Disclaimers: All characters belong to DC Comics and Warner Brothers.

If I hear one word from the shippers, I will hit you with my bunny slippers.

A-A-A

Red is supposedly the first color perceived by Man. Brain-injured persons suffering from temporary color-blindness start to perceive red before they are able to discern any other colors. A Red Cross signifies medical personnel, facilities, or equipment. Red represents good health and healing.

How could someone with such a good heart bear such an unspeakable curse?

Who is to blame for the unspeakable tragedy?

Will he be forgotten, or is he another star among many that shimmer in the sky?

It all began on a chilly but clear morning in February. With the Russian troops on the border line of attack, all of the young men in the city had been trained to prepare themselves for what was ahead. For weeks they marched in lines, exercised their bodies, and completed the obstacles courses across the track fields.

They were taught how to use weapons, take cover, and lead on troops in the middle of a blizzard. They were taught the conduct and manners that were fitting to a soldier: loyalty, dignity, courage, strength, honor and above all, diligence. Adolescents that they were, the boys became ambitious young men that wanted to prove themselves to the world.

The teenaged boys had just finished their second drill of the day and retired to the bunk house. The smaller and slightly quieter Leonid Kovar walked slower while his comrades pushed to get first. Some grabbed the weights and began to show off to each other. A few were reading books in bed.

“Move over, Vlad! No shoving!”

“Hee hee, who was that pretty girl I just saw you with?”

“Someone tied my shoelaces together!”

He smiled to himself and began to shine his boots. Yes, the life of a soldier was the same constant drill, but it was a pleasant rhythm that his feet marched to. He liked being part of the team and fulfilling an obligation to his country. It was something that he could take pride in.

Leonid felt two piercing eyes starring at him, causing him to lose focus. He looked up and saw someone looking into his face. A tall thin man with pasty gray skin and greasy black hair stood in the doorway. He was wearing the immaculately clean white coat of a doctor and carried a clip board.

The man in the doorway was starring at Leonid and he could feel that stare even thought the darkly tinted goggles that covered the man’s eyes. He smiled at Leonid with crooked yellow teeth, making him nervous. It was the kind of smile that a cat would give a mouse just before pouncing on its prey. Leonid dropped his boots and his skin began to grow cold and prickly while goose bumps rose on his arms.

Two days later, Leonid was called to General Raskov. Uneasily, he stepped into the office and saluted.

“You wished to see me, General?” he asked. The tall man with the black moustache nodded and shut the door.

“I have, for there are going to be changes that you will take part in,” the General said gravely. He shut the folder that he was looking at and stared hard at Leonid. “We have done an analysis of your physical abilities, Captain Kovar. And I am sorry to disappoint you, but you are falling behind. You are considerably weaker than your comrades.”

His pale face flushed at once. “General, I assure you that I try as hard as I can.”

He waved a hand for silence. “I know, I know. But your weights are smaller and you cannot run as fast at the others. Though you have great will, your body lacks the strength. That is why I am removing you from the troops.”

A horrible feeling writhed inside of Leonid as if someone was squeezing his innards out.

“You are expelling me from the army?” he asked.

“No exactly, my little boy,” an eely voice spoke up. Leonid noticed that the pale man had entered the room. The pressure in his body tightened even more.

“Captain Kovar, this is Professor Wu Chang. He is in charge of our development scientific work at the base.” Leonid winced, but he managed to shove his heels together and salute out of respect.

“Pleased to meet you, Professor Chang,” he said.

“And what a pleasure it will be, young Leonid,” he smiled back with his horrendous teeth. Leonid cringed and whirled on the General. “You are the perfect specimen for our search in creating Russia’s ‘Perfect Soldier’,” Chang said with glee.

“W-what?” he stuttered.

“As I have said, we have analyzed your body and considered you to be the perfect test for an upcoming experiment,” Raskov explained. “This experiment with radiation will allow others, like you, to become stronger and healthier.”

“Experiment?” he asked softly. The thought brought to mind lab rats and iron cages.

General Raskov walked up to the boy and clamped a hand on his shoulder. “The army needs you, young comrade. Think not of this as a loss, but a gain. What we accomplish can help others in the future.”

“I, I am a bit unsure about this,” Leonid said. The General furrowed his eyebrows at the youth’s uncertainty.

