DC Gothic – Red-X 2
Part 7
Titan Tower – Jump City
When I woke up and found myself on the couch inside the Tower, this made me very happy because it meant that weird cowboy thing had all just been a dream. Which explained perfectly why none of it made no sense, and why it had ended so suddenly.
As my vision cleared I looked up the screen I'd be looking at before falling asleep and saw that I'd been studying Control Freak's file.
I'd never actually met the guy I'd just dreamt that I had. This was good as it meant I didn't have to track him down and murder him for sending me into some sort of cowboy film.
Also there was an old western on the TV, that made sense too. My dream had just been my brain using stuff around me to help me deal with the news I'd been given. It had just been my subconsciousness, nothing else.
The only part that didn't add up was the part of my dream when the demon Scath or Scarth or whatever had said something. It was fading now, but I knew it involved a gem and the end of mortal life.
For a second I had the horrible thought that the diamond I'd given to Jinx's was going to end the world, but I dismissed that as I knew the jewel had good magic in it not bad.
Besides I had the feeling this 'gem' was a not literally a stone because it had been forged in something evil. Which made me wonder if I was going to have to go and throw something in Mount Doom in order to save the world.
Then I remembered why I'd been trying to distract myself with TV and computer files. I'd been doing that because Raven had told me in message she left on the Titan's computer that she was pregnant, and that she wanted a proper relationship with me.
Which was why I was even here. Clearly the clever girl had wanted me to see what it was like to live as a hero in the hopes that I might forget about being Red-X and join the Titans as a warlock/fighter. I was mad about it, but I also admired her for being so cunning.
Of course I had no right to be angry for her not telling me everything, because I wasn't telling her everything either. I was shagging two other girls, and I'd never come clean about working for Slade.
Not that it really mattered as I had no intention what so ever of joining the Titans. I was no hero, so I was not going to live in this tower and fight my friends.
I'd provide for the kid in terms of money, there was no doubt of that, but I was not going to play happy families. But I would still do my best to be there should my child ever need their father.
The problem with me deciding this was that Raven seemed to think I was her boyfriend despite the fact that I'd repetitively told her that we had no future together.
Perhaps in the past she'd understood that, but getting pregnant had understandable filled her with a strong desire to be with the father of her unborn child. Which was perfectly natural.
Also it wasn't hard to imagine that Raven might think I'd be a good husband and father because back when she'd been turned into a little girl I'd taken care of her. Sadly that wasn't the case as I had no desire to raise a child. I couldn't given how I lived my life.
Thinking that led me to consider early retirement. I couldn't join the good guys because the likes of Robin would never accept me should he learn that I was Red-X even though I had helped the Titans out a few times. But I could just put away the suit and get a normal job.
Not that I wanted to, in fact the idea chilled me to my bones, but really I had no choice if I wanted my kid to be part of my life.
Then I realised that it wasn't really up to me. Raven was the mother so it was up to her what happened to the baby. She'd decided how the kid would be raised.
I'd never separate a baby from their mother unless I had a good reason for thinking the kid was in danger and I couldn't imagine Ray harming any child.
Not that it was an option in any case as I didn't exist legally speaking in this world, so I couldn't exactly go to child services for help. Besides I wasn't exact a good role model for kid.
I then spent a few moments coming up with a plan to go back in time and warn the me at the tournament to use a condom. There had even been some in the room. But I wasn't willing to risk damaging the time line just because I had problems.
Which meant I was truly fucked because unless Raven had an abortion or miscarried, and I didn't want either of those things to happen, then I was going to be a father.
"Hello" a voice then said.
I literally jumped off the couch, and then I got ready to do battle but as it turned out there had been no reason for me to be alarmed.
"Oh hi" I said to Shayera Hol.
While she wasn't the exactly the last person I'd expected to see here she had rated pretty far down the list.
"When I heard that the Titans had someone watching the tower for them I got curious, and when I saw it was you I thought I'd come and say hi" the heroine explained "I never got the chance to say thank you for what you did for Grundy".
Since I wasn't fully awake I decided to get some coffee. It would help make sure that I was actually talking to Shayera Hol rather than a very realistic delusion brought on by a recent lapse into insanity.
"You look like you just got out of the grave yourself" the winged woman was now saying.
It struck me then I did need to talk to someone, and Shayera knew me well enough and she only had positive opinions of me so she might actually be able to offer me moral support. If she hadn't been sulking the entire time at Fate's we might even have been friends by now.
"I just found out that Raven is pregnant" I said.
Shayera at that point decided she needed coffee too, and while she poured herself a cup I went looking for snacks.
"Raven knows your Red-X, right?" Shayera inquired "Fate told me he gave you those special magic crystals".
She'd never needed one as she'd met me after I'd made my memory altering wish.
"Yeah she knows" I confirmed "And Starfire knows too, but only because Ray told her. They planned to get me here. I think they want me to give up being Red-X".
