Chapter Six: Accepting the X

The next morning, Red X awoke, put on his suit and mask and headed down the stairs to the kitchen. He could hear talking and laughing from inside. He smiled, opening the door and walking inside.

"Good morning!"he greeted, as friendly as he could be. All talking and laughter immediately stopped. The others all turned, smiles fading, staring at Red X. Red X sighed, looking down.

"Right...I forgot we were isolating me..."he said.

"No, we are not isolating you."Starfire had stood up. She hesitated, then walked over to where Red X was, taking his hand. He frowned, trying to figure out what she was doing. The others looked just as confused. Starfire grabbed Red X and pulled him over to the table. She pushed another chair in between her and Beast Boy's seats, and forced Red X into it. He stared at the others nervously, glancing back at Starfire who seemed perfectly contented with herself. She plopped down in her seat right next to him, grinning broadly.

"Would you like some of friend Cyborg's bacon? He is very good at making the bacon," she said, as if there was nothing wrong with inviting a former enemy to come eat breakfast with them. Red X forced an awkward smile.

"Thanks, er..."He grimaced, showing that he didn't yet have her name memorized.

"Starfire,"Starfire helped. He nodded.

"Right. Thanks Starfire,"he said, as she piled bacon onto his plate. Cyborg stared at the two of them, looking more furious than ever. Red X took a bite of the bacon.

"Mmm, man this is great,"he said kindly to Cyborg. Cyborg continued to glare at him angrily.

"I have to go,"he mumbled. And he stood up, nearly knocking the table over in his anger, stomping from the room. The others all stared after him nervously.

"Okay...I'll make a mental note not to compliment him again..."Red X said, putting the bacon back down on his plate.

"Oh, please do not take offense to friend Cyborg's behavior,"Starfire pleaded.

"Yeah, he just misses Robin. I mean, we all do,"Beast Boy insisted.

"Some of us are just better at handling it than others,"Raven grumbled, glaring after Cyborg. "I'll have a talk with him later."

"Uh, no. I don't want any more trouble between us than there already is. But thanks Raven. Thanks all of you guys for making an attempt to be nice to me. I know this is...awkward for you. It is for me too, trust me,"Red X said. Actually, deep down inside, Red X was struggling much more than the rest of the Titans. But he was trying to be friendly, and get on at least SOME of their good sides...

"We know it is. This whole situation...none of us saw it coming. But it came, and we'll have to deal. We start working today, and we need everyone's cooperation,"Raven said.

"You have mine,"Red X assured her.

"Mine as well!"Starfire added quickly.

"Count me in,"Beast Boy said, nodding.

"Good. Jericho needs to be stopped. And fast. We can't forget that,"Raven reminded them sternly. The others all nodded.

"Do you think...will Cyborg...I mean, do you think he'll actually..."Red X tried and failed several times to ask the question they were all wondering.

"Cyborg will come around,"Raven replied. She seemed very certain.

"Okay then. Let's get cracking!"

The entire day was odd and uncomfortable. Raven, Beast Boy and Starfire would sit on one end of the room and research together while Red X used the computer. And when he offered to switch, no one volunteered. When he would come over for information, or to see what they had gathered so far, they wouldn't make eye contact with him. Despite all their prophetic moments and statements at breakfast, they were all still uncomfortable with him. But Red X didn't let it bother him too much. They would get used to him in time...

Two weeks later, it was the same deal. And Cyborg hadn't bothered to show up and help at all. They had hardly progressed at all in their research on Jericho. And their relationships had made even less progress. No one wanted to be alone with Red X. No one yet trusted him. They didn't listen to his information. They acted as though everything he said were a lie, or some kind of plot against them. They didn't obey his orders. They didn't take him seriously, and 14 days after his arrival, it was beginning to tear Red X apart. He hadn't asked for this. And he was doing his best to cooperate. The others had all said they would, but how many had listened?

"Okay, any day he feels like coming down would be nice..."Red X snapped rather sarcastically one day. Raven shot him a look.

"He'll come when he's ready,"she said dangerously.

"And when will that be? You said it yourself, Raven, we have work to do here! He can't just blatantly ignore the job we need to do because he doesn't like me!"Red X replied. Starfire and Beast Boy had both stopped, looking up at Red X. No one ever talked back to Raven like that. And Red X was really pushing his luck under these circumstances. Starfire began to get up.

"Perhaps I should go speak with him..."she suggested, trying to break the tension.

"He'll come when he's ready,"Raven repeated even more dangerously than before. Though she wasn't looking at Starfire. She was staring at Red X. Suddenly the doors opened and none other than Cyborg came marching through. He took a deep breath, sitting down next to Beast Boy. He avoided Red X's glances completely.

"Let's get working,"he said.

"We have been working. For the last two weeks we've been working. Where have you been?"Red X demanded sternly. Cyborg shot him a nasty glare, and the others all stared at him nervously. But Red X didn't back off this time. "Look, I'm not gonna stand here and be threatened by you. For now this is my team. Robin usually gives the orders, so that's what I'll be doing now. And I expect you to do the listening. I'm your leader, and I won't be controlled by you,"Red X declared. The others all quickly looked back and forth from Red X to Cyborg. Cyborg seemed just as shocked as the rest of them. But he suddenly stood up, towering over Red X.

"You have no right coming in here and telling me what I have to do!"he yelled.

"As a matter of fact, I do! Your leader came to me and begged me to take his place. I have every right to be here. And that's what's driving you crazy, isn't it?"Red X replied, smirking a little.

"Guys, cut it out,"Raven commanded.

"I don't have to take orders from you either, Raven! You will not intimidate me! I'm in charge of you too,"Red X pointed out.

"Please, you are merely getting yourself into more trouble!"Starfire pleaded.

"No. I'm finally stepping in and taking the place that Robin asked me to take. I have no reason to be afraid of you. You're my team now."The others all stared back at Red X in shock. He was right. But they hadn't expected this sudden outburst, this sudden realization that they had, in fact, been mistreating him as a leader. Cyborg stared at the others as if looking for a back-up...but none of them could argue.

"Fine. Let's get to work,"Raven said, rather softly. Cyborg stared at her.

"Raven! Guys! Are you just going to sit back and let this guy tell us what to do!"he cried.

"He is our leader, Cyborg. That is what we must do,"Starfire pointed out.

"Yeah man. You would sit back and let Robin tell you what to do,"Beast Boy added.

"He is not Robin!"Cyborg yelled.

"I am now,"Red X said. There was a pause as all the Titans turned to Red X in surprise. His expression remained unchanged. "The old Robin is crippled. Weak. Useless. You can consider him as good as gone. I'm Robin now. Deal with it."He shot a dangerous look at Cyborg, who replied with a look of disgust.

"You can take his room, take his position and insult him all you want. But you will never be Robin, and I will not just deal with this!"And Cyborg stomped from the room. Red X watched him go, grinning smugly.

"Well, now you've done it!"Raven snapped once Cyborg had left. Red X turned to her.

"Did I ask your opinion?"he asked. Raven frowned.

"Look, I get it, you're the leader, but that doesn't mean you get to control every-"

"Would you argue back with Robin like this?"Red X asked.

"No, because Robin's not-"

"Then don't do it with me."And Red X also turned and marched from the room.

"Friends...I am beginning to fear that perhaps Robin was wrong,"Starfire whispered.

"You're not the only one..."