Ch. 4
Jump City. 5:00 am. Apartment 12D.
Ding-Dong!
Jinx turned slowly in the bed. Still sleeping next to her was a very exhausted Kid Flash. It looks like someone's at the door. Damn it, who the hell would want to visit Kid Flash so early in the morning!?
Ding-Dong!
Kid Flash shuffled slightly still asleep. Jinx began to shake him. "Wake up Kid! Someone's at the door!"
Kid Flash rolled on his side. "Mmmmm...don't worry Jinx'ssss...I'll save you..."
Jinx rolled her eyes. This idiot is still dreaming.
Ding-Dong!
Jinx groaned and rolled out of the bed. She slowly made her way to the front door. What kind of idiot rings someone's doorbell at 5 am. If this is just ding-dong-ditch, I swear I'll hex the asshole that woke me up. Jinx stuck her eye through the peephole on the door. Outside at the door, stood a young man. He had black hair and bags under his eyes. Who the hell is this guy?! Jinx was about to open the door when she realized, Damn, if I open this he might freak out at my pink hair and pale skin. He might even call the cops. Jinx shrugged. Whatever this guy needs to tell Kid Flash, he can tell him later, it's freakin' 5 am. Jinx turned and slowly began to walk away.
Swish!
Jinx turned around and faced the door. She looked through the peephole once again. The boy was gone. However, lying at her feet was a piece of paper. Jinx bent over and picked it up. She read it. Wally we need to talk. Meet me at the park as soon as possible. -Dick
Interesting...
Jinx smirked. With Kid Flash out of the way, maybe me and the HIVE 5 can get away with some robberies. As soon as he leaves, I'll go get the HIVE 5. Jinx placed the piece of paper back on the floor where she found it. Also, maybe I can figure out which idiot had xenothium at the base.
Jump City. 5:38 am. Warehouse.
Yes, it's almost complete!
The black costumed man fidgeted with the small wires and microchip in front of him. Hopefully this location is more secure.
The entrance door of the warehouse was covered in red x-shaped adhesive restraints gluing several arrows to the door. If any assholes try to interrupt me again, they'll be blown to bits by the Robin look-alike's arrows.
Red X pulled out a screwdriver from the tools kit he had stolen an hour earlier. He tightened several bolts. Finally, after hours and hours of stealing and work it's finally complete.
Red X held his new gadget in the palm of his hand. It was a small red x about the size of a stamp. Now all I have to do is test it on someone.
Vrrriinnng!
Red X straightened his back and turned to face the warehouse door. It was highlighted with a black aura.
Snap! Kaboom!
A blue cloaked hero stood levitating a snapped off door. She raised her hand and thrust it towards Red X. The door flew towards Red X. He jumped over the door evading it and responded by throwing several x-shuriken at the heroine.
Vrrrinnnng!
A black aura engulfed the x-shuriken. Suddenly, the shuriken were stopped in mid-flight and sent flying back towards Red X. Red X cartwheeled out of the way. "Azarath Metrion-"
Slap!
Red X sprinted out the door leaving the hooded hero alone. Raven pulled her hood off of her face. She tugged at the red x-shaped constrictive restraint covering her mouth. She pulled it as hard as she could ripping it off.
Rip!
"...Ow...well it looks like I was right, X is back in town," Raven muttered as she left the warehouse.
Jump City. 5:20 pm. Park.
The black-haired boy stared down at his watch frowning. He stuck his hand in his pocket feeling the metal device inside. "Hey, sorry I'm late!"
The black-haired boy looked up at the ginger in front of him. "For someone with superspeed, I was expecting you to be here a lot earlier,"
"Sorry, I got caught up hanging with a friend,"
The black-haired boy glared at him. "Don't look at me like that Dick,"
"Do you know how long I've been waiting at this park!? I've wasted valuable patrol time!" screamed Dick.
Wally raised up his hands defensively, "Geez Dick calm down, I said I was sorry, what more do you want?"
"How about a first-aid kit?"
