A guest commented about Bane breaking Batman's back:

Yes, I did know that! That's why I chose Bane :D

Bane's strength combined with his intelligence makes him a TERRIFYING foe.

Note: Raven's part takes place as Robin's part LAST chapter was going on. They kind of overlap.

I just wanted to clear that up so you don't get confused mid-chapter.

-Anii

Chapter 25: "I'm both a sinner and a gentleman at heart."

- Walking Separate Ways by Conditions

Pinkish purple clouds hung low in the sky as the red sun sat just above the horizon.

"I can't believe you came up with a lie like that." Terra mused, her long hair swaying gently as she walked.

Raven shrugged, barely aware of what the blonde was saying.

"I mean, really? Did that secretary really believe that sob story about you being Goth's long-lost secretary?" Terra shook her head, chuckling as she recalled the incident. "It's too bad she didn't have Goth's address though. I doubt this manager guy will give it up no matter how many times you beg."

Doesn't matter, Raven thought to herself. I don't want Goth's address. I wanted Maveric's.

Maveric McCullen was Goth's 23 year-old manager. The guy was almost as big of a jackass as his demonic client. The team had seen him several times while watching Goth. The guy was a complete sleez-ball. He had an unjustifiable superiority complex and hated cops of any kind.

Still, he was always near Goth so maybe he could shine some light on this situation. Bad guys just seemed to pop up everywhere. Raven wanted to make sure that there weren't more they should be concerned about. She was also hoping to confirm that Goth was working with Poison Ivy.

"So are you going to tell me the plan or just continue to ignore me?" Terra said for the thousandth time.

Her companion chose the latter option. When Terra had piped up back home, Raven was shocked by the words that had come out of her mouth and the reasoning behind such words. The looks Terra had been sending Beast Boy all night made Raven's skin prickle.

The empath's violet eyes carefully watched the doorman of the building she was scouting. He didn't even seemed to notice her or Terra as both Titanesses breezed by.

Raven ducked down a shadowed back alley- a superheroes best friend- and turned to Terra, the majority of her face hidden by her jacket's hood."Don't make a sound."

Terra didn't seem pleased but she cooperated.

The slightly annoyed empath cast up a prayer- something she'd made a habit of doing as of late- and willed her body off of the ground. Thankfully, her powers seemed to cooperate and she was lifted off of her feet and dropped of nicely on the roof of the building. Terra followed, albeit more loudly than her counterpart had.

By the time Terra's feet had hid solid ground, Raven had already used her black energy to slice through the lock on the rooftop door.

"Aren't bad guys the one who break into homes?" Terra whispered furiously.

A slew of spiteful retorts rushed by in Raven's head and her mouth twisted with disdain. However, she managed to swallow her nasty responses and focus on the task at hand. She thrust the door open and peered over the rail, staring down into the building's twirling depths.

A thin tendril of black energy coiled around Terra's wrist and before the blonde had time to scream, Raven launched herself over the rail, her eyes scanning each floor she fell past until she got floor 11- Maveric's floor.

Raven halted abruptly and dropped herself in front of the door leading to the eleventh floor hallway. Rather begrudgingly, she stopped Terra's fall just in time, yanking on the energy rope and dragging the teen over the rail to safety.

Terra collapsed on her hands and knees, her silver eyes wide with fear. The earthen girl ground her teeth together as she tilted her head back. "You could have killed us both. Or did you forget that your powers are failing?"

In response, Raven casually flung open the door and stepped out into the brightly lit hallway with marble floors and maroon hallways. She looked both ways down the hallway, repeating the room number over and over in her head.

"It's that one, isn't' it? Room 15?" Terra asked, pointing to one of the many gray doors in the hallway.

"Don't say anything." Raven replied, stepping towards the door with a ball of nerves sitting in the pit of her stomach.

Tonight, Raven had traded in her leotard and cape in for ripped skinny jeans and a black jacket over a maroon band t-shirt. Her bare knuckles rapped against Maveric's apartment door and the two girls waited patiently for the occupant to arrive.

