Chapter 1 (Masking)

If there was one thing that Robin hated most in the world (other than Slade), it was looking weak. He HATED feeling weak. And it was hard not to, he was the only guy on the team who didn't actually have powers. He was all the way human with no powers to protect him, and still seen as a major threat. He liked it that way. He liked feeling GOOD, about life, and about himself. But one morning Robin did NOT feel so good. As in Robin, leader and major hottie of the team was getting sick.

He was old enough to recognize the symptoms, sore throat, blurry vision, slowed reactions, general not feeling goodness… And so on. But being a hero Robin had no time to be sick. So what did he do? He pulled himself out of bed, desperately ignoring the obvious fact that he was sick. To Robin sick meant weak, and as I have already covered, there was nothing (except Slade) that Robin hated more than being weak.

There was another part of being sick that he didn't like, other than feeling bad, and the whole weakness thing. When you're sick, you get this feeling, where you just want somebody to take care of you. You want someone to love you, make you take some icky medicine, and make you some chicken noodle soup. But not only was Robin an 'all grown up' teen hero, he didn't have anyone to look after him anymore, excluding his team mates, but he couldn't expect them to stop everything and make him chicken noodle soup. There just wasn't time. But being sick was a constant reminder, that his mom, along with his dad and brother were dead. He didn't have a mom to love him, fill him full of chicken noodle soup, and shove medicine down his throat. Being sick was just one big depressing bubble. But life goes on,. And so does Robin.

Almost, totally and completely exhausted he fell backwards onto his bed sleeping peacefully for another five minutes until…

" Robin? Robin, are you there? Do you not usually awake, earlier by five minutes? Robin?"

Robin jolted at the sound of Star voice, realizing he probably looked horrible he did his best to sound cheerful, "Erhum… Yeah Star I'm here, and awake and… rambling aimlessly… Gimme a second!" He dashed to the mirror, shocked by under his eyes, he was grateful he had a mask to cover them up. He reached for the doorknob and had it halfway turned, then he realized he hadn't put his mask on; he walked away, forgetting his hand was still on the doorknob. Somehow his fingers had gotten stuck, he heard the door swing open, and in a rush he covers his eyes, after tripping to the floor.

"Robin? Are you all right?" Star rushed over to help her friend.

"I'm fine, but I can't find my mask…"

"Oh", Star glanced around the room, but from where she was standing she couldn't see it. On a hunch she floated over to his bed, on his pillow lay the mask, "Here." She handed him his mask and turned around while he put it on.

It became obvious that Robin was having a bad day because for some reason he couldn't get the mask to fit right. The mask did cover his eyes though.

Finally Star turned around, she forced herself not to laugh, "May I assist you Robin?" Tired and helpless, he nodded. She went up close to him and adjusted his mask until it fit perfectly.

"Thanks, Star" mumbled Robin, tried not to talk much because his throat hurt.

"No malfunctions!" Replied Star happily.

Robin WOULD have corrected her, but he found his throat dry, so he smiled instead.

Star looked at him closely, there was something different about Robin today but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, " You are sure you are ok?"

Robin nodded, "I'm sure", he managed to crackle out.

Although Star didn't look too convinced, she grabbed his hand pulling him out of the room, "Then we shall commence in the eating, yes?"

"Yeah… Gimme a second…"

Starfire let go of his hand and blushed, "I shall meet you there?"

Robin nodded, and then shut the door.

Starfire felt slightly hurt, as he shut his door, it felt like he was shutting the door on her. She turned away, and walked toward the main room, she hoped he was ok…

Robin coughed, desperately trying to get the 'frog' out of his throat, he succeeded in getting the frog out, but he also succeeded in making his throat hurt. He groaned, today was NOT going to be a good day….