Seeing Red
I don't own Teen Titans
Chapter 8: What I've been waiting for
The moon reappeared that night, having been blocked by clouds. Now, its light could shine onto the city. As it blanketed the city, one person was walking the streets, moving between the crowds of people. He was none other then Specter. His ninja mask covering his face, except for his eyes, which scanned the city looking for trouble. His katana rested in the sheath on his back. He had gone out for some fresh air, he told the team. Of course, it was a lie.
He had received a message on his computer. It said for him to get prepared for battle within three hours. Specter was skeptical at the message, but got ready to fight after reading the rest of the message. The last part which really made him took notice was...
"If you want to take a strike at me, the so called legend in my own rights, you better come."
At the bottom, the letter was signed in an X that was increased in font and typed in red. Knowing anyone, only one person used that kind of signature.
'Red X' Specter thought as he continued to walk. That wasn't the only thing on his mind. When he was ready, he told Raven that he was going out for something. When she asked why, he just said that it was nothing. She just said all right and walked off. He sat down on a bench and leaned his head back. It was strange of how Raven didn't say anything else. She normally would read his mind and not let him go, saying he needed all of them and that he shouldn't go get himself killed. She was like that, highly protective ever since he lost his powers. He could protect himself, but Raven still worried about him. 'Raven,' Specter thought to himself, 'you need to calm down. I can handle myself.'
Just then, his eyes widened with surprise. Above him, hanging from a flagpole with one hand on it, was Red X. Specter jumped up, his hand moving to his blade. But, X looked at him and flipped him off. He then jumped from the flagpole, using his grapple to go from building from building. Specter ran after him, moving quickly through the multitude of people. He continued to fix his gaze on X, only looking straight a few times to be sure he wouldn't run into anyone. After following X for a few blocks, he found himself in the business district of the city. The skyscrapers shot up to the sky. Most of them were dark, but some lights remained on, since some were there for the graveyard shift. X stooped at the window of one building, punching the glass. Shards dropped to the streets onto the city goers, who scattered away from the falling, jagged debris. Specter stopped and looked up at X, who was hanging from a ledge above the window as though he was waiting for Specter. He gave a wave to Specter and went through the window into the floor. Specter hurried towards the front doors and opened them, prepared to face the criminal.
After proceeding up a flight a stairs, he stopped. He had noticed the door next to him. It wasn't the fact that he was at the right floor. Even though the numbers on the door revealed it was the tenth floor, he was a ninja, not a fricken psychic who could detect his X's mind. What showed he was here was the huge red X marked across the door. "X mark's the spot." Specter said as he pushed open the door.
He came into the typical office setting. Cubicles lined the floor, each of them in three rows of five. A giant window in the background looked out onto the building opposite the workspace. Specter gripped the handle of his katana and pulled it out from the sheath. He cautiously moved down the rows and peered slightly into the cubicle's openings, cautiously expecting a surprise attack from X. But, he received no assault. He began to suspect an attack from X. Just then; he looked towards a door near him. A light was coming from the door crack underneath it. Specter placed his hand on the knob and slowly opened the door.
He entered a conference room, containing a large table with chairs along it and a board on the wall behind the chair at the end. At the chair was a copy of the Wall Street Journal, being read by someone. The reader of the paper's legs were resting on the table as his gloved hand flipped to another section. Specter sheathed his sword and crossed his hands in front of his chest. He then said," You do realize its Sunday, X. Stocks are closed. The paper was then put down; revealing X's skull masked face. He then placed his hands behind his head and said," I like to plan ahead." "Was that your plan with killing Aqualad and Speedy?" Specter asked. X then got up and said," In a sense, you could say so." "Well, its time I take you down." Specter the stated. "Specter. You know something. Greed and love are essentially the same thing," X said, getting up from his chair as Specter looked at him with confusion," It can help you. But, it can kill you!"
He then threw the chair he was sitting that up into the air and kicked it with his foot. It went soaring across the table directly at Specter. Specter drew his katana and sliced the chair down the middle, the two pieces moving away from him. He was caught up by that move; he didn't see X run across the table at him. X delivered a kick to Specter's chest, knocking him threw the door. His body knocked the door off of the hinges as he and the door hit the ground. Specter started to get up from where he lay, but then saw X leap at him, fist raised. Specter rolled to the side, avoiding the fist. He then punched X right in the side of the head, making him stagger back. Specter picked up his katana from the ground and slashed at X with it. X maneuvered his body below and around the slashes, perfectly avoiding the blade. X then jumped away and took cover behind a cubicle. As he readied three of his sharpened throwing blades, he said," I can't wait to see you on the ground bleeding to death." "What the hell have I ever done to you?" Specter asked," I haven't even met you up to this point." "You're trying to take her away from me. Starfire, my one and only love." "X, I think your disappearance has messed with your head. One, she's with Robin. And two, I'm with Raven." "I bet you are," X said," but one day, you will take her from me. I will not allow that to happen!"
X jumped from his barrier and threw his blades with ease. Specter deflected them with his katana and retaliated with his shurikens. He threw four of them straight at X, who was ready to take them on. The knifes whistled through the air as X dodged three of them. But, he missed the forth, as the sharp part of it sliced the side of his left arm. He grabbed his arm as soon as fresh blood slowly started to flow out of it. "X, just give up now. We don't have to allow for any more blood shed." X then slowly moved his hand to his belt as he said," Really. Because I thought you like to kill those who have committed wrong doings." He then produced a small black ball and pressed a button on it, holding his finger down on it as Specter replied," I gave up that path of bloodshed long ago. But, how did you know of that?" "Let's just say I get my information from a very reliable source. Taylor."
Specter developed a look of shock, for only the team knew of his true name. It was at this moment that X threw the ball to the ground. A smoke rose from it, disorienting Specter's vision. He look about the smoke, trying to decide where X was. Just then, he felt a stabbing pain in his leg. He yelled out in pain and dropped his katana as the smoke cleared. He then saw the knife that had been impaled into his leg and also saw X, who was standing over him. X then grabbed the katana and ran his finger along the flat part. "You know," X said," I can't decide whether I should cut your head off. Or Slice i9t down the middle. Oh, wait! I know. I'll just cut it off. I can give it to Star as a present. But, just to make sure you don't do anything stupid. X drew another knife and stepped it into Specter's shoulder blade. Specter yelled again at this as X prepared to slice him. But then, the window of the building shattered. X ran off as the Titan's came through. Raven and BB flew in, while Cyborg was being carried in by Star. As they landed, Raven ran over to Specter. She removed the knifes, ignoring his grunts of pain, and placed her hands over the wounds, healing them up and stopping the blood flow with her magic. "How did you know?" Specter asked. "You're a terrible liar." Just then, Starfire turned around upon hearing a noise behind her. A door had just closed, but she knew who it could be. "Red X." She said as she went towards the door. "Star, wait." BB said as he called after her. But, she went through any way, ignoring his orders and proceeding to confront X.
What surprises await Starfire? Find out in Chapter 9!