The door swung open with gusto. A man stood in the doorway, his upper body completely naked and his lower half only hidden by a pair of white skinny jeans that hung low on his slender hips. His inky black hair hung to to his shoulders and his blue-green eyes burned brightly with arrogance.

Raven tossed back her hood, unabashed by the man's nakedness. "Are you Maveric McCullen?"

"This is some kind of joke, right?" Marveric's black eyebrows arched, a smile that lacked laughter on his thin lips.

When Terra and Raven only stared at him in confusion, he pointed to them with a look of disdain. "I didn't order a school girl and a gothic kid, honey. Go back and tell your boss I want a refund."

"A guy like you has to buy prostitutes?" Terra quipped.

Maveric's eyes narrowed. "I don't pay for sex. I'm talking about the models for my client's music video."

"You didn't answer my question." Raven stated. "Are you Maveric McCullen?"

"Yeah, what's it to you?" He snapped, crossing his arms over his bare chest and leaning against the doorway.

"Can we come in?" Raven asked bluntly.

Maveric just stared at her in disbelief and, for several painfully silent and awkward moments, she thought he would slam the door in her face.

"Are you crazy fans?" He asked suspiciously.

Raven's deadpan stare gave him his answer. The older man shrugged. "Why the hell not?"

He stepped aside, revealing the modernly styled apartment inside. Raven stepped in first, inwardly admiring the glass wall before her and the exquisite view of the twinkling city below.

Instead of telling her where to sit, Maveric went directly to the kitchen and pulled out a single beer from the stainless steel fridge. He cranked back the tab with a quick and final snap. He wasn't playing the humble host and he was letting them know right away that he had no intentions of doing so.

"Shouldn't you girls be more concerned with whether or not I'd try to force myself on you?" He asked, seating himself directly across from Terra.

"I doubt you could." The blonde retorted.

Maveric chuckled, obviously amused by her answer. He turned his arrogant eyes on Raven. "To answer your question, yes, I am Maveric McCullen. Why do you ask?"

"You work for Goth?" Terra asked.

"Why?" suspicion flared in his blue-green gaze. "I thought you said you weren't fan girls."

Terra snorted and rolled her eyes. "That loser isn't worth fangirling over."

"We'd like to know if you know any of Goth's friends?" Raven blurted

"Why the hell should I tell you anything?" Maveric placed his arm on the back of the couch, tipping back his beer and taking several generous gulps. "How the hell did you get my address anyways?"

Raven pursed her lips, feeling the lie already on the tip of her tongue. "Goth told me."

a suspicious spark lit in his eyes as if he knew she was lying. "If you know Goth so well, why do you need answers from me?"

Terra let out a defeated sigh and pointed to the violet-haired girl beside her. "This is Goth's girlfriend. She thinks he's cheating."

Maveric clearly hadn't been expecting this and his cocky expression dropped momentarily. "I never heard of a girlfriend."

Terra shook her head mournfully and turned to Raven. "I told you. Those are all the signs of a cheater. He doesn't even tell his friends about you."

Inside, Raven was stunned by Terra's performance but, outside, she revealed nothing. She just stared at Marveric only offering a smidge of sadness when the young man's searching gaze met hers.

"I wouldn't call Goth and I friends." Marveric shrugged.

"Aren't you his manager?" Terra asked, having completely taken over this interrogation.

"I don't have to be friends with him to make him famous. I don't even know the guy's real name." Maveric smirked and leaned forward as if telling something secret. "And I could care less."

"So, you haven't seen anyone?" The blonde questioned further.

Maveric chuckled. "He'd like to think that way. But I'm not telling you, sweetie. No matter how long your friend there stares at me."

Terra tilted her head, her eyes narrowing the slightest. "I thought you said you weren't Goth's friend?"

"I'm not. I'm his manager." Maveric set his alcoholic drink on the glass table before him and stood. "How do I know you aren't reporters trying to ruin his image with some cheating scandal?"

"You don't." Raven broke in. "You either tell us or not."

Terra drove an elbow into her companion's ribcage to silence her.

