Disclaimer: Thanks for the reviews from the previous chapter. I don't own anyone from the Teen Titans, nor do I own certain lyrics used by AlterBridge-this story, however, I do own. And, don't worry everyone-Red X will make his much needed appearance. Though, it might-or might not-be what you expected.


Teen Titans: The Return of Red X

Chapter II-An Unexpected Twist…


"You've been making waves this past week. Ticking off too many of the wrong people. That can't be allowed to continue." –Shrike, Robin #132: Fresh Blood, Part I


Thanks to Robin and Starfire's early-and unexpected-return home, they were able to help Raven repair Cyborg's damaged power core enough so that he could get back home with the others under his own power and replace it himself with a fresher power core. Naturally, Raven had also healed her own injured shoulder after Robin had knocked out their latest foe. The team now hoped that they would be able to relax for a while before the next catastrophe occurred. And, they would, for a time-how long, on the other hand, is anybody's guess.
"So…Robin and his Tamaranian friend were able to arrive home early, as was expected?" Slade asked calmly. "And they were able to dispatch of Mitchell?"

"Of course. But, someone else stopped the caravan that was taking him to the local prison, killed the guards driving it, then killed him." came the response.

"Hmm…interesting. Perhaps this 'someone' will stop by Mitchell's former place of residence to pick up the first half of the payment." Slade replied, not at all fazed by the news.

"Shall I be there to give this someone a proper greeting?"

It took Slade ½ a second to come up with an answer.

"Yes, but he may be useful if he was able to kill our assassin the way he did. Inform him I would like to request a temporary partnership, then explain my terms."

A nod was the response Slade was given before the figure vanished into the shadows.

Turning around and facing his computer system, if one could see Slade's face, they would see a smirk of determination and confidence.

"The time is growing ever closer, Robin…closer for you to return to the fold."


"Alright, team! We need to do something to celebrate Robin and Star's return home." Beast Boy announced as he entered in on Robin, Starfire and Cyborg while they were in the Operations Center from the roof.

"And, that would be…how?" Robin asked, having a weird feeling he knew how Beast Boy wanted to celebrate.

"Don't say it, B.B." Cyborg warned. "If you value your little green life, you won't say it-!"

"With a tofu party!" Beast Boy exclaimed as he quickly turned into a cat and scampered out before Cyborg could get his hands around his neck.

"I warned you!" Cyborg yelled irritably as he chased after the green cat. "Nobody wants tofu in this place but you!"

"Cyborg!" Starfire protested loudly, even though he wasn't anywhere near them at the moment. "It is still your turn on the Station of Games!"

Pausing the game, Robin grinned lightly at Starfire. "He'll get back here soon-once he's pounded Beast Boy's head into the punching bags."

Blinking in confusion, the Tamaranian noted, "But I thought you once said that those bags were expensive for us to buy on a daily basis."

"I did, but as long as only one or two are used, it wouldn't be that much of a hassle."

That being said, Robin got up and headed out, not needing to wait for Cyborg to return-he knew it would take more than just a few minutes before his friend returned.


I've been defeated and brought down…! (Ohh…!)

Dropped to my knees when hope ran out…! (Ohh…!)

The time has come to change my ways…!

"Robin? I seek your guidance on a matter that has been plaguing me for some time now."

Robin lowered the music on his radio once he'd heard Starfire's voice from the other side of the door, then waited as she entered into his room.

"What's the problem, Star?"

The Tamaranian took a moment or so to think about how she wanted to word her question before asking. "I was wondering about…how we are going to begin the process in finding a cure for our friend Terra. It has been quite a few months since she…'sacrificed' herself in order to save the city from Slade's most demented grip."

On this day, I see clearly…everything has come to life…!

Nodding in agreement, Robin had found himself thinking about that very same issue.

"Don't worry, Star-we'll find a way to restore Terra to normal and bring her home. And, since I know Beast Boy would enjoy this, we'll give her a hero's welcome-if Raven's on the same page as the rest of us."

"Wonderful!" Starfire smiled broadly-and blushed-while hugging Robin tightly, the Teen Wonder having gotten used to her hugs.

On this day, it's so real to me…!

Everything has come to life…!

One chance to chase a dream…another chance to feel, chance to feel alive…!


As day slowly, but surely, turned into nightfall, a figure was racing above the rooftops of Jump City, someone that wasn't known for doing this, much less known as one of the Teen Titans.

