-+-A Thousand Shades of Gray-+-

+The Shade of Haters+

"There's more than one way to skin a cat …

But there's also more than one way for the cat to skin you …"

- Unknown

Another beautiful house, another lovely courtyard and driveway, lined with weeping willows and one thing that Raven suddenly took notice of during their 20 minute drive from Hawthorne Garden Court all the way to Willow Grove. The way the wind blew, the cool breeze, and the distinct smell she was very familiar of when both her and X got out of the car and walked up to the front door of the estate. Raven noticed that they were near the ocean and there was close to 100 to 500 years of history upon these grounds.

Yes, she knew, Marisa Van'Gareth and her entire family were full of witches, warlocks, sorceress, and sorcerers. Robin rang the bell, and instead of a servant answering, it was Marisa herself, still made-up with her light green eyes reflecting gold with the hazel flecks here and there. Her light blonde tresses pulled up into a clip as she smiled brightly and welcoming, the perfect hostess, rather suspicious considering the story Otto told her, "You're here, good, for a second I thought neither of you would show, Rae, Robin said you needed rest, but you look fine."

"Mental rest I suppose that's what he meant," Raven shrugged and stepped into the old historical house with Robin in tow, she scanned her surroundings and shuttered. Full of energy, magic, power, her violet eyes side-glanced Marisa as she closed the door, "after all, it's been awhile since I've ever been snatched-up."

Marisa blinked in astonishment then lead the two of them towards the back of the mansion where Raven had a feeling would be some kind of outdoor picnic waiting for them, "So … you've been under that kind of treatment before?"

"Sort of, but I went willingly …" ushered into a lanai that looked over the sea; they were perched on hill surrounded by weeping willows. It shaded them and just made the place seem even cozier. Raven took a seat on one of the chairs, but Robin sat on the guardrail next to them while Raven sighed and fiddled with the sapphire bracelet Robin had given her. Only to catch herself in such a ridiculous act and stopped, resting her hands on her lap she sighed and continued to play the perfect guest. Something that never went unnoticed by the silent thief, "… I tried to save my friends … but they were the ones ending up having to save me."

"Wow …" Raven noticed that Marisa hadn't have asked under what circumstance was she captured, and whether or not Marisa cared wasn't her problem as Raven watched her flip her blond hair away from her face and tilted her head, "… must have been interesting times."

Raven nodded, "You can say that … it's almost like magic the way time flies."

Marisa giggled and looked up at Robin then gasped in sudden excitement and leaned into the table as if to share some kind of secret with Raven, "Oh! Did Rex ever tell you he was in a magic show once? It was so exciting."

"Really?" Raven pretended to be interested; glancing to Robin at the corner of her eye he rolled his eyes and shook his head with a scoff.

"It's not as exciting as you think it is. All I had to do was escape from a few cuffs is all, Marisa's just blowing everything out of – what the –!" Robin nearly fell off the guardrail as he leaned away from Marisa who had suddenly shot up from her seat and rushed up to him with a pair of real steel handcuffs. Naturally, being a thief, he flinched and glared at them, Raven almost expected him to hiss like a water-despising cat, "Put that shit away what the hell do you think you're doing! Do I even want to know why you have those?"

Marisa smirked innocently as she snatched his wrist and yanked him off the guardrail onto his feet, "No, not really, turn around, so you can show Rae your talent!"

Robin got to his feet and Raven blinked as Marisa showed off the cuffs as if she was some show girl. Displaying the cuff's durability, and allowing her to touch it to show its authenticity, before standing aside to 'present' Robin who played along with that Hollywood smile of his. Slipping off his jacket as if he was modeling some knew fashion he threw it to the side then jerked an arm out and rolled up the sleeve, he did the same to the other then bowed before her. Marisa walked up to Raven and handed her the cuffs. Raven took it and raised a brow when Robin winked at her.

"It's to give trust to my audience that there is no trick to be had in this little show." He spun around on his heel and brought his hands behind his back, hands spread open he crossed them over, wrist over wrist and Raven stood up, she took hold of one wrist and mercilessly snapped on the cuff. Robin winced, "Hey now, no need to be so hostile."

Raven ignored him and snapped on the other cuff then backed away and sat in her chair as Robin looked over his shoulder and in a devious smile he jerked his arms apart, to show that she had cuffed him nice and tight. However, when he brought them together, then jerked them apart one more time, somehow his hands were outside of the cuffs and it was dangling on his thumbs! Turning around to face her he swirled them around his finger and snickered as Raven looked away while Marisa clapped, "An original escape artist."

