Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans but I do happen to own Razor McKlan and Mark from The Last Descendant.

Razor watched in horror as the clock on the coffee table struck seven. He didn't want to go but Slade invited him and Starfire was forcing him to accept. Something he didn't want nor need. He picked up the guardless hilt of his thermal saber from the coffee table and opened his jacket to stick the high-tech blade in the pocket underneath. In the knick of time, he managed to button up his jacket as Starfire walked into the room. "Friend. You look wonderful!" She chirped while he groaned. "We'll be in our spots around the place to keep a lookout for Slade." Nightwing said as he walked into living room with Razor's sword across his chest and amulet around his neck.

"Man. How can you swing a sword like this?" He bellowed out as he almost fell backwards. "Just remember to give me my sword and amulet when Slade appears." "Raven has her communicator. Contact us if he's inside and we'll come to the rescue." Nightwing informed as his communicator rung. The masked vigilante pulled his communicator off of his belt and turned it on as Cyborg's voice was heard through its' speaker, "Yo. Is DK and dark girl ready? This bus is roarin to go. So get the two love birds down here." "They're on their way. Kory, go get Raven." Nightwing ordered as he turned off his communicator.

As he and Nightwing walked down the hallway, Nightwing spoke to him in almost a whisper, "I saw you grab your thermal saber. If things go bad inside and we can't get there, I want you to protect her. I know you can easily handle yourself but I have a suspicion on who this partner is and if I'm right. Raven won't stand a chance in a fight against him." "This partner, you act as if he's strong, like he'll kill us." "Razor, if memory serves, then, even you will probably fall. As harsh as it sounds, I know you can get away if you wanted to but Raven is a different story." "I'll have her teleport out if things go bad." Nightwing nodded as he heard the answer he wanted to hear, or, the answer that at least gave him some comfort. He personally would rather have it to where they both teleported out but he knew Razor wouldn't do such a thing.

Reaching outside, Cyborg awaited inside the long black limo to drive them to the ball. There, in front of the back door that was being held open by Beast Boy was Raven. She was wearing a long black shiny dress that hugged her curves almost as if they were skin. The way the silk smooth fabric dangled almost toward her feet was hypnotic. A long slit went through the skirt of the dress to reveal her long slender legs. The black high heels only added to the dark psychic's beauty. "Ok. Let's just get this over with." She said as she stepped inside the black limo with her teenage date behind her. As they sat down, Beast Boy shut the door while Cyborg drove off.

The window separating Cyborg from the other two lowered as the machine like human spoke up while keeping an eye on the road, "Listen up you two. Grass stain will be on the inside looking around. Starfire will be flying over head to watch the outside. Me and Nightwing will be on the Nightingale's roof top waitin for ya to give us the go ahead. DK, I'm sure Dick already told ya the plan B." Silence brew around the knight as he acted like he was ignoring his teammate. They knew he was listening, they'd be stupid to think otherwise.

Slowly, the window drew back to the roof leaving Raven and Razor alone in the back. She glanced over herself in the mirror, checking for any detail that was out of place. Slowly, she turned her head over to Razor and scanned over his body, absorbing the very image before her. He was truly handsome. From the black gloves to the black tuxedo. Even his eye patch appealed to her. It was surprising to him, for as he looked over at Raven, he caught her glancing at him but quickly she turned her head away with a small hint of redness appearing of her cheeks.

As the car came to a slow stop, the door opened with a man in a black tuxedo behind it. As he stepped out, he turned toward Raven and helped her gently get out of the car. She stuck her hand around his arm as they walked up the steps only to stop in awe at the building in front of them both. It was large and magnificent, designed to look like city hall on the outside but they both knew that this was where the most important men in town throw their formal parties.

"Let's go." Razor said as he lead Raven through the doors and into the main ball room. In the back was a band playing music of many styles. Some slow, others fast. Each song was chosen with extreme care. People were gathered in the middle and near the band dancing to their hearts desires while on the edge were those who visited their friends and talked about resent events. They all looked very important, however, Razor watched as many of them turned their heads toward him and Raven. Slowly, a large man around the age of fifty walked up to them. "Ah. Miss Raven. What a pleasant surprise. Didn't expect to see one of the Titan's here. I see you brought a date. And who's this?" The man shook Raven's hand, laughing the whole time as he spoke.

