Lost File: Corbin Love Sub-Rosa.

Chapter three: Discord


"This was a mistake, Jinx said with certainty from the waist high stone wall separating the beach from the paved walkway. She hadn't reached this conclusion just because of the number of guys her bathing suit garbed friend had to literally chase away every ten to fifteen minutes. It was because she realized more and more that she wanted to do the same thing the males were doing. Court Raven.

Jinx's eyes fell on the soft drinks she had just purchased for them. Then they trailed back to Raven in her black bikini. The dark mage had just chased off another young suitor. Jinx didn't see them as threats. Raven told her she wasn't interested in that kind of companionship at the moment and Jinx believed her, knowing how stubborn she could be.

'What am I doing? Am I supposed to be her friend or what? 'Cause I seem to just want her form myself.' Jinx, once again, left much of her problems unresolved and walked to join Raven.

"Thank you," Raven said, accepting the bottled beverage while Jinx sat next to her on their towel. Their eyes took in the constantly shifting water on the shore.

"What'cha thinking about?" Jinx asked after a time.

"Nothing really. What about you?"

"Dido," Jinx said with a grin. "Guess that makes us two girls with head's full of nothing."

"You more often than I."

"Very funny. How's Sherry?" Jinx asked.

Raven swallowed before she spoke.

"She'll live. I had to tell her what happened to her parents. I think it would have been harder for her if someone else had told her..." Raven said, reliving the moment. "Didn't think she'd ever stop crying."

"Sorry I brought it up," Jinx said sincerely.

"It's alright. We'd all do better to face our demons head on rather than try and wait until conditions meet our standards," Raven proclaimed.

"How the hell do you know all this stuff? I'm almost a year older than you!"

"Live and learn," Raven shrugged. "Try to do both at the same time," she added smugly.

Jinx just stared at her companion then. This girl next to her was incredible, gorgeous, smart and, in her own unique way, down right hilarious. It was amazing to Jinx that she didn't find this near perfect specimen offensive.

But Raven wasn't perfect. In fact, many of the traits Jinx admired were probably turn offs for other people. Her bluntness, sarcasm and tendency to restrain her emotions made her difficult for some to understand but in contrast, Jinx was drawn to them.

The more she thought about Raven, the stronger the spell of attraction grew and the more it affected her physically. Her breath became raspy and her face tinted a noticeable shade of red.

'She's...so...beautiful...' Jinx's insides were unraveling. She felt like they were turning into cream. Senses melted, she was dizzy and overrun with unfamiliar sensations. She knew now what it all meant. What it could only mean. She was in love and with another girl.

'I'm so stupid! I knew this was where things were going and did I back off? No!' Jinx scolded herself.

"Jinx, could you put some lotion on my back?" Raven asked, jogging Jinx from her reverie and offering her the bottle.

'Wha? Ah! No F—ing way! These hands cannot be trusted!' Jinx rationalized.

"Oh...uh Just a sec. I really gotta go," Jinx said and hastily darted for the snack huts.

Raven shrugged and laid down to await Jinx's return. She watched the water for an unknown amount of time. It was immensely relaxing. If only the world could be as simple as the water covering more that half its surface for at least a moment.

"Hey good looking. You come here often?"

Raven figured that was fate's way of saying "Hell no!"

"If you people don't lea-" Raven growled, turning to confront the interloper. "Beast Boy?"


'This is going well,' Jinx told herself sarcastically. She sat on a stool at a snack bar. 'Why? Why? Why? Why did I have to...She'll never accept an ugly, scrawny, little troll like me. What should I do? Run away? I can't just leave her high and dry. I should...I should slowly...cut myself out of the picture.' The thought made Jinx's heart sink but she figured it was nothing compared to the pain of rejection. 'Next time her friends call for her, I'll tell her to go back to them.'


"You're the last person I would expect to see lounging around on a beach," Beast Boy said. The former Titan changeling sat beside Raven on her towel. His once lime-green skin was now of a tanned Caucasian hue. He had told Raven it was the result of a special solution developed by S.T.A.R. labs to help him fit in with society.

"I'm the last person I'd expect to see here too," Raven confessed. "But I've had certain..." Raven trailed off sensing she had lost Beast Boy's short attention span. She was right.

"My eyes are up here Gar,"

"Huh? Oh! Yeah! Heh. Sorry," Beast Boy, also known as Garfield Logan, stammered and scratched the back of his head. 'Man's she's huge right there! Why didn't I ever notice before? Oh, the lost time!'

"So...you here all by yourself?" the changeling asked.

"No. Jinx is with me," Raven answered calmly.

"Oh. That's-what? Jinx?" Beast Boy exclaimed. Raven simply nodded. "But how? Why?"

"I like her," Raven answered almost wanting to shrug. "It's funny, I didn't actually realize that until you asked me."

