Teen Titans: Forged in Life pt.2

Robin started to doze off without realizing it was coming closer to 1:00.

He didn’t know if it was the sickness in his stomach or that his mind was trying to relax too much after seeing the supposed spirit of Terra visit him, but either way it was hard for him to keep his eyes open. With his head relaxed on his pillow and the clock on the wall ticking, Robin slowly but surely started to doze back to sleep. His started to close as hard as he tried to keep them open as the last thing he was looking at was the clock reaching 12:59.

Suddenly a bright green light shined throughout the room. Robin jumped up when he realized this and looked around in confusion at how odd the room looked with the lights now bright green. He looked and saw the  source of the light was coming from behind the medical curtain between his bed and the second in the room.

Robin heard someone, a girl from the sound of it, giggle before saying “Hello?”

The light seemed to come closer from behind the curtain before Robin could see the silhouette of the girl now, the light coming from her hand that she held up. There was another giggling before she pulled back the curtain, making Robin shield his eyes for a moment because of how intense the light was.

Once it went down he looked and was surprised when he saw, standing there was “Starfire?”

It was indeed Starfire, only not as she usually looked. Her hair seemed much longer to the point where it nearly touched the floor. There were a lot of ribbons styled in her hair as well, all different colors from green, purple, blue and yellow. She wasn’t wearing her usually clothes either. She was wearing a flowing purple dress that reached down far enough to show she was barefoot. Her, which only covered her forearm sleeves seemed to droop down with flowing laces just like the rest of the dress. Around her waist was a large green ribbon that was thick enough to act like a belt, with the bow of it almost like a buckle.

She only giggled again, after Robin examined what she was wearing, before saying “Greetings, Robin. I am glad we finally meet.”

“Starfire why are dressed like that? And what do you mean ‘finally meet’? we’ve know each other for...”

Before he could finish she giggled again before saying “I am not the real Starfire you know. I merely take the form of one familiar to you.” She walked closer to him before actually stepping up onto the foot of the bed and twirling around. She giggled again before stopped and saying “Robin. I’m the ghost of your Birthdays past.”

He still looked a little confused before saying “So...YOU’RE the ghost?”

“Indeed I am.” She smiled happily. “I have come to show you the things that were so that you may learn to appreciate the things that are now and the things that will be.”

“Uh...okay.” he said, trying to take in all of this as being real despite some doubt.

“Come.” She said, leaping of the bed and then going to the window. “Let us be off. The night is still young and there is much to see.” She finished with an eager tone.

As he saw her turn to the window, Robin began to say “Uh, that window doesn’t ...” before he could finish she raised her hand and blasted a starbolt, similar to the real Starfire, and shattered the mall window. “....never mind.” he finished.

He got up from his bed and actually found that he wasn’t being bothered by any pains or sickness in his stomach. He took a moment to take some comfort in feel himself now before looking and seeing the Ghost Starfire standing on the windowsill now.

“Smell that fresh night air. It calls us forth.” She reached her one hand back and said “Come, Robin. Let me take you away to your past.”

He cautiously walked over, his hand raised to grab hers, before saying “Right. You know I do have a bike down in the garage I could just- - WHOA!” he suddenly said when she took his hand and pulled him out the window.

For a moment both fell towards the ground before the Ghost curved up in the air, carrying Robin with her. He took a relieving sigh before looking to see as he was flown farther and farther away from Titans Tower. He looked back in time to see the Ghost hold up her free hand and make the bright green light again, similar to how Starfire would do it.
“Let the lights of your past guide us on our journey!” she declared.

Before Robin new it he and the Ghost flew towards an even brighter green light in the sky that engulfed them both.

Once all was clear, Robin looked and saw himself flying over a forest. From the way the trees looked and how it was now in the day time, he could tell it was probably spring or summer. He looked and could see the forest was on the outskirts of a very large city. It was almost similar to his town, Jump City, but there were many more larger buildings and skyscrapers and the area he flew over had a bridge leading from it into the city.

“No way.” Robin said in surprise. “Is this...?”

