Part 1 for my series: Hopes for a Bastard!

Also able to be found on Wattpad, Inkitt, Archive Of Our Own, and Tumblr!

.

I Do Not Own DC Comics, Movies/TV, or Animation

.

Curious Red Birds…

Raven walked to the Tower, what was left of the pizza was currently in Cyborg's hand as he tried to fill her in on the inner workings of football. After their take down of Plasmus, she had decided to indulge her friend's observations of a nice day, grab a slice and hang at the park.

"Have a good day you two?" a voice asked which had her turning to look at Nightwing. She wasn't shocked to see him, no, she'd sensed Dick's presence before they'd even made it to the tower.

"It's been interesting," Raven deduced. "How was the event?"

"Good, Damian didn't kill anyone," Dick grinned as Cyborg waved her off, she sighed; this was not her day.

"What is it?" she asked bluntly as they started walking to his quarters.

"Raven…" he started.

"We have a bond, I can sense that there's something bothering you," she dismissed.

She had also known Dick since she was thirteen. Strange, it was hard to think that six years ago, Dick had formed the Teen Titans after his brother Jason's death, and assumed the mantle of Robin again so that Tim couldn't. She had always found Dick's motives for this strange, but she wasn't really willing to delve into what drove the Boy Wonder to try to keep his younger adopted sibling away from what had become a family tradition of sorts. And besides, Tim had barreled right into the role of Robin the moment Dick had outgrown the role, so she didn't think Dick's plan had worked.

And it really hadn't stopped Damian. Damian had declared himself Robin and no one had successfully stopped him.

"It's just… Bruce said something today," he sighed as they walked into his quarters and he fell back on his couch. Raven just waited patiently.

"The Lazarus Pit, it's been… synthesized," he said calmly.

"By whom?" she demanded. The Lazarus Pit was not something she'd toy with; even with her particular heritage. She also knew about it's connection to her father's dimension so it was something she'd really rather not deal with.

"Some project, Project Cadmus was what Bruce said, I'm taking Kid Flash to investigate that this week," he explained.

"That is not what's bothering you," she said as she sat in the air with her legs crossed.

"No, Bruce lied to me," Dick hissed as he glared at her through his optic lenses.

"About what?"

"Project Cadmus, is an unknown, and if it's on his radar it's serious, but they aren't messing with the Lazarus Pit, Damian said it was a former member of the League of Shadows, it's Slade; Raven, it's Slade," Dick growled and she sighed.

"We knew he wasn't dead," she pointed out dryly. However, Raven understood Dick's unhappiness about his mentor lying to him, and Slade being up to his old tricks, and being pulled off the project to look into a Project Cadmus. "And why do you believe Damian over Bruce?"

"Damian can't lie to save his life," Dick stated blandly.

Raven didn't bother to disagree or agree as she stood then.

"Whatever the reasons, and whatever you decide, I trust you, as do Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy, you're not alone Nightwing," she said in a flat voice. BOOM!

"AAAAAHHHHHH!"

Raven sighed, back to babysitting.

"I'm going to go now…" Dick informed her.

"I hate you," she stated flatly as she turned on heel to leave him and walked to the training room where the explosion had come from to find Damian and Tim in a fight; Damian was winning.

"Take it back!" Damian shouted.

"Get off you demon spawn!" Tim shouted.

Raven's power slid through her blood as it came to her hands and she flicked out her fingers as the magic burst from her, wrapping around Damian and Tim as she forcefully yanked them apart, both hit perspective walls with a thud.

"Enough," she snapped, Damian glared at her, and Tim just looked relieved.

"Good luck with him today," Tim spat out as he stalked passed her and Damian lunged. Raven's shadows wrapped around him as she threw him back into a training matt, the boy glared at her.

"He started it!" Damian defended.

"I do not care," she stated icily. Damian stood up as he brushed himself off then, she reached out as she collected his sword and levitated it to him, holding it just out of his reach. "If I give this to you so you can practice, are you going to go kill Tim?" she asked.

"No," he grounded out, she sensed the sincerity in his intentions as she dropped the weapon in his grasp and then she walked to the panel to program a random simulation for him. The boy took up stance at the simulation deck as he held his weapon of choice up.

Raven meditated in the corner, levitating as she focused on the boy's emotions, familiarizing herself with her charge's signature. Her eyes fluttered open when she sensed his emotions settle at last.

"Why do they trust you so fully?" Damian demanded.

"Who trust me?" she asked as she stood, her feet gracing the ground as the boy, not much shorter than herself stalked up to glare at her.

"My brothers? I looked at your file last night, there's nothing there, so why are you in charge of Titan training? Justice League wouldn't accept your application?" Damian asked in curiosity and Raven blinked.

