Oh my god! An update!? I know…I was surprised too. Anyway, this chapter is blah…I felt it was time to really stir up some emotions and begin to wind down this story. It won't be long now kiddies!

Disclaimer: not mine. Not making money off it. Hell, not even getting bribes…

Chapter 12

Anger so hot it churned in his guts like tiny suns ready to implode nearly undid him. The screen had been flashing the same thing for the last hour and he still couldn't believe what he was seeing, let alone unclench his fist long enough to clear the message. So he did the only thing a clenched hand is good for, he slammed it as hard as he could into the solid metal desk and felt the cool metal groan and give around his fist. She couldn't know. It was the only logical explanation; otherwise she would have come to him with the information, wouldn't she? That bastard had looked him in the eye on many occasions and slipped by him unnoticed. Hell, he had even had the balls to not only spit in his face while he was Robin, but to also go after the one thing that was his while out of his super hero alter-ego. That train of thought led him right back to her. Raven, so beautiful, so graceful, so cold. Could she be hiding this from him? Had he lost her? No! He could lose the suit to that bastard, but he would be damned if he lost her too, and he wasn't interested in giving her up without a fight.

Settling on a course of action, Robin charged from the room letting his boiling emotions get the best of him. One thought kept ringing through his head, not again. Riley LeCroft will not hurt someone else I love.

XxxXXXxxxXx

The house was dark and silent as he slipped into the window he always left open on the second floor. Reoccurring visions of Emilia kept dancing through his mind all the way home.

"That woman is one hellava distraction." He mumbled to himself, chuckling at the picture of her flushed cheeks and livid eyes. To the right of him, a shadow shifted, drawing him up straight and on instant alert. Fuck! I never should have been so careless! The thought came too late as from the left and fist struck out and caught him squarely across the jaw. Spinning into the window behind him, X attempted to stop before he fell out. His hands caught on the sill and stilled his motion, but the force of his head hitting the glass shattered it with a twinkling crash.

"Consider this your warning to stay away from her." The voice that growled at him was annoyingly familiar. Only one person had that irritating gravelly voice, and it didn't bode well that Boy Blunder was in his home right now while he still wore the incriminating evidence of the Red X suit. Playing casual, X slid along the wall, putting a few feet of distance between himself and the angered Titan leader.

"Hi there to you too. Since this house seems to already have one masked man in it, I'll just be leaving now, huh?" Even though his voice was smooth and condescending, his thoughts were frantic and awhirl. How the hell did Robin figure out who I am? And what does he know about me and Emilia? Why would he even care? She's a thief…NO FUCKING WAY!? Robin had shifted into the narrow beam of silver light coming from the window at that moment, his face cast in shadows, but the hard features suddenly seemed too familiar, and the truth smacked Riley in the face like a hammer.

"You are not going anywhere. I won't let you hurt her." The growling voice had turned to a snarl, and for once, Riley understood what made Robin tick. It didn't mean he was intending to roll over and play dead, of course, but it did make the situation a bit less mysterious.

"Where would I go…Richard?" He knew the second his words registered to Dick. Robin's face froze, and then twisted into a vicious snarl. Riley stopped moving backwards the same moment Richard froze. The two glared at one another, neither willing to back down now that the cards were on the table. "So, guess I should have known earlier that she was a set up. Damn, Raven of the Titans is my little Emilia the super thief? Can't say I'm too surprised, but she does fill out a suit nicely either way, should have known those curves long before this." X shook his head feigning amazement, knowing he was increasing the tenuous hold Richard had on his anger.

"She is your little nothing! Stay the hell away from my girlfriend, Riley! She is too good for the murderous likes of you!" Richard stepped forward, slamming his hand into Riley's chest and shoving like the beginning of a schoolyard fight. Riley, pissed now, ripped off his mask and flung it into the corner. Placing his face inches from Robin's he snarled openly in the other man's face.

"I have never killed anyone, Dick, and we both know it. Is that what this is really about? Are you still angry that Melissa died and you're using it as an excuse to keep Raven away from me? If she was so invested in your 'relationship'," Riley bent his fingers in mock air quotes, "then why was she just making out with me twenty minutes ago?" He wanted Robin to hit him, he wanted the excuse to make it into a knock-down drag out, and Robin didn't disappoint.

Robin head butted Riley, his forehead landing a blow on the bridge of the other's nose. The bone cracked loudly, and blood gushed freely down the nasal cavity to run down Riley's face. Anger shimmered in jade pools, the only hint of the violence that followed. A nasty smile curved Riley's lips, made all the more horrendous by the dark black fluid dripping into his mouth and staining his teeth. Grabbing Robin by the back of the head, Riley brought the crime-fighter's face down to meet his raised knee, returning the favor just bestowed upon him. Robin reeled backwards before he caught his balance, and with a mighty roar, launched himself in earnest at Riley.