“The place where your story begins, Robin.” The ghost said to him. “It is here that we also begin the journey of your past.”

Robin looked down now and saw as they were reaching a large clearing in the forest where a railroad track was set nearby. The train stationed there was being unloaded by a lot of people and there were even some in the clearing already who were working on pitching up a very large tent. As the ghost came closer to the clearing she began to descend from the air with Robin still in her hand, giving him the chance to see more of the people and things being unloaded from the train.

Once he finally touched the ground, Robin looked around at all the busy people and said “Is this...? It is, isn’t it? It’s...it’s my home.”

“Haley’s Circus.” The ghost said. “The first home you ever knew.”

As Robin saw people pass by, not noticing him, he seemed excited as he said “I know these people. Look.” He pointed to one man. “There’s Arnold the fearless. We used to shoot him out of the cannon or make him stand in a cage with a tiger and he’d never be afraid to do it. And there.” He pointed out a large muscular man carrying three heavy looking boxes on his own. “Strongman Blake. Ever show he’d lift the heaviest thing he could. One time he even managed to pick up Sassy.” He suddenly noticed a bear being led by a trainer with a pink bow around its neck. “And there she is. Sassy!” he called out. “It’s me, girl.”

The ghost only giggled and said “These are only visions of your past, Robin. Though you can see, hear and even smell hem, they cannot do the same with you.”

He recoiled from trying to shout again but still kept his smile on his face as he said “It’s been so long. I haven’t seen any of these people in years.”

“Even someone him?” the ghost asked, pointing out someone standing near where the tent was being pitched up.

The man was older in appearance, even with a balding head with grey hair styled around the sides. He wore a dark green jumped with the straps around his shoulders and a white dress shirt that was unbuttoned around the collar and the sleeves rolled up.

“Mr. Haley.” Robin said, remembering him.

“Alright, men.” Mr. Haley called out to those putting up the tent. “Keep her steady now. We don’t want her to rip on the first day. Looks bad for business when we have a torn canvas.” He then walked over to one woman with a poodle in her hand and said “Gracie? How’s Duchess doing?”

“A little motion sickness from the long train ride, Mr. Haley.” She said. “Don’t worry. She’ll be alright in time for the show.”

“Alright then.” Haley said, letting her walk off before he went towards someone else.
He reached a group of men, obviously clowns by how some were half dressed and in half makeup, before one of them noticed Haley and said “Oh, hey Jack.”

“Hi, Jason.” He said reaching them now. “Need to ask, can you get a few of the boys to help with bringing out the elephants. They tend to need a little push to get out of their carts.”

“Sure thing, Jack.” He answered. “We’ll get on it.”

“Good. And has anyone seen John and Mary?”

“Right here, Jack.” Someone called out to catch his attention.

Robin now looked in both surprise and a bit of sorrow as he saw two people walking towards Haley. It was a couple wearing matching trapeze uniforms, in terms of color, with the man having short brown hair and the woman with long black hair styled into a bun with a red bow around it. Their clothing was a mix of red and green with black boots and gloves as well.

“It’s....not possible....” Robin said, seeing the two walk closer to Haley.

“As I said,” the ghost began, now sounding a bit more serious in her tone “these are the shadows of your past.”

“There you both are.” Haley said once they both reached him. “Didn’t see you two during the trip and thought you were getting cold feet or something.”

“Come on, Jack.” The woman, Mary, said. “After so many years, you’d think we’d stop now?”
Haley only chuckled and said “Right, right. So what kept you two?”

“We were just getting the boy ready for his big day.” The man, John, answered.

“Oh? And where is the little...?”

Suddenly a young boy, looking around the age of nine, dropped down from behind Haley, coming from behind one of the stacks of crates nearby, and surprised him. The boy was dressed similarly to his parents but instead had a small yellow cape around his neck.

“Ta-Da!” he said, making Haley jump for a moment.

