Disclaimer: Come on people I don't own the Teen
Titans or anything else related to them, you all know that! Just as
you know the name Rorex, the characters Francesca, Malthenor, and Sirus all belong to your truly.
A/N: Somebody up there must really like picking on me for the moment cause it sure as hell feels like everything's working against me. Honestly people I had this idea for this chapter playing over and over in my head, but the reason I didn't start writing it and updating it was because of the Friday – my most favorite of days – was the day my dad decided to yank my younger brother and myself to the Big Island for the weekend!
You see I live in Hawaii, on the island of O'ahu – Ewa Beach, case you were curious – and my dad does the occasional island hoping because of his job, but because of that job he was forced to drags us to the Big Island on the Kona side for the whole freakin' weekend. I had a fun time, but I hated not being able to type my idea down because of it!
Then once we got back and I had school, well I don't even need to stress how stressing school can be – the ironic thing about this is, I have health that is teaching us how to handle stress, well I got an idea for them NO MORE GODDAAMN HOMEWORK! Handling stress my ass, what a load of – you know what I'm gonna' stop right here and let you guys continue with the story, sorry about the wait, sorry about the rant, but damn did that feel good just to let that out.
Love your reviews, they're the light of my current life, so please keep it up.
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Chapter Eleven: It's All Over, The Faults On MeYou know that absolutely sick feeling you get when you know you've been caught and there's absolutely, positively, no trace of a doubt that there's no way out? Well, Raven did, in fact she was going through it right now. On one hand she had Rorex – Red X – playing it cool and acting as if there wasn't a single thing wrong with what Robin had come close to witnessing. Then she had herself, guilty, and a bit frightened, what to do, what to do, was her thoughts.
The faint – no distinct scent of blood, angelic blood was coming from Robin, meaning he had just come from a battle and wanted answers, meaning Raven was in deeper than she was suppose to be. His gloves were off, his claws were jutted and the reason she had almost missed the scent of blood was because he had just washed it off. Yet it was so strong even washing didn't make a difference. That, to her was a scary thought; Robin was known to be fierce in battle, but deadly? It had to be his hellish side; she just hoped he wasn't still in a fit of rage.
If he was … well … what's the point in making a Christmas list huh?
Not funny, especially in something like this.
The three of them, standing in the hall, book in the middle of the triangle, and not a single thing moved for a good 5 minutes. What could be done/said to kick off the coming argument – even battle – between the three? Robin made the field goal with a question, no more was the growling, but the confusion and pissed off aura that gave away his real feelings other than the calm of his voice, "So you two know each other?"
"Longer then you think kid," said Rorex in a very laid-back manner, Raven shot him a glare, which he either ignored or didn't bother to care.
Was he really trying to get himself killed?
Robin raised a brow and walked up closer to the two, "Oh really? And how long is that?"
Question directed at either of the pair, Raven held her breath speechless, though she knew she had to say something fast or Rorex's stupidity was going to rock the boat. She wasn't fast enough as Rorex took control, with a nonchalant shrug he smirked, "Let's just say your nose isn't so much so developed yet kid, don't worry, you're still in the mid of your transformation so you'll get the hang of the cool little tricks up our devilish sleeves."
Robin growled and took a step more towards Rorex, who turned the corner of his lip up in a bared fang sneer. Tension got too thick and something was about to crack, Raven controlled it and tilted the attention more towards her, "Robin, let me explain."
Lame, dull, over used, and overrated, but it was the best she could come up with cause Robin turned around and now focused on her opening his mouth to speak, he stopped when he stepped on something. Looking down – they all looked down as Robin moved his foot to stare at the book on the ground. Picking it up he skimmed through it and looked up to Raven, then at Rorex, then to Raven again. His anger gone, placed with frustration and deeper confusion, he held up the book, "What the hell Raven? What's going on, I want answers and I want them now!"
"The hunt Robin," Raven quickly shot out without much thought, "This all centers on the hunt I told you about. They're angels after devils, to stop them lays within that book, they're looking to exterminate your kind."
"No shit," Robin growled, "some whack ass earlier was trying to literally scratch the hell out of me, I barely made out alive Raven!"
