The door opened with a soft click and swung open. Rose's room reminded Beast Boy of someone else's room: Robin. It felt sterile. Back in the Tower everyone's room reflected their personality. Raven's room was dark and foreboding, in direct contrast to Starfire's abode, which almost felt like a child's room in its cheerfulness and brightness. Cyborg's room was both a monument to his past life, with trophies and award ribbons decorating it while at the same time it also looked like a workshop, a garage, where the tin man parked his chassis every night. And of course there was Beast Boy's old room, which wore its clutter and messiness like a mask, which he also wore. A mask that was meant to hide the pain the young man felt, that consumed him from the day he helplessly watched his parents die in an accident. And that continued to eat at him, from his failure with the Doom Patrol and culminating with his failure as a Teen Titan, leading to his final rejection and abandonment.

But Robin's room was void and sterile, just as much as Rose's was now. The changeling understood that the Boy Wonder's room was also a mask, much like the one he wore on his face. Even though they had lived together for years, Robin was an enigma to him. For one thing, he had yet to reveal his true identity to his teammates. Therefore there were no knick knacks, no photographs, nothing that would identify who Robin really was. He didn't even have civilian clothing in his closet.

Rose had no problem with Beast Boy learning her identity or seeing her face. But as he entered the personality free room he began to wonder … just who was Rose Wilson? What made her tick? Was she just a version of Slade with a hot female body? And most of all … what did Rose Wilson, the Ravager, want with Beast Boy, the fallen superhero and former Teen Titan.

Rose removed her twin sheaths from her back and reverently placed them on a rack on a credenza. Well, at least he knew what her most prized possession was. She then turned to the changeling and smiled.

"Hungry?" She asked.

He nodded his affirmation and she pressed an intercom button on the wall. A synthetic voiced answered her call.

This is the kitchen … how may we serve you Miss Rose?

"Send up some dinner for me and Garfield."

Do you have any preferences?

"Something vegetarian."

Dinner will require 12 minutes to prepare. It will be brought to your room when it is ready.

Rose sat down on the edge of her bed.

"I don't bite. Have a seat."

Beast Boy understood that was an invitation to sit next to her. He accepted and sat down, leaving enough spaces between them to accommodate two people.

"You performed well today."

"I did?"

"Yes, you did. You showed self discipline. The temptation to go back with them must have been great."

"What would have been the point of going back to them?" He asked.

"None. But an undisciplined mind would have hoped that there might be one."

His ears drooped.

"How did you know?"

"You lived with them for over four years. And even though they treated you like garbage and eventually betrayed you, they were the closest thing you had to a family, that is, until we rescued you from them."

She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You miss Raven the most, don't you?"

He sighed.

"I know, it doesn't make any sense. I mean, she totally hates me."

Rose chuckled. "She doesn't."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Rose patted him on the shoulder.

"She's dysfunctional, Gar. It isn't surprising; she is a half demon after all. But in her own messed up way she was probably the only one who cared for you. She did come see you in prison."

Beast Boy laughed half heartedly.

"And then there's Terra."

Rose sighed. "Yes, and we have a problem."

"Yeah, I know, she tried to kill Raven …"

"And you don't like to kill."

"Yeah, I don't."

Rose stood up and walked back to the credenza. He grabbed one of her katanas and in a swift and elegant motion she unsheathed it. She twirled the blade in front of her, its hard steel shimmering under the room's fluorescent lights.

"I'm not afraid to kill, Gar; not if there is a purpose. But Terra had no purpose. She has become a liability to our family."

He became slightly alarmed upon hearing her words.

"You guys aren't gonna get rid of her?"

Rose sheathed her sword and restored it to the credenza.

"Dad has a strange attachment to her, so she isn't going anywhere … but you know the saying … things change."

He stood up and approached her.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm gonna go out on a limb. She's jealous of Raven and put you into the 'doghouse', right?"

"Doghouse?"

"You've been banned from her bed; correct me if I'm wrong."

A frown appeared on his face.

"Have you guys been spying on us at night?"

She shook her head.

"No Gar, I haven't. But I know her all too well. She's always been jealous and insecure … very insecure. You deserve better than a loser like her."

The door suddenly opened and a Slade-bot, carrying a dinner tray entered the room. It placed their meals on a small table and left without even acknowledging them.

"Let's eat." She invited him.

He sat down and sniffed the food, which was perfectly prepared. He picked up his fork and looked at her, sitting across the small circular table from him.

