Becoming X
Dark Weezing's notes: I don't have much to say this time. Just rolling along.
My responses:
Dangerproneredhead: Thank you, the R/R segments were quite difficult to do, given the parameters we set for ourselves. But upon reflection they were quite worth the pain staking effort. I'm quite pleased. I thought you were going to expand your vocabulary. Smirk. Thanks for reviewing.
Akari no Kage: Most welcome. The fact you call me by my middle name is certainly quite...unique. Nobody calls me that. I'm not complaining, but it still feels a little weird to me. Oh well. I live with it. Smirk.
ChocolateCurlz: Yes, Jinx is infectious. Blast it. Enjoy mulling over your suspicions. We haven't even gotten to the fun parts yet. I thought you were died during from the summer for I didn't see any updates. Not that I'm much better. No matter. Glad you're back and I'll review your stories when I can.
Kakyoin's response to Dark Weezing's Note, take 37: ... Word?
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CHAPTER THREE: RIDE THE WILD WIND
Ride the wild wind
Push the envelope, don't sit on the fence
Ride the wild wind
Live life on the razor's edge.
Red X leapt through the buildings, heading back the bay. A million thoughts ran through his mind. But one kept cutting to the head of the line.
'How could I let her kiss me?'
'How!? How!?'
Red X raged through the sky and landed on the docks. He saw several row boats.
Robin removed the Death's Head garb and had on his uniform underneath. He placed the indigo leotard over his shoulder and walked onto the boat. He sat down, grabbed the oars, and proceeded to row out gingerly. As to avoid any splashes and damage the suit.
He wished he could use a speedboat but the alarms would detect the mechanized sound.
'There are times I hate being lowtech.' Robin grumbled as he rowed.
As much as he wanted to further ruminate about the kiss, it would have to wait. First he had to hack into the security system and make sure it logged that he was there during the night. Not an easy task but manageable.
'I could teach a course.' Robin smirked.
After 45 minutes of rowing, Robin reached the shore of the Tower. He exited the craft and pushed the wooden rowboat far enough in the water so that the currents would take over and have it meandered aimlessly.
Robin removed a razor sharp X from one of the bodysuit's gauntlets with his free hand and flung it at the boat. The X made a silent hole on the port side of the rowboat and watched as the boat began to take on the water.
In five minutes, the boat began to sink in the dark depths of the bay. Robin gave off a pensive glare.
'I know how you feel.' He said to the boat as it sank further and further. He wondered if he would be swallowed up in the darkness as well.
'Wouldn't be the first time.' He shrugged.
One minute later, the boat finally sank. Robin noted to find a way to give compensation to the owner.
Later.
'On to other things.' Robin ran to an entrance.
He placed his hand on the console by the door, scanning his palm print. It highlighted green and opened the door for him. He glanced around for a staircase. He found one on the far right of the massive room. Robin used all every acrobatic trick he could think climbing the banisters to the third floor, where the main security computer was located.
After another palm print and a retina scan. Which irritated Robin to end. A clod collection of condensers certainly didn't deserve to know the truth about what was behind his mask.
'Have to talk to Cy about that.' He grumbled as it authorized him to enter.
Robin glanced around to find the main processor. It was a supercomputer that looked quite frankly like a glorified vacuum cleaner, with wires all around the apparatus.
'Usually Cy likes to make everything the biggest he can possibly make it. I don't know why he didn't go nuts here. Oh, well.' Robin commented as he placed the suit on the antiseptic floor and went to the machine and pressed a button on the device and a monitor and keyboard flipped up out on one of the panels.
Robin entered his password and entered the mainframe. He needed to wipe the recorded hours of his absence. But the only way to do that was to reset the system, splice in footage of him sleeping into the missing minutes so when it did restart, it would detect the last minute footage instead of the missing minutes and providing he's in his room when the footage ran out, no suspicions would be aroused.
The footage would be easy. Just use documented footage from one of the more recent files, easier to access.
Two nights ago would be perfect.
He found the file and redid the timecodes, based on the wall clock so no one would tell the difference. Then, inserted it into the folder.
Robin then tapped in the specific commands needed for a restart.
'1 A, 2 B, 3B, Restart.' He then set the timer for thirty minutes, which gave him enough time to take care of one more task.
Robin then wiped the keyboard, retracted the output hardware back into the computer, slung the suit over his shoulder again and ran out the door.
As he dashed one floor down, he wondered about tomorrow. How much longer can he keep this up?
With Jinx or X?
With either one, he was losing control. How much longer before it slips away from him completely?
Robin ran silently to the Gym. He remembered that Raven would tell the others he was working out late and then bed.
He thanked her silently for that. At least tomorrow would have some good news as he would try to continue to talk to Raven. He had to admit, he enjoyed trying to engage her. He always enjoyed a good mystery. But more than that, he enjoyed a challenge. But as enjoyable as that was...he enjoyed the fact she began to slowly trust him more.
Or really the fact she began not to hate his guts anymore. Whichever.
He never returned her animosity, in fact he understood her. More than he thought he would.
'You're not the only one with secrets. Just I'm less obvious about it.' Robin mused as he rounded another corner.
He certainly appreciated her need for privacy and backed off and it paid off or his plan would be over before it began.
But still...it wasn't a relationship. She trusted Beast Boy more than she would ever trust him.
'Maybe I should cut my losses.' Robin thought in defeat.
'No, that doesn't solve anything. I have never backed down from anything before. Not about to start a new tradition now.' He resolved as he found the Gym doors.
He went inside and glanced at the clock.
'20 minutes. Plenty of time.'
Robin placed the suit by the door and got to work. He grabbed an X and threw it to slice through the chain and the punching bag fell. He then calculated where a punch strong enough would send the flying bag of sawdust. He dragged it two meters to the upper right hand wall, picked up the fallen X and shred the bag at choice spots. After placing the X back where it belongs, he then went over and rearranged the weights and went to the showers and ran for a few quick spurts, just enough to make it look like it was a long shower.
He then saw the clock.
10 minutes.
He surveyed the area.
'Looks like one of my sessions alright.' He smirked, slung over his shoulder again and ran out the door.
His room was one floor up, he wished he didn't have lug around this gothic looking suit but he couldn't just put it on and teleport. He already blew his reserve energy with the robbery just now.
The elevator would attract noise, so no.
'I should be grateful that I'm in top shape.' Robin appreciated and climbed the banisters again.
He opened the door silently. All he can hope is make it to his room before the restart.
He saw a bathroom light. He hid in the shadows. It was Beast Boy.
"God, what I eat last night? Oh yeah, these blue grenades." He grumbled as he walked away. Robin smiled. Getting kissed by a criminal beats Starfire's cooking any day.
