Don't hold your breathe for updates unless your trying to go to sleep for a looooong time. I'm very busy. Sorry.

Criticism is appreciated.

Teen Titans: Distortion

Chapter 1.

In a cloudless sky hung the sun. Under it, a city by the bay began to wake. As far as the eye could see where there wasn't water there was a man made metropilis. The almost muffled sound of traffic and birds difted to her ears. The young woman stood silently watching this world that was hers to protect. Mostly from itself. Her name was Raven Roth.

Raven had reached an unusual stage in life she once belived she never would. She was free! No longer did she live day to day in fear of a dark future that she was suppose to bring about. It once consumed her thoughts and tainted her persona, but now the weight of a planet had been lifted from her shoulders. Her father, the interdimensional demon Trigon, was gone. Destroyed, and she had been the one to do it; with a tremendous help from her friends.

It had actually been months since it happened, but every morning when she woke; she felt just as incredibley releaved and refreshed as the day her freedom began. She compared the missing pressure, the shackles of hibitation that once made her emotions her own prison, to a rushing river. It was endless and undeniable. It was there and would push its way across land, hills and mountains unhindered. A spectacular force of nature. But Like a river. It could still be manipulated. And her power still did require some observation. But the trade off was like highway robbery with Raven in the driver seat and ski mask. She was free!

And how would she spend her freedom? The rest of her life infact. She had long since decided that all the quirks and habbits the world had come to expect of Raven were part of her dominat personality and made no move to cast them off but she did however make an effort to spend more time with her friends. Which dragged her mind back to a current qualm. The team had expanded to include many superpowered youths from around the world. Youths the world called heros. But a joker had been shuffled into the deck. A wild card named Jinx.

It had happened so suddenly and in the midst of a chaotic world war of heroes and villians that no one seemed to have the chance to protest if they wanted to. And it seemed no one wanted to save for Raven. Was Robin slipping? How figgin easy would it have been for her to turn on them durring a vital moments of the final battle? To sell them up river? To do what villians do best?

And of course. Jinx obviously hadn't. It had been a month and Jinx was still around. It had been so busy afterward that she had no time to bring it up with Robin. So here they were. Jinx was a Titan. And Raven was still sore over it. but what was she going to do about? It had been weeks. Hadn't Jinx's probabation period ended? No. There would be no end to it until Raven was satisified. Besides. It was part of the dominat personality to never hold her tounge so next time she saw Robin she would give him an earfull.

"-and you're reinforcing the the Mayor's beliefe that we are irrisponsible-freakish-superpowered-children and not heroes," Bumble Bee said as she shadowed Speedy all the way though Titans Tower and up to the living quarters.

"Yes mam," Speedy said head low, fighting to control an impulse to snap back at his leader. Honestly. If no one was hurt, what was their to complain about? And who gave a damn about the Mayor? Just another fat politician working one day a week and telling other people not do what he was likely doing to his entire female office staff.

"So no more loopdy loops in the Titan East's Helicopter or landing on roof tops of your favorite pizza shops,"

"Yes mother," Speedy bit back. They entered the living room and immideatly located Cyborg. The large metal covered teen was was hunched down infront of the large tv. Other teenage heros were also scattered about the room. Jinx and Kid Flash were in the small kitchen. They looked like they were flirting and cooking something. Starfire was sitting on the couch smiling that innocent niave smile of hers. Speedy's eyes were glued to her for a moment. If Robin hadn't had a claim on her he'd be at her side making moves on that exotic alien girl.

Bumble Bee greeted everyone and gave Jinx a skeptical stare when the pink witch wasn't looking. Bumble Bee was still curious about her. Speedy, still sulking, ignored every one and took the parcel he was carrying to Cyborg.

"Cyborg." Speedy called. "Here's your stuff,"

Cyborg turned, stood and and grinned a grin that made the seventeen yearold look exactly ten years younger upon seeing the box.

"Aw yeah!" Cyborg hooted holding the box over his head. "It's finally here! Now I can save the world any time I want!"