Wally flinched. "What are you talking about," asked Wally avoiding eye contact.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, please tell me that it wasn't you at the Research Lab,"
Wally stared at the ground. "I can explain-"
"My God! So it was you at the Research Lab! Why would you help her!? You have no idea how dangerous she is! What the hell were you thinking!"
"She's not evil, I'm sure of it, just give me some time, I can help her!"
"As the leader of the Titans, I forbid you from aiding any member of the HIVE 5!"
"I don't care if you're the leader! She deserves a chance! You gave Terra a chance! Jinx deserves a chance too!"
"Wally West! That was an order! I'm the leader so you follow my rules, got it!?"
"Oh yeah, and what if I say no!?"
Steel City. 5:41 pm. Titans East Tower.
"I can't believe that asshole took my arrows!"
"Calm down Speedy," said Bumblebee rubbing his back.
"Calm down. Calm down! I'm nothing without my arrows! Do you have any idea how long it takes me to make those!"
"We can always call Robin and Cyborg to give you a hand," said Aqualad.
Speedy sighed. "I guess you're right. But I still want that jerk brought to justice!"
"Okay then" said Bumblebee relieved.
"Now, we're going to have to make a new strategy, Speedy tell us everything you learned from fighting this guy," ordered Bumblebee.
"Well first of all, he likes to insult you while you fight him. Most of his weapons are shaped like X's. He seems pretty skilled in martial arts..."
Bumblebee nodded and took copious notes on the villain. This guy is going to be a problem.
"Hola, amigos!"
The titans turned to face the twin speedsters at the doorway. "Hey guys," greeted Aqualad.
"Raven dice que hay un nuevo criminal aqui!" said the twins in unison.
The titans stared at each other in confusion. "What did they just say?" asked Bumblebee.
"There's a new villain that might be in this city," said a voice from the hallway.
The titans turned to see Raven at the doorway. "Why are you here?" asked Speedy.
"Because none of you speak Spanish,"
"So who exactly is this new villain?" asked Bumblebee taking out her notepad again.
Jump City. 6:00 pm. Park.
Wally and Dick continued arguing. Dick was furious. Wally was furious. "I can't take that risk! She's attacked my team too many times!"
"So! Terra attacked this entire city and you still gave her a chance!"
"That's different! She was a hero to start with! Jinx is and always will be a villain!"
"You can't be sure! Let me at least try!"
"No! Why don't you just trust my judgment already!?"
"Because you're not perfect! You think that just because you're the leader you're the best! You think that your decisions are always right! You're not as wise as Bruce so stop trying to act like it!"
"Don't you EVER compare me to him!" Robin bellowed.
"I know why you left him! You just wanted his respect, I understand that! But you're not him, you're different, Bruce would never have given Jinx a chance but I'm asking will you?"
"I'm sorry, but I won't allow you to endanger my friends," said Robin while pulling the containment field device from his pocket.
"Dick, I thought I was your friend," said Wally sadly.
Dick fought back the tears burgeoning in his eyes. "I don't know what you are to me anymore Wally,"
"So this is what its come to," said Wally as Dick pointed the device at him.
"It's for your own good Wally,"
"Don't even bother," said Wally as he pulled his Titans communicator from his pocket.
Wally threw the communicator at Dick's feet. "I quit,"
Dick's finger remained primed on the dial of the containment field device. Wally turned around and began to walk away. Dick lowered the device in defeat, picked up the communicator and walked away. Little did they know that they had been watched on a rooftop not too far away. What drama queens. The black costumed man followed Dick on the rooftops. Dick smoothly slipped into an alleyway out of view. In moments, he reemerged wearing his usual cape, mask, and utility belt. Robin slowly made his way to the R-Cycle one block away. Wally you're my best friend. Why couldn't you just listen to me this time.
Haha. Aw, it looks like bird-brain is feeling bad.
Robin remained deep in thought and didn't notice the stamp-sized red x that attached itself to the back of his cape.
Star City. 6:51 pm. Underground Cave.
The black-costumed man leaned back in his seat pleased with himself. My new gadget worked like a charm. He pressed several buttons on his computer and a video feed popped up. It showed a perfect view of the Titans Tower living room from the back of the boy wonder's cape. Red X chuckled to himself. This idiot will never know. Knowing him he probably never takes that damn cape off.
