Alliance:
Jump City was the place to be….when it wasn't crawling with criminals that is. Today just wasn't one of those days.
"Titans! Go!" a young teen, spiky haired boy called. He wore green tights and a red leotard. A small black circle with a yellow "R" on his left breast and a yellow belt wrapped around his waist. Green gloves covered his hand and a black and yellow cap billowed behind him.
Four more teens followed. A green changeling clothed in black and purple leotard and tights. And much like the one before him, he wore a silver belt, a purple jewel of some sort served as its clasp and his hair though messy, was green. Two girls followed him closely, both hovering in the air. One, a soft orange color with bright green eyes and long red hair. Her wardrobe consisted of a purple and silver mini-skirt, top, and knee high boots. Silver gauntlets covered her forearms and glowing green orbs incased her hands. The other was of a paler color. A blue cape thrown over her face showed nothing but her vibrant violet eyes. Her thin arms were covered by a black cloth that clung to her, black orbs covered her hands. The final teen was not quite a teen at all. His half-machine, half-human body kept the form he was given when his...condition, occurred. His eyes were mixed much like his body. His right shone with the soft teal his DNA gave him, while his left was nothing but a red light the robot bore him. The only thing that let light on the fact he was once human was the right side of his face, a milk chocolate color of his past life. The rest of him was silver metal and blue plastic that protected his wiring.
Stopping short of the vault, they froze as the perpetrator emerged from within.
"Red X!" the changeling cried out, obviously taken back but this foes appearance.
"Did you miss me?" Red X asked mockingly. His own true features hidden like the team of teenage heroes. Black cloth covered his entire body, from the top of his mask, to the tip of his black boots. A sliver skull-like design on the black cloth, scarred with a red "x" across it, served as his mask. A similar "x" slashed across his chest and his black cape had jagged ends.
"What are you after this time?" the pale girl asked as a near-by table became wrapped in darkness and lifting to the air.
"Isn't it obvious Raven?" Robin, the spiky haired teen spoke, glaring at Red X as the changeling shifted into a stegosaurus form. "He needs money for Xinothium." The changeling advanced forward at these words.
"Haven't we done this before?" Red X asked: a sarcastic grin heard in his voice as he tossed an x-shaped rang at the green creature, sending the Titan back into Raven as he shifted back to his normal shape and she dropped the table. "Pity Beastboy, I thought you'd remember."
"Starfire! Cyborg! Hit him with everything you got!" Robin yelled, sending a birdrang towards their enemy.
Before the others could do anything, Red X easily slipped pass the remaining Titans and raced out the door, colliding into a young teen girl whose ball cap hid her eyes.
"Watch it kid." He grunted, rising to his feet
"Sorry." She whispered as she turned her green gaze on to him, a strange flame circled her slender hands.
Shouting came from within as the recovered Titans rushed outside. Before another word could be uttered, the emerald-eyed girl cast a large ring of fire around them.
"Give yourself up Red X." Robin stated calmly "You can't escape"
Red X's gaze looked over the silent Pyro girl. Her long black hair was pulled into a hair band at the base of her neck. Her black jeans sat dangerously low on her hips due to the hanging assortment of chains and her black tank top rose slightly above her jean tops, revealing a small bit of her tanned stomach.
'This isn't over Bird Boy." He called as he broke free of the pyro's gaze and rushed past the ring of fire.
Starfire, the soft orange colored girl, raced towards the pyro, attempting to bombard her with questions, yet as she approached, the flames dissipated and the girl passed out onto the somewhat cooling sidewalk.
"Is she gonna be alright?"
"Her vital signs are normal. Guess she was just worn out."
'These voices……who are they?'
"Hey, I think she's waking up."
Vanessa slowly opened her eyes, her mind reeling, trying to recall what had happen. Jolting upright, she gasped for air as she looked about the room.
"Where am I...? Who are you?" she whispered, cowering away from the changeling and half-robotic teens.
"You're in the medical wing of Titan's Tower." The half-machine boy said, removing the monitors on her head and arms. "I'm Cyborg, and this is Beastboy." The changeling murmured a single syllable greeting as Cyborg continued. "Can you tell us who you are?"
"I'm... I'm Vanessa." She replied softly, still unsure of what to make of the two 'Titans'
"Well, Vanessa welcome to our home." Beastboy said with a light grin. "If you want, we can head to the kitchen where we can get some breakfast. I make a mean tofu omelet."
