally patches them all up had been utterly crushed by me. I had been shocked when Robin informed me in between his little visits that he was still alive.

Robin, Robin, Robin…he was the key to getting free.

He was smart though, and wise to my tricks. The normal strategies wouldn’t work against him. Even still, it was obvious to see that he still had feelings for me.

Feelings that could be exploited.

Not that it would be entirely bad on his part. He was rather attractive after all. I would be sure to at least reward him for his service, one way or another…Especially if Kori was watching.

I blinked in surprise as I heard-no, that wasn't right. I felt a presence near me. There had been no sound to announce them. They had come in quietly, as if choosing this time specifically when I was deep in thought.

I stared out the glass door of my cell in order to peer into the darkness, only to find small orange lights glaring back at me. They were like smoldering embers, the flicker of fire but given shape. A pair of two glowing stars stared. The sharp points of the stars started to turn ever so slightly to the right.

Until finally he stepped out of the darkness.

Revealing that it had been in fact Law. His eyes were now…completely normal. Hmm, it was probably a trick of the light. I had been down here for far too long.

“Law…it’s good to see you. Are you planning on finally helping me recover? I would…very much appreciate it.”

A gave him a flirtatious look, the best I really could with all these strange mechanical chains around my limbs, locking me in place. Law didn’t respond. Simply stepping forward and opening the door to my cell.

“…It’s good to see you too, Blackfire.”

There was something different about him. The way he carried himself, the tone of his voice, the way he was looking at me…they were all only slightly changed, but it was enough to perceive. For some reason I got a foreboding feeling forming in the pit of my stomach.

“I bet it is. What, is Starfire not satisfying you enough these days?”

He didn’t verbally respond to the taunt immediately. Instead deciding to slowly take of his gloves with a hint of a smile forming at the edge of his lips. A few moments passed before he looked up at me and began to speak.

“…Funny choice of words, actually.”

What? Had my sister already made a move on him or something? Unexpected, but then again they had been rather close in the Festival…so it was possible. Still, I expected her choice to be a little bit…cuter.

“Is that so?”

He nodded his head.

“Oh, it is. Which is why I need to experiment on you.”

…What?

He waved his hands as if to dismiss my worries, but his growing smile showed his true feelings. He was taking amusement in this. He was entertained by me being panicked.

This…wasn’t the Law I had come to know.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand me, Blackfire. I don’t intend to do anything inappropriate with you. To be quite honest, just thinking about that is…well, disgusting really.”

He took greater amusement in my look of hatred. No damn it. I needed to stop playing his game. He was trying to rile me up. To toy with me. I needed to even the playing field. To use this to my advantage.

I needed more information.

“And what exactly do you intend to do?”

“I guess you could call this…an experiment. Mostly to learn just how far I can push those with Tamaranean biology. I’d test it on Star but…I would be very upset if I broke something on accident.”

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. I struggled in my chains as I attempted to get away from Law, my instincts all but demanding I do so.

“You know, I have a theory that Tamaraneans have much more evolved and pronounced dopamine receptors than humans. I’m also curious to see how Tamaranean’s function with heightened senses.”

I wasn’t sure what a ‘receptor’ was, but I knew that I was about to find out. There wasn’t much I could do but put on a brave face as he continued to slowly approach me.

“You know I’ll be telling Robin all about this little visit, right?”

He chuckled at that. A much darker sound that seemed to echo around him. No…it was almost like someone else was chuckling along with him.

“Interesting hypothesis. Let’s test it, shall we?”

His hand brushed my cheek as I continued to stare him down. Until finally my vision started to waver. My breathing became more and more rushed as an uncomfortable heat began to rise in my chest.

I could feel my clothes in a way that was different than before. I was more aware of them. How they felt against me. How close the walls, the door, and Law was to me. I could feel so much more.

And yet my eye sight only continued to blur.

“Interesting…now let’s turn up the setting, shall we?”

The…the setting? What was-

My body was on fire. It felt good, but it felt bad. It hurt how much it felt good. It was an indescribable experience as my body failed to respond to me. Instead jerking and spazzing around as it panicked.

Law simply continued to watch, almost apathetically. Not even so much as raising a hand to stop or help me. Just…observing. No words left my mouth, despite it being wide open. A scream on my lips. I don’t know whether it was a good thing, or a bad thing.

It was hard for me to tell anything anymore.

My vision started to cloud over, until they snapped open. My breathing forced out of me as Law’s hand gripped the side of my face gently.

“Woah now. I can’t have you going to sleep on me just yet. This is promising, but I still need to conduct a stress test. Do your best, alright?”

