Sorry for the wait, time for writing has dwindled much with school invading my life again :( Again, thank you for your reviews and patience. This is another slow chapter, I think the pace will pick up in ch.5 and beyond.
Gold Silk: An LJ? Is it possibly the TTS site?
Again, not beta read so please forgive the grammar.
4: Intermission
"What happened!" Cyborg's jaw dropped when he saw Robin and Starfire enter the giant, spacious room. He had ordered the alien princess and the changeling to follow the communications signal since the two were the fastest fliers, but judging from his friend's attire, it would seem they were still late to arrive.
Raven broke away from the main computer where she posted herself to communications. She walked around the couch to stand beside the giant Titan. Though the costume had seen better days, Robin's injuries did not seem as bad. Well, not as bad when compared to the last time seeing him in such a state. And that chemical dust incident wasn't that too long ago. They didn't need a reminder of that so soon.
"I had advised Robin that he should be heading straight for the medical room but he insists on listening to a message first." Starfire explained, walking down the stairs from the entrance besides the should-be patient. He walked on his own, but she followed a little behind in case his knee decided to "give out" again.
"What message?" Raven asked glancing at their leader. Despite the ever present fearless exterior, something wasn't right.
Cyborg raised a human eyebrow, "And where's Beast Boy?"
As if on cue, the changeling entered the room escorting Red X in front of him. Both the mistress and the half-robot contorted to confused looks at this unexpected guest. The thief however, approached the bottom of the stairs strolling along as if he lived in the Tower.
A hum of power erupted in the robot's arm, already transformed to cannon mode and was charging up for a strike if needed. "What is he doing here?"
"Whoa whoa!" Beast Boy flailed his arms jumping in between the two. "He's not here to cause problems, and he helped Robin out…" His green eyes landed on the leader for a moment, "Well, whether he did much good to is another matter."
Taking that as an excuse to not blow someone up right now, the cannon reverted to a hand. Promptly, the half-robot started scratching his head with it, "Helped?"
Red X led himself around the room while all Titans minus Star kept a watchful eye on him. Lavishing what could best be called a living room was a massive red carpet blanketing the floor. An equally red large sofa was settled before a giant wall of windows. The first thought that went through his mind was: Titans like their toys big. When he first broke into the Tower, he was too preoccupied with acquiring the prize than to tour a super heroes' home. And it was damn amusing that with all this technology, he considered their security system elementary-level at best.
Eventually he stopped at the open kitchen, looking about the usual utilities and cabinets one would find. Such a large room yet it was only one of many; he had to wonder how they manage to afford it all. It was all something very tempting to have, but his line of work committed him to a low profile for survival.
X seemed to ignore all judgmental eyes on him, but it was hard to not notice one particular boy he had saved today. Saved…or rather "assisted" as Robin would most likely put it. They hadn't said anything to each other during the flight and maybe they silently agreed on that. Both, well Robin avoided direct eye contact. Any "weakness" he'd seen first hand then was completely non-existent now. Either he was very good at acting, or denying then burying it to a site only the digger knows about. Too bad X had easy access to that memory.
Robin's aggravated voice caught his attention, "You didn't come here for a tour." Patience, it seemed, was not on duty today.
Not liking the idea of a lawbreaker roaming freely in their home, Cyborg's patience was wearing thin as well. Being kept in the dark of a plot was not amusing when you're the one without a light, "Can someone explain what is going on?"
Finding a good spot with the best view of the entire room, X leaned against the ledge of the kitchen table, arms crossed. "Why don't you ask fearless leader? I'm sure he's ecstatic to explain everything."
Robin narrowed his mask at the blatant challenge. He won't have himself baited in front of his peers. It was a battle for the spotlight with the four other Titans as audience. Only, they struggled to keep the limelight's attention on the other. "You came here to talk. So, talk."
X smirked behind the skull. There was something very amusing when it came to the annoying straight-as-a-board teen. "Oh but I'm sure your friends are dying to find out why you look like you've just been owned." A cocky tilt of his head sealed the open challenge.
"That is none of your concern." Robin checked his rising temper. It was something he couldn't afford to show lest he'll be hounded by his team mates taking the thief's side demanding an explanation. "You seem to be forgetting that we allowed you to come in here. If you're here to just waste our time then that mistake can be easily rectified."
Starfire was too engrossed on scrutinizing his injuries to notice the agitation brewing in her patient. The hand definitely needed immediate medical attention. If Robin wanted to avoid the medical lab, then administering of medical needs should be applied here. "Raven, would you please inspect Robin's hand while I bring the needed supplies?"
Listening to what could be described a battle of words, Raven made her way to Boy Wonder in silence. Despite how the teen prioritized, medical aid and conversation can happen at the same time. She lifted his bloody hand, and upon hearing a very quiet, sharp exhale of breath from him, she surmised the metal shards were still digging into the flesh. Surprisingly, the patient was showing minimal protests for aid which was a relief since no one wanted to deal with his pride. "I'll need to remove some of the shrapnel first before taking off the glove. Once it's clean I can help speed up the healing." Robin only nodded once to acknowledge he heard, but his eyes and mind were elsewhere.
