Red X Returns

Family

Robin's spikey hair blew in the breeze. The morning was colder than usual, making him shiver. In the back of his mind was still the never ending loop of accusations, the constant reminder that he set this thief in the world. It was his fault. He took full responsibility for this all.

Starfire came and sat down next to him. "Robin, I trust you are well?"

He sighed angrily and shrugged. "What else can I do? Red X is no where to be found, and he's probably gotten his hands on tubes full of Xynothium by now."

She leaned on his shoulder, "Do not be angry. Your friend has impeccable timing. He is a good guy, yes?"

Robin smiled and laughed, "He's a good guy. Back then, he could barely hurt a fly. Now I bet he's changed. He definitely looks different. Hugo is probably worried sick. When I left Bruce for a while, he almost went crazy searching for me. I should call him."

Robin went to stand up, but Starfire stopped him, laying a hand on his arm. "Dustin has most likely called his father. Do not be worried, this Hugo trusts Dustin to do the right things. I do not mean to overstep myself, but how did Dustin end up with Hugo at all?"

Robin sat back down and watched the sun rise in awe. "His parents died in a fire when he was 12. Back in Gotham City, there were these guys. They called themselves the Ringer Brothers. They caused chaos wherever they went. Dustin's parents worked in a gun store. Of course, they were careful with whom they gave the weapons to. But one day, these thugs just walk in. They demanded 6 guns on the spot. Of course, all of the weapons were behind the counter. Dustin's parents said no, which obviously made them angry. They couldn't shoot them, so they did something worse. They set their apartment building on fire. Dustin was at school with me at the time. I was with Bruce already by then. But he got called out of school early. They said it was an emergency. When he walked back to his home, it was burned to the ground. His parents were heroes then. They saved almost everyone in the building. But they and an old man died from smoke fumes. Hugo found Dustin afterwards, sleeping on the streets. He had no other famiy he could go to."

Starfire's eyes began to well with tears and she buried her face in Robin's chest. Then she looked up through her long eyelashes and spoke quietly. "Had he no one? No one at all?"

Robin thought about it and then remembered. "He had a brother, Jake. Dustin was 2 years younger than him. Jake went missing about 2 years before the fire. They spent a year and a half looking for him. The streets were filled with 'Have you seen this boy' posters with his picture on it. But no one ever did. I think Jake died in a car crash a few months ago, but I'm not sure. He may still be alive. Dustin doesn't talk about it much. It hurts to."

Starfire nodded like she understood. "Family is not something that can easily be replaced. Rather than replaced, additions are made. Such as us. My own family is on my planet, but I have more family, closer family here on Earth." She paused and collected her thoughts. She waited for Robin to say something. She knew his family had been killed when we was younger. 

Once Robin was sad and he let the information slip out. His parents were circus performers. There was a man. He was a regular thug, got what he wanted, used force and abuse to get it. His family harassed Robin's. They wouldn't give him what he wanted. He  sabotaged their acrobatic act. And they fell. Bruce was there at the show when it happened. He pitied Robin and took him in.

"Why did you leave your adoptive father? Was he unkind?"

Robin shook his head. "No, not at all. He was probably the nicest person after my parents died. But I just felt closed in. I felt that I was experience enough to really be on my own for once. And he understood. So I packed up and left, started a new life fighting crime in Steel City. Then I met the Titans." He smiled. 

She smiled back at him. "Our family is not one to grow apart. The Rekmas have no reason to visit us, correct?"

He hugged her, never wanting to let go, but knowing he had to. "The Rekmas won't be here anytime soon. No one can tear us apart. We'll all be a family forever."

She sighed and nodded. "Forever."