Famous for Being Famous

Tinted

Everyone froze in the middle of what they were doing and looked amongst themselves, X swallowing his sandwich and narrowing his eyes on Raven and Jinx, "Either of you two expecting anyone?"

They both shook their heads, Jinx asking, "You?"

"No," the three looked at Tru.

The little girl shrugged, "Don't look at me."

DING! DONG!

Mr. Hedrick walked into the kitchen from the patio door; he appeared to have been tending to the gardens when he heard the second ring. Sighing tiredly he entered the cool kitchen and paused when he saw everyone gathered around the counter, unmoving when the bell rang for a third time. He shot the occupants a dry look, "You know … I may be the caretaker of this house, doesn't necessarily mean you all should rely on me for everything."

X scowled, "Just answer the damn door Hedrick."

Hedrick snorted, "Rude."

With an upturn of his nose, he marched though the kitchen and towards the door when an urgent knocking began, X, Jinx, and Raven all jumped off their stools and piled along the edge of the entrance to watch Hedrick open the door. With X on the bottom, Raven over him, Jinx on top, Tru glanced at the three of them, rolled her eyes, and shook her head, "Teenagers."

Mr. Hedrick opened the door and was greeted by silky straight midnight blue-black hair that whipped about with the wind when it blew around her beautiful model-like body with all the curves in all the right places. She turned around and flicked her hair over her shoulder out of the way; stylish large brown tinted sunglasses shielded her sensitive, yet stunning jade-green eyes. Her complexion perfectly tan, and with her facial structure one would think she was Latina, but when she took her shades off to expose her jade-green eyes, they were almond in shape, slanted, Asian, exotic.

She smiled at Mr. Hedrick, "Hey there is James Jax here?"

Jinx arched a brow, "Who's she?"

James growled, "Damn it, what the fuck is she doin' here …"

He moved from the bottom of the stack and the sorceresses both jumped off, Raven quickly changing into Rae as James made himself known, "I can take it from here Hedrick."

Mr. Hedrick snorted and muttered as he walked away, "Oh, so now you know how to answer a door?"

James ignored the comment and smiled at the girl who's own smile could rival the morning sun's, she giggled and threw herself at James to grab him in a tight hug, "Oh James I missed you so much!"

"Theo, I thought you were going to be at Gregorio's shoot?"

She pulled away and blushed, "Oh, I was, but I was afraid you wouldn't show up, considering, you know, Tru and all … I mean, Felix already took care of him if you're still mad …"

Raven arched a brow at that little comment, What does she mean by that I wonder …

James scoffed, "Trust Felix to get things done at the drop of a dime … come on in."

He stepped aside to allow her in, but he paused and glanced down the steps to the driveway, he frowned when he recognized an older woman, though stunning in her own right with her wavy brown-highlighted hair, she smiled and waved up at James. James cringed, "Oh-no … if she's here, that means …"

Once the woman stepped out, she leaned back into the car and beckoned for a little girl, no older than Tru to step out. The little girl with her shining blue eyes gasped, laughed out loud and raced towards the door, "Uncle Ryan! Uncle Ryan! Uncle Ryan!"

Theo cringed and grabbed the little girl before she could cling onto James, wrapping a hand around her mouth she hissed, "Jaquie! He's not your Uncle anymore, his name is James Jax, remember?"

Jaquie ripped herself away from Theo and glared, sassing her back, "Sorry miss thing, I forgot," she stuck her tongue out then turned to James and smiled like a perfect little angel, "Hello James, I missed you."

James smiled a frozen smile, gritting his teeth he prayed to the heavens above that Raven nor Jinx caught that, he should have known that God isn't that merciful. Raven did catch it, but she'll let it slide for now. The three newcomers were much more interesting as they walked in, especially the eldest, with her condescending sneer, "James, please, don't smile like that, you look like your brother when you do."

James scoffed, "And you're one to talk."

The woman took off her shades and propped it on top of her head as she smoothed her manicured hands on James's cheek and under his chin, her blue eyes sparkling deviously as she smiled sweetly, "Aw, I love you too little brother."

James sneered and scooted away from her, "I'm not your brother, Tiff."