"But she's a bad guy-er, I mean gal!"

"She isn't doing anything wrong and neither of us has the authority to be bring her in if she were," Raven warned. Beast Boy's jaw worked for more words but none came out.

"Well...I'm sure you know what your doing," Beast Boy said finally, digging his feet into the sand then slowly moving them to point his toes at the sky. "You did go on about how she helped you back in the Umbrella lab."

"Thanks," Raven said.

"It's really good to see you again, Raven," Beast Boy told her.

"What exactly are you doing here?" Raven asked without responding to his comment. He wasn't surprised.

"Family outing," Beast Boy answered in a weary and uninterested manner. He gazed at the sky. "I miss the team Raven."

"Me too Gar," Raven revealed.

The former Titans talked for an hour before Beast Boy's parents located him and dragged him off. With a quick good bye, Raven saw her friend whisked off by his overprotective sires(1). He barely convinced them to allow him to get a drink for the long trip back on his own. The changeling stopped in his tracking when he spotted yet another attractive female a little older than him sulking by the bar.

"This place is swarming with babes. Raven included, once she gets some sun on that skin," Beast Boy observed. "Can't believe I still don't have one phone number! Here's my last chance to redeem myself."

"Hey there. That's some extreme hair. Need an extreme dude to make it stand on end?" Beast Boy delivered his line in a voice he himself found irresistible. The pink head of straight hair turned until pink catlike eyes were on the changeling.

"Hold it. You look-Jinx!" Best Boy said hopping away from her on pure instinct.

Jinx became panic stricken. She had been recognized!

"Oh! That is seriously messed up. I'm sorry," Beast Boy tried to explain waving his arms wildly.

"Who are you!" Jinx demanded, her temper bristling. She stood, fists to her sides, preparing to summon her hex power.

"Beast Boy!" the boy shouted quickly.

Jinx's eyes narrowed on the boy. She realized it was the changeling with normal colored skin. Knowing it was an ex-Titan wasn't really much more comforting than thinking he was some panicking civilian.

"What are you doing here?" Jinx asked suspiciously.

"Living! Geeze! Calm down. I say Raven a little while ago," Beast Boy said taking a seat and then making an order. After a moment, Jinx sat down herself.

"Guess she did kinda tip me of for once. I shouldn't have been surprised," Beast Boy said.

"What?"

"After we all escaped Jump City and you disappeared we had to get our story straight for the investigators and whoever else wanted to know. She wouldn't let anybody mess up your part in the tale. Talked about how you protected the little girl and stuff. She like, went on about how great you were and stuff. Well...technically she only said about three nice things about you, but you've got to realize for Raven that's a lot! I think you really impressed her," Beast Boy concluded.

Jinx was flattered but an inner sadness drowned it out. She had just decided to abandon Raven.

"Well, I gotta go. See you around, ok?" Beast Boy said, hopping off his stool with his slurpy and darting towards two adults with disapproving glares trained on him.

'So...' Jinx began to ponder, 'She really does like me...I suspected as much but it really hits home when you hear it from someone's mouth.' She sighed contently, pleased with the knowledge that she had done a difficult deed. She had won Raven's approval. It soon gave way to anguish.

'I have to let her go...' Jinx vowed. She intended to spare them both the pain of her fault. 'Next time her friends call, I'm sending that bird on her way.'


Jinx's attempts to detach herself from Raven didn't go over well. She began by 'short talking' her love interest. Limiting her responses and trying to be in general of little interest to Raven. To bore the mage and make her wonder why she was staying with Jinx. Raven became suspicious instantly so Jinx blamed her social stupor on a headache and returned to her bubbling nature the next day. Jinx latter contemplated reminding Raven to call her friends, but it was simply too risky. Raven was too sharp. It had now been a week, and a peaceful ending to this scenario seemed nowhere in sight.

'I have to get away from her," Jinx thought glumly. 'I can't tell her the truth and I can't even seem to drive her off. I'm too damn lovable or something! It's comical in essence.'

Since the TV was bought Raven had barely spent an entire hour actually watching it. Both girls had shunned news broadcasts. Jinx, because she had always thought they were boring and Raven because they were predominately about the destruction of Jump City at the hands of the U.S. government.

Raven joined Jinx on the floor and handed her a small apple pie. Raven ate her own pie giving no attention to the TV. Whenever Jinx took station before the boob tube, garbage was the order of the day. From Jerry Springer to that guy who claims to speak to the dead. From whatever reality TV show was on to MTV. Living with Beast Boy for so long gave Raven more than enough experience in blocking trashy programming from her thoughts. Jinx reminded Raven of Beast Boy in some ways, and in other ways, she reminded her of herself. Jinx was an acolyte. Her power was drawn from a demon living in another dimension. Raven was daughter to Trigon. The worst demon there was(2). So here they both were. Living amongst mortals on a planet with very few others they could relate too.