Robin then soured. He did enjoy the kiss more than he thought. Before he can debate it internally, he saw Beast Boy's form completely out of sight. Now was his chance.
He ran as if the devil himself was behind him.
'Come on! Got to beat the clock!' He screamed.
'Come on.' He raged as his door was in sight, but unfortunately the motioning around jostled an X loose from the suit, Robin felt it coming loose. It was about to fall and make a sound...
When Robin grabbed it right before it hit the ground.
He then jumped towards his door, he landed right by it. He ran and entered the passcode on the console by the door and jumped inside the door.
'Made it!' He shouted in success as he glanced at the clock and saw he had two seconds left.
'Next time, I'll cut it a little closer.' He smirked as he quickly placed the suit in his closet and collapsed on the bed, breathing heavily.
He wanted to think about the kiss and Raven and all that but his body took over and forced him into unconsciousness.
He had a restless sleep.
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'I hope this piece of horribly colored plastic was worth it.' Jinx quipped as she walked towards the Headmistress' office.
'Actually...' Jinx mused as she glanced at the ruby disc in her hand, it was in a way. Weren't for the operation, she would have never met X.
'He is amusing. And has good fashion sense. I'll have fun toying with him.' She darkly smirked.
Before she had to dwell on such matters, she had to drop off the disc to the Headmistress first.
'I hope One Eye wets himself with this.' She quipped as she knocked on the door.
"Enter." An elderly female voice was heard behind the door. The door slid to the right and the gothic witch entered the chamber.
"Student Jinx, it certainly has been long enough." Jinx mentally rolled her eyes at the old crone. "What have you to report? Or shall I assume it is yet another failure?" The Headmistress was waiting to pounce.
'Hah. Failure this,' she thought, but outwardly she said, "Oh no, no. I can't honestly say that, now can I?" Jinx innocently smirked as she placed the disc on the old fool's desk.
"You succeeded. Good. For this you may have four hours off, beginning at the starting bell." The Headmistress said unemotionally. "I shall contract Mr. Slade at once."
'Oh, great.' Jinx grumbled. She had enough for one day; she didn't need One Eye leering at her too. It seems bad luck was against her for once.
'I hate irony.' She thought terse as the Headmistress pressed a few buttons on the console on the facing wall. Slade's shadowed visage appeared a few seconds later.
"Greetings, Headmistress. Student Jinx. May I ask as to why you're calling at such an hour?" Slade greeted in his trademark calculating voice. His eye, again seemingly on Jinx
"I am calling to informing you we have one of your discs, thanks to the fine effort of our top student Jinx." The Headmistress gave a nod to Jinx and raised her hand with the disc for Slade to see.
Jinx wanted to die. 'I don't want him to notice me, you old bat.'
"Hmm...Good job. When will I expect the others?"
"As... Dean... Blood said, we will get them in time. On a different note, have you received your shipment of Drones?" The old woman digressed, and mentally praised and cursed Blood for actually smooth-talking the one eyed saboteur.
Slade picked up the hint. "Yes. Send the disc to me immediately and I shall await your next progress report." Jinx was relieved. Hopefully he'd hang up now.
"Actually...while I have you...I'd like to ask your student what was the delay in acquiring the first disc." Slade held off. Jinx wanted to wet herself. Should she lie or tell the truth?
"Well..." The gothic witch's mind was going a mile a minute. She knew Slade would catch her in a lie in a second.
She mentally growled.
"Well, the Titans showed up as always and captured Sno...Students Gizmo and Mammoth and spoiled the first attempt." She wouldn't dare be flippant with him.
"Of course, when anyone attacks anything, Robin and his band of misfits appear." Slade said with a hint of a smirk.
"Yeah...yes. Plus a...wild card showed up. Someone we've never seen before." Jinx had to think about her next words, she couldn't slip up and have One Eye go after him.
'Since when do I...'
"Describe." Slade commanded.
"Well...he had a skull mask on and dressed in black. And brandied about a swarm of..." she cut off, breath still hesitant.
"Does he go about the name...'Red X?" Slade's eye nearly widens as he interrupted.
Jinx once again hesitated, but only for two seconds. Any longer would be too obvious. "Yes."
Slade showed no reaction. "Tell me...was Robin with the Titans when Red X appeared?"
"The first time, no but the second time, yeah...he was." The gothic witch lied. The psycho certainly didn't need to know the truth about their third encounter.
The one eyed seemed almost as if he had caught the canary.
Slade said nothing. "I see. Thank you, Student Jinx. You may leave us. The Headmistress and I have some lingering business to conduct."
"You're welcome, sir." Jinx wanted to run like the devil out of the room. Instead she rapidly walked out of the room.
"Student Jinx?" He said right before she was out the door.
"Er, yes?"
"Commendable job. Perhaps you should work alone on your future operations." Slade advised.
"I'll remember that, sir." Jinx tried to hide her tension as she left the room.
"May I ask what that was about?" The Headmistress asked.
"Something I had on the backburner." He replied. He wished he didn't have to tell her what he was going to say next.
"I see."
"Yes, and since an opportunity has fallen into our lap, I shall exploit it." Slade sucked in a breath.
"You see, Red X is important to me and my operations and since no one in the proper circles can locate him I am going to need a...petty favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"Since your gothic student has had the most success of actually seeing Red X, and as such my only link...I need you to keep track of her movements while I ascertain who Red X is and make the proper arraignments to...acquire the renegade." He wasn't about to fully tip his hand to the old crone...if he can help it.
"That's a big favor. For all we know, she may never see this "Red X" again." The Headmistress deterred.
"I realize that is a possibility, which is why I'm asking for a month's window. That should be sufficient. I want to add that I'll be glad to fund certain grants into your academy. I'm sure the Academy could use to the extra funds. This total should fit with your needs." Slade pushed a button on his console and a counter appeared on the screen and the numbers began to rise rapidly.
After 30 seconds, Slade pushed the button and the counter stopped.
"That's..." The Headmistress was shocked by the amount.
"Yes." Slade slithered.
"Is that a period?"
"I assure you that the number is correct."
"Cor...well, looks like we have a deal Mr. Slade." She affirmed.
"Good. Give me the frequency of the tracker when you messenger the disc to me. Take your time. I have to prepare my systems for the discs at any rate. Good night Headmistress..." Slade nearly smiled as he terminated the connection.
'All I need is battle footage and I'll know for sure.'
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Jinx walked back to her room. She stared at the clock -- about 3 o'clock and most of the other students were asleep -- not that she cared.
'What a night. At least One Eye got his disc, so he's happy. And that makes the old crone happy. So everybody wins...I guess...' She found herself falling into a conversation with herself as the seconds ticked by and sleep seemed still distant yet.
'And so did you,' her conscience chimed in.
