I made an announcement about doing this but now I am actually doing it, I really hate that story, it's just not a good rep of how I write anymore so even though no one REALLY cares and you cannot UNREAD the original I will still be redoing it. If you would like to keep along and re-read go ahead, it'll be a LOT different. WHOLE different scenes, plot lines, and side stories, I will be redoing just about everything.
You would think that by now, two years of this villain escaping our grasp we would have some knowledge on how to fight him. We would know his next move like we do with the others. Despite Robin's best efforts he has yet to come up with any plan that has worked with Red X. He still somehow manages to either get all of us restrained or escape by a hair. It is frustrating, though I try not to let it get in the way of thinking clearly. Tonight the alarm went off, showing him breaking into another science lab and Robin practically jumped out of his seat ready to try again. However, it isn't going so well for us.
The rain doesn't do much to help the already worn traction of my combat boots. I try to shield another one of Red X's laser bullets. A new toy that he seemed a little to giddy to show off. I can only see his outline through my black shield. He shoots another and I back up some more trying to give myself enough space to throw something passed around my shield. He doesn't let up moving closer with each step and shooting over and over. Stepping back again the back of my heel is now off the edge of the building and I am balancing on the balls of me feet. If I float up he will shoot up at me, I can still feel the burn of that lesson I learned not even five minutes ago. I release a grunt knowing I can't take another step back. A metal clanking sounds off loudly as the gun in Red X's hand falls to the ground. I release my shield to shoot a bolt at him and to push myself back onto the roof. My heart pounds with adrenaline. I didn't see my bolt hit and I look in time to see Red X roll away from a high kick from Robin. I take a deep breath trying to regain some patience, much needed patience. The rain continues to pound down on us, my wet hair is matted to my forehead and neck making it hard for me to focus on it. It's uncomfortable.
"You know, if I knew it would be this easy I wouldn't even have brought any weapons" Red X mocks from his mask, his voice coming out robotic, it's so eerie and inhuman it sends chills down my back, though I am not sure if that is the cold leaking through my cloak and cat suit. He loads up another weapon that can do who knows what, I suck in a breath readying another shield. A green starbolt hits him in the back, he lands almost at my feet. Starfire hovering above, she must have finally gotten out of the X he trapped her in. I silently thank Azar for it. Waving my hands majestically I swallow him in a black dome and hold him above the roof. Starfire lands on the roof with her arm outstretched. A green starbolt charging up in her hands pointed at Red X even through the shield he knows what it means. Cyborg does the same behind the shield as does Beastboy, in the form of a cheetah, growling and hissing from his position to my left. Everyone has gotten out of their traps he is surrounded and has no where to go anyway.
"You seem distracted X" Robin boasts, I shoot him a glare. Robin loves to antagonize knowing it could lead to worse problems. It has to be an ego thing. Robin takes my cue and shuts his mouth. I lower Red X to the ground without breaking the dome. He looks around the dome, he doesn't say anything. Just breathing coming out sounding like an inhaler. I can practically see the wheels turning in his head. Trying to find a way out of this. I wish I could see more, possibly see when the lightbulb turns on. Robin stands in front of the dome, trying to face him.
"What do you want? What are you planning?" He asks through gritted teeth. Red X turns away and fiddles with something in his hands that is too small for me to see or make out. He slams it down a fog begins to swell inside the dome, I widen my eyes in realization and dimmish the dome. A cloud of red smoke spreads out now and when it clears he is gone. I curse under my breath and shake my head in frustration. Another failed attempt at keeping him from escaping. Robin walks away to the edge of the building. I can feel his frustration from here. I know he hates losing Red X as much as the rest of us. The thought of someone who can outsmart us on more than one occasion has never sat right with him. It doesn't take long for him to be done brooding and head back to the rest of the team.
"Raven, find him" Robin demands, I suck in a breath and close my eyes trying to sense him close. I sense a lot of people, too many to be sure if he is around. Opening my eyes I look to see him tapping his foot impatiently waiting for my news, I bite my tongue knowing the more bad news he gets the more upset he will be. I hate upsetting him.
"Well?" He asks, I shake my head
"There's too many people, I can't-"
"Jesus fucking Christ Raven, what the hell is the point of you being able to sense people if you can't sense when there is people" He asks turning around and slapping his hands against the side of his body. I swallow hard looking down to the ground. I put my hood over my face and try to calm myself. "Let's go, we have more evidence to look over"
It's time to go back home.
We arrive back at the tower rather quickly, despite it feeling like a long trip it was only five minutes from when we left the rooftop. Everyone trying to dry off from the downpour, Star squeezes her wet hair onto the floor and BeastBoy is shaking out in dog form. I grimace at both. Robin gestures for me to follow him into this office, his little detective space that has been taken over by different open cases. A new anxiety rises in my stomach. I look around and see all the still open cases we have, twenty three of them to be exact. Nothing that we wouldn't be able to solve if only we focused on one at a time, which we have all tried to tell Robin one time or another. He leans back and shakes his head.
"Raven I am sorry but we need to find another way for you to keep tabs on him. He can't be getting far, you need to find a way to recognize people in your senses." He tells me, I shake my head
"I can barely do that for you guys how the hell am I supposed to do it for a guy we can't even seem to lay a finger on" I ask he shrugs
"I don't know Raven they are your powers! Figure it out! We can't keep losing him!" he shouts, we fall into silence.
"I want you to get sleep Dick. You are putting too much pressure on yourself to catch him and it's...making you different" I say, he turn around and faces me, I can tell by the determined look in his eyes he has no plan on listening to me. I roll my eyes getting prepared for the lecture I might have to endure.