'What do I have to do to make him look at me like that?' Bumble Bee thought, 'That's the strangest reaction I've ever seen to hardware for a computer unless- Wait a minute-'

Cybrog had quickly and carfefull opened the box. Then started tossing out computer chips and componets that Bumble Bee had thought were valuable. Not to Cyborg it seemed. They joined the packaging on the floor. Then out it came. A Playstation 3.

Bumble Bee's jaw dropped. "You brought us here for this Sparky?!" she shouted coming between Speedy and Cyborg.

"Huh? What's the problem?" Cyborg cried.

"I thought you called us here on official business. And I was just lecturing Roy here on fooling around." she said pointing at Speedy.

Speedy grinned finding it amusing whenever anyone but him was in the hot seat and decided to join Starfire on the sofa and watch.

"This is business Karen!" Cyborg excailmed. "Do you know what this is?" his vocie dropped as if speaking to loudly might harm it, "I didn't believe Roy when he said he got one," he said strooking the ps3 like a kitten. He even brought it to his cheek and starting make kissy faces at it. "And you know if he's going to bring it here she would need all the the best protection there is!"

Bumble Bee watched in disbeliefe at the level of emotion with which he assosiated this shiny black console.

"I'm talking to Robin about this," she said turning on her heal and storming off to find the Titan's leader.

"Karen! Aw come on!" Cybrog said begining to chase after her. "Speedy did tell you I requested you espeacially right?"

Bumble Bee turned upon hearing this and looked expectatly at Cyborg who had a pathetic pleading look in his eyes. Then at Speedy. Speedy wore an eye mask identical to Robin's meaning two large white patches hid the humor in his eyes. He, with his mouth a frim line, looked serious. He took his time in formulating a response just to enjoy watching the robotic teen sweat. He hoped it wouldn't cause him to rust.

A small eternity later Speedy nodded.

"Ah yeah. He asked me to get the best let's see uh 'hand to hand fighter and ariel combantant' and that was like A.K.A Bumble Bee." Roy said easily.

Bumble Bee looked at Cyborg. Who was nodding vigorously. She was touched by the kind words but she was still a leader and things were getting out of control.

"Well maybe I wont mention this particular incident . . . but this foolsihness is getting out of control so I'm telling him something."

"ThanksBee!" Cyborg said in one word and in even less time was back to drooling over the console. Gamestation what?

Bee grumbled something about this being the second time she had been passed up for a gamesystem and walked out of the room.

Speedy chatted with Starfire, all the while loathing Robin. It was ridiculous. He had this girl's heart. It was obvious to anyone by the way she talked about him and he wasn't reaping the rewards which meant Roy was stuck here able to look, not touch and know no one else was touching either. If Robin couldn't kick his ass from here to Tamaran he would give Starfire what he felt she was missing out on.

When Starfire left Speedy walked over to Cyborg who was on the floor physicaly but in the didgital world of Sony mentaly.

"Sorry about my mom Victor," Speedy said.

"Huh? Oh Karen? Ha ha! It's ok. I don't think Robin will get too mad if she does tells him."

"She sure likes to chew you out,"

"Yeah," Cyborg said only half listening.

"You see her hair? I can't stand it. It should be down," Speedy said commenting on the high double buns his leader's hair was always in.

At that moment, unbeknownest to Cyborg. Bumble Bee had creeped back into the living quarters that was now empty except for the three of them now. She was going to retreave Speedy but they were talking about her so she waited. What Bee didn't know was that Speedy knew she was there.

"Well Cy? You like em or what? Are they big enough?"

"Bee's buns? I like her buns." Cyborg said.

Speedy turned suddenly, urgently and Cyborg did too detecting his friend's sudden flare of tension. And both laid eyes on Bumble Bee who was standing there mouth agape.

Cyborg couldn't figure out why she looked so alarmed until he remembed what he had just said. It hit him like a steal beam. And he knew what that felt like so he was sure.

"Um-I-eh the buns you brought over for Christmas!" he said hastly.

"The buns I brought for the christmas party?"

