Fallen Wings

Castles: Gah, I hadn't realised that they've changed things again! My scene breaks are all mucked up! If I get a free moment, I'll go back and re-enter the breaks from the first chapter. (I feel too lazy to do it at the moment.)

Kittens With Claws: Castles does not own the Teen Titans. She does own Shinobi, and the older Titans from the New World.

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TJ3232: I haven't given up on Satan's Child, - I've just lost interest. Continuous writing sometimes makes me lose interest for a while, but I can't say as to whether I'll pick it up again. Congrats on being the first reviewer, you earn a free Kittens with Claws key chain!! hands over key chain

Change-Of-Heart2: I dunno how I keep luring you in! You're one of my favourite reviewers! Must be my magnetic personality. :P

Just me and myself: And more where that came from. Just don't expect an update on Satan's Child II any time soon.

Misunderstood Demoness: Who said I've revealed my pairings yet? There's possible hope yet, I'm not a general RobxRae fan, but I've taken to reading fics with the pairing lately. Please don't peck out my eyes, I'm typing, - honest!!! ==

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Castles: Yes I know there's a lot of conversation at the moment. It'll get better, I have to set up the scenes!!! And… is not impressed Damn, will you two kitties hurry up and FIND MY HAIRBRUSH!!!

Kittens With Claws: Not our fault. You've got your spare. Now, you keep typing, and we'll see what we can choke up in the litter tray!!! :P

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"Me…find Bird Boy…" Night Shade mumbled from her position at the monitor. She stared, wild-eyed around her, as the metal doors entering into the room clanged open, a tall, silhouetted figure standing in the entrance. With a strangled cry, Shade ran, terrified, stopping to crouch in fear behind Jinx.

"Night Shade. Get out here now." The figure grimly ordered, stepping into the room. His only answer was a 'meep' from the back of Jinx's chair.

"Cyberion, calm down. She'll come out in a little while." Jinx swallowed nervously as she continued typing, the hybrid dropping the metal container he was carrying on her desk.

"Analyse it. It contains the final component to my creation. Then, then we can finally undo all the wrong." His voice was cracked, speaking with age. The black and grey metal plates, eternally fastened to his body, shone dully in the thin lighting of the room.

"What is going on in here? Oh, Cyberion. Are you done?" Shape Shifter hesitated as he also walked in, holding a small floppy disk in his hand.

"Almost." Came the reply. " Jinx, bring it to my quarters when you're finished." With that, the long lost soul of the once enthusiastic Cyborg turned away, turning back to his small solitude.

Shrugging her shoulders, the still pink haired sorceress stood to go and follow her orders.

Nobody ever dared to disobey Cyberion.

Ever.

With a small whimper, Night shade crawled out from behind Jinx's chair, scrambling back over to her work station.

=ó=

Elsewhere, in the depths of the New World, Chromia stealthily patrolled around the East of the city. Thorgrians were everywhere, the cold depths of the city calling out to her. She needed a way to find Nightwing, - and to make him notice her. Chromia was alerted by a sudden noise behind her, turning sharply with a Starbolt at the ready.

She was greeted by a cat. A small, black, and clearly abandoned young kitten. It looked so pityingly up at her, that Chromia couldn't resist. Picking it up, she tucked it into her grey jacket. The creature was so small, it fitted perfectly in her pocket. The harsh winds echoed around the alien, picking up stray litter and dirt on the streets.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

Suddenly, a crashing sound boomed out behind the alien, setting off her danger senses as she warily looked about. Within seconds, she found herself pinned to the roof top by a mysterious figure. It was not a Thorgrian, and was definitely not Nightwing. The two struggled, her attacker's hands locked around Chromia's throat as she desperately tried to free herself. Whoever they were, her attacker was male without doubt, and beginning to choke her.

"Now you will see what happens when lost souls try to be heroes." The male whispered in a harsh voice, moving to sit on her in a manner that pinned her entirely to the floor.

"Now you will see what happens when you mess with a pissed off Tamarian." Chromia choked, finally managing to lift her knee, and kick him in the groin, throwing the male backwards, and over her head. He let go of her neck, screaming as he toppled off the building, falling to his certain death in the dark night. With a sickening crunch, the man hit the street below, his head and other bodily parts at unnatural angles. Blood was splattered up the stone grey building, and across the small area where he lay.

"Shit." Chromia muttered, realising that any patrolling Thorgrians or people would realise that it was definitely not an accident, and they'd be looking for the culprit. Sure enough, within a matter of minutes, several individuals were gathered below the alien, examining the man. She thought for a fleeting minute that she might get away with it, but her efforts were to no avail. Several people saw her, pointing up in rage.

Panicking, Chromia turned, the kitten mewling inside her jacket. With heavy breathing, she looked left and right, and was about to move off, when she bumped into tall, well built figure.

"Going somewhere?" He asked, with a grin.

