A/N: I am posting this at 6:45 in the bloody morning, thanks to my father, dragging me off to an all-day volleyball tournament, even though I was at one yesterday and am as sore as hell. Thanks to Vinnie, who betaed, and Zach, who cheered me up. I didn't do a review-recognition thing because I'm posting this from a different computer, and I don't have access to all my review files I've saved. Many thanks to all those who reviewed!

New episodes are starting again soon! I can't wait! So, this chapter is to build everyone's anticipation of the premiere of TROQ tomorrow night!

Honesty

Chapter 6

Robin was at a loss.

He had agreed to the interrogation plan, thinking that Kitten was the same ditzy girl he had reluctantly taken to prom a year or so ago. It would have been an easy enough task to ask her a few choice questions, find out if she was working for anyone else, and fully annoy her in the process as a means of revenge.

He had not expected this.

Robin restrained himself from flinching as Kitten slowly rose to her feet, hatred smoldering in her eyes. At complete opposition to the simple, carefree girl she once was, Kitten was fiery, vindictive, and evil. The air about her had changed, speaking of loathing, resentment, and power, instead of the shallowness that was once there.

"Sit," came a cold command from his left. Robin turned to see Raven, her eyes narrowed at Kitten. Her eyes were icy and cold, and Robin felt the temperature plummet several degrees.

"No. Why should I?" Kitten spat. The hatred between the two girls was painfully obvious, though Robin wasn't quite sure as to why.

Kitten and Raven have never really done anything to each other, Robin recalled. Their hatred runs deeper than that between a hero and a criminal. Why do they hate each other so passionately?

Whatever the reason, their mutual loathing filled the room, settling about heavily. Kitten glared at the dark mystic, her eyes fiery and alight with malice. Her temper was obviously short, and Robin could tell she wanted to start a fight.

Raven, however, seemed the complete opposite. Her eyes were void of any emotion, save a chill, icy hated. Her entire demeanor spoke of cold, bleak hate, as if the repugnant creature in front of her was the most worthless being on the planet.

The intense opposing emotion between the two girls continued to baffle Robin as he watched their exchange.

"You are a criminal," Raven said coldly. "Not only is it procedure, but you are to obey what we command, and standing when we are seated is a sign of disrespect."

Kitten ignored Raven, boredly examining her fingernails.

"Sit," Raven repeated curtly, her voice algid.

"What if I don't want to?" Kitten sneered, her tone haughty.

"Then too bad for you," Raven said nastily. "I am offering you one more chance to sit down before I make you sit down. For the last time, sit."

"No," Kitten said defiantly, scowling.

Raven's eyes narrowed. A moment later, Kitten stiffly sat down, as if her body was being controlled by an outside force. Kitten was obviously startled at this, and tried to stop from sitting, but her body sank down to the floor nonetheless. She looked up at Raven, surprise flickering in her eyes.

A little disconcerted at this sudden display of power from Raven, a power he didn't know she had until just now, Robin cleared his throat. Kitten's eyes snapped from Raven to him, subjecting him to her blazing gaze, making him flinch slightly. Gathering his wits and falling into his role of leader, Robin spoke.

"Kitten," he began, "you have been brought here to be formally questioned about your crime. This is to ensure all the details are correct, and to discover any possible correlation you may have to larger crimes."

"Yeah, yeah," Kitten dismissed airily, impatient. "I've been interrogated before. Get on with it."

"What you may not be aware of," Robin continued, ignoring the interruption, "is you will have no choice but to tell the truth in this case."

"What?" Kitten interrupted. "What do you mean? There's no way you can make me tell the truth." She cast an odd glance at Raven, who was sitting silently to the side, watching the proceeding with cold dispassionate eyes.

"We may not be able to make you tell the truth," Robin explained, "but you will tell the truth nonetheless."

"Huh?" Kitten said, raising an eyebrow.

"There is a contagious curse in effect that causes pure honesty," Robin elaborated. "You will tell the truth whether you want to or not."

"That doesn't make any sense!" Kitten whined. "I don't understand! What-"

"Kitten," Raven interjected, interrupting, entering the conversation for the first time. "What was your most embarrassing moment?"