"I'm not an idiot, girls." Maveric walked over to the door, nodding his head to the now open doorway. "I suggest you leave before it gets too dark. You never know what lies in the shadows."

••••••••

"What!" A sleepy-eyed man swung open the door to his run-down apartment.

"Are you Rodrick Crovich?" Raven asked immediately, casting off her hood as she spoke.

"What's it to ya?" The man grumbled.

"You're the director for Goth, correct?" Terra piped up.

The man hesitated before replying cautiously. "Yeah."

"Can we come in and talk?" The slightly annoyed Azarathian blurted.

For a moment, the man looked as if he'd slam the door in their faces but then he stepped aside to allow the girls entrance into his shabby home. Rodrick swept a hairy arm across the surface of his stained coffee table and dumped all kinds of objects onto the dirty carpet, grumbling about making a pot of coffee.

Raven held up a hand to stop him as she sat down on his ripped, green couch. "It's alright. We won't be long."

The tired man ran a hand along his scruffy jaw and sat across from his guests. "You said this was about that punk? What the hell did he do this time? Did he kill someone?" Roderick's fatigue-filled eyes looked the girls up and down. "You don't look like cops."

"You direct all of his music videos?" Terra asked without introducing herself. The blonde was unable to hide her utter disgust for the dirty building and Roderick could easily see it.

"I don't like this place anymore than you do, princess." Rodrick hissed, his grey eyes narrowing. "But my bitch of an ex-wife pretty much cleaned me out before leaving me. And then that son of a bitch Goth says that he's going to use another director for his next music video! Tch."

Raven pressed on without sympathy for the mans plight. "Have you met any of Goth's friends before?"

"You mean those punks who come onto my set demanding shit like their the princes of friggin' Egypt?"

"I'm more curious about the woman." Raven prodded.

Rodrick gave a knowing wink. "Are you a jealous girlfriend?" He busted out laughing and gave his knee a hard slap. "Yeah, I've seen him hanging around a chick- a red-head. Says he's goin' for a smoke but I saw him out there with her."

Rodrick squinted his eyes and stroked his chin. "Now that I think about it, she was around a lot. When I asked him about it once, he said she was a reporter asking about his book."

"He wrote a book?" This bit of information surprised both Titans.

Rodrick got up and moved to a table piled with miscellaneous things. "Yeah, he wrote that damn thing two years ago and he expects me to believe that?"

"What was it about?" Raven asked, completely confounded. She'd never pegged the strange, demonic musician as a novelist.

"The book?" Rodrick shrugged as he shoved aside several sheets of paper. "I don't know, something about corrupt superheroes."

Raven's mouth went dry.

The disheveled man uncovered a paperback and glared down at the cover. "I thought it was stupid but this thing flew of the shelves. People ate this crap up." He grunted and handed it to Raven, who held out a trembling gray hand to receive the thick book.

"Maverick gave it to me as a promotional gift." Rodrick rolled his eyes.

A completely shadowed figure stood out firmly in the center of a smudged blue background. A simple cape blew in imaginary wind behind the person. Their eyes glowed bright white with a downward arch to them and, combined with the smug smirk on his lips, gave the figure a sinister appearance. The spiked hair and overall stance led Raven to realize that the figure on the cover remarkably resembled Robin.

Bold white lettering was scrawled across the top. Raven whispered the title aloud, "Angels of Deception."

••••••••

The hooded Azarathian stared down at the cover of Goth's book. Could this have been the start of it all? How? How was it possible for one man to spark a revolution? Raven's eyes narrowed. Goth wasn't human- that's how. He'd done something. She didn't know how but she intended to find out.

"Ugh!"

Raven snapped back into reality, lifting her head at the sound of Terra's guttural gag. "What is it?"

"A strip club." Terra pointed ahead to a flashy neon sign.

Raven's blood went cold. "That's Cedric's strip club?"

The name was different and the building seemed to have had a makeover but Raven knew the moment she laid eyes on it. TALK ABOUT LOCATION

"Should we go the other way?" Terra asked, her tone softening.

