Disclaimer:
A/N: Okay, the title may be freaky and maybe misguiding, but just a warning, pay close attention to what everyone says/thinks/and remembers. They all have a connection, but I don't suspect you to start making guesses at what will happen next. I don't mind if you do, but trust me when I say it's better if you keep it to yourself.
Anyway, here's the fifth chapter, enjoy and review people I need your opinions please.
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Chocolate Memories
Gloomy … that was the only way to describe this depressing morning at Rorek's "house". With a jaw splitting yawn the young prince himself stretched and shook his head, messy white mane looking even messier then normal. Ice-blue eyes looked to his large window and sighed. Another day … no, wait, this isn't another day … I have the dragon that cursed me sleeping in a room not a few doors down and a thief down another few doors from me. Then to top it off Mother is after the both of them … I'll be tried for treason if they're found here. But I can't let them go … at least not yet. Not until Malchior releases me from his curse.
Just the thought stressed the prince out and he found his fingers tangled in his hair forgetting to brush it before doing such a thing. Carefully he untangled his fingers while swinging his legs over the edge of his bed and sliding off to walk to his bathroom. Rorek never made it, because just two steps and his phone rang. Mother … he thought dryly and without even looking at the idea caller answered, with his hand stilled tangled in his hair, "Hello?"
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"So, let's be for real for a moment here human," Malchior cleared his throat and propped his feet up on the clear glass coffee table not giving a second thought that maybe Rorek would be greatly pissed if he found out the dragon was the one that scratched it. This didn't go unnoticed by the thief, but instead of raising a brow and wondering if the dragon wanted to die early he growled and corrected.
"In case you've forgotten, the names Kennet – err – Red X to you."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Malchior waved his hand to dismiss the statement, not giving a damn that he was – once again – grating on someone's nerves, "but the whole thief thing? What got you into it? Seriously? No joke, for real, what possessed you to become what you are?"
X snorted and crossed his arms over his chest and walked to the window he had stared out of for the whole time last night. Paranoia was what came with the territory of the career he chose. Not only that, but insomnia, blessed with the curse of being nocturnal the thief shot the question back at the dragon, "I could ask you the same thing. What the hell possessed you to over take the world back a few some hundred years ago?"
"Thousand," Malchior corrected.
X blinked and turned back to the dragon watching as he brushed out his long messy black hair, "What?"
"You said a hundred or so years," Malchior recalled then answered, "but it was really a thousand or so years. Not a hundred. My kind had died out before then."
"Whatever," X sneered, "the point here is why the hell should I tell you my reasons when you have your own."
"Yes, but they're two very different things and all you really want is to redirect the feeling of guilt by using reverse psychology my human friend. You may not want to answer my question because it'll bring up bad memories so you give the question back and hope that I'll be able to share your guilt and all together drop the subject." Malchior shrugged as X's glare darkened, deepened, and he seethed with every word that passed through the beast's lips. However before he could get a word in, Malchior was smart enough to keep talking, "But I'll play along with your little game and answer the simple reason for my "evil ways" so to speak: it's power. Plain and simple, power is a beautiful thing. It's like … it's like … chocolate."
"Chocolate?" X scrunched his face up in a questionable now amused and disbelieving expression.
Malchior sat up, "Now don't laugh, I'm actually being serious here, power is like chocolate, think about it! Chocolate: an aphrodisiac that no one can get over, where once you take one bite you just can't get enough of it! You end up wanting more and more of it until you have it all!"
"Stop right there dude," X interrupted with a hand, "power ain't like chocolate, where as not all chocolates are to everyone's liking. Chocolates, "my friend" are more associated with love because there can be only one piece of chocolate you can't get enough of. Caramel, fudge, truffle, coconut, mint, etc etc the list goes on! BUT there's only ONE that can be a favorite. You see what I'm sayin'? Of course not."
"Yeah, but you're still addicted to it."
"Not to the point of wanting to kill the whole entire world off for it."