Mrs. Tiffany Jaxon chuckled and as graceful as a cool breeze sauntered off to the living room with a flick of her wavy brown hair. Theo frowned and stepped up to James, wrapping her arms around his left arm; she leaned her head on his shoulder and cooed, trying to get his attention off Tiffany. She looked up at James and smiled meekly, "You're not mad that I brought them along are you? Tiff just wanted to see how you were doing … and well, Felix sent her down to check if you really did have Tru in your care."

James rolled his eyes and shrugged, "It's alright Theo, if Felix sent her down then she would have come anyway with or without you."

"So … you're really not mad at me?"

James smirked and bowed his head to kiss her forehead, sweeping his hand under her chin to tilt her head up so she could look at him. He gripped onto her hand when she slid hers into his, grinning as he connected his forehead to hers, "It's hard to be mad at you baby-girl."

Theo giggled, blushing beet red.

"Come on," James grinned as he squeezed her hand, "Lets take a walk."

"Okay …"

Tiffany leaned out of the living room and gave Theo a pointed look, "Theo, you two don't go too far, we still have to get to Greg's place for the shoot."

Theo called back as James lead her out the door, "Got it Tiff!"

Back in the kitchen, hidden from the couple, Jenny scoffed, "Fling huh …"

Rae glanced at Jenny quizzically, Jenny gestured at the closed door, "James didn't say? Theo and him had a thing a while back, he was her 'first' or that's the story …"

Enlightened, Rae nodded, but other than that kept silent and watched a ball of energy skip in their direction. Jaquie smiled at them both, but as if she owned the house she scooted by them and up to Tru, pulling up her own stool she sat by the cinnamon eyed girl and propped her chin in her palms, "Hey Tru, whatcha eatin'?"

"Cereal," Tru responded dryly, and took another bite.

Jaquie scrunched up her face in distaste, "Bleh … looks soggy … why don't you ask your servant to get you another bowl?"

"Because I'm not finished with this one."

"You don't have to be, what's the point in having a man-servant when you don't put him to good use?"

The moment she asked the question, Mr. Hedrick walked by the two, headed back out into the garden, but paused in mid-step to give the little girl a dark look. The temptation to pick up a frying pan and shoo the child from the kitchen was great, but like a good saint he resisted and promptly walked out the door. Tru, at the corner of her eye caught the look, and the corner of her lips turned up in a grin that would have made her brother proud. Chuckling, she shook her head and turned to Jaquie, "Lyn, really, that's your prerogative."

Jaquie-lyn Giana Dodger tilted her head, "My what?"

Tru rolled her eyes skyward, "Never mind."

Rae and Jenny left the kids to their meanderings and entered the living room where Tiffany was sitting. Legs crossed and reading the latest in the hottest fashion magazine, one that Rae actually recognized was Giovanni's Chic … shouldn't she be in that issue? Tiffany looked over her shoulder and smiled at the girls, "Oh, hey! You're Rae right? Love your work with James; you made him look like a prop instead of your partner in crime."

She emphasized her point and held up the magazine.

Jenny snatched it up and looked at the front page, her pink eyes widening and shining, her mouth with an open smile, "Oh … wow … that is amazing …"

In the picture was Rae, sitting on a desk cross-legged, with black plastic glasses in one hand the arm of which was poking in her mouth, her eyes shifted to the side where James was leaning on the same desk. One of his hands behind her, while the other was placed on her leg, Rae frowned, Oh God … I hope the team doesn't see this … I'll never live it down … fat chance of that happening. Starfire – she knew for a fact – reads every fashion magazine there was on the shelves!

No doubt she'd have grabbed the latest issue.

Rae forced a shy smile, "Wow … I barely even recognize myself."

Tiffany chuckled, "Ah the wonders of photoshop."

Whether that was an insult or compliment, Rae will never know, but Tiffany took her magazine back and continued to read. Jenny chuckled, but didn't continue the discussion with the dark look Rae had shot her; she shrugged innocently enough and walked to the bay window. Taking her seat she glanced out the window and blinked, then gestured for Rae to come sit by her, her pink eyes momentarily drifting to the entrance when Tru and Jaquie walked in.

Jaquie bounced over to Tiffany and threw herself on the couch next to her. Tiffany put a hand on her lap, "Lyn, sweetie, what did I tell you about jumping around other people's house?"