Now Robin was even more in shock and sorrow when he saw the boy. It was a very surreal feeling for him when seeing all the things in front of him. So much so that he nearly back away from it, more out of fear. But the ghost must have felt this feeling in his mind and soul, because she maneuvered over and clasped her hand on his shoulder.

“Watch and listen.” She said to him, making Robin do so without question.

Haley recovered from the sudden surprise and said “Oh! Jeeze.” Before seeing the young boy and saying “Oh there you are, little man. Enjoying your big day so far?”

“Are you kidding?” he began. “This is great. I can’t wait to finally be out there, flying over the ground like mom and dad do.”

“We’ve been keeping him in practice ever since he could stand.” John added. “The little tyke can’t keep his feet on the ground for more than ten seconds.”

As if to demonstrate, the boy began to flip backwards before jumping up, summersaulting in the air and landing on top of another crate on his feet. He then leap down and flipped over back towards the three adults before Haley started clapping a little.

“Well looking good so far, kid.” He said. “Even licking the little cape you got there.”

“Our little early present for his birthday.” Mary said.

“Oh that’s right.” Haley said, slapping his forehead. “I forgot that was today. Happy Birthday, my boy. How old does that make you? Fifteen? Sixteen?”

The boy only giggled and said “Ten, Mr. Haley.”

“My word.” Haley began. “Only ten years old and already eager for his big premier under the big top. Not too different from a few other little rugrats I know.” He said, looking at Mary and John. He chuckled and looked back to the boy and said “You think you’re ready?”

“I don’t think.” He answered. “I know I am.”

Haley laughed and said “That a boy. Now why don’t you go play with Sassy while Louis handles the tigers.”

The boy nodded and ran off towards the big black bear while his parents watched as he went off.

“He’s a great kid.” Haley said.

“And don’t we know it.” John said, standing closer to his wife and holding her shoulders.

“I still wish we’d be able to stay in one place long enough to get a decent education.”
Mary noted. “I mean I just want him to be more than a trapeze artist the rest of his life.”

“Come on, Mary.” Haley said. “Like I always say, all the world’s a circus. It’s just the tent is much, much bigger.”

All chuckled amongst themselves while Robin looked back between them and the boy now being licked by the bear. He then saw as Haley stopped laughing and all three of them looked as a black car pulled up near the circus area. Haley only looked annoyed and nervous about who it was whoever had driven up, but all the same knew he had to meet with them.

“I’ll....be right back.” He said to Mary and John before walking off.

As Mary and John watched with concern as Haley walked off, Robin began to follow with the ghost following him. He stopped to take a look back as the young boy still played with the bear while his parents now walked over to him. He felt like staying and watching as those memories transpired but felt compelled to see who Haley was meeting with, making him continue on and stopping once he was close enough to see Haley standing in front of the car.

All four door open and three large aggressive looking men came out, one wearing sunglasses but all dressed in suits. The fourth one o walk out was a shorter, fatter looking man. He wore a semi-decent suit and had similar balding pattern on his head to Haley’s, only his hair was still black.

Robin seemed to grow angry when seeing this man walk out of his car and walk over to Haley.

“You know this man?” the ghost asked, standing behind Robin.

“All too well.” He half-growled.

He then listened as the man walked up and said “Haley, my friend. Good to see you and your crew made it safe from Star City. Heard the trip can be quite...treacherous.”

“I told your boys when they came while we were there, Zucco.” Haley said. “And now all you’ve done is bothered to drive out here to hear the same thing: I’m not agreeing to anything.”

“Come on now, Jackie.” Zucco said. “It’s not like I’m trying to take the circus from you, not that ‘Zucco’s Circus’ doesn’t have an interesting ring to it, but all I’m proposing is a simple partnership of sorts.”

“It’s still no.” Haley said bluntly. “I don’t care what kind of pull you have in this city, I’m not helping with your transportation business. I know how you really act. I know what you’re really up to.”

Zucco only smirked and said “You might want to rethink this, Jackie. You never know when business might go bad. Could be looking for joint-business dealings of sorts. If that happens, I might be the only friendly face around for the extra pickings you’ll be needing.”