Beast Boy and Cyborg were almost entertained by the obvious tension between Robin and X. Exactly why was up to anyone's guess but assumed that it was merely that one of them was a thief and using technology the other created. But there was one thing that was and underlying message between the two. It went past the changeling's head, but crashed into the robot's. The Titans' leader was avoiding the question X put forth, and it seemed he was adamant to divert attention away from explanations of his current condition. If X, or Titan, pulled on his cape too hard the Boy Wonder would rip it off.
So he took the role of referee whilst trying to hold back the sarcasm as much as possible, "The guest should go first." After all, just because there was one event he helped out didn't equate to instant trust.
And here the thief thought he would have fun for his work. Understanding that he was quickly outliving his welcome, X produced a small, black disc from his belt. "I assume you know of the recent wave of abductions involving children, the bodies piling up?" He flipped the item at Cyborg, who promptly caught it.
The half-robot looked at it curiously, half expecting it to blow up in his face, "What's this?"
"It contains a recording concerning a certain mob boss in Bludhaven. Apparently, the Duke has… peculiar hobbies." The altered voice kept monotone in spite of the nature of the implications his wording meant. "The police here should know what to do with it—if they're competent enough."
Cyborg eyed the disc, then to his team mates. All the members' faces contorted to apprehension upon hearing where this discussion was leading. Slowly his eyes rested on Robin for silent signs of agreement in sanctioning the acceptance of such possible evidence. But even if denied, the anxious expressions of the other Titans would have prompted him to accept it anyway. Meandering his way to the computer, he inserted the disc into a recorder and hit play.
Everything was silent except for the low, jovial voice and another much more meek voice resonating from the speakers. Every Titan stood or sat where they were. Starfire all but froze listening to the meek voice, apparently belonging to a man named Leonard, describe the product being discussed as "a little kid." Without that depiction, none would have thought that the conversation recorded on the disc was about anything alive let alone human merchandise. On occasion, laughter that could have easily belonged to Santa Claus assailed their ears. Beast Boy cringed at the thought of such description and slid onto the couch, promptly seizing a cushion to hold onto. Cyborg stood rigid before the console, trying not to smash the machinery out of disgust. Robin decided to keep his eyes on his hand that Raven was attentively working on pulling metal from now un-gloved flesh. To the casual eye, one would assume she was not listening at all.
X, however, was anything but affected by the chilling recording. Not because he heard it before hand live, he was just too busy watching the "indomitable" Titans shrink two sizes to small for their uniforms. The changeling was open as a book, as was the alien. The half-robot and the girl he could only describe as a sorceress, were doing a good job at preventing inner emotions rise to the surface.
Robin, on the other hand, looked like he was fishing the recording for hidden clues embedded in the conversation. A detective in every moment, that is until—
—"Hello? This is the Duke, calling for Jack."—
There it was.
And the thief knew he wasn't imagining it. Sitting directly in front of Robin, Raven too noticed a flinch so sensitive that no one would have noticed unless one expected it, or quite literally held a part of his body. Pale hands partially speckled in blood stopped mid-work as the dark girl raised her head in an equally obscure manner, just enough to let her eyes roll up to see the boy's head downcast. The visual glance was only for confirmation. She didn't need sight to feel that something had jarred his mind. In a moment so fleeting, something akin to anxiety and rage erupted to cause the sudden move.
Raven returned to her work as Robin returned to his steel exterior breaking the glance. As much as her curiosity was tapped, she couldn't do or ask anything now. He would have to talk by his own will or it nothing but disaster would strike.
X raised an eyebrow behind his mask observing the quiet communication. The girl knew when to keep her mouth—and body language—shut to avoid a leader who would most likely be on the defensive. But most important of all, the little gesture by the Boy Wonder confirmed his intuition.
One of the two men, who were shamelessly making their intent known on the poor kid, was named Jack. It certainly made things a lot more interesting… exactly for who was a different matter. Regardless of the value of the insight, his mind wandered to a follow-up thought that casually strolled into mind: "Jack" was certainly a plain name than he would have never figured for as an organized crime boss. Not that "Red X" was necessarily his own creation, but at least he stole something that was catchy. Pondering unnecessary thoughts, the dead silence of the room snapped him out of him to his surroundings with the Titans obviously letting the facts sink in.
"How did you obtain this?"
X turned to the source of the voice, meeting Robin's masked eyes drilling into his own. The others turned to the messenger as well. A quizzical expression was on each face, minus Raven who was busy with peeling the last shards of red metal to a bowl nearby.
Not letting the attention bother him, Red X casually lifted himself onto the table. He raised a foot to rest on the edge, ignoring the fact it was an unsanitary gesture. "You don't expect me to compromise my client, do you? That would be unethical of me."