“Young man, you took an oath to your country. This is your home to defend. And if you cannot help us, then your oath is broken. You can leave, but it will be in shame and defeat. But if you stay, I know that great things will come your way.”

Leonid was lost for words. On one hand, he was incapable of being a worthy fighter with his slim frame and lanky body. On the other hand, the risk would allow him to serve Russia again. There was no other life for him other than that of the army. If this is what was asked of him, he would have to embrace his future.

“I will join you in your experiments,” he agreed at last.

A-A-A

Leonid never got used to having Professor Chang around, but the General came often as well to see how the experiments went. They were odd routines, but not painful ones. His body was submerged in cooling liquids, his pulse was examined, and his muscles measured every week. One day, Leonid stepped into the capsule that would use the radiation to enhance his physical abilities. He would come out a very different person. His life would no longer be the same.

When he emerged from the capsule, a wonderful sensation spread throughout his new body. He not only felt stronger, but far more confident and proud of himself than ever before. The tests results were positive: Russia had its “Perfect Soldier” at last. His name was Red Star.

Red Star looked at his new body with admiration, flexing his arms and looking at himself in the mirror. The long muscular arms and powerful legs were a sign of a better and happier life. He was more than a soldier; he felt like a god. He had become a supernatural creation designed to protect his people and defend them in a time of need.

Sadly, this blessing was also his curse. When the radiation became too much to bear under his skin, it was released in a blinding flash of pain, hatred, fear, and red red heat. Entire houses, trees, and lives in the village were being destroyed just because of this one youth. His former companions and mentors all fled from him as if he was a diseased creature.

Red catches people’s attention and it often used to indicate danger or emergency. Red is the color of heat and fire. It is used as the colors for stop signs and firefighters.

Red Star had no choice but to isolate himself from the world. Once a worthy companion, he was now shut up without friends, family, or consolation. He spent many long hours in his compound watching the blizzards bury the hills in white snow. He felt sadness in the weary nights, a sense of darkness and a void of longing that could not be filled.

Then his body would start to writhe in pain and his eyes would glow red. Red Star was forced to retreat to the power cell and drain his energy. With palms overflowing with heat, he slammed his hands into the power cell and began the torturous task of depleting his power. The clenched teeth ground up even tighter from the pain while his muscles burned from the intensity. Beads of sweat studded his forehead before trickling into his jade colored eyes and stinging them with salty tears.

His screams unleashed the aching pain in his heart. The physical pain he could bear; that was the duty of a soldier. But the emotional pain was overwhelming. To know that he was now a monster inside of a self built cage, that was eating him up inside.

Red is the color of emotional outbursts: Shame or anger colors our face red. Loosing control lets one to "see red".

Only one thing kept him from going mad or giving in to his despair during the long winter months.

Red.

Red birds, red sunsets, a girl’s red silk dress, and the red sun sinking into the sky.

A color so rare and valuable, that even a drop of it seems like a flame of eternal beauty glimmering against the coldness of winter. The color red made Red Star fell alive and healthy, almost like a “normal” human. Red reminded him of what he once was.

With the steel gray skies and endless miles of dim forests, few people had red toys, garments, or birds to share. But anywhere that he could see the color red, even just tiny glimmer of it, would bring a small to his face. One day, Red Star was leafing through an old magazine he had found and spotted the picture of an extraordinary man.

The man in the magazine was called “Superman” and he lived in America as a crime fighter and protector to his people. With light green eyes opening wider and wider with fascination, Red Star turned the pages of the article and read the stories. They were almost like fairy tales, so rich and beautiful with descriptions that he could not put them down. There were stories about Superman stopping volcanoes, rescuing school buses with children, and delivering people to safely from oncoming missiles.

Like Red Star, Superman had unbound strength. Like a soldier, he was loyal to his country, his people, and his causes.

“But he does not have to hide from the world,” Red Star thought enviously to himself. “He can go out and meet these people that he rescues. And they embrace him as children would embrace his father.” A deep longing and aching began to rise in his chest. He quickly turned the page.

A majestic picture lay before him. There was Superman posed in flight with one fist stretched out like a mighty weapon. His hair was jet black and his eyes were a deep blue, full of wisdom and courage. Superman wore a blue uniform but his cape was a deep crimson red, jus as red as the symbol on his chest. Red Star slowly traced the S shaped insignia on the man’s chest and he drew in his breath with awe.

