A/n: wow, I didn't think this story would bring that much reviews on the first shot, thanks you guys! Well here's the second chapter of It's Not Me reviews would be nice.
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"I heard that
you were talkin' shit
and you didn't
think that I would hear it
people hear you
talkin' like that
gettin' everybody fired up"
- Gwen Stefani
"Hollaback Girl"
Powerless to Answer
"Very good Sis," he complemented while dodging one of my punches, I threw another one, but this time he grabbed my wrist and yanked me close so to grab my neck. The sudden move shocked me for the moment as my brain panicked and my hand instinctively went to his wrist. Until I gain composure and with his knee I stepped up on it forcing myself into a back flip.
He released me, but I wasn't done, in mid-flip I kicked his chin causing him to stumble from the shock. Landing crouched on the ground I swept the floor from under him then as he fell I kicked him in the gut and sent him flying to tumble on the ground.
I smirked thinking I won this round, but when he stopped I found my clothes suddenly ripped when he sent one of his infamous red X's flying towards me. No blood shed, but damn did that came close. I glared and muttered, "Cheater."
Red X stood up and chuckled as he dusted his clothes off, "You are getting better, but since you knew I had weapons, next time you should stripped them from me before you assume you won."
"I never assumed anything," I leaned to the side with my hand to my hip, not liking how he could read me like Robin. I didn't know what was the deal with them, but every time I or any other person trains with them they can read your faults like a book. How freaky is that?
He chuckled again, "Sure, so I'm curious what was your excuse this time? Aren't you supposed to be at some party with your crew?"
I flicked my wrist to dismiss the thought as I walked to the bench of the gymnasium where my water bottle was. Tonight the team was all suppose to go out to some new joint around the bend for the success of busting the Hot Shot gang leader. Thank you, thank you.
It appears I helped with the information and afterwards we were going to celebrate the victory due to "Starfire Day" where we did everything she wanted so the team could hang together. I declined going to the party, looking to X I shrugged, "The usual, too tired, staying to study, why?"
"Like I said I was curious," looking up to the clock I followed his gaze and saw that it was already 8 sum, time for him to go, "see ya next night Sis, don't forget to work on your frame and you remember the research?"
I smirked, maybe we've been together for way to long cause he was beginning to act like a brother I never had. Don't get me wrong Cyborg was just the same, but Red X and I both shared some big similarities. Chuckling I stood up and connected my fist with his in an old fashion fist shake, "Don't worry, I'll be fine, and I'll get the info you need in a rush. That is if Starfire doesn't hang me up with training."
"Yeah speaking of which, you never did give me her phone number." I poked the side of his head and pushed him to the exit as he laughed.
"Like she'd acutely go out with Red X let alone believe he's still alive. Now get out of here ya over grown target." With that I exit the gym as well, but headed up the T to my room and changed my tattered clothes. Don't want anyone worrying now do I?
A few minutes later the rest of the Titans presents filled the room and for a moment I felt Starfire's aura immediately attack me. Not physically or purposely, but possessively, I blinked and shrugged off the irritating tickling feeling. Taking a deep breath I walked to my study desk waiting for Starfire to come up and knock on my door. How I knew she was going to come was easy, I read her aura like a book she was curious and anxious about our training, probably because Robin's been talking to her.
I picked up a random book and opened to a page held from a "book marker" which was actually a file of a guy that Red X sent me. It was a proposition, a huge boost of major items. Cars, jewels, money, and anything else on the list of things this guy wanted was in my hands for X and I to lift. Hmm, it was a big job something I've never done before, but I was confident enough to handle it with enough doubts in my head to remind myself of the stakes.
One big stake would be to get caught by the Titans themselves … I paused at that thought realizing that I didn't include myself with the title of Titan.
Whoa, I sat back and closed the book, closed my eyes then massaged my temples. That thought disturbed me greatly, what was happening to me? Was I really becoming a criminal? Before I could press the thought there was a knock on my door, "Friend Raven may I have a word?"
