Chapter Three:

"Your on your own," Red X said quickly, as he turned to take off. Terra didn't need to be told however, as she caught her breath and turned on her heels then took off the opposite way.

As she pumped her legs into motion, she heard car doors open and slam shut. And what sounded like two sets of foot falls behind her. Why where they both running after her?! Terra felt her brows tighten, how was this fair?! Her mind started to go into work, instinctively she looked around for a place to hide. She didn't want to fight the police because they would talk... and the only way to keep that from happening would be taking their lives. She didn't want to do that.

Terra skidded to a stop, so fast that she threw herself forward. Catching her balance again she jumped from her spot and bounded into an alley. She heard two men shouting, and in front of her caught glimpse of flashlights trying to find her. But Terra was quick from recent, and threw herself against the wall. She took in a heavy, and quick breath. Her hands felt along the wall, feeling a door nob she did her best to twist it. But it wouldn't be budged. She growled then took back off down the alley.

"Over there!" A man yelled. Terra felt the flash light shine over her. But she couldn't do anything about it. Instead she ran faster, feeling adrenaline pump through her veins as they pursued her. These stupid warehouses had no ladders on the sides, or easy access doors for her to hide in. Using her powers would show her identity for sure, which ruled that out as an escape. Terra felt frustrated as she pushed harder and swung around the side of another warehouse. She breathed heavily yet again, her chest heaved while her legs trembled.

She didn't rest long, Terra soon then took back off. A chain link fence kept her from running into the woods, she could have climbed it. But X was still around here, and she had a feeling he would take her distraction for the police as an opportunity.

Terra looked around, she saw flashlights scanning around the area to her left, from the alley she had come from. The lights shining against the chain link fence, she breathed in then edged further away before bolting again. Her light body was carried quietly over the pavement, light patters where all the noise made. The clouds moved away from the moon, and a silver light flooded down, illuminating things into a bright silver toned gray.

After turning yet another alley turn, Terra slowed down to a hammering jog, before stopping and looking over her shoulder. Her face was frowned while her chest worked steadily to pump air. She listened, but she didn't hear the police. Grinning slightly, she turned around again, but this time walked. She lifted her hand and pushed back her hair behind her ear, looking up towards the roofs at the same time. Now to find Red X.

The moments that followed where spent with only the noise of Terra's breathing. Keeping her mouth closed to avoid gasping, she breathed in through her nose and looked around the street again. No one was following her, and she was convinced that the cops had given up. They probably just thought she had been some punk hanging around, not really worth their effort. The night only got darker, the dreary gray turning into blackness. It became harder to see, the blond squinted her eyes, but soon had to allow her hands to glow. It served as a flash light, but only for short distances.

After nearly an hour, Terra sighed and leaned against a warehouse and then grunted. She had searched most of the ally ways, but this was a city after all. And she couldn't check them all, instead she glanced around some more then banged her head against the warehouse. The aluminum rippled a BANG at her contact, but no one took notice.

As she took a break, Terra looked up at the sky. Little dots of silver populated the above, the rest seemed nothing more than a black mass. For some reason it captivated her for a little while, as her chest gently heaved another breath. She grinned, somewhat lightly. Taking part in such a simple joy, that had failed her for so long. The icy tint of the air stung her throat, but in a refreshing way that left her feeling relieved.

As her emotions felt a happiness, her fingers unknowingly ghosted around her T-com. The edges tickled lightly under her brushing touch, before she gripped it lightly and eased her hand. Terra blinked, looking down at the gray pavement as her grin fell into an easy frown, her face softening. She felt herself healing, even in such an odd time as she stood inside a half dead city. Terra felt herself piece together, inner wounds cleaned from infection.

Terra pushed herself from the wall and walked softly down the ally, exiting into the street. Another wind blew, her eyes slanted against it, but it didn't hit her through her coat. She walked off to the side, hands her in coat pockets she gave up actually searching for Red X, honestly... she knew it was impossible to find him. Instead, she headed for the street that would lead out of the city, as she headed for the woods. It looked like she would be spending the rest of the night alone. Quietly she wondered what time the Titan's went to bed, as her fingers tapped the T-com. But she resisted the idea of calling them, reminding herself that their distraction wouldn't be the best thing. As... disloyal as that sounded.