The almost sing-song tone was not something Robin wanted to hear. It sounded too much like the thief knew exactly what cards were in his own hands and the strategy to use them. "Unless you're going to make a speech about the 'glory' of honour among thieves, I want an explanation." Anger and disgust lurked within him—both from the foreign touch that still lingered between his legs, and the fact that X may have seen too much of that predicament. At this point, bullshit was the last thing he wanted to deal with.
"Is it so hard to believe I'm only offering this from the kindness of my heart?" X responded half tiredly, hearing this too many times from the same record player.
"From a criminal?" Robin stood abruptly from his seat, ignoring the dull ache from his bruises and sores. Raven had just pulled the last object from flesh before he jumped, and narrowed her eyes at her unruly patient. The Titans noticed the taunt demeanour their leader was displaying, an almost unwarranted behaviour. With deliberate steps he crossed the room to its center, "No, there's always a catch. The Duke is a big name in Bludhaven, with only one other individual who has both money and power to be of any real competition to him. Being charged with child abuse with police crawling down his neck would be a substantial blow to the Duke. It would let Hierarch make his move on his turf quite easily with the distraction." Robin narrowed his eyes, challenging the other to play the next card, "How much is he paying you to deliver?"
The four Titans glanced from Robin to Red X. That was information that none of them knew and only further demonstrated just how much knowledge was crammed into the spiky-haired head.
If X didn't have his skull mask on, the Titans would have seen his jaw drop. Of all the arrogance and presumption… "Yeah, that's exactly what my plan is. Obviously nothing can get passed you, Kid." Sarcasm roasted the words.
Perhaps it didn't help that he was exhibiting a lazy attitude towards the crimes, but the assumption that he was doing this for money… He wasn't sure what to be more pissed about: Robin discovering who his client was on a first try, or that he never thought of offering to deliver said information for his client for extra cash. At the time he never thought of it that way, of how much value of getting the recording to the police would be tremendously beneficial to Hierarch. I'm slipping…, X thought to himself. It only further proved to himself that his conscience was having a bigger role than he realized.
"Besides that," Raven paused searching for the right words, "impulsive conjecture, if you want the police to handle this, why bring it to us?" She approached closer to the center of the room as her cloak waved along with her movements.
Maybe it was because of the heat of battle at the time, but the thief for the first time noticed the aesthetics of her costume. It certainly brought out her best feature, "C'mon Legs, do you honestly believe the cops would listen to me? You know, as you keep kindly remind me," X turned towards Robin for the rest of his remark, "I'm just a selfish prick of a criminal."
As if to dispel some tension, Beast Boy couldn't help release a small giggle at Raven's exaggerated furled eyebrows. He would have added a comment to the nickname, but the glares he received from most of his team mates signalled to him now was not the time. "Um, sorry," he shrugged the half-hearted apology. But X was amused to know that at least one member of the team had a sense of humour.
Cyborg took the break as an opportunity to quell his own curiosity, "That doesn't answer why you came to us specifically."
"Yeah," Beast Boy piped over the back of the couch, "I mean, doesn't Bludhaven have its own heroes'n stuff with connection to the police?"
Red X hopped down from the ledge and leaned on the table with one hand, "Never been to Bludhaven have you, Squirt?" He smirked at the green teen's furled brow, almost as wrinkled as Raven's was. "As far as the criminals are concerned, Bludhaven has no cops or heroes to tuck the city in at night. You guys have the convenience of being above and with the law. Perfect as a conduit between people like me," he emphasized by pointing to himself, then to the group, "and people like you."
Removing the disc from the player, Cyborg studied it for a moment. There didn't seem to be any harm in accepting the information, and it didn't seem like X had any devious ulterior motive. But watching Robin eye the thief with arms crossed, he couldn't deny that tension between the two had gone up substantially. And wanting to know the reasons behind the Boy Wonder's injuries poked at his cranial processor. "Well aside from that, mind explaining what happened to have Robin all scratched up here?"
"I think I can explain it better than our 'guest' here since I am the one with the bruises," Robin interjected and turned to Red, "You're business here is finished, isn't it? It's probably best if you leave."
It was a half expectant, half surprising and a completely threatening statement to X. "You're actually letting me walk out? No jail talk or twenty questions?"
"Don't. Tempt me." Robin wanted him out before Red X decided to open his mouth to everyone far too much. Only certain details should be told to his team mates and only the ones he wanted them to know. And in the back of his head, he didn't want to know how the position on the floor in the factory looked from a third party perspective. First person perspective was hideous enough.
"Well then, I take back what I said. You do know how to show a warped sense of gratitude—when it suits you." With a light push away from the table, X started his way towards the exit feeling the stare from the boy on his back. He caught the bird's next card in the game, and the bet was on his departure would give the teen leader the complete control over the conversation with his fellow Titans.