Smirked, gee how did I know she was coming (insert sarcasm), getting up from my desk I put the book down and walked to the door, sliding it open I was met with Starfire's smiling face. However upon closer inspection I saw that she was losing the girlish charm, though she still looked cute, she was just getting older and blossoming into a beauty, "Hey Star, come on in."
She gasped and jerked back with a hand to her heart, the look of shock on her face. Did I say something wrong? "Friend Raven, I am … honored to enter your dwelling, it is not often that I do come in. Please excuse my actions, but I must cherish this moment."
I mentally rolled my eyes; good god was it that big of news to be letting people into my room? Put it up on CNN if you think it's so fascinating, moving out of the way I allowed Starfire to cross the thrust hold with no problem. She looked like a child eating ice cream for the first time as she walked to the center of my room and twirled around to get a good look at my 'gothic' setting.
Then her eyes laid on my window with the heavy drapes covering it, not allowing any light what-so-ever in, she then looked to me, "Why do you keep the magnificent lighting of the city away from your eyes. You have the most envious view of the bay, why would you hide it away?"
"That's just me I guess, now lets talk about your power," settling into my trademark floating meditation I floated across the room to my bed. There I landed gently on the soft covers and gestured for Starfire to sit across from me, hell my bed was big enough why not?
I watched her take off her long legged boots then float over my bed and sit cross-legged in front of me. Mimicking my position I nodded in admiration, "as you know you had already gone through your stage into woman hood have you not?"
She blushed and nodded remembering the moment where we had to go around the galaxy trying to find her, only to save her from the spider creep that was trying to eat her. "Yes, that I remember."
"Well I don't know if you knew this, but you're getting much stronger, and you're become more … aggressive I guess you could say." I informed with no hesitation, "You're instinct is to become the alpha female of this group, that is why whether you realized it or not you have been challenging me."
She gasped in shock and a hand flew to her mouth, "Surely I do not mean it … I mean … I felt … I mean, I feel what your saying, I just don't know what to do or what it all means. Could you help me?"
"Don't panic, it's apart of all female and male cycles, trying to show and prove the other you are better. However, on Earth it is not taken as serious as us, so we must learn control otherwise spiral out of reach. It doesn't take much effort to try, just remember to keep control, I'll help with teaching you to find your true potential for starts." I explained this all with no emotion and I could have sworn I saw her shiver.
I wouldn't blame her, my room is colder than the others and she's not wearing her boots or a long sleeve. Although if I wasn't so eager to get this over with I could have swore the shiver wasn't from the cold, but from some kind of fear of not being able to keep up my intense amethyst. I dismissed the thought and held out my right hand, calling a book to me from my miniature library and just as gracefully I snatched it from the air and handed it to Star.
She took it without hesitation and listened as I started giving her further instructions. Floating off my bed and standing, again feeling her aura tickle me, "Read everything in that book and do whatever it tells you to do, if you have any questions come to me, until then every afternoon I'll be seeing you on the roof."
She floated to her feet and slipped on her boots while asking, "Why the roof friend?"
"Because it is the most relaxing place to help loosen your energy."
"Is this all?"
"I don't know is there something else you'd like to tell me?"
After tugging on her boot for the final time, Star grabbed the book again and looked to me with curious eyes of a child. Heh, if I didn't have to go through with the whole end of the world thing I probably would have looked a lot like her when I first came to Earth. She shrugged and headed to the door, "No I do believe this is all, thank you once again my dearest friend and please, next time we have a gathering do not excuse yourself from us. Goodnight and see you when dawn finally comes, I am most wary."
"Goodnight Star, pleasant dreams." With that she exited the room and left me to stand next to my bed to take in a deep breath. I didn't want to admit it, but when I spoke to her I felt like I didn't know her any more. Like we were really … drifting further apart after we've come so close from the switch we had long ago.
This new information I did not like at all, how could I be drifting from the only people I've called friends since I was kicked off my own planet? I shook my head when another thought came to me; this one was blaming myself for the rift between the Titans and me.