She lightly pattered into the cover of the tree's, and followed paths she had discovered a few days ago. Moonlight swept in through the peeks in leaves, dotting the forest ground with little spotlights. Autumn fallen leaves crunched under her boots despite her best efforts. Terra looked around, shrugging her shoulders and hugging her neck against the closed in, and lonely feel of the boxed tree's. She gripped her coat closer, though no wind blew. It was oddly quiet, no animals rustled by her, or chattered against her presence, instead an eerie emptiness voiced nothing into the air.

Terra chuckled lightly to herself, then dropped her shoulders as she sped up a little. Jogging over the leaves as they continued to crunch and shatter. She didn't pay attention to their fragile state as she carried on towards the best resting place she knew of.

The landscape started to tilt up, and Terra sighed with relief that she had remembered the way. the tree's became less dense, and she was able to see all around with more ease. The light from above casted silver down onto the earth, the highlights beaming from the touch. Her blond hair was no different, though dirty and not as reflective, the silver light still bounced around her lightly colored locks. Shadowing her face into a paleness, almost a cold look.

Terra finally left the tree's, then stopped at the first clearing. She was on upper ground, and the city laid like a child's toy in size, further off. But she grunted and twisted her lip at the abandonment Red X had left her with. But whatever, that's what he did, look out for himself. She couldn't ask him to change. Sighing, Terra lightly set herself down, the dirt feeling comfort under and around her. The vibrations welcoming her back, Terra melted her eyes closed and grinned for a moment. For once... taking love in her powers... her gifted curse. Even when all else left, it was still there to beckon her to it's grasps.

Opening her eyes, Terra removed her T-com and held it at her lap. Looking down, her lips shifted slightly as she blinked at it. Again her thumb brushed over the symbol. Part of her wanted to call the Titan's, but again she refused herself, closed her eyes, then put the T-com back away.

--

--

"She hasn't called in like... forever!" Beast Boy wined out feverishly. Throwing his hands in the air as he paced back and forth in the garage.

"Maybe she hasn't gotten a chance," Cyborg offered from underneath the T-car. The crank of tightening and loosening odds and ends sounded before he reached out his hand. Knowing what he wanted, Beast Boy handed him some new parts for the turbos as he continued.

"Cy, even they can't be running that much. If they where in serious trouble, that Angie lady would have let us know, right?" Beast Boy stopped for a moment, staring at the T-car, before his face shifted, his lips moving and forcing his tooth to rub higher up his cheek. He soon then continued however as his arms crossed. "I can't see why Terra would even want to hang out with Red X. All he does is get in trouble anyways..."

"Is this going to be another one of your jealous rants again?" Cyborg asked as he set a piece of complicated looking automobile outside the T-car.

"... no!" Beast Boy shot, crossing his arms tighter. "I just think it was ... was a bad idea, is all."

"For who?"

"For Terra!"

Cyborg hummed his agreement before adding, "yeah, probably. It was her choice though."

Beast Boy started pacing again however, almost like he was about to start over. His steps where hurried and aggravated, his body was tense, setting off his usual carefree look. His jaw set tight, his fang sticking further up as a result, his brows narrowed, but at the same time his face was soft enough to see the worry in it. It still hinted towards the small amount of hurt he felt for getting left behind by Terra, though he didn't want it to show.

"Besides, its been what? Two, three months?" Beast Boy continued, turning his glare to the T-car windshield. But at his reflection he turned back away and looked at what he could see of Cyborg's head from under the car. "She should've called by now."

"I'm sure she's fine."

"But what if she isn't, or she lost the communicator... or... or," Beast Boy huffed in a breath then looked around as he thought. "I dunno..." He finally sighed, slamming his back against the wall and sliding down to the floor. His arms still crossed he tilted his knees up and let out another breath.

"Why don't you call her then?" Cyborg asked simply, placing another part onto the floor as he felt around for a wrench. Beast Boy kicked the tool closer to him with his foot then slid it back to his chest. Cyborg grabbed hold of the wrench, then recoiled further under the car.

"I did call her!" Beast Boy whined, his voice running out towards the end. He twitted his thumbs, watching his fingers before muttering the rest. "She just didn't talk back much, and gave me 'I'll call you back,' stuff and never did." He said, sounding hurt by it.

Cyborg then rolled out from under the car, giving his green friend a look with pity. He sighed, and shook his head. "Just give her some more time, you know how that girl is."