"Did you see that?" Jinx said, suddenly pointing at the picture box she so adored and laughing hysterically.

"No," Raven answered flatly. She was thoroughly enjoying her pie.

"You too good for TV or something?" Jinx accused her.

"Most of it," Raven said. "This is all trash. It does little to improve your standing in life."

"Yeah. Junk food for your brain. Isn't it great?"

"Whatever floats your boat, Jinx."

"Fine miss high and mighty. What would further my place in life?"

"The discover channel is-" Raven was cut of by a hiss. "The History channel-" Jinx started hissing again.

"You damn heretic! That's not how you use a TV!" Jinx told her.

Again, experience with Beast Boy aided Raven's tolerance for Jinx's preposterous behavior. That and the fact that she missed Beast Boy as much as she missed the rest of her team.

"History Channel? Honestly! That's why people like you are not allowed to operate a remote," Jinx was still ranting.

"Yes. We tend to try to change the world around us to suit our needs including destroying the ignorance of those who embrace anarchy such as you," Raven lectured. The mage sent her empty foil pastry dish into the trash with her power and moved towards the window. "I'm going to meditate."

"Smart ass," Jinx scoffed once Raven had departed. She rolled on her back and swooned. "I'm a glutton for punishment. I could listen to her slander me all day. Donno why really. I like to argue I guess." Jinx confessed to the empty room.

"No! No! Focus! She has to go!" Jinx told herself.


Screams. Destruction. People running and buildings falling. It had been a while since she had been in the thick of it, but now that it was all around her she felt like she had never been away.

Raven shot at her target like a homing missal. His back was to her and his attention was on the harnesses around the neck of a moth the size of two houses. Following Raven were pitch-black sewer lids, streetlights, newspaper vending machines and chunks of pavement.

"What are you after, Killer Moth?" Raven shouted at the bug man standing on the back of the giant bug.

"Ah, Titan," Killer Moth said noticing Raven in her street clothes. "It's not what it looks like."

"Right...Those people down there must be just running and screaming at the top of their lungs for the exercise," Raven quipped, preparing to launch her projectiles.

"Look!" Killer Moth hissed, yanking on harnesses that did nothing to stop the rampaging creature he rode. "I'm not attacking this city. He is!"

At that moment the monstrosity shoulder-charged a sky scrapper, sending rubble raining down on the streets below.

"Calm down!" Killer Moth roared. The creature screeched and took off for the park.

"So you can't control your pet?" Raven asked as she darted alongside them.

"You think I can make a profit off random violence? I didn't set up ransoms or anything!" The big insect man reasoned.

"Fine," Raven replied, "But you were suppose to be in jail last I remember and that's where you're going once were done."

"We'll see about that," Killer Moth said.

Raven started to toss her projectiles at the giant moth in an attempt to knock it out. It only shook its massive head after each blow.

"That's quite a hard head you have there. I'm going to need-" Raven cut herself off as she dived to avoid some form of defensive slime the moth was shooting at her from it's maw.

"Bad Xx21. Look at the mess you've got me in!" Killer moth was shouting.

Raven's next target the creature's legs. She ripped streetlights from the ground with her demonic magic and wrapped them around the moth's limbs. It let Raven know what it thought of this development by letting off a glass-shattering screech. This was followed by more projectile goo. Raven defended herself with a black mailbox she used for a shield.

The moth forgot Raven and focused on trying to free itself from her binding. Killer Moth took this moment to try his luck with his old discipline tool. A laser whip.

"No!" Raven shouted as the whip came down on the bug's back. The giant moth cried and fought harder, in turn, making it harder for Raven to keep her makeshift metal cuffs in place.

"You will do as I command!" Killer Moth ordered as his whip came down again. With a lurch, his creation freed itself from Raven's bonds and slammed into a building. It was trying to remove its tyrannical owner.

"I think it would be the in the best interest of all if I removed that...itch." Raven said summoning her power.

"Wretched beast!" Killer Moth growled as he fought to hang onto the tantrum ridden brute. His struggle came to an end when a car hit him. An all black car.

"Whaaaaa!" he cried as he fell to the streets. That same car was then used to trounce the moth's head. Unable to defend itself, it rocketed toward the sky, lopped and dive bombed for Raven. Raven threw the car with her power but it only bounced off the moth. Raven erected a black shield just before the moth collided with her but the impact sent her to the ground like a falling arrow. A Volks Wagon Bus cushioned her fall as much as an avalanche could. Satisfied, the giant moth flew off.

"That could have went better..." Raven gurgled. She was having trouble seeing the moth between the stars orbiting her head at the moment. Slowly, she peeled herself off the van and dropped to the ground.