"Sure." She said with a soft laugh, sliding off the bed and brushing herself off. As they left the room, she spotted her ball cap and putting on.
Following the two into the living area, Vanessa was warmly greeted by the others. Starfire's greeting came with a line of questions.
"What is your name? Where are you from? What is your favorite color? Would you like to be my friend?" With each question, Starfire drew nearer and nearer and now was half a foot from Vanessa's face.
"Uh…Vanessa, Earth, green and uh….sure?" she answered, pulling away from the odd, hyper girl.
"That's Starfire." Another boy said from his perch near the kitchen bar, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I'm Robin, and the girl meditating by the window is Raven."
"Nice to meet 'cha." Vanessa said with a nod, looking around the sunk-in room with an awesome view of the city. A red carpet lay on the floor and small branches came off leading up the four sets of stairs strategically placed in the cardinal directions. The North and South stairs led to other sides of the Tower. The East stairs came to a halt about two meters from the window and the West stairs lead to the elevator and the stairway to outside. CDs lined the shelves along the South wall near the computer monitors and a large screen hung down across from the semi-circle couch and yellow coffee table.
"Out of curiosity" Vanessa asked, turning her gaze back to Robin. "Who was that guy y'all were fighting?"
"His name is Red X." Robin's voice grew cold with anger "He's a dangerous criminal and he's still at large."
"I'm sorry." Vanessa sighed, her disappointment obvious. "If I hadn't gotten in the way he'd probably be in jail already."
"Don't worry about it." Beastboy said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "If you didn't, we never would have met and with your powers, I'm sure well get him soon."
"B.B.'s right. We could use your help." Cyborg spoke up, taking a bite of BeastBoy's tofu eggs before he spat them back out. "Waddya say?" His robotic eye began to flicker, along with parts of the other Titan's uniforms.
"Here's your chance. Red X is at the museum." Robin called as they raced out the door. Beastboy stop and turned back to Vanessa.
"You coming?"
In silence, she quickly followed him out the door, a genuine smile on her lips.
'Maybe they can help me……'
The museum was trashed. Glass from the shattered display boxes lay scattered on the floor along with random, priceless items, some intact, other in pieces. Red X waited from the Titans patiently, toying with the ends of his cape. He knew that if he waited long enough, they'd bring the green-eyed pyro from before along with them.
"What I want to know is why you're getting Xinothium." Robin stated, leading the team of heroes into the ransacked museum.
"Yes, Friend Robin took your belt of power long ago!" Starfire inputted, her eyes glowing the same green color as the orbs around her hands.
They were right. Without the belt Robin took from their first run-in, Red X was nothing more than an over-dressed ninja. But belt or not, he was still strong enough to beat them, if not, he could escape with ease.
"I got what I came for" he replied with mockery, holding up a red jewel. "So fighting's a waste of time." He turned to leave but stopped as a fire began to circle around him; a slow smile drew across his hidden mouth.
"Okay pyro, what do they call you?" He turned to face the green gaze of the temporary team member that stood closer to him than the rest of the Titans.
The tall ring of fire drew to a close quickly around the two, keeping the other Titans at bay for the moment.
"They call me Vanessa."
Her voice was soft, yet firm and music to his ears. Her unnaturally pure green eyes trapped him where he stood, only allowing his own gaze to look her over, taking in the rest of her well-built, curved figure.
"I've heard a lot of stories about you." She continued as she folded her arms across her chest, a smile danced across her soft pink lips. "I didn't think they'd be so accurate."
"So glad to know I have a fan." He stated. Maybe by toying with her, he could get a slight clue on what made her tick.
"I'm not a fan." She spat.
'Better yet, make her mad.'
"A stalker? Even better." It was obvious now that he was getting under her skin from the angry flare in her bright eyes, not to mention the sudden ball of fire she'd sent his way.
"Don't flatter yourself." She scoffed, ignoring the cries of the others. "I simply require your assistance with something."
Taken aback by her statement, Red X shifted his weight to his back foot, placing his hand the jewel was in on a counter.
"You need help…From me?"
"No I just said that to throw you off guard." She said, her voice think with sarcasm.
"Yes I need your help. But now is not the time to talk about it." She dropped the blockade and the others attacked. Cyborg let out a sonic blast from his cannon, Raven sending bits and pieces of rubble at him, Starfire set loose a series of starbolts and Robin and a wolf-shaped Beastboy charged him.
