Reviewer Replies:
I got another request! You guys are getting no-bake cookies today! (whew, that was much easier than actually cooking them, thanks Forlorn Melody!): Absolutely pointless (no need to beg…), kmc99, titanfan, StarfireFowl13, Sprox 83, robin and star fan, blackcatt, "robinxstarfire FAN!", "AAA", lil' LIK Star, "this. is. stupid.", and Eyes of Nevermore (loved the flower!), and 2 "Special Thank Yous" today to Scott Okragleski and "Savvy"! (Thanks guys)
Emmery: yay! Thank you. I must give you a "suggestion" bonus! How about $5? Hmm… no. Maybe another cookie?!
DeathIsMyWayOut: Ahh…I do not give up so easily! Robin shall be mine! (…Or, maybe we could share him?)
robin(plus)starfire: really glad I could help! Checking out your story now…
Babi3 A: Ingested too much caffeine did we? I do that a lot.
Aeris9919: I would love to get more into the characters emotions. That's the one thing I'm working on right now: fleshing out my stories. I've always been a great editor/summarizer, but actual "involved" writing is a little harder for me (hence the "I do not profess" disclaimer that I also add). Hopefully (crosses fingers) my next story will get a bit more in-depth. (Thank you).
Shadow12002: corza right? Cool name change… Well, hopefully season 3 will get to you all soon; cause the final episode of it is being shown here this week. Great stuff! You should enjoy it.
Girl With The Cauldron Spirit: Hey, you got your wish! More X this chapter! And please, I wish you to keep your guts inside of you…that would just mean lots of clean up for me and you would never find out who X is (you know, being dead and all…).
Jadedea: No worries, I will tell you. Just one more chapter, so I hope that appeases you…
"foreverfree": I totally understand what you're saying. I think like that too, so I think you and this story fit well…(hey, I gotta get some self-promotion in somehow!).
"Ryan": No, you are not the writer, but keeping you in suspense, is what this writer is happy to do…at the moment. Hopefully I will answer all of your questions in or by the next chapter. And I personally think Robin is "Dick" Grayson, but hey, the producers can use whomever they wish…
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, this chapter is shorter. I warned that this would happen back in chapter 2, but at least this one's from X's point of view! Enjoy…
Disclaimer: I can't think of one, but you guys should know by now that I don't own TT. Right? RIGHT!?! Oh, come ON!
Though I do not profess to be great, I do not profess to suck either.
Crushing Blows
(chapter 10)
X perused through isles of equipment and furnishings for stuff he could use in his apartment. "Somebody pinch me!" It was only a passing statement and he did not expect a reply, so he was rightfully startled when one came.
"I'd rather punch you!" A fist connected with the side of his face and he had to readjust his jaw before he could even see whom the fist was attached to. 'Robin. Hmm, punches harder than I remember.' "Hey kid. Come to steal back what I've rightfully stolen?"
"Unless you feel generous enough to just hand it over," Robin spouted.
"Now what would be the sport in that?" In one fluid motion he grabbed Robin's wrist, dropped to one knee, and flipped him over his head. He grinned behind his mask as he stared at Robin on his back on the floor. "See ya later kid," he bolted for the door and was less than surprised when black boxes came flying at him from all angles making him navigate through a virtual obstacle course. He dodged left and right and dove under some, but was run over by a rhinoceros midway. 'Beast Boy, you pain in the ass.' Literally it seemed…
He got up and continued running, this time turning back to shoot a sticky-putty X. It connected with both Raven and Beast Boy trapping them together with an accompanying snapping sound. As they struggled, he watched the exit creep closer with each stride. It was within reach when his attempt was thwarted by a small metal pole. Robin had dropped from the ceiling and was now sticking that damned Bo staff in his face. "I'm at 4th and goal kid. And you think you're gonna block me?"
"I've already intercepted you once," Robin shot back.
"Whoo, smooth," even he had to admit it at least worked with the metaphor, but a snarky comment wasn't going to stop him. He placed his hands on either side of Robin's and pushed forward with the right side of the staff smacking him in the side of the head. He quickly pushed forward with his other hand, striking Robin again. He twisted it out of Robin's grip and whipped it around behind his own back. He could've used it to beat the crap out of Robin, but discarded it to make it easier for him to use his other –much cooler- gadgets.
"Now, let's get on to my victory dance, shall we…" he verbalized, beating the metaphor to death. A rope shot out of his belt that wrapped around Robin's feet. He tipped him over and proceeded to the exit. He would've made it, if Robin hadn't grabbed his ankle and yanked him to the floor. 'Must you be the thorn in my side?'He whipped his legs around and did a spinning flip to get to his feet. Robin, after untying his bindings, arched his back and threw his legs forward to rise.