Apparently, the kid's knack for questionable deception knew no bounds when it was for his benefit. Yet, after seeing the shorter teen in a physically and mentally unwilling position, the thief found it hard to look at him in exactly the same light as before—the way he saw him on the first night the two danced. Maybe that was why he stopped his ascent to the exit, looking over his shoulder. "Word of advice," he eyed the young leader though he made it sound like he was addressing all of the team members, "getting yourself involved with this will only cause you to drown further than you already are."
Robin remained still, finding truth and resentment towards that warning. But it did leave a trace of veritable scent in the air. Why he bothered to even say such a thing perplexed the Titan leader. Just like how he helped him back at the factory, and in the first night they fought together. "You're not leaving alone. Someone will escort you out."
"I shall escort him off the island." Starfire, who remained uncharacteristically silent the entire time, volunteered for the task. Robin shifted his glance from X to Star and back, then finally nodded in agreement. She was the best choice for the task.
Red X smirked as the princess approached, gesturing him to walk in front. "Well, with a Cutie like you I wouldn't dare complain."
ooooooo
For the second time that day, X found himself hanging onto Starfire's arms as they sped through the sky and over the ocean. Occasionally he let out a whoop to release adrenaline built up from the crisp, rush of air.
Eventually, they arrived at the edge of the city's downtown as per his request. They landed on one of the business buildings in the busiest night district. "Thanks for the lift." X raised Star's hand in a mock gentleman's kiss of gratitude. "Now you better run along before birdie decides to assume something's up with our little joy ride."
Starfire raised an eyebrow in a quizzical expression, "Something is up?"
The thief opened and shut his mouth, "…never mind." He thought it better to withhold a wisecracking remark. It would probably fly pass her anyway. Finally free of self-imposed obligations, he headed towards the ledge of the building, preparing himself for a leap.
"Wait!" Starfire floated to where he crouched on the concrete banister. "I would like to thank you for sharing with us the information you came across. I am sure the others feel the same."
If he didn't know any better, it sounded like she was apologizing for her team. Their behaviour towards him was what he generally expected and would have been suspicious of anything else—especially from Robin. It was fun poking at him to gauge a reaction, but he found that it ultimately wasn't nearly as entertaining as being physically chased by someone with equal skill. All in all, he considered it a bonus for being let off easy without a consequence on his part. So this little apology sounded some sort of a pity talk. "It may be touching that you're sincere, but do take this personally: I really don't care about what any of you think of me."
The alien didn't let the comment wound her emotional nature. Instead, she held her face in resolve. From her belt she pulled out a device and presented it before the black-clad teen.
X stared at the circular black and yellow object adorned with a giant T. "What's this for?"
"It is a communicator, a means of contacting one another." She answered in a manner all too serious.
Now the thief was really confused. Sincerity may have been the wrong word to describe the girl. "Okay… Let me rephrase to something simple: why?"
"If, in the future, you come across additional information regarding these series of crimes, please do not hesitate to tell us." There was almost a hint of expectancy in her request, that it was fairly obvious why she was offering the item in the first place.
But X didn't want to waste time with the girl's grade school methods of making friends. "I do one thing I don't even know why I bothered and all of a sudden I'm your errand boy?" Though she seemed more pleasant to be around than most of the other Titans, there certainly was a limit he could take before her optimistic presence became irritating. And it was treading on that fine line right now.
"I know it is not…appropriate to fraternize with a criminal…," the princess knew that she was taking a risk with her little plan. But after hearing the discussion back at the tower, she came to the conclusion this venture was a wise choice, "but, in your case Red X, you have helped us—helped Robin, twice."
X rolled his eyes. Sometimes good guys really are about chivalry and all that nonsense. If two chance saves was going to bite him in the ass like this every time, he wouldn't have saved the kid at all… maybe. "So I'm automatically an honorary Titan? You're way too naive, Cutie."
"The first time may have been partially because of potential gain in your favour by acquiring a supply of xynothium." She stared him straight into his mask eyes in an attempt to drill her point across and to convince herself that this was the correct choice. "However, this time, I believe you have helped him only out of compassion. And despite your self-description as selfish, it is your consciousness that has brought you here to enlighten us with your most helpful findings."
He sat there with a stretch of silence wallowing in the cool night air. Shaking his head, X released a sigh. Do one simple, helpful deed and people start to label you as a hero. For all he knew, this could be an elaborate plan to stick a tracking device on him, or maybe it's a twenty-four hour one way communication option in favour of the Titans. Yet…
"I place my unconditional faith in what I believe. It is up to you to make my faith worthy or misplaced." With her hand with the communicator still outstretched, she observed the masked thief stare at it, and up to her.
...Yet, no one could deny part of him was enjoying this grossly honest and corny request for help. An individual was humbling themselves to him on freewill was an extremely rare occurrence in his life. In fact, he couldn't remember if there was ever a time like that.