After all I never really did let them into my life, then I was going around at night sneaking with Red X playing a dangerous game of mice sneaking around the house. All the while the cat snoozed, some how I felt that the cat was about to awake and it would only be a matter of time before I was SOL. Lately I was telling myself to stop, to stop what I was doing and just stay a Titan. But that rush, the adrenaline, the thought of getting caught was the one thing that kept me going, I was so hooked on it, it was like a drug.
Everything I was doing was like a drug to me; I needed more of it every night. So as I sat here in my room staring at the wall I found myself restless … I need a hot bath. It would be the only thing to sooth my restlessness, to quench my dangerous addiction. Getting up from my bed I made sure to grab extra clothes so to not repeat the earlier events with Robin.
I shuddered, not something you'd wanted to repeat unless you had some kind of fantasy. Though I'm not going to lie, Robin got the looks, the brains, the moves, and the charm to swoon a girl. It'll take much more than that to impress me, not that he hasn't crossed my mind, it was just I was waiting for something to match up to my standards. Besides, I hardly know the guy and vise versa so I don't tread on that kind of turf unless something really interesting sparked my interest.
Just when I was going to exit my room, the emergency alarm sounded I growled. Damn city! Couldn't the police handle it? Tossing my clothes to the side I called forth my cloak and phased out of my door to meet with the rest of the Titans in the main room.
"Problem?" I asked in a dry monotonous voice, Robin punched some keys in the keyboard and answered simply.
"Jewel theft in progress at Emerald Museum, let's move!" pushing from the computer I followed all the others and took to the air with Starfire and Beast Boy following Robin and Cyborg on the ground I really had to wonder why was it that the cops couldn't handle it.
It wasn't like it was that hard to subdue a normal robber.
Although that "normal robber" was not "normal" at all, the HIVE FIVE looked like they just wanted to cash in on a little something, something – feh, amateurs. Busting in on their little party, we took our poses and Robin had his cheese, "I believe the night tour was canceled, drop the goods."
"Fuck you bird-brain," I rolled my eyes, honestly, that tease was getting old.
"Attack plan delta!" Jinx screamed and the fight was on when Robin shouted those most cheesy words.
"Titans! GO!"
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthous!" I shouted and the ground below shook before the trio could deliver their "Attack plan delta" I had them experiencing the force of my nature. Giving the rest of the team time to attack I noticed Jinx conjuring up a hex to throw, pitiful.
Erecting a barrier to block the horridly pink energy I flew down at her intent on making her feel a world of pain. After all, her freakishly pink hair is overrating and she calls my sense of fashion off. Hmm, time to rearrange her face. Throwing two of my own dark energy she blocked and jumped high up towards me using her boost of power to execute a fly kick to me.
Heh, now that's something awfully stupid.
As I evaded and wrapped my power around her arms and flung her to the ground slamming her hard on the concrete. She groaned and rolled to her back jumping to her feet, "You always cheat like this?"
"No," I shrugged with a bit of sass, "Only to pink punks that appear to be color blind."
She rolled her eyes, "I've heard better from a turkey sandwich, get a life."
After that I glared, this bitch was asking for trouble wasn't she.
On the side I engulfed a pipe with my magic and swung with all my might down at the insulting piece of trash. She jumped to her feet and dodged every hit I threw with her arms held out as if a child playing superhero pretending to fly. Oh don't worry, I'll grant her such a wish. Lifting the ground she stepped on up with her balancing trying hard not to fall I flipped it and sent her crashing to the ground the large piece of earth to follow.
As if realizing the danger she rolled out of the way and leaped to her feet throwing two large hexes at me to keep me busy as she flipped and landed on a rail. Perfectly balanced she stood upright on it like the cat she so resembled.
I scoffed, "That the best you got?"
She smirked, "No I can do better, way better."
"Bring it on."
She jumped into the air twirled like an irritating little ballerina I steadied for anything but before I could do anything I was distracted from her incantation, since when did she study power spells?
"Powers now,
Powers no more.
So let's see you impress
When you're powerless!"