"You mean the kiss? Please. That was business."
'Then why did you try to protect him when you were talking to Slade?'
Jinx froze.
Why did she do that? X may be a good kisser but he's certainly not worth risking her academic career, let alone her life over.
"Perhaps I'm getting more attached than I realized. How is that possible?" The gothic witch asked confused.
'Could be that X appeals to your bravado and ego. Your last one certainly didn't have any of that.'
'That's because he was a coward. If only I had known,' Jinx thought in rising anger.
'Past tense. Worry about the now. X is here today but maybe gone tomorrow. Savor it.' Her conscience advised.
"I don't know. I...No, I have to focus. Get the stupid discs and get One Eye and the biddy off my back," she said as she opened up her door. "Maybe then I can focus on X," Jinx said with an evil grin as she sat on the bed and kicked off her shoes.
'In what way?'
"I'll find out when I get there." She smirked as sleep began to overtake her body.
Before she was unconscious, she had a fantasy, a dream of X sitting on Slade's throne with Jinx at his right hand, engaged in a passionate embrace with him while the dead bodies of Slade and the Headmistress strewed on the floor watching.
"That would be sweet." The gothic fairy gave a small smile as she went to sleep.
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Robin stirred from his sleep. His bed never felt more comfortable.
"I have to get up don't I? Blast." he murmured.
He tossed and turned to the ceiling. He kept counting the dots and indentations of the paint marks.
"4, 191. So is this what people do in hell?" He sighed.
He rubbed his lips. He tried to keep the feeling alive. He kept trying to relive the kiss, the flutter of the heart and the softness of her lips.
'Oh, God, what was that?'
He was in complete control. The robbery, the jailbreak, her silly flirtations. Everything. So how was she able to pull off kissing him? Was he slipping? Already?
"How could I be so stupid!?" he kept asking himself. He still touched his lips. What could this turnabout mean on his budding relationship with Starfire?
He cared for the alien girl but as of late, he -- oh, how to put it -- never had time for her. Between his Slade hunts, his masquerades, and now going on speaking terms with Raven, he simply couldn't budget in the time.
'I'm sorry, Starfire. I'm...sorry. I'll find a way to fix this...I hope. ' Robin sighed. He tried to think about kissing Starfire. He felt her breath against his face as they moved close, their bodies pressed against each other in a pure movement – a sentiment of security. He felt her lips touch his, and stroked her cotton candy hair --
"No, no, no! How is this possible? I hate her. So why do I keep thinking her!?" His voice was filled with venom and hate as every fiber of his being pushed the image of the pink haired pixie from his being.
'You know why. Because she represents a side of yourself that you want to be but you just can't express.' His conscience responded.
'I suppose that's true enough. I suppose. She's so...open and flaunts her...charms everywhere.'
'Do you mean her personality, or are we talking about her body?' His conscience quipped.
Robin tried to suppress his smirk. "What if it is? Is that so bad? I just didn't want to sound like Beast Boy. It's compelling – you know, that she's...so open while I suppress everything in sight. Could this be the opposites attract syndrome?"
'Possibly. But she's in love with Red X. I doubt she'd feel the same with Robin.' Robin felt a tinge of sadness. She's in love with a façade.
"I know. So why am I thinking this is a bad thing?"
'Maybe it's what you really want: everything you find attractive in Starfire but without the light.'
"Yeah. I have to admit...Star can be too bright at times. Why, oh why does this reminds me a bit too much of something?" Robin pondered. Perhaps it was to do with another thief.
'You've got a dark side yourself. Slade noticed it.'
"I know, I know. And I nearly lost everything because of it. No wonder Raven thinks the way she does. I won't blame them if they hated me forever."
'Raven did say, "I don't hate you. Just the way you act at times." And pulling this again, so soon, you're walking the razor's edge.'
'I know but it's a necessity.'
Robin slowly got up and stared at the newspaper clippings. Slade, the mysterious mastermind may never have shown his face, but in making his message known, he made the Riddler seem like a public access television station. Slade's mysterious visage, his minions, all the strange occurrences in Jump City – they adorned his wall in place of what he would assume would be posters of, oh, he didn't know, Queen or Megadeth or one of those new rock and roll bands. He really should take those down. But...he couldn't. Not until Slade is in jail.
'But how? Robin couldn't do it. Red X couldn't do it.'
Robin knew he didn't have the power to neutralize Slade, but...Red X was different: he could do it. He really could, but there was just one hitch. He had the arsenal but Slade already knew the secret, so how would he get to the madman now?
'He knows it's me, and he wants me, so I have my way in. But how to get out before it's gets too deep? I could use the trick and use someone else's face but...that may not be enough. Question is who?' Robin ruminated.
'Someone Slade knows or make an original? He knows the Titans. Beast Boy, and...Raven would fit the body type. Raven as X. The irony.' Robin chuckled at that.
His thoughts now swarmed around the dark empath. He wondered what baronages Raven would unleash upon him today. He looked forward to that...oddly enough.
"She's good with a quip. Just as well, I need some humor these days." Robin walked over his table and held the Slade mask again.
'I'm doing it again.' He dropped the mask.
Robin stared at the door and wondered what he would have to face out there.
'Starfire, clinging, hugging, and tasting her rancid cooking. Then I have Raven, who hides behind her books and her quips,' his conscience reminded him.
While he wasn't hardly against Starfire's affection, if he could just merge the two of them he could have the perfect woman. For the time being, he could use Raven's company. Her pragmatic personality would at least keep him anchored to some sense of normalcy, even if it was among the caped and masked set. 'And, at least, being with her won't damage my intestinal tract.' He deadpanned.
"Now I'm being to sound like her. That's not a good thing is it?" He smirked.
'Depends on your point of view. Be grateful you're not falling for Raven too.'
"Yeah. I couldn't take Raven's darkness. On top of Starfire's lightness and Jinx's flirting no less? My head would explode." He groaned.
'Would? Between that and being X, it already has.' His conscience reminded.
"Yeah. Speaking of which, I have to fix the belt."
His stomach grumbled.
"After breakfast," he remarked.
'The vomiting there of,' his conscience quipped.
"Yeah. I wonder if I can strike another conversation with Raven. That should be a good neutralizer to the upcoming acid in my stomach," Robin noted as he removed his uniform and headed to the shower.
'I doubt Raven would like being compared to an antacid.'
"I know. I'm sure she'll think of a fitting barb," Robin smirked as he turned the faucet. The hot water burst forth.
'That she will. In any case, talking to Raven would be a nice distraction from your...female troubles.'
Robin removed the mask and entered the shower.
"At least I'll be doing something productive and more than that, long overdue than lying on my bed psychoanalyzing to death." Robin noted how the hot water felt so good on his flesh.