And he had the nagging suspicion, she was asking in place of someone else—a boy who shall remain nameless—who was too full of pride to ask. Or maybe he was assuming that… Why would he assume that? Or maybe he was just going crazy? Things certainly haven't been quite the same since he stole the X-suit, professional- and personal-wise.
Considering the worst case scenario, if it was a ruse to keep a track of him, then he was adept enough to technology to at least manipulate the device to work to his advantage. "Has the band of merry teens agreed to this?"
For a moment she hesitated but shook her head.
"So little Ms. Perfect isn't entirely innocent, after all. I can just imagine Mr. Anal-retentive have a PMS attack if he finds out about…this…" X stopped himself. He was talking as if he accepted the proposal. Bringing his attention back to the girl, he met nothing but confusion on the pretty face, "Boy Wonder will be pissed," he clarified.
The strangely described statement had resonance on her own apprehension on this move possibly being seen as a move against her friends. Nevertheless, her heart wasn't capable of that. Loyalty was too ingrained into her psyche. "Robin and the others… they do not need to know for now. As a Titan, I cannot allow myself to trust a criminal so easily. But as a person, I choose to believe that you are capable to care."
What kind of sugar-coated words is she spewing, Red X cringed. Of course he cared—about himself. If not, he would be dead years ago. "Did anyone ever tell you, you talk weird?"
"Actually, yes," Starfire answered with nothing but truth powdering her visage. "Almost everyone I meet on this planet has commented on my speech pattern."
X eyed the communicator still presented before him. Would he? Should he? The request was genuine; a hero shedding pride to talk to a lowly thief—to him, for help. Robin was pompous enough to try and lecture him to guilt to save the city from Chang. He knew the underlying message was Robin asking for help, but he turned it into a lesson. If anything, he valued that bull-headed attitude the Titan leader displayed but the execution was sorely too much like a public service announcement. Except, he had admitted to himself that night, that was the reason that ultimately tipped the scales to the side of helping.
Since it was his first experience asked with no strings attached, he should start off with a good first impression. Maybe it will be a reputation that may come in handy later on. He took the communicator, shaking it in front of Starfire, "You owe me."
oooooo
"That's it?" Cyborg was exasperated, "The guy that obviously thrashed you is the guy named in that recording and that's all you can say about it?" He was understandably angry that the explanation for "bumping" into the two assailants was luck in the form of an anonymous tip.
Like hell it was.
He turned this bandaged hand into a fist. Robin had about enough of the group meeting, "As I have said, there was a scuffle. The one named Jack apparently has some sort of psychokinetic ability. I was just caught off guard by that, he got a lucky shot." He waved a hand to himself to emphasize the result.
Raven and Beast Boy barely had a chance to get words in between the two clashing Titans. It started as a regular debriefing escalating to a verbal battle. Even the changeling knew something was not right with Robin's story. Beside him, Raven too seemed suspicious, but feeling there was a reason to be. The growing dissention between team mates brewing once more.
"That is a load of bull. You're telling me that you just happened to be at the 'right' place at the 'right' time to find these people?" It was obvious to the half-robot there was something going on; an important detail was missing. Just happening to receive a tip when he happened to be in the neighbourhood was not digestible. Coincidences like that never came to the Titans that easily. If it did, there was always a catch.
Robin was had enough of questions repeating themselves. "Look," he took a copied disc of the recording from the console, "we don't have time to argue over a useless detail. I told you their description and you should be working to find out exactly who these people are and their history." Without waiting for a response, he headed for the living room's exit.
Cyborg gritted his teeth, "Where do you think you're going? We're not through talking."
Robin didn't bother turning around as he approached the doors, "I'm off to work as you should be." He stopped to let the doors slide open for him, "And this conversation is over." His cape disappeared behind the closing door.
The room fell eerily silent after the long stretch of shouting. Beast Boy leaned over the couch, stomach to the headrest. "Geez, and I thought Raven is more testy than usual."
"There is something wrong," Raven spoke from behind, glaring at the boy a second time for the remark, "but he's never the one to say what his problems are out front." In the corner of her eye, she caught a look of look-who's-talking from the green teen but casually ignored it. She wasn't the subject of complaint here.
Cyborg crossed his arms. Evidently, the problem of communications between peers has yet to be solved. "The question is why he won't tell us? I mean, not only is it a possibility that it can help with the investigation but…," he tried to find the word for the tone Robin used when addressing the assailants, "…he was making this out to be really—"
Raven intercepted the thought,"Personal?"
"He did get pretty roughed up, though." Beast Boy crossed his arms on the red fabric and nestled his chin on the little niche, "Maybe he's itching for a rematch."
"No, that can't be the only reason. Most of the times he was defensive like that was when Slade got involved." Cyborg eyed the other two and hoped that wasn't the case. There was a reason the four Titans agreed to keep the note about an external signal activating the dust a secret. "Then there's the excuse about the anonymous tip. The amount of coincidence he's implied in his story is almost laughable." Metal hand rubbed metal chin pondering that thought. Thinking further, Robin seemed distracted enough to make up a very sloppy excuse.