Not surprised, Raven thought dryly and grabbed a glass of water to drink while Robin sat back on the guard rail.

"What's the matter angel? Not interesting enough?"

Raven scoffed, "Child's play."

Marisa giggled and Robin snorted and threw the cuffs at Raven, "You're stale."

Raven held up her hand and stopped the cuffs, Marisa immediately stopped laughing, "Oh my god …"

With the cuffs levitating in mid-air, Raven handed it over to Marisa who gasped when it dropped in her hands and stared at Raven and Robin in shock, "Who … whi-which one … of you … did that?"

Robin shook his head and Raven looked up at Marisa, "Don't be so surprised Van'Gareth … I'm sure you know a few more up your sleeves."

Astonished, Marisa put the cuffs in her pocket while staring at Raven in deep thought she nodded her head and took a seat next to Raven. All the while Robin watched them, trying to understand what Raven was getting at, just before coming here, Raven said something about knowing an enemy of the Van'Gareths. Now she was acting as if she understood their entire history, and Marisa seemed prepared to expose a secret that even he didn't know about her.

"I, really, have no idea what you're talking about …" Marisa smiled cautiously.

Raven snorted and got up form her seat to walk away from the table along the lanai, "Go figure you wouldn't … so … I guess you wouldn't know anything about Malchior, now would you."

Marisa's eyes seemed to grow a fraction of an inch, but it soon returned to normal and she nervously fiddled with the table cloth. Robin narrowed his eyes and stared at Raven, "Who's Malchior?"

Raven didn't answer him, Marisa looked up at Raven.

"…"

"…"

"…"

No one said anything, no one, but Raven, "Maybe … this will refresh your memory …" she spun around and held out her hand her eyes glowing white, and shouted, "Flawthrex!"

X jumped to his feet, "Shit! Marisa –!"

"Robin! Down!" Marisa was already on her feet she held out her hand and received the full force of Raven's attack, catching it in her hand and bringing it close to her chest. She hunched over and X stared in shock as her light green eyes looked up at Raven and the fireball Raven threw at her in her hands was crushed and turned to ash.

Raven's eyes dimmed back to violet and she raised a sarcastic brow, "I take it you do know what I'm talking about."

X stayed tense preparing for anything, as Marisa glared at Raven, "Who are you?"

"Just your average everyday treasure hunter," Raven shrugged and leaned on the stoned guardrail looking out to the ocean, "although, I would like it if you could show me to your … special library. I need some harmless information from there."

Marisa glanced at X, and then turned back at Raven, "Harmless information? People like you don't use power for good; you do it for your own selfish need!"

"Me …? Selfish?" Raven rolled her eyes, "Looked in the mirror lately?"

Marisa faltered and backed up glancing discreetly at X with a disapproving frown.

Obviously suspicions about whether or not X had told Raven their little history, and not liking how he could

X never took notice; he was too busy staring at Raven, noticing something … wasn't right …

"Like she knows what true power really is …" Raven's breath caught … that voice … it was her father's … no … it was hers … no her father's, she wasn't sure … but she could hear it with the same malicious intent dripping from every word it whispered in the back of her head, "… maybe we should show her …"

Her eyes dimmed black, but back to violet when she clenched the guardrail for her life and tried as hard as she could to appear perfectly sane, but X could sense something was wrong and rushed up to her side. Marisa blinked in confusion as she watched him put a hand on her back, and though she didn't hear what they were saying she turned away feeling awkward just standing there as X tended to whatever need Raven had. "You alright?"

"This fool is starting to grate on my last nerve … kill him!"

"No," Raven blurted out, closed her eyes and gritted her teeth then shook her head, "I mean … Marisa, her family is a descendent of a strong line of sorcery … no doubt she should have a library containing the potion we need … we have to get down there …"

"Not in this state," X protested, and Raven nodded.

"I know … I know, I'll wait at the car."

"You sure?"

Raven looked into his eyes and reassured him, "Better that then to find Marisa floating dead along the beach shore."

He got the point, but shrugged, "But what am I looking for?"

"Anything within the category of slave control, that kind of thing."

"Are you letting him live?! How dare you! Kill him! NOW!"