“Then I’ll make it my priority to see that doesn’t happen.” Haley said before walking off.
As he watched him leave, Zucco only kept his smirk and said “Hope you do a good job of that. Would hate if some tragic accident would happen.”

Robin watched as both Haley and Zucco left while standing there with an angered look on his face.

“You had no knowing of what transpired between Mr. Haley and this Zucco?” the ghost asked.

“Not at first.” He answered. “But when I did, everything made sense.”

“But that didn’t stop what happened next.” She stated before the scene around them began to change.

As everything began to change there was a brief scene of many of the circus crew, including some of the faces Robin had seen before, and Mary and John as well, all gathered around a table where the young boy sat with a large cake in front of him with candle burning. They’d just finished singing happy birthday before he blew out the candles and all clapped for him.

In that moment Robin took in what little joy he could at seeing the boy and his parents happy together, for soon after the scene changed again. Now he and the ghost were standing on the sidelines of the three rings at the center of a giant tent all set up with a full audience of people filling the stands. Haley, now dressed up as a ring master, with a bright red coat and top hat, stood in the center as all clapped at the show going on.

“No...no. I don’t want to be here.” Robin said, knowing what would come.

He looked back to see the ghost drop her head with sadness and say “I am sorry. But these are the things that you must see. Though they are what they are, do not blame me.”

He then looked back to see as the crowd cheered as the act involving a group of clowns and elephants had ended and all walked off.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen.” Haley said over the microphone in his hand. “Tonight we give you the amazing Flying Graysons! With the newest and youngest member of the team débuting for the first time tonight!”

All clapped as the spot light worked its way up and shined all the way up above on one of the beams in the tent where the three acrobats stood and waved to the audience. With the rope and handle ready the young boy was the first to swing off with the crowd gasping as he managed to swing his way over to another handle waiting for him in the air. Robin looked over and saw the clown on the other beam opposite the large drop, with a safety net below, who tossed it to him.

For the next few moments everyone watched in awe as the three Flying Graysons displayed their amazing feats of acrobatic endurance and talent. Even from below Robin could see as the young Grayson was happy to finally have his moment with his parents, flying about in the air without ever falling down. And it was made all the better since today was his birthday.

It finally came to a point where they’d finished and were back on their perch, Mary Grayson hugging her son at how well he did, before both parents looked down to Haley and nodded as he did so back.

“And now, for a special performance tonight, in honor of the generous donation offered by our benefactor for this evening.” Haley indicated a man in the audience who now all could see due to the lighting in the room. “We present a death-deifying feat performed by our two older Graysons. And this stunt will all be done without the use of a safety net.”

All watched as the nets were removed and Robin had a more worried look now, knowing what would come. He even glanced up and saw as both parents hugged their son, saying they’d be alright. It was at that point that he also looked over to the clown on the other perch, who looked all too familiar to someone he’d seen before tonight talking with Mr. Haley, pull a vial out from his pocket and drop a liquid onto the ropes.

“No.” Robin said seeing this.

But there was nothing he could do as the two Graysons already began to perform their stunt. Once both started out on the same rope and handle before the clown threw out the other which John jumped out and grabbed hold of. The minute he did the clown was already starting to climb down from his perch to get away.

“No! Wait!” Robin cried out from below as he saw the two continue their stunt above.

John was able to hang upside down from the handle before catching Mary when she jumped from hers to him. At that point they were done for. The weight of both and the rope which was now half-eaten away by the acid dropped on it was too much. The rope snapped mid-air.

“NO!” Robin cried.

“NO!” the young Grayson above cried as well.

People in the audience either screamed or gasped when they saw the two begin to fall from the air towards the ground.

Robin rushed out from where he stood and tried to reach in time to catch even one of them. The ghost only stood where she was and flowed with her eyes as the two dropped, knowing how much it would pain Robin that he could not change the outcome. She closed her eyes for a moment when they finally reached the end. When she reopened them she slowly walked over to where they’d fallen.