"Damn it!" Robin screamed.
"Robin please calm down!" begged Starfire.
"Calm down?! Calm down! I just lost my best friend! X is back! Steel City has been attacked! X found more Xenothium! And the HIVE 5 are still out there! Don't you ever tell me to calm down!" screamed Robin.
Tears began to stream down Starfire's cheeks. "I am sorry Robin, I did not know I was such a nuisance" she sobbed.
Robin's eyes widened. "Starfire no, I'm sorry,"
Starfire's tears of sadness quickly turned to tears of furious rage. "Why are you always like this Robin! I think of you as my friend but when I try to aid you, you push me away!"
Starfire rested a hand on Robin's shoulder. "Keep your god damn hands off of me! I don't want you fucking help! I don't have time for your crying! And I don't have time for useless heroes like you!" screamed Robin.
Tears streamed down Starfire's cheeks like waterfalls. Sobbing loudly, she flew out of the living room. Beastboy and Raven stared at Robin in disbelief. "Dude, what's your problem?! She was only trying to help!"
"I don't need anyone's help!"
"Apparently not," said Raven as she left the room.
Beastboy followed Raven out leaving the boy wonder in silence.
Red X laughed loudly at the events he had just witnessed on screen. Smooth move bird brain. You really have a way with the ladies. Red X continued to laugh as he turned off the computer screen.
Jump City. 11:28 pm. Bank of Perez.
Kaboom!
The six villains slowly walked into the bank vault. Mammoth rushed over to a stack of gold and lifted it above his head. Billy Numerous multiplied and each clone began to grab fistfuls of money. See-More stared at the ground with a worried expression on his face. "Hey turd cruncher! What's wrong with you?! Hurry up and grab some cash!" said Gizmo as he filled a sack with money.
"See-More, is something wrong?" asked Jinx.
"No it's nothing, it's just that, don't you think it's kind of weird that we've been getting away with robberies all day without being stopped by Kid Flash or any other Titans,"
Jinx smiled as she remembered the note that she read to Kid Flash earlier that day. He's gonna be too busy at the Park to stop us. she thought to herself.
Kyd Wykkyd was exhausted. He had been teleporting money to the HIVE HQ and teleporting back to the bank to collect more money. The HQ was practically drowning in cash now. To make matters worse, he had to teleport the extremely annoying Billy Numerous. Kyd Wykkyd hated Billy, he much preferred working with See-More. After all, See-More and Kyd have been good friends since junior HIVE Academy.
Whoosh!
The HIVE 5 members looked down at their now empty hands in shock. A yellow blur was now returning the stolen cash into the opened crates. When all of the money was back in place, the blur slowed down revealing the young hero Kid Flash. "Crud! It's Kid Flash!" said Gizmo panicking.
"HIVE 5! Attack pattern Omega!" ordered Jinx.
The HIVE 5 charged at Kid Flash. "You idiots! I said attack pattern Omega!" screamed Jinx furious.
Kid Flash vibrated his molecules and all attacks passed through his vibrating body harmlessly. "And where is Kyd Wykkyd again?!" questioned Jinx.
"He teleported back to the base to drop off some more cash," responded Mammoth as he was kicked in the gut at superspeed.
"What's taking that snot-face so long! We need his help!" yelled Gizmo.
Jump City. 11:38 pm. HIVE 5 HQ.
Smash!
Kyd Wykkyd stood up shakily trying to regain his lost balance. A black-costumed figure made its way slowly towards him. "I really appreciate all of the cash you and your team brought in,"
Kyd Wykkyd stared at the intruder with hatred in his eyes. "But that's not what I want. I'm going to ask you one more time before I kick your ass, where. is. the. xenothium,"
Kyd Wykkyd remained silent. "Wrong answer,"
Fwish!
Several x-shuriken sailed towards Kyd Wykkyd. He teleported out of the way and materialized behind the intruder.
Smack!