"After the prom," Kitten responded automatically. "I was in jail, still wearing my dress, covered in chocolate cake, while all the big nasty hairy criminals leered at me and made rude comments about my appearance and I just wanted to break down and cry-" Kitten clapped her hands over her mouth, horrified, effectively cutting off the humiliating words falling from her mouth.

Robin smirked widely as Kitten's face colored into a deep crimson, her hands still over her mouth. She definitely deserved that, Robin grinned to himself. Definitely.

Robin was slightly surprised to see that Raven wasn't smirking as well. Her face betrayed no emotion save hatred, and her eyes were as cold as ever.

"Do you understand now?" Raven asked shortly. Kitten nodded silently, as realization dawned in her blue eyes.

"Thanks, Rae," Robin said gratefully. Raven nodded in acknowledgment, her cool gaze never leaving Kitten. Robin shifted uncomfortably, glad that Raven wasn't looking at him like that.

Rising and walking over to his chest of drawers, Robin withdrew a tape recorder. He set it down on the dresser, pressing RECORD before returning to sit down on the bed. Looking towards Kitten, who had finally stopped clutching her mouth, Robin began the interrogation.

"What is your full name?" Robin asked, starting with the default first question of interrogations. He had been trained in police procedure, and although it was not necessary here, the habit was a hard one to break.

"Catherine Elizabeth Wainscots," Kitten responded, wincing as the words came out. "I hate my name," she whined. She paused, before demanding, "What's your name?"

"Robin," Robin said automatically. Raven shot him a questioning look, to which Robin just shrugged.

"I got my name legally changed last year," he explained. "Safety measure, you know."

Raven nodded, before turning back to Kitten, who gulped audibly at Raven's icy glare.

"Do NOT ask Robin questions ever again," Raven hissed, her tone low and deadly. Kitten flinched and recoiled, as if hurt by the venom in her voice.

Robin shivered slightly. Chill power seemed to emanate from Raven's every pore, making her hair and cloak billow ever so slightly. Kitten seemed completely afraid and terrified of Raven. But, yet… was that respect Robin saw in her eyes?

Dismissing it as a trick of the light, Robin went on.

"What were your plans last night?" Robin asked, getting back on track.

"To rob the jewelry store," Kitten said flatly.

"I would think that would be obvious…" Raven remarked sarcastically. Robin shot her a glare.

"What were you trying to steal and why?" Robin asked, ignoring Raven's comment.

"Everything," Kitten said dreamily, a greedy gleam in her eyes. "Ever since my stupid ex-boyfriend Fang broke up with me, I have to get my own pretty things."

"This wasn't your father's idea?" Robin asked, slightly disappointed at this dull turn of events. He had been hoping this would be more than a petty theft. "He didn't even condone it?"

"He didn't even know of it," Kitten sniffed, reassuring him in a whiny voice. "He's too busy breeding those nasty bugs day and night. I can do whatever I want."

"Really?" Robin asked, dejected.

"Duh," Kitten said, rolling her eyes. "I can only tell the truth anyway. Don't you remember?"

"Yes," Robin said dismally. "I just thought…"

"I don't care what you think," Kitten sneered. "Is that all?"

"I suppose so…" Robin sighed. He was ready to conclude the interrogation, when he noticed Raven.

Raven was sitting on the edge of the bed, her arms wrapped around her legs, tightly hugging them to her chest. She was rocking back and forth slightly, her violet gaze vacant.

"Raven?" Robin said, concerned. "Raven?"

Raven started, startled, and turned to him. "Yeah?"

"You just seemed lost in thought for a moment or two," he said. "That's all."

"I was," Raven admitted. "I was just thinking…"

"Oh my god," Kitten interrupted, feigning shocked astonishment. "Raven can think?"

"Yes, she can," Raven shot back, annoyed. "You should learn how. It could come in handy."

Kitten reddened. "At least I have common fashion sense," she retorted. "Spandex went out of style decades ago."