I tired to dodge her attack, but I ended up forced to counter and grabbed her ankle pulling her closer her pink magic engulfed the both of us and we both fell to the floor with a harsh thud tangled in limbs. Shit! I hope that didn't work! Getting up I jumped in the air and tried my hardest to fly, but with every try I ended up grounded. Oh-no, I turned to Jinx with a horrified expression crossing both our features we both shouted, "What did you do!"
I glared, "Me? You were the one that cast the spell not me!"
She pointed, "But you countered! With what? Tell me!"
"You should know! You were the one that studied it!"
Jinx glared and walked up closer to me, I took a fighting stance as she stopped three feet from me and shouted, "I was not intending on ever finding a cure for your pathetic corpse! So therefore there was no need! Now answer me! What did you do!"
Boy, was she pissed, but it's not like I cared, the bitch was the one that caste this shit on me not the other way around, "I don't have to answer to a Malabo Barbie wanna' be like you."
That ticked her off cause she charged and we were forced to fight hand-to-hand, not that it was a problem for me, the only thing I was finding disturbing was she to knew how to fight. Throwing aimed punches and kicks, I counted them all, but she guard countered. Dodging a punch to the head I grabbed her elbow and flung her around. Letting her go to fly, she grabbed my cape and I was brought down with her.
Tumbling on the ground trying to find dominance, she won and held me down, her pink catty eyes drilling holes straight to the back of my skull, not that I cared cause I matched ounce for ounce, "You still fight like a boy."
I struggled to get my arms free, but found a better way to get up, "and you fight like a blind monkey."
Bringing my legs up behind her I wrapped around her neck and dropped her down away from me, freeing my arms I untangled myself from her form and lifted my leg up intent on introducing my heel to her face. She noticed and crossed her arms in front moving her head to the side as she tried to fight back. I put more pressure on her hold, and found it to be a big mistake as she turned her arms and grabbed my ankle.
Before I knew what happened she spun me around and I landed on the floor my head throbbing like mad. Damn! That actually hurt! Turning back to see her coming for a punch I titled my body forward and kicked up nailing her in the gut. Sending her flying a few feet away, unbeknownst to us we had an audience. Apparently the others took down the HIVE Five and I was left still battling with Jinx.
Beast Boy had scratched his head, "Uh, dudes, is it just me or am I not seeing any flashy-energy-thingy-magigers?"
Starfire titled her head, "It would appear that both Raven and the Jinx are grounded and fighting more like Robin … friend Cyborg do you concur with this confusing turn of events?"
Cyborg shrugged and also scratched his head, "Magic is not my expertise."
Robin glared, "Either way we still have to help, Starfire go break them up … and go easy, who knows what happened."
She nodded, "Agreed."
Jinx dodged another punch from me and was getting tired, actually we both were. Reason I knew was because we were going on the defensive. She had dropped her guard to catch her breath, and with my last ounce of strength I jumped to kick her in the chest, but on last minute she dodged and held up her hands, "Wait! I propose a truce!"
I huffed and gave her a look of bewilderment, did she just say what I thought she said, "What?"
She sighed and gulped, closing her eyes she shook her head, her horned pick tuffs swaying from the motion, "I said a truce, we find out how to counter the spell and no more fighting."
I glared, "You're an enemy, why should I trust you?"
She looked up then glanced back to notice Starfire hovering not a few feet way with curious eyes as well as the others, they were a distance away from hearing anything we were saying. So she turned back to me and I prepared for anything as she set her expression into a dead serious one, "I know what you've been doing behind the Titans back, and I know what you're going to do later on with Red-X. I'll help you."
"You're blackmailing me?" I snarled, how dare she, why if I had my powers I'd so fry her ass.
She smirked, "Now why would you think that? Can't there just be a truce between two sorceresses?"
"Frankly I don't make deals with anyone, so why start now and with a villain no less." I sneered, she sighed again this time heavily her smirk gone.