"This is Razor. Razor McKlan." She answered truthfully. "Razor. This is mayor Gerbert." Quickly he noticed that Raven was acting more friendly than what she normally was. He figured that it was because of the atmosphere. This place did seem to bring out the best in someone, though, he tried his best not to let it affect him. Silently he stood there was the man and Raven talked, watching as the man kept taking glances at him. It was boring to him. The man kept asking about their new member. She tried to answer his questions but some of them she couldn't.

"Hmm. Just out of curiosity…is he?" The man asked as Raven suddenly went quiet. Turning her head to her, she noticed that Razor was no where in sight. Instead, he was leaning against the wall by the table with punch on it. "He's the Dark Knight. Isn't he?" "Why do you ask?" "Well, you appeared with him and figured that if you'd come then you'd come with a superhero. So why not? He's about the same size." Slowly she nodded her head to let him know that he was right. "Hmm." The man pondered about what to say next. "Hey Gerbert!" The old man turned around as a man came up to him and shook his hand, "Good to see you old buddy." Raven took that as her cue and snuck off toward the Dark Knight.

"See him?" She questioned, though he ignored her and walked over to the balcony, looking at the trees below in the small garden of grass. "Raven, what's going on?" Nightwing's voice appeared from the communicator. "Not now Dick." She sent the message in a threatening voice through his mind, forgetting that her communicator automatically turned on as she was contacted. "Razor? What's wrong?" "A lot on my mind." The voice coming from him wasn't the Razor she remembered. She has heard him speak to her coldly once before, but, this time it was sadden, as if he'd lost something.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Our next song is "Arms of an Angel" being preformed by Mrs. Shaun Corbet, instructor of New York's Musical Academy's traveling chorus." The maestro announced as a woman dressed in a long scarlet dress appeared on stage. "Come on." Raven quickly grabbed his hand before he could protest, leading him to the dance floor. She placed his left hand around her waist while placing her right on his arm. Grabbing his free hand, they started to dance slowly to the song.

"Razor?" "What?" They whispered back to one another, "Why did you help me with my powers? Is it because I'd be less of a burden?" "No. It was because I felt sorry for you. Not being able to control your powers, yeah, I know how that is. When I was little I had problems with my power as well. Sometimes it'd leak out of me and sometimes it wouldn't work on command. One time I even burned myself trying to blast a dummy." Raven giggled a bit, not noticing that their position changed to where her head rested in his chest with both arms around his neck while his hands were on her hips.

"Raven?" "What is it?" She whispered, almost as if she was dreaming. "Why did you agree to come with me?" "I didn't want to at first. I had my reasons." "Like what?" "Well…" She paused a bit, "I always thought that you hated us. Hated me." "Why would I hate you?" "Its just that you're rude to us. Even to me. The way you talk, its like you don't like any of us. The tone in your voice is full of anger, and your eye. Sometimes I can see murder burning through it." "What do you see now?" "Now?" She looked up slowly, placing her hand on his face, "Now I see sadness in your eye. Your voice is soft, like an angel. Your touch is delicate and tender. As long as I've known you, this is the man I've been longing to see. The real side of you."

"They're falling in love." Cyborg said as he watched the building from the Nightingale's roof top. On the ledge of the roof was Nightwing's communicator imitating the voices it heard on the other side. Raven's and Razor's voices were the stars of its imitation. No matter how low they whispered, it seemed to pick it up and repeat it in the same tone of voice, matching the softness of each syllable spoken. "You were planning on it when you suggested that I ask Raven to go with him. Weren't you?" "Man, I just gave them a push. They're doing all the real work. But, yeah, I kinda was. They seemed to enjoy the others company even though neither of them would admit it." "Man, who woulda guess that Raven could act so…" Beast Boy's voice came from behind the duo's back.

Without even looking, Nightwing scowled his friend, "Beast Boy. You're supposed to be in there searching for Slade." "Eh heh, Right. I'll huh go do that inside search you wanted." The green titan quickly morphed into a small rodent that was common yet easily goes unnoticed, the common household mouse. As he scurried off of the balcony, Cyborg grunted, "Damn grass stain. He needs to focus." "Is your gun ready?" Nightwing asked as Cyborg pulled the large rifle off of his back, "Yeah. Just gotta pull this trigger and we'll be sleepin better at night." "Good. We'll be needing it if Slade's partner is who I think it is." Nightwing unstrapped Razor's sword and stabbed it into the roof top so it'd give his back a rest while being only a hand's reach away.

