OOC: Well, I'm sure I've surprised you with how quickly I updated! Yeah right... Blah. This chapter's been on my computer for two days now, but my internet was down and it just came on. Theres even a pathetic attempt at a poem at the bottom to make up for it.. Here ya are!

Her mind seemed to float upon a different plane, tired yet restless, drifting through a different existence where there was no cage of the body, no one there to look upon her or speak to her. Where small lights hovered in the dark blue world around her, making Raven feel as if she had flown into the heavens, the lights flickering and shifting in different designs, spelling words and names, creating images for Raven's pleasure. No laughter or smile was within her yet she could feel a warm glow of happiness within her, freedom, true freedom.

Suddenly with a painful jolt the happiness was ripped from her as she was hurled back into her cage once more, eyes opening wide and sitting up straight.

Raven was floating in the air, hovering lying straight like a board upon her back, well, now sitting up. Her bag and her black jacket laid upon the ground beside her, next to a fast-food bag, from which smells snuck to Raven and were oddly...appetizing. Hunger could do things.

Raven glanced down at herself, taking in her appearance by the dim lighting. Her bag sat upon the ground neatly, seemingly untouched which reassured Raven only slightly. Glancing down at herself, she saw that she was not wearing her own T-shirt, but a baggy sweatshirt instead. Instantly, Raven gasped, examining the sweatshirt and realizing with a jolt that whoever put it on had taken off her shirt earlier.

"Don't worry, I behaved."

Raven stood up with a start staring into the shadows of the light and noticing her surroundings for the first time. She seemed to be in an apartment, a quite empty apartment at that, one lone couch against a wall with only two dim lamps and a television. The person sitting upon the couch Raven instantly recognized, by the mask upon his face and the smirk in his voice.

"Red X."

"Raven."

"What did you do to me?"

"I saved your life."

"Liar. I was fine on my own." Raven reached down and grabbed her bag and jacket, ruffling through her bag to check all her possessions were there. Red X stood. Raven could hear the smile in his voice.

"I didn't touch your bag. I wasn't going to touch you, but I thought you seriously hurt yourself. After that trance you went in- 4 hours ago, you healed that bad cut on your arm. You have a few bruises, but you'll live, I swear. And I didn't see anything I shouldn't." He motioned to the bag of food. "Eat, I'm sure you're hungry."

Raven raised a hand, black energy forming around it. "I'm not eating until my questions are answered."

Red X was smiling, she was sure of it. "Shoot, then. Your mouth, not your beams."

"What happened at the fight?"

"I was actually looking for something to do. That pervert tried to rape you. I saved you and as you were injured, brought you back here. I was going to take you to the Tower, but I had questions of my own. Why were you dressed like that and where were your friends?"

"That's none of your business."

"Than I guess you don't care to have any of your other questions answered?"

Raven let out a low growl. She was in no mood. Waking up in a situation like she had was not something she enjoyed. "You forget who has the upper hand here."

"You forget that I've stopped you before and I know how to do it again."

Raven's eyes narrowed. "Robin was the one who stopped me, not you."

"But I know how he did it. Now come on, answer the question..." A slight taunt echoed in his voice.

"I took a break and didn't want to be harassed by crowds as a Titan. I don't always have to dress in my uniform."

"What's the bag for?"

"I'm surprised you don't already know, since I'm sure you went through it."

"Actually, I didn't. I respect privacy."

"Whatever."

"Next question?"

"What did you do with the man?"

"Does it really matter?"

"Yes."

"Why do you care?"

"Just tell me. Now." Raven wasn't sure why she asked. A curiosity? Or a true concern for what happened to the man, whether he was destroyed, captured, or let loose upon other innocent girls.

"I don't know..." He was teasing her, playing with her. Raven glared at him, a vein throbbing in her forehead.

"Did you kill him?"

He laughed. "No, but I'm sure he wished I did."

Raven stared at him. For a fleeting moment she remembered his hands, his face and his eyes, before deciding something. She wasn't a Titan- she didn't have to care. "Good," she murmured.

