A/N: I do not own the Teen Titans, but you know if I could. :)
Teen Titans A/U
Robins do not fly here.
Chapter 1
In a high security technology vault a red chip floated, spinning in the air. A masked figure reaches out to take it. A deep voice, almost digital said hanging upside down.
"If Slade wants this tell him he has to buy it from me."
The orange and gray dressed man looked puzzled at the skull-masked thief with a red X over his forehead.
The Slade henchman tried to attack Red X but he suddenly fired a red X shaped weapon, which electrocuted the other thief out of commission.
Suddenly other Slade goons showed up surrounding Red X.
"Sorry kiddies no time to play."
Red X then saluted leaping into the air and disappeared.
Far away deep under the city in a hidden base of operations Slade sat brooding at his monitors.
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"Who is this thief?" Slade said aloud to himself.
As he contemplated this riddle he was receiving a call.
Slade just stared at the screen as his riddle came to him.
"Rumor has it you are looking for this." Red X held up the chip.
"I am interested in a great many things, Mr.-" Slade paused.
"X, Red X"
"Hum, catchy. And what are you proposing here, a sale?"
"Yes, actually, here is my price."
Slade received the transmission. "Agreed."
The image of Red X winked out.
Far away a trio of heroes is at an electronics store fighting a monster. "Mmiinnee, mmiinnee"
"Hey, if you want all this stuff you better be ready to pay for it." A dark shadow said stepping from the wall.
"Foolish biologicals, no on can defeat Overload." A bolt of energy flew at them.
"Whoa," the green skinned hero said instantly transforming into a bird getting out of the way.
"Listen to this!" A half man, half machine man said blasting the creature with his sonic cannon. Overload increased the size of the sound system in front of him causing a wave of pure sound to knock him off his feet.
"I have an idea." The green one said grabbing a water cooler.
After guzzling the water he transformed into an Elephant blowing a stream of water on Overload.
"Great idea, I guess he isn't water proof." The machine man grabbed a hose while blue-cloaked girl triggered the sprinklers and anything else they could douse Overload with.
Overload shrunk to a more manageable size and they rolled it up in a rug.
"Beast Boy you need to have more bright ideas like that." The metal man said carrying the powerless monster.
"Whatever Cyborg, I have my share of good ideas every now and then." Beast Boy said leading them out of the room.
"Good work Raven, by the way." Cyborg said to the girl behind him.
Raven shrugged.
Cyborg lifted his arm, "There is a robbery going on in the Tech Sector, I have go to take Overload to the police, can you two handle it without me."
Raven nodded. Beast Boy beamed, "You can count on me."
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Later in the Tech Sector Beast Boy and Raven were looking for the trespasser. Beast Boy looked into the center of the room. A green chip floated in the air.
"So where are they?" Beast Boy asked aloud sweeping the room with his gaze.
"Him." Raven said simply pointing to a shadow that stepped into the light.
The thief in black made a leap at the chip to snatch it, but was blocked by a barrier of black energy.
Red X grunted from the collision.
"Nice trick." He said to her.
A blur of green hit him with horns.
"Its not a 'trick'" she said advancing on him.
Leaping into the air he fired a red x between them.
Kaboom.
The blast knocked them to the ground.
The barrier did not fall so he could not scoop up the chip as he intended.
The direct approach was necessary with that girl.
Raven was already on her feet.
He sent a flying kick at her, which she blocked with her barrier of energy.
Fists, red daggers, kick all assaulted Raven at once. She held Red X back.
Beast Boy had transformed into a raptor charging him.
Dodging he nearly ran into Raven.
"It's been fun kids, but I have got to run." Red X said sending a double blast of red Xs at Raven. She blocked them, but then he did something unexpected.
Rushing her he got under he defenses and pressed his arm against her chest.
Beast Boy looking on as he turned around to re-engage Red X heard him whisper something to Raven.
It distracted her. Her eyes widened and the energy barrier fell blocking access to the chip.
In a flash Red X faded from sight and reappeared snatching the chip. Raven and Beast Boy tried to stop him but he vanished.
Beast Boy looked at Raven, but Raven did not look at him.
Back at the hero's headquarters in the city Cyborg reviewed the security camera tape of Red X getting away.
"Can't catch them all." He said with a sigh.
"We were close, but Red X distracted Raven." Beast Boy said turning to her.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing important, it was just a trick to get the chip." She said.
After a moment of silence she added, "It won't happen again."
They both nodded.
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Later that night everything quiet crime wise.
But Raven was not sleeping.
How dare Red X say that to her, he was a criminal, she thought to herself.
She had to find out who he is. She vowed that next time she would know and came up with an idea to do it next time they met. Which she did not realize was not too long in coming.
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In Slade's lair he looked at the image of Red X.
"Mr. Red X, a pleasure, what can I do for you today?"
"I am guessing since you wanted the first chip, this might be of some interest to you too."
He held up the green chip.
"My, my you are resourceful, and a good guesser. Yes that chip does interest me."
"Same payment as before."
"Done."
Slade's image winked off the monitor station that Red X was sitting at.
Breathing a sigh Red X took off his mask.
"One more job." He said. His black hair was spiked and even under the mask he wore another mask over his eyes. Setting down the mask he walked over to a picture on a dresser. It was of a family in Trapeze costumes: A Father, Mother, Two boys, and one girl. A caption below said: Flying Grayson's
He stared at the Father hard. "Sorry Dad, Mom, just one more job, I promise." The pictures of his parents were smiling, but he could feel that right now they were not. He sighed in agony.
He needed the money, he was on his own. He told himself. He stole most of his life after his family was gone. On the streets he learned to be tough, and with money he increased his skills. He watched and learned. Martial Arts, Technology, Computers, and every talent he could.
Now after one more job he would be free from the life fate dealt him.
Tomorrow night it would be over.
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Cyborg and Beast Boy were on patrol. Raven on the other hand had researched the chips stolen and guessed where Red X would strike next.
She waited. As she waited she thought about what Red X said.
She could picture it in her mind. He got under her defenses and pressed his arm against her pinning her then he whisper, "Your eyes are pretty." Just that. It was enough. It distracted her concentration. He got away. She kicked herself mentally for her foolishness. He was a criminal, a thief. And he was here, to steal again.
Red X walked out of the shadows and approached the chip. He looked around, then reached for the blue chip when a voice said, "No, not again."
He stopped and looked at her. "Where is your boyfriend?" he asked not moving closer to the chip with his hand.
She ignored his question.
Instead she floated in the air and closed her eyes. Red X watched as she went into a trance. "Azrath Metreon Zinthoooosss" she chanted. Red X grabbed for the chip and his hand headed toward it when a black shadow shaped like the girl flew out of her and entered his body.
"Get out," he shouted in his mind. She dove deeper. Robberies, thefts, shoplifting, training, struggling, and then she went through a circus tent curtain. There from his point of view she watched his family die. Red X no longer struggled. Then he noticed something.
A man bumped into him. Not even noticing him, the man walked by, and he only glanced back. A masked face, the face of Slade.
Suddenly Red X was angry, and the power of his anger blasted Raven out of his mind. She reeled and fell on the floor.
So did Red X.