"You think this is easy for me Rae? I have to find this guy, I need to make the world a safer place. I can't just roll over and let this go." He says I nod and look down at my hands.
"No, just get some sleep so you can tackle the case tomorrow with a fresh set of eyes. What is so wrong with that?" I ask he scoffs and turns his back to me, he marks something on the city map, a small X tac that I am guessing is marking where Red X has been hitting. He is trying to find a connection. It seems so obvious yet so far.
"Dick this isn't healthy"
"I am not letting this go. I care about this world and the bad guys that are in it need to be dealt with. Maybe it's your inner demon who doesn't understand that" He snaps. I suck on my teeth and breath out harshly. Every time we disagree he brings it up. It stings every time. Suddenly I am sitting in front of Batman again listening to him tell everyone on the Justice League that I am not to be trusted. It hurt then and it hurts now. His brows furrowed as if he doesn't understand.
"My inner demon has nothing to do with why I want you to take care of yourself. Thanks for bringing it up" I snap and turn on my heels heading out of the door, he doesn't stop me I head to my bedroom feeling the anger seeping inside of me. My inner demon? Are you kidding me? How many times is he going to bring up my half demon side. As if I chose this? The door shuts behind me with a hiss. I strip myself of my clothes and change into black shorts and a tank top. Something comfortable to sleep in. It doesn't take me long to fall asleep. However, I am woken up by the sound of my room door opening. I look at the time, it reads just short of three a.m. I close my eyes again feeling the arms wrapping around my waist.
"I'm sorry Rae" Robin says as he shifts into the bed. He kisses my shoulder, it doesn't take us both much longer to fall asleep, his arms still around my waist. When my alarm goes off I shut it off quickly, careful not to wake him up. I look at him sleeping, one arm tucked under the pillow and the other resting on his chest which rises and falls with every breath. I change into my normal everyday clothes, my cat suit and cloak. I then head downstairs where Cyborg is already brewing a strong smelling pot of coffee. I brush passed him without a word. He has already started the water for my morning tea.
"Thank you" I say quietly. He nods and pours himself a cup of his coffee.
"What time did he end up going to bed?" Cyborg asks I sigh and lean against the counter with my arms folded across my chest.
"Three...I should start locking my door at night. He can't sleep over if it's later than midnight. Maybe that'll get him in bed sooner" I say Cyborg chuckles and sips his coffee.
"Bee tried that on me, I can't say it was unsuccessful. However, it only works when I sleep over there which I haven't done in a long time" He says I nod I suppose it might not work, he does have his own bedroom. We switch off on who's room we sleep in. Depends on who goes to bed first. I can't stand sleeping in his room though, it's so...bright. Starfire is the next to walk into the kitchen as bubbly as ever. She smiles and grabs a mug out of the cabinet. I don't think she actually needs the coffee, she just likes fitting in with the rest of us for wanting to drink something in the morning.
"Good morning my friends!" She beams.
"Morning Star" I greet finally hearing the kettle screaming at me. I turn off the heat and pour the water in my cup and dropping a tea bag in. I let it sit for a couple minutes as the rest of the gang wake. Robin strolls in he pours himself a cup of coffee no mix ins. He passes me placing a kiss on my cheek and heading right back into his office. I take a sip of my tea and inhale it's fumes.
"Anyone up for breakfast?" Cyborg loudly asks to an unresponsive audience.
Following Day
"Thank you everyone for coming. I have done some thinking. I understand that I have not been...the nicest to a lot of you" Robin's eyes bounce from person to person but they rest of me for a second longer. I want to vanish into the couch but I don't. "I think I am realizing that we need to start crossing off unsolved cases. We need to get these off my wall and we need to start putting bad guys away."
"So we are finally going to focus on one at a time?" Cyborg asks, he sounds relieved
"Not quite. I am going to assign a team. To that team I am going to give a case. You will be solving it on your own and when we are divided into teams we can solve at least three at a time" Robin announces, the roller coaster of emotions begins, we may finally be able to get more done, but three at a time? Splitting into teams? Is that not going to prolong how long each case takes? We solve things so fast because there are five of us.
"Three?" Beastboy asks trying to do the math. "There isn't an even number of us man!"
"Raven will be on her own" Robin announces, I look up at him and poke my tongue into my cheek. "She is the most powerful on a lot of levels and the only one I don't think will need back up"
"What are the other teams?" Cyborg asks, he probably can see my disappointment. I remember when he would always make sure that we were put together when ever we needed to divide. Maybe it is a good thing, we could use some distance maybe. I have heard that it helps the heart grow fonder.
"Cyborg you are with Beastboy, and Star is with me, I need the backup" He says it, like admitting he isn't strong enough is the hardest thing he's ever had to do. On some level it probably is.
Robin brings out three beige folders handing one to Cyborg, one to Starfire, and one to me. I waste no time opening mine looking through my assignment. I fight the urge to gasp though I don't contain my eyes widening as I look up at Robin. He meets my eyes, doesn't say anything but nods to me. Cyborg and Beastboy begin talking theirs over and Starfire doesn't even make a move to open hers. She knows they will talk about it. Maybe she is just as confused as to why they are teamed up as I was. Slowly the room empties as everyone leaves to begin working on their assignment. Robin stays back as do I.
"You trust me enough to do this?" I ask, he pauses looking down at the folder in my hand.
"I do, I think it's best if I am far away from it. You are the only person I trust with it. Please...don't let me down Raven" He says, I pause before nodding and taking his hand in mine.
"I won't"