Robin was on his knees and on the verge of crying. His hands were on the ground and clutching into fists as he tried to fight it. But even he wasn’t strong enough to fight it. Right next to him were the bodies of his parents on the ground of the circus floor, no longer and lively as they were before.

She placed her hand on his shoulder as he said “Why....Why c-couldn’t I save them?”

She looked up to the now sobbing young boy on the perch before looking back to him and saying “What could you do? You were only a child.”

“I still should’ve known.” He said, angered now and tears in his eyes. “I...I was all alone then.”

“Were you?” the ghost asked. “Or did this tragedy help you find a kindred spirit of sorts?”

He looked as the young boy, who’d climbed down from his perch, kneeled in between both bodies of his parents. Robin stood at this point and looked to see someone, a very tall and broad looking man from the shape of him alone, stand from his seat despite the empty stand around him.

Suddenly the scenery changed again and both Robin and the ghost were in blackness.

“You left the circus after that, did you not?” the ghost asked.

“I’m sure you already know the answer. “ Robin said still anger in his tone. “I was taken in by the right person. Someone who understood my pain. That’s when I started training. Started getting better and better a what I do.”

“And what was all that training for?” she asked. Seeing him hesitate to answer, she insisted and said “Please tell me.”

“It was all for revenge against the man who I knew took my parents from me.” He said.
“But you never received that just vengeance. Did you?”

Before he knew it the scene changed to a rooftop in the middle of the night in the same city where the Circus had been set up.

Zucco was there. He looked terrified, so much so that he had a gun in his hand that he was pointing in nearly every direction. There came a point where he heard a feint sound of something behind one of the radiators that was on the roof and fired, only for there to be nothing at all.

As be back up more and more he was up against another radiator and looking around for whatever it was that was chasing him. He didn’t see as a shadow standing on top of the radiator stood but he did look up in time to see two angry eyes looking down at him once he noticed. He turned and backed up in order to fire, only for the shadow to throw a sharp object that knocked the gun out of his hand.

The shadow jumped down and revealed to be a younger looking Robin, around the age of 12 or 13.

“Wh-what do you want from me?” Zucco asked, backing away still.

“Do you know what today is, Zucco?” he asked, walking towards him. “Do you know what you did on this day, only a couple of years ago?”

“Wh-what? What? Did I steal from your old man or something?” Zucco asked, trying to sound innocent.

The young Robin responded by punching Zucco square on the nose, sending him on his back.

“Think back!” he demanded, seeing Zucco pick himself up. “You tried to exhort money out of a circus owner. Jack Haley. When he refused you sabotaged one of his acts in the hopes that he’d come to you when he had no other choice for money. Instead he left the city with everything he had left and all your plans were for nothing. You took the lives of two innocent people for nothing!”

“S-so what?” Zucco said, getting to his feet. “There’s nothing. No proof that’s true.”

“Your men talked, Zucco.” Young Robin said, grabbing his collar and pulling him close. “I found out you were there. You were in disguise and sabotaged the ropes with a non-traceable acid. You killed them and you know it!”

Zucco was so scared that he said “Alright! Alright! Maybe I did do it, what’s the big deal? That was years ago. Why does it matter to you?”

Young Robin tossed him back to the ground, now both closer to the edge of the rooftop, before saying “It means everything to me. You took away the two people who I cared for most in this world. You too their lives from me. You murdered my family!”

Zucco’s eyes widened before he said “Y-you...you. You’re that kid....the kid from that night.”

“That’s right.” He said, picking him up by the collar again. “You killed my parents and ruined my life. And all on my birthday at that. And now I have you right where I want you.”

“W-wh-what....what are you going to do to me?” Zucco stammered for his life. “P-please...please don’t kill me!”

As the vision of the young Robin raised his fist, ready to strike Zucco, the real Robin and the ghost stood to the side and watched.

“You had your chance at what you wanted.” The ghost began. “What you’d been training and preparing for, for so many years.”

“I had my chance to finally get even with him.” Robin said.

“But what stopped you?” she asked.