'This girl is good.' He chuckled in silence as the attacks collided, giving him the perfect cover to escape. Leaving the jewel on the counter, Red X raced past the others and close by Vanessa, slipping a small communicator into her pocket.
"Maybe next time I'll stick around kiddies." He called from the front door with a final wave before disappearing.
"Damn it!" Robin cried, slamming his fists onto the tile floor.
"Do not worry friend Robin." Starfire clasped her hands over her chest, trying to keep her friend optimistic
"Yeah man, chill." Cyborg came in, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's not like he got anything, and we can always catch him next time."
Vanessa remained silent, her mind lingering on Red X as well, but in a much different way than that of the Titans
"How about we get some pizza. You know, to keep us going." Beastboy said, hoping to kill the icy silence that filled the air.
"Yeah. We should re-energize ourselves with greasy balls of cheese and bread." Raven said as she walked over to them, her hood about her shoulders, showing her short violet hair.
"Exactly!" The changeling exclaimed, oblivious to her sarcastic tone. "What about you? You up for some pizza?" he asked Vanessa, pulling her out of her daze
"Sounds great." She smiled, looking over the museum one last time as the police finally showed up on the scene.
Vanessa remembered watching the Titans on the News and how the police force just about gave up on reporting to alarms and 911 calls. It seemed that the Titans nearly put the police out of business, until one criminal in particular showed up. The Titans had a hell of a time trying to beat him, for all they knew, he was still at large and up to no good.
He was the reason Vanessa came out of hiding. The criminal that kept the police department alive, was the same one that destroyed her family. He killed her parents. Granted, it was set up to look like his minion did it and Steam Roller was in prison, it was the one eyed man that stole her family and framed the heartless drone.
She had to get revenge. It was her job to retaliate. She was the last of her blood line. And if she didn't even the score between the Ailuros family and this emotionless, one eyed man, then who?
That's why she had to join the Titans. She was determined to kill her rival, using who ever and what ever it took.
"What do you mean you didn't get the jewel?" a man bellowed. His black and bronze mask showing only one, anger-filled eye.
The room was large and dark. A single light above a slightly raised platform was on, shining down on a large, throne like metal chair and two disguised men, Red X and another. His entire disguise was black with half his mask bronze. Silver metal bars decorated the back of his gloves, serving as both designs and guards. He wore a silver belt and iron-toed boots.
"The Titans interrupted me." Red X replied. He kneeled before the man and kept his head low.
"You mean to tell me that five children managed to get the best of you?" Red X's words had angered him more. "And you call yourself my apprentice."
"You made me call myself that!" Red X shouted. "You forced me to Slade!" He ripped of his mask at the point. His pale blond hair was long and pulled into a hair-tie away from his soft grey eyes. A small scar that ran over his left cheek gave his pale skin some soft red color.
"And for your information, there were six. The Titans picked up a pyro after our last run in." Red X folded his arms across his chest, his masked clenched in his fist.
Slade looked over his apprentice with his single masked gaze in silence, Red X's words playing back in his mind.
"Change of plans apprentice. Bring me the pyro. His abilities will be useful to us on your future assignments."
"Her." Red X said absently, his thoughts dwelling on the image of Vanessa joining them.
"Come again?" Slade turned to face him.
"The pyro is a girl named Vanessa." He said snapping out of his delusions. "She appears to be some years younger than me. Fifteen, maybe sixteen."
"Made time for introductions, did we?"
"She asked for my help. My same reaction." He added when Slade shifted his weight at his words. "I slipped a communicator in her pocket so I can contact her anytime."
"See that you do." Slade said, turning his back to Red X "And bring her some place quite. Some place we can talk."
"Yes Sir." Red X said. His voice was muffled as he pulled the cloth mask back on. For some reason, guilt tugged at him. Shaking the emotion from him, he made his way towards the abandoned fairground not far outside the city.
Hopefully, Vanessa wasn't to new to the area to need a guide.
"C'mon! The least you could do is stay the night."
"We've got more than enough room for you here."
"Yes, please stay. I do not wish for my new friend to travel the roads of loneliness at this dark time of night."
"Besides, we need someone to beat Cy's record."
Beastboy, Cyborg and Starfire were attempting to get Vanessa to stay with them for a little longer. Then Robin joined in.
