A/N Sorry I took so long. School is crazy right now.
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. If I did, it wouldn't have been canceled.
Chapter Three - Amber Eyes
Main Street was a study in chaos. Traffic was at a standstill, blocked by a hoard of black rabbits hopping madly in circles. Mumbo's poor wand just hasn't been the same since it came in contact with my telekinesis. I almmost felt sorry for the man. It must be difficult, having all you spells become something you didn't intend.
"Where is Mumbo?"
For once Beast Boy asked an intelligent question. We didn't have to wait long for the answer.
A stocky young man pushed the blue-skinned magician out in front of us, bound and wandless. He wore no costume, and the only thing that hid his identity was the grey cloth that was tied around his head with holes cut for the eyes. Cyborg took charge of the captured criminal and headed for the jail with Beast Boy and Starfire in tow.
"Thanks for the help. Who are you?"
"Name's Shawn."
Robin sounded like someone whose place in the spotlight had been stolen. His thanks were grudging, his wuestion aggresive.
"I Robin, and this is Raven. Jump is under our protection."
Shawn grinned at me, and his teeth were very white.
"I know who you are. Actually," He tuned his attention to Robin. "I was hoping for a place among the honorary Titans. I'm a shape shifter."
There was something like pride in his rough voice.
"What's you alternate form?"
I'd heard people who could turn into centipedes call themselves shape shifters with the same sort of pride, and though Shawn obviously had some talent; his shape shifting might have nothing to do with it.
"Wolf."
He looked almost unsure for a moment, as though the word carried a hidden meaning, but then his face relaxed, the charming smile firmly in it's place. Robin gave me a look that said he didn't like this cocky hopeful. I shrugged. Shawn didn't fell wrong. Robin grudgingly handed him a communicator.
Shawn smiled then, really smiled, and my heart stopped. His tawny hair was thick and curly, his slanted eyes warm hazel overlade with gold. I remembered the rose on my bedside table and turned away. Melchior's hauntingly beautiful face shimmered behind my eyes.
Robin unwillingly invited Shawn to the tower. Cyborg had returned and the five of the took the the T-Car. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts.
"Hey, Beautiful."
I whirled, snarling.
"Do near-death experiences amuse you?"
"Very much, actually."
"Good, then you'll find this side-splitting."
"That's a horrible pun."
He sounded like he was trying not to laugh at me.
"I thought otherwise"
"Beast Boy must be rubbing off on you."
I threw a light pole at empty air as he flickered out of existence.
"Robin will know you're back."
"I won't tell if you don't," He whispered at my ear.
When I turned around he was gone.
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My room was cold in the lenghtening shadows of twilight. The others were fighting over pizza, but I didn't feel like joining them. I was still deciding whether to tell Robin that Red X had survived his fall from the cliff-top lab.
If I told him, he wouldn't rest until he found the thief and brought him to justice. He already blamed himself for the criminal's very existence, and I wasn't about to let him form another unhealthy obsession. Slade caused enough trouble, despite the fact that we hadn't seen him since Trigon's defeat. His absence frightened me. He wasn't the kind of person who would change their ways for fear of hell-fire. He was planning something. And it scared me, because whether I admitted it or not, I was afraid of him.
If I didn't tell Robin and Red X's return and he found out, he'd be furious. And if he knew that I had kept it from him... Would he throw me out? Nothing is black and white, not even for Robin, but some things are crystal clear. Would he consider my deception a betrayal, fraternizing with the enemy? Would they hate me? Or worse, would they see in me a criminal? Would they; could he; see me as Trigon's daughter still, even after all I'd done to prove otherwise?
Someone knocked on my door. I didn't recognize the style. Cyborg was firm and steady, Beast Boy hesitant yet exited, Starfire exuberant. Robin didn't need to knock. I knew it was him. This was none of them, and though I had no idea why Shawn would be knocking on my door, I opened it enough to look him in the eye.
"Can I help you?"
"I," He hesitated. "I have a question to ask you."
The clock ticked on the shelf, as the last sunlight turned his hair to shimmering bronze.
"I don't have unlimited time."
I was maybe harsher than I meant to be. He flinched slightly.
"I wanted to know if you'd go out with me."
He wanted to know WHAT?
"A little sudden, wouldn't you say?"
"Not for me."
He was very sweet when he was being earnest.