Yet, this someone was on a mission, and this someone would accomplish that mission, since failure wasn't an option…failure meant a punishment he had yet to even feel, since most of his missions so far had been simple ones, simple ones that had not only given him a thrill, but ones that he had accomplished…

This latest mission was no different from any of those.


"You're not gonna get the high score this time, Robin…you may have been gone for a while, but we're gonna have a new Champion in this Tower…" Cyborg rambled as he and Robin had returned to their game, Beast Boy having earned the right to face the winner since he'd talked with Raven earlier in the day.

"I don't think so, Cyborg…there's only one Champion in this Tower…and, that's me!" Robin retorted as he rammed his Winged Fighter into Cyborg's Bullet Racer, earning himself another 1,000 points.

"Ouch!" Beast Boy grinned to himself, not ever having seen that look of frustration on Cyborg's face when he was playing against the android Titan. "That'll leave some buffer marks."

"Where would he get the marks out?" Raven asked while appearing behind Beast Boy, causing the green changeling to scream lightly and hop in the air a few feet before landing onto the floor.

Starfire was acting as cheerleader, or as Beast Boy put it once, the Titans' vote of confidence for either side-no matter who won or who lost.

"Way to go, Robin! Kick the butt! And…attempt to do better, Cyborg."

"Not after I do this!" Robin replied as he pressed a single button. That act caused Cyborg's Bullet Racer to explode, and gave Robin the needed momentum to shoot ahead and win.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Cyborg exclaimed in shock and surprise as Robin's former score of 5,000 was now replaced with 15,000.

"1 down, 4 to go." Raven noted while heading toward her room. The others knew better than to interrupt her at this time.

"Alright-my turn now!" Beast Boy announced as he grabbed the controller Cyborg had dropped when he had seen Robin's new score.

"Not right now, Beast Boy-it's time for us to head to bed." Robin replied calmly while saving the results and turning off the game.

"But it's only 9:00! I should get my turn now!" Beast Boy protested.

"You would've had it if Cyborg hadn't beaten you up with two of his punching bags a few hours ago." Robin retorted calmly. "See you guys in the morning."

"Drr X'Hal var mrr Grrdff!" Starfire added, zooming out of the Operations Center, leaving a confused Beast Boy and Cyborg in her wake.

"…Say what?"

Chuckling lightly, Robin translated, "'May the gods of Tamaran watch over you as you sleep.'"

"Hold up, Robin!" Beast Boy insisted in amazement. "She only said a few words-that was what you heard?!"

Robin nodded. "It took me nearly a year to understand how to say 'hello' and 'goodbye' the way Tamarans would pronounce it. Star isn't the only one who learns new customs. You guys should try that as well. Catch you two in the morning."


It had taken Shrike the remainder of the day to track down Mitchell's former place of residence, mainly because he had taken the time to get familiar with this city located in the West, looking entirely different from his usual place of haunts. It took him even less time to use Mitchell's keys to get inside his place; what he didn't expect, however, was someone inside waiting for him, holding a briefcase in one hand, an unrecognized blade in the other.

"Shrike-an assassin that's been under intense League of Assassins training."

Grinning broadly while extending one of his blades, the assassin decided to humor him for a few moments.

"…You, an unknown kid in the shadows who has something I need, and probably knows the someone I need to get in touch with."

"I might, I might not. What I do know is that you were the one who effortlessly killed the former resident of this place, and that-"

The individual quickly used his blade to block Shrike's own blade with ease, before moving out from the shadows to reveal the very familiar costume of Red X!

"-sparks an interest in my current employer, who paid him an extreme amount of money to take out the Teen Titans-all, that is, but one."

Narrowing his eyes in suspicion behind his mask, Shrike asked calmly, "And, just who is your 'employer?'"

Pulling out a certain photograph from inside the briefcase, Red X slid it over to Shrike, who picked it up, as he responded back: "I know him by the name of Slade. You, on the other hand, may know him as Deathstroke the Terminator."

Looking over the picture with ease, Shrike recognized the people in it, especially the one who was circled around.

"I take it I'm not supposed to harm a hair on the Boy Wonder's head?"

With a light chuckle, Red X noted, "You catch on fast. Especially regarding your history concerning…someone else."

A light nod was Shrike's only response as his attention was drawn to the floor, where pieces of another picture was on the ground and had been for the entire day.

"As with Mitchell, you've received your first half. Your second half will be sent to you when the four Teen Titans are taken out of the picture."

"Kid, tell Slade he's got himself a deal."

Heading out the opened window, Red X replied before vanishing back into the shadows, "The name's X. Red X."