Raven felt herself blacking out, but she maintained control long enough to feel X slipping an arm around her waist helping her back towards the front of the estate, she even heard him tell Marisa to just stay put and he'll be back. Only reaching the main-entrance, Raven fell to her knees. X grunted, not exactly expecting her sudden collapse, "Come on Raven, on your feet, we have to at least get you to the stairs, AH!"

Claws, claws dug into his shoulder, he heard her growling, but when she jerked her head up to look at him her eyes may have momentarily turned black, but they flashed back to violet and gave him a desperate expression for help, "I can't … you have to … get Marisa … and go …"

"I told you once, I'm not going anywhere." he promised despite the vise grip she had on his shoulder, he gasped when she pulled her claws out, but still held him as she struggled to fight her own mind.

That sweet smell wafted under her noise …

She remembered that smell from last night …

His blood …

Sweet … intoxication, she held her breath for as long as she could to deny her insane self the pleasure of wanting more of him as he pressed her body against his and carried her to her feet. She leaned on him for a moment and the urge to breath kicked in, she inhaled deeply and took in his scent, vanilla and some kind of soap, but another side of her smelt only two things. He was male and his blood was sweet, she groaned unwillingly, and X thought that she must have been in pain, "Raven? What's wrong?"

She held onto his clothes, held on for dear life and mumbled incoherently into his shirt.

"What?"

"I … need you," she looked up her eyes still violet, but the white parts were bleeding black as she grinned a fanged grin and tip toed up to hover mere centimeters close to a dangerous kiss, "If I can't kill you, then I'll have you."

Faster than she could once again dig her claws into his shoulder X slid out of her grasp and from his pocket pulled out another of Otto's antidotes, only a small dose, but he was sure it'll control her. Because as far as he could tell, with her bowed head and haggard breathing, she was fighting with determination to win, X slowly approached her, "Raven … if you're in control, node your head."

She whimpered and shook, and with much strength she nodded, X rushed up to her and stabbed the needle into her shoulder, "You're going to feel numb for a few minutes, maybe a little light headed, but other than that … just … sit right here and don't move."

Again, she nodded and followed his instructions, sitting down in lotus form though slightly hunched she got in her meditative pose and closed her eyes, "Az-azarath … Me-me-metrion … Zinthous … Azarath … Metrion … Zinthous …"

Slowly X backed away and stuffed the needle back in his pocket, checking to be sure she was still sane he hesitantly turned away to return to Marisa, glancing at his bleeding shoulder he winced when he moved it. Other than that he was thinking of the perfect lie to tell Marisa … who apparently had come from a long line of witches, Yeah … how do you handle that fact … He thought dryly, as he stopped just short of entering the lanai staring at Marisa who stared back at him as if she was afraid of what he might think now that he knew the truth. He chuckled when her eyes bugged out at his shoulder, "No big deal, uh … Rae just sort of … slipped on the stairs. Her nails were sharper than I expected."

Marisa got closer to him and frowned saying softly, "Liar … unless she dug them in … these were done intentionally."

"Cutie," X smirked, "I may be a liar, but I'm not the one that's a witch here … now … as long as we're being completely honest with ourselves. Mind sharing with me your little potion collection."

Marisa looked away from him and her frown deepened, "Ah … Rex … I don't think that's such a –"

With a hand on her cheek, Marisa looked up and her breath was stolen when his hypnotically beautiful onyx eyes bore into her soul and she knew that she could just never deny him. With her throat suddenly becoming a desert she gulped and blushed when he whispered sweetly, "Marisa … despite what you may think … I still consider you a close friend … I've forgiven you for the things you've done." Then, he grinned, and she shuttered, "Besides, you owe me after that little incident sometime ago, messy subject dealing with pregnancy scares."

He looked into her light-green eyes and saw that he nailed her like a sucker stuck on lollipops and lemon-drops, completely wrapped around his widdle-fwingers … just the way he liked'em.

"Fine … but you must swear to me on your life that you'll keep this a secret and Rae to! Even though I'd like to talk to her about Malchior …" she added as an afterthought as she broke away from Robin and sighed in frustration.

Robin raised a brow, "By the way, who's Malchior."

"Not really a 'who' whereas to 'what'," Marisa gestured for him to follow her along the lanai down the stairs into a basement, "Rex … Malchior's a dragon that my distant cousin Rorek of Nol had faced and defeated. That was a few thousand years ago … there is no possible explanation that Rae could give to know about him!"

"Unless this dragon wasn't really 'defeated' in the first place."