Shayera spent a moment thinking about what I'd just said before speaking her own thoughts.
"Would it be so bad if you did give up the suit?" she asked "Not many people even know your Red-X so it would be easy for you to start again as a hero even, and then it wouldn't matter about your past. I betrayed the League and they still let me go on missions".
I felt a strong desire to say something about her sorry situation.
"You saved the world" I pointed out "You put the needs of another race before your own to save billions lives. That's wasn't the action of a traitor, that was truly heroic".
If I'd been the choice between letting a load of aliens die in order to save Earth from an invasion and saving the aliens, I don't think I'd have done the right thing.
"That's sweet of you to say" said the Thanagarian "But the real issue is that I betrayed the League and spied on them. The fact that I saved the world might be why they lack me back in but I lost the trust of my friends and no one deed can earn that trust back".
I hadn't thought of it that way, but she'd never done anything bad me so I couldn't understand how the League felt. My feelings were all good towards her because immortal or not I wouldn't have survived the planet being crushed into some kind of singularity.
"And don't change the subject" the alien warrior demanded "I didn't come down here to talk about me".
It was now clear to me that she did want to be friends, or maybe she just felt sorry for me. I'd take the pity that was all she had to offer, although some advice would be nice.
"Okay I'll answer your question" I said, giving in
Before I spoke on that subject I started to munch on what I hoped was something Raven had wanted to enjoy eating as I badly needed some sort of revenge for her manipulations.
"I am Red-X" I told her "Before I got that suit I was just another student at the H.I.V.E academy. No one even noticed me, and while that was by design when I became Red-X I was suddenly popular and I even got myself a hot new girlfriend"
Well Jinx was a bit freaky looking, but once you got past the odd skin colour and the strange hair style you found a remarkable young woman, and she fun between the sheets. But I wasn't going to mention any of that.
"More than that I was the guy who took on the Titans and got away every time" I then added "When I put on that suit there's nothing I can't do and people respect me".
The papers called me the 'Prince of Thieves' for a reason. Everyone who isn't in power always loves a rebel.
"And I'm too young to settle down" was what I said next "I've only just started. I've been put in charge of a team and I think we could be the best at what we do".
Shayera again took time to mull over my words before she spoke.
"But you have a big responsibility now" the woman pointed out "You have to think of your kid first and foremost".
I'd been think of little else. Heck I'd even been dreaming weird shit because of it.
"So that means I should change my entire life and get into a relationship with someone I'm not in love with?" I asked her.
Perhaps it should work that way, but I wasn't in love with Ray. That might change should I live with her, or at least see on a regular bases but I couldn't be sure of that.
"Well maybe the first part" Shayera said.
She was right. Everything was going to change. I could still run away from this, but that wasn't something I was willing to do.
On the other hand if I'd been meant to be a responsible member of society I wouldn't keep getting a rush every time I committed a crime and got away with it.
"At least you don't have to worry about it now" the alien woman reminded me "The baby hasn't been born yet. You have time to get things sorted and if you want you can go out and do stupid things, and then settle down".
She was also right about that. I had a few chances left to be Red-X. I had made no commitments to Raven so I was still free. At least until she asked for my help and there wasn't much I could do right now since she was the one carrying the baby.
"I'm going to get some booze" I decided "Then I'm going to drunk myself into oblivion".
This was a great plan, at least in my mind.
"I don't think that's such a good idea" Shayera advised "There could be a big emergency at any moment".
There was simply no part of me that cared.
"Well then you'll have to join me to make sure I don't drink too much" I told the former Hawkgirl.
Or she could leave. The choice was hers.
"I can see this ending badly" she said.
Her concerns were not shared by me.
(Line Break)
Titan Tower – Jump City
A loud noise blasted me into the state of being awake, and it made my brain scream out as the sensation brought me a lot of pain.
In order to end the torment I leaned over and slammed my fist into the machine that controlled the alarms.
Then once my eyes were working I looked at the screen to discover that it was the middle of the day and that some guy called Mumbo Jumbo had escaped the local lockup.
"Are we under attack?" a voice then asked.
For the second time in a 24 hour period Shayera Hol made me leap into the air due to surprise.
"You're naked!" I said.
She had blanket over certain parts of her, however there wasn't enough material to give any real modesty as half the cover was still on the floor.
"We had sex" she informed either me or herself "Oh that's not good".
I did not recall this so I concluded that her race must not have to worry about the whole memory loss thing when they drank. Although the impaired judgement issue was common to both species it seemed.
"Did we use a condom?" I asked.
I was worried that we hadn't, and past experiences had taught me that it was important to use one.
"No" she told me "But don't worry my people have mating cycles and I'm not on one right now so you're safe".
Well that was something at least. I did not want to met an upset Green Lantern.
"Raven is going to kill me" Shayera then said as she stood up.
