Disclaimer: If I owned the Teen Titans you would be watching this fic on TV instead of reading it.
A/N: Here is another chapter for your enjoyment.
Chapter Three: Crime in Progress
Cinderblock was currently wrapped up in several layers of steel bars. The authorities had arrived and were taking him to one of their reinforced holding facilities. Raven hovered in the air a few feet away from the bustle of the news reporters and crime scene investigators. Robin was returning the canister that Cinderblock had stolen. It was filled with an unstable steroid serum. Research on the substance had been discontinued due to the horrific side effects on the lab test mice. It was obvious that Slade was out to create an army of hulking, stupid, deformed mutants.
Raven watched as the television news reporters spoke to the cameras. The newspaper reporters were busy taking shots of the area as well as the crime scene investigators taking photo evidence of the labs. The dark street was alight with flashes from cameras so no one noticed the one camera that didn't belong to a reporter or officer. This photographer was concentrating on the cloaked figure near the construction site across from the labs. He was focused on Raven.
The Teen Titans made there way home to the Tower. Raven was content to glide gently over the roofs of the city. She was nearing the island when she heard a buzzing sound behind her. She stopped and hovered while the mechanical dragonfly that had been delivering her love letters for two weeks now caught up to her. It sped up to her and gently placed another letter in her hand. It then turned and sped away from her.
Raven clutched the letter to her chest as she flew back to the Titan Tower. When she got there she went straight to her room and read the letter. As usual it spoke of how beautiful and brave she was and how cowardly and undeserving he was. She didn't know what made him think she wouldn't like him. He wrote eloquently and always gave her nice gifts. He sounded like a wonderful person. The more letters the man had sent the more Raven learned about his personality.
She could read the thought waves that clung to every letter. Though she couldn't determine his name or appearance from the waves she could interpret feelings and emotions as well as some of his actual thoughts. She knew, for instance, that he was a very shy person when it came to the fairer sex. He had a great fear of rejection. His fear was so great that he just couldn't bring himself to even talk to a woman he considered beautiful. She also knew that he felt very strongly where she was concerned. She could sense that the gifts he bought her were not cheap and once she had sensed he gave up his cable television for a month just to pay for one of them. He obviously cared a great deal for her.
Raven wished she could find out who her secret admirer was. He seemed like such a great guy. He sent her more roses every time the ones she had started to wilt. She had declined the offers from her teammates to track down this elusive man. She wanted to find him on her own.
((()))
Raven floated above another crime scene. This time the H.I.V.E students had tried to steal a tanker truck of radioactive waste. She looked at the mess below. The tanker had overturned but thankfully the liquid had stayed inside the metal vessel. Several of the streets had been torn up and a few houses were mildly damaged. Other than this the city was safe. She thought back to the incident two days ago with Cinderblock. He had been trying to steal an unstable steroid.
Robin had checked into the case. Both of the targets had been highly corrosive and acidic. It was as if Slade wanted to melt something. Raven sighed and flew back to Titan Tower with the others. They all landed on the roof and made their way to their respective bedrooms.
Raven slumped onto her bed and read over the latest note from her admirer.
Raven,
It still amazes me how strong you are. I marvel at your strength and beauty. How anyone could even think of committing crimes while you watch the city is beyond me. I am glad I chose this city to be my residence. If I had not I would not have heard of you. With you and your friends at watch I know I am safe from my past. I only hope that someday I have the courage to tell you who I am. How I wish that I could hold your hand and tell you face to face how much I love you. Alas, until that day I must leave you with my apologies.
My Raven Goddess,
Secret Admirer.
She read over this letter several times before falling asleep.
((()))
Raven was alone. The others were off chasing Cinderblock and the H.I.V.E students. Somehow she had gotten separated from them. The buildings around her were unfamiliar and she felt uneasy. Something didn't feel right. She was being very cautious. Every squeak and creak made her jump.
She walked down a narrow alley. The passage was dank and smelled of people's garbage. Several rats skittered past her as she moved slowly through the darkness. Normally the darkness would be her home, her advantage, but something just didn't feel right. The shadows in the putrid alleyway seemed hostile and the walls seemed to close in on her. She wasn't claustrophobic but she felt threatened by these black walls.
She emerged from the narrow inlet and found herself in a small square. The street was small and rundown. Only one of the corner lamps showed light. Garbage littered the brick walkway and the grass was a sickly brown. The street was cracked and uneven. The shabby residence gave off a bad feeling. It was a mix of old death and vibrations from rotting electrical wires. This neighborhood had experienced some horrible tragedies.
Raven felt pain as something bit into her left shoulder. She cried out as three more things bit into her right shoulder and both of her thighs. She reached to each wound and pulled away darts. At first it was a simple throbbing from the four punctures. Then the warmth was being sucked out of her. She fell to her knees gasping for air as Slade stepped into the light given off by the only working street lamp. She clutched at her chest. It was becoming so hard to breath.
"Now it begins," Slade intentioned in his cold voice, "I have taken out one of the team's strongest members. I will watch you die here. Then I will find the others. Without the full team they will be weakened. The Teen Titans will drop one by one as flies. Tonight begins the end of the Titans." As the masked figure spoke a fog began to gather. It wasn't noticeable at first. Soon it became thick and opaque.
Raven was loosing consciousness. The darkness was beginning to engulf the edge of her vision. She watched as Slade began to laugh. Just as the fog obscured anything beyond the madman she heard a voice. "I wont let her die!" It was the voice of a young man. She couldn't even think clearly enough to think who it belonged to. The darkness was growing. She was trying to fight it.
The fog began to seethe and waver as though it had a mind of its own. It converged on the mad villain and covered him. Raven heard the sounds of battle and a few electrical surges. Just as she began to black out she felt a strong pair of arms pick her up and begin to carry her.
A/N: Well? Do you like it? I hope I'm doing a good job. I thank all of you for your great reviews. I will get each chapter up as soon as possible. Thanks.