"Having a grand old time aren't we?" a voice greeted her. Raven's dazed gaze rested on Jinx. Her arms were crossed and she looked upset. Just what the mage needed.

"What's up Jinx?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were going after that thing?" Jinx's voice revealed her feelings. She was disappointed in Raven.

One of Raven's brows narrowed. With her ample skill in empathy it was a surprise to find that there were still things she just missed. She had no clue how her actions could trouble Jinx. She had been meditating, saw a giant bug assaulting the city and decided to take it on. Why did Jinx even care? Raven was the former superhero after all.

"Why?" Raven finally asked.

"'Cause maybe I might have wanted to help!" Jinx exclaimed.

"You..." Raven stammered. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Yeah. You're doing a bag up job by yourself. I should just hang back with a shovel and wait to scrape your sorry ass of the sidewalk. Miss 'I'm a lone wolf.'" Jinx pouted.

"Fine," Raven sighed. "I know this will be difficult, especially for you, but try to keep a low profile, ok?"

Even with the help of Jinx, it was still one of the hardest fights Raven had fought in a long time, but they did finally manage to incapacitate the beast bug.

"Heh. Who needs a gym when you got Godzilla's ex-girlfriend stalking around town," Jinx huffed, collapsing on a crooked bus stop bench. "...you ever seen the one where he fights the giant moth, Ravy?"

"We should get out of here," Raven said. A quick scan of the area confirmed that Killer Moth had already done just that. As Raven surveyed the damage to their surroundings a poster board and a marker were floating out of the store behind Jinx. "Before the cops show up and start asking questions."

"You're stowing me away from the police? My, Ravy! That sounds so... scandalous!" Jinx said with deranged delight.

Raven turned her attention to the giant bug sleeping in the street. "...I know..." She answered without any hint of emotion. When the marker finished scribbling on the poster board she placed it near the moth. It read "Titan was here. Just passing through." Jinx read it and started laughing. Raven paid her no mind, grabbed her arm and teleported onto a building, then flew off with her.

Though the battle was over Jinx was still fighting one. Raven's arms were around her waist as they flew just below the clouds. Their cheeks were nearly touching. It was all she could do not to swoon and rest against the other girl.

"You alright? You look a little pale. Paler than usual, I mean," Raven said, examining Jinx's expression. Jinx turned away.

"I feel kinda sick," she lied.

"Hang on. Were almost there."


Jinx spent the rest of the evening in bed. Raven kept an eye on her as well as the news broadcasts about their fight. She was relieved to find that there wasn't much of it actually caught on camera.

Jinx pretended to be asleep in order to get some time to herself. A strange thing to require from Raven, a girl who would willingly ignore everyone and everything even if that was the last thing you wanted. Jinx used the time to ruminate on her dilemma. She thought for hours. Her mind later noted that the same infomercial had been playing for an awful long time on her TV. This meant one of two things. Either Raven was interested in purchasing pills to enlarge an organ she didn't have, or maybe for a special male companion, or...

"She's asleep," Jinx confirmed, finding Raven sprawled out on the floor before the TV. How uncharacteristic.

"Look at you. All peaceful and serene while there is a war going on inside my head over you," Jinx whispered. She was putting herself through what she could only describe as sweet torture.

Jinx watched Raven silently for a minute more, and then lifted her from the ground intent on putting her to bed. It was in Jinx's arms that Raven's eyes fluttered open.

"Jinx? Aren't you sick?" Raven asked half awake.

"I never was- uh..." Jinx slipped. "You fell asleep on the floor," she added quickly. She had already made it to Raven's mattress and began to lie her down on it.

"Wait. What were you about to say?" Raven asked sitting up.

"I-I don't want to talk about it," Jinx said, turning her back to Raven as if that would be the end of it.

"Is something wrong?" Raven's voice finally tittered on that rare edge of concern that was always so appealing to Jinx's ears.

"Yes...I mean no! Don't worry about it, ok?" Jinx was flustered. She was unraveling.

"I can't do that," Raven said. Conviction was in her voice. It gave a Jinx a chill. "I'm concerned, but I won't push you. I know what it's like to keep secrets. To feel like you have to keep secrets," Raven said walking around to stand before Jinx. "I also know how hard it can be to confide in others. I'd like to think that we're close enough that you can tell me anything, but that's really your call. So just consider it, ok?" Raven asked Jinx.

Jinx swallowed and nodded sadly. This girl was unreal. She knew everything!

"I can tell you anything?" Jinx asked softly. Her gaze shifted to the ground.

"Yes you can," Raven said with confidence. She knew Jinx. She was sure whatever deep dark secrets she still harbored were understandable and more than forgivable.

"I love you," Jinx sputtered.

(1)I donno anything about Beast Boy's parents. They're just a plot device here. Sorry if that irks you.

(2)Improvising. May not be true of the cartoon version of Jinx.