Blackfire stood on a rock at the water's edge. Titan's Tower stood across the bay from her with most of the lights turned off, but its metal surface reflecting the moonlight. She was a little apprehensive about being here – and a little apprehensive about seeing how much her sister hated her now – but she was never the kind of person to let worries stop her from doing whatever she wanted to do.
She shivered. The night air was cold and she had a lot of exposed skin, even by her standards. But it gave her a certain look and a certain advantage. She also carried a present, a beloved doll of Starfire's that had been "lost" during their childhood. Blackfire had kept it in almost perfect condition and had gift wrapped it carefully for tonight.
"So you're Blackfire?"
She turned, but no one was there. On either side of her was nothing but the hill made of large rocks to hold back the tide. The only sound was the water lapping against the shore. Looking around carefully, she climbed back up the hill to the deserted road that ran along the bay.
"Who wants to know?" she said.
There were a few trees lining the dark road and lights shining down from lampposts every 25 meters or so, but no sign of the person who had spoken. As she turned her head, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. A black dressed figure with a cape leaning casually against the nearest lamppost. But when she turned back it was gone.
She walked over to the lamppost with the beginning of a starbolt forming in the hand that wasn't carrying the package.
"Get out of the light," a male voice said and a gloved hand reached out and pulled her into the deep shadows of an adjacent tree.
"Hands off," she said as she roughly disengaged his grip on her upper arm.
"Take it easy, kid," he said. "I just don't want us to get seen."
"You must be Red X?"
"And you must be Blackfire …Either that, or Robin is having a bachelor party tonight."
"Very funny. You're lucky I don't vaporize right here." Her eyes began to glow a bright purple.
"Relax, it was just a joke," he said. "Beside, who's going to get you past the security system and into the Tower then?"
"And you're sure you can do that? You were highly recommended – and expensive – but now that I see you in person, well…" She had her hands on her hips, letting him know that she was not impressed – at least outwardly.
"Babe, there's no security system in the world that I can't get past – although some take more time than others."
"I bet I could get in there all by myself. Just fly fast and cut through my sister's window with my eyes…And don't call me 'babe' ".
"Ha! Cyborg's security system would have you wrapped up like a calzone before you even got through the glass." He chuckled from behind his mask. "No, the way into the Tower is to turn the security system off, and to do that you need some of the proper DNA. So unless you can produce some of, oh, Robin's DNA, you'd better leave it to me."
"First, just how would you happen to have some of Robin's DNA?"
"I have my sources. And … second?"
"What is a calzone?"
"You don't know what a calzone is?" He smiled, but of course she couldn't see it behind his mask. "Oh, they are delicious. Maybe I'll buy you one while we wait."
A police car was coming down the road in the distance and shining a search light at everything on the side of the road.
"Wait?" she exclaimed. "I have no intention of waiting for anything."
"Babe, Starfire and Robin aren't there now. So unless you want to do 'girl talk' with Raven…"
Blackfire rolled her eyes at the thought.
"…or play 'stankball' with Beast Boy and Cyborg, I suggest you wait a few hours, and we can't stand here looking suspicious. The cops heavily patrol this road, and Cyborg has drones in the air. Come have a calzone with me."
Reluctantly, she followed him as he moved quickly down the road, staying in the shadows, and they soon came to his black Porche convertible. He held the passenger door open for her, and she got in without a word of thanks. They were in motion down the road long before the police cruiser got near.
The top was down and the wind blew Blackfire's hair and Red X sped along the road, safely out of range of the cops.
"Why didn't you text me that my sister was out tonight?" she complained. "I don't have much time. I need to get in there and see my baby sister face to face and talk things out. She won't accept any of my communications."
"Why didn't you answer any of my earlier messages? You paid me to be a those co-ordinates at midnight, so I did. I'm a professional."
"So I've heard. I've read all about you, X. A thief who can't be caught, who plays by his own rules. You stole Robin's toys and now you're a superhero gone bad."
He casually shrugged, feeling no need to reply. They turned off the coastal highway and into the downtown area.
"So how did you know how to use everything, huh?" she continued. "Some people say you're really Robin – just somehow an alternate version."
"Ouch, I hope not."
"Some say you're Jason Todd – whoever that is."
"Who? I don't think I'd ever want to be a guy with two first names."
She smiled. "Take off you mask and let's see."
"What are you going to take off, babe?"
Blackfire laughed. Smug, wasn't he? She though about what he'd said for a moment, and when she had thought about it long enough, she reached over and grabbed his mask to take it off herself.
"Hey!" he cried and struggled to keep her from getting it off, but she was surprisingly strong.
The Porche swerved and hit a parked minivan with a deafening crash. Both airbags exploded.
Chapter 2 coming tomorrow. I hope you like this story, it is a bit of a change of pace for me...
