I'm back! Here's to say that my basketball season IS OVER. I repeat, over. Therefore, I will have much more time to write my beloved story, and hopefully, get more reviews. I want to get at least 50. Also, I would like to mention that even though Figaro's narrative about Raven is not true, this is the story if Trigon was not summoned directly by Raven's mother, but if simply came of his own resolve.

In this chapter you may and probably will find an accusation, a sapphire amulet, STILL continuing rain, a solution, and distrust.

Disclaimer I don't own the characters, but that doesn't mean I can't plot to steal them..


Indigo streaks mixed with tangerine colors in the night sky as the sun slowly fell from her kingdom of day. She whispered sweet nothings to the moon as he took her place, yawning out stars to shine on the peaceful city.

For the moment.

"Titans, trouble!" called the leader. Robin had been in his room, researching as always, when the alarm sounded. Rushing into the living room, all Titans assembled to see what was what.

"What is it?" Cyborg asked anxiously, peering over Robin's shoulder as he typed frantically into the computer.

"Trouble," was all he said. His voice sounded baffled, yet he was in no hurry at all rush off. Slowly, he turned around to face his team, a contorted look on his face of worry and confusion.

"It's you," he mumbled.

By now, all of the team was following his gaze, which rested exclusively on Figaro. His face was yet again serene, and held no flicker of anger or of bafflement. He did, however, look afraid.

"What are you trying to say, Robin?" he answered precariously.

"I scanned into the cameras at the Political Science and Art Museum in Gotham and it shows you stealing an ancient artifact."

"That's preposterous," he answered reasonably, no tone of rudeness in his voice. "I have been here the whole time."

"This scene was taken days ago," Cyborg took up, looking at him somewhat curiously. "You've been staying with us for over a week. Have you left the Tower at all?"

"How could I? It's been raining uncontrollably."

Four of the Titans looked at each, then out the window. True, the rain had let up the night before, but it had been raining for a week, hadn't it? There was no possible way Figaro could have left the Tower, steal an ancient artifact, and come waltzing back to the Tower.

"If it wasn't you," Robin said slowly, replaying the scene over and over again, "then someone looks exactly like your twin."

"He doesn't have a twin," Raven answered flatly.

"How do you?" Beast Boy began.

"-He just doesn't," she answered, not turning an eyelash in his direction.

"Well, if that's the case, then we better get down to Gotham and examine the scene for ourselves. Titans, go!"


At the Museum

When they reached the museum in Gotham, Robin told the team to split up. Robin and Starfire in the control room to look through all private security cameras that they could not access in the tower, Beast Boy and Cyborg in the Old World Artifacts room to search for any evidence of the thief's identity, and Raven and Figaro on the rooftop, to search for possible escape routes to and from the building.

The Political Science and Art Museum was, interestingly, one of the most private and well-guarded establishments in the city. It was twelve stories high, with over 95 exhibits and galleries. The place was coated in darkness at the time, and to get through it was like walking through a maze, literally. The corners were met with dead-ends, the dead-ends were met with corners, and when it all came down to it, finding the way to the rooftop without going outside was a complete puzzle (it may be important to mention that the rain had resumed). Figaro led the way around the building, taking on the mission like it was some sort of lark. As he passed the exhibits his tone was of seriousness, but when he noticed the grim and untrusting look on Raven's face he broke out into good-hearted fits of laughter, before turning another corner and leading them into yet another dead-end.

"Do you really think me some sort of menacing villain, my dear?" Figaro asked scrupulously.

"How can I know what to think when I see you standing in front of me one moment, and the next on the screen in my living room?" Her voice was on edge, her face quite pale, her look steady as she fought her desire to look him in the face.

"Touché. I must admit that, on my part, the past happenings have left you unsettled." He stopped in his tracks, turned her gently to him, looking her straight in the eye. His gaze was piercing, but not unkind, and as his fiery gaze met hers, he spoke. "Raven, my dear, I must tell you that the accusation is true. I did steal the missing artifact."

Raven stepped back from his warm touch, her skin crawling with distaste and horror. Her tone was cold as was the manner in which she replied. "I trusted you. I trusted you not to betray me, as all the others did…" Her eyes were glowing with anger, and in spite of his sadness and regret, Figaro continued to look calm.

"It's true, Raven, but please, let me explain!" His eyes were pleading, and although she was utterly enraged, she allowed him to still have two legs that bent normally. "To explain why I did it, I must first show you what I stole." Reaching into the only pocket of his dark, worn-out jeans, he produced the latter item.

It was a round, smooth amulet made of sapphire, with streaks of polished, white-gray lines that made it look as if it were bound in a pearl case. The stone itself was hung on a long, thin, silver chain with ancient writing inscribed on the clasp. Figaro held it tenderly in his hand, the streaks of white-gray flashing in the obscurity of the darkened room. Raven stared transfixed at the symbols, looking at the ancient writing with curiosity. "What is it?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"This," he said smilingly, holding the necklace by the clasp, letting it fall down and swing slightly, "Is the Dominatio Talisman. It enables its wearer to have total self control and to be able to harbor all and any emotions that could cause harm. Its descent is from the Unknown Dimension and, as you know, the Unknown Dimension doesn't give us too much information, so all we know about the talisman is contained in the old texts of Azarath."

