Saving Grace

Heavy in Your Arms

He was lying on his back. The metal of the table was chilling and unforgiving. His wrists and ankles were swollen against the restraints. His mind was numb from the threats of pain. His eyes were flashing with the fear of the unknown.

This wasn't new. Starfire had seen it before, but something about this time made it different. Starfire moved to walk towards him, but stopped. Something had her leg. A glowing red chain was tied to her ankle, and she figured that it was of extreme strength.

She stood a few feet away. Trapped and unable to go to him. Helpless to save him. She screamed for him, cried. Like she had before, it made no difference. As she cried, he grew farther and farther away. Her starbolts continually missed their mark.

"No! Let him go! LET HIM GO!"

Slade's sinister laughter drowned her out.

It was only a nightmare. She mused as she awoke. Her Robin was sleeping next to her, head on her shoulder, oxygen mask firmly in place. She ran the back of her hand over his cheek.

"Hey, princess is up. Sleep well?" Cyborg was in the room changing out the IV's.

"As well as I could...I had another nightmare."

He nodded in understanding. "I don't know how to help you there, that's something that will go away with time."

"Do you have them as well?"

"Of course, we all do. This incident hurt all of us. Even Bruce, and we know how emotionless he is."

Starfire giggled.

At the sound of her laughter, Robin's eyes blinked open.

"Oh, good morning sleepy cranium."

"...good morning...Star..."

"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." Cyborg winked.

Starfire blushed and giggled again, but Cyborg got no reaction from Robin.

"Rob? You okay man?"

Robin swallowed behind the plastic covering and croaked. "...he is still there...same place as yesterday..."

Starfire looked where Robin was staring. "It is okay, he is angry because we will not leave you alone."

Slade came closer.

He can't hurt me...he can't hurt me...

Slade grew closer still, reaching the end of the bed.

Robin swallowed thickly.

He seemed to grow in length, almost like a shadow, to loom over him. The room dimmed and the air became cold. He felt very alone. His breaths came in staccato.

"Stay away..." He warned.

A voice, very unlike Slade, came from his two-tone mask. It was dark and sinister, almost a hiss. "You cannot escape!"

"STAY AWAY!" he screamed as the monster came closer.

The eye in the mask glowed red as hole formed where his mouth would be. The metal transformed into long jagged fangs. The creatures hands slowly rose towards Robin's neck, razor sharp claws drawing nearer.

Robin was petrified with fear. "...what...are you?"

"I am the evil that lives inside you." The voice chided. "Without you, I will run rampant and destroy everything you love!"

The monster attacked at lightning speed, sinking it's fangs into the skin of his face, and clawing at him In between his screams.

"HELP! HELP ME! SOMEBODY PLEASE!" it was becoming harder and harder to breathe. His screams turning into gasps. "...Bruce...Star...Mama...Papa..."