"No." Raven whispered, almost in a daze.

She walked right up to the bouncer, nodding at the newly placed neon sign hanging above the door. "Wasn't this place called something else like two weeks ago?"

The bouncer shrugged, his stern, expressionless face revealing nothing. Terra tugged on Raven's arm but the empath shrugged her off. "Wasn't it called 'Freak on a Leash'?"

His voice rumbled from deep in his chest. "Listen, it's none of your business, but my boss took ownership of this place after that weasel Cedric skipped town."

"Skipped town? When?" The teenager demanded.

"Unless you want a job, I suggest you keep moving."

Terra tore Raven away, gripping her companion's arm tightly as she led her away from the strip club. "What is your problem?"

"Batman said he released Cedric." Raven muttered absently, her eyes wide and her voice breathless.

"So? The guy skipped town after getting beat up by a man dressed as a bat. I think that's a pretty normal reaction if you ask me." Terra argued.

It made sense but the words rang false in Raven's mind. Her stomach flipped and knotted at the same time no matter how many times she told herself running away was logical. A shiver ran through her spine and she tilted her head back.

Her violet eyes immediately met the fierce gaze of a man hidden in shadow atop a gargoyle's back, his black cape billowing around his ankles as the moon shone on the emblem on his chest: a bat with his wings spread out wide.

••••••••

Raven rubbed the space between her eyes, fighting off the fatigue tugging at her body. Goth's book lay open on her lap, the crisp white pages, filled with lies, bared and unread.

Bang!

Raven jolted upright, the fog instantly clearing from her mind. She placed the book on her nightstand, swung her legs over the side of her bed, and slid over to her door on bare feet. Another loud muffled bang reached her ears as she pressed an ear against her room.

When the sound came again, Raven's door rattled. She threw open her door, black energy oozing from her hands. She inhaled sharply as a golden-haired boy fell inside of her room, his brow covered with sweat and his face paler than porcelain.

She dropped to the floor and scooped Jericho into her arms. His face scrunched up with pain and his breathing was heavy.

"Jericho?" Raven called, worry tightening her throat.

Pale eyelids fluttered open and his shimmering green eyes found hers easily. A pathetic smile formed on his lips just before his face twisted and his body convulsed with agony. Raven scanned his clothing but couldn't find a drop of blood.

Panicking more and more with each passing moment, she shouted. "Tell me what's wrong!? D-does your head hurt?"

She moved to place a hand on Jericho's forehead but his hand shot up with incredible speed and seized hers. He gave it a weak squeeze, his hand trembling terribly. Raven crushed his body to hers as she hauled him off of the floor and placed him on her bed.

Jericho writhed in pain, clutching at the simple white bed sheets, his face a mask of pure anguish. Raven went to the bathroom and snatched a clean rag out of the linen closet. She cranked the knob and cold water came tumbling out of the faucet. Without thinking, Raven stuck the rag and her hand under the water.

The moment the stream of cold water rushed over her hand, the girl was reminded about her hydrophobia and she dropped the rag in the marble sink. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she stared down at the crystal clear liquid, watching with amazement as it drenched her skin without bringing out an ounce of fear from the Azarathian.

She heard a jarring crash and grabbed the soaked cloth, not even bothering to turn off the water. Jericho had flipped over on his side now, curled up in the fetal position.

The lamp that had sat on Raven's nightstand now lay in pieces on the floor. Raven carefully edged her way around the broken shards and sat on the edge of her bed. Quietly and carefully, Raven mopped up the sweat on Jericho's placid face.

He didn't seem in as much pain now. His breathing was still rapid but the tension in his body and face had relaxed some. As she brushed damn curls away from Jericho's eyes, Raven wondered what the hell had put him in so much pain.

Up until the moment he'd shown up at her door, Raven hadn't even known where he was. The violet-haired girl felt a pang of guilt in her chest. She hardly knew anything at all about her partner and fellow Titan.

She didn't even know anything about his powers. The boy was a mute but Raven sensed that he didn't want to divulge much about his past, even if he could. She didn't want to pry but curiosity was roiling in her gut like a typhoon.