"We could also use you on the team." He said as he walked over to them. They were back at the Tower after stopping for pizza where Beastboy and Cyborg got into an eating contest. (They decided on a rematch) and now sat scattered about the living area. Raven sat inform of the window meditating while the rest sat around the kitchen, Vanessa at the bar next to Beastboy, and Cyborg Starfire and now Robin stood near the table.
"I don't want to be a bother." Vanessa said softly, pulling her long black hair over her shoulder.
"You won't be!" Beastboy said. Being as tall as she, it was easy for him to drape his arm across her shoulder as he said this. "It's like Cyborg said, we've got tons of room."
A sudden vibration in her pocket kept her from answering right away.
"What can one night hurt, right?" Vanessa said with a smile when she finally recovered. "If you'll excuse me, I think I need some air." She shoved her hands deep into her pockets as she turned for the door, heading to the roof.
As she opened the door to the roof top, Vanessa pulled out a small, black communicator, a red x slashed across the front of it.
"Your timing couldn't have been worse." She muttered into the communicator as she sat down with her back against the concrete wall, facing the door to the roof.
"How am I supposed to know?" Red X's voice came through, sounding slightly agitated.
"You're not." She growled, her own agitation rising. "What do you want?"
"Hey! You need my help, remember? But if you changed your mind…"
"No! I remember." She sighed softly. 'This is gonna be a long day' "where at?"
"The deserted fairgrounds just outside the city. Come alone or this partnership is over before it even starts."
The line went dead as she shoved the communicator into her pocket. The door to the roof opened and out stepped Beastboy.
"uh... everything…okay?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
'He's concerned? How sweet.' She thought as she rose to her feet, a smile coming across her.
"Yeah. I just gotta go meet someone."
"Your boyfriend?"
Vanessa chuckled lightly. "No. why?"
"Just wonderin'" he shuffled his feet as a soft rose color tinged his cheeks.
"Well I'd better get going. Maybe when I get back we can, I dunno, hang out?" she asked as she walked past Beastboy into the stairwell.
"Sounds cool." A large smile danced its way across the changeling's face as he followed the pyro back into Titan's Tower. "If you want, you can take Robin's R-cycle. It'd be a while before he misses it."
Red X sat on top of the Farris wheel, his mask in hand as he looked out on the night city. Judging from the moon's location above the horizon, he assumed it was around 9 o'clock. If she didn't show up soon, he'd had to assume the worse: She was bringing either the titans, or the cops. Either way, Slade, would be pissed.
The low roar of a motorcycle drew his attention back to the ground.
'The R-cycle?' he thought, pulling his mask over his head as he watched the red and yellow motorcycle pull into the fair entrance. 'Better find out why BirdBoy's here.'
As Vanessa killed the engine of Robin's bike, she removed the red helmet Her long black air was pulled into a single braid and a black bandana tied over her head kept the helmet from messing with her hair. Her black jeans were warm from the heat given off by the pipes, while her thin, black cotton top was cold against the slightly tanned skin of her torso due to the chilly night air. Exhaling deeply, she watched her breath become fog and smiled slightly. Even it was freezing cold; chances were she'd never feel it. She could create fire, so what's stopping her from heating herself up a little?
Her emerald gaze took in the surrounding of what was left of the fair. The few rides that seemed to work looked like they'd fall apart any minuet. The only thing that really looked durable was the Farris wheel, and even that was covered in rust.
"How the hell do you work this thing?" she muttered, pulling the X-com out of her pocket and turning it in hand. She'd spent a few hours after getting it trying to turn it on.
"It's easier than it looks." A deep voice said from beside her.
Turning quickly, Vanessa drew back a flamed covered fist, ready to strike. Then the silver and black mask stopped her. Red X sat on the bench next to her.
'How'd he do that?'
"Did I scare you?" he rose - standing at 5'8" he had a good 4 inches on her- his voice husky.
"Maybe." She replied with a sly smile.
Red X turned towards the R-cycle suddenly.
"So how'd you get BirdBoy to lend you his bike?" he asked, looking over the motorcycle.
"He doesn't exactly know. I have it." She muttered while shuffling her feet, her gaze dropping to the damp dirt ground. "So about your help?"
"What kind of help?"
"I need your help tracking someone down." And killing him. She didn't think it was important for him to know that just yet.