'Verily.'
Robin sighed and turned off the water. "Yeah, yeah – I know. Tempus fugit."
He left and put on a clean uniform.
"Now let's hope the guilt wouldn't eat me up inside when I look into her emerald eyes. I only hope Raven is in a talkative mood."
And with that, he left the room.
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Her arms wrapped around her prey as soon as he was spotted, "Robin! I am delighted that you are finally awake!"
"Gee, Star, do you think you could let go?" Robin asked. He remembered the feeling of gentle arms around him. As she pushed away, he imagined a paler complexion on her face, but he dismissed it as a trick of the light. "You seem happy. Did I miss something?"
"It is merely that with the doom and the gloom that has pervaded the home within the past months, I think it heartening to see you so chipper!"
"Chipper?" he asked, perplexed.
"Why, you seemed most pleased with something," Starfire said. "Perhaps it is that at long last friend Raven has, in the figure of speech, opened up to you?" Robin seemed to ponder that. He did feel almost light on his feet walking from the shower.
He smiled and sat down, "I'm just excited, that's all. Trust me, I know how it is to talk to a brick wall. Do I ever." Starfire seemed satisfied with this. She moved again closer to him, walking with a slight sway of the hips.
"Why do you look at me so, Robin?" Starfire asked. He had been staring! Why? It wasn't as if he hadn't seen a woman walk before.
"I just was lost in thought," he answered. She sat down besides him, and for a moment he saw cotton candy floss, and just as instantly as he saw it, it became long red locks.
"You always are thinking!" Starfire laughed, "You shouldn't."
"Maybe. It's just that I'm still a bit worried about this new strain of robberies."
"Red X." Robin looked up. The voice he had heard hadn't been Starfire's. "You are thinking about him, are you not?" His mind was playing tricks on him. He knew that it couldn't have been Her voice, but still, it came back to him.
His hands subconsciously went to his lips. "Yeah," he said, "He's always occupying my thoughts."
Starfire snapped, "You should not do such! You should not repeat your mistake. You are better than that, Robin. You will not become someone's whipping boy because of your thoughts again!""Star!" Robin said, "Calm down! No one's got that kind of hold over me. I won't make the same mistakes again, I promise you that."
"Thank you, Robin," she said. "I will prepare us perhaps a breaking fast meal?"
"How about – how about I do that, Star," Robin said. "I've been dying to do some cooking." Starfire clapped her hands.
"Wonderful! It should do you well to put your mind to other tasks!"
"Gee, thanks Star," Robin said with a dark edge, "You always know just what to say." He eagerly retreated into the kitchen, engulfing himself in some perverse quest to find the perfect breakfast meal. He finally settled for something instant and put some pop tarts into the microwave.
"I see you're the master of early morning cuisine," Raven said. He reared around to see her, standing there, with a gloating expression on her face. "As always, Robin, a pleasure. Surprised to see you up at all. You're usually running the late night oil."
"Wouldn't that make two of us?" Robin answered. She responded with a slight facial gesture but nothing more. "Raven, Raven, always so contrary."
"How does my garden grow, you ask?" Raven answered. "So, Robin, what's your opinion of the case of the mysterious Red X?"
"The same as yours, I think," Robin answered, a smirk playing on his lips as he spoke, "It's me, of course." She paused at his answer.
"Just because I'm suspicious, it doesn't mean that I assume it's you," Raven answered. She seemed almost embarrassed. "I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I'm giving you a benefit of the doubt."
"Thanks. I'd still rather not talk about this. It's too, well, it's too personal." Raven seemed to understand so he decided to venture forth. "Raven, I've got a question for you."
"A question?"
"And a secret," he said. "I want you to keep one for me. If I ask you this question, you can't ever repeat this to anyone, least of all Starfire."
"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm good with secrets." She gave him a strange smile, and before it vanished, Robin made a mental note to try and find that strange, strange expression as often as he could.
"Thanks, Raven," he said. "I've been really, er, overwhelmed recently and there've been strange fantasies that have played out in my head."
"Oh, that's only natural in a boy your age," Raven answered. "Let me guess. It was with another guy." Robin didn't seem even phased by either of those jokes. Raven leaned closer, intrigued at what could be so preying at Robin's mind.
"I wish," Robin said. "You see, there's this girl I met recently. She's different from Star, but I sort of started drawing lines between the two of them, and when I was talking to Starfire just now, I kept imagining that I was talking to this girl instead of Starfire."
"Would I happen to know this girl?" Raven asked. Her voice rose slightly, out of indignation.
"Not really," Robin replied.
"What does that mean?" Raven asked; her brow arched in curiosity. Robin looked her over and sighed. He shook his head and continued on; disregarding that she had even asked that question. Raven leaned closer still to hear the question.
"What's wrong with me?"
"I," Raven hesitated. She wasn't one for people, much less emotions. However, Robin, mysterious team leader, had confided in her and she took it upon herself to live up to those expectations. "I think you're feeling conflicted. You're interested in the other girl because she has something that Star doesn't."
"I, I know, but I shouldn't feel this way about her," Robin said.
"And that's why it's coming out in other outlets," Raven said. "Because you can't have her, you imagine her in place of the girl you can have. Maybe that's why you're imagining her there."
"I –"her observation struck a chord in Robin's heart strings. Could he possibly want Jinx that much, so much that he would rather replace Starfire than have Starfire take her place? "I don't think that's it, Raven. I really, really doubt that."
"I didn't say I would be right," Raven said, "But I wish you'd tell me who it is. Maybe then I'd understand better."
"No."
"No?" Raven felt offended by his answer. "I could just probe your mind."
"But you won't," Robin answered. "Please, it was embarrassing enough admitting it. I don't want to embarrass myself further."
"I, I guess I can understand," Raven responded.
"Thanks," Robin smirked. "So, still reading?"
"Maybe," Raven answered. "Tell me, have you ever been to France?"
"Can't really say," he said. He meant it. "Why do you ask?" Raven seemed to smirk.
"You wear a mask to hide your face," Raven answered, "I was wondering if you'd picked up that habit somewhere."
"Pardon?"
"I'm reading Gaston Lereux's original Le Fantome de l'Opera, I was just reminded of you when I think of the eponymous character," she answered. "Hideous, ill-mannered, and constantly hiding in his obsessions. Oh, I don't know where I get that."
"You can be really cruel sometimes," Robin answered.
"I'm only kidding. I finished Les Miserablés. Maybe if you're lucky I'll stop by later so you can read it. You do need to relax a bit. Especially after what happened last time, what sort of teammate would I be if I just let you wallow in your own work?"
"Thanks, Raven, I suppose." He still was hit pretty hard at being compared to something played by the Senior Lon Cheney. "You really didn't mean that, did you?"