"Maybe it had to do with that box…" Beast Boy passively mumbled.
At the hint of a suggestion the two elder Titans turned to the youngest. Raven fished for an elaboration, "What box?"
The changeling shrugged, "I thought I saw him looking at something back at the restaurant when I flew up to check on him." He scrutinized the memory even further, "Come to think of it, he seemed kinda jumpy when I called on him…"
While the changeling scrunched his brow in thought, Raven and Cyborg glanced at one another. That was when Robin proclaimed he had something to do. More and more, the so-called coincidence was become intentional.
"Where is Robin?"
The three turned around to the living room doors with Starfire standing at the top of the stairs. She gracefully walked down the steps to meet the group.
"He's off in Disturb-and-Die research mode to look up the perps," Beast Boy explained as if it was obvious and followed up with a question of his own, "What took you so long?"
The alien tensed a bit by the question, "Oh, um, Red X proposed to be escorted to the centre of the downtown district." She hoped it was a reasonable answer as no one questioned her further. "But concerning Robin, why has he not made use of the medical facilities for his injuries?"
"Because he's an ass," Cyborg huffed.
Starfire blinked. First Red X, now Cyborg. She really couldn't understand why people are associating Robin with the rear end of the body. All she understood was in both instance, they were used in a derogatory form. "I…see… Perhaps I should talk with him afterwards."
"We'll just…deal with him later. Right now, the police'll be eager to get a hold of this." Cyborg plucked the master disc and placed it in a panel on his left forearm, "They may have something in their own files about these creeps. You two," he nodded towards Raven and Beast Boy, "catch Star up on the situation."
"And?" the changeling added.
Raven stood before the console and booted up the computer's criminal records cache, "And then we research."
That they did, all night long.
oooooo
Night soon became day again with the sun shining as brightly as ever in the autumn season. It also meant today was the last day of the brother's time off.
"What do you mean 'compromised'?"
While lying on the bed with his suit on and arms crossed behind his head, Tom watched his brother looking very displeased on the cell phone.
"You mean he snitched us?" Jack kept his agitation in check as he knew better than to raise his voice to the caller on the other end of the line. He crinkled his brow, "He didn't know? Room bugged! Uh-huh… Right..."
The taller brother nodded as if the speaker on the other line was standing in front of him. Tom could see his brother become more and more agitated. "What's wrong?" he mouthed silently.
Jack help up a hand in a simple gesture asking his younger brother to wait. He continued to pace in the executive room of the hotel they stayed at, listening intently to the phone. "Tonight? All right, it's not like we have a choice now, do we?" Few more nods and he said his closing, "I know, love you too," and snapped the cellular phone shut.
Red eyes exposed without his glasses on, Tom sat up, "Well?"
Jack shook his head, "We're back to work. Now."
"What!" Tom exasperated, "Can't it wait? I mean, we only have half a day left! It's been years since we had descent time off."
"I know I know," the elder agreed with his younger brother, "but we have a possible breach."
"Breach?" Tom's whining voice became solid as a rock upon hearing the type of situation, "How?"
White-gloves shrugged, grabbing his coat off the second bed and putting it on, "We're assuming it's a phone tap. How or why, we have no idea. But the cops got a copy of the recording… Remember when the Duke called?"
Thomas nodded in remembrance, "Is it possible he was setting us up?"
Jack shook his head, "Not likely. Seems a tape or disc or something containing a recording of a phone call got into the hands of Jump City police. They're demanding Bludhaven to cooperate in making a warrant for the big guy. Duke may be able to bribe the Blud-boys to slow down the investigation, but it'll be inevitable once the Jumps come in." Feeling the stress rise, he took out and lit a cigarette. Slowly he sat down next to his brother's bed, "We have to make sure any evidence to our whereabouts is non-existent."
"Well that's just great," the younger muttered, "And I wanted to cage the bird tonight…" He rubbed the cut on his upper arm, the suit's fabric still slashed. The sampling he had last night lasted to the early morn. Now that the boy's taste was known, he could faintly feel the anxiety feeding his mind. It satiated his stomach for now, but fast becoming an addiction. "Have you ever seen the most perfect body?" Tom nudged his brother with his elbow and stole the cigarette for a puff himself. "And man, he has secrets to hide in here alright," he smirked, tapping the side of his head.
White-gloves re-captured his cig already halfway burnt and ashes landing wherever they fell. "Must've been good stuff. Thought you were drunk last night." He had a taste himself, but probably incomparable to a direct drinking of the boy's fear.
"I think I was," Tom admitted, "but seemed like someone else made a nest in there. Little Redbreast was tussled up before we came along." His hand reached to take back the tobacco but his brother had smoked it dry. Oh how he longed to see what his new favourite bird looked underneath the stretched costume, "Can't we just hold off a wee bit longer?" A noticeable pout pleaded with his sibling.