I spent a moment admiring her ass before she realised what I was doing and she used the sheet to try to cover up.
"Its a bit late now" I told her "I've seen it".
Shayera was not amused by my comment.
"This never happened" she insisted "and we will never get together for drinks again. No we never spend time alone. If we met again we make sure people are around us. Sober people".
Well there went that friendship.
"Which ways the bathroom?" the Justice League member then asked.
After giving her directions I started to get dressed and then found some orange juice so that I get the taste of stale drink out of my mouth. Then I went and used the facilities, and when I got back I assume Shayera had already gone. So I cleaned up the empty bottles and once I was done with that I remembered the whole crime alert issue.
I would have gotten more information but the building rang and it took me a moment to realise that the computer that issued the crime alerts was also had Skype.
"You look awful" Raven said as her huge face appeared on the screen.
My handover was just starting to fade when Starfire decided to say something to me.
"Good morning!" the alien shouted "How are you Friend Raven's Friend who is a boy?".
I decided not to lie.
"My head hurts" I admitted.
Since I'd cleaned up there was no evidence of heavy drinking they naturally assumed I'd been in a fight.
"What happened?" Ray asked in concern "Did someone hurt you".
Someone had. The person just happened to me.
"It's self inflicted" I told her "And don't worry I'll be fine. I heal fast".
She seemed confused now, so I changed to subject before she asked me to explain what I had just told her.
"Mumbo Jumbo escaped custody" I informed the two Titans "So I have to go catch him".
I was already looking for the off switch, or at least the mute button.
"Do you need help?" was Raven's next question "I can come back".
That would be a very bad thing as there might still be naked woman somewhere around here.
"I have my own team" I reminded the purple haired girl "and I can handle a magician".
With that I closed the Skype and looked around for my staff/spear. Brining it here had been risky but it was made of Nth metal so it would be handy if I was facing magic.
Then for some reason I remember that Slade hadn't given me this staff it had in fact been a reward from the Traveller for defeating a xenomorph. I'd forgotten that for some reason, but to be fair to myself there was a lot going on my life these days.
Weirdly that got me thinking about the things I'd done with Raven while we'd shared that room, and something struck me as not making sense.
One time, when we'd been messing around one evening I'd spanked her and it had hurt her despite the fact that it had been impossible to harm anyone outside of the matches. That made no sense, but there was no way for me to figure it out now and these random thought were just distractions that I could afford right now.
However that didn't stop me from wondering what had happened to the tattoos I'd gotten in Gotham City. I'd gotten wards inked on to me that should have made me invisible to cameras, but they were gone now and I'd only just realised that.
Something had gotten rid of them, but as odd as that was it wasn't what worried me. What did concern me was that I could only now remember getting them.
My theory was that my wish had altered the past, or at least my memories of it in order to make everyone forget I was Red-X. That was weird and I couldn't understand why my memories had returned now.
Then I did because I found the shattered remains of a crystal on the floor. I must have broken it sometime last night. Maybe while I was having that odd dream, it would have contributed the strangeness.
"Do you need any help?" Shayera asked.
She was no longer naked, much to my disappointment and by the looks of things she'd taken the time to shower.
"No I'll be fine" I assured her.
Then I felt the urge to say something about what we'd done last night.
"Listen I'm sorry...".
She didn't let me finish.
"Forget about it" she pretty much ordered "Even if you do get together with Raven I don't think I'd get to see very much so lets just put this behind us. Please".
I was mad at myself now for ruining what could have a proper friendship. It had been nice to have someone to talk to who didn't care if I was Red-X and lonely of that I was sure.
"If that's what you want" I said "Then it never happened".
Moments later she had teleported out after calling the Watchtower and soon after that I was out the door.
I had a magic using criminal to track down, and that meant contacting my team and getting them to find Mumbo so I could get him back to jail before he hurt anyone.
I wasn't a hero, but I'd been entrusted to project this city and I wasn't going to let down everyone I knew. Besides getting to kick the shit out of someone would be just the thing to improve my mood and it would distract me from my problem as well. Which was a nice bonus.
(End)
Author Note
Okay folks voting time.
Should Red-X get together with Raven or not.
If he does he won't join the Titans as he's got the Shadow Squad, but if he gets together with Raven then they won't fight the Titans as much.
I think it could be funny. I keep picturing Red-X having to call off a robbery right at the start because he has to take his pregnant girlfriend for a ultrasound.
On the other hand if he doesn't then Raven will keep trying to change his mind, because she's not just going to give up. Which could also be fun to write as she is scary.
Either way I have some fun ideas for the Shadow Squad. Folks like CADMUS will try to hire to work against the League and memebers of the League could hire them to foil other bad guys.
And of course the Squad will have their own plans to get more money, power and cool toys.
Also the vote will naturally effect book 3 but I won't go into that because of spoilers.