Jaquie smiled, "Sorry."

Tiffany rolled her eyes, "Goodness, sometimes I feel more like our mother, than your sister, ugh."

"Well it's not my fault mama always leaves me with you," Jaquie pouted, "I'd rather live with James anyway, he's more fun."

"Only because he's hardly ever around and gives you free range of his place." Tiffany looked around, "Speaking of the little devil where is he and Theo? I told them not to go far, they better not be fooling around, we don't have time for that, Greg's place isn't exactly nearby."

Jaquie snickered, "You trust James to keep his hands to himself?"

Tiffany snickered with her sister, "No I don't, but it's not James that I'm worried about." Tiffany glanced to the bay window where Jenny and Rae were both sitting with Tru reading some funny looking book. She called to them, she asked, "Hey, Rae, can you see James and Theo from there?"

Rae looked up and shook her head, "Nope, sorry, I was paying attention to Tru."

Tiffany huffed, "Well that's just spectacular."

Jaquie leaned close to Tiffany, wanting to read what she was reading.

Tru looked up at Rae and whispered, "Why'd you lie? They're just right there …" she pointed out the window into the trees were James and Theo were walking down a path that she knew lead to their privet beach.

Rae watched them with unreadable eyes, and patted the top of Tru's head, "James needs to talk to Theo."

Tru frowned, "But you're a DA aren't you? You can demand a conference with her … right?"

"It's a little more complicated than that."

Jenny chuckled, "Look at that," Jenny gestured out the window, she didn't have to, Rae was still watching them. Watching as Theo laughed at something James said, and blush when he reached up and smoothed back her hair behind her ear. Every little touch, every slight movement, and every look, and every smile, perfectly timed, and oh-so natural, Jenny shook her head, "He's good … you gotta give'em … oh … my … god …"

James kissed her, kissed Theo and it was no schoolyard kiss either, Tru rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time since she's been with her brother and returned her attention to her book. While Jenny looked to the still indifferent Rae that had also looked away and, like Tru, returned her attention to the book. Jenny scoffed and narrowed her eyes on Rae, nudging her shoulder she shrugged, as Rae glared, "What?"

Jenny gestured out the window, "You're not bothered by that?"

"Why should I be?"

"Come on, he's supposed to be helping us, and he's making out with his 'fling'? If you ask me those two are far from over each other."

"Their relationship is not my business."

"So … you're not bothered in the least?"

"No, I have no reason to be."

"Do you really need a reason to be irritated that he can be such a jerk sometimes?"

Rae arched a brow, "I'm assuming this means you and he aren't friends anymore?"

Jenny scoffed, "I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about you …" Jenny tilted her head, "You're … really not bothered? You trust him not to be setting you up with the Cross family?"

"…" there it was what Jenny was searching for, doubt, but as soon as she saw it, it was gone with a shrug of her shoulders, "I don't believe he's that stupid."

"… Uh-huh …" Jenny eyed Rae for a moment longer before shifting her eyes back out the window blinking when she realized she lost sight of her targets, searching for them in the sea of green, she sat up when she heard the front door open and close.

Theo was giggling away as she stumbled into the living room. Grinning at the occupants in the room as she leaned on the thrush-hold and held her breath when James walked passed her, but when he smirked she burst into another fit of giggles. Punching his arm she laughed, "Shut up! You're such an ass!"

James shrugged, grinning like he knew a secret everyone would kill to know, "What? I didn't say anything."

"But you're thinking it! Stop!" She still kept giggling.

It was driving Jenny crazy.

Rae stood up, the motion wasn't much, it wasn't even worth noticing, but James noticed. Out of the corner of his eye he watched her stand and glide across the room towards the stairs, Tru in tow. Just when she came near him he asked quietly, "Where you going?"

Theo didn't even catch it with all her giggling, so she thought he was talking to her, "What?"

He completely ignored her, so did Rae when she paused and looked up at him, the air churned with a strange vibe … it wasn't a comfortable one, but it wasn't uncomfortable either. It was just thick and heavy, as if piled on with so many words to say, but choked off by some unseen force. Rae, blinked and looked away as if it'll dispel whatever curse had fell upon them, it didn't, but she resumed character and shrugged, "Just upstairs to get ready, with the way Tiffany keeps complaining about being late, I don't want to be caught unawares."