"So who's his partner?" "I believe it's the Astral Knight." "Thought so. Does Razor know?" "No, but I think he's suspicious." "Well, ya know, if he is falling for her and he shows, I'm afraid what might happen." "I know. If he unleashes his power wildly like he did last time, people may die. But something tells me that Raven has changed him somehow." "She did always preach to him. Suppose he'd hafta listen to her sooner or later." Cyborg was serious. He knew that he was right about how Raven had reached him, but, what he wasn't right on was about the way she reached him.

As they slowly danced, Raven's heart was skipping a beat. She felt warm on the inside, nervous, almost panicky. Something she had never felt before, something she couldn't identify but knew that she liked it. She liked being held by this man, being close to him, resting her head on his chest, hearing his heart's every beat. Slowly she brought her head up to look into his eye. As their eyes met, slowly he lowered his head bringing it closer and closer, until their lips were just inches away from touching. It was like a dream come true! Then suddenly her dream shattered, the knight in her arms quickly broke away from her and walked over to the balcony. She was puzzled by his sudden action. The way he walked off like that, it wasn't like him. Did he get scared and run away?

Quickly she ran up to him, stopping a meter away, watching as he had his back turned toward her and stared at the trees. "Razor. What was that about!" "Look, I shouldn't…" "Shouldn't what?" "I don't know. I can't tell you right now." "Why not? You have some explaining to do!" "I don't want to see you hurt." "What makes you think that I'll get hurt." "I have a good idea on who Slade's partner is." "So? What does he have to do about what you did?" "If I were to…" Before he could finish his sentence, gunfire could be heard. The music quickly died down as the crowd panicked. Some tried to escape but the doors were blocked by soldiers bearing guns. The rest quickly ducked down in a panic.

On the stage was Slade and his new partner, the Astral Knight, except the knight wasn't wearing his armor but carried his swords. They watched in pleasure as Razor and Raven both ran back inside to confront the two. "Nightwing, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, come quickly. Slade and the Astral Knight are here." She spoke into her communicator as it responded with Cyborg's voice, "Would love to Rae. But we got some demons up here who think different. Nightwing will bring Razor his sword when he gets a chance, till then, you're on you own. Hey Nightwing! Watch where your swinging that blade will ya?" The sound of a sonic cannon, a blade clashing into flesh, a lion's roar, and a bunch of small explosions rung from the communicator.

"Well. Looks like its just you two. Seems so unfair." Slade was calm, very calm. It gave a bunch of people the creeps on how a man could be so calm during the most stressing situations. "A psycho teaming up with another psycho. Never saw that coming." Raven said sarcastically. "My dear Raven. Your comments are bothersome. Perhaps if you learned to quiet, you'd live a bit longer." "You're one for talk. Slade, I'll make you wish you never met me! Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" As the dark psychic cried out her enchanted spell, to her dismay she discovered that her powers didn't work. "What's happening?" "It's a spell lock. One of Mark's enchantments. He probably cast the enchantment on the building before we came here." Razor informed with a growl. "So why is it taking place just now?" "Probably because it didn't activate until now."

"Very observant Dark Knight. I'm not surprised that you knew what he did since you are familiar with magic yourself." "I'm also familiar with the fact that spell lock is neutral. If you place it on a building, anyone who enters has all their mana and powers stripped from them until they leave the place or the enchantment breaks. And that including the caster if he steps inside the enchantment as well. But fortunately for us and unfortunate for you, my physical abilities are unaltered. I just can't use my dark power." "Ah, Dark Knight. That doesn't mean that you can still beat us. You are unarmed while we are not. You have no way to win." Slade smirked under his mask as Mark drew his twin blades, "You forgot about our swords McKlan. The enchantment doesn't affect the elemental weapons or the galactic sword. Unfortunately for you, your half of the sword is out there fighting to protect your comrade's life." Mark laughed as he hopped from the stage.

Slowly he paced toward Razor who quickly got in front of Raven in order to protect her. The Dark Knight reached under his jacket and pulled out the thermal saber, igniting the blade. Slowly he took a stance so the white blade of pure fire could provide him with some defense. "Bringing a weapon to a ball, such bad manners." Slade laughed sinisterly as Mark stopped to sit down on the stage's edge. "Tell me Razor. Do they know?" Mark questioned as he and Razor glared at each other murderously.