"At least I wear things that look good on me," Raven shot back. "Your miniskirt and halter may be in style, but I'd slit my wrists rather than look so grotesque with so much exposed ugly flesh."

"At least I have the courage to tell a guy when I like him!" Kitten retaliated. "Whereas you're too chicken to let him know!"

Raven turned a brilliant red, though from embarrassment or fury, Robin couldn't tell. Robin's punching bag promptly exploded, sending beans and rice everywhere.

Raven flinched, and shut her eyes tightly, taking in several deep breaths. Robin watched as the mystic tried to quickly calm herself, while Kitten smirked at her victoriously.

After a few moments or so, Raven opened her eyes, and looked to Robin. "Do you mind if I ask her a few more questions before you end the interview?" she asked, pinching the bridge of her nose tightly.

"Not at all," Robin said, smiling, glad she had calmed down. Enough stuff had been broken in the last 24 hours, and Robin kind of wanted something left in his room when this was all over.

"Just out of curiosity, why?" he added as an afterthought.

"I just want to find some things out," Raven explained delicately. She cracked an evil grin and nodded in the direction of Kitten, who was too busy finger combing through her hair to notice. Robin returned the grin, and sat back to watch. He was slightly surprised to see, however, Raven continue the actual interview.

"Kitten," Raven said, turning to the girl. Kitten looked back to her and glared, and Robin noticed the icy sheen had returned to her eyes.

"Yeah," Kitten snarled.

"Why is your father breeding more moths?" Raven demanded coldly.

Kitten stiffened and bit her lip, and Robin leaned forward, curious to hear the answer. It was a good question; one he hadn't thought of. Raven sat still, emotionless save a bleak loathing, waiting for Kitten to answer. She didn't answer, however. Kitten appeared to be biting her tongue to keep the forced words from spilling out.

Finally, the words broke free.

"He's breeding the moths for his new employer," she blurted. "He wants them for something."

"Employer?" Robin asked incredulously.

"Duh," Kitten said. "Being a criminal bent on taking over the city doesn't really pay the bills."

"Killer Moth is working for someone?" Robin asked, still not able to believe it.

"Yes," Kitten said, annoyed. Turning to Raven, she demanded, "Is he slow or something?"

Raven scowled. "No," she said curtly. "Who is your dad working for?"

"Slade," Kitten said, rolling her eyes.

"Are you working for Slade as well?" Robin asked.

"As if," Kitten scoffed. "Slade's totally lame. He still won't drop the whole 'apprentice' thing. Besides, even he's working for someone now.

"Who?" Robin asked urgently. "Who?"

"Skat," Kitten said promptly. "I'm working for him, too" Robin looked slightly puzzled as Kitten turned to sneer at Raven. "I daresay you know who that is."

Raven just scowled, while Robin mentally stored the name away for later use. Kitten caught sight of Robin's confused expression, and an evil grin of realization dawned on her face.

"You never told him anything? Kitten said delightedly. Raven shook her head, causing Kitten to smile wider. "You never told your team about Skat?"

"No," Raven said shortly.

"Did you tell them about the key and what it is?" Kitten asked, clearly enjoying herself.

"No," Raven said, her tone curt.

"Did you even tell them about the prophecy?" Kitten demanded.

"No," Raven said tersely, clearly agitated. "I'll tell my team when the time is right. Now, shut up, you nosy idiot."

"No need to be rude," Kitten sniffed. "I'll change the subject if you're so sensitive."

"How very kind of you," Raven said sarcastically.

"So, are you waiting for the right time to tell Robin about your little issue as well?" Kitten asked slyly. Robin's ears jerked up at this.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Raven said curtly, though her face flushed slightly nonetheless.

Wait a second, Robin thought, realizing something. It's obvious that Raven knows exactly what Kitten is talking about, Robin thought, looking at Raven's reddened face. So how could Raven tell a lie and say she didn't know?

Neither Raven nor Kitten seemed to notice the lapse in the curse, though.

"Oh, I think you do," Kitten said. She leaned forward and said in a loud, fake whisper, "It has to do with why Jinx cursed you."

"How do you know about that?" Raven demanded angrily.