"Please Raven, I'm not threatening anything, just trust me the person you're going to be working for is a shady character. Like I said I could help you …"
I gave her a good long look, was she for real? How did she know about me and Red-x? Could I really trust her? All these questions and no time to find the answer, on one hand I didn't want the Titans to know about my true self, and I needed her help on getting my powers back much to my utter dismay. If I didn't accept her proposal she could very well find the counter spell and tell about my dirty little secret.
Oh the trails of being a hero.
Bullshit.
With a cold glare I stole another glance at my team and charged the unsuspecting Jinx, catching her in a headlock I whispered, "Play along."
She gave me a crazy look and flipped me on my back, "What are you planning?"
"I'll trust you if you trust me," I jumped up and sent a kick to her gut sending her reeling back in pain, "Who are you working for this time? Surely you didn't just come to place an order for a few gems."
"So what if I am, those jewels are pretty shiny, hiya!" she came at and I couldn't help to smirk, this was so totally like playing in a school play only I was actually fooling the Titans. My eyes widened and it wasn't from the hit Jinx landed, but from what my current thought was. I did it again … I separated myself from the Titans … why?
"Stop hurting my friend!" I snapped out of my pain and thought to see Starfire swooping down to capture Jinx just as I planned. My thoughts on friendship and teamwork snapped away to the back of my mind as I stood up.
"Starfire! Wait!" I cried her eyes glowing green as se held a trembling Jinx in her grasp.
Her glaring green vanished as Starfire turned her head giving me an innocent look, "Is there a problem friend?"
"She placed a hex on me, I can't use my powers so I need her to help me undo it, put her down, we have to take her to the tower."
She seemed uncertain, Starfire might have come off as naïve, but she was smart, very smart, "I do not think that is a good idea, maybe we should discuss this with Robin."
I glanced up at Jinx and noticed her squirming uncomfortably; looking back to where I know Robin was currently talking to the police I realized that with Starfire being the one to suggest there was no evading. Especially when it came to Robin, she was always very possessive over Robin, which I knew even without the feel of her challenging aura. "Fine, but after the conference."
She nodded and still holding Jinx flew to Robin and stood on the ground I stood on the side and watched her interact with him telling him what I said without waiting. I knew because he looked over at me with his stoic masked persona. No emotion was read outside, but I can feel his curiosity, suspicion, and worry at its peak. Leave it up to Robin to think too much when you needed a way out.
A hand to my shoulder I stiffened and looked up to see Cyborg with a concentrative look as he read his readings, "You're fine girl, but it looks like you need some rest, probably from fighting to long."
Smiled, Cyborg the gentle giant, yet fierce protector and loving older brother of the Titans. He was someone you could really talk to for some advice, depending on what you are going to ask, "Thanx Cy, I really appreciate your help."
"Just checkin' up," he nodded and stood away as Robin came up with Starfire still holding a real irritated Jinx.
I held myself strong, whenever you felt his gaze on you, you always had to prove a point, and he was in a lot of ways like Batman. Even if he won't admit it or believe it, there were times he could give a glare that could rival his mentor himself. It's gotta' be the mask, cause I always felt the same way with Red-X, sometimes Speedy to when ever visitation came around.
"You okay?" he asked with as much concern as he had when my 16th birthday rolled around.
I nodded, "Yes, just tired, Cyborg assured it."
He nodded like always whenever there was an audience he had to show no emotion. Cause in truth I came to realize he hated attention, media attention that is, in ever form, shape, size he just hated cameras on him. I don't blame him, being under the spotlight isn't exactly a picnic at the beach, and even still for me I don't do picnics.
"Then let's all go home, Jinx," he turned to gave the pink sorceress a hard cold stare that sent shivers down my spine, what I'd give to stay away from that kind of look for the rest of my life, "You will be placed in one of our extra rooms, but it will be under high security if you even think about sneaking out or stealing anything from it we'll know and we'll be hunting you down. Is that understood?"
Jinx nodded and answered slowly trying to still be cool about it all, even if she was shaking like a leaf, hah! I always knew the girl had no backbone, "Ye-yeah, sure, whatever, hunt down, right."