Robin looked down, almost in shame, and said “The fact that I knew nothing I’d do to him would ever bring my parents back. If I killed him out of revenge, then all it would do would make me as bad as him.”

Robin looked as his younger self slowly lowered his fist. The cowering Zucco watched as well, in confusion, before he pulled him close again.

“I’m not going to kill you.” Young Robin said. “But you’d better thank every last fiber of your being that I didn’t put you through the same torment as me.” He tossed Zucco back on the ground and said “Remember that, Zucco, while you’re rotting away for the next few decades.”

The younger Robin turned and started to walk way, only for Zucco to see that his gun was lying on the ground next to him. He picked it up and aimed it at Robin, clicking the trigger back so he could hear it and turn in time to see.

“I’m not going to the slammer, kid.” He said. “But I’ll do you the favor and let you be with your mommy and daddy again.” As he saw Robin getting ready to defend himself, he smirked and said "Happy fricking Birthday, kid!"

Before he could fire his gun though, another sharp object, much larger than Robin’s, flew out and smacked the gun out of his hand. He held his hand in pain and saw the object on the ground: a sharp metal weapon in the shape of a bat. Both he and young Robin looked back to see someone, or something, standing on top of the small doorway leading down from the roof to the rest of the building.

It was a tall dark figure with the light of the moon behind it. The large shadow draped across it’s back making it look like a living shadow, or even the devil himself with the large pointed ears it had. It’s eyes locked with Zucco’s, very stern and cold eyes that could see through his soul.

“N-no. No!” Zucco said, backing up. “Not you. Not you too! Get away from me! Both of you get away!”

He didn’t realize it, but Zucco was stepping closer and closer to the edge of the rooftop. It finally came to the point where he nearly stumbled over the side. Finally he trips and falls over just as the younger Robin, and even Robin himself, run forward to try and catch him.

Both are too late before Zucco falls over the side and screams the whole way down. Both Robin’s watch as he does and both look away before they can see Zucco hit the bottom. The ghost watched as the real Robin sat on the edge of the rooftop while the younger Robin only walked back towards where the shadowed figure was and both disappeared into blackness.

She looked back to the real Robin and said “Even with Zucco dead, you still felt empty.”

“I’m done.” He said, making her look in confusion. He looked up to her and said “I’m done with this. You hear me? I don’t care what you or Terra are trying to do for me, I’m not doing this anymore.”

As this point he was standing nearly face-to-face with her and sounding threatening as he did. Her look suddenly grew annoyed as her eyes glowed bright green as did her hands. She began to float above him as her light grew brighter and brighter.

“You would deny the gracious acts of a fallen friend? It is not I or any other who makes you feel the pain you do. Do not show anger towards me for the actions of your own.” She said, her voice almost booming now. “I have said before that these are the shadows of your own past. They are what they are. Do not blame me!”

Robin feel to the ground at this point and had to cover his eyes as the light grew too bright for him to look. He could almost feel the intensity of heat coming from the lights as he kept staying in cover.

“St-Starfire....I-I sorry. I didn’t mean....” he found himself saying.

He finally felt the light going down and looked to see what was happening. He was back in his bed inside the medical room in Titans Tower. He was looking up at the small lamp that hung just above it, the light was on and it was nearly in his face. He looked around in confusion as he made sure he was actually back in his room.

Trying to reassure himself that it wasn’t a dream, Robin got up from his bed, his stomach now starting to have the same sick feeling as it did before, and walked over to the wall to turn off the light. Once he did he looked to see the clock on the wall reading 1:58. He walked back to his bed and sat on the edge for a moment, taking in what he saw and what happened.  

Was that all a dream? He thought. Did he just have more hallucinations like before? If so then how did the light turn on? Did he sleep walk over and do it himself? And if this was the work of his mind, why did it feel so real the whole time it happened?

He had no answers now, but only knew that one ghost had finished its job and there were still two more to deal with. He just hoped the next would not make him go through anything as painful as the last. As he waited he couldn’t help but play the same thing in his mind over and over again.

Why did he say Starfire?