Disclaimer: Teen Titans and all characters from the show aren't mine.

(Spoiler Warning: Set directly after the end of 'Homecoming Part Two', so if you haven't seen that episode, there are some spoilers in here.)

Idle Threats

"The face of our enemy has changed. No longer is the Doom Patrol our only threat. Now a new generation stands in our way. And those who rule the young will control the future. We have a common enemy. The Teen Titans and their friends will fall. Working together we will destroy them... one by one."

Red X looked around at the colourful army that stood around him, and once again resisted the urge to snort derisively. He wasn't even sure why he bothered to come here. It wasn't like he wanted payback on the Teen Titans for anything. Sure, Robin stole his belt, but then again, Red X had stolen his suit, so he considered them about even. Besides, he actually enjoyed tangling with Robin and his buddies. Maybe that's why he was here. Then again, maybe it wasn't. Red X liked not to think about these things too much; he just did what he felt like, and didn't really question the reasoning behind it. Maybe that made him irresponsible (or 'selfish' like Robin had said) but he liked his life that way.

And when he got the call to meet up here, he went. Not because he thought it would benefit him in any way, but simply because he felt like it. Unfortunately, the speech from this brain in a jar was boring him, which gave him time to think about his reasons for coming in the first place. He once again spotted Professor Chang in the crowd, who was nervously glancing at him. Or anxiously, X couldn't tell. There was a long silence as the brain stopped talking, and X assumed that his speech was over. So did everyone else, obviously, as they all began mingling, their chatter filling the room with a low murmur.

"Wonder if there are any snacks?" a deep voice rumbled from X's right, and he turned to see the Hive Five pretty much keeping to themselves in the corner. X already knew Mammoth, Jinx and Gizmo (loosely), but the other two who had come from the other side of the room to join them were unfamiliar to him. One was wearing some kind of apparatus on his head that made it seem as though he had one eye, and the other looked like some kind of drill sergeant. And hadn't he already seen that guy in red?

"Who are you?" another voice growled, and Red X turned to see Johnny Rancid stood in front of him; obviously thinking that his bigger build would intimidate X. X crossed his arms.

"Does it really matter?"

"Actually, yeah, because you remind me of a kid I used to know."

"Sorry, I don't go in for that kind of stuff."

He heard the Hive members behind him snicker, and Rancid became slightly red in the face. He leaned closer to X's face. "Better give it up, Bird Boy. I'm on to you."

X's eyes thinned. "What?"

"C'mon, who do you think you're fooling with that stupid costume?" Rancid smirked, reaching forward to remove X's mask. X grabbed his wrist, twisting it around, hard. Rancid yelled in pain and tried to get away from X, who simply kept his vice like grip on Rancids' forearm.

"Don't touch the mask," he said in a tired voice, finally relenting and releasing Rancid from his grip. Rancid stumbled back and growled at the black clad teen, who simply stood with his arms limp at his side. Rancid charged forward, and X prepared himself to fight.

"Stop!"

Rancid ground to a halt, and X looked to the source of the voice to see the brain in the jar and a giant gorilla approaching them.

"You are here as allies. If you allow personal vendettas to cloud the issue, then you will have no place here," the brain said in its' monotone voice, and X bit back the snarky response that he had ready.

"No problem here. I was just making sure we didn't have a spy," Rancid said, gesturing in X's direction.

"You fool, he is no spy."

"How do you know?" Rancid challenged, then cowered slightly under the glare of the gorilla.

"Because telepathy is one of the many skills I have at my disposal."

X's eyes widened slightly beneath his mask, and he hoped it didn't reflect on his skull-like appearance.

"In future, Johnny Rancid, be sure to think before you act."

Rancid muttered something under his breath and left, though where X had no idea. His mind was once again pulled to the present as the brain turned towards him.

"Your skills are most impressive, Red X. In fact, there are several assignments that I have for you that could put them to good use."

"Is that right?" X said, becoming thoroughly disinterested in this conversation.

"Indeed. The Teen Titans have many allies, and your skills would be ideal for the task of eliminating them."

Eliminating?

X wasn't about to pretend for a minute that he was a moral person. But there were certain things that he wouldn't do. He would only steal from the wealthy. True, he wouldn't give to the poor, but he wasn't perfect. And another was that he wouldn't murder someone, no matter how much he was paid. He even tried his best not to injure his opponents too much. The only reason he was so careless when fighting the Teen Titans was because he knew they could take care of themselves. That's probably why he enjoyed fighting them so much; he didn't have to worry about saving their asses. Though he did end up doing just that when he saved Robin from Chang, but that was something he never lingered on for too long. A conscience is a terrible thing for a thief to suddenly acquire.

