Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, thank goodness. I mean, who in their right mind would want to shoulder that responsibility?...I WOULD!

Chapter Seven

Being on my own put me back in a place I hadn't been since I had left Franks. I wasn't sure whether I liked it or hated it. But I knew that providing for myself was better than having someone tell me what to do. I traveled around the city a lot, taking what I needed and nothing more. I often thought of Speedy and his pig-headedness. But that didn't matter, as long as he knew I would always be his friend, which I'm sure he did.

I found myself walking by the shore, looking at Titans Tower everyday, thinking involuntarily about getting in there undetected. I even tried it a couple of times, but got foiled because they were home. I finally gave into my curiosity and devised a plan to get inside. I first had to find away to get them away from the tower, but that proved to be simple since they were called away almost twice a week because of some new criminal that seemed to appear out of no where. Then I had to figure out how to get past the security system, since I knew that Cyborg had wired the thing head to toe with devices to keep intruders out.

That was more difficult to do, but one day, something wonderful happened. There was a big disturbance. I could tell it was serious because everyone hurried out of the tower so fast, I (who had been keeping watch), barely seen them go.

"This is my chance!" I thought, as my feet carried me to the entrance. Seeing a complicated panel similar looking to the one that controlled the obstacle course outside of Speedy's house, I thought about how much time I had until they returned. I looked hard at it, and saw a red button with the words 'Open' printed on it. I pressed it, and to my great surprise, the door slid open. "Seems like computer-boy forgot to set the locks in their rush. His mistake." I said silently to myself. I walked in, and the door slid closed by itself. I saw a door to my left, and decided to explore in there first.

I opened it and the lights turned on as I walked in. It seemed like some kind of evidence room. There was another complicated control panel, only this one had a lever attached to it. I pulled the lever back, and saw before my eyes the thing that would change the rest of my future here: a suit, completely black except for the mask, which was white with a red X slashed across it. Next to the suit was a red belt filled with gadgets.

"Awesome!" I said, leaning forward on the control panel. I accidentally leaned on a button, and a holographic screen appeared in front of me. It showed a diagram of the suit, and what it was powered by. Zinothium.

"Whoa, whoever created this suit was insane! Good thing I like insanity." I looked through the file that literally briefed me on who the suit was designed for, how to use the suit, and where to get a fresh supply of zinothium. Everything I needed was here, right at my fingertips, and it was the easiest steal I had ever encountered.

After reading what I needed to know, I took the suit and the belt. I knew as soon as I saw it, I was going to take it, but I didn't know why. I obviously didn't need it. I didn't want to get into Titans Tower to take anything. I just wanted to know whether or not I could. But I knew an opportunity when I saw one, and this suit was full of opportunities. I closed up shop, making I look like I hadn't even been there. I doubt they even knew I had been there until they saw me for the first time. But still, I had stolen for the first time without a purpose, and to be honest, it felt the same as when I stole because I had to. But I guess there was still a little good left in me because that was the first and only time that happened, and by the looks of it, they needed it gone.

Just as I hid out of view, the Titans returned. I didn't reemerge until about a month after I acquired the suit. I had enough zinothium to power the suit for the short time I learned to use it. I found out what took up all of the energy was the utility belt, but the suit without the belt was like a Halloween costume…completely useless. So, I used the information I received from the computer, and looked up several sources for zinothium. I found what I thought was a reliable source…Dr. Chang.

Well, I'm sure everyone knows what happened after that. It was my first run-in with the Teen Titans, and I have to say, I was mildly surprised. I knew they could kick some butt. I had seen them do it before, but this suit somehow gave me all the answers to stopping each one. Robin showed to be the most difficult to rid myself of, but I saw him in a new light. He reminded me of Speedy so much, I wondered if they weren't separated at birth.

After that backstabbing piece of dirt on my shoe Chang ambushed me and Bird Boy, I got trapped in that little cage thing. Robin forgot I had my utility belt on, so I broke out of there no problem. But I only went back to help him because he reminded me of Speedy. Plus, I wanted to see Starfire again. And I guess it had a little to do with my training. I mean, I did train with a developing hero, so something had to stick with me. Anyway, Robin ended up taking my belt. I was almost useless without it…although I did manage to steal away some zinothium. Instead of powering the suit with the zinothium, I made weapons out of it. The only problem was finding a place to put them, but I managed in my own unmentionable way…

I laid low for a while, leaving behind Red X and only coming out as Tim Drake. It seemed that for a few weeks, I had rid myself of the sensation to steal things and cause havoc. But that quickly left me. I had more run-ins with the Titans, me narrowly escaping every time. Even though I got really annoyed at Robin, I seemed to have a connection with him. I don't know what it was, but…we had something in common.

It turns out that Speedy had gotten one of his wishes. He had joined a branch of the Teen Titans. It was called Titans East. I read an article in the newspaper about how the titans had so much on their plate that they couldn't watch over the entire city, so they got help from more crime fighters. I was happy for him in a way. I knew we would encounter each other, me as Red X, him as Speedy with a mask. We did, but he was still slow. He relied on his bow too much, and not enough on his own cunning. I wondered what happened to Brave Bow, but obviously could not ask.