Beast Boy shrugged, his shoulders touching his cheek bones as his eyes stayed averted down. He breathed out, frowning lightly as his face melted along. "I dunno man... I guess I just miss her."

--

--

Glancing towards the city layout, though in her sitting position she couldn't see it, Terra frowned. She was still curious, and... a little worried. It had been out of his character, Red X, to go look for something when there was already patrol. Not that he couldn't out run, or out fight them... more of, out of sight out of mind. Less attention the better in his profession...

Though as Terra tried prying deeper into his personality, she also noted he liked the thrill of the chase. He'd steal something just for the fun of it. But Terra shook her head, he didn't look like he was looking for something to amuse him. He looked like he was dead set on finding something... someone maybe.

But this kind of thought was hurting her head, and she no longer wanted to pry on it. Terra clipped the T-com to her belt and sighed. What Red X did was his business, she had no power to stop him. So she stopped trying to find reason in his actions. She had found to just accept what he did, and how he did it.

Still... Terra shifted as she did continue to think. Her efforts to do otherwise where in vain, as she frowned and felt her brows strain while she took another look to the city. She couldn't help but worry sometimes. Not sure if it was the fear of Red X actually getting caught during a stupid act, or the fear of being alone again. Maybe she had become too dependant, too trusting... but Terra didn't question her friendship, or alliance as better put at times, any further.

"Time to-"

At the sudden sound of anothers voice, Terra jolted to her feet with a cry. Her hands fiercely caught their glow as Terra turned around quickly. Her hand swiped out at the same time, "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" She screamed. The earth followed with all haste and threw itself at the intruder.

The slits in the black and white skull mask grew wide as Red X narrowly dodged the fatal blow. Teleporting behind Terra before he fiercely shoved her shoulder. "Watch it!"

The push made her stumble, and Terra very near readied to turn around and continue her defense, until she made out the costume. Her face went blank as her hands dropped to her side. Terra refused, however, to stay shocked for long before her face twisted and her arms crossed. "You shouldn't sneak up on someone like that! Unless you want that X on your forehead imprinted on the dirt."

Ignoring the potential threat, Red X lowered his eyes to their normal position. "It's time to get out of here."

"Oh, wow, you think...? Maybe?" Terra snorted. She couldn't help it, being around him just sent her into complaintive mode with the side dish of sarcasm. "Where'd you get that impression? Maybe after I got chased?!"

"About then, yeah."

Terra exhaled through her teeth, shaking her head and looking away. For a moment their was a pause, she kept her temper reined in after realizing it had only been the worry that sparked anger. Staring at the moon sprayed dirt, she allowed herself to clear her mind before turning lightly back to Red X. He looked patient, not at all concerned that people where looking for them now. Instead he just waited for her to settle down some, a wise thing to do on his behalf.

"I want to know what's going on." She said, her voice was hard in the air. Her hands lifted to her hips, and planted themselves there as she readied to fight for that order.

Raising the tilt of his eye piece, Red X crossed his arms and shifted his weight. "I don't see why."

"... You... don't see ... why?" Narrowing her eyes, Terra felt color start to flush at her face. Secrets had always been a delicate subject for her, and it had seemed to be simmering under the surface between the two of them since the beginning. "HOW can you not see why?!"

Usually quick mouthed, Red X considered her for a moment. Just as stubborn, she could see he was straining not to take the challenge. A long pause followed, the simmer of a fight that had been rising slowly since they met came a little closer to the boiling point. But Red X managed to put it off again, waving his hand in the air and reaching to his belt. Quickly, he pulled out one of the chips he had been keeping from her. The black-gray piece caught Terra's eye, as she looked to it carefully then back to him with a waiting look.

"We need to get a high end computer to play this on." He said easily, holding the chip out for Terra to see. She noticed, however, he only showed her one side. Failing to reveal the rest he quickly put it back.

"What's on it?" Terra asked, blinking and gesturing towards his belt.

"Well, if I knew, do you think I would be talking about getting a computer to play it on?"

Grunting, Terra shrugged. Crossing her own arms she heaved a breath and settled for his answer. For a moment, they where quiet again, their issues being brushed away for another time. Smiling, slightly, Terra looked back up to Red X. Her hair flew into her face, shielding it from the cold spray of the moon. "Fine, then lets go find your computer."