Defiance

Working in my uncle's gym became a comfort zone over the weeks I've been here. I could always release whatever I felt (well except Robin). And it was a perfect distraction. Although there was still some tension between me and a certain fighter…

"Vic, help out Raven." Uncle Mike said. Vic looked up. He walked behind the punching bag and we worked in silence. The only sound between us was my fists hitting the punching bags. Then out of our silence Vic said something I'd thought I'd never hear from him.

"Thank you." I stopped mid punch, thinking I heard wrong.

"What?" He rolled his eyes.

"I'm not saying it a second time. You know what I said." I straightened up, stopping the workout completely.

"I know what you said. I'm just wondering why." He looked around to see if anybody would overhear before talking.

"I know something happened that day after his parents' anniversary." He looked at me straight forward. There was amazement in his eyes. "I don't know what you did, what you said, or anything. But for some reason…his wounds about it seemed to be healed. I have to thank you for that." I smiled, looking away. We both went back to the punching bag. After a while I spoke.

"I guess I should be a doctor." I said. He looked at me scrutinizing.

"In that case, he should be one too." I stopped once again.

"What do you mean by that?" We switched positions. He did a series of combinations as he talked.

"I'm just saying that he isn't the only one whose been changing." I stiffened at the statement. If Vic, who I barely talk to, notices how I've changed, who else has. And how obvious are they?

They were obvious. Jinx angrily smoked on a cigarette. She only did this when she knew something was off. She couldn't stop smoking for the past week. She blew out the smoke, disgusting itself in the cold weather as her breath. She knew exactly what the problem was. Raven. Ever since she entered the group, Jinx hasn't been so calm. She always had to look twice at the out casted heir. And as the days went by, Raven continued to change. Everyday she saw a little bit of the edge that Raven had slip away.

It wasn't very noticeable. She didn't even notice. But one thing that never changed, Raven was good at hiding what would otherwise be obvious. All Jinx had to do was really look up and really focus on the small things. It wasn't the easiest thing in the world, especially with Raven. But it got easier as the seasons changed.

Jinx narrowed her eyes at Raven as she walked into the school from her car. Raven was unaware of Jinx's scrutinizing gaze. Raven could see the small changes. Her steps weren't sharp with anger anymore. They were smoother, lady like. Her face didn't hold the sneer that Jinx grew accustom to. Instead there was a tired look. Like she could never get enough sleep…

Jinx stomped out her cigarette and walked into her school.

Jinx wasn't the only one noticing a change. Terra sipped slowly at the mini bottle of liquor in her hand. She swallowed as it burned down her throat. Robin walked beside her. He never understood why she would drink right before she came to school.

"You know you would get in major trouble with that stuff?" Robin told her. She looked at him defiantly, and drank some more before popping some gum in her mouth.

Robin just rolled his eyes at her. Terra didn't say a word to him. She knew he was seeing someone else. She felt betrayed. He walks around all sweet and confident, just to deceive her right in front of her eyes. The difference between her and her sister is that she knew how to pin point the problem. And the problem was the lies Robin continued to her about being loyal. All she needed to know was who.

And she knew exactly who would know.

Terra reversed her stride towards her car. She quickened in anticipation.

"Where are you going?" Robin yelled after her. She didn't answer as she sped off down the street taking her usual route.

Jinx skipped the rest of her classes unable to calm her mind. She went to the Northington House, straight to her office. She walked around the empty house. It was kind of unsettling to her for the house to be empty. This was a rarity in itself. She walked towards her office when she saw the most unsettling image of all.

Terra was sitting in her chair in her office. Waiting for her. She marched towards Terra. Terra stood up.

"Jinx-"

"Get out, now!" Jinx said angrily. Terra moved closer to her.

"Jinx, listen to me-"

"Get out!"

"Jinx-"

"GET OUT!" Jinx yelled. "Shut up and get out." Jinx stepped closer to Terra. She looked into the same eyes she saw in the mirror everyday.

"I really could kill you right now." Jinx said lowly. Terra's gaze sharpened at the threat.

"Oh please. You've been throwing that threat around for three years straight. We both know you're not gonna kill me." Terra closed the door behind Jinx. Jinx stood there too angry to speak until she found the perfect thing to say.

"If only I could trust you to do the same." Terra froze at the comment. She knew Jinx never trusted her after she accidently shot her in the arm sophomore year, losing her trust. She never forgave herself for doing it.

Jinx knew that. She knew that Terra's guilt never subsided. Terra sighed as the guilt crashed over her. She faced Jinx with pleading eyes.

"Jinx, please, I don't want to fight with you. I came here strictly on business so please…" Jinx walked around her desk and sat down.