Red X was sent skidding across the floor. "You're going to pay for that you stupid mute,"
Red X pushed a button on the center of his belt. Suddenly, he vanished leaving Kyd Wykkyd in a state of confusion. He reappeared next to Kyd Wykkyd with a red x-shaped blade protruding from the top of his wrist. Kyd Wykkyd flinched as he felt the cold blade dig deeply into his side. He winced in terror observing the blood oozing from his body. Red X pulled the blade quickly out of Kyd Wykkyd's bleeding body. Kyd Wykkyd fell onto his knees and began coughing out blood. "You know something? I've never heard you speak before,"
Red X plunged the blade into Kyd Wykkyd's leg. "But by the time I'm through with you, I'll have you begging for mercy,"
Blood began to ooze from Kyd Wykkyd's right leg. The scent of blood filled the room. Kyd Wykkyd closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He no longer had the strength to teleport. He had been teleporting stolen items to the HIVE 5 HQ the entire day. Kyd Wykkyd fell onto his back prepared to die. "No, no, no," Red X laughed.
"I'm not finished with you yet,"
Red X lifted Kyd Wykkyd up by his neck. A stream of blood oozed out of his mouth. "I'll make this very simple for you, give me the xenothium of suffer a slow and painful death,"
Jump City. 12:00 am. Bank of Perez.
"Jinx, please don't make me have to do this, I don't wanna hurt you,"
"Good, that just makes it that much easier for me," replied Jinx smirking.
She sent a powerful hex towards Kid Flash. He zoomed out of the way and quickly knocked down several Billy Numerous clones as well. "Ow! Grab that dang speedster!" said Billy.
"HIVE 5 attack pattern Beta!" ordered Jinx.
See-More pressed a button on the side of his head. A thin laser began to shoot out of his eye. Kid Flash ran circles around See-More. "Stay still will ya!" ordered See-More.
"You idiots! I said attack pattern Beta! Now!"
"You guys should listen to your beautiful leader once in a while, maybe if you did you might be able to catch me!"
"Shut up Kid Flash! I don't need your help!" yelled Jinx trying to hold back a blush.
Jinx closed her eyes in a combination of frustration and happiness. I can't believe it! He thinks I'm beautiful! He's so sweet! What!? What am I thinking!? He's not sweet! He's going to pay for that!
Jinx opened her eyes and gasped. In front of her sat See-More, Gizmo, Billy Numerous, and Mammoth tied up with a steel cable. "Crud-munchin' titan," Gizmo pouted.
"I see you decided to wake up princess," said Kid Flash smiling.
"Don't call me that!" said Jinx with a blush creeping across her face.
"Hey I got most of your teammates but where is that psychic kid?"
"Oh no! Kyd Wykkyd! Something must be wrong! He hasn't teleported back from the base!"
Kid Flash picked up Jinx bridal style. "Don't worry we'll go check,"
He sped out of the bank with Jinx leaving the tied up villains waiting for the police. "You can't just leave us here!" said Gizmo struggling against the thick cable.
Jump City. 12:09 am. HIVE 5 HQ.
Kyd Wykkyd limped slowly around the headquarters with Red X. "Are you trying to fuck with me!? We've been in this hillbilly's room already! Get me the xenothium now!"
Kyd Wykkyd's eyes showed desperation and fear. He had to find that xenothium or he was as good as dead. "Do I have to remind you the penalty for stalling?!"
Red X kicked Kyd Wykkyd in the groin and he fell onto his knees. Kyd Wykkyd lied on his back and watched as his attacker left the room. He breathed a sigh of relief. However, he frowned as heard Red X in the living room rummaging through the fridge. What was his plan? Kyd Wykkyd struggled once again to teleport but the pain was too great for him to even focus. Red X returned with his hands behind his back. He crouched down next to Kyd Wykkyd and stared down at his still bleeding leg. Kyd Wykkyd stared up at Red X with complete terror. Red X pulled his hands out from behind his back. Kyd Wykkyd's body began to tremble in fear. Red X opened his hands revealing a freshly sliced lemon. He squeezed the lemon above Kyd Wykkyd's deep wound. The sour acidic juices rained into the wound. Kyd Wykkyd gritted his teeth but couldn't hold back the tears that began to stream down his face. Red X laughed and squeezed more lemon juice into the wound.