"Uh . . . yeah?" Cyborg agreed hesitantly. His racing mind remembered buns among all the food at the last Christmas party. She was giving him a sharp stare that made him feel like one of the lobsters he boiled for said party.

Speedy was dieing of laughter inside but his poker face remained intact.

"I didn't bring buns! Maybe you got confused with who's buns you were checking out!" and for the second time that day she prepared to strom out.

"Wait Karen!" Cyborg called this time chasing her all the way out of the room.

Speedy finaly exploded with laughter.

And there she found him. The Titans teen leader standing infront of a large computer console barking out orders at various screens. Raven thought he looked like a kid with new toy having control over so many heros at once. He now protected half the United States from the tower. He wanted to try for the whole country but was opposed by every original Titan on the team. He'd overload trying to watch every thing. Half the country was already pushing it.

"You on that Kid Flash?" Robin was saying.

"I got it." the redhead responded and saluted. "It'll be over before it starts," The screen went bank. Robin sank back into his seat and began tapping his finger tips together.

"What is it Raven?" Robin asked with out turning to face her.

Raven was now searching screens that showed variuos important landmarks that were often the target of society's less savory citizens.

It brought another question to mind. It had been at least two weeks since she was face to face with any of them.

"Why haven't you called me to do anything?"

"I'm negotiation with you," Robin said.

"What?"Raven was puzzeled.

"I'm in the process of trying to convice you to take a vacation," Robin said stretching and leaning back in his chair. Smiling he rested his arms on the head rest. "I figured you wouldn't take one if I asked you to, so I put you on one,"

Raven quirked a brow. He knew her all to well.

"I hate when you pull this $#!+," Robin only responded by a slight parting of lips that revealed grinning teeth.

"And your other question has to be about . . . Jinx?" Robin stated.

"I thought I was suppose to be the mind reader."

"You must have realized by now that if she was goin-" Robin began to explain.

"Yes. But what I haven't realized is why you haven't done more to ensure that she has truely reformed and not going to switch sides again." Raven said.

"There is nothing more I can do about that. She may very well switch sides if the other side ever looks stronger or tempting enough." Robin said simply. "But so might anyone if you think about it. A backround check on every new Titan still wouldn't tell me what they'll do or think tomorrow. and she's not the only one ex-criminal fighting along side us."

"How can you operate knowing this?"

"Two things Raven. I plan to be a step ahead and as long as I am a step ahead, I can wager on that delusional thing called trust."

Raven was silent as she considered this.

Robin grinned a little more and began to drive his point home. "It could very well be that she dared to be something more than what she started off as. That she dared to be a hero-"

"Ok. I'm on vacation." Raven said turning to walk away. These same words he had said to Raven for spending her life simply hoping that she could be good if she simply tried hard enough despite her dark heritage. There had been no path of light. No indication that anything she did would ever change her fate. Should she go on believing a half demon child had a better chance of becoming good than a human?

It would be two more long weeks before Raven ever laid eyes on Jinx again. Both were still in town and Jinx was often at Titans Tower but they never ran into each other. Titans tower was always live with many other Titans these days and Raven was, for one reason or another, almost always out. Mostly she was spending time with the tot Titans Timmy, Teether and Melvin. She had read more books than she had probably read in her life in these two weeks and rode the motorcycle Cyborg gave her for her birthday. Jinx had actually become the farthest thing from her mind until she walked into the Titans gym one day and found herself alone face to with the pink nightmare.

Upon entering Raven froze, surprised before remembering the former criminal was now allowed to be here. Raven recovered, closed her slightly agape mouth and proceeded to a mat to stretch. She walked past Jinx as if she didn't exist.

Jinx watched her with something akin to uncertainty. This wasn't new to her. Many of the Titans didn't seem too interested in warming up to her. From what little she knew of this one, it would be an uphill battle of she wanted Raven's approval. Which was fine, because she didn't.

