Hey guys (and girls, I don't discriminate) what's with the low amount of reviews? From the grand awesome 11 reviews per chapter I'm down to 4?(It was 4 on Sunday) Please do more! Sorry about the last chapter, it was an introduction to this one. I know this has turned into an action fic, but hold on; the fluff is coming back, starting this chapter! This chapter was created by the positive affect old school Metallica has on me.

Replies to reviews!

Redlobster7878-Thanks for the cheer up, I really needed it

Blaze-Firestorm-Again, thanks for the moral support. P.S, I know Red-X is taking some credit, he helped me with chapter 7 so I let him get some stoplight

Mephisto2022- Wow, I fell like everyone loves me so much…thanks!

Yugikata- Next chapter ready and waiting for inspection

Warprince2000- That looks like your review on my last chapter, stop using Copy/Paste or you'll get addicted! (Happened to me once)

Terraskewl- I hope it did, have a look and let me know!

Hyper-Gurl1- I've seen a lot worse my dear girl, just look at me. It'll take more than that to scare me (looks down on his own shadow) Ack! Boogeyman! (Runs away)

Kory Hime- I reviewed your story again, will you do mine? Here, have a brand new cookie!

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Disclaimer: Running across baron wastes, I come across a small box, opening it; I find a note that says: I don't own the Teen Titans

Chapter nine: One Last Chance

"You are now a pawn in my hands" –Slade

"I hate chess"- Red-X

-

Rain. It has been raining for the past four hours, drop after drop, covering the streets of Jump City with a thin layer of slippery water, most of the people were in their homes, keeping themselves warm, mothers taking care of their children. Those who were unlucky to be outside were rushing to get home, driving through traffic jams created by a misfortunate accident.

"I'm sorry honey; I've been stuck in this traffic jam for the past hour and don't think I'll be in time for- WHOA!" the driver lowered his head as the red flash flew over his new car, it's rear wheel smashing into the car's roof, making it sink a bit

"What happened? Are you okay?" came a worried voice from the man's cell phone. The driver took the small device with his shaking hands, still quivering with fear; he opened his window and looked outside, the rain poring on him. The sight that was revealed to his was a red motorcycle, zooming on top of cars, heading to where he just came back from, the clothing district.

The R-cycle bolted from one car to the other, heading towards for the clothing district. Robin gritted his teeth and twisted the throttle back even further. Making the vehicle speed up. He knew he had to get there quick, his friends were in trouble, caught by a dirty ambush set by Slade. "Slade" The mere thought about him made Robin feel sick, but that wasn't the only reason he felt that way, there was something on his mind and it was clear on his face that there was something else on his mind, aside from his friends.

"I shouldn't have left her alone with him" he thought as his bike finally skipped the last car, touching the shining black road, the R-Cycle caught up speed, bolting across the road with tremendous speed. Robin, though troubled, was quick on his reflexes and kept evading the oncoming cars, but the thought of Starfire, his love, in the same room as Red-X kept swirling in his mind. He wouldn't admit he loved her, oh no, he saw what happens when two teammates fall in love with each other; the memory of Beast Boy's sleepless night after Terra's death were still locked in his mind. He knew Starfire would never betray them, but he was also complied with his senses, expecting the unexpected, ready for each and every one of his friends to turn his or hers back on the team. The other Titans didn't know that Robin has been also training against them in the training simulator. That was another one the things he liked to keep for himself.

-

"Man, where is he?!" screamed Cyborg. After they contacted Robin, the situation had gone from bad to worse, they were forced to take cover behind a large dumpster to avoid the Slade-Bots' gunfire. He looked to the left and saw Lisa loading another two magazines into her MP5's

"Wherever he is, he better get here fast!" she said back as she rose up and fired a few bursts of rounds which were followed by loud explosions, lowering herself to dodge the laser bursts from the Slade-bots "I'm running out of ammo!". Beast Boy sat behind the dumpster between them both and seemed as though he was planning something, Cyborg replaced Lisa and bombarded the robots with his sonic cannon, he tried to get down but was hit by a few shots and was thrown back, dropping on the floor with a painful groan.