Fwish!
Red X clutched his hand in pain. The lemon rolled across the floor. "Leave him alone,"
Red X looked up at the black-haired boy holding the red projectile. "Long time no see kid," said Red X.
"I was wrong about you, you're not just selfish, you're insane!"
Red X laughed and bent over to pick up the lemon. "Don't pick that up! I'm warning you, I won't hesitate to put you down!"
"Why do you care so much about some villain!? You're defending him! He deserves this! Hasn't Bruce taught you better than that!"
"What the-! How do you-"
Poof!
Robin was left coughing in smoke. He quickly rubbed his eyes and pulled out a bo staff. He scanned the room for Red X and stomped his foot in anger realizing that he was gone. Robin's eyes widened. He dropped the bo staff in disgust.
Whoosh!
Robin turned around to see the yellow-clad hero put Jinx down gently. Jinx's eyes widened at her teammate laying on the floor. Tears began to form in her eyes. "Oh God! Not again! Please...not again!" she cried.
Kid Flash pulled Jinx into a hug. She buried her face in his chest releasing uncontrollable sobs. Kid Flash stared down at the motionless body of Kyd Wykkyd. He was clearly unconscious. So this is the power of Red X. How cruel. So merciless.
Robin knelt down at Kyd Wykkyd laying in a pool of blood. He pulled out his communicator to contact Raven. She could heal him. "Oh so now, you're giving a villain a chance!?"
"This isn't the time Kid Flash! I saw what Red X was doing to him. So brutal... the last time I've seen someone so cruel was when I was in Gotham,"
Robin thought back to his days with Batman. The days when that laughing madman almost killed him. Everything was just some sick joke to him. Always leaving that one playing card at the scene of the crime. Joker. I can't believe I'm thinking this but, I'm going to need Bruce on this one.
Kid Flash stared at the wall and gasped. Written on the wall with Kyd Wykkyd's blood was a message. "Next time, give me the xenothium or else I'll hunt you each down, one by one."
Jinx was still crying. "Robin erase that," said Kid Flash pointing at the wall.
Robin nodded and began to look for a sponge in the kitchen. "Erase what?" asked Jinx wiping the tears from her eyes.
She began to turn towards the wall but Kid Flash quickly pulled her back into a hug. "No, you don't need to see that,"
She pushed Kid Flash away, "I have to! I'm the leader of this team and this is my base!"
She turned around and read the message horrified. Tears began to flow once again. "No, please no! Not my entire team!" she cried.
"That's it pack your things, you're staying with me" said Kid Flash.
Robin sighed. "I can't let you do that Kid Flash,"
He pulled the containment device from his pocket and pointed it slowly towards Kid Flash. Kid Flash crouched down towards the floor ready to speed out of the way. "Ow!"
Clack!
Robin clutched his hand in pain and looked down at the hexed device emitting sparks from the floor. God, Bruce is gonna kill me for this.
Whoosh!
Kid Flash picked up Jinx bridal style and began zooming to her room leaving an angry Robin chasing after them. "Okay, grab your stuff now,"
"I'm not going with you!" said Jinx stubbornly.
"Look, we don't have much time right now! I quit the Titans, so Robin considered me a neutral meta-human! But by offering to help you, I've just blown my chances of ever coming back to them! Now, Robin'll be here very very soon and you know him! He can be just as merciless as Red X! So are you with me or not!?"
The anger was shown very clearly on Kid Flash's face. Jinx had never seen him this way before. "Fine," she muttered.
She began grabbing her things. A sketchbook, a few pencils, and some clothes. Suddenly, she dropped her things and gasped. "What is it?" asked Kid Flash impatiently.
"Where's all of the money! Kyd Wykkyd was teleporting our cash here! Where is it!"
She began searching frantically around the room for some sort of clue. "X probably took it! Come on, there's no time, we have to go now!"
Crash!