Her fingertips brushed against Jericho's soft cheek, her imagination twisting a dark tale that she couldn't see this boy having. Jericho was sweet and thoughtful. If Robin hadn't told her so, Raven would never have guessed that this golden-haired youth was a Titan at all.

A thought crossed her mind and she whispered it aloud. "You always listen to others but has anyone ever listened to you?"

She hadn't forgotten that Jericho couldn't speak but that didn't mean there weren't other ways to tell his story. Jericho clearly didn't want to talk about his past, but had anyone even thought to ask at all?

A painful sensation shot up her leg. It felt as if her muscle was being torn savagely from her bones. Fiery agony spread up her torso and unmistakable rage churned in the pit of her stomach. She felt the switch now- she could feel herself losing the battle and the emotion stepping into her body.

Raven cast a terrified glance Jericho's way before she was finally removed from control. A throaty laugh trickled from Raven's lips and Rage flexed her fingers. "How sweet, Raven. You brought me a snack."

Don't! The shivering empathy screamed. Her voice only echoed around in the confines of her mind, however, which sent Rage into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

Raven watched with horror, trapped in her own mind, as Rage pulled out a long dagger from the nightstand drawer. The sharp edge gleamed in the lamplight as Rage twisted it from side to side. Her voice was dark and sounded as if multiple people were speaking in unison. "You haven't let me out to play. I don't appreciate that."

What the hell is your problem? Raven hissed through clenched teeth, fighting the fear in her voice.

It didn't matter. Rage knew she was terrified.

Rage chuckled grimly, climbing onto the bed with the knife gripped tightly in her hand. She giggled happily as she pressed the metal into the soft flesh along Jericho's neck. The Golden Boy slept peacefully, completely oblivious to the dangerous situation he was in. (Anii Note: Sorry, I got tired of calling him "golden-haired".)

Rage moved to sweep the dagger across Jericho's neck but invisible hands seized hers. Raven's jaw dropped as she realized she was stopping Rage. Rage grunted as she struggled against the body's true owner. The dagger shook as Raven's hands quivered from the struggle. A cooling relief began in the empathy's fingertips and flowed throughout the rest of her body. Seizing the moment, Raven flung herself off of the bed.

She dropped to the floor in a trembling mess. Her breathing was shallow and frantic as she waited, wondering if at any moment Rage would jump forward. After several terrified moments, the panicked girl lifted a hand, weakly wiggling her fingers. A shaky laugh fell from Raven's lips as she stared in disbelief at her hand. She immediately scrambled to her feet and bent over her bed. She silently leaned close to her sleeping partner, scanning Jericho's pale skin for even a tiny nick or scratch.

She found none and clasped a hand to her mouth as she stumbled back. Happy tears sprang in her eyes as she turned away from the boy. How did this happen. She wasn't complaining but that didn't mean she wasn't confused beyond belief. Even with some of her more playful emotions, Raven had never been able to take control. What had changed.

The Leo statue...

Raven slowly lowered her hand from her mouth. Could it be true? Vivienne had said she was going to perform a cleansing ritual on the Leo. Had that tipped the scales enough for Raven to gain the upper hand in this war with her emotions?

Thinking about the statue once more made the empathy recall other quarries about the ancient figure. She'd wondered for a while what the vision had meant when she touched the statue. She'd somehow come to accept that the image was a display of the Leo's rage. But did implied that the statue had a mind of its own. If that was so, could it have revealed anything to the mystic woman, like the location of other statues?

If there were any answers to be found, Vivienne would have them.

••••••••

-Robin-

Robin stared down at the empty black screen. His conversation with Aqualad had ended just moments before but the Boy Wonder's mind was still reeling with the new information.

They'd found it. They were almost there now. Two statues were dealt with.

Robin closed the lid of his communicator and laid back against his bed, staring up blankly at the ceiling. Why was Aqualad so busy? Robin wasn't sleeping much and he didn't doubt that his companions were doing the same. His thoughts turned to the other Titans being housed in Aqualad's home. How were they all doing? He hadn't really spoken to any of them other than to check up on their progress.

