Ch. 09: Fog Pt. I

[Jake's Apartment: Gotham City, New Jersey]
[December 4, 13:29:59 EST]

Jake inhaled deeply as he sat in front of his television. It was off to give him the concentration needed and his window was open for a certain cat-masked vigilante. There were several of things that he had to get off of his chest, most importantly Dick's recent birthday party. His skin crawled at so many heroes in one place.

His training with Talia and Nyssa was becoming pleasurable. Not because he enjoyed being beaten by the two women, but because they (Talia at least) normally answered a question that bothered him. Explanations such as how Bane came to be were explained during their training sessions. Ra's stepped in every now and again to give his "protégé" some guiding light, but that meant more physical abuse during their training sessions.

Then there were his nights with Jade. Not Cheshire, Jade. There was nights where they would meet up and just be them. No killing. No robbing. No missions. Just them. It was awkward at first since Jade would not admit that it was a date. So they agreed to just call it a meeting and left it at that. Though, Jake admits that their meetings were a lot like his dates with Artemis.

Which brought him to his main problem. Artemis had trusted Jake with the heavy secret that her father was a criminal. She didn't give out any names or what he had done, but she said that he was a criminal and wanted by the GCPD. She had introduced him to her mother and exchanged a few better memories of her childhood. A part of Jake felt sick to know that in the end, he would have to betray that trust somehow, someway. He could only imagine what his mother would say if she was around and saw this.

Jake soon smirked. He didn't hear Jade enter his apartment, and honestly no one would if she didn't want them to, but he knew she was there. It scared him senseless to know that someone could move so silently with blades equipped with them. Yet, he was happy to know that she was on his side.

For the most part.

"Dr. Serling Roquette," Jade began as she sat on the small sofa. "That's our next target."

"Creator of the Fog and all of that good stuff. I already know about her." Jake responded while turning to his partner. "Question is why kill her? Taking her machine would be twice as easy and twice as quick."

"Junior, I don't make the rules. I just live by them." Jake's brow twitched. "What?"

"You living by the rules? Which ones would that be?" he teased.

"The one that says that you can't kill your partner, no matter how annoying he is." Jade returned. "As for the mission, our job is to kill her and take the machine. The less survivors the better."

"So this is a mission where you get to have your fun, huh? That's fine by me Sunshine. I like seeing you at your baddest." Jade just rolled her eyes. "What? A man can have his fantasies, can't he?"

"You fantasize about me slashing men up?" Jake's smirk grew.

"You coming into my room, slashing my clothes up and purring, ultimate sexy." It was quite funny to him to know months ago a joke like that would have had him killed. Now she just snorted with a smile of her own.

"We should go." Jade's voice was now strictly professional. "This will be our first major mission with the League." Jake nodded. "Failure now isn't an option."

Jake slowly rose to his feet. "Then let's get going, Partner."

Jade's only response was a simple nod. The last time she was in a do-or-die situation with Jake, he fled the Brotherhood of Evil and she had to escape before being frozen with the others. Now with Ra's putting the pressure on them, she was getting that feeling again.

However, when Jake grins at her as he walks towards his room, those feelings disappear. This wasn't the same boy from years ago. He had grown and had shown her a more serious side to him. Of course, he was still annoying at times, but that was just a part of who he was. The other parts, she was learning everyday.

[Royal University: Star City, California]
[December 4, 18:47:36 PST]

There were several types of stand-offs. The one Jake was experiencing now was the most intimidating one. He knew that the Team was here. He knew that they knew that he was here. Problem was, they couldn't find each other. The university was closed for whatever the reason, so no one else was there except the two parties.

"Are you sure you can handle them?" Jake bristled at Jade's voice. Was she doubting his skills?

"If I scream, come running." Jake responded. "How about you? Any sign of the doctor or Speedy?"

"No. I'll let you know when that changes." Jade stated. "There's movement on the second floor. Check it out while I head to Roquette's office."

"Aye, aye," Jake answered.

