Chapter One -- Alliance

It was yet another night in Jump City--a time in which Red X thrived. After all, it was then when he took a liking to stealing the most precious valuables. When everyone was dormant--even the titans. It was not fear of the titans that made this fact pleasing to Red X--it was just that his plan to defeat the titans was not complete yet. To have to fight them at this point would be useless. Besides--at the moment he felt much more interested in the Cynerix Crystal behind the display glass so carefully guarded in front of him. It had been his target for almost as long as the titans.

Almost

Red X thought to himself bitterly. Red X placed his hand gingerly on a device created by his arch-nemesis Robin at his waist belt.

How ironic

Nonetheless, he spent no more time thinking of the titans and their pestering leader and lifted the glass cage silently when suddenly the alarm went off. A million red lights went off at once, the silence was corrupted completely as the alarm bell riveted down the building. Red X knew that he had not tripped the alarm, so then who? In the corner of his eyes he caught a figure in the shadows, moving quickly.

Great an amateur blew my cover. My lucky day. Well, I am curious to see who would follow my lead. Besides, I don't feel like waiting for the titans to come with the cops and try to capture me.

Red X scrambled the device of the glass compartment and ran after the figure.

Whoever it is--their pretty fast.

He noticed that the alarms had ceased and the only sound available was the pitter patting of the shuffle of his and the amateur thief's feet.

What a relief, I would have gotten a horrible migraine.

Yes, where Red X resided, which barely describe it, there was complete silence. This in the long run--had helped him with his senses. He chased the figure for a split minute before he caught it's hand, he paused, shocked.

She looked like Starfire, but her hair was dark and her eyes were a violet color. Now it was she who took his hand and led him outside of the building and through the streets. Red X could not shake of her face--remarkably identical to Starfire of the Teen Titans.

Starfire

The first thought that had run through his mind when he had seen her was--a pretty face fighting with the titans, how amusing. Then he saw her wit and cleverness and understood at once the look she had exchanged with Robin when he was struck down.

They were in love

Yes bashfully and afraid to admit it---but it did not change the fact. And now, as time had passed, Starfires face had haunted Red X's dreams and nightmares. Yes he had fallen in love with her. A rather inconvenient time--but it could not be helped. So, it did not surprise Red X later when he had time to analyze the situation, that he had been paralyzed at the face of the Starfire look alike. But she was not Starfire he noticed when she was in the light and could be seen properly--she had a look of malice in her eyes.

"Hey--names Blackfire, did you happen to get that Cynerix Crystal back there?"

Her voice was airy, careless and aloof. Red X couldn't keep his eyes of her.

"Y-yeah."

He stammers and uncoiled his fist which held the crystal he managed to snatch before being caught off guard.

"How about your give that to me and nobody gets hurt."

Great the girl wants to fight me. Her mistake.

"You may have caught me off guard, Red X said recovering his composure, but I'm no amateur. Now if you'd like I'd love to give this back to the cop and then you can try and steal it yourself."

"You've got spunk kid, she said with a laugh of spitefulness."

Who was this girl?

"Listen, you give me that crystal and I ensure you victory over the titans."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need it."

I replied just as airily and pretended to shift my gaze to the night sky, blazing with the reds of the sirens light.

"The thing is that their personal rivals seeing as they keep protected my little sister, Starfire."

"Starfire's your little sister?"

I asked bewildered, this malicious girl couldn't be Starfire's sister.

"Of course, why---hey! Why are you so interested in her? Does my little sister have a secret admirer?"

If not for my mask, she would have seen the dark red blush on my face.

"No, she just has something I want."

"Hm, well I won't peck at it any further, but here's the deal: you give me the crystal, I'll give you Starfire."

The offer was tempting--incredibly tempting. But I knew even if I had Starfire--her heart and mind would both be with the Titans commander.

"And--I'll get Robin out of the way."

Of course she'd figured out my intentions. It seemed my unexpected visitor was clever indeed.

"Deal."

I said and took off in the night sky.

"Hey wait! When will we attack?"

She asked, her brow furrowed.

"You'll know."

I said and then made my way home.

Yes, Wayne Manor.