Anyway, one night I decided to get in my old outfit again, even though I hadn't put it on since mine and Speedy's last meeting. He made me feel guilty about being Red X. I don't know why, but he did. Well, I was sitting on the astronomy tower that used to be Chang's old hangout. I was thinking about Speedy and Starfire, and being in this time period. About the only things I ever thought about. I saw a flash of red and purple. Looking behind me, I saw Starfire flying, seemingly going nowhere. I watched her as she turned around and I could tell she was heading back for Titans Tower. I decided to follow her.

Looking through her curtains, I could see her silhouetted form moving around, doing something in a hurry. She was packing. She had noticed me standing outside of her window. She thought I was Robin. At least that's the name she called out when she was uncertain. I moved around her curtains.

"You're not running away, are you cutie?" I asked, putting on my Red X attitude. But I found myself acting less and less like Red X through out the night. It was there in that room where I found out something that tore me up so bad I couldn't speak, or even feel anything. Titans East had been attacked…and no one survived. Speedy had died, and I didn't get to say goodbye, or even explain to him why I had to leave, or tell him who I was… The pain welled up inside of me. I was glad I was wearing a mask, so she couldn't see me cry.

Starfire and I had formed a bond that night; a different kind of bond that she and Robin had. She was right; even though they considered me a criminal…they had let me down. The Titans were supposed to look out for each other…but then I couldn't blame them anymore than I could blame myself. I told him I would always have his back, no matter what…but I failed. I let some stupid disagreement get in the way of our friendship. And now he was dead.

But you can't dwell too long on the past…Starfire did something that night. I don't know what, but her usually green eyes had turned red. I think she let something evil in herself out that night, and it targeted Morph, the seriously insane dude that killed everyone in Titans East, and eventually Robin too. But when Starfire's eyes turned red, I knew something big was going to happen. She emitted a red light that swept over the entire city. I had been fighting Slade and Blackfire. I didn't know who they were when I was fighting them, but the rest of the Titans filled me in afterward. I mean I was on top of Titans Tower fighting people I never even heard of! Someone had better have given me answers!

Anyway, before I knew it, I was surrounded by a kind of almost transparent bubble, and as the red light hit Slade and Blackfire, and the other guys that we had been fighting, they kind of evaporated. I heard a horrible scream, and saw Morph being torn apart. Really, really gruesome. Then the light faded away, and everything was quiet. Starfire had fallen to the ground, and I saw the body of Robin that Morph had possessed run towards her. Unsure of what I was about to do, I ran at the fake Robin with my fist raised.

Well, he easily blocked it using his bow-staff thing. I knew I had to destroy him, since he was a product of evil. But then I heard him say (in a normal voice, since the body double of Robin had a freaky, unnatural voice) "Calm down! It's me! The real me!"

Still unconvinced, I stayed on my guard. "How do I know that?" I challenged him. "How do I know you aren't still that Morph persons puppet?"

"Because I think you are an idiot! What are you doing up here? You are a criminal!" he yelled. I knew with that that he was real, because he once again reminded me so much of Speedy it was scary.

"If you are alive…then maybe…" I said aloud, not really knowing what I was saying, my thoughts racing too fast for them to leave my mouth with any kind of comprehension.

I ran and jumped off of the roof, making my way towards Titans East. I guess nobody else knew what I was thinking, since they didn't follow me. But I finally arrived, and what I saw was amazing. The building that was completely torn apart from Starfire's description was whole. It was better than whole, it looked brand new. Bursting in, despite the security devices, I began my search for the team, hoping…wondering…

It didn't take long to find them. Actually, they found me. The moment I stepped inside, a loud alarm went off, and they were on the scene before I could even say "zinothium". I saw Speedy, uninjured and alive. Forgetting that I was still in my costume for a moment, I ran towards him. I grabbed him in a big brotherly hug, yelling, "YOU'RE ALIVE! YOU'RE ALIVE!"

I guess I stunned them into silence by my strange behavior, because none of them tried attacking me as I hugged Speedy. I realized that I still had on my mas and pulled it off. Speedy's eyes got really wide, and was like, "TIM, you DUMMY! You've been X this whole time, and you didn't say a thing! I AUGHT TO KILL YOU FOR THAT!"

But I knew any differences we had were gone. After explaining my story to Speedy (I conviently forgot to explain to the rest of the team, seeing as I didn't want the whole world knowing who I was), we went back to Titans Tower to check up on Starfire. We met them in the infirmary, where she was sleeping. I guess the other Titans explained to Robin why I was there, and that I helped out, because he looked at me grudgingly, and handed over the red utility belt I had planned on stealing back that night anyway.

He smirked, knowing that I was stunned, and said "Don't think that just because I'm giving this back to you means you can use it for your own gain. I installed a tracker just incase we need your help from time to time…and keep an eye on what you're doing."

"I guess that's a fair trade then. I'm warning you though, if the hero thing gets old, don't expect me to come whenever you call." I said, just as matter-of-factly as Robin.

"You'd better take what he says seriously, Robin. Guy's stubborn as a mule. Starfire…hey guys look! She's waking up!" Said Speedy, pointing at Starfire, hardly giving Robin a chance to give Speedy and I a confused glare.

That day was then end of mine and the Teen Titans rivalry. I was an ally to them for about 6 months, giving them information on things only I would be able to investigate safely: robberies, smuggling, new enemies popping out of the woodwork. But that was cut short by a phone call, and a weird bat dude who seems to know about EVERYTHING that goes on even though there is no possible way he should know about it. Which leads me almost to the end of this tale.