The two landed on the floor in a heap. Riley instantly brought his knee up and used the momentum to flip Richard over his head and send him crashing behind. Leaping up, Riley stalked toward Richard, who threw out his leg and tripped him. Leveling a kick, Richard connected heavily with Riley's chest and a satisfying crunch preceded all the air leaving Riley's lungs in a whoosh. Not giving up, Riley bent his elbows and landed squarely on top on Richard stomach, driving all his weight into the other man's intestines. Richard groaned and fought down the urge to vomit. Riley rolled off Richard and both lay gasping for air. Richard was the first to regain the ability to talk.

"You…bastard…we both…know you don't…give a damn…about anyone…but yourself." Richard turned his face towards Riley, glaring at him through his panting.

"Wrong…again…Blunder…Wonder…" Riley snarled. Now they were both shooting the other looks powerful enough to kill. Richard swallowed a large gulp of air and sat up, carelessly tossing a backhand swing at the prone Riley. Rolling, Riley avoided the swing, and growled low before placing his back to the wall and sitting up. "Even the police didn't see how I could be blamed for Melissa's death. And when it comes to Raven, maybe it's you that really doesn't give a damn about anyone but yourself." Richard had stiffened with the mention of Melissa, but shot up to a fighters crouch when Riley said Raven's name.

"You're not even worthy of speaking her name, asshole." Riley moved into a more cautious stance, very aware they were in his study. The two circled each other warily.

"Whose name? Raven? Or Melissa?" The taunt was just the motivation Richard needed and with another growl, the two locked once more into battle. Grappling, they shoved at one another's shoulders, trying to gain the upper hand, but both were of similar height and build and very close in combatant style.

"Raven! She wouldn't be caught dead with the likes of you!" Richard snarled, his patience worn thin and all the built up anger over Melissa and now Raven surging forward. Sliding his foot behind Riley's ankle, Richard jerked hard, forcing Riley to lose his balance and stumble. Quickly, Riley recovered and suddenly stopped pushing against Richard's shoulders, causing Richard to over balance and nearly tumble. Both swiftly stepped away from the other, once more circling.

"Funny, she most definitely didn't feel dead. If anything, I would say she felt very warm and eager…" before he got to finish, Richard landed a punch to his chin and snapped his face upward. Falling back, Riley kicked out, catching Richard across the ribs.

"Never speak about her like that! Haven't you done enough? You killed Melissa, you stole my suit and now you're trying to seduce my girlfriend?! What the hell is it with you LeCroft? Are you so desperate to be me you have to try and ruin everything good in my life?" Riley snorted, his face, like Richard's, a bloody mask, his breath coming fast and angry and his body sore from the hits landed. Irritation won over his other emotions and he slammed into Richard, driving them both back into the wall and fisting his hand into Richard's shirt.

"Listen to me very carefully. I. DID. NOT. KILL. MELISSA! She fell Richard, god damn it. I wish I had been faster, if she wouldn't have died things could have been a lot different, but they aren't. As for Raven, if I merely wanted to fuck her I wouldn't put so much effort into it. You selfish little prick; didn't you even care what this assignment would do to her?" Having said his fill, Riley loosened his hold, only to be swung around and slammed into the wall Richard just vacated. Richard reached up and snatched off his mask, his dark eyes ablaze.

"You could have stopped her from falling! You didn't even try! You never fucking try to help anyone but yourself! If it isn't bettering Riley it isn't worth it! Is that what Raven is to you? A damn game? A way to get something you can't have? I take care of her! I keep her sane, I make sure she has emotional support, I listen to her! Fuck! I love her!" Richard's voice broke his expression a mix of anger and weariness. Riley shoved against Richard's chest and gained his freedom.

"I'm done being preached to. Since you won't leave, I will." Richard didn't try to stop him as he made his way across the room and snatched up his helm. Placing his hand over his teleportation device, he turned back to the brooding Richard. "And maybe you're not the only one who loves her."

xxxxXXxxXXx

Raven watched silently from the window. Her emotions were a jumble from the words and assaulting feelings from the two men inside. Now, she was numb. She knew she hadn't been intended to see what she had just witnessed, but when she followed X, she didn't know what she was getting into. He had been so careless, it was like he wanted her to follow him, and then when she realized Robin was waiting for him, her heart nearly stopped in fear for the thief and her leader. The turn of events and the feelings of betrayal she was bombarded with from the two of them left her confused and worried. They both said they loved her, but here they were fighting like two dogs over a tasty bone. Anger ignited in her veins, the force of the deadly emotion strong enough to shake the house in front of her and to open large furrows in the ground beneath her floating form.

Richard, snapping out of his thoughts met her glowing red eyes and knew he had fucked up royally. Before he could get near her, however, Raven teleported away, her helm floating to the ground forgotten.