"Mean what, pray tell?" Raven asked, arching an eyebrow.
"About the Phantom of the Opera," Robin asked. "I'm really not like him at all."
"Now, now. I never did say which version I had in mind, now did I?" Raven answered mysteriously. "A good actor creates their own image of the character. They never resort to the same trick twice." Raven shook her head, "You have more in common with Crawford, than Cheney."
She seemed to linger over the door. "Maybe later you'll understand."
"Hey, wait a minute," Robin said. "You're just going to vanish like that? I just finished cooking breakfast. Sit down. Talk with me for a while." She shrugged, and sat down at the table. She leaned over to look at him as he stuffed his face.
"Some conversation," she said, coolly.
"Look, I'm really hungry," Robin said. "I did burn the late night oil as usual, and I need my energy for tonight." Raven seemed to understand. "I will crack this case open."
Raven could be said to hold a grudge, but she rather put it that she was capable at following through on her own suspicions. "And how will you do that?"
"The same way I always do, Raven," Robin answered, "Sit down and think about it. Examine the evidence. Find that one little clue that I always seem to be missing. Hercule Poirot always believed that the case can always be solved if you just think and use logic."
"Hercule Poirot is a fictional character," Raven answered.
"But fully developed as a person. He's more complete a personality than most of these punks that just show up to cause mayhem. He could think better than anyone, yes, but he still was a human character."
"If you insist."
"Besides," Robin answered, "I've seen someone do that before. Sit down and just figure out the solution in a matter of minutes. All that he needed was that last bit of evidence, and he always knew how to get it. Always knew where to pick it up."
Raven was stunned by the candor, "Is that why you –"
"Yeah," Robin answered, "Because I want to prove I'm not just his side-kick in fruity colors. I just, I don't know how to even explain it. I used to be content just to follow along, but now I want to be myself. I want to prove I'm just as good as him."
"The bird has to leave the nest," Raven explained, "Just as the lion has to force its young off the mountain." She felt quite confident about that analogy, but she only received a sour look from Robin, who ate more, looking like he'd bitten off more than he can chew. "Chew at least 42 times, Robin."
He rolled his eyes and swallowed, "What?"
"Just some friendly advice," Raven answered.
"I think I'm better off without it."
"Suit yourself, bird boy," Raven answered.
"You're the last person I expected to call me "bird boy"," he answered. "After all, wouldn't you be Bird Girl, then?"
"Don't," Raven warned him. He backed down. "So, you spend all night just thinking? Lying up in bed thinking about that one missing piece?"
"Yes," he lied. He didn't need undue suspicion quite yet. He knew he'd have to throw a red herring at her sooner or later. Hopefully, he wouldn't need to do anything quite so obvious. So he eased into a conversation. "I just lock my door, drown out all distractions, and think. It's pretty boring, really, but it puts me at ease."
"I see," Raven said. "You're certainly committed."
"That's just the kind of guy I am," Robin answered, wittily. She wasn't too impressed. "You're also not easily impressed, are you?"
"No."
"No surprise there, then," Robin smirked. "You're a mystery wrapped in an enigma, that's for sure. As I said, Hercule Poirot, logic. I enjoy a good mystery as much as anyone."
"More of your training?"
"Let me put it this way. He found A Murder in Three Acts predictable," Robin said, "And I couldn't figure it out. I just kept working at it. They grew on me."
"But when compared to real life mysteries, I suppose they're nothing."
"Not really," Robin said, "The author has more time to plan than a real criminal. It helps me get ready for the real things by being a no-risk scenario, but it's still good practice even without that real urgency." He smirked, "Plus that and a bunch of Gray Ghost serials."
"I see," Raven said, mysteriously. "You're not usually one for an art book."
"Can't say that I am," Robin said. "I don't like pretentious artists saying I don't understand what they've written."
"That's why I only read the ones by the dead ones," Raven smirked, in response.
"You have much to teach us, I see," Robin answered, not missing a single beat.
"I know that," Raven retorted, just as quickly, "But I don't know if you can keep up."
"Try me."
"I think I might."
"Oh glorious day!" Starfire said, "Friend Raven and Friend Robin are finally talking to one another. I am glad to see that the two of you are able to put aside your own respective attitudes of dreariness to speak to each other."
"Hey, Star," Robin said. "Where'd you vanish to?"
"I was aiding Beast Boy in stopping the fire in the wash room."
"Oh great!" Raven said, standing up, "I had a load of wash in there!" She ran in the direction of the reported fire.
"There isn't a fire in there, is there?"
"No! I am playing a joke of practicality with her," Starfire said with a giggle. Robin rolled his eyes beneath his mask. "You do not find it amusing?"
"Sorry? No, I'm just imagining how much trouble Beast Boy is."
"Ah!" Starfire said, proudly, "I am also playing the joke upon Beast Boy."
"You really are a fast study," Robin said, with a smirk. "Who gave you that idea, Cyborg?"
"It was my very own!"
"Impressive. Most impressive. They'll have you on the dark side of the farce very soon." Starfire only smiled blankly. Robin stretched and felt his back snap into place. "I'm really out of it, Star. I'll be in my room. If anyone needs me, just knock."
"Of course, Robin!"
"Thanks, Star." Robin retreated from the room before the fireworks really got started. It would certainly be an interesting show, and he hated to miss it, but he really needed to get to work if he's going to be ready by tonight
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"Tell me about the Rabbits, one more time, Gizmo." Mammoth asked dumbly as he heaped a spoon of congealed grease into his mouth.
"For the last time...we're not getting any snot eating rabbits!!!" Gizmo slammed his fists at the table. The cacophony brought every eye in the H.I.V.E. cafeteria on the midget.
Gizmo activated his spider mode of his techpad. "What are you crud licking, gunk eaters looking at? We're talking about the stupid rabbits!!" He raved. The students leered at him briefly before resuming their activities.
Gizmo was muttering curses under his breath he deactivated the spider mode. A shadow loomed over the midget.
"I trust you're finished with your outburst, hmm?" A male voice soothed. Gizmo looked up.
"What's it to...Bursar Blood."
"It's Dean Blood now. The Headmistress promoted me this morning." Blood crooned while holding his lunch tray.
"You certainly deserve it, sir. Especially how you sweet-talked that snot psycho Slade." Gizmo chirped.
"Yes. But don't ask me how I did it. I'm surprised myself." Blood smirked in self deprecation.
"But at any rate, The Headmistress also informed me that Jinx was successful in her mission. She also said that Jinx would go after the second disc herself."
"What about us? That show stealing snot..." Gizmo raged.
"Relax. You and Student Mammoth will go after the third disc. Come with a battle plan and we'll proceed." Blood soothed.
