A/N: I didn't realize how long it had been, but I have the summer now.
Chapter Eleven:
He tries for nonchalance.
"Old friend, old enemy, same difference."
He gives a dismissive wave of his hand, winces.
"Not when your mattress is serving the function of a sponge," I growl back.
"It doesn't matter now," He returns. "She's dealt with."
"Dealt with?" Robin echoes suspiciously.
"She?" I growl in the same moment.
He grins. The expression spreads slowly across his face as he turns to look at me.
"Jealous, Raven?"
"Not at all."
I keep my voice emotionless.
"I could do much worse damage."
He is silent for a moment. Stunned. Then he laughs. I push him gently down to the bed and lay my hands on his back. The soft tingle of the healing washes through me, and he's wincing as the torn edges of his skin pull themselves together. When they have knit, he muffles a relieved sigh in the pillow.
"Your ankle hurts?"
He turns his head to look back at me over his shoulder, then rolls over entirely, sitting up against the wall.
"Yes," He admits.
I take that too in my hands, watching his face as blue light shimmers above his skin. He smiles at me. The expression is intimate. I hear Robin turn away behind us.
"You may go," X says, benevolent.
I glare at him, but the door closes behind me.
"What happened?
He shakes his head.
"It doesn't matter. It's been dealt with."
A slow smile, knowing.
"I'll be fine."
He takes my face in his hands then, pulling me forward to kiss me softly. I kiss back, sharper and more urgent. Understanding, he returns the urgency, hands running down my back to pull me close. I run my own hands over his chest and shoulders, down his arms, assuring myself that he is okay. He grins against my mouth.
"I could get used to this," He sighs when we break apart, "Having such a beautiful woman fawn over me."
"Don't push it," I snap.
He kisses me again, just a light brush of lips, and relaxes back against the pillows.
"I am sorry I worried you," He says softly.
"You should be," I return, unable to put my usual coldness into the tone.
"Are we going back to the beach, then?" He wants to know.
"I suppose we could," I sigh. "We have half a day yet of vacation."
He smiles, rising slowly.
"Good, then let's get back. Wouldn't want to ruin your vacation."
))o((
Robin is silent as we drive back to the beach, but he smiles at me in the mirror and I return the expression. X and I are sitting in the back together. He insisted that I sit with him. Clingy thief. But his arm around my shoulders is a comforting weight.
Jericho greets us in the parking lot with a warm smile and when he meets my eyes there is laughter in his.
You two make a cute couple…
The thought is floating at the forefront of his mind for me to see.
"If you ever apply the word "cute" to me again, Joey, I will do unspeakable things to you."
He laughs, completely unconcerned. X stares at me, gone very still.
"I do not read thoughts without permission," I say, answering the question he was trying not to ask.
The thief has the grace to look a little sheepish.
"I know," He murmurs.
Do you? I want to ask, but I don't.
Our little group steps onto the sand as Kid Flash speeds past, waving, while Speedy yells something after him. Cyborg is whistling as he flips burgers. The scene that met me in X's apartment seems far away from this sun-drenched sand. I lean against his side, watching Jericho's hands flash animatedly while Herald laughs at whatever he's saying. Starfire and Bee have started up a game of volleyball with Beast Boy and Mas y Menos.
Cyborg calls lunch and the groups dissolve quickly, everyone rushing for the grill. I settle down to wait with X. Beast Boy is loudly voicing his usual complaints about meat. Kid Flash snuggles up against Jinx, grinning smugly while Speedy grumbles about the theft of his comb. We could almost be a group of normal teenagers, I think as I lean against X's shoulder.
Robin's communicator ruins the illusion. Frowning, he hands his plate to Starfire while he flips it open. We all wait silently for the verdict. He shoots us a smile.
"I can handle this one."
Beast Boy grins approvingly and Cyborg goes back to his grill, but Starfire and I lock eyes over Robin's bowed head and I disentangle myself from X's arms.
"Who is it, Robin?"
He shows me the screen. Control Freak. I nod.
"Be careful and call for back up if you need it."
Robin laughs.
"Now who's being paranoid?"
I suppose that was a bit over-protective of me, but I had to say it. I manage a slight smile.
"Go on then. Protect your city."
He brushes a hand over my shoulder on his way to the parking lot, a silent appreciation of my concern. I go back to X, who is laughing over some stupid joke Kid Flash just told, and don't protest when he pulls me onto his lap.
))o((
After lunch, Jericho gets out his guitar again, playing softly to himself while most of the others go to play volleyball. Jinx remains with our little group, slathering another layer of sunscreen over her skin. She offers it to me and X snatches it, drawing a cold line over my back before I can do anything about it. His hands rubbing it in are warm though and I slump forward a little, feeling a little foolish and very pampered.
- "Defeat me, Robin? You can't even control your own team." -
X looks at me sharply when I gasp, jerking his hands back from my skin as though he might be the cause.
- Flash of light and dark. Orange. Black. "People will find out, and they will blame you. You are the leader. You hold the responsibility."
I rise and pull him away from the fire by a sunscreen slick hand while he looks at me with surprised concern. Slade. Robin is somehow facing Slade alone and -
- "She's a liability, Robin." -
"Robin knows," I whisper once we're out of the others' hearing. "You have to go. Go now."
"What?" He demands. "How?"
"Slade. Do you know what Robin will do to you if he finds you here?"
X shakes his head.
"I don't care. I won't leave you to deal with them alone."
"You're going to have to," I snap. "I can handle myself and there is very little he can do to me. Starfire knows," I add to reassure him. "And she will be able to calm him down…"
…I hope.
He sighs and draws me close, bending to press his lips softly to mine. I can barely breath by the time he pulls back, familiar grin firmly in place.
"Alright," He murmurs, "Alright.
But it's too late. Robin must have contacted Cyborg because X is suddenly pulled away and Cyborg is scowling down at me.
"I thought maybe you didn't know, but I see you do."
A metallic click makes it final, handcuffs closing around X's wrists. He smiles ruefully.
"It had to happen sometime, love."
But I look at his face and I know he's covering. I can feel how afraid he is. He is not the kind of person that will do well behind bars.
Cyborg starts to pull him away. If I'm going to do anything I have to do it now. I shouldn't even be considering this. He's a thief. It would destroy my bond with Robin, my friendship with Cyborg and Beast Boy and Starfire.
I flick two fingers in their direction and the handcuffs fall apart. Cyborg looks at me with shock and betrayal in his eyes but X doesn't bother, taking off over the sand. Ten feet down the beach he disappears. Cyborg stops in the middle of raising his arm and turns back to me, shaking his head.
"This is bad, Rae."
There is no warmth in the familiar pet name and my heart twists.
"I know," I choke out.
I settle down on the sand to wait for Robin's return with Cyborg standing guard. It would be a matter of a thought to be gone from here, but I won't do it. Any chance of reconciliation it will be lost if I run. And if there is still a chance I do not want to lose it.
I shouldn't have done it, but I love him.
"I love him," I breathe.
Cyborg shakes his head. That isn't enough. It doesn't excuse anything. Not for him and certainly not for Robin. I know it doesn't. It doesn't matter now. What's done is done.
Footsteps on the sand.
Robin is back.