"What are you trying to tell me, Rose?"

Ravager hesitated before replying.

"Nothing … anyway … we need to talk about the next mission, which is the day after tomorrow."

He stopped chewing on his food.

"That soon?"

"Yes, that soon, and this is a real mission. We need some Xenothium and a shipment is arriving in town. Dad says you're ready to work without transmutation circles."

He resumed eating and after swallowing a mouthful of tofu he responded.

"The Titans are going to be there."

"We're counting on it." She replied.

"No, you don't get it. They won't be expecting us. They'll be expecting Red X."

Rose snorted.

"There's been no sign of him in months. He left town months ago."

Beast Boy poked at his food.

"Maybe, but he'll be there. He always needs Xenothium and he loves to give us … I mean … the Titans the slip, he lives to make them look stupid. He's an arrogant jerk and Robin's been dying to bust him."

Rose smiled.

"Excellent, they won't be expecting you."

"What about Terra?"

"Oh, she'll be there with you."

Beast Boy pushed his food away, with a troubled look on his face.

"The two of us versus the Titans and Red X? That's a lot."

"You can do it, I know you can."

He smiled appreciatively.

"Thanks Rose, it's good to have someone believe in me."

She pulled him close to her and kissed him.

"I believe in you, Gar, and more, a lot more. Now you get some rest, we have a really busy day tomorrow. We'll be training all day for the mission."

-( scene break )-

As Beast Boy exited Rose's room he saw the Geomancer walking down the hallway, away from. Her gait was stiff, and her hands, while not balled, looked tense.

"Terra! Wait up."

She briefly turned around to look at him, but immediately resumed walking.

"Terra!"

"Leave me alone."

He sprinted to catch up with her. He ran past her and got in front of her, blocking her way.

"What's the matter?"

"You mean you really don't know?"

"No, I don't."

Terra snorted derisively as she walked around the changeling.

"You're pathetic; you're still in love with her."

"What are you talking about?" He shrieked.

Terra stopped and spun around.

"I can't trust you."

"What? You aren't making any sense!"

Terra marched up to him until they were face to face.

"Remember when I asked if you would be my friend, no matter what I did, and you promised?"

He nodded and gulped, knowing well where this going.

"And then you turned away from me."

"But Terra, you betrayed us."

"I DIDN'T BETRAY YOU! JUST THE OTHERS!" She screamed. "I got you out of the Tower before the attack, but all you could do was think of them. They were more important to you than I was!"

"Terra … that's not true!"

"Yes, it is! And now, here we are now, a couple, a real couple. Dammit BB, I sleep with you and it turns out that you aren't faithful to me."

"I am faithful! But I won't let you kill anyone, not even Raven."

Terra paused for a moment. She then placed her thumb on his mouth and rubbed his lips. She then showed him her thumb. It had lipstick on it.

Oh crap!

Terra spun around and marched away at a brisk pace.

"You can go sleep with Rose, for all I care." She vocalized in a deadpan monotone.

"Terra, wait! I can explain!"

She ignored him, and marched into her room, slamming the door behind her. A loud click was heard as she locked her door.

Beast Boy face palmed himself with a loud slap. He saw Rose's door between his spread fingers. She had no doubt heard everything. Things just couldn't get any worse, he thought. Before he headed back to his room, Rose's door opened. She leaned against the door frame and made eye contact with him.

"That sounded harsh."

"It was."

"Want to talk about it?"

"I thought it was time to hit the sack?"

She smiled.

"We can … in my room."

-( scene break )-

Kid Flash came to a screeching halt in front of Robin.

"I just covered the entire perimeter, there's no one here, Robin."

The Boy Wonder crossed his arms and walked to the roof top's edge. It was the very same building, where three years ago he, as Slade's unwilling apprentice, fought against his teammates. There was no sign of that night's confrontation. All the damage had long since been repaired, including the huge 'Wayne Enterprises' sign that adorned the top if the building.

"Cyborg?"

The cybernetic Titan had two radar dishes protruding from his shoulders, and they rotated asynchronously. With a serious look on his face he tapped on a small console that popped out of his forearm.

"No sign of him, of course he might have upgraded his stealth tech."

Robin flipped his communicator open.

"Starfire, do you have anything to report?"

Negative, I am flying 1000 feet above the building and do not see anything unusual.

"Keep looking, Star! He won't give us the slip today."