"What is it, Terra?" Terra released a breath that she didn't know she was holding.

"I think there betrayal within Southside."

"This again!" Jinx said, annoyed. "Why do you think it's someone in my gang?"

"Because I know him, Jinx. He wouldn't be acting like this if wasn't."

"So you think just because one of your boy toys stops talking to you, all of sudden its Northside's fault." Jinx said dryly. Terra looked at Jinx dead in the eye.

"You know I'm right." Terra approached Jinx until she was right in front of her. "And you know exactly who it is." Jinx stayed silent, with no expression except boredom. Then they heard people entering the house. Jinx stayed calm as she motioned to the window behind her head.

"Later, Jinx." Terra said as she exited. Jinx missed how a picture fell from Terra's pocket soundlessly to the floor.

I entered Jinx's office quietly. She had a distant look in her eyes. I saw something on the floor behind her but before I could ask, she spoke.

"What are you doing on Halloween?" Jinx asked. I shrugged.

"Nothing really. My cousins are going trick or treating."

"Well now you're coming with me." She said. I dismissed the command leisurely. It's not like I had any plans. Well except for Robin…

I blanked my mind before it showed on my face. Someone called Jinx from the other room. She left giving me an opportunity to see what's on the floor. I quickly moved toward the object. I lifted it off the ground. It was a picture. More specifically, a picture of Jinx when she was younger. I looked at it quickly before hiding it in my pocket. I really don't know why but I knew something important was in that picture.

Jinx came in the room when I just got up. She gave me an annoyed look.

"Get out." She told me. She didn't have to tell me twice. I didn't look at her as I exited the room. Kori was waiting outside with an uneasy face. I was taken aback by that face. She rarely ever looked uneasy. Something was wrong. I approached her. She jumped when I called her.

"What's wrong?" I asked her. She just smiled, almost convincingly.

"Just this thing with my family. There's gonna be a very unpleasant situation soon." My mouth formed a 'o'. I shrugged.

"Don't worry too much. It'll be over sooner than you would think."

"That's what I'm afraid of." She said gravely. Her eyes held a concerned look. I had a feeling she wasn't talking about her family. Jinx called her into her office. Kori walked right in wordlessly. I didn't hesitate getting out of the house. What was Kori trying to tell me?

Kori looked at Raven as she retreated out the door. She, then, looked at her leader. Jinx leaned back in her chair without a care in the world. Kori was practically trying to burn her with the intense glare she was giving her. But Jinx was running this kitchen.

"Get over it, Kori. Your emotions are better hidden." She said in a relaxed tone. Kori's eyes narrowed, looking like the dangerous person she could really be.

"I hope you're happy." She said walking further into the office. Jinx walked over beside Kori.

"Raven is full of defiance. She doesn't think of me as a threat when she ought to." Kori looked away from her leader. "She's a puppet, Kori."

"She's my friend." Kori told her boldly. Jinx shrugged but her eyes held anger.

"That's not my fault." Kori didn't need to be told to leave. Jinx banged her fist on her desk in frustration when she was gone. Raven was bringing down her defenses slowly, but surely. Something has to be done about this defiance. And soon…

I snuck out my window making sure my door was locked before I climbed out. I ran quickly to the clearing. I was going to see Robin since I couldn't see him later tonight. It would be one of the few times I would see him before nighttime. The sun was setting quickly, the sky fading from orange to purple. Within minutes I was landing in Robin's arms, smiling. He grinned at me, laughing.

"Someone's a little eager."

"I wanted to see you before the sun went down." I explained. We stood up with our arms wrapped around each other quietly. I sighed into his neck. The warmth I found there was tantalizing. I melted in his arms. "I wanted to stay like this forever." I told him. He tightened his grip on me,

"I wish we could." I heard him say softly. I pulled back a little pulling him along towards the tree in the center.

"Why don't we blow off Terra and Jinx? They can go have there fun, while we stay here." I said in a playful voice. Robin smiled at me sadly.

"You know I want to, but Terra's already suspicious. The last thing she needs is to try and find you." A sharp anger filled me. But it wasn't exactly anger, though. It was jealously. I was jealously of Terra. She could see him during the day. She could smile at him and not get shot at because she's with him. Terra has him. And I don't. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I hate her." I said scathingly. Robin was taken aback by the statement. "Did you two use to date?" His face turned into a sheepish look. My jaw dropped before I closed it angrily. I started to climb the tree in frustration.

"Hey," Robin said. I ignored him as I climbed. I reached the top but he somehow made it there before me. I started to climb down before he touched my hands. I let him pull me up, so that I stood next to him. He balanced me against the trunk so that I wouldn't fall. The sun was still setting. He hugged me tightly once again. He moved my hand until it was over his heart. I felt it beating under my hand. It matched mine. "You're the only one who ever matched mine. The closest thing I've ever felt like this was...never." He told me. I felt hope fill my chest. I leaned on him until the only thing between us were our hands. I watched as the sky went darker.