Marisa scoffed, "Let's hope that's not the case, think chameleon and that phantom thief who died a few days ago when you're thinking about Malchior, he can be the wolf in sheep's clothing and is smart enough to fool a Titan into thinking he's like their best friend or something. Trust me, he's not the kind of enemy neither of us wants in this time of year where honor means nothing and chivalry is dead."

"Right … but I can't agree with you on the chivalry is dead part, at least not where I'm concerned." Robin tilted his head towards Marisa who giggled and on her tip-toes she reached up and looked ready to kiss him full on the lips, but stopped suddenly and pecked his cheek. Robin couldn't help to chuckle, "Why'd you stop?"

She sighed she shrugged, "You have someone else in your life right now … I can see it in your eyes."

He scoffed and ran a finger along her hair to get it out of her face, "What she don't know won't hurt her."

Marisa laughed, "And you say chivalry isn't dead?"

"I don't have a girl, Marisa."

"And Rae –"

"Rae," Robin stopped her, "is another story … we're 'colleges' I guess you can say and you know me, strict rule with people I work with."

Marisa giggled and finally brought the both of them down into a hidden basement, putting her hand on the wooden ancient door. It glowed red for a few seconds then opened on its own accord to allow her into the chamber. Robin took a step, but cried out when he was suddenly thrown out and slammed against a stone wall. Marisa gasped and ran for him, "Robin!"

"Agh … what the fuck?!" Robin held on to the back of his head, rubbing it to feel for any bleeding. Of course he knew he wasn't, it was just human nature to be sure as he brought a hand in view to see nothing was wrong. Only that he had a big headache and he was thrown a good 6 feet from the door. He gave Marisa a hard look then asked, "What the hell was that?"

Marisa glanced back at the door to see the barrier waver back into its invisible form and she looked embarrassed, "I'm sorry Robin, I forgot, only my families' allowed in there, it's been like that since the witch scare and my great-great-great-great-so-and-so grandmother was nearly burned at the stake."

Robin growled, "You know, that would have been a lot more helpful before I stepped in."

He winced and looked at his shoulder, Marisa sighed and helped him to his feet, "I wish I knew how to break the barrier … it's powerful … very much so."

"Yeah … but two heads are better than one … I'll be right back," Robin rushed out of the cellar back towards the main-entrance where he knew he left Raven, "Angel, I need … your … help …? Raven?"

Raven …

Was gone … and the door was left wide open …

--

"Who would you prefer to be your best friend? Paris Hilton? Or Hilary Duff?"

Jamie cringed, "Ooo … I'd have to go with Paris Hilton."

Otto raised a curious brow, "Why? I thought you hated Paris."

"Yeah, but Hilary's too 'Disney', she'll call me up on a frickin' Monday and ask if I want to come over for nice game of checkers! At least with Paris, I'll have an excuse to tell my boyfriend why I'm getting laid without him."

"Why do you do that? If you really don't like him, and he's possessive why cling to him?"

"Because he's fun," Jamie shrugged when Otto gave her a dry look, "what? I told you, if I had the chance I'd be with Rob right now I'd take it in a heartbeat."

"Well you have multiple chances."

"He's working on a case … and when he works on a case nothing can stop the bastard, a fuckin' obsessed workaholic, despite his laid back appearance. That nonchalant attitude of his? It's an act! It just means he's thinking, that's why he's such a fuckin' genius!"

Otto shrugged, "I don't know, I'd like to think he's just lucky with talent."

Jamie rolled her eyes, "You can go a head and think what you will, I still say he's an obsessed bastard that takes life way too seriously."

"Wouldn't that conflict with the fact that he's chilled and doesn't give a damn most of the time?"

Jamie glared at her brother, "Oh shut-up, why do you always have to ruin my image on the guy anyway, I mean I know you don't like him so much, but come on! Can't a girl dream?"

Brriiinnnggg …!

The phone rang …

Jamie scoffed and leaned back in her chair while Otto answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Otto! Activate the homing device, Raven's vanished!"

"What!" Otto looked at his sister who tilted her head and blinked, "Al-alright … hold on … what homing device?"

"The one I put on the gift I gave her!"

"Wait, you got her a gift?"

Jamie jumped to her feet and took the phone away to scream excitedly, "You gave her a gift? AWE! That is SO sweet! You never give your flings gifts!"

Otto slapped his forehead and stole the phone back, "Jamie!"

She shrugged, "Sorry."

