Chapter Text
It had been six months since Slade Wilson—the mastermind criminal who had tormented the Teen Titans, especially their leader—had apparently met his demise. Six months of relative peace. Six months of healing. For most of the Titans, anyway.
Robin stood on the rooftop of Titans Tower, his cape fluttering in the gentle breeze. His masked eyes scanned the cityscape methodically, searching for threats that weren't there. The others had moved on, but Robin couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, somewhere, Slade was watching. Waiting.
"Robin?" A soft, melodic voice broke through his thoughts. "You are doing the brooding again."
He turned to see Starfire floating toward him, her fiery red hair glowing in the moonlight. Her green eyes reflected concern, and something else—affection that had been growing between them for months now.
"I'm not brooding, Star. Just... thinking."
Starfire landed beside him, her feet touching down without a sound. "About Slade?"
Robin sighed. There was no point denying it. "Yeah. I know he's gone, but—"
"But you cannot do the letting go." she finished for him, placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "Robin, perhaps it is time to embrace the present rather than live in the past?"
Their eyes met, and Robin felt that familiar flutter in his chest. They'd been dancing around their feelings for so long, almost a couple but not quite taking that final step.
"Maybe you're right." he admitted, allowing himself a small smile.
Starfire beamed, her entire face lighting up. "Glorious! Then perhaps you would like to join me for the watching of movies? Beast Boy has suggested the comedy about the talking animal who does the solving of mysteries."
Robin chuckled. "That sounds—"
His communicator beeped, cutting him off. Frowning, he flipped it open. "Trouble downtown. Robbery in progress at the Jump City Museum."
Starfire's smile dimmed, but she nodded in understanding. "Duty calls."
"Rain check on the movie?" Robin asked, already moving toward the stairwell.
"I shall hold you to the promise of rain." Starfire called after him, clearly misunderstanding but endearing in her confusion.
Within minutes, the T-Car screeched to a halt outside the museum, all five Titans jumping into action. The alarm blared as they rushed inside, ready for battle.
"Dude, who robs a museum at this hour? Don't criminals ever sleep?" Beast Boy complained, morphing from a cheetah back to his human form as they entered the main hall.
"Apparently not." Raven deadpanned, her dark energy swirling around her hands.
Cyborg checked his arm scanner. "Motion detected in the east wing—the new military history exhibit."
Robin's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "Titans, go!"
They moved as one unit, bursting into the exhibit hall to find a lone figure standing before a display case. The silhouette was slender yet athletic, with short silver-white hair catching the emergency lights.
"Freeze!" Robin commanded, bo staff extended.
The figure turned slowly, revealing a young woman approximately their age. She wore a fitted black and orange combat suit reminiscent of Slade's colors. Most striking was the eye patch covering her right eye, the other eye a piercing blue that regarded them with cold amusement.
"The Teen Titans." she said, her voice smooth and confident. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
Robin felt his blood run cold at the color scheme, the confidence, the calculating gaze. "Who are you?"
The girl gave a mock bow. "Rose Wilson. But you can call me Ravager." Her eye fixed on Robin. "And you're the boy wonder who's been obsessed with my father."
"Your father?" Cyborg questioned.
"Slade Wilson." she stated proudly. "The greatest tactical mind this city has ever seen. And you—" she pointed directly at Robin, "—you're the one who couldn't best him."
Robin's grip on his staff tightened until his knuckles turned white. "Slade was a criminal mastermind who hurt countless people."
Rose's expression hardened. "My father was a warrior, a strategist without equal. You didn't understand him."
"There was nothing to understand." Robin shot back. "He was evil."
"Evil?" Rose laughed, the sound sharp and bitter. "So black and white. So childish." She moved toward the exit, a small artifact clutched in her hand. "The world isn't divided into heroes and villains, Robin. There are just people with different codes."
"Stop right there!" Robin lunged forward, but Rose was quick. She dodged his attack with an agility that was hauntingly familiar.
"Like father, like daughter." she taunted, blocking his next strike with practiced ease.
Starfire flew overhead, starbolts at the ready. "You will not escape with the stolen artifact!"
Rose smirked. "Wanna bet, princess?"
What followed was a whirlwind of combat. Rose fought with Slade's precision but with her own flair—more acrobatic, more unpredictable. She held her own against all five Titans, not winning but not quite losing either.
As Robin cornered her against a wall, she suddenly pressed a small device on her belt. Smoke billowed out, filling the room.
"This was fun." her voice echoed. "Let's do it again sometime."
When the smoke cleared, Rose was gone, along with whatever she had stolen.
Robin slammed his fist against the wall in frustration. "Slade has a daughter. And she's following in his footsteps."
"She seems most unpleasant." Starfire commented, floating down beside him.
"Yeah, chip off the old block." Beast Boy added, transforming back from a bloodhound. "Couldn't pick up her scent after the smoke bomb."
Cyborg approached the empty display case. "She took a military prototype. Some kind of advanced targeting system."
Raven pulled her hood back slightly. "She's skilled. Almost as skilled as Slade was."
Robin's jaw set in determination. "Find out everything you can about Rose Wilson. If she's anything like her father, this is just the beginning."
As they left the museum, none of them noticed the figure watching from the shadows across the street. Rose observed them with interest, her single eye lingering on Robin.
"Round one." she whispered to herself. "Let the games begin."