"Every criminal in the whole city has heard about it," Kitten said smugly. "We've all heard how the mighty sorceress Jinx made the infamous mystic Raven lose her cool by throwing something in her face. It's all over the tabloids, too."

Raven's eyes flashed a blood red. Taking a deep, calming breath, Raven closed her eyes, obviously trying to regain her composure. Kitten, impatient, turned to Robin.

"Do you know what Jinx and Raven were arguing over that day?" she asked. Robin shook his head. "You."

"That's enough, Kitten," Raven said shortly, as she pinched the bridge of her nose tightly, her eyes still shut.

"Jinx had shot a curse at you early in the fight," Kitten went on, ignoring Raven. "It got Raven pretty upset."

"What was the curse?" Robin asked, interested despite himself.

"Leprosy," Kitten told him, "which can kill you. Raven can tell what curses are, so she yelled at Jinx and then told the police to charge her Jinx with attempted murder."

"I remember that…" Robin said, recalling the scene with the police, where he had told Raven he trusted her judgement and she had smiled at him.

"That's enough, Kitten," Raven said sharply. Kitten continued on, however.

"When Raven went back and told Jinx this, however, Jinx flipped out. She accused Raven of overreacting because she-"

"That's ENOUGH!" Raven cried shrilly, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Shut up!"

"And if I don't?" Kitten drawled, sneering.

"Then you knowingly accept the consequences," Raven spat viciously, hatred flashing in her eyes.

"You sound like my dad," Kitten sniffed. Tossing her head defiantly and turning away, she continued, saying, "Anyway, after Jinx accused Raven, Raven denied it, but Jinx knew she was lying, so she asked her if she liked y-"

"I am warning you for the last time, Kitten!" Raven snarled. "SHUT UP!"

"Make me, bitch," Kitten scoffed, airily flipping Raven off.

Even Robin knew better than to dare Raven like that.

"With pleasure," Raven hissed, her eyes and chakra glowing black, her hands pulsing with her dark power.

There was a bright flash of searing light, which pierced Robin's eyes, even through his mask. He blinked rapidly, his vision blotched, as he heard Kitten screaming, shrieking as if being slaughtered with a rusty knife.

When his vision returned, Kitten was thrashing about on the ground, writhing. At first, Robin couldn't see anything different about Kitten, except for the fact that she was screeching in obvious agony, until he realized clouds of Raven's dark power were billowing out of her nose and ears, as if boiling from her insides. Robin's stomach lurched, and he mentally thanked whatever deity had prevented him from eating breakfast that morning.

All of the sudden, Kitten's inhuman shrieking stopped, leaving her lying prostrate on the ground, shaking violently, and whimpering. Jinx suddenly burst through the door, panting slightly, her eyes drawn to the sight of Kitten's form.

"We are done with our interview," Raven said curtly, ignoring Kitten's pitiful moans. "You may take her away."

Wordlessly, Jinx entered the room, and hoisted Kitten up, only to have her fall right back down to the ground again. Sighing, Jinx bent over and slipped her arms through Kitten's, before proceeding to drag Kitten towards the hall by the armpits. Kitten's eyes were glassy and unfocused, and she kept mumbling incoherent words.

As Jinx pulled her into the hall, Kitten murmured, "It was…no…so dark…make it stop…make it stop…" and Robin was struck with an odd sense of déjà vu right as the door was shut, leaving him alone with Raven in silence.

Turning to Raven, he noticed that while her eyes and gem had returned to normal, she was still seething. He watched as she just sat there, fuming, not even bothering to try to calm down.

"So…" Robin remarked. "What was it that Jinx was trying to tell me that made you so mad?"

"Nothing," Raven said curtly. "I'm going to meditate in the corner. Do not bother me."

It was not until later that night, as Robin lay awake in his bed, that he realized that was the second lie Raven had told that day.

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You may think Robin or Raven, mainly Raven, is a bit OOC. But if you knew what Raven knew about who Kitten's working for, you'd act a bit differently too...

Please, review! I'm going to need something to cheer me up when I get home after this blasted day. Again, please review!