"This has gone long enough!" exclaimed Raven, she levitated up, encased with black energy and faced the robots.

"Azerath…" black energy surrounded the robots, disabling them from moving "Metrion…" the field started growing tighter and tighter, crushing them "Zin..." Raven was blasted back by a flash of silver light. She looked down on her stomach and saw the large tear in her leotard; her skin was in a color of red and was painful to touch. The half demon gritted her teeth with pain and lied on the floor, groaning with pain. Cyborg, who got up, approached her and pulled a canister from his left portion of his torso.

"Give her something to bite" he said. Beast Boy looked around, finding nothing he put a rubber band oh his index finger, numbing it, he put it inside Raven's mouth and she tightened her teeth on it.

"This is going to hurt Raven" said Cyborg, Raven just nodded "A lot" she nodded again "You're sure?" she gave one last nod. The canister's nozzle came closer to Raven's stomach and released a blast of white gas. Raven locked her teeth on Beast Boy's finger and released a painful groan, her body jolting upwards. It dropped down and Beast Boy took his finger out of her mouth. Raven breathed quick breaths of pain and lied motionless. Beast Boy's rage was at an unbearable stage; he approached Lisa and talked to her

"I got a plan" he said

"What is it?" she asked while reloading her machine guns again

"What's the biggest bomb you got?" he asked. Lisa opened a cavity in her right leg and pulled out a black device the size of a football. Beast Boy looked at it and took it from her hands

"Do you have any weapon that can provide suppression fire in that armory of yours?" Lisa's MP5's retracted and were replaced by one large mean looking machine gun with a belt of bullets dangling from beneath it. She nodded

"Here's the plan" he started "You draw their attention and I'll give them this baby as a present" Lisa grinned and padded Beast Boy on the head

"You have a very good field strategy skill, where did you get it?"

"Playing America's Army "(A/N: I'm going to get my butt sued off me after this)

"Okay B, sounds like a plan, ready, on three. Three!"

Beast Boy morphed into a small monkey and stormed out of the side of the dumpster, running towards the side of the group. The Slade-Bots didn't take long before aiming at him but were surprised at the shell shower dealt by Lisa's machine gun. They immediately started shooting towards Lisa, providing the changeling with the distraction he needed. He morphed back into a human and pressed the button labeled "ARM". A beep was sounded and the small screen on the front of the black device said "Primed". He threw the bomb towards the robots and quickly ducked down. The area was covered by a huge explosion, the fire roared into the sky, engulfing the Slade-Bots in a whirlwind of flames.

"Awesome!" yelled the changeling

"Booyah!" screamed both Cyborg and Lisa, giving each other a hi-five

"The best of the best" said Raven and groaned again. The three came out of their hiding place; Lisa was carrying Raven in her arms. Beast Boy rushed towards them and was welcomed by a wave of hi-fives.

"Great going B, you really-" Cyborg's words were swallowed in a loud explosion. They looked back, seeing the seven characters coming out of the smoke. Six of them were dressed alike, with complete black outfits, night vision goggles and gas masks.

"I know these guys" said a worried Lisa

"Care to share?" panted Beast Boy

"They're Shadow-assassins, mercs (A/N: Mercenaries), killers for hire. Best in their line of work, I fought them a while back when I was a SEAL, they're good, too good" she explained. Beast Boy and Cyborg tensed up and got ready for battle while Raven got off Lisa's hands and also prepared herself for combat.

"Thing is, I don't know the one in the middle" she said while readying her MP5's for another fight.

"Don't worry" said the man in the middle. Though he spoke silently and was at a great distance from them, they could all hear him; his voice seemed to pierce right into their ears, the cold, calculated voice.

"You'll have plenty of time to get to know me Ms. Valentine" lightning flashed across the skies and the man's face reflected the bright white light. Lisa narrowed her eyes, it wasn't his face, it was a bronze mask.