"I still don't want you around her." I pulled back and looked him in the eye. "Make sure she's knows that. She doesn't have to know that you're mine. Just that you're not hers." He smiled at me.

"Deal. I promised. Whatever makes you happy." I smiled and kissed him deeply. I felt him melting into me as we kissed. Then I felt my phone buzz. I pulled back unwillingly, knowing it was my alarm. I bit my lip. He sighed before letting me go. "Go meet Jinx. We both know how patient she is." I chuckled softly and sighed. I let him go slowly, climbed down the tree, and resisted climbing back up.

Jinx was standing by her black jeep in the school's parking lot. She didn't say anything as I climbed in. She slide in beside me. There were more people in the car. Speed was in the passenger's seat up front. Fox was driving. I stayed quiet feeling the tension in the car. I looked at Jinx but she just looked out the window. I wondered where Kori was. I took out my phone but Jinx covered it with her hand.

"No phones." She said. I looked at her wondering what was happening tonight.

"Why?" She looked at me. She smirked but her eyes stayed grim.

"You'll see." I narrowed my eyes at her. We rode along for about half an hour. As we got closer to the destination, something gripped my stomach. Something was gonna happen tonight. Something bad. Something Jinx had planned for awhile. We slowed down at a traffic light. I heard music from outside the car and looked over at the source. It was a Halloween party. As I looked closer I could see people in costumes and more it white jackets bearing to S's on it. It was a Southside party.

Fear filled me. Robin was in there. I opened my mouth to say something but the words died on my lips as the car made a U turn. Jinx rolled down her window. She pulled out a gun, one that I didn't even know she had, and started shooting. I flinched from the sound but couldn't tear my eyes away from what was happening. I heard screams and panic from inside. The people outside tried to duck but some weren't fast enough. We drove away quickly after that. I looked back at the building. I saw it burst in flames. I could hear the screams echoing in my head as the building got smaller and smaller until I couldn't see it anymore.

I felt my phone vibrate. I pulled it out and saw that I had a text. I opened it and saw a picture of a jack-o-lantern made of flames.

"Happy Halloween." Jinx said softly.

As soon as we got out the car, I walked up to Jinx. I grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop.

"What hell was that?!" I exclaimed. She rolled her eyes at me before pulling her arms out my grip. She spotted someone behind me.

"Nice work, Kori. I liked the jack-o-lantern. It was a nice touch." She smiled. I turned and looked at my less-than-happy friend. She stayed quiet as Jinx praised her.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"No," She stepped closer to me. "But it is a hint." I finally understood what she was trying to do.

"You did this to show whose in control?"

"I did this to get back at them. And for you to understand what all this is." I looked at her confused as she explained. "This isn't a democracy, Raven. I could care less about what you want. We both know whose in charge. I am. You think that you're stronger than me. I'll admit you're good at what you do. Going against me isn't one of them. Your defiance stops now. "

"You can't control me." I told her, angry at her words.

"No, but I can kill you." She pulled out her gun. But I knew it was just a sign of power. She won't kill me. Not know, anyways. "This is not some kind of silly high school game. You can say what you want but you're in this just as much as I am. This is a dictatorship. Your will against mine. Choose." She said with finality.

I didn't say anything. I couldn't say anything. Those words…just when I thought my father was out of my life, he finds a way back in. I backed away from her. I turned and walked. Fear gripped me so tightly, it was practically choking me. The cold numbed my fingers, went through my arms until lit gripped my heart and mind. If Robin was dead…I couldn't finish that thought. My mind went numb as I went to the clearing.

I saw someone on the ground. As I got closer, I began to run. Heat filled my veins as I recognized the body. It was breathing. It was alive. It was Robin. Tears sprung in my eyes I held him.

"Thank god you're okay." I said. I pulled back to see if he was hurt. He had a couple of burns and a few cuts, but overall was okay. I pulled him into my room. I went through the front of the house, making it seem like everything was okay. That nothing bad happened. But soon enough, I was in my room with the first aid kit. I locked my door tending to Robin's wounds quietly. He was soon asleep. I switched between outside my window and him.

I didn't know I why I was so terrified at the thought of him dying. Maybe I cared for Robin a little deeper than I thought. Everytime I saw him, heard him, or even thought of him, a feeling that I never felt before filled me. I looked at Robin once again. Maybe I needed him. There was no maybe. I needed Robin.

And I would kill Jinx if she ever took him away from me.