Chapter Four: Friends and So-Called Enemies
"You know," I told the shadow in the corner, keeping my tone entirely conversational. "Stalking me is not the way to gain my trust."
His soft, pleased laugher warms the room.
"It's not really stalking you know."
He steps into the light.
"More like bird-watching."
I know that he is grinning behind the mask, waiting for my response.
"As amusing as you may think that is, X, I find it creepy."
He sighs dramatically, leaning against the wall as though he belongs in the room. I consider telling him to get lost, but as I have been telling him that for the past three days, I don't think it will work this time either. Of course, I could just throw him out the window again, but there isn't much hope of it daunting him. And, part of me whispers subversively, You want him here. I don't. I just don't mind his presence. If you didn't want him here, you would tell Robin.
"Does it occur to you," I say more acidly than I mean to, "That I might want some privacy."
He shrugs.
"I could turn you in. This could all be a trap."
X shakes his masked head, glancing at my nightstand where the wilting purple rose sits in a vase.
"You won't."
I look at the rose as well, and the vase cracks down the side. Not enough to go all the way through, but enough to warn the thief currently occupying my room that he should make himself scarce. He doesn't. Of course.
"Do you know what purple roses mean?" He asks, head tilted curiously to the side.
"No."
I didn't really consider it important.
"They mean love at first sight."
They mean what? I squelch the part of me that has been holding back, and heat flushes through my veins. This was dangerous. I never should have let him in here. Never should have-
"Get out."
My voice is a low growl as I fight for control.
"Does it really make you so angry?"
"Yes. Go."
I think about what I told that troublesome part of me earlier. That I don't mind his presence. I should. This is wrong in so many ways. On so many levels. If Robin knew… But I don't want to think about that. Robin's not going to know.
He is still standing there, watching me, when I look up. The irrational anger welling in me grows hotter. I should control it better. I can't. The vase shatters, spilling water across nightstand and floor. The rose falls to the ground.
"What part of 'get out' is not clear to you?"
I rise, hovering, my cloak whipping around me with my own agitation. He doesn't move.
"Raven," He says softly.
My power wraps around him slowly, almost lovingly. If I am not careful, it will strangle him. I settle for pulling him off his feet, pressing him back against the window. He doesn't fight it, and somehow his calm acceptance only angers me. He should not be this calm. I let the power take him further, leaving only his head free. I could unmask him now if I chose.
Ah, but that would ruin it, don't you think?
Before I let my anger get the better of me, I push him though the window, far enough out that he won't hit the island or the rocks. The rose follows him into the ocean. The pieces of the vase stop hovering and fall to the floor. I settle onto the bed, my face in my hands.
Damn that thief.
A knock on my door. I don't feel like getting up to open it. I do anyway.
"What do you-?"
Aqualad is standing outside my door. He pushes it further open and steps through, pulling me over to the bed and sitting down beside me.
"We need to talk," He says softly.
I look up at him. His eyes are serious, but the corners of his mouth twitch. He is trying not to smile.
"I was out for a swim this morning and thought I'd come by."
He does that often, despite the length of the trip from Titans East tower to Jump.
"Funny thing is, it was completely cloudless when I came into the bay, but I arrive at the island, and it appears to be raining thieves. Do you know anything about that?"
"He shouldn't have been in the tower."
"Why was he?"
I should tell him I don't know. I should tell him X was trying to steal something. I should tell him anything but the truth.
"Does it matter?" I deadpan.
"Yes."
His eyes go to the pieces of the vase laying in a puddle on the floor.
"I don't know. He was here. I got rid of him."
Liar.
Aqualad looked at me a little doubtfully, but nodded.
"You want to go swimming?"
He always offered. I always refused.
"Yes."
His eyes widen and he sits in momentary shock, then a wide smile lights his face. He bounds to his feet, striding toward the door.
"I'll meet you outside."
He walks out, leaving me to wonder where I'm going to find a swimsuit.
Aqualad is waiting for me when I finally walk out of the tower, wrapped in the biggest towel I could find. Despite my costume, I'm really not comfortable in the swimsuit. There's something about long sleeves and the cape that add security. I set the towel on the rocks. It's been years since I wore this suit, and I'm sure it's slightly too small.
Aqualad looks up the water and smiles at me. He offers his hand and I take it as he pulls me gently into the sun-warmed shallows. It isn't as bad as I thought it would be.
~~~**~~~
Red X is sitting cross-legged in the center of my bed when I return to my room. The light of the setting sun gleams off of something that he is flipping leisurely into the air. He looks up as the piece of glass, that's what it is, a piece of the vase, falls into his palm. His fingers close around it.
"I came to say goodbye," He says softly.
My eyebrows draw together. He's leaving? Why?
Why do you care?
"I believe," He says with more gravity than I would have expected from him. "That I have made a fool of myself. I will not come between you any longer. I apologize for my rudeness."
Come between us? Come between Aqualad and I?
"Aqualad and I are only friends."
He rises, all long legs and lithe grace.
"Are you?"
"I don't fall in love," I say coldly.
X laughs, crossing the room in several easy strides.
"Still pushing everyone away, I see."
I back away, wrapping the towel more tightly around my body. My hair is dripping onto my collarbone and the sensation is suddenly uncomfortable. I focus on that, ignoring the thief.
His hand is on my shoulder then, and I look up.
My breath catches.
He's so close.
"Scared?" He breathes.
"No," I hiss.
"Good."
His free hand goes to the bottom of his mask and he is rolling it slowly up.
What? WHAT?
His skin is just a shade darker than mine, flawless. He is smiling, just slightly, and my eyes catch on the curve of his lips above his tapered chin and the long, chiseled column of his throat. The mask stops at his nose, and he leans forward ever so slowly, his head tilting.
My heart beats out of control. There is a new heat rushing through me, and it leaves me weak. His hand is unbelievably warm on my shoulder, burning.
Our lips touch.
The mask of tragedy explodes.
His hand finds the back of my head and gently draws me close. I let the towel fall as my own hands go to his shoulders. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me against him.
At last, we break apart, but he doesn't release me. His masked forehead rests against mine. His breath is warm on my skin. I reach up and slowly pull his mask back down.
"You could have pulled it up," He breathes.
"I didn't," I whisper back.
I can tell he is smiling.
"I'd let go, but I'd rather not hit the ground."
I am abruptly aware of the air beneath our feet. Slowly, deliberately, I return us to the ground and draw away. My towel is crumpled on the ground and I bend to pick it up. He surveys the front of his uniform ruefully.
"Now look. You got me all wet."
I snap upright to stare at him. His mouth twitches, wrinkling the tight mask because we didn't get it put back on properly.
"I didn't mean for it to sound that way," He laughs.
"I'm sure."
We stand there staring at each other.
"Raven,"
I turn away.
"You should go."
When I look back, he's gone.
It's better this way.
But my face is wet, and it isn't from the swim.