With a smile of sympathy, Jack patted his brother's knee, "You know the rules: business before pleasure. Catch the bird another time." He stood up and tugged on the other's shoulder, "We really do need to be in Bludhaven by nightfall."
Pouting Tom nodded. This was important and the rules had to be followed.
But he really did look forward to a pretty pet.
oooooo
He had fallen asleep overnight in the research room looking through file after file. He stayed there morning, afternoon, now at night still fishing for clues. Amongst the clutter on the table full of trinkets and paper, a simple digital clock read ten fifty-seven PM. Newspaper clippings adorned on the walls, and only a single source of light stay lit to scare the darkness away from its single occupant.
Robin rubbed his temple; ungodly hours have passed with not a single lead. The only forced rest he allowed himself lasted a whole two minutes because, as he expected, Starfire visited him. Or rather was checking up on him. The tower had long since been quiet since she left, and he heard the low hum of nightly security booting up upon Cyborg's command. He nor Raven or Beast Boy came by and he suspected they didn't want to deal with him in his current mood.
Obviously the others had no luck in finding a match to their extensive criminal file either. Since their own resources yielded zero results, Robin hacked into the police computers of not only Jump City's but its neighbouring cities hit with the same string of crimes. Even still, he came up with nothing except discovering that an unhealthy number of criminals had names or aliases containing "Jack" or "Tom."
The young leader of the Titans listened to the recording ten too many times to the point of practically memorizing it like a script. Each time his ears tried to cling to any clues the mob boss may have given away but came up empty handed. He rubbed his temple again in frustration.
All he had to go on besides the disc was a mental image in his head and the voices that went along with the characters in the photographic story. Images that crept back into his head distorting his concentration all day and night.
An image of fingertips trailing his chest, brushing against his chin, touching down there…
The cold…
A cold in the form of fear engulfed him then and he just couldn't understand why such irrationality erupted so suddenly. Very few times in his young life had he had been that intensely afraid; the only event to surpass it would be the death of his parents. But this was a different kind of fear, bordering on the line of morbid terror.
Involuntary shudders traversed his body. He slammed his fist on the table rattling the littered items, demanding himself to seize control. No matter what, the cold licked his spine wanting to be invited. Sometimes the cold managed to slip a breath on skin, like hands softly stroking against flesh.
Why wouldn't it stop?
Boiling anger attempted to conceal the fear, and in front of his friends it worked. Peer pressure tended to do that. They didn't prod anymore questions, for today, but Robin couldn't blame them for asking and demanding. They didn't deserve the treatment he would throw at them when they put up with him so much. Though he was good at hiding things, he didn't want to repeat alienating them like in the days of the birth of Red X but—
…Red X.
That was another mystery itching to be solved. It was not the question of "who" as in the case of Slade, but "why." Much to his own surprise, Boy Wonder felt partly guilty for yelling at him like he did when the thief offered his assistance. To make it worse, X wasn't even asked to help.
He just…did.
There was one thing he figured out about the teenager who stole his suit: Red X was a thrill-seeker, in love with excitement and danger. That explained his taunting of Robin when he could have stolen the xynothium in complete secrecy with the suit, and when X actually came to help save the city even if some selfish motivation was involved. Only there was no cheap thrill this time around.
Robin snaked his hand through his hair. X had seen him in a very awkward position. Despite his protest to the thief, there was no denying potential rape, or molestation at the very least, was involved. Innuendos he much rather not understand made that clear enough. He closed his eyes in a vain attempt to shut it all away.
Had X heard the pleadings? Seen the struggles? Witnessed a vulnerable baby bird crying for release?
Any answer to those was downright hard to accept. Tired of the questions, Robin leaned back in the chair as his cape slipped over his shoulders shrouding his upper body.
Underneath it all, the disturbed part of him was fourteen. "Robin" was the one carrying the anger and frustration. He just had to keep separating the two to function proficiently in this case. Personal feelings had no right in investigative affairs.
-"Getting yourself involved with this will only cause you to drown further than you already are."-
Robin stared at the disc containing the recording. A piece of evidence of Red X's conscience.
"Who does he think he is?" Robin murmured.
A simply advise devoid of sarcasm and play for once. X basically told him he wouldn't be able to handle whatever that came his way. Perhaps he thought little of the Boy Wonder after all. But that concept had to acknowledge some level of respect between the two was involved, and that was something Robin wanted to avoid.
Maybe it was the work of fatigue when a smile touched his lips. The teen recalled memories of his mentor and father-figure having a similar problem with a certain feline-themed criminal. Certain situations were made worse by the fact the cat burglar was a woman. For countless times she would tempt his mentor on some chase or worked together for a mutual goal. Teasing about that relationship was one of few times when Robin could elicit a reaction close to embarrassment as he could get from the Dark Knight.
A knock on the door interrupted his reminiscing and got up to answer. Robin expected Starfire or Cyborg to be standing in the hallway resolved to get him to bed or demand a more thorough explanation. But instead, "…Raven."