"But you're still addicted to it." Malchior repeated with much more emphases, however shook his head and chuckled, "Never mind about the sweets, but back to the question at hand. What did make you chose your "career" I already told you my reason, what be yours?"
X sighed and chuckled, shaking his head and looking around the room for a moment still in utter disbelief that they – a thief and a dragon – were talking about chocolates. I guess it's true what they say … strange, unexplainable things happen when around dragons. Biting down on his lower lip X shrugged, and answered coolly, "I never really had a choice ya know … it was actually my br –"
"Ah, wonderful you're both up," interrupted by the announcing voice of Rorek up top on the grand staircase outside the parlor from which the two where relaxing until said prince did wake up finally. The question and answer left hanging in the air as Malchior sneered.
"Well if it isn't Sleeping Beauty himself," Malchior looked up and couldn't help to notice how he got dressed while coming down the stairs, he raised a brow, and got up following X into the entrance hall and the base of the stairs.
"What's with the get up? Have a date or somethin'?" X snickered.
Rorek shook his head, "No actually, Robin called so I'm off to visit the Titans."
Then, panic struck.
"You're gonna do WHAT?" Both Malchior and Kenneth glared up disbelievingly at Rorek who was currently buttoning up a baggy sky blue flannel shirt, Bryson following not to far behind stopped when Rorek stopped to face the two others fixing his collar.
"You heard me," he said with a grin, "I'm going to Titan Tower, it's a must seeing as I'm the rightful owner of the Red Sea Sapphire."
Malchior shook his head, "Have you lost your goddamned mind? She'll recognize you on the spot, do you realize that?"
Rorek stepped back to give Malchior a second that then shrugged, "I suppose, and then I can tell her where exactly I live. She'll find you and you can release the curse you put on her. That was not a very nice thing for you to do might I add. Thank you Bryson." Rorek nodded to the gargoyle that helped him slip into a khaki trench coat that matched his khaki dress pants.
"Well excuse me for not brushing up on my manners – wait a minute," Malchior narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "how did you know I placed a curse on her?"
"And while we're still interrogating," Kenneth crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow, "what the hell's the connection between you three? I've been meaning to ask that the moment I saw you –" he said pointing to Malchior " – all over her the night you destroyed my perfect heist!"
Malchior scoffed and Rorek glared at the dragon, "You really have no sense of shame do you?"
"I'm a dragon, not a saint," Malchior sneered.
Rorek rolled his eyes, "So I noticed, and what happened between Malchior and Raven belong to them and they are the only ones that have any right to tell their tale. Where as my placement? Well, let's just say I played my part without actually having to play anything."
Kenneth tilted his head not completely getting it, but baring with it and shrugging, "Whatever man, but you're not going to rat on me are you? You know, about me being Red X and all … right?"
"No, of course not," Rorek smiled, but then sneered at Malchior, "him however is another story."
"Asshole," Malchior growled and turned away.
Rorek shook his head, "You know … Malchior, the way to a maiden's heart isn't to be placing curses on her."
"And what would you know about "maidens" Rorek?" snickered the dragon, "You may be a Prince, but let's face it. The only thing you've charmed in this lifetime are small little schoolgirls that still have to be watched whenever they climb the jungle gyms."
Kenneth bust out laughing, "Man, that's weak!"
"Laugh it up gentlemen," Rorek scoffed heading to the exit with Bryson at the door holding it open obediently, "just remember what I said Malchior, if she does suspect anything I will spill it all." Rorek gave Kenneth a warning glare, "and I mean everything." Kenneth felt a shiver go down his spine; Rorek had that kind of power on people. Just one look in his ice-blue eyes sent him into Chillz-Vill. Especially when he casually switched his tone and personality as he spoke to Bryson, "By my leave, have a good-day Bryson and try not to let these … buffoons … trouble you too bad."
"Good luck my lord," Bryson nodded.
Rorek chuckled, "Ah, it's not I that'll be needing the luck after this."