"Know what?" "The curse you have on you. The curse from your past. I'm sure you remember. Your hand reminds you of it everyday." "What's it to you?" "So they don't know I take. Interesting, why didn't you tell them. Afraid that they'll reject you?" "Why would I be afraid?" "You 're afraid that they'll look at you like you're a curse and cast you out of their group." "Whatever." "No. That's not it. You're afraid to admitting that you're weak! If they don't know then you can redeem yourself by making yourself look strong in their eyes. But the truth is that you're weak!" "You bastard! Shut up! Just shut up!"

Razor lounged at Mark swinging his blades with both hands and clashed blades with the evil tyrant. "Hit a nerve?" Mark laughed as he easily blocked a second attack. Razor quickly swung his sword in light swings in hopes of catching Mark off guard with his speed but unfortunately his speed was no match to the speed created by two swords. Clashing blades countless times, his chance came as he noticed that Mark swung at him and missed when he ducked. With a mighty thrust, the sword pierced right through the chest and out the back. With a smirk, he watched as he finally defeated his rival, or so he thought. "Bravo. You killed an android." Slade clapped as Razor kicked the mechanical dummy off his blade before turning it onto Slade.

A soldier on stage drew a handgun and raised it at the young Dark Knight. With the accuracy of a sniper, he pulled the trigger causing a loud pop to be heard. The bullet raced at Razor with sound barrier breaking speeds yet deflected off the handle as Razor raised his sword to save his own life. "Damn." Cursed the knight as he dropped his broken sword toward the ground as the blade of fire dematerialized. "Interesting. Your reflexes are perfect. You'd make a great apprentice indeed." "I'd never join you." "Fine then. Have it your way but my soldier thinks different." Razor followed Slade's finger which pointed to Raven being held by a soldier in black, gun was drawn and pointed at the temple on her head. If she'd had her power than he'd known that she'd be safe, but she didn't and hand to hand combat wasn't her specialty.

"Razor!" Raven cried trying to get away from the man. "What it'll be. The girl's life or become my apprentice?" The Dark Knight sighed as he slowly raised his right arm up with his hand in a fist. "Let her go." He threatened as the soldier ignored him. Sweat was starting to drip off the soldier, he knew what Razor was concealing. Being in the Dark Regiment Army required you to study on your mortal enemies. Nightshade, Dark Knight, Light Knight, these were beings studied on by every soldier. They had to know their elements of power, what weapons they used, what weapons held what powers and the styles they fought with. So he knew what weapon Razor had left on him.

Then the soldier's fears came to a reality. In a burst of fire, a hail of bullets erupted through the bottom of the sleeve ripping it to shreds and struck the man's head. Not a single bullet had missed or ricochet. Everyone looked with fear as they saw the sleeve no longer cover Razor's forearm revealing a small gatling gun that was raised from inside the arm itself. "Well done Dark Knight. Brilliant rescue. Though, someone has to die today." Slade reached to his side and drew a pistol that he had tucked in his belt. He raised it at the Dark Knight and readied his finger on the trigger.

Knowing that Razor would probably either dodge the bullet or deflect it with his arm before gunning him down, he knew who to aim at. Slowly he moved it to the right trailing toward the lovely Raven. Razor quickly took a mad dash toward his teammate while at the same time aiming at Slade. Raven watched as time seemed to stand still, she knew she couldn't dodge a bullet or hide so she was going to accept her fate. She was going to let Slade shoot her. She had no other way to get out; so why not accept death without fear?

As the sound of gunfire could be heard, a body crashed into her sending her toward the ground. Bringing her eyes up from the smooth tile, what she saw brought fear to her mind. Razor was laying on the ground in a puddle of blood, his arm's gun had smoke coming from the barrel and his jacket had bullet wounds in his gut and right breast. Slade himself was on the stage floor. Blood seeped from his gut in several places staining his black shirt a crimson red around the wound. Slowly he got up with the help of a soldier and walked toward the door. His head turned toward the young couple with people still on the ground trying hide from the present danger.

"Razor is it? That is your real name? You are truly a hero. I can see now why you're with the Titans. Till we meet again." He disappeared through the door with his soldiers in close pursuit. The crowd got to their feet and surrounded Raven with the wounded Razor in her arms. "Nightwing! Get over here quick! He's hurt badly!" "Who's hurt?" "Razor is." "We're on our way. The demons decided to suddenly fly away from us." Weakly, the one eyed knight grabbed the communicator from Raven's hand, "Nightwing. I did as you asked, she's safe. My job for the night is completed." With his words fading, his eye slowly closed as he drifted off into an unconscious state. "Razor? Razor! Wake up! Dark Knight! You have to wake up!"