"Actually the plan is mainly to merge heaven, hell, and Earth as one, which would be rel shitty of that were to haappen. To control – and possibly eliminate all devils – is a bonus." Rorex spoke up; even confusing Raven as she looked to him with suspicious eyes the same as Robin's glaring white mask. Wordlessly they demanded him to continue, Robin walked up to him.
"How exactly do you know this? Who are you?" the Titan leader demanded, Rorex looked up to Raven then back down to Robin and shrugged.
"A little birdie told me, and I'm Rorex NoLincous, supposed guardian of the Nol Verses, or the book that you're waving around kid."
Robin sneered, that 'kid' thing was starting to get really old and grating on his nerves, "That still doesn't explain who you are to Raven."
"Who I am to her is really none of your concern chuckles," time stopped for Raven and Robin then went into reverse for the later, the nickname 'chuckles' was only used for him by only one villain and he was long gone, or supposedly. Now it was hard for him to tell whether Red X was really standing in front of him or not … was it a coincidence? Rorex didn't care if he slipped; he was tired of hiding away, what was the point? Raven was going to expose him later, why wait? "But honestly kid, what I am to her is what she wants me to be. The point here is that we have to keep you and that dandy old book away from Malthenor, he's the one that went after you, correct? Of course I am."
Whoa, Raven blinked, what the hell was Rorex thinking? Was he really putting his identity out there on the line on purpose? Or was he just being a dumb ass? Robin wasn't stupid, this "Rorex" character was shady, too shady, hell he was a silhouette with no true form. Looking to Raven with suspicious eyes he noticed her posture of shock and confusion, with her expression reading worry. Something about Rorex she was hiding, and that just irritated and angered the hell out of him. All this time she was lying straight, point blank to his face.
With his mind working over time Robin put the piece of this fucked up jigsaw puzzle in place, he was the greatest detective of his young age, this wasn't so hard to figure. Everything was all in his face the entire time, he was either too dumb, stupid, blinded to actually believe or see it. Now that it was all coming together he wished he hadn't have solved it. He looked up to Raven his white glare boring deep into her heart, stopping her from breathing correctly.
"Raven … please tell me this isn't what it looks like."
He knew.
Raven bowed her head and gulped, she had to tell the truth sometime or the other, now was the only time, "I'm … yes, Robin … he's …"
Robin shook his head, No … no Raven, not you, any one but you. Clenching his teeth tightly shut till the point where it felt like they were about to crack he took steps closer to her, she stayed leaning against the wall with her head bowed in shame and guilt. He didn't know whether to be angry about it or otherwise, but he knew he had to handle this the proper way. Stopping closer enough so she could hear him in a whisper, "Tell me you weren't harboring a criminal … in the tower … and cooperating with him …"
She sunk deeper in the wall, closing her eyes trying to not pay attention to the hurt feeling that surrounded his energy. It made her feel so much like she betrayed them, when she really didn't. "I … I did …"
It sounded more like she was admitting to herself then actually admitting to Robin, her leader, and most trusted friend. He closed his eyes and looked away to the ground really going numb, what was he suppose to feel? Anger? Hurt? Disappointment? Betrayed? All theses emotions were never anything he thought he'd have to contemplate with Raven. If there was anyone in his team he could have turn to for help and trust it would be Raven … but now … that illusion was shattered.
In the lowest of whispers, Robin prayed, "Tell me, you're lying to me … right now … tell me all of this is some kind of sick joke."
The gods were never good to him, so when she looked up at him with glossy violet eyes that showed her true guilt he already knew it was all over, "No, Robin … it's no joke … it's all real … Rorex … is Red X."
That was what he so desperately not wanted to hear … yet he did.
He heard it.
It came right out of her mouth.
Now he wished she'd been lying all along.
Rorex on the side, looked away to the floor, feeling like a complete moron just standing there, but mostly feeling the fault for Raven's predicament. He was pretty damn sure right about now that Robin was loosing his trust on her fast and she was cracking under the pressure of having to tell the truth.
Truth.
Such a simple word with such a complex meaning, you can lie for all your life, but when slapped in the face with the truth you wonder if it was a lie or is it really the truth? That's when you sink into denial. That was what Robin wanted so desperately to fall into, but lying to himself about something that was so obviously true didn't appeal to him. In fact he found he just couldn't do it.
To lie to one's self is to live without actually living, not much of a life that'll be.
