A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Sarah Frost, thanks for your detailed review. I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Titans, Act Two, Scene Two

A pale girl with large lilac eyes slipped quietly into the cheerleader's locker room of Lower River Valley High. She peeled out of her garish black and purple attire and pulled the varsity cheer sweater over her head. The girl brushed down her stand up pink pigtails and shook her head. The shocking color turned to a pleasing chestnut and she took her place next to the other girls.

The cheer captain looked at the new comer oddly.

"Who are…?"

"I've always been here," the lilac-eyed girl said quietly. The room filled with a slight static charge. The other cheerleaders suddenly and in unison nodded in agreement.

"Oh yes, you have been here all the time, haven't you?" the attractive, blonde cheer sponsor said. "Late again?"

"Sorry Ms. Sullivan. It won't happen again," the lilac-eyed girl said saccharinely. Her lips curled into a dangerous grin.

…..

Robin paced around the dark living room cracking his knuckles one after the other. He wore his mask and occasionally perched on the back of the sofa. He played chess in his mind, trying to think three steps ahead of his opponent. The problem was the opponent: Slade. When Robin thought three steps ahead, Slade thought five.

Newspapers reporting the attack on Global Justice made page one in all the Tri-City papers and were spread out on the coffee table. Of course, the papers failed to print all the details, frustrating Robin greatly, concentrating on the rescue of "Doctor Director" by Kim Possible.

"What's your game this time, Slade?"

"Robin, it's four A.M." a dry, sleepy, girl's voice called from the hall.

Raven stood at the edge of the living room. She wore a floor length nightgown, with a black sheer robe over it. Her eyes were heavier then usual, and her hair obviously mussed. "Please get some sleep," she added.

"This is not his style," Robin said, staring straight in front of him. "What did he have to gain?"

"Other than hurting a lot of people?" Raven said drolly. "He does like to do that."

"It's what he does best," Robin said in a cold, dry voice.

Raven glided across the room and sat in a large winged back chair next to the sofa. She glanced over to Robin as he perched on the back like a gargoyle, hunched over and predatory. A slight chill ran through her as she felt the boy's emotional state. Anger. Fear. Hatred. They began welling up inside him.

Raven centered herself, opening a book, not reading it, just using it to focus. "Look," she said hiding behind the pages, "killing yourself by not sleeping won't give you any idea what he's up to."

Robin turned his head and narrowed his eyes. She was right, of course, but Robin still felt like a caged animal. He looked over to Raven. She, apart from the other Titans, knew what it was like to be targeted by Slade. He remembered failing to protect her on her birthday. He remembered failing to protect her when Slade claimed her for Trigon.

Robin let out a low, rumbling growl.

…..

"I'm telling y'all, that was too easy."

"Cy," Beast Boy groaned while stirring his scrambled egg-substitute, "give it a rest. We came, we saw, we kicked H.I.V.E. butt!"

The elfin Titan stood and did a little victory dance.

"Perhaps Cyborg is correct," Starfire said softly. "I, too, feel that the attempted robbery was poorly executed."

"Okay," BB said, his mouth full of soybean "eggs." "So what?"

"It is a feint," Starfire said. She floated over to the window and watched the morning lights of the city. "It was an attack meant to gauge our strength or distract us."

"That's what I was worried about," Cy said. "Where were the other H.I.V.E'ers? And the Jump City Junior College has good stuff, but nothing cutting edge like Kord or WayneTech."

Beast Boy pushed his plate away and flipped his spoon over his shoulder. "You guys are officially beginning to scare me."

The three Titans looked worriedly at each other.

Then the phone rang. Starfire jumped nervously. Beast Boy rushed for the phone as Cy manned the computer.

BB nodded as he picked up the receiver. "BB's Tofu Pizza Express, Gar speaking, can I have your phone number?"

"555-7233." A dry girl's voice said over the line.

BB nodded over to Cyborg. The massive Titan activated an encryption program, and motioned to his green friend to "stretch it out."

"And what would you like to order? We have a special on Soybean Italian 'Meatballs' at the moment: Three large for only Nineteen-ninety-nine. Add a big bottle of soda for a buck more…"

Beast Boy heard the frustrated groan on the other end. The green Titan shot Cy a "hurry up" expression. Cyborg grinned sheepishly and shrugged. He glanced over to the computer, now flashing the word "SECURE" on the monitor.

"Raven!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "What's up?"

"It took you long enough," Raven said sharply.

"Hang on, I'm putting you on the monitor."

Raven's low-resolution image flashed up on the large monitor in the common room. "Couldn't we have found a better way to communicate than this?"

"It was Robin's idea. I would have routed it through half a dozen satellites and Norway myself," Cyborg commented.

"Friend Raven!" Starfire exclaimed. "How do you fare on your assignment? How is Robin? Have you found anything that could lead you to Slade yet? When will you be coming home? I have missed you both so!"

"One question at a time, Star," Cy said, patting the Tamaranean on the shoulder.

"We've only been gone for two days, Starfire. But we've….missed you, too."

Star smiled happily.

"We'll find out more soon. Robin thinks that Slade is trying to recruit a new apprentice: the red head from that news feed."

"Kim Possible?" Cy asked.

"That's her."

"Dude, that so cannot be her real name," Beast Boy quipped.

"Actually, it is," Cyborg said.

Beast Boy grinned wickedly and was about to let a barrage of awful puns fly, but glares from the other Titans cut him off.

"Raven," Star asked, turning her attention back to the monitor, "where is Robin?"

"He said he needed to do some reconnaissance," Raven said. "Don't worry Star, Robin's…fine."

Starfire's green eyes filled with concern. She sighed deeply and looked up at her friend.

"Keep him safe, Raven. I fear I would be lost without him."

Raven nodded and thought sullenly to herself, Me too, Star. Me too.