"Rob, what are you –"

"I didn't tell you guys? Fuck! Run to Hawthorne, break in if you have to, just get to my room and activate the tracker. Call me on this number once you find her."

"Got it." Otto hung down and turned to Jamie, "We gotta run."

"He got her a gift … wow …" Jamie thought as she followed her brother, "Otto! He got her a gift!"

"It had a homing device. What kind of a gift is that?"

"It means he cares!" Jamie squealed, "Oh my god! I'm totally freaking out!"

Otto rolled his eyes, "Ya think? Focus Jamie Raven's gone!"

"Right, right she's … Raven's gone!"

Since they were already in the car, Otto slammed on the brakes and gave his sister a disbelieving look, "I can NOT believe you just noticed that, because if you're really that slow I will disown you as my sister right. Now."

"What? Being a little slow on the up take while noticing that your friend is acting a little weird is normal. You can't tell me you're not the least bit curious about the whole gift thing!"

Otto started up the car again shaking his head thinking, This, can't be my sister …

Jamie squealed in her own head, Ooo I am so going to nail his ass for this one!

--

ZZIINNGG!

Raven leapt up high and flipped over the flying daggers that targeted her, dropping on one knee and her hand on the ground she looked back and couldn't believe what she was seeing! Cheshire … the assassin? That's right, the masked assassin stood up on a branch in the trees holding daggers in one hand, a sword on her back, a freaky cat mask on her face and in a short kimono. She appeared to glare down at Raven and faster than sorceress could calculate she vanished from sight and from behind her whipped her long hair around and nailed Raven on the back of the head.

"AH!" going down face first on the dirt, Raven gritted her teeth and dug her claws into the ground, grabbing dirt and leaves she flung them back at the assassin who was ready to put a dagger in the back of her head.

Caught off guard by the desperate attempt, Cheshire stumbled back, and yelped when Raven swept her off her feet and climbed on top, gripping her neck. Cheshire flipped Raven off of her and slammed her into a near by tree. Raven quickly got to her feet and held up her arms to block a swift kick to her face, grabbing her ankle; Raven pulled her close and smashed her elbow in the mask then threw Cheshire to the ground. Cheshire dropped, but didn't stay down, Raven ended up having to evade her once again when sharp knife like claws swiped at her again and again until her eyes glowed white, "Azarath! Metrion! Zinthous!"

Raven threw up the roots from the trees and used them as her own weapons against Cheshire's swift moves. The assassin darted in and out nimbly through the attacking roots, chopping any that got in her away then all together, just disappeared. Raven panted and gulped, catching her breath she stayed on guard and sensed for movement … her aura … trying to feel her out, then, out of the sudden Raven heard the knifes swiping from behind.

As fast as she could, Raven ducked down, but not fast enough, one of the long blades made a shallow cut along her back as she rolled to avoid the cat. Staying low, Raven jumped back when Cheshire stabbed down into her and stupidly got her blades stuck in the dirt. Giving Raven the chance to charge and deliver a hard kick to the side of her head, it not only knocked Cheshire's blades out of the ground, but flung her a good few feet to the left.

Skidding to a stop, Cheshire propped herself up on her elbows and hesitated when she saw Raven's glowing white eyes, obviously the rumor about Raven being dead was still circulating. Raven took that as an advantage and levitated, bringing up the fallen willow vines that Cheshire had cut down during their brawl, Raven swirled it around the assassin and disoriented her giving Raven the chance to disappear. Only to reappear far away from Cheshire's spot, leaning against another tree.

Raven closed her eyes and caught her breath, She's fast … she thought tiredly and in defeat as she bowed her head, I'm not so skilled in physical combat –! Raven let out a surprise yelp when she felt someone grab her and slap a hand around her mouth to silence her. Recognizing the aura she slightly calmed down, but glared as X whispered, "Where the hell do you get off running into Willow Grove? This place is big enough to get lost in if you don't know your way around."

He let her go and Raven hissed, "Shut-up! I was chased by Cheshire …"

His masked eyes widened, "Cheshire? What the hell does she want … with you …"

Raven didn't catch his sudden loss of thought as she gritted her teeth.

"I don't know, but apparently someone put a hit on me," Raven peered around, paranoid; they were making too much noise.

X shook his head, "No … it's not a hit … it's a test …"

Raven turned back on X and gave him an odd look, "What are you talking about?"