Tension grew thick, Rorex cleared his throat, "Lighten up chuckles, not like she had a choice I actually really needed her."
That. Did not help.
Robin spun around and bared his fangs at him, "You, got some nerve to just stand there and tell me to "lighten up" what the fuck kind of sick game are you playing here?"
Rorex glared, "I'm not playing anything, if anyone's rolling the dice it's Malthenor, and if you ask how I know him is because we got history, bad history."
"Oh so this isn't about some kind of grand scheme too rule the world," Robin snarled, "this is some fuckin' family feud shit that you just so decided to get us in on!"
"Now hold the fuck up," Rorex defended, "She had the book, either way you would have been dragged into this shit-hole of a mess with or without my intervention."
"Intervention?" Robin scoffed, "Is that what you're calling it? You had this planned! Get to Raven and you'll get whatever the hell you want! That's all you know! You're a fucking thief, what more could you possible be after then your own needs?"
Rorex growled, not one to loose his patients so easily, but Robin was pushin' in, "I may be a thief, but I'm not air-headed enough to get other people killed, it's not my style."
"Bastard! Our lives are at stake and that's all you can say? Goddamn, you are selfish!"
"Do not cross me."
"Do not test me."
Raven started wide-eyed at their sudden flaring energy spikes, it swirled about each other and challenged, power checking and threatening. Their growls and Rorex's tinting pink eyes, along with both their faintly glowing markings told her this was getting out of hand. Moving in between them she gasped in shock when their auras were emitting electrical discharges in the air! Robin snarled and Raven got stunned senseless when both their power rose above any level she had ever felt in her life.
Glowing red markings and eyes were quite evident that the glass had shattered, Robin threw the book to the side and Rorex placed the red vile on the ground. Raven shuttered and shivered from the energy coming off of both of them. Almost equal, Rorex had the age thing going for him, so his was more direct and focused, Robin was similar but more wild and everywhere. Showing he was still young. They crouched and Rorex took a step to the right, Robin followed and they circled with Raven in the middle.
Their concentration more one each other then her, Raven gulped, "Robin … X … no, you can't," it was hard for her to talk straight when they were moving, their energy levels lashing out at one another, yet she had to try, "not here, not now, not ever. Robin … I already promised X I was taking him to jail."
"Quiet." A simple word, but with his state of mind it was demanded and she was dismissed like trash.
She turned to Rorex, "X, don't do this, please, think about Francesca."
"Out of the way." Again she was disregarded and ignored.
"Robin, X, please, no."
Her pleading went unanswered when their circle was completed, Robin flinched and jumped over Raven to Rorex. Raven ran to separate the two, "STOP THIS!"
Both pushed her away as they engaged in a greatly anticipated battle, fast and blurred were their movements, right when one move was made another quickly and flawlessly was executed or blocked. Robin grabbed at Rorex's shirt and made sure to use his claws to hook the cloth in tight as he swung him around then let him go to slam into the far wall. Not finished, he charged and aimed a punch to his face, Rorex caught it and jumped out of the wall sending an upper cut to his gut then twisting his arm and throwing him to the ground.
Robin jerked to his feet and crouched to the ground and swiped the floor from under Rorex, Rorex jumped and flipped over Robin, once on the ground he flipped again aiming to kick the lead titan in the chin. Robin leaned back and rolled backwards onto his feet and charged. Creating a perfect figure four he fly kicked the golden eyed thief, but was dodged and had the back of his shirt yanked back. Head connecting to the ground when he was forced down a clawed hand to his neck, Robin glared up at Rorex, "Why did you show your face to us? Why did you choose Raven, of all people to manipulate?"
Rorex growled warningly, "I never tricked her, I never meant anything to her, so stop putting words in my mouth."
Robin used his claws and slashed at Rorex's wrist, the devil roared in pain and pulled away clutching the bleeding arm, Robin smirked and flicked his blood from his wrist, "To easy."
"You'll regret that." Rorex snapped.
"Make me."
"With pleasure!" round house kick, then a side kicked, followed by rapid punches, Robin gritted his teeth in concentration as he kept up with the speed doing nothing but have dodging and blocking all the attacks. Robin went for an opening, but before he knew it, just like Malthenor, the guy just suddenly vanished and reappeared behind him. How he knew that was because of the sudden sharp pain in his spine when Rorex sent a harsh kick to his back.