"Oh," was all he could utter for some strange reason, that heavy vibe weighing down on his chest, cutting off his voice box.

He hardly noticed when Theo stepped into the conversation, and asked, "What's going on?"

Rae looked up at her and repeated herself, "Just getting ready to head down to Gregorio's shoot."

Theo perked up, "Oh! Right!" Then she flicked her wrist in dismissal, "You don't have to be in such a rush, with James's skills on asphalt I assure you, you won't be late for anything. By the way, I'm Theo Cross … you must be –"

"Rae, Rae Roth," Rae took her hand and shook it firmly.

Theo smiled, "Nice to meet you." She winked, "And I meant what I said earlier, about James and his skills."

She giggled, Rae looked to James who shrugged as if to portray modesty, he was failing miserably, "Come on Theo, you give me too much credit."

"But it's true! You're the only guy I know that's gone from Greg's mansion on the other side of the Wastelands, into the city in under an hour, when it's a four hour long drive."

James grinned at the memory; he won about half a mil for that little stunt, and a little extra considering he was under the clock with 5 seconds to spare. He looked to Rae and winked, "She is kind a right, but don't let her praise fool you, Theo here ain't no body's saint."

Theo bumped the side of her hip to his, "Shut up James, she don't need to know that about me."

James just went right on a head and said it, "You know Dragon's Tail right? You know that road that winds around the valley before opening into the West-Coast Beach? Yeah, Theo over here thought she was bad enough to race me through it … of course she lost, but damn did she give me one helluva hard time."

She glared, "You know, other guys would have let their girls win."

"Ah, but I'm not like other guys am I?"

She giggled and turned to Rae who had instructed Tru to go on upstairs and start her meditation – silently though, Theo didn't need to know they were practicing magic – Theo smirked, "So … what about you Roth? You know how to kick it in gear?"

Rae blinked slowly, thinking about it … should she play along, or let them take center stage, she tested the waters to see if Theo was genuinely curious, or being courteous, "Ah, my brother's into cars … and I've had my share of experiences."

Theo's eyes sparkled, "Really … like what? Legit … or other?"

"… A little of both."

"Oh come on, you're being very vague! Say it loud, say it proud, you a racer or not?"

Rae chuckled, "Let's just say I'm good enough to fly through Dragon's Tail, and leave it at that."

Now James was intrigued he tilted his head and Rae knew what he was thinking, he's only seen her drive a bus before; did she honestly know how to keep up? Theo grinned, "Mm … okay … wanna make a bet?"

James frowned, and warned Theo with a dark look, "Theo …"

Theo ignored him and propped a hand on her hip, Rae arched a brow, "What kind of bet?"

James glared at Rae, "Rae …"

"Well, Greg's shoot is taking place at his mansion, on the other side of the Wastelands. We don't have to beat James's record … but whoever gets their first within the hour gets … mm … I dunno, what have you got to offer?"

"What do you give to a girl that's got everything already?"

Theo smirked, "True, true … hmm … I guess … your spot in the photo shoot will have to do. You lose; you lose your deal and your interview, to me. I lose than you get my spot … how's that?"

A lame deal, considering the fact that Rae didn't even want to be apart of the photo shoot to begin with, but … an idea hatched, she'll lose on purpose, "Well … okay … that is, if James will let me have the keys to one of his rides."

Theo squealed, "Ooo! This is so exciting! I've never raced a commoner before … eep! I mean, oh god, I didn't mean to offend you, I just –"

Rae held up a hand to silence her, "It's alright, I get it."

Theo turned to James and grabbed one of his arms to plead with him while batting her eyes, "Oh James, please, please, please let her have free range over your garage! We promise not to pull stunts, only a straight race through the Wastelands. Please!"

James scowled, "You act like that in and of itself is safe, that place got so many twists and tunnels it's not even funny, I don't even know if Rae's any good …"

"You can ride with me to be sure," Rae suggested and Theo hooked on to it.

"Yeah! What she said! Come on James, it'll be fun, it'll be fun, it'll be fun."