"Ba...right. Stupid shrub licking Titans." Gizmo said in a sotto voce.
"Oh, I concur. But not in those words. Well, gentlemen, I'll leave you to your repast. Congratulate Student Jinx for me." Blood walked away and sat two tables down. Just enough to be within earshot.
"Scheming, show stealing, snot sucker! I can't believe her." Gizmo gritted his teeth.
"What?" Mammoth asked dumbly.
"Don't you get it booger brain? We're supposed to be a team, share and share like and all that bloody crud. Arrgh! Now I sound like that snot licking old man." Gizmo burst.
"And?"
"And... soon she'll go on other ops solo and leave us in the dust and laugh at us while hogging all the glory for herself. No bloody way." Gizmo growled.
"Maybe you should be happy for her that she did something right for once." Mammoth chirped in a rare show of insight.
Gizmo glared.
"Or something. I think. I need more horsy sauce."
"You almost had me, crud eater. Blood said I should give my congratulations to the snot haired pixie. I'll "congratulate" her all right." Gizmo schemed.
"Whatever floats your boat." Mammoth chomped down the rest of the grease. "These are good, you should try some." The genetic giant encouraged.
"Later. Revenge first." Gizmo gave off an evil grin.
Jinx was in the serving line. Her thoughts wondered about a certain Death's Head again.
'This is getting irritating.' She thought as she picked up her choices. 'I have to put an end to this. But how?'
'You can drop the matter entirely and avoid him completely.' Her conscience chimed.
'Can't, because he's after what I'm after.'
'Two, you could simply kill him and be done with it.'
'That would be the simplest but after all this well performed teasing, seems anti climatic.'
'Or...you fall in love and have many of his children.'
'There better be another or coming.'
'Or...you play this out...no matter where it leads.'
'No matter where it leads?' Jinx paid for her lunch and walked towards her usual table.
'No matter where it leads.' Her conscience affirmed.
"Hey, pixie. Blood told us your success of the op. Are you going to keep showing us up?" Gizmo sneered as she sat down.
"It's just an op. Don't wet yourself. Although you do cramp my style." Jinx smirked.
"Right back at ya, Pigtails. It seems the Headmistress is following your example. She's sending us for the third disc while you'll crash and fail with the second one." Gizmo informed.
"I got the first one, didn't I? And all without your charming assistance." Jinx's smirk was in full force.
"I don't believe you have it in you to go solo Pink. Your waving your little fingers is nothing but a cheap parlor trick, certainly can't beat my tech, Snot eater." Gizmo sneered.
"Is that a challenge, little boy?" Jinx eyed him like a canary.
"You bet your crud-laden brain it is." Gizmo countered.
"Your machine wouldn't have the stamina for me, as if I'm surprised but I'd glad to put you in your place all the same." The gothic witch purred.
"Would you? When?"
"I have five minutes to spare, thanks to my break." She smirked.
"And what a sad way to end it. You should have blown your free time with your new boyfriend, Skull Snot." Gizmo sneered.
"He's not my boyfriend." Jinx informed sternly.
"I don't know about that. The way you acted in the prison, I can tell something is going on with you two cludgeheads."
"Shut it muppet." Jinx glared.
Gizmo gave an evil grin. "So you don't like it when I talk about your boyfriend, the gunk licker. Do you?"
'I have to end this.' Jinx mused. "Talk all you want. Not like you can keep up with him anyway. You or your little toys. As much as I hate belaboring the obvious." Jinx's counter had the proper effect.
"I will be after I make him eat that snot covered mask of his, you toe jam pixie." Gizmo said in bravado.
"Your self delusion never ceases to amuse." Jinx smiled.
"And your gunked up ego never fails to make me laugh either." Gizmo countered.
"Let's see whose is more amusing." Jinx got up from her chair.
"Oh, let's you gunk brained, egotistical, snot licking little..." Gizmo activated his spider mode again.
"Enjoying your repast, are we?" A female voice was heard in the background. The two turned their heads.
"Yes, Headmistress." The two students mumbled. The Headmistress walked towards them.
"I'm sure two of our top students have better more productive things to do than get into a street fight, isn't there?" The old woman lectured.
"Yes, Headmistress." The students monotoned.
"Since you can't, I'll do it for you. Student Jinx, head out to acquire the second disc. Take some Drones with you. Student Gizmo, come with me." Jinx nodded at the old crone's request.
"She started it, that toe jam licking..." The tech midget protested.
"I don't care who started it. Students of the H.A E.Y.P. know better. Dispose of your meal and come." The Headmistress walked away, towards Blood.
"Sebastian." She greeted icily.
"Headmistress." He replied in a polite tone.
"I find it hard that a man of your new position would eat in the cafeteria." She looked down upon him.
"I like being among the people." Blood said without a beat.
"Attitude like that and you won't last another month here." The Headmistress nearly smiled.
"Perhaps." Blood said reflectively.
"You're lucky the old lady caught you. I would have wiped the floor with your scum sucking butt." Gizmo smirked in triumph.
"No time for love, Dr. Jones." Jinx rolled her eyes and walked into the opposite direction. Gizmo growled.
"Gizmo!" The Headmistress yelled. Gizmo converted to jet pack mode and hovered with the Headmistress.
"Enjoy your meal Sebastian." The Headmistress gave a curt nod and walked away, with Gizmo in tow.
Blood stood up and turned to see the retreating form of Jinx.
'The games children play.' He mused. He then turned his attention to the tech midget and the old crone.
'Why not? I can use the Schadenfreude.' Blood picked up his tray and gave it to Mammoth.
"Here. Waste not, want not." He walked the Headmistress' direction.
"All right!" Mammoth's eyes lighten up with all the free food left on the table.
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"She started it, you know. That..." Gizmo grumbled sitting on the chair adjacent to the Headmistress'.
"I know, it has something to do with the byproducts of the nose. But at any rate, I didn't call you in for that." The Headmistress said as she sat across from him.
"You didn't?" Gizmo asked surprised.
"No, I need...your unique talents in a special project I'm conducting." The Headmistress intertwined her fingers.
"Project?"
"Yes, before, I wanted to ask your feelings regarding your classmate Jinx but after the scuffle in the cafeteria, I can safely assume you hold ill will towards her?" The old woman stared right through the tech midget.
"You can say that." He said respectfully.
"Good. This makes things easier." She got up and walked towards the tech midget. "I need you to make a tracking device and implant it on Student Jinx. It must be undetectable." She instructed.
"Undetectable. I can do that. Ma'am? May I ask why you're doing this?"
"Good boys should remember the golden rule. But to add an extra incentive, I'll give three free A's for this."
Gizmo smiled. 'Can't pass this up.'
"Deal."