Even in costume, Jake was always cautious about someone getting the jump on him. This is why he went through the trouble of finding a nice supply of Xenothium just to waste it on things such as a cloaking device. Being invisible gave him more than one advantage. However, going up against a team of superheroes who know most of his tactics, just being invisible was not going to do a whole lot.

He pushed the door to the stairwell open, mentally joking about how it looked like a ghost was haunting the school ground. He would have stepped forward if he was that stupid. Switching through the many visions his mask gave him, he had to be sure that no trap was laid. This new Aqualad was twice as smart as the old one and Robin was more than set on catching Red X. Traps were an inevitability when it came to those two.

Taking a few cautious steps, Jake made sure to check his surroundings thoroughly before he saw the familiar sight of Superboy entering the empty hallway.

"You know," Superboy spoke. "Infrared lets me see you, whether you're invisible or not!"

Jake let out a small growl as he ended his cloaking device and grabbed his two escrima sticks. He was becoming addicted to using them and knew that they would help him against a Kryptonian clone such as Superboy.

"You're just going to stand there?" Jake taunted.

His taunts pay off as the genomorph ran towards him with a head full of steam. Jake waited for the counter, spinning around Superboy and slamming a stick into the clone's back. It did little damage and Superboy recovered rather quickly, turning with a punch of his own. Jake dodged. A punch from Superboy was not on his to-do list and never would be.

"You're kind of fast," Jake said as he swung his sticks more and more, only for Superboy to counter with his forearms. "Your dad teaching you these moves or are you learning from Birdbrain and his lackeys?"

"Shut up!" Superboy called as he attempted to pound Jake through the floor with his fists.

The evasive thief only leapt backwards and watched the floor crack a little beneath the clone's feet.

"You're…" Jake's words slowed down as he saw something reflect light behind him. In that split second, he used the teleportation device to leave the area for the moment and let the arrow intended for him to ricochet off of the floor. "Ah, there you are Cutie. I thought you were going to abandon me."

"I knew it would be you after Dr. Roquette." Artemis said loading another arrow. Her target with his back against a wall now. "No matter what they say, you're a no good criminal."

"And," If Jake had not have known Raven, seeing Miss Martian phase through the wall in front of him would have scared the hell out of him. "We're here to make sure that that doesn't happen."

Jake looked around before chuckling.

"You realize the problem with that, right?" The three heroes just stared at him. "I am simply a thief. My mission here is to take a machine, the Fog. I'm sure you've heard it. I could care less if the woman lives or dies." Jake paused and pocketed his weapons in their holsters. "However, the others that are homing in to my position right now… They're coming to kill her and anyone in their way."

"Lies." Superboy said.

"You're right. I'd do my best trying to save these two beautiful women here," Despite a criminal stating this, Miss Martian blushed. "You, however, will die simply because you're just a cheap knock-off of someone original."

Bait taken. Superboy came towards Red X like a bat out of hell. And at the last possible second, the thief flipped over Superboy and let the enraged boy knock a fist-sized hole in the wall with a single punch. Thinking quickly, Red X launched three X-shaped shuriken to counter the three arrows Artemis had fired.

Artemis was slightly shocked that Red X was able to counter her arrows so fluently, but didn't let it show as she fired an arrow at the thief once more. When he leapt away from it she smirked as the arrow stuck to the ground like gum on a desk.

"Boom." Artemis said before a small explosion rang throughout the halls.

"Do you think that was a good idea Artemis?" M'gann questioned.

"Let's make sure that he's down." Superboy said walking towards the class where Red X was thrown into.

The only thing that seemed out of place was the door was off of its hinges. The trio walked in quietly to see if they could spot the thief.

"Where'd he go?" Artemis asked.

"I'm right here," Red X said appearing near the windows in the back of the classroom. "And you three are tardy for your first lesson in setting a trap."

The desks began to rise.

"I'll give you a lesson." Jake cocked a brow beneath his mask. Dick sure loved working with women with startling and mystifying powers that's for sure.

The first desk was sent flying to him at high speeds, though he was able to stray left unharmed. The second desk came in low and Jake showed great athleticism by jumping over it. The third one, however, seemed to be spot on. Yet the crafty teen slashed it in half with his wrist-mounted blades. Before M'gann could send more furniture his way, Jake threw several smoke bombs in front of him for a cover.

