Chapter two: Rooftop rumble

Raven was walking around downtown Jump City, and was feeling bored. She had finished her book, meditated for almost half the day and drank enough tea for a temple of monks.

"You know gorgeous, if your not careful, some big baddie might come out and snatch you."

Raven flew up to a roof where the voice was coming from and landed gently.

"I'm a big girl X, I'm sure I'll be fine. I seemed to be alright the last time I saw you."

"In all fairness sweetie, that was cheating." Raven turned towards the voice and finally found where Red X was sitting. He was quite relaxed on an air shaft with one leg bent and the other one dangling over the edge. His elbow was resting on his bent knee and his other arm was beside him, supporting his weight.

"What would you know about cheating? You've got all those X's, not to mention when you had the belt." Raven crossed her arms and leaned on an air vent, not far from Red X.

"And you've got your powers."

Raven raised an eyebrow as if to say 'so?'

"Alright gorgeous, what do you say we have a little spar. You and me. Right here. No powers, and I won't use my weapons. Hand to hand." He jumped down and walked over to her, "What do you say?"

Normally she would have done anything but spar with X, but she was in a playful mood and had nothing better to do.

"Fine." She walked past him into an open area on the roof.

"Ready … Go!"

They lunged at each other. Soon they were bobbing and weaving each others attacks, getting a punch of a kick in whenever they could. It wasn't long before Red X was on his back. Raven was straddling him, pinning his arms on either side of his head.

"Give up yet?" she panted. They were both breathing heavy even though they hadn't been fighting that long.

"Don't get too cocky." He warned, flipping them over so her hips were in between his knees. "… that's my job. Fascinating position we're in." she flipped them over again. This time her knee was digging into an area of his, just below his stomach.

"Would you like me to make it so you can't carry out any of your ideas." He kicked her off and pinned her against an air shaft so that her face was pressed against the cold metal.

"Jesus sugar, your dangerous."

She just laughed and phased through the air shaft.

"Oi! We said no powers!" He searched franticly for her but came up with nothing.

"We didn't shake on it!" Red X whirled around just in time to be hit with black energy. He stumbled back and tried to regain his balance.

"Breaking the rules Raven? Mind if I join?" Raven was too slow to dodge an X that was sent flying her way. After struggling with it for a moment she calmly walked up to him and pointed to her mouth.

"Take it off? You'll just attack me." She shook her head and pointed to mouth again. Her eyes looked a little pleading almost … almost.

Red X pulled out a small spray can and squirted it a few times onto the X, making sure to avoid her eyes. Then he slowly peeled it off and tossed it aside.

"What's in there?" she asked eyeing the spray can and rubbing her cheeks and mouth.

"Special formula that I made a little while after I got the suit. I thought if someone tried to use it against me I'd need to get out of it somehow."

"What is it made of?"

"Nah…I take pride in knowing that I cause beast boy grief after his hair gets entangled with that red goop. Plus it gives you a reason to come find me," he traced her jaw with his finger, "or vice versa."

She batted his hand away and walked to the edge of the roof.

"So why did you leave the tower?"

Raven leaned on the railing that was there and thought a moment. Why did she leave the tower? Ever since the time she had seen Red X in the alleyway she had been feeling restless. Her normal routine of : wake up, drink tea, read book, drink tea, read book, meditate, eat ,drink tea, meditate, go to sleep (with a few 'take a shower', 'be annoyed by beast boy', and 'fight crime's thrown in) was getting … dare she say it? … boring.

She was so lost in thought she didn't notice Red X come up behind her until he placed his hands on her belt and spoke softly in her ear.

"What? The answer not in any of those books you read?" she twisted around in his arms until she was facing him. "Sometimes the answers right in front of you, gorgeous."

Raven know she wasn't tall, but Red X towering about a foot above her just screamed heya shorty!

"So why did you leave the tower? You aren't fighting crime. Did ya miss me?" he suggested leaning closer. Hesitantly she reached for his mask. "Curiosity killed the cat you know."

"No it didn't. The car that hit the cat killed it." As she was saying this she pulled his mask up enough to reveal the tip of his nose. He gently grabbed her wrist signalling her to stop.

"Either way, the cat still died. I don't want the cat to die. I kind of like her." With that said he leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. They were surprisingly soft and most intriguingly tasted like strawberries. When he pulled back she had a look of utmost shock on her face. Then without warning she slapped him hard across the face.

He rubbed it gingerly and chuckled lightly.

"You know you didn't have to slap me. You could have just kissed me back."

"You self absorbed, cocky ba-" she attempted to shove him, but he caught her wrists, did a fancy spin, and before she knew it both her hands were in his and he back was pressed up against his chest.

"Even in you did slap me, it was still worth it." Raven shuddered as his lips grazed her ear. Then, just as the last time they met, he kissed her check and vanished.

Raven placed a hand on her cheek and shivered in the cold wind. She floated up to the air vent Red X had first waited for her on, and got comfortable, pulling her cloak tight around her.

It was a while before she finally tore her eyes away from the stars and headed back to the tower. Maybe that new tea wasn't suck a good idea after all …