Two Sides of Law

Chapter Fifteen

A Flight and Interrogation

RED X

A/N: I'm going back in time a little at first…don't get confuddled, peeps : P

I woke up early on the first day of Raven's stay. I got out of the bed carefully as not to disturb her. She'd fallen asleep quickly in my arms. It was amazing the way she'd talked to me. She acted as if we were old friends. For once in my life since my mother was murdered I felt at home. Though Raven was dark and mysterious, she was strangely comforting.

It was seven o'clock when I'd woken up. I had to be at work at nine. Work. What was I going to do about it? I got up and showered, pondering the thought all the while. I should go… I told myself. But Raven's your guest. I retorted. But she might stay for awhile… I fought my internal battle and finally got out of the steaming shower.

I found Raven up and making the bed when I went back into the bedroom. She'd hung the robe on the bedpost. I had to admit, her stomach was pretty toned. She looked up and smiled but turned away blushing at my state of dress. A towel.

"Sorry." I muttered. I grabbed my clothes from my dresser and retreated back to the bathroom. Way to go, Sanders. I said to myself. When I returned to the back room with less revealing garments on, I found Raven floating in a spare spot on the floor, muttering something. I went over to the closet quietly, trying not to disturb her…meditating, was it?. I silently pulled a pair of Kate's jeans from the top shelf. Shit. Kate's shirts don't fit her. I put my hand on the back of my damp neck, thinking. I turned to see Raven sitting normally with hands on her elbows, looking up at me.

"Nervous habit?" She inquired, smiling.

"Yeah. Just thinking. This is the only pair of pants my girlfriend left, and she didn't leave another shirt. You could wear something of mine, but I think it would be pretty baggy."

"Jeans are fine. And I'll wear anything that isn't pink. I doubt I'll have a problem." I nodded at her response. I tossed her the jeans and motioned her to come over. She chose a black shirt that read: Teamwork: A lot of people doing what I say. I hadn't worn it in a while; it was all the way at the bottom of the pile.

I busied myself making breakfast for us both. I scrambled eggs and fried potatoes. I cheated and used microwavable sausage. Raven came out of the bathroom with her new outfit. It was unbelievable. The jeans fit Raven just as well as Kate, and she'd tied the shirt at the front and tucked the knot in her pocket so it would look less baggy.

"Want breakfast?"

"Sure."

I sat down two plates at the table along with a stack of toast, butter and salt and pepper.

"What do you want to drink? I've got milk, orange juice, Gatorade, and water."

"Water's fine." She answered. I finally sat down with her. "Thanks." She gave me another winning smile. We started our meal in relative silence. "Do you have work today?"

"Uh, yeah." I swallowed a bite of dry toast. "I figured I'd stay with you the first day and go back in tomorrow."

"No, that's alright. You don't have to do that."

"I want to. I need a break anyway. 'Cause ya know, acting is so stressful…" I said sarcastically. She laughed.

The next two days went by smoothly. She preformed a spell to change her eye color to blue, her hair black, and hide the gem on her forehead. The first day, we went clothes shopping and she teleported the things she'd need from her room at Titans Tower. Rae stayed home and looked after things. She cleaned and packed a lunch for me every morning. She was arranging several job interviews and took taxis if she had one to get to. She still hadn't had any luck.

Everything was going well, but I still hadn't told Kate what was going on. I tried to ignore her at work and not flirt or kiss her. I made up excuses when she asked if I wanted to do something after work. I couldn't find the courage to tell her I didn't want to be with her anymore. And that backfired.

I got home on the third day to find Raven sitting idly on the couch, staring out of the window. She hadn't greeted me with a cheerful hug or a peck on the cheek. She didn't even acknowledge my presence until she pressed a button on the phone beside her.

To playback messages, press three. The answering machine said. Raven pressed the button, not bothering to look at me. A familiar voice slid through the speakers of the answering machine. I froze. Kate's.

" Hi, Collin. It's Katie. Listen, I've been noticing you've been acting strangely lately. You've been avoiding me. You haven't been kissing me or anything. If something's wrong, you can talk to me, okay? I love you, baby. See you tomorrow."

A click of Kate hanging up the phone filled the room. Raven finally turned to look at me. I saw her violet eyes welling with tears. Tears that hadn't reared their ugly heads in three days. Tears that I'd prevented. And now I had provoked them. A surge of intense guilt slithered uncomfortably up my spine. I mentally slapped myself half a dozen times. You fucking ass! You should have told them both sooner!

