Chapter Three

Robin patted Starfire’s shoulder as she wept into her hands, still mourning Silkie’s disappearance.

“Perhaps I was a bad k’norfka,” Starfire said finally. “Perhaps Silkie left me by choice!”

“Star, you’re the best k’norfka I’ve ever met,” Robin told her seriously. I wish you were my “k’norfka,” he added privately. “I’m sure Silkie will show up,” he continued out loud.

But Starfire couldn’t be calmed. She continued to wail, her shoulders shaking.

“Oh, Silkie!” she sobbed, throwing herself on Robin and clutching her arms around him. Robin placed his hand behind her head and smiled slightly at the feel of her trembling her body against his own.

Well, Silkie finally proved to be useful, he thought with a definite amount of satisfaction. “It’s alright, Starfire,” he said. I am the luckiest man in the world! he crowed inwardly.

(TT TT TT)

“Curse you!” Slade screamed at Silkie. The worm was currently licking its lips, apparently finding Slade’s present a delicious treat.

“Yum-yum. Grahw?” Silkie asked.

“Why should I give you another apprentice outfit when you ate the last one?” the masked sociopath snarled viciously. “You ungrateful little worm—you’re more trouble than Robin or Terra! At least they knew who was in charge!"

“Grahw!” Silkie demanded, waving its stubby legs. “Grahw grahw!”

Slade collapsed against the wall, shoulders shaking and eyes tearing up in frustration behind his mask. Well, since one eye was gone after a REALLY bad fight with his former woman, he only had one source of tear-ducts, but you get the idea.

(Right? Okay.)

“There’s only one thing to do,” Slade said, standing up and setting his shoulders. He tried to wipe his eye but it was a little hard since his mask got in the way a bit. He still managed to get most of the tears, though, and with those gone he was manly and tough once more.

“There’s only one way to get rid of you,” Slade told Silkie.

(TT TT TT)

Robin had to admit, Starfire was getting annoying. And she didn’t look quite as pretty with her face all red and splotchy and mucus-y. The tears were all over his uniform too, making him wonder every now and then if the alien girl was drooling on him.

“Um, Star?” he asked. “How about you stop crying about Silkie and we go to a restaurant or the weight room or something?”

“N-no,” Starfire told him. “I will go nowhere and partake in no amusements until Silkie comes home.”

Geeze! What’s the ugly worm got that I don’t? Robin wondered angrily.

He never found out, because at that moment the main room’s view screen blinked to life, projecting a half-orange and half-black masked face that took up ever square inch, a sharp blue eye peering intensely at the room’s sole Titans.

“EEK!” Robin cried.

“Huh?” Starfire wiped her nose and looked up to see what had her companion so upset. She gasped and shrank against Robin’s chest at the sight of the team’s arch-nemesis.

“Good late morning, Titans,” the masked fiend said, his voice as deep and smooth and utterly evil as ever. “Good to see you again.”

Robin stood up, pushing Starfire away, and faced the man. “What do you want, Slade?” he asked.

“Ah, Robin, you stress my name so nicely. What do I want? Merely to say that…I have something you two WANT!”

Slade pulled back from the screen, and with speed-lines flaring out behind him he held out his hand, revealing a confused and chained up silk worm clutched in his palm.

Starfire gasped. “Silkie! It is you! Slade took you away!”

“I should have known!” Robin growled, even though kidnapping invertebrates didn’t exactly fit Slade’s modus operandi.

“Indeed,” Slade answered smoothly, “I am the one who kidnapped your beloved silkworm. And Silkie is at my complete mercy. There is no way you will find him in time to save him.”

“No!” Starfire stared in abject sadness at Silkie, who was looking irked at the entire spectacle playing out.

“Yes,” Slade said. “It was quite easy to sneak into the tower and capture the worm while you Titans slumbered. I would have assumed that after the multiple times your home has been invaded it would be harder to penetrate, but alas, you children rarely learn from your mistakes.”

“Wait a second,” Robin said, face tightening in confusion, “Silkie sleeps with Starfire at night. Did you…” Here the Boy Wonder’s face turned an angry red. Starfire wrapped her arms around her body self-consciously, blushing pink.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Slade answered quickly, as Silkie made a gagging noise.

“You are going to pay!” Robin hissed at Slade.

“Please, Robin, no!” Starfire implored, gripping his arm. “Slade holds Silkie hostage. You must not engage him at this time!”

“Listen to the alien, Robin,” Slade suggested. He transferred Silkie to his other hand. “Now, am I willing to return Silkie to you,” he told Starfire. “Of course, I will require something in return.”

“No deal,” Robin told him. “We don’t negotiate with villains.”

“WHAT?” Starfire cried. “We must save Silkie!”

“No,” Robin told her. “We can get you a new silk worm, but I am not negotiating with Slade for some stupid, mindless grub.”

Starfire stared at the boy, and slowly, her eyes began to glow dangerous, hateful green.

“Uh-oh,” Slade said from the view-screen with a small chuckle.

Starfire let out a growl, and leapt at the Boy Wonder.

(TT TT TT)

An un-estimated amount of time later…

“Thank you very much, Starfire,” Slade said. “It was a pleasure doing business with you. Although I must respectively say that I believe I got a better item in exchange for the worm.” The man tossed Silkie over to the Titaness from where he sat in his large throne-like chair. Standing only a few feet in front of him, it was easy for Starfire to catch Silkie. The worm landed with a slight, happy bounced in her arms and gurgled happily. Starfire giggled before returning her gaze to Slade.

“The pleasure was all mine,” she told him. “Come Silkie; we are going home now.”

“Greeh!” (“Yay! Woo-hoo!”)

“Shall I call Wintergreen to escort you out of my lair?” Slade asked her kindly.

“No, I shall find my own way out,” Starfire answered. Tucking Silkie under one arm, she turned and walked down the steps that led from Slade’s place of rest and contemplation. On the last step, she paused to pet a tied-up Robin on the head with her free hand.

“Now that you won’t be returning home, I hope you do not mind if Silkie takes your room,” Starfire told. Robin couldn’t answer due to the fact that he was gagged with a pink handkerchief. Starfire shrugged and left him behind. “Farewell, Robin!”

Robin stared with masked wide eyes over his gag as the Tamaranian disappeared into the darkness of Slade’s lair. Her footsteps faded out of existence, and the large room was plunged into silence.

Above him, Slade spoke.

“Ah, Robin,” Slade began, sitting back and steepling his fingers, “it’s so…nice to have you back with me.” His eye narrowed with sadistic triumph. “I assure you that you won’t be getting away this time.”

Robin shuddered.

What does that worm have that I don’t! he cried silently.

THE END