With a feeling of dreaded horror, the alien realised she hadn't found Nightwing.

He'd found her.

And by the look of things, if she didn't act fast, Chromia was going to be his next captive. Shaking, she backed off, only to watch him edge nearer, grabbing her wrist.

"Get off me!!" She cried, struggling to get out of his grip. But her alien strength was not as potent as it had once been, and Nightwing was easily able to overpower the alien with his stronger abilities.

"You didn't think you could outrun me forever, - did you? I am always here. I am the breath that whispers you to sleep at night. I am the feeling of dread that comes when you feel fear. I am the night that holds you in cold arms. Yes, you can still feel, I can tell…" His words were intoxicating, mesmerising, and possessed a shimmer of what both had once felt for a short while, - love.

"You…you can't control me anymore! Go back to your Thorgrian buddies, I don't want anything more to do with you!" She tried to get away, but he grabbed her other arm, bending it back, so he could twist the alien around, holding her still against his chest.

"Then why, " he asked, his breath on her neck, " why did you come looking for me? Is it because you've finally admitted to yourself that you know I'm right? I've been right all along, and I know you know it. Or is because you just want to tease?" She closed her eyes, trying to block out the memories that rushed to her head, making her feel dizzy.

It was too much. Feeling her tension drop, Nightwing slowly lowered his grip on her arms, allowing Chromia to turn around, smiling with satisfaction as she eventually dropped her head to lie it on his shoulder.

"Good girl." He softly whispered, holding her head up with his hands. Slowly, steadily, he leaned in and kissed her, the alien responding with lost feelings she could no longer suppress. Holding her close to him, Nightwing swept them away into the shadows, the darkness enclosing around them.

Chromia couldn't understand what she was doing. She shouldn't be doing this, she was not a traitor. But the alien could not resist, Nightwing had something of an alluring aura about him, surrounding Chromia in a world where to her, only they existed. It was too tempting, too irresistible for her to withstand anymore.

"Bad, bad girl…" Night Shade muttered from where she lay hidden in the shadows of a building opposite of the one where the two had just been. "Big bad boss won't be happy…

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"I wouldn't run if I were you. If you try that, you'll only get your head skewered." Shinobi held her sword at a perfect 45º degree angle, no questions asked. She oozed confidence, but whether that was from years of experience at her game, or the fact that nearly every other member in the building was locked up in the canteen at that time was uncertain.

"Please…please I'll do anything you ask…Just...don't kill me…" The Headmistress of the HIVE academy shook with fear, - as would most people when confronted by a ninja with a 18'' sword.

"Okay then. How about you step out here and give me your necklace and anything else valuable, and then I'll consider sparing your life." Shinobi's tone was both aggressive and bold, her sword kept ever still at it's perfect angle. With a small attempt at defence, the middle-aged woman slipped a gun out of her pocket, pointing it at the ninja.

"Stay back! Stay back or I'll shoot!" She cried desperately, trying to back away towards the window.

"Oh please." Shinobi said in a bored and irritated tone. "If I had wanted a challenge, I'd have asked for it, but you're clearly stupider than I thought. So we'll just have to do this the hard way, won't we?" Her manner or tone hardly faltered, as she moved forwards.

"Stay back!!" The woman shouted again, but was stopped when the ninja knocked her stumbling hand aside, and gripped the woman's throat with her spare hand. The HIVE Headmistress choked, trying to free her neck, struggling desperately in pain and the attempt to breath.

"Remember my dear, - Do not mess with a ninja." With that, Shinobi impaled the Headmistress on her sword, twisting it round before she withdrew it. The woman gasped, gripping her abdomen. "And now you've pissed me off, so I'll just have to kill you the gruesome way."

'No more answers for no questions asked. Raising her ninja blade, Shinobi held it with both hands, aiming at a perfect angle. With a clean swipe, she took off the woman's head, blood splattering the walls. The headless body fell to the floor, Shinobi dropping to raid the body of all valuables, before she turn to go.

"Get out of my way." She snarled at the figures standing in the doorway.

"Not gonna happen, ninja girl." Cyborg retorted, sonic cannon at ready. "We're the Teen Titans, and you're under arrest for murder."

"Murder? Listen, robot, it's not murder to me. To me, it's a job." With her tone, manner, and considerably her dark, 'ninja' apparel, she sounded almost as if she were Raven.

"Whoa. Dude, that is so Raven's style. And her quote. What with the 'stealthy' ninja anyway?" With his words, Beast Boy changed into a rhino, charging at the young woman. She jumped up, and forward-flipped over him with perfect style, landing in a crouched position. She immediately went into battle with Cyborg, her sword cutting through the metal with a grinding sound.

"Hey! That's MY body you're cutting into!" Cyborg shoved Shinobi back, but she was too quick, ducking under his legs with the air and grace of a cat. She landed in front of Robin, running forward to ambush him.

