[a day later]
Pacing around my dorm room back and fourth is probably wearing a hole into the wood flooring. Knowing this I still cannot stop my pacing, Beastboy should be here by now I look around the room once again hoping to spot him as a fly but no luck. I can't help but feel agitated that he would be an hour late to something like this. My phone buzzes to life in my pocket.
Cyborg: Red X is breaking into a jewerly store. We are keeping him entertained but this may be your chance to go in by yourself. If he is Red X he isn't there and if he isn't...well you will have to figure that out.
I stare down at the message for a bit, why didn't they tell me as soon as he attacked? I could be there helping. We all agreed that if I was needed they would tell me. I shake my head and give out a sigh shoving my phone back into my pocket. I guess I am going alone. I hurriedly walk across campus trying to find my way to his dorm room. I remember where it was from when I looked for it yesterday making sure I wouldn't get lost on campus tonight. The air is cool and it bites at my nose. It hasn't been cold enough to see my breath yet but that could happen within the next couple weeks. Which I don't plan to be here for. My keycard works on the front door, which is good because I want to keep my power use to a minimum. I look around the common room carefully hoping to see him here, but no luck. I sigh and make my way for the elevator. It seems to take forever to get to the second floor. I know that at any second I could get another text message telling me that Red X teleported out and could be on his way home. His room should be dead in the middle in this hallway. It seems to stretch for so long, I thank Azar I won't have to venture all the way to the end. When I get to the door, I see the whiteboard on the front of it, which normally has the names of everyone living in the dorm, however in this case It just says on.
C. Mendez.
So this is the right place, I knock on the door first, hoping to not have to go through it, letting my soul self through the door might end up putting me right in the middle of something I don't want to be in. I await a response but don't get one. I knock again this time a little louder, maybe he just didn't hear me the first time. Still no answer. I check both ways, making sure no one is watching me and I allow myself to be consumed by my soul self pushing through the door and landing in an open space. This must be what the normal dorms look like. One big room with two beds on both side. One bed has a normal plaid comforter while the other is just a plain mattress. No one is in here. I let go of my soul self and stand in the middle of the dark room. I don't dare turn on the lights in case he see's the light on from outside. The room looks normal, nothing stands out as someone who could be living a double life as a criminal. I check underneath both beds but find nothing. Something doesn't feel right about the room, while there is nothing that says he is a criminal there is also just nothing really here. No pictures, no papers, no backpack, no personal belongings. Not even stuff for the shower even though I know he would have to transport his shower stuff to and from the shared bathroom every time he uses it. He could be in the showers. My phone buzzes to life once again in my pocket.
Cyborg: He teleported out. Get safe.
I let my soul self take control again as I go through the walls. I check the hallway one more time for anyone who could be watching and see nothing. I let it go once again and wait. I listen for any type of movement inside the room. I must have been standing there for at least a half hour, waiting to see the light turn on under the door or even to hear someone inside but nothing. I knock on the door again hoping he would answer now. He doesn't. I sigh with frustration and leave. So it still could be either Conner or Jason. I go down to the common room and look around once again not seeing him down here, would I be a pervert if I checked the bathrooms? Probably. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I whip around met with Jason.
"You scared me" I say he chuckles and looks around the common room, almost to silently ask me what I am doing here. I don't have a good reason yet.
"It's a surprise to see you here, I didn't think you needed to come to these dorms." He says I nod and look around for anything I can use as an excuse.
"I had a study group and they wanted to meet and their place. I swore mine was bigger but they insisted. What about you?" I ask he chuckles
"I live here. Fourth floor." He answers pointing up. I let my heartbeat slow, recovering from being startled.
"Oh, I see. Well sorry I will let you go about your night." I say turning on my heels, he grabs my forearm gently and pulls me back I meet his eyes and quickly look away. From this close they almost look like they have slivers of yellow and a lighter green in.