Jinx and Kid Flash stared at the boy standing by the kicked down door. "Nobody is going anywhere!"
"Hurry up and pick up your things, I'll hold him off" said Kid Flash standing protectively in front of Jinx.
"Don't do this Kid Flash, I don't wanna have to fight you! If you attack me, I'm going to have to label you on the Titan database as a rogue hero, you're my best friend, please stop this now!"
"We're not friends anymore,"
Whoosh! Smack!
Robin skidded across the floor. He slowly stood up, "Fine, then you leave me with no choice"
Robin pulled out a bo staff and charged at Kid Flash. Kid Flash easily dodged his strikes. Jinx stared at them with her jaw dropped. "Hey Jinx! Could you maybe hurry it up a little!?"
Jinx snapped out of her trance and quickly scooped up her belongings. "Okay I'm ready!"
Whoosh!
The two were gone in a flash. Robin stomped his foot in defeat. "Wally, why..."
Jump City. 12:21 am. Apartment 12D.
Whoosh!
Kid Flash place Jinx gently down onto the couch. She was shaking slightly due to the fact that Kyd Wykkyd's bleeding body would forever haunt her in her darkest nightmares. This is all my fault. I'm bad luck. I should've seen this coming.
Whoosh!
Jinx heard Kid Flash moving around in the kitchen. The sounds of clinking glasses and the pouring of water echoed throughout the silent apartment.
Whoosh!
The speedster returned with two glasses of water in his hands. He handed one over to Jinx who gladly took it. She sipped very slowly and Kid Flash turned on a lamp to illuminate the somber living room. Jinx placed her glass down on the coffee table. "How long am I staying here this time?"
"Until we catch X,"
"What!? But that could take a lifetime!"
"I don't care, you're staying with me where it's safe,"
"But if the Titans find out-"
"Didn't your hear Robin!? I'm rouge now! I'm not part of the Titan database anymore,"
Jinx suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "What's wrong?"
"That means the t-t-t-titans will be a-after b-b-both of us" stuttered Jinx.
"Exactly, and that's why we need to stick together, we only have each other now,"
Kid Flash wrapped his arms around Jinx and kissed her forehead. Her face flushed immediately, "What was that for?"
"You saved me from another containment field," he replied and kissed her once again on the forehead.
She rudely pushed him away. "Okay, since I'm staying here the same rules still apply, rule one, don't touch me, rule two, your room is mine now, rule 3, you do the cooking and cleaning, rule 4, when I'm in the bathroom you better stay away, and finally, when I call for you, you drop whatever you're doing and you run your ass to me for further orders, got it?!"
"Roger that!" saluted Kid Flash.
He picked her up and brought her into his room at the speed of sound. He placed her gently down onto the bed. She hexed him in the stomach. "Ow!"
"What did I just say!? Rule one: don't touch me!"
Kid Flash ignored her and made his way to the closet. Jinx raised an eyebrow in curiosity, "What are you-"
Before she could finish her question she found herself being wrapped in a blanket by Kid Flash. Jinx began to blush. Why does he treat me like this. I'm bad luck but he treats me like a queen.
"You should get some sleep," said Kid Flash as he began to exit the room.
As Kid Flash reached for the door knob a devilish grin appeared on Jinx's face. "Kid Flash," she called out in a pouting voice.
He turned around. "Yeah?"
"Tell me a bedtime story," she said as an evil smirk grew across her face.
Kid Flash flinched and began to blush. "Well, um, I could... umm... how about a glass of milk instead," he said nervously.
Jinx shook her head still smiling. "No, I want a bedtime story"
Kid Flash's face was redder than ever. "Umm... maybe...uh..."
Kid Flash sat on the edge of the bed still blushing. "Well, umm, once upon a time, there was a very beautiful girl, she was gifted with amazing powers, but for some reason, she thought she was bad luck,"
Jinx flinched.
"Her friends didn't listen to her even though she was very smart and very beautiful, she thought that good was never an option for her, so she did many bad things, but one night, she met a boy at the museum she was robbing..."
A/N: Sorry for the delay! I have school XD! Hope you enjoyed!