-

Robin's bike skidded to a halt, a large pillar of fire rose from the clothing area. He gunned his bike's throttle and raced across the slippery road. Reaching the clothing district, he noticed the road was completely blocked. "No time, Titans, Go!" screamed his brain, once again, he gunned the R-cycle's throttle and speeded into a mall's parking lot, racing around the floors of the large structure with incredible speed, he reached the top floor, the opened one. He stopped his bike near the ledge, looking down; he saw the four Titans and the seven people standing in front of them. When his eyes scanned the group, he felt a very familiar sickening feeling, like his insides were on fire; he knew that feeling too well, it was Slade. The Boy Wonder drove his bike to the opposite point of the lot's floor, he looked at the small fence in front of him and gulped, twisting his throttle back a couple of times so the R-Cycle's engine would be ready for such an exerting effort, he gunned it. The R-Cycle roared as it bolted from it's former position, getting closer and closer to the edge, Robin knew what he had to do, eight months of jump practice on the R-Cycle won't fail him now, he raised the front wheel and leaped over the small concrete fence, diving like a bomb shell towards the group, cutting through the rain like a hot knife through butter. Inches before impact, Robin bailed out, jumping off his trusty bike. The six assassins leaped sideways dead on time, but Slade was caught off-guard, the bike rammed right into him and detonated, sending the villain flying towards a lamp post, he slammed into it head-on, twisting the solid steel post, he dropped on the floor, face first into a puddle of water. Slade got up quickly and glanced at Robin

"It took you long enough, I expected you to come sooner" he said calmly

"You cost me my bike, big mistake" replied Robin and charged

-

Footsteps, that's the only sound Starfire has heard for the past fifteen minutes, her own footsteps. She's been pacing up and down the same hallway over and over again, hoping that her communicator would become active and that Robin would tell her to come and assist them. "Why has he left to guard the Red-X? I am not the strongest one in the team" she thought. A loud groan of pain shot her back to reality "I wish not to do this, but I do not wish to disappoint friend Robin" said her mind as she ran towards the med-lab. She slid the large white door aside and stepped in; the room was not a big one, colored in white and filled with all sorts of medical instruments, in the middle of the room, strapped from top to bottom with black belts, laid a motionless Red-X. Starfire looked at him with eyes full of anger "His source of power is his belt, by taking it off, I will be able to join Robin" she thought as she came closer to him, she stood to his right and reached slowly towards his belt, careful not to wake him up. Her hand touched the buckle of the belt and to her surprise, a grey gloved hand reached out and grabbed her wrist, she gasped in both shock and pain and turned her head to the right, to meet with Red-X's eyes, he was still laying on the bed, but the slight movement space he got allowed him to grab her wrist

"Sorry cutie, we're playing doctor now, not dress-up" said his distorted voice

"The Red-X? You are…awake?" she asked, still in shock

"Looks like it, cutie" he replied, grinning under his mask

"May you please let my arm go? You are hurting it" Red-X raised an eyebrow, causing the left eye slit in his mask to grow

"Oops, sorry about that" he said, releasing her wrist. She started rubbing it and again looked at X

"May I ask you a question?" she asked, sitting on a chair in front of him

"Shoot"

"There is this word you like to call me, correct?"

"You mean cutie?"

"Yes, tell me, what is the meaning of this word? Is it a bad thing?" Red-X looked at her uncomfortably; it took him a while to find his words

"Not at all cutie, it's like calling someone 'beautiful' or 'gorgeous" he explained

"Do you find me beautiful, Red-X?" He was caught completely off guard with that question. Under his mask, his face was completely red, but on the outside he kept his cool appearance

"Of course I do" he replied coolly, Starfire slightly blushed, immediately, hiding it

"I saw you blushing, I saw you blushing…" chanted his distorted voice, causing the young Tamaranian to grow even redder

"I most certainly did not, and you should be thankful I'm not leaving you alone" she stated

"We both know that's not gonna happen cutie" he replied coolly

"What makes you so confident of your words?" she snapped

"Two reasons: One, I'm sure the only reason you're here is 'cuz the kid told you to stay here and-"

"Please, who is this 'kid'?" she asked

"Boy Wonder of course. As I was saying, there's a second reason you're here"

"And what is that?" she inquired

"I'm the only thing amusing you, and we all know how much you like to be amused" he turned his head towards her "Don't you?"