Robin shut his communicator and turned to Raven.

"I'm not sensing anything unusual … Robin … maybe he won't come … he knows we're ready for him."

Robin shook his head.

"He'll be here. I know him, he wants the Xenothium and he wants to humiliate us again."

Robin reopened his communicator.

"All clear ... send the chopper in."

Are you sure? What about … A disembodied voice replied.

"We'll worry about Red X, Captain; you just get that cargo of Xenothium here."

The delivery was switched to the middle of the night at the last moment, hoping to throw off Red-X and to provide an element of stealth to the delivery. The four Titans stared out into the void of the darkness while Starfire continued to silently patrol overhead, using her sensitive alien eyes to watch for any sign of Red X. At first the only sound to be heard was the drone of late night automobile traffic far down below on the streets. Robin pulled out a pair of collapsible binoculars and peered into the nighttime sky, while the others strained their ears, listening for the silent high tech helicopter.

"Over there." Robin pointed.

The others strained to see the dark helicopter approach and they heard it before they saw it. It quietly approached the building and Robin signaled for it to land on the helipad.

"Well, that was easy … too easy." Raven remarked.

As soon as had the chopper touched down several loud explosions were heard. Cyborg turned just in time to see each of the giant letters on the building's rooftop wobble and fall down one by one.

"Go! Go! Get out of here!" Robin shouted at the helicopter.

But it was too late. The huge 'W' from the sign tipped over and crashed onto the helicopter, damaging its blades and making it unable to fly.

"He's here! Don't let him get the Xenothium!"

Red X materialized out of thin air, landing on another fallen letter.

"You kids didn't think that you could throw a party and not have me crash it, did you?"

"The only thing that's gonna crash is your butt into a jail cell!" Cyborg bellowed.

"Promises, promises." Red X taunted the 5 heroes. "So where's Beast Boy? I heard he ran off with Terra. Rumor has it that they're a hot couple now, if you know what I mean."

"Shut up!" Raven screamed as she blasted shards of her dark energy at him, which he easily dodged, while firing his signature red X's at her. She raised a shield to block them, but gasped as they changed course, swung around her and hit her from behind. A huge X trapped her, wrapping itself around her body while a smaller X covered her mouth.

"You didn't think I would show up without some new tricks, did you?"

Kid Flash charged at the masked villain, who was now standing near a ledge.

"Gotcha!" Wally shouted in triumph. His glee quickly turned into a shriek as he passed right through Red X and fell over the edge, plunging from the 70th floor level roof.

"Craaap!" He shouted as he fell.

Red X threw what appeared to be a red ball at Wally. It stretched into a red rope, wrapping itself around one of the speedster's ankles and catching onto a flag pole, leaving Wally safe, but dangling upside down.

Cyborg and Robin came up running. Vic's sonic cannon was charged and ready to fire. Suddenly they both tripped and fell down, finding themselves stuck to a red layer on the ground.

"Watch your step!" He taunted them. "Now where is my new hot girlfriend?"

He had to leap out of the way as a barrage of star bolts came raining down from the sky, accompanied by Starfire's grunts.

"I am not your girlfriend!"

"You don't know what you are missing out on, cutie." He chortled as he leaped out of the way, launching his X's at her.

Starfire intercepted them with her laser vision and each one disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"You will not be victorious!" She boomed at him. "You are a bad person and will go to jail!"

"Gotta catch me first, babe! And if you do that, I'll show you what a real man is like."

Starfire screeched her anger and lunged at Red X. He didn't even flinch as she approached. As she tackled him his body exploded and she found herself coated in the sticky red goo. She fell down and was stuck to the floor, trapped like the others. The real Red X, who uncloaked himself, laughed.

"That was easier than I hoped! Now if you'll excuse me, there's some Xenothium with my name on it on that helicopter."

As Red X reached for the two canisters in the chopper, he heard a familiar voice.

"Dude, I don't think so. That Xenothium is mine."

Red X turned around and saw the changeling and the geomancer standing on a floating boulder.

"Well, well, if it isn't the full green alchemist and his pretty sidekick … tell you what Beast Boy … how about we keep this simple and split the Xenothium?"

Beast Boy hopped off of Terra's boulder, just feet from Red X.

"Nice work with the Titans … but sorry dude, I'm not splitting the Xenothium with you."

"Have it your way, kid!"

Red X raised his hands and a swarm of X's came flying out of them.

-( scene break )-