"Perhaps, there is nothing in my file you need to know about," she shrugged. As she heard the alarm signaling the return of Starfire and Blue Beetle. Walking out of the room she walked down the stairs to the main living area where Cyborg was cooking.

"They still don't know what it is," the boy grouched as he sat at the counter.

"Bumblebee's contacts did not discover anything new," Starfire said and Damian took up a perch close to her as she sat at the counter.

"I'm telling you that the thing ain't mechanical," Cyborg huffed as he continued his cooking.

"Is it perhaps of another world?" Starfire asked.

"I don't think so," Jaime shook his head.

"Rae, could it be in one of your books?" Cyborg asked.

"I will look," she nodded. Raven did not think that Jaime's armor was magical, but she was willing to look if only for them to gain a basic understand of Jaime's armor. "Perhaps you should talk to Dr. Fate about it. If it is magical he'd have the most information."

"Let's just look in your books first Rae," Cyborg said dryly. She caught the undercurrent in his tone and she nodded.

The last recruit the Titans had gone to the League to for help had left them all the way for an undercover mission for the League. Raven understood why Cyborg was reluctant to go to the League after having that happen to them. She didn't want the boy taken either.

"Do you think it's magical?" Jaime asked hope filling his voice.

"I will look now," she nodded before she heard the alarm signaling the return of Beast Boy and Terra.

Raven quickly stood to leave before she had to argue with Terra or Beast Boy. Her emotions got dangerously out of hand when she had to deal with both and the thick, light feelings of love bouncing off them in waves. Raven wouldn't say she was jealous, no, she wasn't, she just couldn't handle the bouncy emotions they had for one another and it was suffocating.

A lot had happened, a lot had changed, but not her.

Raven was still the creepy, gloomy, single Titan. And she was perfectly alright with that.

However, the moment she was in the room with the couples she was ruthlessly bombarded by all the warm and fluffy feelings that people couldn't keep to themselves and it messed with her head. She didn't like having her head messed or her emotions bombarded by everyone else's and she really didn't like other's lust messing with her. It threw her off her game.

So, she often times found herself hanging out with the team she was in charge of, her friends separately, or alone.

She was happy for her friends though. Cyborg was really happy with Bumblebee and their long-distance thing worked. Dick had some weird love triangle thing going between Barbara Gordon, himself and Starfire (and though Raven tried to stay out of that; galaxies away out of it, she always sided with Starfire should she be dragged into the fights or boy bashing or whatever), but Dick was usually happier with Star so they were a more steady thing in this triangle. And Beast Boy had Terra again, which he always thanked her for. Yes, she was happy for her friends, but the moment they were with their perspective others… she really couldn't handle the emotions which would bombard her and it drove her nuts so she left most the time.

And if Kid Flash and Jinx were in the Tower, Raven had to remove herself from their presence before their lust drowned her. Seriously, there were times she wanted to just shove her coupled friends into a room and shout get it over with so she could have some peace.

But she didn't.

Walking into her room Raven paused for a moment as she looked over her belongs, the magic pulsing through the room revealed that no one had entered her room, and she moved forward.

Raven's 'gloomy' or 'gothic' decorations wasn't a taste, in truth she wasn't this… dark, but most of the magic relics she possessed were of this style, and very powerful. She had locked up a few in other dimensions when Dick and Star had turned their Tower into a school for powered kids. In the beginning, there'd been a running dare to the new kids to enter her room, which had led to Raven laying down runes about her room to keep the kids out. Then there'd been the ultimate test, if they could even get in her room and after the Aqualad incident, the one where Garth accidentally got sucked into another dimension of one of her books, she had decided that she'd need to keep her more powerful books and relics kept in another dimension.

Actually, she'd put most of the dangerous stuff in her mirror, Nevermore, which was hidden in another book at the moment. The book which held her mind; so to speak, was a book of Azarath, the last relic of her home dimension, it was also a book of very powerful Light Magic she was trying to learn. But with her heritage and her natural connection with her for Dark Magic it was difficult, not impossible as she was slowly furthering her mastery of healing magic, but it was still a challenge. Much of what she was, and what she was capable of, was because of her demon side and demon heritage, but her human side and her human abilities were something she was slowly exploring.

She'd spent so much time being a demon, being feared, and learning to contain her darkness and to control it, that she hadn't ever stopped to wonder about her human side.

At least, she hadn't until about a year ago, when she had an encounter with Dr. Fate. Zatanna and Zatara had not liked her working with them on that mission, but it was really only by flux that she had been dragged into a fight with the magicians and their opponent; Circe. Circe had thought to blast her with a spell, and Raven had only gone there because of a feeling of rippling in the magic of earth and it had irked her feeling it so she had investigated who would be foolish enough to be using that level of Dark Magic. Needless to say, Zatanna and Zatara were greatly displeased with her arrival, Dr. Fate though had been very chatty with her. Despite her demon heritage.