On the ground, Robin quickly rolled to the side and jumped to his feet, just in time to have a fist connect with his lower jaw throwing him off balance, and then his chest throbbed in pain when Rorex kicked him hard pushing him back against the wall. Winded Robin couched and shook his head, getting his bearings straight he looked around for Rorex, but found he was bound to the wall, by Raven's power. Robin sneered about ready to just go other there and finish the job, when he found he to was held tight.
"Enough is enough!" Raven glared her eyes glowing pure white as she switched her gaze from Robin to Rorex, "This is ridiculous! We should be finding away to stop Malthenor, not acting like children! Now I'm going to release the both of you, think you can settle this like men instead of boys?"
Neither said a word.
Raven growled, "I'm not talking to a fucking wall! Answer me!"
Robin glared and connected his gaze with hers, she may have gotten drilled earlier to the point of coming close to crying, but the past was the past. Now she looked mad as all hell. Snorting Robin shot a glare at Rorex, "Whatever."
Crude, real crude, but his markings were dimming down. Raven took it and let him down careful to catch him again if he tried anything. He didn't, she breathed a little easier and turned to Rorex, who was still seeing red, his wrist was really starting to bleed, but he was healing fast she could feel it. That didn't mean that was going to stop him from attacking, nope, if he was able to travel to her with a deep gash on his side like before, a cut on the wrist was far from intolerable, "X, answer me."
He growled, "Just put me down."
She did when his eyes were dimming down along with his markings. Watching Robin carefully as she walked up to Rorex and grabbed his wrist, glaring as he growled at her she looked down and raised a brow, "Let's get you into the infirmary."
He jerked his wrist back wincing as he did so, still locked in a heated staring contesting with Robin, "I'll live."
She grabbed his arm and yanked him to the room jerking him from Robin's challenging he growled, "What the hell? It's not that bad! I can heal on my own mother-dearest!"
"Robin follow," Raven commanded, "There's something I want to see."
Robin raised a brow, "And why should I follow your orders."
Raven stopped and turned to shoot Robin a pointed look, "You want to warm the wall Robin? Cause it looks like it misses you dearly."
With a snarl and a snap of his fangs he followed with a slight pouting look to his face. Rorex smirked and snickered, Raven squeezed next to his wound and he gave an involuntary yelp, "Ow! What the hell?"
"Shut it or I'll stuff it X, your choice."
"Look it's just a sissy cut, I don't know what the hell you're getting all worked up for." Rorex sulked as she dragged them both – Rorex being more literal – into the infirmary. Raven let him go and pointed to the bed for him to sit while she turned to Robin and escorted him to the far side of the room making sure to keep them apart. Walking by Rorex, the two were like challenging dogs when they started to growl at one another. Raven silenced them both when she pulled Robin harshly away from Rorex.
Robin yanked his hand back to his body and glared at Raven, baring his fangs he snorted, "How close is he to you Raven?"
Raven spun around and opened her mouth to shout her face full of frustration and anger, but nothing came out. All she did was shake her head and pointed to another bed gesturing for him to have a seat as well. He didn't follow, but instead made his way to the far sink, Raven was about to protest, but let him be and followed him instead. Glancing back at Rorex she saw him fingering the red vile and had to wonder what it was that he found so fascinating with it. Though she shook her head and turned her attention back on Robin.
"Let me see your claws after you've washed it." Soft, yet firm enough to let him know he wasn't off the hook.
He scoffed, "Go take care of it over there."
In the distance she head Rorex growling, but she didn't bother to correct him as she glared at Robin, "I'd take care of Rorex, but it's you the one that I'm concerned over. Did you intentionally aim to kill him?"
"So what if I did, not like you need to know."
"Robin, this is serious did you even know the damage you caused him?"
Harshly turning off the water and turning to give Raven a good long glare she blinked from the forcefulness and accusing volume in his mask as he snorted and walked away from her, "In my opinion I didn't cause him enough damage."
Raven grabbed his arm and pulled his hand up to her face, Robin watched with much control trying not to just slice her right there. How could she do this? Tend to him when a criminal was in the room, and then defend him. Had she lost it? Letting her examine his claws he just watched as her hands prodded and her claws pocked at his. Robin rolled his eyes and sighed impatiently, what the hell was the point in all this?