Vanessa turned towards the Farris wheel and continued. "I hear you need a certain belt to reach your full potential."
Red X walked along side her." You heard correct."
"And the Titans have it, correct?" Vanessa asked as she sat down, her back against the far side and legs crossed over one another on the cushioned seat.
Red X sat across from her, hands folded across his chest.
"Correct again."
"Would bringing you your belt pay for your assistance?" She asked; her line of sight going out of the window behind the seat as the booth slowly rose higher and higher.
"You'll bring me my belt, which could let me destroy this entire city's peace and maybe even the world's, and all you want is for me to help you find some one?" He stretched his arms out across the back of the seat, placing an ankle on his knee.
"Well, when you put it that way." She turned to face him and now sat cross-legged on the seat, her hands on her knees. "There is one more thing you could do for me."
"And what would that be?"
"Take your mask off."
"Why?"
"Because your voice draws an image in my mind, but not really knowing is driving me nuts." Her response caught him of guard. Good thing his mask covered his mouth or she would have seen him blushing.
She must have realized what she said because she turned her face from him. She didn't mean for those words to come out. Now she felt like an idiot.
"I'll think about it." He knew he threw her off even more. The way her eyes danced in confusion and her cheeks filled with a soft red color made him want to draw her into his arms.
"Close your eyes." Red X uncrossed his legs and placed his elbows on his knees, his hands dangling between his legs.
'What?" she laughed, even more confused. "Why?"
"Just close your eyes."
Complying, Vanessa placed her hands beside her on the seat and closed her eyes, releasing him from their hypnotic hold.
Red X crossed the booth to her, pulling his mask off as he looked her over. She knew so little of him and from she did know he was a dangerous criminal capable of anything. Yet here she was, alone with him. A smile came across him as he brushed his lips against hers.
She gasped softly from the quick, soft kiss. His lips against her sent sparks through her, even with how brief it was.
Then he kissed her again. This time it was hungry and arousing. His hand came up to caress her cheek as the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her to her feet and against him.
She placed on hand on his forearm, the other on his chest as she parted her lips under his. His tongue stroked hers slightly before it flicked across her lower lip.
"What are you doing?" she whispered between the fevered kisses they shared.
"A down payment." His muttered response came before he took her mouth again.
"You might want to put your mask back on." Vanessa whispered moments later as she reluctantly pushed against his chest though his hand remained around her waist. "Why?" He quickly pulled his mask back over his face and let her go.
The sound of a car came from below the Booth they were in. A furious Robin emerged from the blue and silver car and inspected the R-cycle. Beastboy and Cyborg followed. Beastboy was talking to Robin while Cyborg and the now arrived Starfire and Raven looked around. Turning to face each other, the five of them talked.
"That's why." Vanessa said, looking around the booth for a way Red X to escape.
"Shit." He muttered, and turned towards the opposite window. "I'll contact you with a new location when I can."
Vanessa nodded as the ride came to a stop. X was already gone and the Titans turned to face her as she approached them.
"Before anyone says anything," She started, holding up her hands to cut them off. "Robin, I'm sorry I took your bike without asking. I needed a quick transportation and it was the fastest thing I could find. My reasons for coming here are personal and I have no intention on telling any you what those reasons are.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you I here I went and I hope you can forgive me for my lack of good judgment. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to find someplace warm."
Leaving no room for argument, Vanessa turned towards the car and took a seat in the back. The Titans look to Robin who simply shrugged and they could do nothing but comply.
"What took you so long?" Slade asked. He sat on his throne-like chair. The large black room, though dimly lit, showed the items that were scattered about the near empty black room. A table and few chairs furnished little of the room while a few large screens lined half the room from across Slade's seat.
"The Titans showed up not long after her." Red X answered from his stiff position in front of the ruthless criminal. "I managed to learn that she wants me to find some one for her. In return, she's getting my utility belt back from the Titans.
"Really now?" Slade rose from his chair as the screens flickered on a night scene of the city. "Did you get the name of who this girl seeks?"
"No sir."
"When is the next rendezvous?" Slade turned to Red X, his single gaze an emotionless void.
"The observatory around midnight tomorrow."
"Good. I'm counting on you to bring her to me. If not then, in no more than three days. I want to meet this Vanessa face-to-face."
"Yes sir." Red X turned towards the heavy metal door, leaving Slade in his silence.