Looking at her bookshelf her eyes looked over the books; some needed anchoring to the shelves, others magically bound, and ruins kept over others so their powers weren't unleashed by accident; again.

Her eyes settled on a book with Egyptian Hieroglyphs and she decided to start there.

Azarath.

He didn't know much about it, just that it was another dimension before it was decimated. And after having hacked into Raven's file at Titan's Tower, he saw that was her home dimension. It still didn't explain what his client wanted with the book, or what the book was, and it didn't matter.

The money he was making on this job was enough to have him overlooking a few things; and this was a prime time to fuck with the Bird Brain trio, flirt with Star to drive Boy Blunder further up the wall, and test out the new Titans.

Besides, if nothing else, he might get a good fight out of Raven, but she was the last line of defense Titan for if all else failed. Yes, he'd noticed how Nightwing would do that when he had formed his original merry band of misfits. Raven and Cyborg, they were the last line of defense, and they were the 'heavy guns' of the team. Not that Beast Boy and Starfire couldn't pack a punch, and Nightwing was no easy opponent either, but if one actually got to the point of fighting Cyborg and Raven… well, they had to be good at taking out the Titans.

But as of now he was thinking it was a guarantee for entertainment just to see what the new kids could do.

Oh, he knew very well what Damian could do, but the other two kids; Jaime and Terra, they could be interesting opponents. And he was going to have fun with this.

Or he could just do the job and not get caught, like usual; after all Red X was very good at vanishing into thin air without leaving clues about where he'd gone. But, as he felt a manic grin spread across his lips then, what was the fun in always getting away without a fight?

Standing up he stretched and tried to clear his head before the blood lust or madness drowned him out and he blacked out; which would not be good. After hiding from Bruce, Dick and Tim for nearly five years, after his second 'death', he wasn't inclined to let them know he was alive. He just really liked fucking with them from behind the scenes, and he knew it drove them all up the wall that they didn't know who the Red X was.

Shoving his hands in his jacket pocket he walked out of his apartment complex and down the dark street he lived on trying to clear his head.

Just breath, just breath, he chanted internally as he did combat breathing to keep focused.

It had been exactly one year, three months, and four days since his last manic episode, and that hadn't been pretty for he had slaughtered his client and body guards. In his defense his client had thought to double cross him and pulled a gun, firing it point-blank in his gut. He'd lost it. When he came too, everyone was dead, and he was bleeding. He'd gone to a hospital where he knew a shady doctor who patched him up on the down low.

Stopping at the water front he stared out at the bay and looked at the Titan's Tower. He smirked, pulled a cigarette, lit it and slipped it between his lips as he focused on the soothing taste of the tabaco to keep his focus.

He wondered if they even missed him. Did they even notice his absence in their family, or did they feel they were better off without him? Would it drive them nuts to know he was living in the same city, just five blocks from the water front, and had a killer view of their Tower? Or would they not care? Would it even matter to them if he decided to walk back into the Batcave and say 'I'm not dead!'? Would they even care that he was alive? Would they accept who he had become, monster and all? Or would he be left to his pain and loneliness longer? Would it drive them nuts to know he was Red X?

He shook his head, this was no time for melancholy thoughts like those.

Bruce had made his decision. They'd all moved on.

And he, well, he'd started over. Again. And they were all better off for it. He'd never be the hero that they wanted, and he'd never be the villain they could face. It was best for everyone if he just stayed dead.

Green eyes flicked across the bay where he saw the glowing tower and he smirked.

This heist would be the most fun he'd had in a while, since the debacle with Ding Dong Daddy stealing Dick's secret case. He was going to enjoy this, and take a moment to see his family, before kicking all their asses, and taking that book of Raven's.

Sunshine was going to be the most fun to encounter, he was looking forward to going toe to toe with her. She was such a reserved character.

Walking through the night again he slowly wound his way back through the dark street to his home. It was in a shitty part of San Francisco, and he liked it there.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up then and he stopped, moving his hand to discard his cigarette.

"Wallet, valuables, cash or your life," a voice growled behind him as a gun slammed into his ribs.

He chuckled.

"You picked the wrong fucking asshole to try to mug," he snarled as he spun fast, the man never stood a chance, the gun was kicked out of the would-be mugger's hand and he was gasping for air an arm crushed his windpipe and his arm twisted back, there was a sickening snap. The mugger screamed as he dropped to the sidewalk and green eyes narrowed on him.

"Pathetic," he growled before picking up the gun, examining it before disassembling it as he walked the rest the way home.

