Disclaimer: yeah yeah, you all know what I'm supposed to write here, so I don't think I have to write it… (Don't own the Teen Titans…Yada yada yada and blah blah blah…)

Title: X's and O's (I still don't know why I called it this… make up your own reasons.)

CHAPTER 13 (Wow… chapter 13 already…)

THE MED-LAB IN TITANS TOWER…

Ria was laid on the bed. Her torso had to be wrapped in gauze because of the huge stab wound there. Raven had been kind enough to heal all of her other scratches and stabs along her arms, neck, and so on.

"There's nothing I can do for this other wound. It's too deep for my powers to heal. It will just have to heal on its own." –Raven.

"She's lost so much blood already, Rae. Even with the other stuff healed, I don't think she's gonna make it." –Cyborg.

As Raven left the med-lab, Beastboy came up behind her. "Rae, you can't give up just like that. Can't you do something?"

"Technically, I already have. I healed all of her other wounds."

"But what about the other one! C'mon Rae! Ria's dying in there!"

"I'm really sorry, Beastboy."

"But, Rae—

Raven just walked away. She knew that what she had just told Beastboy was a lie. Her powers could heal most of Ria's large stab wound, but not all of it. It wasn't that she didn't think she could do it. It was just… Ria was already so far gone. There was also something that Raven had noticed in Ria's body, an invading poison that could interfere with Raven's healing demonic power. Ria might die if Raven used too much of her powers right away. Besides, didn't Ria betray them? Maybe she deserves to suffer a little. Maybe Ria deserves to die.

I can't believe I just thought that! Ria doesn't deserve this! Red X is the one who betrayed her! Red X is the one who deserves to die! At this thought, Raven's anger flared so much that a started Starfire screeched out from the common room as a loud crashing ensued. Fortunately, the noise didn't last very long.

"Everything okay, Raven?" –Robin asked from behind her, which pulled Raven back to reality.

"I'm fine." –Raven said as she pulled her hood up, "I need to be alone." She needed to get to her room so she could get her anger under control. She left Robin with a puzzled look on his face as he stared after her. Raven turned a corner down the hall and found the door to her room.

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"What the hell!" –Cyborg.

"Huh?" –Beastboy said as he came into the med-lab.

"I've detected an unknown substance in Ria's bloodstream. It looks like some kind of poison." –Cyborg.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Duh! Ria was stabbed with a damn poisoned knife!"

"WHAT! Isn't there some kind of antidote or something for this kind of thing?"

"I'll get right on it. Although it could take a while, cuz I've never seen this kind of poison before. It might be specific to Ria's anatomy. Which means that the poison is only dangerous to Ria. It's killing her slowly, and painfully, too."

Beastboy turned back to Ria. So that's why she's in so much pain right now… Ria was currently running a fever of close to 120 degrees, and it was rising as the poison took effect. Ria's fists were clenched so tightly that it seemed she might draw even more blood from her palms.

Cyborg noticed the way Beastboy was looking at her and placed his hand on Beastboy's shoulder, "Don't worry, B. She'll be fine once I get an antidote made up. You'll see." –Cyborg.

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As he entered the common room, Robin found Starfire cleaning up after what used to be a few lamps. I guess Raven was kind of upset about what happened to Ria. She has a right to be upset, everyone does.

"Hello, Robin. Our friend Ria is doing better?"

"Huh? Oh. Cyborg says she's not doing very well."

"If the Red X was so much the in love with Ria, why would he do this to her?"

"I don't think that Red X was the one who did this to her, Star. Slade is the only one who knows enough about Ria in order to kill her."

"Does this sort of thing happen to all people who are the in love on Earth?"

Robin blushed slightly at this question, "No, Star. This doesn't happen all the time. Well… at least not to everyone."

"Oh…" She blushed so much she had to turn away. Starfire walked over to the small kitchen area and began fiddling with some strange alien ingredients and Earthly cooking utensils.

"What are you making, Star?"

"The Pudding of Sadness. On my planet, the Pudding of Sadness is made when something bad has happened."

Oh shit. Not that again… Robin thought to himself. The last time she made that crap Cyborg had quit the team. It's not exactly what we need right now. "Starfire, maybe…I" Robin was about to tell Starfire not to make her pudding (or maybe that he loved her) when he suddenly decided against it.

"Yes, Robin?"

"Never mind." Robin silently cursed himself for not having the courage to tell her how he really felt about her. Maybe it's better not to let her know. I could end up like Ria.

Starfire finished her pudding quickly and shoveled a huge spoonful into Robin's mouth. "You must try it!"

Robin felt his face turn green at the taste, but he managed to swallow the bitter tasting pudding so as not to upset a smiling Starfire. With a strained look on his face, Robin gave Starfire a thumbs up and managed to force himself to say, "It's great, Star." Happily, Starfire left the common room to feed her (disgusting) alien creation to the rest of their friends, except for Ria. Once she had left the room, Robin promptly vomited.

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I know this chapter is kinda boring compared to some of the others. I tried to throw some humor into this one cuz everything is getting too serious and depressing for me (and maybe for you as well…). I think the comic-relief stuff really worked!

I also tried to throw in some RobxStar stuff too. I hope that makes at least some of my readers happy. I think I'm almost at the end of this story… boo hoo (single shiny tear on cheek). I hope the ending won't be too sad!