How wonderful to fly above the clouds! How breathtaking to soar through the sky and have people cheer your name! How it must feel good to rescue others and smile at them in return!

Will I ever be a hero like him? He thought this to himself as he took a pair of scissors and delicately cut out the picture. Red Star picked up the article about Superman and pasted it on the wall above his bed. He lay down and brought his hands under his head to support himself.

It helped a bit, feeling that someone else was watching over you like that. Feeling that there was someone you could look up to and talk to. But he knew that it was just a flat picture and nothing more. Red Star could wish all he wanted to, but the chance of meeting and talking to another like a friend was just a miracle.

Fortunately, the Teen Titans had performed miracles before. Not to mention done the impossible and saved more than just a few friends from terrible doom.

A-A-A

The warm weather was always short but greatly appreciated in their part of the country. From his home, Red Star could look down to the town and see children finally shed their heavy coats so they could play outside. Without thick scarves or hats, he saw their glowing red cheeks and their bright eyes full of mischief and animation. They would laugh and jump around merrily, often hunting for small fat brown rabbits or gathering flowers for the festival.

Red is joyful. Many children-oriented products are red: balls, toys, garments, as well as other products that trigger pleasure like fruit jam, candies, etc. Christmas decorations are red too.

He did not dare go down to take part in the festivals, but had to be content to watch from his hilltop. Red Star would gaze at the villagers that came out with delicious sweet foods and merry voices full of songs. They all ate heartily and laughed as they danced to music in the square. None of them thought twice about the lone soldier on the hill.

If he was fortunate enough, he would take off his boots and go running in the meadow on the other side of the hill. The grass would blow back and forth in dark green waves, the many blades feeling soft and silky under his bare feet. The wind blew through his short red hair while the sun felt welcoming on his skin.

There were very small but very beautiful red flowers that grew in those happy days. He knelt down to the ground and tenderly touched one of the flowers with a finger. Red Star picked a few of them to dry and save for wintertime. He was almost in fear to do so, lest the small flawless ruby-like blossoms die and wither in his hands.

The exception was the girl, Starfire.

A-A-A

He had noticed her red hair at once. If not for that vibrant tone and hue striking out against the glistening pure white snow, he could not have found her in the blizzard. But he did, and his duty as a human being made him do the only thing that seemed natural. Red Star picked up the girl and carried her to his home.

She was not like any other girl he had ever met. Yes, she was beautiful, but brave and strong as well. Like the color red, Starfire was a glowing and lively person. She was selfless at heart yet fierce and battle. He was astonished, having never met a more stubborn person in his life.

“I cannot leave this place, or else my power will unleash terror,” he insisted.

“No, it is a terror to shut yourself up like this,” she argued with him. “You talk of being a worthy fighter and a soldier. But if you cannot go to your call and duty, then you are a coward.” Her words fell harsh upon his ears and Red Star couldn’t tolerate hearing anymore.

“No more,” he said quietly, averting his gaze from her. “I was once a soldier. Now I am no more.”

“I will not let you lose faith in yourself!” she shouted at him. The girl had floated off the floor and was now hovering over him. Her own eyes blazed like flames inside of emeralds, the anger of righteous fury glowing from her orbs. He was startled and almost frightened of her now. And suddenly, he knew why he understood her.

The girl was a princess. She was a warrior. Like Red Star, she had been trained to fight. And she was the only one that did not run from him, but encouraged him to go forth in battle. Starfire was a good name for her, because fire was her essence. She could use her very wrath to melt away the bitter coldness that had wrapped itself around his life, separating him from other people.

Faith. Was that not the only thing he had at the end of every back breaking day? Why did he not use these power to wreck havoc and destroy things at his own command? Because Red Star had no inclination for evil. Every night he would pray to be forgiven for the crimes he committed without knowing and ask for redemption for his errors. The answers would come in given time.

“Do you really have faith in me?” he asked her reluctantly. “Because most people do not.”

Starfire rested a hand kindly on his shoulder, not in the least bit afraid of him.

“I always have faith in my friends,” she smiled at him. He felt something strange tugging at him inside and it scared him for a moment. What was the soft swirling feeling in his chest? There was something about the way her eyes glowed gently at him that made Red Star feel slightly weaker and yet stronger. It was an emotion that he was not used to receiving from others.

It was called kindness.