"I dunno who you are, but you're going down anyway!" The two rushed at each other, bo-staff and samurai sword clashing together with the familiar grating sound from before of metal on metal. For a few minutes, all they did was push with equal strength at the other, occasionally breaking apart, proceeding to circle like hostile animals, before rushing back in to clang their weapons against one another yet again.

"Leave him alone!" Starfire yelled, throwing starbolts at the enemy. Shinobi reflected them back with her blade, hitting the alien and bringing her down, her lack of attention on Robin allowing him a chance to slam the end of his staff into her abdomen, winding her. The ninja fell to the floor with a cry of pain, but raising the sword to block a second attack from the boy wonder.

"Nobody defeats Shinobi." She growled in a dangerous tone, jumping up to land on a platform above her. When a huge, pterodactyl Beast Boy swooped up to knock her off, the ninja merely leaped over his wings, managing to jab her sword into one briefly. It was enough, and the changeling fell the floor in pain, a stab wound in his right arm.

"Where's Raven?" Cyborg looked around, panicking as he didn't see their Gothic companion.

"She was right behind us, maybe that ninja woman hurt her or something." Robin said as he helped Beast Boy up. Gradually, they limped, crawled and generally pulled their kicked buts to the doorway, searching for their lost friend.

"Until we meet again, Titans." Shinobi whispered, melting into the shadows. She silently leaped down onto a ledge outside, realising she had forgotten the time. In the short while of their fight, the afternoon had dissolved into early evening, causing the temperature to drop immensely since her last hour in the outside world. It was cold, and she hadn't brought a jacket.

"Great. Oh well. At least Master Slade will hopefully be happy I'm bring him a present." Her mumblings softly carried on the nightfall winds, the last traces of the sun liquefying into a dark night sky. Darting around the back of the building, Shinobi found her little 'present', in the form of an unconscious Raven, power-blocking bands fastened to her wrists. The girl was bound and gagged, but beginning to regain consciousness. She had to get the half-demon somewhere more secure a.s.a.p.

She shot out a line, similar to that of the great Batman, and took off, carrying the limp Raven underneath her arm, pleased with her night's work.

=ó=

"What on Earth is wrong with you? We sent you to find Chromia, and you can't even do that simple task." Jinx said with disgust at Night Shade, who had returned in great distress.

"Me…no…find…She…bad…bad…girl…" Shade's words were low murmurs. Something was clearly troubling the demon.

"WHERE IS CHROMIA??!!" Cyberion shouted, slamming the metal doors across, not bothering to wait for them to open. With a whimper, Night Shade ran to hide behind Jinx, causing the hybrid to sigh in frustration.

"Must find Chromia…Bad girl, bad girl…" Shade's words were low and barely comprehendible, her body shaking with fear and shock.

"Night Shade. Night Shade. What is wrong? Tell me. I won't hurt you." Cyberion bent beside the terrified girl, Jinx turning to watch with interest.

"Chromia…bad girl…" She whispered, eyes filled with tears looking up at the battle scarred face of her old friend.

"Why is Chromia a bad girl?" He repeated in a slightly gentler tone than normal.

"She…seduce…She kill…"

"Killed who? Tell me, who did she kill?" He repeated, urging and prompting the girl.

"Me not know…Bird Boy…he…is…bad Bird Boy…" She was still shaking, her breath fast and shallow. She was afraid, but she was telling what she knew. Night Shade knew not to mess with Cyberion.

"What has Nightwing done?" His voice was much gentler, listening intently as the half-demon began to tell him what he want to know.

"He…seduce…Chromia…She not stop him…Bad girl…bad girl…I tell her he is not nice…but she still believe…" Burying her face in her arms again, Night Shade sobbed silently, her body shaking still, her breathing ever uneven.

"Nightwing seduced Chromia? And she let him?" Cyberion's calm, gentle manner began to fade, and Night Shade peeped up occasionally from where her head was buried.

"Yes…Yes…You work it out.." She then hid in terror, knowing what was next.

"CHROMIA!!!!! YOU BITCH OF A TRAITOR!!!" Cyberion screamed in his rage, his words echoing into every corner of the base.

"Bad girl…" Night Shade whispered silently to herself.

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Castles: I LOVED writing that scene between Nightwing and Chromia!! (You have registered with the aliases of the Titans in the New World? In case you haven't, - here they are…)

Robin: Nightwing, obviously. :P

Cyborg: Cyberion, (the note from the last chapter, - Cyberion was Cy's name at some point in the comics, after a second accident that caused him to lose his mind. It's not my ownership!)

Raven: Night Shade, - and she's a bit loony, in case you hadn't realised!!

Starfire: Chromia, an altered name based on the metal chromium.

Beast Boy: I think 'Shape Shifter' has already given it away. Sorry, I couldn't be arsed to be a bit more inventive. UU

I hope that clears up any name difficulties! :P