"I'll be brief." Her voice was terse, demanding attention.
The mistress didn't ask to come in and Robin hadn't offered. He knew she wasn't here for a nightly salutation.
"Normally I would leave you alone like you would with me," she said as if to remind him of their unspoken rules for each other, "but this has happened one too many times."
Another surprise hit Boy Wonder: he had no idea what she was talking about, "What has?"
"Locking yourself away from us to run off and do your own thing, telling us half the truth when it could be detrimental to the team in the long run. We all thought days like this were fading away after the last time." She took a step forward, her cloak hiding the movement of her legs giving the illusion she was floating, "Despite the mistakes made in the past you obviously haven't learnt anything. Quite frankly, you're causing problems for all of us."
Robin felt like he was just slapped in the face, either from the brusque remark or from the sparks of truth. Reflexes kicked his defence into line, "If you're implying I'm the only one with problems getting in the way of the team and hiding things, then you better look in that mirror of yours."
Raven narrowed her eyes unobstructed by the hood. Robin knew brief points about her past and her family, and only recently had she had a glimpse into his past through his eyes. "And so I work to keep control to not disrupt the workings of this team and for myself. But you keep yourself exempt from common sense." She let herself a moment to breathe to cool down her heating anger. Though she wondered why she approached the boy at all, she partially blamed the mind meld for possibly having made her more perceptive to him than first realized. And the radiation of fear from the city wasn't helping with her meditation to keep her calm. "Something happened yesterday," Raven slowly started, "and you were doing a pitiful job of hiding that fact."
The dreaded topic reared its head again. She could tell it bothered him when his chest swelled slightly to make himself bigger, like a cat standing its fur on end. Robin realized denying something happened will not work with this Titan, but that didn't mean he had to explain the details. "What happened is of no concern with this case. Has it occurred to you that maybe I simply don't want to let everyone know how I got my ass handed to me?" He hoped that partial truth would satisfy her.
"……"
He took that silence as an acceptance and was about to curtly close the door on her when she took another step forward.
"I felt more than a battered ego," Raven hushed a warning.
It was Robin's turn to be speechless and hide his apprehension. As if one unbidden probe wasn't enough, she had to do it again? "I'd appreciate it," he hissed through his teeth, "if you ask before you barge into another's mind."
Raven refused to get intimidated, "I didn't make it my business to prod. I try to keep my emotions in control; it's not my fault you can't keep yours in check." She watched the scowl form on his face. That point had hit a mark. "I can understand the need to stuff yourself away in the dark, more than you know. Just don't drag us with you." Without waiting for a response, she left down the dark hallway as if nothing happened.
Robin slapped the switch to shut the door and turned back to the middle of the room. Fingers curled around the edge of the table, squeezing out the stress he just built up. Usually he had the last word in a verbal dispute but evidently his opponent didn't want any of it. Out of the team, Raven was the one he expected to give him the stone cold facts, but he didn't imagine it would feel like he committed a horrid sin. Probably her tactic was to drop the bomb on him fast and unexpected.
All that exploded was extra burden on his shoulders and a call for more introspection to last him a lifetime—because she was right.
Like an alcoholic reaching for a bottle of rum, Robin searched through and re-read some of the police files again. He got himself acquainted with the history of the Duke and Hierarch looking for a pattern in their crimes hours ago but thought to do it again. Below the single light fixture, the recording disc's glint caught his eye.
And underneath the disc was a photograph of a corpse of a little girl, one of the victims he had looked into the other day. The fatigue and guilt melted away with determination taking their place. For the first time since the series of child kidnappings and murders erupted, he could see himself in that picture rather than just sympathize. It made him wonder if this was how Beast Boy felt about his dreams. The changeling had no problems telling his friends about his nightmares to seek comfort.
Maybe that was what everyone wanted from him.
But speaking of dreams and reality were two different things. If it was only about pure fighting, explaining what happened would be easier and likely to divulge. However, it wasn't about the fighting this time. How could he talk of the photos with the dead robin neatly packaged in the form of a sick present? They would certainly never leave him alone or worse, cage him in the Tower.
Those two bastards were taunting him but he wouldn't give them the satisfaction. Not more than he already had.
Robin straightened his back, checking to make sure his utility belt was fully replenished. If he couldn't find results amongst the resources in the Titans' disposal, then fishing for clues at the source was the only option. He just had to make sure he came back to the tower before any of the others awoke. After what happened, they would never let him out there alone unless they moved as a group. But he didn't want distractions when he had to deal with more questions. He wouldn't be able to show his face if they knew what had irked him. And as he was told, burdening them anymore than present was not an option.
Memorizing the Duke's address, Robin left to find an extra glove for his gauzed hand in his room. Night grew short and he needed to get out, now.
I hope it was understandable why Raven was acting the way she was... I originally planned to add the next scene in this chapter to end as a cliffhanger, but since it was getting too long, thought I'd save it for next time ;)
-Art of Silence