"Excellent. When can you make it?" The Headmistress' eyes widen.
"Could make now, if I didn't have class." Gizmo smirked. He had the old lady right where he wanted her.
"You're excused for the rest of the day. Get to work at once." She said sternly.
"Yes, Headmistress." Gizmo nodded as he left the office.
"This is going to be sweet." Gizmo schemed as he hovered down the hall. A figure appeared from the shadows.
"You have no idea, Student Gizmo." Blood gave off an evil grin.
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"Ow! Stupid eye of the needle." Robin grumbled at his workbench.
Robin rubbed his fingers together, trying to distill the pain.
He brought the thread close to his eyes and squinted as he inserted the thread through the needle.
The needle went through the uniform. He sutured up some of the smaller holes and glared at the larger ones.
"Need patches." Robin sighed as he rummaged through his closet.
"Red, Green, where is the black?" He questioned.
"Hello." Robin searched the top of his closet and felt something. He pulled them and found them to be three black patches.
"I knew I had some." He smirked.
He turned the uniform inside out and turned on the iron. He felt the steam nearly scold him as he placed one of the patches on and pressed the iron on.
It felt oddly symbolic to him. It felt like he was patching up mistakes. Wounds. After all he'd been through. The flirting, the danger, that infernal kiss, he couldn't get it out of his mind.
He wished he could patch up the hole Jinx ripped into him. Or Starfire for that matter. Things were so much...simpler back when he was alone.
It felt like a drug. He wanted to put on that mask, hide himself in the darkness, and let it masquerade him for the world. Robin suddenly smirked as he placed on another patch and pressed the iron against it.
"Hmm...I wonder if you still go through with this every night since I left, Bruce."
Robin finished and held up the indigo leotard against the light and noticed that everything seems to be in order. All those years watching Alfred in action finally paid off.
"If someone would ever enter the superhero tailoring business, I'd make them rich beyond their wildest dreams."
He threw it on the bed and looked at a Red X, and wondered idly if maybe he should update it some more, fine tune it to lessen the chance that it would malfunction. He barely noticed the knocking at his door at first, but it became more insistent each time.
"Uh, who is it?" Robin asked.
"Me," responded the person on the other end. Raven.
"Oh! Uh! Wait a second!" He scrambled to get everything into its hiding spot. The mask easily slid under the bed, while the costume itself would easily be ignored if it were just another part of the laundry. The gauntlets were the hardest thing to hide. He tossed them in his closet, behind his usual equipment. No one would dare go through all his personal equipment, nonetheless notice it amongst it.
The X's he put into a pocket on his belt, assured no one would try and touch it.
"Come in!"
"What took you so long?" she looked at his disheveled clothing. "Oh."
"What? Can't a guy do some ironing anymore?" Robin asked, noticing here she was looking.
"Right." She handed him a thick book. "Here."
"Oh! Thanks," Robin said, looking it over. "It's certainly long."
"You've got the brainpower to handle it, don't you?" Raven said, her expression unreadable. "I expect you to finish it."
"Oh, I will. It's just a question of time," Robin said, still amazed by its length. "Do I have to read every word, do I?"
"No."
"Oh good."
"Just most of them," she answered. He chuckled. "But...please, try and read it all," she said, quietly, before bowing her head and taking her leave.
Robin looked it over, opened it up, and read.
Until the alarm was set off. Robin sighed.
"Oh, why isn't there such a thing like normal business hours for a superhero?"
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The alarm bell sounded as Jinx reached for the cerulean chip. "Well, isn't this just my luck?" she asked no one in particular, taking a step back. "Guess this is my turn to take my leave."
"Titans!" she heard Robin bellow, "Go!"
"How original," she muttered in retort. She backed away. H.I.V.E. drones moved to the fore around her, ready to do her bidding. "Hey, make yourself useful and get that chip so we can go!" They were immediately disassembled by the flash of colors that was the Boy Wonder, Robin.
"You're not going anywhere!" he told her. Instead she tread backwards, carefully. She could see Beast Boy appearing next to Robin, and Raven was eying her from the shadows, but where were the others. She hit something cold and metallic.
"Oh great, they're behind me aren't they?"
"That's right," Cyborg said, reaching to grab her. She slipped underneath his legs and kicked him forward. "Ow! Hey, watch it!"
"Those were my good boots," Jinx said, looking at her feet, "And now you made me scuff them. And on top of all that you've got the gall to tell me to watch it? You know, if this hadn't been so good a day I would be really mad." She flicked her fingers and a wave of pink hexes shot at Cyborg. His chest cavity burst open. "Now who's got egg on their face?"
"You," Starfire said, "Have the proverbial egg on your proverbial face!" She darted down at Jinx, who flipped to her feet and cart-wheeled backwards. Starbolts hit the ground where she had been standing with enough force to make Jinx just a little nervous.
"Hey, watch it with those! They could hurt someone!"
"Oh, I am sorry – wait, no I am not!" Starfire said, "You are trying to confuse me. It will not work." She fired a starbolt down at where Jinx stood. Jinx stared at it, amazed at the speed it was traveling with. Caught like a deer in the headlights, she couldn't find her feet in time to move.
The feel of strong arms jostled her back to reality. A figure in black had picked her up and now placed her down on the ground nearby. "We really should stop meeting this way." A feeling of safety overtook her. "Still after those chips, I see." She looked up into Red X's cold masked face. "Why?"
"Aren't you even going to ask if I'm okay?" Jinx asked, indignantly, sniffing.
"Fine. Are you okay?"
"It doesn't mean anything now," Jinx said, angrily.
"Fine," Red X responded, coolly. She looked as he looked across a corner. "They didn't see me. Good." Jinx crept over and looked at where he was looking.
"You saved me," Jinx muttered. "I can't believe that she almost hit me!"
"You were the one standing there," Red X reminded her. "Not her fault you didn't dodge. Why are you after those chips?"
"Me? After the chips? Oh, please. I'm just doing this as a charity act for someone desperately in need of some fashion sense. Not like you," she said, taking his cape and looking at it, "Very chic. Where do you buy your capes?"
"I make them myself. It's made from high density polymerized titanium," Red X answered. "It's a necessity when you're running against people who can blow your head clean off with a thought."
"And yet it's stylish, too. One of the things I like about you."
"Thanks," he said. "Now who are you working for?"
"I already told you!" Jinx said, playfully. "Now, maybe, just maybe you could help me by, oh, I don't know, stealing that chip for me. Pretty please?"
"Now?" Red X asked. His voice caught. "I can't."
"Why not?" Jinx asked, running with the chance to catch the mysterious thief. "I absolutely need that chip now, or I'll be punished. You don't want me punished, do you?"