"Aha, so the hero approves a villainous act? My, my, how people do change..."

"I'm touched. You're not the greatest person yourself."

"Did I say I was? Don't forget, I saved your team's ass."

"For your own advantage."

"You'd be surprised."

"You are a Villain. A bad guy, a thief- someone the Titans fought against. The only reason to help was for your self. Not us."

"You know, there is grey sometimes. Its not always black and white."

"You do bad things. You are a bad person."

"Then what does that make you?"

Raven's eyes widened suddenly, she stared at Red X in surprise. "What does that make you and your precious Titans? What does that make Slade? Good and evil don't have rules, Raven."

"How dare-"

"You think people love you as much as they love Robin or Starfire or Beast Boy or even Cyborg? This city fears you. Your fans lie in the dark, the twisted, the depressed, the misunderstood-"

"Stop-"

"You constantly do things that make people wonder if you're even the good guy."

"It's not my fault!"

"Bad is bad, Raven. There is no grey between."

Raven gazed at him for a long time. After a silent moment, she suddenly realized how far their conversation had gone. For simply staring at that mask, she had somehow lost her reasoning, forgetting where she was. She sulked for a moment, then looked out one of the small dusty windows. "Where's your bathroom?"

Red X pointed it out and she took her bag and slipped inside, emerging soon again in her T-shirt and black jacket, the hood up over her eyes and shadowing a bit of her face but not quite as much as her cloak.

"I should go."

"Why? Are you planning on going back to the Tower to tell all your friends about your adventure with the Red X?"

"No."

"Then why leave?"

"I want to."

He studied her for a moment then shrugged. Raven could notice the touch in his voice as he asked her to stay. She looked upon the floor and saw the bag of food, cold by now, saw how he had treated her wounds, even bandaging a sore spot on the back of her shoulder, Raven had noticed as she was changing. He seemed to care about her. But it was ore than that. Raven could see past the mask, into his mind and his heart.

He was lonely.

Raven felt a surge of pity for him suddenly. She knew what it was like to be lonely, to feel like everyone was against you. For a moment she had the urge to rush to him and fling her arms around his neck in a hug, but her cold reasoning held her back. He was a villain-

She wasn't a Titan anymore.

She didn't have to hate him.

But what if it was a trap? He could be planning to kidnap her and hold her hostage in ransom from the Titans. He could be planning to kill her- but if he wanted to do that he could have left her with that man, or killed her during her trance.

He must have saw the sudden mistrust in her eyes, because he spoke once more. "I know you're not a Titan currently." At her slight look of surprise he continued. "You are five teenagers living in a giant T. One of you would have to blow up eventually. You are wearing different clothes, you were nearly raped and a Titan didn't come to your rescue nor did you ask for help and a Titan has not come bursting through these doors since you got here." He studied her for a long moment. "You ran away, didn't you?"

Raven glared at him. She suddenly realized her hand was at her side, not glowing black aimed at him as it was before. "Why should you care?"

"You're in my house, aren't you?"

"Yes, I did. And I don't plan on going back."

"Then stay here."

"Why?

"Why not? I swear I won't kill you or tie you up or any thing like that. Where else would you go?"

Raven weighed her chances. She could still protect herself, she had powers and she knew Red X's attacks while he knew little of hers. She watched him carefully, trying to see behind the mask in a way. This could be a trap. She could be dead tomorrow. But Raven as tired of playing the good girl. It was time to take a chance.

"I'll stay."

She swore his eyes lit up, even if she couldn't see them. "Great, Raven." He gave a mock bow. "I'd be honored with your presence."

"Yes you will. You most definently will."

With whispered words and the softest touch

I see past your shadowed mask

And into the heart of the boy, no,the man

Who saw me for who I was.

No words you need to speak

And no voice I need to hear,

For you seem to be my all

And at this moment I hold you dear

As I run and hide from my nightmares

You hold my hand in yours

And in the sudden morning light

I can see your face so clearly.

The face I've dreamed of

The face I feared

The face I could love

And hold forever dear.