But he didn't give them a time to rest. He flew out of the smoke, saw blades revving at the Martian girl. As he predicted, she simply let him phase through her. Deactivating his blades to avoid severe damage, Jake then turned to his left and leapt into the air, striking Artemis with two kicks. The blonde stumble backwards until she was at the teacher's desk. Landing on his feet, Jake launched himself for Artemis again, yet the girl moved and the thief found himself on the desk.

There was a small standoff between them before Red X made an attempt for the window.

"No you don't!" Superboy said chasing after him.

Jake smirked under his mask as he, with the utmost tenderness, flipped himself off of the window and over Superboy without shattering the glass. Superboy's momentum carried him out of the window and to the ground below, causing the two girls to gasp.

"Now that he's out of the way," Jake said standing up straight. "How about we talk about dates? No?"

"Date this!" Artemis began firing a myriad of arrows at the thief.

With his saw blades activated, he could dodge most and deflect those that he couldn't. However, when an arrow landed on his wrist and released a gunk that stopped his left saw blade, he had to let out an uncharacteristic grunt of frustration. He really should have seen that one coming.

"Maybe another time then." Red X said before teleporting himself out of the classroom.

He didn't go far though. He just went to the larger classroom beneath them. A science class which would be useful to him. Martians were weak against fire, which is why he began pouring several solutions of all kinds around the class in a circle. If he did this right, then no one would be killed. If not, then he would probably have to take a long time off to gather his thoughts.

Once finish with his act he stared up to see his targets leaving his trap.

"Damn it," Jake said before teleporting himself back to the classroom where he did battle with the Team. "So that's it? You two have made up your minds?" Artemis and Miss Martian paused and glared at the returned thief. "Huh. And here I thought I could surely get you to come with me cutie. We share such a bond…"

"You just threw my teammate out of a window! That's not bonding!" Artemis called back.

"You'll have to forgive me. I get jealous when other guys are around my girl." Red X said before firing a large X towards the duo.

The two rolled out of the way.

"He's serious now." Miss Martian commented.

"Then we'll just have to show him serious." Artemis countered.

The two girls were unprepared for the X behind them to explode, sending them towards the thief.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Red X taunted. "You tell me to go away and yet you're practically clinging to my feet to stay. I knew you had a thing for me."

When Artemis twisted her body in an attempt to sweep Red X off of his feet, he leapt into the air and vanished once more. The girls thought that he had left for good, until the ground opened beneath them and dropped them to the class below. They groaned in pain, spotting Red X standing with a lit match in hand.

"I guess this is where we part." Red X stated. "And just when things were starting to, heat up."

Jake tossed the match onto the liquid surrounding the girls, encasing them in a circle of flames. Jake watched as Miss Martian quivered, afraid to move while Artemis attempted to comfort her friend.

"You monster!" Artemis called to him.

He just watched. This tactic, as dirty as it was, would probably help his mission. His mission to kill Dr. Roquette. Just thinking about killing someone made him sneer, but it paid the bills and he knew if he didn't do it, someone else would kill her then him. The League of Assassins had a very dire way to excommunicate its members.

But he was no assassin; nor killer. And he sure as hell was no monster.

A feral shout caught his attention. Artemis had pounced through the flames. As heroic (and slightly arousing) as the scene was, Jake knew better than to take her lightly now. She was not on the level that Jade was, but high enough for him to use his escrima sticks.

A punch from her was dodged. He followed with a swift blow to her exposed midsection, forcing her to retract her arm quickly. This was only a feint as she brought her corresponding leg up and kicked him in his right forearm. The pain was only brief and he was able to let the stick in his left hand bop her on the head as if reprimanding a child. Soft enough to avoid brain damage, but hard enough to force her to back away.

He saw Artemis retrieve her bow from her back and instantly closed the distance to avoid her going on another firing spree. Their weapons clanged loudly over the cackling flames as Artemis blocked all of Red X's strikes. He was amused to know that Sportsmaster spoke the truth; Artemis was well adept at close combat, even with a bow.