"No, but –"
"Oh," Jinx said, looking devastated, "I understand. You don't know me, I don't know you. I'll just go and get punished. Probably beaten, you know."
"Jinx –"
"Don't! I know what you're saying. I guess you don't really care about me at all." She felt him push against her, much to her surprise. He was inches away from her face, she could hear the breath coming from behind the mask.
"Jinx, stop it," he ordered. He then pushed away and turned to the hallway. "Watch and learn how a professional does it." Again indignant, still she watched as Red X vanished into the hallway.
The Titans meanwhile had reorganized themselves. Robin was in the lead, looking lost in thought. The others were standing guard, expecting the thief to return and try again should they leave. Red X could only chuckle menacingly as he appeared from out of his cloak to strike Robin. His every attack just pummeled him. Fists moving faster than Robin could reach and a kick to the groin that looked as painful as it felt. He threw the Boy Wonder into a corner before vanishing again.
"Robin!" Starfire cried as she flew after Robin, but found herself being intercepted by a familiar face, "Red X. You are not –" she found herself cut off as a red X flew at her face sending her flying up to the wall, and anchoring her there.
"I'm not what? Real?" Red X smirked.
"Whoa, hold it!" Cyborg said. "You can't beat all of us again." He punched Red X in the face, sending X skidding backwards. Rolling with the punch, Red X was hardly stunned, and returned the favor with a razor sharp X that darted at Cyborg.
Red X chuckled again, "But you make it so easy!" He leapt at Cyborg, who had just deflected the X projectile when two more were sent at him, along with a kick. Cyborg was knocked back as debris from the scuffle was sent flying towards him.
"Raven, huh?" He ducked past a green blur, "And Beast Boy. The second stringers," he chuckled. Beast Boy retorted with a snort as he transformed into a bull. The green bovine ran at Red X, who jumped on top of Beast Boy. He quickly incapacitated Beast Boy with a shocking X. Then he turned to Raven. "All alone, little girl?"
"You're quite good to be able to take us all on at once," Raven warned, "Even without Robin's countermeasures, but you don't get any further."
"Is that what you think?" Red X smirked, fading from sight, "Can you see me now?"
"No," Raven said, another object flying straight at Red X. "I don't need to."
"Not bad!" Red X laughed, leaping over the object and landing in front of Raven. He appeared in a flash, "But can you keep up with this?" He attacked, his fists aimed at her gut. He pulled them back, barely stunning Raven as they came.
"Aren't you going to try?" Raven asked, coughing, "You can do more than that." She returned with hand covered in her dark energy. Red X dodged this with surprising agility, and ducked under a roundhouse kick. He tackled Raven bringing her down to the ground.
"That better?" he said, laying over her.
"Much," she replied. A blast of sonic energy cut X off, and he barely had time to dodge. He landed at the podium where they held the chip.
"Always wondered what these discs were for," Red X said with a bemused tone. "Good bye, Teen Titans. Maybe you should find a new line of work." He vanished from sight and then leapt away. The Titans were left, stunned and confused, in the middle of the room.
"What hit me?" Beast Boy asked. "And was that really human?"
"It could be a robot behind that mask," Raven said, "But I felt sparks of emotions."
"My scanners say it's organic behind that," Cyborg corroborated. "Definitely a guy there, too."
"Oh, most definitely," Raven said. She coughed. "Er, Starfire, are you okay up there?" Starfire tried to speak, but the X that held her in place covered her mouth so that the only sound it made was something like a muffled scream.
Black energy wrapped around the X and pushed it out. Starfire was caught off guard and fell down into Beast Boy's waiting arms. "Hey, an angel!" he joked. She blushed in response, "Uh, Star, you're supposed to retort 'that's a horrible pick-up line!' or something."
"I apologize for my ignorance," Starfire responded. "Is Robin all right?"
"I'm fine," Robin said, walking towards the group.
"What happened to you?" Cyborg asked. Robin looked pretty beat up. "You definitely are off your game, man. You look like he used you to wipe the floor."
"Very funny," Robin responded. His voice jumped to a harsher tone, "It won't happen again."
"It's all right, Robin," Raven said. "Let me help you."
"No!" Robin answered, surprisingly. He then calmed down with a deep sigh. "I'm going out. Go home without me."
"What?" Starfire asked, "Why?"
"I've got to clear my head," Robin said, disappearing into the shadows.
"Let him go, Star," Cyborg said, putting an arm out to stop Starfire. "He's probably going through a lot more than we are right now." Starfire sighed, resignedly.
"To think I doubted him," Raven muttered. She took a fleeting glance at where Robin had vanished to, and then turned to leave with the others.
---------------------------------------------
The two thieves sat on the rooftop, laughing. "You were incredible!" Jinx said, "The way you beat those guys up, wow! I don't think I've ever seen Robin fly before."
"Trust me," Red X said, a sardonic edge to his voice, "You haven't seen anything yet."
"Oh, I believe that," Jinx said, taking a step towards him. "I don't know what to make of you, X. But you make things happen, and that makes me happy." She had an almost deranged smile on her face. "I'd like to think you like seeing me happy."
"And if I do?" Red X asked, his voice again a calculated mix of emotionless detachment and playful teasing. It reminded her of someone, just vaguely.
"Well, if you do, then let me return the favor sometime," Jinx said, her smile seeming playful in the moonlight. "I rarely see you when I don't run into the Titans. I wonder why that is."
"The Titans stopped me once," Red X said, "I'm making sure they don't stop me again." It was a convincing enough story. Jinx responded in a capricious manner. She draped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer.
"And me?" Jinx asked, "What's your interest in what I do?"
"I'm afraid you're getting in over your head," Red X responded. "If this chip is going to who I think they are going to, you could be in danger."
"Forget the chip!" Jinx said, "I couldn't care less about who wants them or for why!" She decided to play it coy. "I want to find out other things," she said, hoping that a blush would play on her cheek. Gauging by his reaction, it did.
"What, uh, other things?" he asked, hesitating. Sometimes he could be such a predictable hormone driven little boy, she pondered internally.
"Why," Jinx said, looking him in the eyes, "What's your real name?"
"I can't go around telling every pretty girl I meet that," Red X said with a playful chuckle in his voice. She mentally scolded herself. "Maybe someday. Soon." He noticed her eyes widen with surprise.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Well, you really know how to make a girl feel special, I'll give you that much," Jinx said.
"Is that all?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically unmodified. To her surprise, Red X lifted his mask and brought his lips to hers. Unable to resist, she melted into the sweet embrace and let herself shut off from the world.
It was a surprise when she was jostled to reality by the abrupt end to the kiss. She soon saw why.
The roof was overflowing with a familiar set of robotic drones, modeled after a one eyed madman; a madman that Red X named with all too much animosity, "Slade."