With that the wizard trotted off out the door leaving a paling Kenneth and an unsure Malchior, all the while Bryson grinned and congratulating his master on the perfect turntable game. Kenneth shuffled nervously and looked to Malchior, "Ae, you don't really think he'll …"
The need to continue the sentence wasn't something important, Malchior knew what he was talking about and shook his head his tone sounding more like he was trying convince himself, "Nah … he wouldn't … Bryson! He wouldn't … right?"
"I wouldn't know … lord Rorek is an unpredictable one to decipher." Bryson said with a sly grin that was enough to send Malchior to a state of panic.
"Unpredictable my ass," the dragon growled and rushed to the door, Kenneth dashed to the living room having stuffed the Red X suit in his pack after Rorek had returned it earlier that morning. He snatched it up and ran after the brisk dragon.
"Yo! Scale-face! Wait up!"
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This … is … impossible!
She thought tiredly as she sat back in her archives under Robin's Observation Room, glaring at Malchior/Rorek's book and even many other books that were all over the small low desk that she found to be of interest. Yet, even in these pages they made no sense! Nothing she researched answered her questions … the only way – she concluded – the find the answers to the questions were to ask the ones that started it all directly.
That's damn near impossible! She again huffed frustrated and shot up from her seat to pace the room, becoming more and more like Robin with ever passing second she locked herself in her archives. The archives that her friends never knew she had … no one in fact. This place was for her own eyes because the items in it were all deadly … ancient and powerful.
If Beast Boy were the find it … well … he'd be luck to escape with a sane mind if he touched any of the weapons, potions, powders, and ingredients on the shelves of the circular rooms. Even the books themselves couldn't be trusted, so the secret of the place was for everyone's own safety rather than her own secret getaway. However, pacing the room and glaring a the white book Raven growled and hovered over it, looming and trying to pierce its white hard covers to tell her its secrets.
There's no way that you could only hold the dread dragon Malchior, tell the story of Rorek and still have not another secret to be had! No! I refuse to believe it! Do not lie to me! Raven pulled away and put a hand to her forehead, shaking it slightly trying to calm down before she destroyed anything in the room. She glared at the book and slammed its pages shut, I willfind out what you're hiding, even if I have to rip you to shreds. Emphasizing her own point, Raven dashed to one of the shelves that held a sheathed dagger.
However it wasn't just any dagger.
This was the Shadow Dagger of Azarath.
A weapon that a legendary infamous story in her land, having been owned, used, and cursed by a great thief, an Azarian version of Robin Hood actually. He stole from everyone that was rich; government related, nobility born, and highly respected. Causing a major stir and even becoming – in his twisted sense of humor – a hero to the down trotted, misfortunate and oppressed the laws, forced to abide the rules of the land.
Raven shook her head and re-sheathed the dagger … how she came into possession was in away how no one shall ever believe her – any one on Azarath by meaning. When she was just a young child, toddler barely able to speak clear Azarian, let alone clear English, the legendary thief that called himself Fernaco Aftaka visited Raven. The literal translation would be "daring to steal" or something of the matter … Raven couldn't be positive, but it was something negative like that.
Anyway … Fernaco ran into her room and slammed her door shut with a young boy near him. Maybe about as young as she was at that moment in time, Raven closed her eyes and remembered how it went down perfectly. Like a distant memory – which it was – Raven would never know what she had done back then was considered treason. Until a few years later …
She had helped them escape.
Fernaco and his son … or was it his younger brother?
Raven will never know, but she helped them escape by hiding them under her bed that held a secret latch for smuggling things in and out of Azarath. There they waited until the guards that were after them passed by and she let them up, thinking that it was all a game. It wouldn't be until after they vanished without a trace would she go back into the smuggling latch and find that the Legendary Thief Fernaco Aftaka had dropped the Shadow Dagger of Azarath.
Not only his most treasured/trusted weapon, but also his first ever major steal in his lifetime.
From then on Raven kept it to herself, especially after wising up and learning that Fernaco and the boy were fugitives. For a moment, Raven wondered what had provoked the sudden vivid memory, but decided to put the dagger away. It wasn't worth ruining its sharp point just to rip open a pathetic book.