He was startled by the sincerity of her friends as well. When they meet the Titans, the first thing Starfire did was embrace the leader of the team in a friendly hug. Red Star nodded respectfully to the young masked man. Red Star noticed that Robin was bearing a red coat with a yellow R imprinted on the front. And at once, he was reminded of Superman. He could trust these people.

The Titans had discarded all of their suspicions at once and they welcomed him eagerly. Red Star quickly learned that these adolescents were very much like him in many ways. They had also undergone personal sufferings that had destroyed their happiness, altered their bodies, and given them tremendous powers that were double edged swords.

The modest but valiant girl in the blue cape was reveled to be the daughter of a demon of darkness. The tallest of the Titans had lost many of his limbs in an accident and was now confined to the quasi-assistance of a machine. The green changeling was peculiar, but a lively and amusing ally. Robin, the leader, had watched his parents plunge to their death before his very eyes. Red Star was startled when Starfire related all of their stories to him. Their past troubles had changed the Titans from once normal children in different people. Different, like himself.

But the Titans did not retreat from the world. They used their enthusiasm to assist one another and help their city. The powers that coursed through their veins where used for the better of mankind. They worked together, they trained together, and they laughed together. They embraced every day and its challenges without fear. That was something that Red Star recalled in his old memories.

“Even if you have to be by yourself, it doesn’t mean you have to be alone,” Robin said to him. Red Star was handed a small circular disk trimmed with gold and bearing a white T in the center. He recognized the gesture as a soldier receiving a badge of honor by others and gripped it willingly in his hand.

“We’re glad to have you as part of the team,” Robin said proudly to him.

“We will be victorious,” Red Star promised the Titans. His confidence had been restored by these other teenaged crime fighters. With newfound strength, he raced into battle along with his new friends.

A-A-A

Time was running out. Starfire had to get her friend into space before another wave of power was unleashed by him. So many other times she could rescue someone in danger. But this time, she would have to leave him all alone and say goodbye. Sometimes, the simplest act of duty is the most difficult of all, especially to someone like Starfire.

As he held her hand, the two of them flew up into the sky. Red Star noticed that her normal smile ceased to exist and a pained look was on her face. Something small and glistening form at the edge of her eye, clear as crystal and shining like a drop of water in the spring: a teardrop.

“Starfire, why do you cry?” he asked her

”It is not fair,” she said sadly, trying to resist the tightness in her throat. “We have already lost one friend, Red Star. I cannot bear to lose you as well.”

“Another uncontrollable person?”

“Yes. Her name was Terra, and her power was with the blessing of the earth,” Starfire began. She kept speaking, hoping it would take her mind off of the horrible fate in store for her friend.

“She could move boulders, shape mud, and throw stones at her enemies. Like you, she wished to do good yet was cursed with unstable powers. But she went down a darker path, and paid a heavy price for betraying us. Her last breath was used to save us all.”

“Terra,” he hesitated, realizing that the name meant Latin for “earth”. “Do you and your friends still despise her?”

“No, we forgive her with a whole heart. Every now and then, Beast Boy and I bring roses to her,” Starfire said longingly. “We will never forget anyone that becomes a Titan. Never.”

The two of them flew on without a word between them.

They were coming further and further passed the clouds. Wisps of white were whipping swiftly past them with only the piercing flawless blue sky up ahead. Red Star had to shield his eyes from the brilliance when he saw the sun up ahead. Its gleaming crimson rays alone were shining like the essence of life itself, the fiery ball glowing against the azure sky. He had never known it to be this powerful from his home down on earth.

“Starfire, will you bring red flowers in my memory as well?” he asked suddenly.

“Do not speak like that!” she cried bitterly. “We will see you again, I know it!” She squeezed his hand even tighter. He had no answer for her. The future lay uncertain before them in the giant azure sky with all of the clouds now darting below their feet like flocks of sheep.

Starfire wondered if anyone had ever given comfort or wept for her friend before. “Was your life always this lonely? Was there no one else for you?” she added. Red Star closed his eyes and tried to remember something. A simple but tender memory drifted into his mind. He remembered a pair of beautiful eyes and a sweet smile. His voice grew soft for a moment.

“Yes,” he said at last. “A girl I loved very much, Maladi. But she was plagued with disease, and we could not be together.”

Because red is the color of blood, it is associated with strength, health, and passion. For example, we admire rosy cheeks.

“I, I had no idea,” Starfire said in a trembling voice. “Please, forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive, Starfire. You have done nothing wrong,” he said kindly.