"Are you okay?" He asks his tone lowering into what is now concern. I nod and pull my arm back from him.
"Yeah, today has just been...very weird" I admit he nods and looks around the room. I see his eyes focus on something, or someone and he grabs my good hand and walks me over to another spot in the room. Away from the entrance. I look around trying to see what he sees when I see him. Conner. Stocking into the room. He doesn't look like he just got done with a fight with the Titans, but then again neither does Jason.
"Is everything okay?" I ask, but it seems Jason doesn't hear me, his eyes are fixated on Conner as he moves throughout the Common room to the elevator. I look to Conner myself trying to read his body language. He is also super similar to Red X's body type. With his room being strangly empty it moves his suspicious scale a little bit higher.
"Jason" I ask again trying to gain his attention.
"Yeah? What did you say?" he asks turning his attention back to me as Conner gets into the elevator.
"I asked if you were okay. Who is that guy?" I ask he shakes it off and shrugs.
"No one to worry about it, hey let's go get some coffee or something. I'll buy" he offers, I nod and follow him out the room trying to piece together why Jason would know Conner and why he would have that reaction to seeing him. We get to the coffee cart, I order a tea, even though the tea here isn't the quality I am used to. Jason orders a black coffee and pays. We head to a bench, the only one not soaked in water from the rain. The sky is still cluttered with overcast but the rain has stopped for now. We sit and for a minute there is no conversation.
"Jason...I am serious who was that guy. You seemed...pretty alarmed when you saw him" I say he nods and looks down at his coffee in his hands. His usual playful features have taken on a serious tone. Which makes me worry more than I should.
"He's a really bad guy." is all he says.
"Have you told the Titans? The police?" I ask, I know he isn't on the Titan's watchlist. At least I don't think he would be.
"I need proof for that. Like video evidence or something. I can't prove anything so I just watch him until I catch him slipping. I think he knows I am watching him though. He has been extra careful. I can tell he is up to something though." Jason answers, I nod. I understand what he means. I take a sip of my tea cringing slightly. We both fall into a comfortable silence. I look up to the building noticing the light to the room I was just in has been switched on. Conner stands in the window looking out and for a minute I think he looking straight at us. I nudge Jason and he sees what I see to. He grabs my arm and we head away. Not to my dorm and not to his, but to the library.
"I don't want him to see where you live. That could be bad. I told you I think he knows that someone is keeping an eye out. I don't want him to think it's you" Jason admits. I feel guilty for some reason, mostly because I am someone who is keeping an eye out for him. Even if I have been slightly more careful than Jason could be.
"What do you think he could be doing?" I ask quietly, he looks around the library maybe to be careful.
"I think the less you know the safer you will be. I don't want to have to break someone else's jaw" He jokes, I laugh and shake my head. I need to tell the Titans something. I hear the rain starting again outside the library. Being in the library reminds me of the book I borrowed that I haven't even pulled out of my bag yet. It still rests in there. I haven't really had the time to read since I got here. Again Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence, allowing the noises of the library to fill it between us. I feel something else is bothering him, I don't even need to use my powers to know that he isn't telling me everything.
"So Rachel, I have seen you are campus more in the past week than any one person in the last semester so tell me more about yourself" he says I smile slightly and think what I could tell him.
"Well, I am a lit major. I like to read. I hate bright colors." I say he laughs a little and shakes his head.
"Well aren't you a ray of sunshine, I think I should have gotten that last part by now though. You only wear black and dark blue." He says I nod and look down at my outfit today. Another black t-shirt with my black leather jacket and black jeans. He isn't wrong.
"They are the colors that speak to me, how about you? Tell me more about you." I say he thinks just as I did. It almost makes me wonder if he is hiding something too. It's possible.
"I don't have a major, kind of just wanted general education. I like reading too but the only books I get as of late is porn magazines, I like pictures." He jokes I snort and cover my mouth looking at the floor. Rolling my eyes I look back at him.