She looked up still holding his hand, "Robin … did you know, truly know who your parents were."
Robin jerked his hand away and his head, his eyes bugging out in confusion, "Huh?"
Raven repeated without hesitation, "Did you know who your parents were? Like did you actually know if they were both pure blooded devils."
"Raven, what has that got to do with anything?" her question was so far off in left field that even Rorex didn't suspect it and turned his head around to give her a quizzical look.
"Just answer the question Robin, that's all I'm asking." Raven huffed tiredly leaning against the wall and closing her eyes she ran a hand through her hair and gave him a waiting look.
Robin just stood there, and stared at her for the longest time wondering just where she was going with this. He even risked a glance under the protection of his mask to Rorex, then looked back at her and shrugged, "No, not really … not my mother at least … I just met her when … yeah."
Raven gulped, and bowed her head; pointing to the bed, "Take a seat, and whatever you do don't start anything."
Hustling over to Rorex, Robin sneered and stood where he was, moving to watch her gently take Rorex or now Red X's hand into hers, Robin seethed at how much care she was giving him. What the hell made him so special, why him, why her? If anyone should be caring for a villain Robin had almost knew it wouldn't be Raven. Nope, you wouldn't catch her dead tending to any villains' wounds, especially one created by her friends. Yet here she was, completely confusing Robin with her tender ways.
He was Red X damn it!
Though she called him X like they were good buddies.
Robin growled lowly to himself, still finding this all hard to believe. She stopped their fighting, okay he could understand why … but then didn't, did she stop it to save Rorex, or was she really trying to stop their fighting altogether? When had this – no – he stopped that thought, he knew when this started and that was the one thing that sent him on a rampage back there. The scent change, the strange aura suddenly surrounding her room, and her weird behavior.
He was madder at himself, then at the two, all this time she had been housing a criminal right under his damn nose and he was just to distorted with his thoughts to see it. Robin thought he knew Raven, well now he just didn't know anything anymore. His life from the start of this whole thing was a mess, turned and flipped upside down. Not knowing what was truth to fiction anymore. His head was spinning and his emotions were out of whack, he'd gain control then loose it all together.
Everything that he had once prided himself into holding was slowly slipping from him.
And it was going faster with each passing second he saw Raven with Red X.
He'd never admit it, but Raven was more his confidant then anyone else in the Titan group. So with her showing this side to him, he didn't know what to think anymore. Right now all he wanted to know was what the hell was in her head when she first even let Red X into her life. That and who was he to her, Red X said he was whatever she wanted him to be, so Robin had to wonder just what the hell was going on with them.
As a leader …
As a friend …
He needed to know, just where she stood.
His thinking and whirling thoughts didn't go unnoticed to Raven, she could feel everything he was going through and it pained her to know that she was the one causing his meltdown. She cursed herself and put all the blame on her, if setting him on his transformation sooner than scheduled wasn't enough stress for him she hit him with this. Raven kept quite the entire time she was caring for Rorex, trying to think of any way to punish her self after all this blew through.
Robin was her closets and most trusted person to talk to.
For him to be feeling betrayed just made her sick with herself. Mostly because she felt the same way when Rorex didn't tell her everything about him and he continually broke their bridge with his lies, and secrets. She didn't know why she did it, but she knew she wanted to trust Rorex on a deeper extent and with that new thought planted in the back of her mind she felt her head was going to explode.
It was wrong of her to even consider Red X a potential alley, let alone something closer when she already had her friends. She had Robin to confide in, to talk to, to even get a little closer to, and yet she broke him just like Red X broke her but in a more serious way. The bond they built, the relationship of a close nit, tight duo was shattered on the floor. All because she chose to care for Red X. Raven didn't understand why she did it, why she let Red X into her life, why she continually kept him from the Titans until now.
She guessed it was because of Francesca.
No, it couldn't be, cause she could have turned him in sooner than when she met the young girl.
So Francesca was a reason to rule out, and the other she didn't even want to think about, but ended up doing so any way. Because she actually thought – just like Malchior – she could trust him with her everything. That maybe, he was a creature to actually get to know. Boy was she wrong and paying the price for it.