"So this is what I get for saving your life? Huh, kid?" He saw Robin sneer at this and come at him with two jabs to the face. Luckily he ducked enough that neither connected fully, but the second blow glanced off his chin and belted his shoulder. This ignited a spark within him, 'It's on.'
Their fight ranged all over the warehouse. Soon it became a boxing match: Robin would throw a punch; he would dodge and throw one right back. There were clear hits, but neither could be declared a winner. When they got tired of using just their fists they started using their feet, then their gadgets, later they threw in some acrobatics for good measure.
After a while it started to get monotonous. Robin came at him again with a roundhouse kick. He was trying to go low and then high, but X just grabbed his foot and watched him flail for a while before flinging him backwards. Robin popped up quickly and came at him again. He was getting really pissed off by this, so he gave a final unrelenting kick to Robin's gut. It shoved him back so hard that he smacked against the wall. He saw his opportunity and lunged forward shooting a large red X out of his wrist reminiscent of Spider Man slinging a web. Robin became attached to the steel and X breathed a sigh of relief in not having to deal with him for a while.
Once again, he tried for the exit and was barred. This time by Beast Boy who had morphed into an alligator and swished him away from the door with his tail. Before he could get up, Raven sent a shelf full of equipment tumbling down on top of him. He was hurt and had to worm his way through a maze of boxes, but he came out on top. When he emerged, she hurled a TV at him. It just barely missed him and he knew he'd had enough.
"Azarath Metrio…" She started holding her hands in the air.
He interrupted her, "Ahh, Raven. You and I, we're just like an old married couple; you keep wanting to throw things at me…and I just want you to SHUT UP!" He shot out one sticky red X to cover her mouth and two elongated ones to wrap around her hands and feet. She dropped from where she was levitating and struggled to free herself.
'Two down, one to go, but why's it only 3 on 1? -No time for wondering now…' He set his sights on the green one. 'How about we try one of these…' he worked his magic and threw a large X down on the floor. He lured Beast Boy over and as soon as he stepped on it, he stuck like a fly to flypaper, 'Well, that was easy.'
He looked around. The warehouse was in shambles, but he could still see all three Titans caught in his traps. He could also see the door, in all its exity glory. He decided it would be a good time to make one last attempt at an escape. "See ya later kids," he even saluted to them near the doorway.
He turned to leave, but halted when he heard a disturbing noise, "Arrraaah!" X looked around. His face gained a pissed off, yet disappointed look and he let out a long sigh. Robin had escaped. 'You know what, screw it! I'm leaving anyway...'
He attempted to execute his "fuck-it-all" plan, but something kicked him from behind and swung him around. He was face to face with the Bo staff again, except this time Robin kept coming at him, "Miss me?" The staff retained its place on his throat and Robin shoved his back against the wall. It was crushing his Adam's apple and he was gasping for breath, but Robin held fast. X struggled to place his hands on the staff and push back. It was all he could do to keep Robin from cutting off his air supply completely.
"What did you do to Starfire?" He was more yelling than asking.
X was in a tight spot so he figured he'd try lying first, "Nothing!"
Robin had a strong resolve to find an answer, so he pushed harder, "Liar! I know you took her, but she doesn't remember any of it. I'm asking you one more time…what did you do to her?!"
"How do you know that? I thought Krystal was supposed to…" he croaked amid hoarse breaths.
His look of anger turned into one of absolute rage, "You!? You did that! Raven was almost killed because of what you did!" Robin thrust forward so hard that for a while he really couldn't breathe.
"I…can't…you…don't…going…to kill…me…" he coughed out trying to make Robin stop. He was going to lose consciousness if he didn't get more air into his lungs.
Robin didn't seem to care, "Why shouldn't I kill you? You tried to take both of them away! I had to hold her when she was dying and you don't even care do you? All you care about is yourself! So why shouldn't I kill you?" Robin paused and glared straight into his eyes, "If you even think you have any reason to be alive…you better answer me."
X lost all ability to get any words out, much less a plea for his life, though he tried with great urgency. If Robin could've seen his face, he would've noticed this, but because of his damned mask he couldn't. So X did the only thing he could manage: he stopped resisting.
Before he actually did start to black out he heard a sweet voice come to his rescue, "Robin STOP!"
A/N: Ooh, Robin's pissed! Don't ya just love it?!? I do. Robin can be so nice sometimes and all of a sudden become such a prick…that's why he's so much fun to write!
One more guys! Just one more…
Hmm…should I post it? I don't know… What do you guys think?