"I really don't like this." His golden eyes locked on Rae and a conversation beyond Theo's comprehension went on between the two through their eyes. James wanting to know exactly what Rae's edge was in accepting the challenge, and Rae wanting to know if James's concern was based off of the welfare of human life. Or something else, either which, when the conversation turned into a debate, James lost miserably; no one could hold a candle to Rae's infamous dry expression. James threw up his hands in defeat at the same time threw Rae the keys to a Shelby GT 500, "Fine … but I'm shotgun, I gotta see this."

Theo pumped her fist in the air, "YES! Tiff! I got another victim!"

Tiffany arched a brow and put her magazine down for a moment to study the trio, "You mean … oh-no Theo, not this stupid racing thing again! I thought you grew out of that!"

Theo rolled her eyes, "Whatever, but I'm taking my Skyline this time! You coming? I got room for one more …"

Tiffany shuddered, she's been on the passenger seat with Theo and James and Felix more times than she can count and on all counts she was nervous as hell, but … with a tired sigh she stood up, "Whatever, someone has to make sure you don't get yourself killed, James, I hope you don't mind if Jaquie stays with Tru here?"

James shrugged, "Why not, everyone else seems to think my place is a crash pad, let her."

Jaquie grinned, "Really? Sweet!"

With that she jumped off the couch and ran out of the room, racing up the stairs to Tru's bedroom, Tiffany called out to her as a half-assed attempt at scolding her, "Jaquie, what did I tell you about running in people's houses?"

She was ignored, or not heard with every thump of Jaquie's feet against the stairs.

Theo squealed again, "Ooo this is gonna be so much fun! Meet you in the driveway, the race don't start until we hit the Santa Maria Freeway, got it?"

Rae nodded, "Got it."

"Great! Let's go Tiff!" Theo grabbed the reluctant Tiff's wrist and yanked her out the door.

Leaving James and Rae to silently, and uncomfortably head down to his garage, once inside with Rae unlocking the midnight-blue Shelby, X turned to her and glared, "What the hell are you trying to prove?"

Raven arched a brow as she took a hold of the driver's side door handle, looking up and over the roof of the small car to X at the passenger door, she answered dryly, "Nothing."

"Then why did you take Theo up on her offer?"

"Because I intend to get out of this photo shoot."

X's eyes widened in disbelief, "Wha … you took up the bet just so you can lose?"

Raven shrugged and slid into the car, X followed her, and once the doors were slammed shut she replied, "I don't see the point in continuing the shoot anymore now that I'm sure you've got Theo eating out of the palm of your hands … that is the reason why you kissed her right?"

For a split second X expressed a guilty, nervous look, but only for a split second, he recovered from it with a cool smirk and casual shrug, "Eh … yeah, let's go with that."

She slid the key into the ignition, but paused to look at X, "X … her family is looking to kill yours, you remember that … right?"

"Duh."

She sneered, "Just checking …"

With that, she started the engine and revved it as Mr. Hedrick opened the garage door, she put it in gear and before X knew what hit him, she tore out of the garage and spun out into the drive way. Coming inches from Theo's silver Skyline GT-R when she pulled up, Theo gasped, startled. Her jade-green eyes staring through her dark metallic blue tint on her windshield to Rae's dark indigo hues, that expressed nothing, but warned her to watch out.

Rae revved the engine and her grip on her wheel tightened.

Theo gritted her teeth and focused, but smiled mockingly and waved happily at Rae as she drove passed, around the loop-driveway and out the gate.

Both of them anticipating getting to the Santa Maria Freeway … the tension so thick that Jinx could feel it, while she was still in the house, having assigned herself to look out for Tru and Jaquie, she sighed heavily and shook her head.

--

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, DC reserved those rights (coughbastardscough) ;). I do however own Jaquie, Tiffany, Tru, and Theo … as well as Gregorio, Felix, and Mr. Hedrick

A/N: O.o … I dunno if the rest of u picked up on this, but I noticed that X – besides Mr. Hedrick – is the only DUDE in that house, lol …

yeah … simmer on that for a while, while I run away from the angry mob that don't like the fact that Theo poses an actually threat to the Rae/X pairing … yeah … I'm gonna start running now …

Just remember, gimme some feedback, and we'll see where it takes us …

L8er daez ;)