"Good, Starfire take her back to the Tower, Cyborg go down to the police station and confirm her stay but don't give them too much information, Raven come with me and no protesting." Even if I had to I don't think I could, not only because that ride was freakin' sweet, but the way Robin said it left no room for discussion, "Titans, let's go."
With that we dispersed Beast Boy morphed into a falcon and took to the air with Starfire to make sure Jinx wasn't really any trouble while I followed Robin to the back where he cloaked his bike in one of those handy little cloaking things. I had to pause for a split second to wonder why as Robin he didn't use the cloaking trick, while being Red-X he had.
Though I shrugged it off as he handed me a helmet and motioned for me to climb on the back, I did so without hesitation and as I leaned in to wrap my arms around his waist I could have swore I felt him smirk as he whispered, "Hold on tight."
I raised a brow, Nothin' I haven't done before Boy Wonder, but I'll humor you little puppy, scooting ever closer I smirked when he shivered before he gunned the throttle, making a neck breaking turn around before the bike got to powerful we both jumped out of the alley way like bats flyin' straight outta' hell. I couldn't help a grin from the pun that was so totally out of what I just thought. I wonder if Batman knew about Boy Wonder's risking ways?
Probably did and I could just so imagine him saying something like, "wow that was very stupid of you" I giggled at the thought and Robin must have felt it cause through the helmets we had he called through on a built in communicator asking curiously, "What's so funny?"
I shook my head and looked up from resting it on his shoulder enjoying the ride, "Nothing important."
He nodded, then again like earlier today he began asking obscenely irritated questions, what the hell? Did he know he always sounded so suggestive or accusing when questioning anyone? "Listen Raven, it may not be my place but I'm curious, are you really alright? You hardly come down from your room and when you do it's very brief. Everything okay?"
I so wanted to hit him upside the head, why the hell did he want to know. Not only that but I wanted to hit him for being a caring leader, and observant one at that. That was why I tried to prevent from ever being alone with him; he'd start to ask questions that I don't have the answers he needed to hear. I didn't want to tell him and I wasn't about to have a battle with my inner conscious about it.
Bottom line was, lie.
"Everything's fine Robin, why would you ask?"
"Like I said, just curious." Damn him for being so straight and to the point, not that I didn't like it, in fact I liked it when people didn't beat around the bush. That way they wouldn't be wasting my life with their nautical dribble. Reason why I hardly liked Beast Boy anyway, even though I'll never admit it but that was also the reason why I liked him so much.
Change in pace.
Speaking of which …
I felt the bike slow to a sudden halt inside the towers garage, Robin sat up forcing me to sit up along with him and slightly slide closer to him. Either he didn't seem to care, noticed or was ignoring that fact we were so close he got off and held out his hand to help me off, aw how sweet. Such a gentleman, humoring him I took his hand and took off the helmet along with him and gave it back.
He smirked, "Hope I didn't scare ya to bad."
At first I gave him a perplexed look, why would I be scared? Then the thought of him never really knowing what I do when the night comes hit me, he didn't know I take his cycle out on a spin every so often. Duh! That was why he was smug; I rolled my eyes and scoffed, "Sure Boy Blunder, I'll be in my room catching up on some Z's, send Jinx up please I wish to talk to her."
He nodded, "Sure, rest easy Raven."
I gave him a small smile, and for the moment I was guilty. Guilty about my dirty little secret, guilty about forming a partnership of sorts with the one man that Robin failed to catch, though I squashed it down harshly and threw it to the dump in my mind. Guilt was something I found out after my little incident with "father dear" 5 years ago to be useless. To regret about an action was to slow you down in the future, I didn't intend to live in the past any longer than I had already.
Again I nodded and walked to the door leaving Robin to tinker with his bike, the last thought that crossed my mind before I entered my room was, I hope he doesn't see that scratch.
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Well, well, and so Jinx comes into play, uh-oh Robin's getting to nosy (when is he ever not?), and Raven lost her powers! Damn! Just when she was getting stronger to, that must really suck, reviews are very good, delicious, feed me!