But Deathstroke spoke more truth. Truth was Slade's son could beat Sportsmaster's daughter. And when Jake hit a rather crushing punch to Artemis that sent her dangerously close to the flames, it only proved his father's early theories. Seeing Artemis in no condition to stand again, Jake pocketed his escrima sticks.

"Help…" Jake was now cautious of whoever Miss Martian was calling out to and spotted Aqualad at the door.

A water whip struck for Jake, the boy rolling out of the way. A second, more powerful whip came down in a hammering fashion forcing Jake to use his suits abilities once more and teleport out of harms way.

Appearing in front of Aqualad with escrima sticks in hand, Jake went to work. His strikes were quick and precise, making sure the Atlantian did not get the opportunity to use any of his abilities at the moment. Finally, realizing the Aqualad's defense had all but completely shattered, Jake palmed the larger boy in the chest.

"Sorry Fish-boy, fours a crowd." Red X mocked before using an adhesive X to stick Aqualad against the board.

"Please…" Red X scanned the room. Artemis was down, Aqualad was detained, and their teammate was slowly losing strength in a flaming circle. "Please help me…"

Jake grimaced beneath his mask. Oddly enough, he heard Rose's voice whenever Miss Martian called for help. This was probably how it happened. Rose was down and Robin had a choice to save her or someone else. Red X couldn't blame Robin for living up to his code. Jake Cross couldn't make sense of Robin's decision.

Aqualad was confused as to what the thief was thinking. Then to his disbelief, Red X simply retrieved a nearby fire extinguisher and quenched the flames. By this time, Miss Martian was severely weakened and unable to stop Jake from wrapping her with a constrictive X.

"Why?" Aqualad voiced his question.

"Some people have it backwards," Red X said. "I don't care for world domination and things like that. I'm a thief. Nothing more and nothing less."

"You saved her… You saved us…" Aqualad stated. "I am confused. You are one of them. Why go against orders to save the people that will only get in your way?"

"Maybe I'm not as bad as Robin wants you to believe." And with that, Red X vanished from the scene once more.

Aqualad just eyed the area before spotting Artemis slowly coming to. If this had been any other assassin, they would most likely be dead by now. But it wasn't. It was the same guy who the Atlantian had met earlier when guarding Selena Gonzalez. The skull-masked mystery that was Red X had multiple opportunities to kill Kaldur and his friends, yet he didn't. And in Kaldur's mind, there was no way that Red X could have fought off the Team and caught up to Selena in time to assassinate her as well. That only left one question in the teen's mind.

Was Red X really an assassin or just a thief as he claims?

[Star City, California]
[December 4, 19:23:12 PST]

The pair stared over the relatively quiet city and took in as many sights as possible. They were not sight-seeing, more like a stakeout. If they spotted anything that remotely looked like a hero in disguise, they would strike.

"She's not here," Red X commented. "They must've known we were coming and took her somewhere else."

"You think?" Jake glared at his teammate. "Question is where?"

"I don't know and I doubt we're going to get our answers by staying here all night long." commented the boy. "Let's rendezvous with Talia and explain the situation there. Tomorrow we'll find her and the machine."

"You sound almost disappointed." Jade mused.

"Wasting my weekend for the sake of one woman isn't what I had in mind." Jake answered. "Not only that, but my suit is low on energy. If we were to be ambushed right now, we might actually sweat."

"So full of yourself," Jade noted. "Fine. Let's meet up with Talia and head home." She paused. "I ran into Kid Flash, Robin, and Superboy. Who did you face?" Jake refused to answer, already moving to the evacuation spot. "I see… Did you hurt her?"

"I did my job and your sister's fine."

His answer seemed to verify her earlier thoughts. He had grown some sort of feelings for her sister. Whether it was just a platonic friendship or more no longer mattered. Well… It did on a personal level. But in their line of business, Jake's feelings for Artemis could make this complicated. More complicated than it already was.

"Are you ready?" Jake questioned after seeing the thoughtful expression on his partner's face despite her mask still being on.

"Let's go." Jade answered.