Once he was back in his apartment and he was certain he wasn't going to go manic he again opened up the Titan's mainframe.

Most of the weapons and magical items were cataloged in files, and he found that while Raven possessed a lot more than what she had catalogued, she had catalogued her books. Probably a requirement of some League member, he knew she practiced some serious magic, and her file hadn't revealed what, but he knew she was powerful.

He looked at the picture of the book he was taking and then at the books Raven had catalogued, it was there.

His eyes narrowed on the summary. It was Azarath, and according to the log, it was in her room. Beyond that, she had just listed it as one of the items not to touch or mess with, and left it blank. A frown tugged on his lips, it wasn't that he was against stealing magical items; he'd been contracted to do that before, but he wasn't one to go toying with magical things without knowing exactly what they did. He'd learnt the hard way Magic of any kind, could have nasty side effects which weren't initially mentioned.

However, he doubted Raven, who was now listed as the second in command of the Titans, was irresponsible enough to leave a dangerous magical artifact within reach of the kiddies she was now in charge of as a teacher for the Titans. There were so many things which could go wrong with her leaving magical things laying about, and Dick wouldn't name her as second in command if she wasn't responsible.

Sighing he pulled up the Tower blue prints as he looked around for his access and escape point.

Raven's room would not be easy to get to. Either she had purposely chosen it for defense or for the view he didn't know, didn't care, what he did know was that her room possessed two main access points. The door and the vents. He couldn't get in her room by the window, he wasn't fool enough to think Dick wouldn't make the glass bullet proof and power proof it he was to be taking care of heroes who were walking targets for their enemies by living in a giant T.

Hastily he looked over the security, made an escape and entry route, then sat back as he thought this over. He'd need to talk to a magician or sorcerer about getting counter shit, because he didn't doubt that Sunshine had filled her room with protective magic.

But this would still be fun, and he had a guy who owned him a few magic favors.

The tech was easy for him, he might not be a Tim Drake or Dick Grayson, but he wasn't incompetent with computers or tech and code. It was the magic he was seeing as his main problem. Picking up his phone he texted his contact for that favor and smirked internally knowing that this job was going to be the biggest thrill he could get without blowing his cover completely.

His eyes flicked to the computer before he shut and closed his eyes.

The plans were outline, he'd expand upon them this week and then he'd take the book. Why this book was so fucking important to a League member that they had to hire him to steal it rather than just asking her for it he would never know, and frankly he didn't care.

A challenge was issued.

And he had accepted it.

This was going to be a lot of fun! The Titans would be reminded again of the Red X, and they weren't going to catch him! the chuckle which escaped him couldn't be contained as he kicked off his boots and fell back on his lumpy bed. He'd get to work on knowing what security to disable tomorrow. For now, he was going to rest before he went insane.

Raven pulled her thick black hair up as she looked over her books for a hint to Jaime's armor. She just didn't think it was magical, then again, one would never know, she'd learn the hard way that not all magic was obvious. Her eyes flicked to the book she had chained to the wall, with a protective seal holding it there. She could still feel the conflicting emotions of pride, discontent, and malice rolling off it where a dragon slumbered; and was going to stay slumbering.

Oh, she still talked to Malchoir from time to time, the dragon was too wise for her not to try to use his knowledge and learn from him, but she wasn't able to be manipulated by him anymore. And she kept him firmly locked up and sealed away so no one, not even a sorcerer of Zatara or Zatanna's level could sense him.

It was for the best that way.

Her eyes slid back to the page when there was a knock on her door. Rather than answer it she flicked her wrist as she pulled it open.

"Uh…" she turned as she felt the rolling signature of Damian then.

"Is there something you need Damian?" she asked as she stood, looked at the page she was on before she shut the book and put it on the desk.

"I came here to ask if you knew anything about the Lazarus Pit?" he admitted. Then she felt the waves of curiosity and sadness coming off him.

"I would suspect you know all about the Pit," she said softly.

"I just… I'm curious," he shrugged.

"Curious about what exactly?" she asked in a flat tone.

"How powerful is it really?"

"Damian," she sighed, knowing all about Ra's al Ghul's death. "Some things should not be reversed, and even the Pit, has limits, but so does the person entering it."

"What's so bad about it that it being synthesized scars father?" he asked.

"Many things, the price of coming back to life, of defying death, it's a painful price," Raven said.

"I see," Damian nodded. "That is all," he dismissed her as he walked away and she shook her head. An infuriating child, but she had a feeling many forgot he was a child still. Dick hadn't, and she knew that it was part of the reason he was here.

Turning back to her room she shut the door before picking the book up again and resuming her reading.

That's all for now folks!

Enjoy Give Me Back My Mind! =)