X waved a dismissive hand. "Thanks, but I have better things to do than play as your lap dog. Why don't you get Curious George here to take care of it instead?" he said, gesturing to the gorilla who was now glaring at him in the same way he had done at Rancid. X was nowhere near as fazed as Rancid was, though. He heard the Hive members snicker once again, but they were quickly silenced by the gorilla's angry stare. X turned and was about to leave when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Do not be so hasty. Wait and see what we have to offer," a deep French accent said.

"Thanks, but I don't-" X turned and stopped talking as he realised that the gorilla was talking to him. He crossed his arms. "Oh, so you talk too. I wish I could say I'm surprised."

"Just don't make any rash decisions. You may regret them."

And with that, the gorilla and the brain left. X was unsure of what to make of that. Was that a threat? It sure as hell sounded like one. X sighed as he realised it wouldn't really matter if it was. He could pretty much handle anything anyone threw at him. He was one of the few criminals that actually managed to escape from the Teen Titans. He couldn't think of anyone who actually had, at least to his knowledge. There was someone else in the Titans' database, but he couldn't remember his name. Slice? Sl-something.

X looked up at the monitors that showed the various 'enemies' that they would be fighting. He saw Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy… he didn't know who that group was at the top; looked like some kind of reject Fantastic Four come to life. Then there was Robin, and X couldn't help but smile, thinking of just how easily X could infuriate the guy. He hoped he got a chance to fight him again; he was the most challenging opponent he had faced in a long time. His eyes continued to wander on the screens. There was an archer with red hair, and X had absolutely no idea who he was. He was instantly reminded of newspaper headlines featuring Green Arrow, though it was probably just because of the archery.

He'd heard of Aqualad, but the woman on his right… X had absolutely no idea who that was. But he knew the guy on Aqualad's left; Kid Flash. X had actually met him once or twice, and was repeatedly infuriated with how quickly the guy managed to take whatever he had stolen away from him. X had learned from that day on to stay away from Central City. The others were all unfamiliar to him, although the large man with the red star on his chest looked familiar…

X was pulled from his musings as he felt the presence of someone behind him. He quickly turned on his heel to find Chang behind him, a twisted little smile on his face.

"Feeling jumpy, are we, good boy?"

X remained silent, letting himself relax. He didn't have anything to fear from this guy. Chang continued on.

"Just remember that I'll be keeping an eye on you… I'm very patient. I can wait."

And with that, Chang slipped away into the crowd. X shrugged and looked for a place to sit. He was getting steadily bored with this place, and he wasn't sure what was supposed to happen now. Finding nothing, he simply sat on the floor, leaning against the wall with his hands behind his head. No sooner had he sat when Jinx sat down next to him. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She really was an attractive woman; at least X thought so. He would have done something about it, but he really couldn't find the effort. Every time he'd run into her, he was usually incredibly tired from his latest heist, or otherwise occupied. She looked over at him.

"So, what do you think of all this?"

X shrugged as best he could. "Grand schemers come and go. I wouldn't get too excited about the Titans getting beat by a brain in a jar and a talking gorilla. They've beaten better."

Jinx smiled as he looked at him. "But not you."

X smirked under his mask. "Smart girl."

"Hey Jinx! Move your butt, we're outta here!" Gizmo's voice whined across the room, assaulting X's ears. He winced and looked over at her in mild surprise.

"We're free to go?"

Jinx shrugged. "Looks like it. I'll see you around sometime, cowboy."

She got to her feet and slinked off. X jumped to his feet shortly after and made a move to leave in the same direction that the Hive members had left. Before leaving through the huge doorway, he turned to look at the assembly of villains and criminals, then looked at the monitors showing the Teen Titans and their allies. His eyes lingered on Robin, and he gave a mock salute.

Good luck, kids.

He turned to leave, pondering his next theft. Maybe he'd go to Jump City for fun – see who's minding the shop while the other Titans are away. They'd have to be pretty good for Robin to leave them in charge. X smiled beneath his mask as he wondered if they took life as seriously as his rival.

Not much chance of that.

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(A/N: Thanks for the feedback, folks!

i feel awfully random: I'm not particularly against the Robin/Raven pairing; I just don't see it when I watch the show. I do see Robin and Starfire. I mean, they devoted an entire episode to them (Stranded)! And I see hints of Raven and Beast Boy too (like Spellbound).

X cool? X not cool? Review!)