AN: Hey guys! Thanks for the lovely reviews I got! They made my day. I really wanted to have this chapter out a long time ago… but yeah, that didn't work out so well. I have a new laptop now! It's a Dell Studio 1550! I'm in love! Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Almost Lover
Malchior's POV
The dirty, decrepit walls of the small room were beginning to close in on him. He hated being cooped up in this ridiculously tiny "apartment". It consisted of two rooms; a living room/kitchen and a bathroom. The bed was crammed under the window next to the old TV. A rotten table sat behind the beat up recliner in front of the TV. The small stool beside it was the only object in the room that looked as though it was only two or three years old. Everything else appeared as ancient as he was.
Pulled from his thoughts, Malchior abruptly stood up from the recliner and walked to the door. He made sure to put on his dark sunglasses and hat before leaving the room he had existed in for the past two weeks. When Raven had sealed him back in the book after his… lack of judgment…. he had expected to be there for a while. His surprise when he was suddenly and unexplainably released was immense.
Malchior dipped his head politely when he passed the land lady; a small severe looking woman named Amanda. As he strolled down the street towards the rendezvous point, he contemplated whether or not this "deal" he had gotten into was worth it. A grimace crossed his shadowed face as the dull warning in his bones told him the answer.
Robin's POV
Robin growled and punched the training dummy in front of him. He couldn't get the image of her stoic face out of his mind. How could she be so clueless? How could she not understand why he treated her the way he did? It was so obvious to him. Everything he said to her seemed to scream it to anyone listening close enough to hear. Cyborg had noticed instantly. He was so protective of Raven that the moment Robin had realized his opinion about Raven, Cyborg picked up on it.
Robin wondered why he hadn't just manned up and told her by now. He knew it would hurt Starfire and Beastboy a lot, but eventually they would understand and move on. He could think of no logical explanation as to why he couldn't just tell her. She wasn't that scary. Inside, Robin did know. He felt guilty about it. Robin was avoiding it because it made him feel like a bad leader. Fearless Robin couldn't even handle this.
Raven's POV
Raven collapsed in her room in a fit of tears. All she could think of was how the hell he got out of the book. More importantly, how come she hadn't noticed it? She pulled out the key that she kept on a chain around her neck. It slid soundlessly into the tiny hole in the wall behind her curtain. When she turned it around in a complete circle, the wall next to her bookcase slid open to reveal a hidden walk – in closet. Not even Cyborg knew about this room. She had used her powers to alter the walls of her room the first day she was in it. No one had noticed that it didn't fit the blueprints. After all, they were rarely in her room. She walked into the small space and looked at the small chest that lay on the ground against the back wall. It was wide open and the book that used to occupy it was gone. She growled in frustration and punched the wall beside her. "Damn it!"
Malchior's POV
He nodded casually to the bouncer standing by the back entrance to the club and then continued to saunter forward through the door. It led into the private backroom of Downbeat. Few people knew that the high class downtown Jump club housed many criminal meetings such as the one he was participating in now.
The room was dark, illuminated only be a small candle in the middle of a large metal table that did nothing to chase away the shadows sliding around the floor. Several cloaked figures were sitting around the table talking casually. "Ah, Sir Dragon. You found the time to join us?" One voice rose mockingly to greet Malchior. "I've considered your offer. I'll do it. But I have one condition. You let me have the sorceress alive. She won't be of any use to you anyway." He answered stoically.
The room was quiet for a moment. "Very well. We will allow you to keep your little pet. Remember, the rest go to us. If you fail, we'll send you back into that book and let someone else do it."
Malchior stiffened. Was it worth it?
He gave a small grunt of agreement and turned to leave.
"One more thing," the man said, "It must be done by the end of the month. That gives you three weeks, more than enough time to deal with five teenage brats."
Malchior gave no reply. He simply walked away and wondered where to begin his planning.
Raven's POV
Raven perched on the edge of the Tower's roof and watched the hypnotic waves crashing along the rocks. She didn't hear him approach. "Raven," Robin said quietly, "I need to talk to you."
Raven turned to look at him. "What is it?"
Robin took a breath and met her eyes.
AN: I'm sorry that its so short. Damn Writer's Block… Anyway, If anyone has any brilliant plot ideas tell me. Cuz I had a plot but it sorta fizzled out when I tried to write it. So yeah, Thanks!
Sarah