It was just a book …
"Raven, report to the Ops Room," Robin's voice boomed over the intercom, Raven began to close and put everything away, "the owner of the Red Sea Sapphire is at the door."
The owner? Raven paused and tilted her head, Wasn't that thing donated to the Natural Wonders Museum? Saving the question till she got to the ops deck by phasing through the floor and snatching up her notepad and pen. She did so just in time to see the large computer cut off and Robin turning around to the face the main entrance that was off to her right. Raven never bothered to look and watch as Starfire floated off to greet the "owner" of the sapphire.
Robin looked and noticed Raven scribbling on her pad. Then for her to lift it up and show her question:
The Red Sea Sapphire had an owner? I thought it was a donation.
"It was," Robin nodded, "but I tracked its records to the person that was incharge of the archeological dig and since I couldn't get a hold of the woman, her secretary told me that I could get a hold of her son who had an equal share in the matter and just so happened to live right around the area."
Raven raised a brow and wrote down some more of her thoughts:
So you're inviting him here? To the tower?
"It's safer." Came the vague answer and Raven rolled her eyes deciding to let it go seeing as the owner was just now coming through the elevator. She turned around and time slowed to a crawl when he looked up.
His ice-blue eyes connected to hers and soft smile radiating into the room wrapping it around his powerful fingers and making his presents known. Yet it suffocated her … his aura, his magical power preference was close enough to chocking her off. Point? He was strong enough to make her faint just by his entrance alone.
However Raven held herself steady with each step he took deeper and deeper into the room marching straight for her leader. Raven held her breath when he spoke, that accent, that tone, his voice in general … it was just like how … how she remembered it in the book. Malchior … had the audacity to even copy his voice that sounded better with its original owner.
Or … was this impostor Malchior?
"Welcome to Titan Tower Mr. Aiedail," Robin held out his hand and shook with the regal young man that looked no older then Cyborg, however he wasn't going to ask.
Mr. Aiedail bowed along with the shake, "It's an honor to be here, though I wish it were on different terms. You must be Robin, correct?"
Robin nodded, keeping it all business, "Yes, yes I am, and this is Cyborg, over there is Beast Boy, right here is Raven, and you already met Stafire. Together we're, as you already know, the Teen Titans."
"A pleasure to meet you all in person," his smile growing ever the brighter and even more warmer, Raven tried to look away from his ice-blue eyes, but couldn't. It was hard … so hard to because she didn't know if these were the eyes to trust. Or if she was looking – smack in the face – into the eyes of a grave mistake.
Swoosh … he walked passed her with Robin leading him to the couch, their shoulders, their fingers coming dreadfully close to touching, but as if it were never meant to be missed just by a hair width away. Raven closed her eyes and tried not to shake, his power level was so high! Feeling it walk right passed her was like feeling an ice storm graze by. Cold … fierce … intimidating … Raven shook her head, Get over it. Turning and heading to the couch with everyone.
Starfire hovered above and behind her squealing, but whispering, "He is such a gentleman and how you say? The sexy?"
Yeah … Raven rolled her eyes and pulled up her hood just now noticing that it hadn't been up, Raven sighed and glared holes in the back of Aiedail's cotton white mane that was loose and untied. Calm and cool … Raven growled, … right.
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Alright summary time, what have we learned today folks? 1.) Rorek gets a call to Titan Tower, 2.) Malchior and Kenneth/Red X have a weird conversation, but before the point could be made they were interrupted, 3.) Raven has a memory of when she was child about some freaky legend guy named Fernaco who was carrying a small kid with him at the time of his "mission" and Raven helped them escape the guards, 4.) Rorek and Raven finally meet and it's as Malchior predicted, she recognized him.
So how will it all turn out in the next chapter?
I'll give you a hint since I'm such a nice girl:
If you paid attention to Raven's memory when holding the weapon, then you'll have an idea.
There, that's all you're getting, review and your wish of another chapter shall be granted, I am your servant and you are my master and your wish is my command. (if you review)
L8er Daez