'What a bitch. No hi. How are you. or even a 'I wish you were hung up by your platform boots,' Jinx couldn't help but think. Jinx sighed internally and tried to dismiss the building animosity. 'I'll just finish my routine and be on my way,' she thought. Converting form super-criminal to hero had not been easy. There had been times when she just wanted to storm off back into the alleys where she'd find company in the likes of her old teammates. A number of her current allies had a thing about talking down to her. Then there were the "innocent" people they were protecting One had cracked her in the head with a brick after she saved him from a falling piece of building. She would have put him in a coma if Kid Flash hadn't restrained her. Her reaction was of course what everyone else focused on. The fact that she was only retaliating was lost in the mist of controversy over a hero getting ready to go left field on a civilian.

'If not for Kid Flash,' she thought gloomily. And who knew how long he'd stick around. There relationship wasn't anywhere near a fairytale ending. He was still just as sweet as when she had first met him but it seemed it wouldn't go any further than friendship. Or she couldn't let it. If he left her she didn't really have anything keeping her here.

"And I remember the time. You left for Santa Monicaaaaa . . ." Jinx hummed unconsciously. She could hear Raven change position on the mat where she was stretching. Jinx went into a hand stand and began to do push-ups in this position.

Raven, of course, was now an audience to her own thoughts about Jinx. She had forgotten all about the pink haired acolyte and was now combing her memory for her own resolution on how to deal with her.

'I still don't trust her. And I can't until she earns it,' Raven decided. Besides; Raven was not one to just go up and make friends with people she didn't know anyway, right? Why challenge this? It was part of the dominate personality.

Raven finished her stretches and proceeded to the punching bag. When Jinx saw this an idea bubbled in her mind. She should challenge the mage. 'Why the hell not? It seems I'll be going up in flames no matter what I do anyway.'

Jinx walked up to the punching bag that Raven was striking, standing next to it and locked eyes with her old enemy. Raven's hard look showed a hint of distrust and, if little else, brought amusement to Jinx. When she was bad, she had fed off negativity directed at her. The more bias the better. She had assumed that mentality went away with her former career but apparently not.

"Want a target that hits back?" Jinx asked.

"Fine," Raven said flatly and walked to retrieve a pair of blue sparing gloves. Raven was wearing a white t-shirt and black jogging pants with a white pin stripe going down each leg. Jinx wore a white tank top and grey shorts and also sported a pair of blue sparring gloves. Once the two faced each other both were reminded of the many times they had faced off for real.

Jinx was the first to strike; like a snake her right hand shot out and she stepped with it, putting her weight behind it. Raven pivoted on her right looking much like a door swinging open and countered with a series of strikes each of which Jinx dodged by merely shifting her upper body. She then shot out a side kick that caught Raven in the stomach.

"First blood!" Jinx cheered. The kick knocked Raven back. Jinx followed up with a double snap kick. Raven swatted the first foot away and caught the second. She pulled the foot toward her with great force then speared Jinx's unbalanced form to the mat.

"Damn," Jinx said, slapping the mat as both girls got to there feet. They fought for twenty minutes more with Raven leading in landed hits and Jinx slightly ahead in take downs.

"You just couldn't wait to get your hands on me could you?" Jinx said.

"You're a little reckless," Raven pointed out.

"Oh really? You sure your desire to knock me around has nothing to do with you leading in hits?"

Raven absorbed this for a moment while swatting away a couple punches from Jinx.

"I'm sure," Raven stated flatly. Jinx chuckled then collapsed to the mat exhausted. Raven just stood there staring at her. Burying this girl in the mistrust was getting a tad difficult. She didn't look anything like a threat. She looked . . . tired. Mentally tired. Fed up, perhaps.

"Nobody trusts me," Jinx muttered.

"Trust doesn't come easy to most of us," Raven said. "You could start by trusting others."

Jinx snorted uninterested. That translated to "do whatever we say and ask no questions."

Another silence and both girls were in their own thoughts again.

"Well what if . . . " Jinx began, "I trusted with something. With a secret." Raven looked at her but Jinx didn't meet her eyes. Jinx sat up and looked at her wrist.

"I-I'll be breaking up with Kid Flash, sinceidon'tlikeguys," Jinx said so quickly the words ran together, got up and left. Raven quirked a brow.

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