"Why does that not surprise me at all" I deadpan he shrugs.
"I guess because I am that transparent. So is there anything else interesting about you Sunshine, or is the dark and gloomy all you got?" He asks I shrug and look around the emptying library. It should be just turning nine now. Which means the library will be closing within the hour.
"So you know that I am single, are you?" I ask. It sounds like I am flirting but really I just need to do more to find out more about him. I know he isn't married. He could be engaged or he could have a girlfriend and both would be a factor. He nods his head.
"I have porn magazines does it sound like I have a girlfriend?" He jokes I shrug
"I don't know how relationships work. I am surprised my boyfriend and I were together as long as we were. Half the time I swear we were just friends who had sex" I admit, he cocks his neck to the side and furrows his brow asking for more information. "He just, seemed to want that more than to have a conversation. That could be that he didn't know how to talk though. Not everyone knows how to express their thoughts and emotions."
"You don't seem to have a problem with that" He says. Pressing my lips together I shake my head.
"I do, just...not with you" I admit. I do feel more comfortable talking with him. It could be that he was there when I needed someone or that he literally fought off four guys for me. Something about him makes it easy for me to talk to him. He makes it easy to laugh.
"Should I consider myself lucky?" He asks I nod and smile.
"You are damn lucky"
[At the tower]
Cyborg and Robin sit face to face in his office once again. Robin with his head in his hands staring down at the floor. Cyborg, arms crossed in front of him glaring to Robin.
"When were you going to tell her?" He asks Robin shakes his head.
"About which part?" Robin asks, Cyborg scoffs.
"What's been going on with you man? This isn't like you. You loved Raven I know you did. Maybe still do, and you aren't one to act like this. This isn't the Robin I know." Cyborg states staring him down. Robin hasn't moved from his spot. Staring down at the floor almost in shame.
"We have to tell her" Cyborg says Robin shakes his head.
"No, we can't. If she knows it could throw everything off. She knows what she needs to" Robin demands. Cyborg lets out and exasperated sigh
"All she knows is Red X is there and that is who she is looking into. She has no idea about this whole other operation. Do you think he will come down and tell her? 'Hey I am selling women overseas to perverts in random countries.' What if he targets her Robin? She has no idea" Cyborg yells Robin throws his hands to his sides and stands up looking down on the sitting Cyborg.
"That's the point! Obviously we aren't going to let him get to her! She's his type though! We made sure of that with the glamour. What he doesn't know is she isn't a powerless college girl" Robin explains Cyborg gawks at him his features twisting into disgust.
"You sent her in...as bait?" He asks they both stay silent for a second Cyborg processing this new information. Robin feeling guilty now that it was said out loud.
"She 's there to find X. She just might get the attention of Conner. If so we will be there to protect her. I am not stupid, I know what I am doing" He says turning his back to Cyborg and heading to the messy table of evidence.
"She doesn't know though. She has no idea what she is actually doing there. How do you know we will be able to protect her?" Cyborg asks Robin takes a deep breath but doesn't reply. Even he knows that Cyborg is right.
"I can't let her stay there without knowing what she is doing there Robin. She's been hurt once already you think I am going to let her get hurt again? We don't even know what he does to these girl to transport them? Drugs? Beat? You don't even know." Cyborg spits Robin leans against the table gripping its sides tightly.
"Don't say anything to her, I will tell her. She deserves to hear it from me" Robin pleads, Cyborg relaxes nodding slightly feeling as though he finally got through to the Boy wonder.
"What about the other thing...when are you going to tell her about Star?" Cyborg asks Robin shakes his head.
"Not now...I shouldn't have even told you." Robin admits. Cyborg nods, his main goal has been accomplished, the relationship problems between his fellow titans doesn't concern him as much as the safety of them.
"Told? We caught you...how long has this been going on?" Cyborg asks Robin clears his throat.
