(Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.)

"Oh, friend Raven!" Starfire flew into the small, old room eagerly. Cyborg and Beast Boy were only moments behind her.

Cyborg looked around the dark space. It looked like it was no more than a broom closet. Raven was suspended in a tall, glass cylinder. She was out cold. "Robin and the others should be here by now. Do you think Shadow double-crossed him?"

"Dude, that's creepy. Way creepy," Beast Boy said from the other side of the cylinder. He was peering at his teammates through the cloudy glass. "I can see right through her. You two look like ghosts!"

"Beast Boy, don't touch anything," Cyborg snapped. He began examining the base of the cylinder. "There's got to be some way to open it," he muttered to himself.

Starfire gasped. "She moved! Raven's fingers moved slightly! She wishes to be released!" Starfire's eyes and fists glowed green.

"Starfire, no–" but it was too late. The glass shattered and Raven fell limply into Starfire's fierce hug.

As the laughter took on a psychotic edge, Shadow cursed quietly. He looked around warily. "Loeki," he breathed.

Very suddenly, the strange humor that had held Robin vanished. "Who's that?"

"A trickster, a lesser demon with a knack for bewildering his victims," Shadow responded tersely.

Robin was embarrassed by being so easily manipulated. "Why didn't he affect you," he demanded angrily.

"Call it immunity. Once you know his trick, he's almost powerless. He can bring his friends back, though. We should go. Fast."

They weren't gone fast enough. A few guardian priests ran around a corner and cut them off. Shadow disappeared, but Robin didn't have time to think about the yellow-bellied mercenary's flight. He attacked the guards head on, as was his style. He knocked out one, then two of the priests. Just as he turned to the third, Shadow reappeared.

"She's close," he said quickly.

"I'm busy," Robin snapped.

Shadow dodged the priest's strike and shoved him back into a window. The glass broke, and the man fell through with a yell. "There," Shadow muttered, facing Robin. "You're done. Come on."

Chaldor ran his fingers through Moonlight's black hair, brushing it back from her face. Moonlight opened her eyes groggily. Cupping her face in his hand, Chaldor moved his lips to hers as he murmured, "My apologies about the sleeping powder, my love. I forget it shouldn't be used on someone who's pre-" Their lips were barely touching when a crash and yell interrupted them. Chaldor sighed, leaning his forehead against hers. He backed away slowly and left.

Within moments Robin and Shadow slipped into the dark room. Robin unlocked the chains around her wrists. Shadow just stood to the side, face hidden in darkness.

"Are you okay," Robin asked. Moonlight nodded and almost fainted. Robin caught her, holding her up for a moment. "Moonlight, we're going to have to fight. Can you or can't you stand?"

"Robin, I'll take care of Moonlight. You do what you have to do," Shadow said.

Robin tightened his grip on the girl. "I don't trust you," he replied flatly.

Moonlight's eyes reflected the light as she looked at Shadow. "I...I do," she murmured. "Robin, Shadow can and will take care of me."

Moonlight stepped next to Shadow. Shadow set his hand on the knife hilt at his waist. It, like the one lost to the mirror, was once Moonlight's. He noticed Robin tense, obviously expecting Shadow to touch the girl. Shadow couldn't help but smirk at Robin's protectiveness. "You're wasting time, Boy Wonder," Shadow said with a hint of mockery.

"I'll be fine, Robin," Moonlight stated firmly.

Robin sighed and finally left. Shadow turned away from the girl. "Why do you trust me, Moonlight?"

"I can see in the dark, remember?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he lied defensively.

"You stood there," Moonlight motioned slightly, "when Chaldor was going to kiss me. Your expression was the same as when Robin caught me. You were...mad."

"Oh, that's trustworthy," Shadow muttered sarcastically.

Moonlight growled something quietly and moved in front of Shadow. She glared up at him with her blazing, silver eyes.

Shadow looked down at her and smirked. She was obviously angry and even more obviously at a loss for words. He knew, of course, what she was talking about. He hadn't been just mad. He'd been ready – and willing – to kill. He'd been...jealous. But she wouldn't admit it, even to herself, so why should he? Shadow touched her hair so lightly she didn't notice. The mercenary dropped his hand. He wasn't mad at her. He just gazed into her beautiful, silver eyes until she looked away.

"I'm sure Robin is keeping Chaldor's goons at bay," Shadow whispered finally. "Come on." Shadow was careful to stay close enough to Moonlight that he could help her if she needed any assistance. He knew she wouldn't ask for it. They had taken no more than three steps when Robin came sliding into the room on his back. Shadow shoved the knife at his waist into Moonlight's hands before she made another one. "Stay with him," he ordered, fading into the darkness of the doorway even as he ran out of the room.

Moonlight knelt beside Robin, who was already beginning to stand. "Are you all right?"

"Fine. Stay back," Robin barked, returning to the fight in the hall.

Moonlight had no intention of obeying. Just before she made it through the door, Shadow blocked her path. "You're too weak, Lucine," he hissed, pushing her backwards. "For the last time, stay!"

"I'm not a dog," Moonlight raged at him, "and don't call me that!"

Shadow wrestled the knife out of Moonlight's fingers and grabbed her arms when she tried to shove past him. "Would you prefer Aysel?" Moonlight faltered, and Shadow used the opportunity to knock her feet out from under her. "If I have to chain you back up to keep you out of this, I will."

Moonlight waited until his back was turned. She quickly got to her feet and attacked him, but Shadow was not surprised. He spun around and shoved her against a wall. Moonlight struggled furiously, throwing a punch at him. Shadow deflected the blow easily and kissed her. Moonlight abruptly stopped fighting.

"I'm not going to let you charge in and get yourself killed," Shadow growled.

"Let me go," she demanded, wishing she could sink into the cold wall and just disappear.

"No, Moonlight," Shadow murmured. "You're too weak to go off picking fights."

"Why do you care?"

Shadow leaned as though he was going to kiss her again. She turned her head way, as he expected she would. He smirked, but a sparkle of genuine humor shone in his black eyes. "I'm not going to let you get yourself killed." He very quickly, very carefully clamped the cold chains around her wrists.