I said nothing as I gazed into his eyes. My world was enveloped into a spinning star as I experienced things I had never experienced before.

*~o~*

Robin PoV

Watching the sun set on Jump City brought a bit of relief. Causing me to exhale. The pressure that’s been mounting on my shoulders has just been growing and growing. With no signs of stopping.

Everyone was expecting something. The Titans expected me to lead them. The Justice League expected me to act as the bridge between them and my team. Bruce expected me to keep the city free of crime. Lawrence expected me to do something about the Justice League.

And then there was that whole situation with Blackfire…

…Hah…

I didn’t look over as someone took a seat right next to me. It wasn’t really too hard to guess who it was judging by the way they approached.

“…Do you also hear that voice in the back of your mind telling you to jump, or is it just me?”

Law joked causing me to huff a bit in amusement. Cracking jokes in order to cheer me up huh? I must have been in worse shape than I thought if Law saw through me.

No, even if I wasn’t, Law was sharp. He saw through people on the same level as Bruce, if not more so. Which is why it’s a shame that, just like him, he doesn’t constantly use it socially.

At least he didn’t brood.

“Yeah, I hear it too.”

“Mmm.”

He hummed before looking out onto the city. Not saying anything else. Something that I was thankful for. I continued to enjoy the moment for a few more minutes before finally sucking it up and getting back to business.

“What do you need, Law?”

He didn’t immediately respond. Instead continuing to look over the city. I wonder what it was he saw. Did he see all the people that needed saving? Did he see the buildings that needed to protected? Or did he just see a city?

“So…the break up is hitting you pretty hard, huh?”

I sighed.

“She wasn’t my girlfriend, Law.”

He didn’t respond, instead just giving me a knowing look. Once again seeing right through me.

“…How do you deal with it Law?”

“With what?”

“She was our friend. We trusted her, and she just…does that. I don’t…I don’t know what to do. I know what I think I should do, but I don’t want to do it. I’m not sure if that’s my emotions talking or…something else.”

I explained before looking up at the sky. Law hummed again before pulling something out of his pocket. I only looked over once I heard the sound of a lighter being flicked on.

He was smoking weed. After inhaling and blowing out the smoke, he turned back towards me, and noticed the incredulous look I was giving him.

“Want a hit?”

“Law, you do know cannabis is illegal in this state, right?”

He chuckled before muttering the word ‘cannabis’ under his breath in a mocking manner. Causing me to roll my eyes.

“Eh, who’s going to turn me in? Batman? I don’t think so.”

I sighed and let another long pause of silence fall between us. At the very least Law’s weed didn’t smell like weed. It had a mint like smell to it. Actually, I think pretty much everything he produced for us medicine wise had a mint like smell and taste to it. He was obsessed with it.

“…I think betrayal is the one thing that can’t be forgiven.”

I looked over at Law who spoke the ominous words. Though to be honest, I couldn’t really disagree with him.

“Yeah?”

He nodded.

“There’s only one thing I ever will ever ask of my friends. To not betray me. Once they’ve broken that trust…there’s no coming back from it.”

I nodded at that. Obviously it depended on what exactly they did to betray that trust but…it didn’t take a genius to figure out what he was referring to.

I sighed. I…needed to hear that. It didn’t matter which choice he sided with, I just needed to hear someone give me a direction to go, instead of just criticizing whatever choice I make.

“Alright. I’ll try to contact Green Lantern later and see if I can turn Blackfire over to the proper authorities.”

He nodded at that. Law started to stand up before flicking the remaining bit of rolled up weed he had over the tower. Watching it fall all the way down until it hit the rocks near the water.

“You know…I saw you pay Blackfire a visit.”

Law didn’t say anything. He didn’t move, change his expression, or anything. I tilted my head in his direction.

“…Thanks.”

She might have hurt me, and I might be upset about it but…I didn’t want her to be in pain. She might need to be locked up, but that doesn’t mean she should suffer.

He didn’t say anything. Simply started to fiddle with his costume until finally pulling out a vial. There was some sort of lime green liquid that-

I was forced to catch it suddenly as Law threw it at me. Having it bounce a bit in my hands before finally stabilizing it.

“What is-“

“The Man-Bat transformation cure. That should work on most of them. I’ll need a few days to make enough for everyone to use.”

I sighed in relief. A pressure rising from my shoulders. It wasn’t much, and there was still a lot more there, but at the very least it was something.

“…I owe you one.”

He huffed at that.

“And don’t you forget it.”

He gave a small wave before making his way back inside the tower. I didn’t follow. I wanted to stay until the sun completely fell over the horizon. All the work I was postponing would be done, I just wanted a few more minutes until I had to face it all again.

Just a few more minutes…