"A while okay? Since Raven and I got into that fight about her not following directions, I was mad and Starfire was...willing" He replies, Cyborg shakes his head. He walks out of Robin's office sitting down onto the couch next to Beastboy.
"Want to play me? I bet I can beat you this time, I have been practicing some new moves" He asks, Cyborg laughs and shakes his head.
"You can't beat me with years of Practice but you are on grass stain" He deadpans.
[Back with Raven]
Jason walks me back to my dorm, even through the rain we walk slow and talk about everything that we can. I can still tell he is holding something back from me, and I don't doubt he feels the same thing about me. I can feel the rain running down my back, my hair is soaked, the only part of me that hasn't been affected by the water is my toes which are still warm in my boots. Jason's dark hair is matted against his forehead. He runs his hands through his hair slicking it back. It all stays except on piece which falls and hits his forehead. I let out a small laugh.
"Why is that your answer to everything, Should I be worried?" I ask he shakes his head and chuckles.
"It was my first reaction! He stole my only cupcake he was getting punched" Jason exclaims I shake my head.
"So you broke his jaw?!"
"I mean at least he couldn't eat the cupcake" He deadpans, I snort and shake my head as we approach the dorm building entrance. He follows me inside and we head up to my dorm. He has insisted on checking out everything and making sure everything is safe. Seeing Conner really startled him. We turn the corner of to the hallway that leads to my room. But he grabs me pulling me back. I squeak in shock but he puts a hand over my mouth as he pins me against the wall. Being this close to him makes something inside me ignite. Something I didn't know I had and I don't know what it means. Only that Lust is going nuts in my head.
"Shh, someone is outside your door." He whispers. I stop struggling against him and wait seeing what his next move is. Waiting for him to tell me who it is on top of that. There is too many people in their dorms for me to sense anyone extra. I stare at him, looking at the total concentration and alert on his face. I feel the strength of his body against mine. He looks down at me tightening his grip on my arm. I swallow hard and even though this should trigger a boatload of things but it doesn't. Not with him. Regardless of who he is, I feel safe with him.
"You aren't staying here tonight" He states, usually I would argue, but given that I know absolutely nothing about Conner I don't. I let him pull me away from the hall and back down stairs.
"Who was there?" I ask he doesn't answer, just walks hastily. Our footsteps patter against the wet concrete. His louder than mine, he doesn't say anything as we make our way to his dorm. His emotions are strong, concern, anger. I am not even trying to feel them, they radiate off of him like body heat. A small nagging feeling whispers for me to send a text message to the team, I can probably do it as soon as I get to Jason's apartment. As soon as we get there he puts an arm in front of me keeping me from going any further inside.
"Let me check out the comm room. Make sure no one is in there waiting for you" He says I nod and chew on the inside of my cheek as he does. I warily look around outside being sure we haven't been followed. I don't sense anyone near us. I can't exactly tell him that though. With each passing minute I feel like Conner might be the one I came here to find. Moments after Jason tells me how bad of a guy he is he happens to send someone to my dorm room? Why? How does Jason know they won't come after him too?
He comes back gesturing for me to walk with him, I do so as we get in the elevator I can see Jason has balled up his fist awaiting the first person to look at him the wrong way. Probably to break someone's jaw again. It seems to be his trademark. Even though I can handle myself being near him makes me feel somewhat safer. That might just be that I am not by myself while someone could possibly know who I am. We make to his dorm shortly after the elevator ride, his dorm room is one of the first room on another long hallway up on the fourth floor. He again gestures for me to wait while he sweeps his dorm. He beckons for me to come in after about a minute. Not really much ground to cover in these. I see another empty bed in a room with two beds. Does everyone here sleep alone? What is the point of having two beds in a dorm room if you only fill one of those. His dorm room smells like cologne, I can't be sure which one but it's everywhere. Not strong enough to make me cough but enough for it to be noticeable.
