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Starfire doesn’t enter the building with any fanfare. She doesn’t tear through the hallway or crash in through the ceiling, she just walks forward with slow determination, tripping every alarm she can see on the way. She wants him to know what’s coming.
When she finally reaches the bleak entrance, she simply holds her hands to the door and feels.
Righteous fury. That’s what allows her to wield solar energy the way she does, and there’s enough of it right now to melt straight through the thick steel door.
Soon dripping, molten metal gives way, and she claws her way into the large room.
“Show yourself!” She bellowed, her otherworldly voice carrying with an uncanny reverberance.
From the shadows, a figure sauntered forward.
“Forgive me for not getting the door, I wasn’t expecting visitors at this hour.” Slade’s left eye narrowed at her, seeming irritated by her appearance.
“How many have you harmed, Slade?” The snarled words ripped through her teeth. A green haze emanated from her eyes, its electric glow contrasting powerfully against the dark orange hues of his lair.
“Feeling left out, are we?” He tilted his head in a sly expression. Ignoring his insinuation, Starfire stalked further into the room, thinking of her friend suffering at home.
Earlier she sat with Raven as she took scissors to turn long, tangled hair back into a choppy purple bob. Comforted her when she pulled off the few shreds of her black leotard that Slade hadn’t torn off himself. Told her everything would be okay, in time.
Do you think he ever…with…
Raven never finished the sentence, but she didn’t need to. Starfire made the connection she'd failed to notice before, and her stomach twisted.
She stayed by Raven's side until the girl fell asleep, then embarked on the warpath that led her face to face with the man who had caused so much pain for the people she loved.
Looking at him now, palpable hatred rolled off her in waves.
“I am here for Raven, and Terra, and Robin, and anyone else you have ever violated. You will surrender to me now and face justice, or you will die by my hands.”
That drew a genuine laugh from the madman. “Your entire team was no match for me before,” Flames burned from his hands, reminding her of his newly-acquired powers, courtesy of Trigon. “What makes you think you alone could defeat me now?”
“Because this time there is no one to hold me back.” She deadpanned. Charging starbolts in clenched fists, the air around her hummed at the edge of eruption. Her mind was focused like a laser, power raging through her veins.
“Bold words coming from sweet, innocent Starfire.” Slade hummed. “Then again, I’ve read your file, princess. I know all about your service to the Citadel.” His eye held a sinister gleam as he swept his gaze over her. “There’s nothing innocent about you.”
Rocketing forward, a torrent of starbolts flew across the room. Slade leapt dexterously away from each blast, rolling behind a console before emerging with fire snaking through his fingers. The mark of Skath on his forehead blazed bright red.
With a grunt he sent a wave of flames her way. The impact was imminent, but she was quick to form a shield around herself. The heat couldn’t touch her.
When the fiery assault finally ended, she stood alone on the scorched floor. Her eyes rapidly scanned every inch of the cavernous room for her adversary as the smoke cleared.
“I won’t deny it, the thought of you has crossed my mind from time to time.” Eye beams shot up into the rafters where the sound came from, debris crumbling to the ground with no sign of Slade among it. “You’re more powerful than the others. Stronger. Faster. I think I’d enjoy the challenge.” He continued nonchalantly, voice now seeming to echo from every direction.
Without warning he came from behind and pulled her wrists painfully up against her back. She cried out as his other hand yanked a fistful of her hair so he could speak right in her ear. “Tell me, how do you say master in your language?” He crooned.
With a fierce shout she sent a burst of energy through her palms between them. Pain seared along her shoulders where the starbolt grazed her as well, but the blast knocked him back as intended.
“You sicken me.” She hissed.
“I see you’re going to make this difficult.” He stood back up with a growl, fire spouting from his hands. “Fight all you want, my dear, but we both know you can’t win.”
She charged at him with a roar, fury building in her limbs with each powerful tread.
…
In the early hours of the morning, hazy pink and orange light was beginning to peek through the clouds above Titans Tower.
Starfire limped out of the elevator, unable to contain the soft smile that graced her lips as she made her way down the hall.
Raven awoke when her bedroom door swished open, blinking a few times to see her bruised and burned friend coming toward her. The alien held something in her hands, dirt and soot caked under her nails.
Kneeling down at Raven’s bedside, Starfire presented her trophy: A mask. Half orange, half black.
Or at least that’s what it used to be.
What she held now was little more than a piece of twisted scrap metal, mangled nearly beyond recognition.
“Slade will not harm you again.” She proclaimed. Outside the window, the faint hints of dawn promised a beautiful day.