Raven tightened the bandage and snapped it off with her teeth. Getting up she made sure to never make eye contact with Red X as she turned to return the healing equipment where she had gotten them. Taking a deep breath and letting go slowly she prepared to face the boys in the room. Slowly she turned around and first looked to Robin with a total look of guilt and shame on her face as he kept his face stoic and unreadable, even while under the mask he was cracking under her violet gaze. He couldn't trust her, no not anymore, she broke that the moment she told him the full truth … or was it?
Either way her eyes looked to Rorex and Robin had to faintly wonder just what was on his mind. It was quickly disregarded as Raven cleared her throat, "Well, cards on the table … there's nothing left to hide … Robin, when you fought X, did you feel anything change within you? Like a shift of sorts?"
Robin raised a brow, "A shift? In power? No, I don't recall." All business and no run around, Raven nodded and looked to Rorex.
"You could have done some serious damage if I had let you two continue to fight," looking away she sighed and bite her lower lip, "Robin, you sure you know anything about your mother? That if she was really a devil or not?"
"No, Raven why do you keep asking me that? What's the purpose?" Robin narrowed his mask in confusion and Raven shook her head.
"Because I think I know why this Malthenor wants you and X badly." Raven shrugged, "X mainly because he's in a bloodline of his family's enemy and he's quite formidable – don't go thinking anything different you two you both know it's true – and you, Robin, because … because you taint his bloodline."
Robin blinked, now completely lost, "What?"
Raven looked to Red X, "X, does any other angels have the power of acidic poison, like when Sirus did a number on you?"
He shook his head, "No, only the Malcoraz bloodline has that power."
She nodded, "And the markings, would you say that it's possible for two different devils other then blood relatives to have the same markings?"
Rorex narrowed his eyes in confusion and slight curiosity as he turned and noticed that Robin's concealment spell was still down. His blood red marks showing perfectly under the infirmary's light. Shaking his head he turned to Raven and tilted his head in wonder, "No … that's not possible … only the father could have given the marks to the children, to show the bloodline. Female devils can have their own markings, but only under the permission of the father can they change the child's outlook to match their own."
"So …" Raven gulped, not liking the way things were heading, her theory was going to be proven right … she just knew it, " … Malthenor wants Robin, he wants the book, Robin is special … and I think I know why … X … I think Robin's the one that chains your family to the Malcoraz clan … Robin … you're Rorex's and Malthenor's half-brother."
If things couldn have gotten more twisted, it be now.
No one, not even Raven herself could have prepared her for that little piece of information. Robin leaned against the wall in shock, Rorex was shaking his head in refusal, "No … that's not … Ra – no, how can you prove this?"
Raven shrugged, "The proof is right in front of you, Robin scratched you and it wasn't healing as fast as I know you can. The acidic poison is a trademark to the Malcoraz family. His markings, you said yourself, no one devil from different bloodlines can have the same. That's why Robin's so important; he has the blood of an angel and a devil from feuding families … you can't deny it X, it's right in your face."
Robin was sick, in all form of the word.
He felt like his head was going to pop, that was so not what he was expecting.
Raven glided across the room to Robin, but stopped and realized something, "Where's the book?"
Rorex looked around, Raven did the same, and Robin just sighed and looked as well, but the white book was nowhere to be seen. Raven ran to the door and opened it, looking down the hall to where the guys' fight took place her eyes glowed white when she saw a cloaked intruder bending and taking the book into his hands. He looked up at her and grinned, "Give it back!"
Running down the hall she took flight and chanted her favorite words shooting forth black energy slashes, the male dodged them all and bowed, "Good day to you milady."
He grabbed his cloak and just as she reached him he swirled it around and vanished he did. Raven tackled nothing but the cloak and rolled on the ground with it in her hands, "No," she growled and glared at the cloak, the book was gone. Whoever had it, for sure their fate had been ceiled, Robin was in trouble and it was all her fault.
All her fault.
Everything that's happened was all her fault.
She couldn't even save a damn book!
Raven bowed her head and clenched the cloak in her hands her claws digging into the cloth as she shook her head and closed her eyes in defeat. It's over … and it's all because of me … I'm so pathetic …
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Okay I hope the length at least makes up for the wait, by the way from here out I'm gonna' be focusing on the plot, not the pairing. So please, please, please no more complaints or suggestions about the pairing it'll come when it comes I promise.
Besides that, how you like it so far?
Drop me a review, I like them, they make me smile