"How did you know about it?" Raven asked, monotonously.

"My father mentioned it to me. He told me before I left Azarath that I could find the Talisman here, in your dimension. I started searching for it, and when I found you, I decided to check any and all local listings of ancient remnants. It's just so lucky I was able to find two such precious jewels."

Raven did not blush under his compliment nor did she soften her expression. "You know this means I can't trust you. It also means…." She sighed, her hot breath heavy and uneven in the cold and dusty room. "I have you tell the others it was you."

Figaro considered what she said, then he too sighed. "Raven, Raven….." His words trailed off as he quietly mumbled her name. "Raven…you can't tell the others it was me, because I have only stolen this for you."

She paused, also considering him. "You just said that you came to this dimension to search for the Talisman, and now you're saying that you were searching for it to give to me, even though you didn't know I was here?"

He was everlastingly patient with her. "I did know you were here, even if I didn't know where the talisman was. I concluded that I would search for the Dominatio Talisman, then come and find you."

"Why is it for me?"

"Don't you see, dearest? This amulet was created to contain demons inside of empaths, such as yourself. Since Trigon is connected to your emotions, this jewel will allow you harbor your demonic father inside here, and as long as you wear this around your neck, Trigon shall never escape. You shall finally be free."

Ravens suspicions were high, but the boy in front of her looked strong, confident, powerful. She knew him from the time when she first came to Azarath, when she made her first and only friend, at the time. She remembered his clear laughter, his bright, determined eyes, the strength of his soothing voice. She knew that she did trust him, and she would. He smiled sadly at her.

"I know what I did was wrong, but I did this for you. You're older now, and things are much harder than when you are a child. Trigon is stronger. He'll fight against his imprisonment and it shall only be all the more difficult. Please, tell not your friends of what I did, and maybe we can help you."

Raven held out her hand for Figaro to drop the amulet, but he only held it higher. "Not yet," he said curtly. "The time is not yet at hand. If I put this around your neck now, nothing would happen. A spell must first be performed for the magic to work. I will cook up the potion to initiate its power, and when it's done, the jewel will simmer in it for half a fortnight, and when the time is right, it shall be yours, love."

Raven was used to his incessant sweet talk, which used to make her roll her eyes, but recently had it only made her flush. Nevertheless, her hood was up over her face and a dark shade played across the moon.

"It's getting late." She nodded.

"If we're going to the rooftop, we better hurry."


With Starfire and Robin, in the control room

Starfire and Robin were in the cellar of the building, which was where the high-tech security was located. As soon as they entered the specialized room, they began playing, replaying and triple-playing the security cameras, only to find Figaro in each and every single one of them. Each video would show Figaro making his way through the exhibits of floor nine, which was where the Ancient Artifacts exhibit was located. Curiously, none of the videos from the lower or higher levels showed any activity that night, except for that one floor.

"It is…quite peculiar that the Figaro is only on the level nine," Starfire commented, after watching the fifth camera once more.

"Not only that. It doesn't make sense. The security cameras positioned on that floor showed him gliding through security without starting from the rooftop or the first floor. How could he do that without having powers to-." Robin stopped speaking and both exchanged significant glances.


Still, at the same time, with Cyborg and Beast Boy

"And think about his eyes. Notice how they're all shifty? Sort of like, 'hey-I'm-really-evil-but-pretend-but-be-good' thing?"

"BB, give it a rest! Figaro is NOT evil…he's on our side, remember?"

"But, c'mon! Think about it! Why would he show up and expect us to feed him, clothe him and put a roof over his head? I work very hard to make enough money to allow us to live in Titans Tower!"

"Man, you are over exaggerating! And we don't pay bills! Read my big, fleshy lips. Figaro. Is. Not. Evil." He said these last words through gritted teeth, for Beast Boy's incessant talk of Figaro had gotten old 394 'think-about-it's' ago. The two teenage boys were searching through the exhibit, finding everything besides something. The exhibit, not to mention the whole Museum, was only missing one thing. The Talisman Dominatio. Of course, the police had no indication of who the criminal was, and neither did the titans.

"Maybe, but he's just so…so…"

"So…Raven's type?" Cyborg offered.

"No," Beast Boy answered flat, with a trace of jealously in his voice. "Raven would never consider him! I mean, he's got…." Beast Boy scratched his head as he searched for the right insult, but none would come.

"Just forget it. He saved my life, we all saw him. He can't be such a bad guy if he did."

"Still…I don't trust him," Beast Boy said stubbornly.

"Fine…just don't come crying to us when he saves all man-kind with the cure for smelly feet," Cyborg teased.

"What would be way too weird," Beast Boy smiled. "Even weirder than an army of trained gerbils."


How did you likey? Lol. Please review, that's all I ask of you. Hehe. Fighting is coming up, along with romance. So look forward to it!

As always, fanficers, I remain your loyal writer,

StakeMeSpike04