"What I mean is …" X hesitated to say and Raven waited for an answer, but he suddenly changed subjects, "Fuck! Marisa's still back at the house, let's go!"

X took off and Raven followed, but X tripped over a hidden rope that exposed the giant tiger hole in the middle of the ground complete with spikes, he fell right into it, but Raven caught his ankle and held on for dear life. She grunted when she felt how heavy he was and how hard it was to keep him suspended when a moment of panic washed over him, "Holy shit! Who the fuck put that there! Raven! Pull me up now!"

Raven gritted her teeth and tried to find some common ground, "Stop moving damnit!"

"You try dangling with your head close to a fucking spike and see how you like it!"

"Do you want me to drop you! You damn bastard!"

"That shit ain't funny!" Raven took a deep breath, calmed down and using her powers she floated X out of the pit and dropped him on the ground next to her. He stayed there for a moment panting trying to drop his adrenaline down to a minimum as he gulped, closed his eyes and growled, "Goddamn … since when had Marisa set traps on her property?"

"I don't think that was Marisa's." Raven got up and dusted herself off from the dirt, but stopped and huffed, there was no use looking pretty – ssssshhhhh! Raven spun around when she heard an arrow aimed at her heart, catching it just inches before it hit, she stumbled and nearly tripped into the same pit she pulled X out of, but steadied herself and stared at the arrow. Noticing it had a strange dangling paper on the end that was on fire, it almost cost Raven her life if she wasn't fast enough to register just what it was.

It was a letter bomb!

She tossed it into the pit and cringed when the explosion was strong enough to pop her ears, X scrambled to his feet and looked around as Raven growled and grabbed his wrist, "Come on! She's after me, Marisa's safe."

"Yeah … –"

"Hold your breath!"

"Wha –!" X immediately listened when Raven dragged him into her darkness and before he knew it they were at the steps of Marisa's mansion just in front of his car. Not use to that kind of teleport, X tripped down the stairs and landed on his back, Raven hurried after him as he groaned and shuttered at the chill that went down his spine, "Ugh … am I supposed to feel so cold?

"Get up," Raven ordered, "we have to get out of here."

He listened, and walked to the driver's side, but asked, "But what about the potion thing? I mean …"

"Never mind that, we have to go." He growled and got in, started the car and pulled out of Marisa's estate, traveling down the same road they came, Raven leaned on the chair and closed her eyes tiredly finally getting a chance to relax.

However, knowing her luck, she wasn't about to get a wink of R&R anytime soon as X finally said what he was supposed to back at the Grove, "Raven … that was a test by Slade … he wanted you to loose control … Cheshire was a sacrifice, you were supposed to kill her."

"…" Raven opened her eyes and narrowed them on X who glanced at her for a moment then set his sights back on the road as she sat up and scooted as far away from him as she could within the car. Bowing her head and letting her long locks fall to cover her face she gripped the car door handle and said in a sort of chocked tone, "… stop the car …"

He didn't.

Raven gritted her teeth, and felt her claws dig into the leather upholstery of his car as she growled dangerously low, "I said … Stop. The. Car."

"…" not wanting to be the cause of her wrath – even though that was a bit late – he pulled over on the side of the road and Raven yanked the knob and got out of the car, taking off the bracelet he gave her, she threw it in his car and stormed down the road by herself. X just sat there, his head leaning back against the car seat feeling like a complete moron. Reaching down to grab the sapphire she tossed he got out of the car and jogged to catch up with the briskly walking Raven, "Raven … hold on, Cheshire could still be tracking you … could you stop!"

"I could," she snapped back sarcastically, never looking over her shoulder or bother to even try and look at the thief just because of the tears that were rolling down her face, but like the true heartless Ice Queen her voice was steady and cold, "but it doesn't mean I'm going to."

She reached up to wipe the escaped tears away and sighed, looking the other way when she sensed X had caught up to her and was walking beside her on her right. He attempted to stop her with a hand on her shoulder, but she smacked it away and practically ran from his reach forcing him to keep up, "You're being unreasonable."

Raven scoffed and waved her finger in the air, "I'm being unreasonable he says … he works with Slade and expects me to jump off the damn bridge because he says so?"

X scowled and glared at her, folding his arms across his chest he called out to her, "And she's acting like a damn spoiled brat."

"Oh?" Raven spun around and mocked him, "and let's not forget that he's the one born into riches."

"His mother married into riches … did he not just tell her that Leon wasn't his father?"