"I must confess, some of your combat moves are quite hilarious" she giggled softly and lowered her head

"What is it?"

"It is nothing, I just remembered of the time you pulled Robin's mask during a battle you two conducted" she giggled again. Red-X seemed pondered for a second and then burst into a wave of laughter, the voice distorter causing it to sound almost mechanical.

"Yeah, you're right cutie. That was pretty funny. Remember that time at first national when I pinned Gizmo against the wall with my X's and when he tried to release himself-"

"His outfit fell off!" completed Starfire, now laughing hysterically "That was most disgusting at first, but I recall me and my friends joking about it for days. But tell me, why were you and the HIVE fighting?"

"Simple, I got there first" he explained

"I must ask another question" she said, wiping tears of laughter from her cheeks

"Feel free to do so" he replied

"We have confronted you numerous times after the battle at professor Chang's observatory. Why did the chief of police notified Robin of your belt being stolen just today?"

"'Cuz in the past, whenever I took it, I stole what I needed and brought it back" he replied

"And you are not planning to do it again?" she asked with hope

"Nope" he replied, Starfire's hopeful look disappeared

"Why?" she asked

"'Cuz I want to be with you"

"WHAT?!" her voice nearly shattered Red-X eardrums

"Why did you think I stole the belt and joined Slade? 'Cuz I like his suit? I joined him so he'll bring you to me" Starfire was speechless (A/N: Did I just use that word?!)

"I…I am flattered by your compliment, it's just that…" she lowered her head

"What is it cutie?" he asked, his voice no longer having that mocking edge, it was now more like a spite of caring

"I…I already have my heart set on someone else, my love, Robin"

"Well that figures" he said, gaining a spite of anger and sadness in his voice.

"Do not worry Red-X, there shall be other girls" she tried

"Of course there will cutie, but there'll never be another you" he replied. Starfire didn't know how to answer that when her communicator started beeping "You might wonna get that" he commented. Starfire placed the small device against her ear

"Hello? Yes friend Raven, he is-, get there? But what about-, I see, goodbye" she closed her communicator and was about to leave the room

"What is it?" he asked

"It seems as though my friends have faced an opponent they cannot handle by themselves and they require my help, but I fear I will lose Robin, as he has again faced Slade"

"Well, good luck" he said and rested his head on the pillow. Starfire exited the room and Red-X was left alone, he closed his eyes and turned his head aside towards the wall, then to the other. He reopened his eyes and looked at the door

"Cutie!" he screamed, Starfire's head appeared

"What is it?" she asked

"You really care about him, don't you?"

"More than my own life" was her reply

"Untie me"

"Are you going to aid us in the defeat of Slade?"

"Yeah, just don't tell it to any of my friends"

"Rest assure as I do not know any of your friends" she replied while removing his restrains. Red-X hopped of the bed and stretched his body

"Let's go, those kids need the cavalry"

Starfire rushed towards the exit but saw Red-X heading towards the roof access

"Where are you going? Only I can get us there" she stated, staring at Red-X

"Don't worry cutie, you just get there, I won't be long" ran towards a door labeled "Flight Hangar" and shut the door behind him. Looking at the R-Jet, he slammed his fist against his open palm and his eyes narrowed to slits

"Payback time Slade"

Author Notes:

Whew, that was a long one, but I really enjoyed writing it, and I'm hoping you enjoyed reading it. I tried some Red-X Starfire fluff, tell me how I did okay? I may keep it up if you liked it. How were the action sequences? Were they okay or do I have to change something? Last but not least, check my grammar, it's very important to me. Next chapter will have the last action bits and then the fluff will be making a grand comeback! To all of you who didn't understand how Lisa could fit in a bikini, I'll tell you this. Lisa is my own character, I drew her a while back, she has human proportions and I would have uploaded a picture if I only had a (Raises voice) scanner.

Until next time…care to do the honors X?

Catch'ya later kids (customary salutes and teleports away)

(Teleports back) oops, almost forgot

Review, review, review!

(Teleports again)