"I have extra blankets, they aren't heavy because I use them in the summer but I can make the second bed up for you" He offers, I nod slightly my head busy with other thoughts. If the people looking for me find my files they will know I was looking for someone. Jason places a hand on my shoulder furrowing his brow. "Are you okay? I know this is probably a lot to handle"
"I just want to know who you saw, was it Conner?" I ask he shakes his head
"Not Conner himself but no doubt related. He doesn't normally target anyone who hasn't interacted with him" He says. That doesn't sound like Red X. He doesn't target anyone. Just steals shit from places and sells them on the market. No doubt to keep upgrading his suit. We figured that after he got more tricks Robin didn't think of. More toys that Robin didn't equip the suit with. Even being able to teleport farther than a couple blocks was an upgrade we had to figure out the hard way.
"What do you mean by Target?" I ask he sighs and sits on the best running a hand through his hair. It's wet from the rain and stays in place for a while before falling back onto his forehead. I can see him mulling over whether or not to tell me.
"Can I text my parents? Just in case they try to come visit me I want them to know I won't be there." I lie, he nods. I take out my phone and quickly shoot a text over to Cyborg explaining the situation. Hopefully the information I give them is enough for them to find out more about Conner and who he targets.
"Conner used to be my roommate, after I started noticing a lot of the girls he would bring over would eventually go missing and he didn't seem to care I started to dig some more. Going through his things and what not. Following him around. He must have known I was looking because he switched rooms. He knew I didn't have a lot to go on. I still followed him though. One night I saw one of the girls he had been seeing handcuffed next to him. She wasn't moving and was leaning on him funny. She was...unconscious. Another man pulled up and gave him this briefcase. He handed over the girl and I never saw her around again. Her friends contacted the police but apparently she had send an email to her folks saying she was done with school and doing some out of the country soul searching. That was a month ago and she hasn't been back. No one else has heard from her." Jason explains. All I can do is stand there is disbelief. Red X would never steal a person. At least...I don't think he would. My phone dings to life in my pocket.
Cyborg: Are you safe? Did you confront him?
me: Yes i am safe. No i didn't confront, staying with an on campus friend. Conner is trafficking women...sound like red X?
I don't know what to think exactly. This all sounds so confusing. How did they not kill Jason for looking into things. Surely if you have a secret illegal business anyone finding out about it could be a liability. No smart criminal would leave someone alive after they snoop through all of their stuff. Unless there is something else Jason isn't telling me. Something that could be keeping him safe from Conner. Did he trade something for immunity to Conner? Did Conner think offing him would be too much suspicion on his part? Something isn't making sense.
"I don't understand...why would he be going after me then?" I ask he firmly presses his lips together, looking down at the floor.
"You are his type. Dark hair...blue eyes...not a whole lot of friends. He picks the ones he feels would make easy targets, not draw in a whole lot of suspicion." He explains, a weird gut wrenching feeling crawls into my space. It almost knocks me to the floor. Robin designed how I would look, I got no choice in the matter if I did I would have myself the opposite of what I normally look like. The dark hair is too close to my real self. I told him that and he still insisted I look this way. Now the way I look has gotten me on the radar of someone who sells woman. Again something isn't right.
"How did you find all of this out without getting caught? It seems like this dude knows what he is doing...and how did you not end up killed after he found out you were snooping. Wouldn't he not want to risk you going to the police...or the Titans?" I ask he cocks his head to me not sure how to reply. I bite my tongue...literally and turn away from him sitting onto the bare bed. I can't fight off the anxiety causing feeling that something just isn't right. My phone buzzes again this time multiple times. I look down at it holding a finger up to Jason.
Cyborg: Raven who are you with? Conner isn't Red X. Robin was supposed to tell you that.
We think it could be Jason.
I need you to get back to the tower if you can and tell us everything you know.
And whatever you do stay away from Jason AND Conner.
My heart falls into my stomach but almost as soon as I open my mouth someone kicks down Jason's door.