At last, they came to the end of their journey. Starfire slowed down until the two of them were floating in the outer space beyond earth’s boundaries. Space was cool and calm, a far cry from the cold and rushing city of his home. The endless dimension of black with darting white stars made them looked dwarfed by comparrison. Down below, earth was a small blue ball swathed with white clouds on the surface.

Being the color of blood, red was associated with the Roman mythology god war, Mars, and the reddish planet Mars became named after him.

Red Star stopped and looked down with bewilderment.

He had been trained to be a soldier for life. Yet he could not help but think what a fascinating duty it would be to be an astronaut and see the earth from above. Many nights he would lie in bed and stare up at the jet black sky and twinkling stars. They looked so small and delicate like jewels glistening against the dark velvet of night.

And just before jade green eyes would close, Red Star would wish that just once, maybe, he could see the earth through the eyes of a star himself. At last he got his wish. He wondered if Superman ever came up to this safe haven to get away from the rest of the world. This was the closest to heaven anyone could get.

Now it was time to say goodbye. The two friends floated in space together and starred at each other while their hands remained clasped together tightly.

“You must let go of me,” he implored her.

“I cannot,” she gasped. Starfire’s strong grip refused to leave his glowing red tears rolled off of her cheeks and floated out into the inky blackness of space. “I do not want to say goodbye, Red Star,” she sobbed.

“Let go and return to your friends. They need you. Robin needs you,” he repeated. “You must have faith, Starfire.”

The girl blinked her shining emerald eyes to wipe away her tears. With a force that took all of her strength, Starfire released his hand. Her heart felt like it would break in two as she watched Red Star float backwards and away from her. They began to drift in separate directions. When Red Star smiled and waved back at her, Starfire did not feel that she had abandoned him. She had helped save him. Now it was time to say farewell. The princess found herself smiling and waving back with all of her might.

“Goodbye, my friend,” she said softly.

“До свидания, мой друг,” he returned to her.

Finally, the glowing red body began to turn pink and white with the heat.

There was little sound, but much color that emulated from his body. With a showering explosion, Red Star’s being was engulfed in bright white light and streaks of hot pink rays. The swirling sphere continued to swell up in Starfire’s direction, but she did not leave. The humming whirl washed over her body yet did not harm her.

When the explosion was over, all that remained was a small red glowing sphere: a red star. Leonid Kovar was in no more pain. Starfire gazed longingly at it before floating back to earth. The people of the city had come out of their hiding places and were now pointing to that small twinkling garnet of a star in the purple sky.

“Raven, look!” Beast Boy shouted. He starred up to the heavens, watching the miraculous star appear. She gasped when she saw the star and her eyes shined in its red reflection, her mouth open in astonishment.

“Is he, y’know, going to be ok?” Beast Boy asked her with concern. Raven looked down at the snow and thought for a moment. “I think he will,” she answered.

“Do people who get turned into stars become like angels or messengers?” Beast Boy implored again. She pulled the hood off her face and allowed her dark hair to drift in the wind.

“I don’t know,” she said at last. “Why?”

“Cuz I think we’ve got a guardian star watching down on us,” he said. Beast Boy pointed to the winking star in the sky.

“I think you may be right,” she nodded to him. Raven closed her amethyst eyes and silently said a prayer. “Guardians of Azarath that protect us and bring forth light and redemption, watch over our friend, Red Star.” she said to herself.

“You ok?” Robin asked Starfire, putting a hand on her shoulder. She could not answer him but only embraced Robin tightly, burying her face in his parka. He returned the message and wrapped his arms around her, holding his best friend close.

“You did a good thing, Star. You helped him,” he said with comfort in his voice. Starfire lifted her head and looked at Robin. She wiped away the last of the tears from her eyes and smiled at him. There was nothing more to cry for.

“I believe that he will return our kindness, someday,” she murmured. The two of them looked up in the sky together, watching the red star glimmer merrily.

I promise you, my dear friend, that I will bring you more than just a blossom.

For you I will bring an entire world of red flowers.

A-A-A

He was no longer in any pain. He looked around and saw no more darkness of space or the endless blankets of snow from Russia. The sky above his head was a serene blue while the sun shone warmly on his face. Soft pearly clouds drifted through the sky.

He found himself standing in a meadow full of flowers. All of them had bright red petals.

And he was no longer afraid to touch them at all.