"I thought the clothes were your ex's. Not your current girlfriend's." Her old bitter voice cut through the silence like salt melted ice. She hadn't sounded like that since the first fight with Slade. I felt hate in her eyes as tears receded. She stood up. "Were you even going to tell either of us?"

"…Raven…I was. I got scared. Kate and I have been together- sort of - for a year now. We never made it official, or anything. I was going to tell both of you, but…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Save it," said Raven, sending a hand across my face. A smacking noise echoed through the room. "for someone who cares." She stalked to the bedroom and picked up a bag that she'd packed. I presumed it to have her clothes, mirror and toiletries. She slung the backpack over her shoulder and came back in. She shoved a wad of something into my chest.

"Here." She left the apartment with a slam of the door and only then did I realize she'd handed me money. A note was enclosed in an envelope with rushed hand writing on the outside: Red X- Collin- whatever the fuck you wanna be called. I stood there dumbfounded, rubbing my stinging cheek. I should have tried to go after her. But I didn't. I sat on the couch and opened the letter with such care as defusing a bomb.

Red X or Collin,

I'm not even going to get into the part about how angry I am with you. I'll just say this: I thought you were a caring guy who is honest and trustworthy, not a cocky jack-ass like Red X. I was wrong. Not only did you hurt me, but you'll lose Katie too.

The cash is for the clothes and the trouble. Keep the change.

-Raven

I felt hot tears well in my eyes. Don't be a woos. I told myself. You don't…I stopped myself from saying it. I sniffed, looking over the letter again. My hand held my jaw as if I were pondering a puzzle of some sort. Only babies cry. I held back tears. I didn't cry; I was a man. I didn't act like a stupid thirteen year old. I sat there, telling myself that for what seemed like hours. And the tears finally spilled over, seeping from closed eyes.

Why was I so upset? Sure, the girl was amazing. She was beautiful. She was intelligent. She was kind and sweet. She was- oh, who was I kidding. I loved the chick. I barely knew her, but I loved her. I felt whole with her. I found a part of me I never knew was missing. I'd felt better than I had in years while she was around, and that was saying something.

I cried quietly for a while, wallowing in my misery. And out of nowhere…

A green streak crashed through the window. Shards of glass flew everywhere, and the mystery streak rolled into a standing position. It was Robin. A green boy morphed into his usual form instead of an insect of some sort. A blue beam came through the front door and the three males of the Titans stood before me. Robin grabbed me by the collar roughly. I made no attempt to break free. I only stared at him with my pathetic watery eyes. My weakness.

"Where is she, X?" Robin exclaimed, shaking me. I had a feeling he didn't notice I was crying like some immature toddler.

"Gone. Dumped me, too." I said. Robin released me and the couch caught me.

"She never dumped me." Robin said bitterly.

"Cut the shit and get the cuffs on the bastard!" the metal man yelled. Robin did as he said and threw me back on the couch. The robot-man stood in front of me with a look of pure hatred. If looks could kill, my ghost's ghost would be dead.

"She was here?" He inquired. Boy, this guy didn't waste any time, did he?

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Since the fight." I replied.

"Why did you kidnap her?" Cyborg inquired.

"I didn't."

"Liar."

"She hugged me. She asked if she could stay with me for a day or two. I said yes." I told him matter of factly.

"She would never hug a bastard like you!" The Traffic Light spat from his place near the corner of the room. The green kid glared at me from the other with crossed arms. That's when I realized they were short a member (other than Rae). Where was Ditz?

"I wasn't aware the word "never" had a new definition, Birdie Boy." I retorted through clenched teeth. This kid's ego was way too big.

"Screw this." Cyborg said. And with that, he struck me over the head with a powerful arm. The next thing I knew, I woke up in a place I never thought I'd see the inside of. I was in a prison cell.

"FUCK!"

………………………………...

A/N: So how'd I do? Sorry the story's gettin' sorta boring, but I'm trying to make the pieces fit. That's why of late I've had these mainly fluff chappies…Anyway, thankies for reading.

-screams: YOU LIKIE? REVIEW, OR I WON'T WRITE!

:clears throat:

-sweetly: Please?