XxxxXxxXxx

Riley, having no where to go, had teleported to the roof of his home to wait out Richard. He, too, felt the tremors of Raven's anger and raced to the edge of the roof in time to see her vanish. Rolling his head back on his shoulders, he suddenly felt like returning downstairs and beating the hell out of Richard. If that idiot hadn't raced in and started a fight, Raven never would have heard all of that and wouldn't be on a homicidal rampage right now. Gritting his teeth, Riley forwent getting into another fight with Richard in favor of seeking out Raven. Jumping from the third story, he tucked and rolled back to a standing position only to take off running before he came to a complete stop.

XxxxXXXxxxx

She sought out the only person she felt might understand how she was feeling. Reaching Titan tower, she re-entered reality only to be assaulted with the stinging wind and freezing rain of the storm that had been brewing the last few hours. She fought the urge to laugh hysterically, it was fitting that this tempest would break now of all times when she was turned so completely upside-down by two so different men. Floating down to the third window on the right, she knocked hesitantly on the glass. It felt wrong to enter the tower, it was after all Richard's place of power, and somehow to go inside was like choosing Richard over Riley and right now she didn't know what to do.

A blue glow grew against the glass until the startled face of Cyborg filled the pane after he drew the thick curtains back. Seeing the drenched girl, he raised both brows in shock and motioned for her to come inside. Raven shook her head and gestured upwards, indicating he should meet her on the roof instead. Cyborg, worried about the current state of his friend, nodded quickly before dropping the curtain and being hidden from view. Raven sighed and returned to the roof top, sitting on the edge dangling her legs over the frothing sea far below. The rooftop door thundered open and the heavy familiar footsteps of her friend shook the floor more than the thunder roiling over head.

Seeing the hunched figure at the edge of the building, Cy paused briefly before making his way over. It didn't take a genius to figure out something was wrong, but to see her so utterly distant and forlorn was heart wrenching. The rain pelting him was an annoyance and not for the first time he wondered why she wouldn't come inside, unless it had something to do with Robin. If that bird brain hurt her, I'll kill him… Taking a seat next to Raven, Cy wrapped his arm about her small form and dragged her against his chest, attempting to shield her from some of the rain, but mostly from the pain he knew she was in.

"What's going on Rae?" His normally gruff voice was soft and gentle, coaxing what was wrong from the dark girl. Feeling suddenly self conscious, Raven shook her head and allowed herself to be held in the man she thought of like a brother's embrace. She didn't even know where to begin. How did you tell someone you were in love with the bad guy and your leader at the same time?

"I'm not buying that. You didn't come here after four months of no contact to get a hug in the middle of a terrible storm. Plus, if you did you might have chosen someone that wasn't a human lighting rod." Despite herself, Raven smiled. He wasn't about to let this go, and she needed his opinion; it was why she came here. Rolling her head back, she met his worried eyes, and tears filled hers unbidden. She didn't know why any of this was so hard.

"I messed up." Those simple words were the key to her undoing. For the next twenty minutes she told him everything that had happened since she left. The way she actually enjoyed the dark side of thieving and hurting people, how Riley had somehow crept into her heart. How she had almost cost him his life and he still seemed to care for her. How Robin had pursued her and tricked her into being his fake girlfriend. How it seemed to be less fake and more what they both wanted each day, and now how she had over heard them and her anger at not knowing what to do. During her speech, she had stood up and paced the roof, Cyborg silently watching her with a heavy heart.

"What do you want?" The question caught her off guard. Turning to look at him for the first time since she begun, she was surprised to find herself crying. Swiping at her cheek, she stared at the tears mingling with rain drops and got angry all over again.

"It doesn't matter does it?" Cyborg looked startled. Standing he took a step towards her as she took one back.

"Of course it does. You have to do what is best for you, Rae. This isn't easy. It never is. Just do what your heart is telling you to do." Raven pulled farther away from him and sat down on the roof, drawing her legs up to her chest and closing her eyes tight. The rain continued to drench them, uncaring of their conversation.

"I can't. People get hurt when I let my emotions control me. Its best if I just leave." Cyborg studied her with knowing sad eyes. Crossing his arms, he watched her carefully for what he was about to say.

"You have been riding your emotions for the last half an hour and nothing has happened." Raven stiffened, her entire body tensed with the realization that he was right. Fear and joy rode through her for a moment, before they were crushed under her pain and tumult once more.

"It just boils down to the fact that even a dumb half demon knows when her heart is breaking." Glancing up through her bangs she locked eyes with his surprised ones. Kneeling, he placed a cold hand against her cheek and pushed her bangs away from her eyes with the other. Red rimmed, watery orbs swimming in pain met his.

"Rae," he began, sorrow etched on his face. Laughing sadistically, she shoved him away and stood up, reversing their positions.

"Don't. I would rather have anything other than your pity." Turning on her heel she was enveloped in the dark embrace of her powers and like the whisper of the wind disappeared from sight.

"Raven," he called out into the night, hanging his head and letting the same wind snatch his words.

So review and tell me what you think. My writing style may be a bit changed. I recently took a literature class and I think it skewed my writing…