He felt a little guilty about not worrying more about them as people. Maybe I should visit...

Aqualad had seemed pretty busy before. Wouldn't Robin's unexpected visit be more of a bother? And what if Aqualad felt that Robin didn't trust him to hold up his side of the Titans?

Robin swung his legs over the side of his bed, staring down at his bare feet as he mulled over the course of action he was about to take. A quick visit won't disturb them, he concluded.

He shed his sleeping pants and pulled on a random outfit quickly. He picked up his cape, staring down at the black and yellow cloth before setting it aside. He ran a hair through his messy hair but shrugged it off. He wouldn't be gone long. He just wanted to check up on his busy friend.

Robin slowly closed his bedroom door behind him and crept down the hallway as silently as he could. He turned the corners, preparing to jog down the stairs but instead bumped into a hooded figure.

"Raven?" He whispered.

The girl spun around at the sound of her name and flinched as she recognized Robin. "Where are you going?" He asked.

He could see her shift in the darkness. "To see Vivienne." After several awkward moments of silence, Raven returned the question. "What about you?"

"To check up on some of the other Titans." Robin replied, keeping his voice low.

Both Titans fell silent, unaware of what to say next to one another. Raven pointed down the hallway. "Well...I'm going to go." She began to move away but turned around abruptly and whispered, "Be safe."

"You too." He returned with a smile.

-End Robin-

••••••••

Raven strode down the cavern tunnel, wondering about the prickling sensation that rippled over her skin. The temple had always seemed peaceful, silent but for the sounds of tinkling laughter that came from the joyful nymphs. Now, Raven could hear no sounds and the atmosphere was suffocating.

As she rounded the corner, calling out to the temple's mistress, the violet-haired girl's eyes shot open wide and she stumbled back with shock.

The platform was littered with bare nymphs, each unmoving and silent. Raven's breath caught in her throat as she saw the blood splashed all across the surface of the pure white dais. A trail of crimson dribbled down the stairs and leaked into the water that had once seemed beautiful and now just seemed eerily still.

As Raven's eyes drifted up the stairs, she vaguely made out a thin blue arm sticking out from the gossamer veil at the top of the platform.

A cry tore from Raven's lips as she rushed forward, forgetting entirely about the water that separated her from the bloody dais. No lily pad burst to life beneath her feet to carry her across the surface and the Azarathian was thrown down into the surprisingly icy water.

Raven flapped her arms and kicked her legs, desperately trying to push herself towards safety but invisible hands clutched her body, dragging her down deeper into the water's depth. The shimmering light from the temple dimmed the further Raven sunk.

Bubbles floated up to the surface, carrying away the drowning girl's final scream.

••••••••

-Robin-

Heels clicked against a hard surface, causing Robin's head to throb painfully. He rolled onto his back, groaning with anguish. Every inch of his body ached. Someone grabbed a fistful of Robin's shirt and hauled him off of the floor. He pried open his swollen eyes and stared at the blurry feminine face before him. The woman's oddly colored lips split in a wide grin. "Good morning." She cooed.

Robin attempted to ask where he was but he coughed, spurting up bright red blood that flooded over his lips and down his chin.

"Disgusting." The woman snarled, releasing him and letting his sore body smack back down against the hard floor.

Robin watched through bleary eyes as the woman walked away from him, her hips sway sensuously as her heeled shoes clicked against the ground. He blinked to clear his vision and swallowed painfully, gagging on the coppery taste of his own blood. The sounds of parting water made the Boy Wonder turn his attention to the dark pool off to the right of the woman.

"Have you done as I asked?" She asked, turning to face the approaching man.

Water pooled at Aqualad's feet as he kneeled before the woman. "I have."

"Are you sure he's dead?" She prodded, her gaze less than friendly.

Aqualad nodded, his voice strangely robotic and distant. "I am. Aquaman is no more."

-End Robin-

I started college today! Woot! I'm taking a writing class (it's required) so hopefully that can help me with this story and others -Anii