She snorted and turned back around to continue walking, "Like she's supposed to believe you."

X rolled his eyes and caught up to her, "Then who else are you going to believe? I'm the only one out here that you know! What the fuck am I missing that gives you the right to keep dissin' me from point A to point B!"

She couldn't take it anymore … she couldn't take how clueless he could be … so she told him off, at least she would have if he hadn't made a sudden move, and Raven couldn't help to flinch back when he got a hold of her wrist and pulled her close to him. Bracing for some kind of impact, she instead watched as he snapped on the sapphire around her wrist … but still held onto her, not tightly, but not so gently either. Just about right to give her the idea that he wasn't going to let go. She seethed, never looking up, but glaring at the ground angry with herself … no, angry with him … or … was she just frustrated about the whole confusion of the situation?

Raven didn't know, and she didn't want to know especially when X let her wrist go and he walked away from her, back to the car, hands in his pocket with a slow deliberate pace. He wanted her to follow him … and she didn't want to … but did she really have a choice? Yes, yes she did … just like back in Steel City … she could choose to run – or fly – far away … maybe contact the Titans. Get her way back home … she could run and never have to deal with X again.

She knew she had that choice … and a while back when her train of thought was different she knew she would have taken that chance with out a single doubt in her mind. So what stopped her now? Raven wasn't quite sure … but as she glanced down at the sapphire wrapped around her wrist … a different kind of pain clenched her heart. Looking up at X, she saw he had stopped about half-way between her and his car with his head slightly tilted to look back at her … he was waiting … he wasn't pushing her … he was waiting.

Why would he?

He could just leave her there … unless he had another agenda – and Raven was damn sure he did have other things to deal with.

He could even just drag her into the car, knock her out, and lock her up somewhere.

Treat her like dirt …

Like a little toy to play with whenever he so pleased.

He could be just like Slade and use her to his advantage.

He had choices, same as her …

So what stopped him?

Were their answers the same?

Were their questions the same?

He looked away, but never moved …

She did the same and the wind blew between them, trying to fill a gap that was hopelessly spread apart after the wall had been knocked down. Both were too stubborn to move, neither even had an idea of what to do, even how to proceed after almost everything has been said. Most things said out of anger and frustration rather than being thoughtful or meaningful … yet … then again … neither was very good at expressing meaningful words without being set off.

She sighed.

He shifted.

Raven closed her eyes and took the first step to close their gap.

A damning step on her behalf, it symbolized defeat and submission to his power over her and she almost expected him to turn around and smirk at her approach. Yet, when he did turn around, what she saw was the exact opposite; he looked almost regretful that she was coming towards him. She could just feel his emotions spiraling out of control, was he just as confused and frustrated as she was? Raven wasn't a psychic, she wouldn't know … all she knew was, by the time she was a foot away from him he was making his way back to the car.

ZING!

Raven blinked when out of the corner of her eye she saw something sharp and shiny cutting through the trees just off the side of the road, it wasn't headed for her … but for the unsuspecting Thief. Oh, no … Suddenly life seemed to come to a screeching halt as she found herself lunging forward to protect him, her arm with the sapphire on it stretched out, the gem shimmered under the reflection of the sun as her hand snatched his shirt and yanked him back, "Robin!"

Startled he turned to face her, but as he did the sharp object that turned out to be a dagger made its last revolution and the blade impaled itself into the left side of his chest. Hard enough to jerk him back, his onyx-eyes widened in more shock than pain as he fell, Raven felt herself fall with him, on her knees, by his side completely dumbstruck as she whispered his name, "Robin …"

Cheshire, hidden within the trees tilted her head and pulled up a communicator, "… Mission accomplished …"

((--))

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, so get off my back about it!

A/N: HAHAHA!! I killed him! Score! But … seriously … if you're not lost by now than it's a damn miracle, and if I have held your interest for this long is another miracle, I was actually expecting people to stop reading –

Not that I want you to stop reading, no! By all means …

Just review, drop a comment, and because I'm such a good nice girl … I'll spoil you with a little bit of the next chapter.

Preview:

Raven damn near fainted when his sapphire blue eyes made contact with hers and widened nearly as big as hers. Time crawled to a halt when he shot up from the couch and his mouth dropped open … Raven froze and lucky for her no one else was in the vicinity or else people would be looking at her funny when she whispered his name. His alias, "… Robin …?"

"… … … Raven?"

Oh … God …

L8er daze!