Disclaimer: the little elfin children, Fernaco and the name Kenneth is mine, the Teen Titan characters from the series aren't mine either.
A/N: Shoots … what's a beta-reader? Sounded like a fish when I heard it, but I guess since I haven't heard of it I don't have it … at least … I don't think … fill me in please.
In the meantime, enjoy!
--
How Real Is Reality
Meditate …
Meditate …
It was a good idea that Raven was right now trying to concentrate to separate her jumbled thoughts in order to ease her mind and accumulate a sense of peace in her being. Since she had agreed – or decided – to be apart of this crazy adventure she hadn't a wink of meditation. Always on the move and always having to fight for her life it was hard for the half-breed to even consider meditation. However … now that she had the time she was going to make every minute of it count.
"Raven," the Titan tried her damned hardest not to strangle the dragon that called to her outside the cavern. Just when she was getting a peace of mind he just had to go on and bother her, "my sweet little Raven, will you please come here."
Raven cringed, did he really have to call her that.
Hell she'd settle for X's little nicknames way better then Malchior's.
"What is it Malchior," Raven growled as she floated herself to the exit and squeezed through, though before she could even get her leg out her wrist as pulled and she was practically yanked out of the cavern. Thrown off balance – possibly on purpose – Raven fell into Malchior's arms. Feeling them wrapped around her waist and pulling her onto her feet she looked up and pulled back when he leaned down and connected his forehead with hers. It was unnerving that they were so close, "Wh-what do you want?"
"Nothing …" he purred and moved so he could rest his chin atop her head, "… just thought that we can … get to know each other better now that we're alone."
Damn … Raven thought dryly … and here I thought you were stupid enough to over look that obvious fact.
Raven pushed harder on his chest to push him away and took two steps back to keep her distance from the dragon, "Really Malchior, I don't think that's a good idea … don't you have a job to do?"
Malchior blinked and shrugged nonchalantly, "I can get to it later … nothing here is really a challenge to hunt."
"Aren't you hungry?" Raven asked with honest curiosity, he may have been a dragon and a reptile that could possibly get through days, weeks, maybe even months without food if pushed to it. It came to a suspicious thirst of knowledge that Raven felt she should know, because it seemed that even without food Malchior was still very … powerful.
The dragon chuckled and grinned sneakily, "Worried about me love? Don't, I'm fine."
Again, Raven cringed at the term of endearment … he just loved to see her agitated didn't he? Eyes narrowed and a scowl appearing at the corner of her lips she said, "I'm being serious Malchior, aren't you the least bit worried that you might have weakened a bit after everything we've went through?"
"You can be exhausting to deal with, I'll give you that," Malchior dodged a rock that was thrown at him and chuckled as he perched himself on the cliff side rocks, "but if you're so concerned … yes … I am kind of deprived of satisfaction."
Raven rolled her eyes and huffed – not a very Raven thing to do, it only happens when something very stupid accrues, like Beast Boy's silly antics that can be so childish it's just irritating. Malchior was coming very close to a Beast Boy rating … though Raven will admit, there are a few – a lot – of things Malchior has a one up on the changeling.
For one … Malchior was a smooth talker and knew what he wanted, it was always quite evident in his metallic black eyes. Glancing off into the forest Raven pointed, "Then get in the forest and feed yourself, it's pointless to be traveling to our dooms when you're as fatigue as you're letting me think you are."
"Oh," Malchior's sly grin took a turn for the creepy when Raven looked up and gasped when he was suddenly so close to her he might as well have been hugging her earlier. Whispering sensually, his fangs giving him that attractive edge, Raven closed her eyes and looked away trying so hard to get her head back, "I never said I was hungry … I said I was deprived of satisfaction …" lifting a clawed finger to hook under her chin, he moved her head so she was looking back up at him. Her eyes, against her will, betrayed her train of thought and opened to see only the dragon that kept casting enchantments over her heart. Why is it that he just couldn't leave her alone? "… Would you let me kiss you … Raven?"
Oh-no … he was doing it again … he was casting a spell over her heart again, having it beat fast and quicken her breathing. His clawed finger under her chin moved to entwine his other fingers within her violet hair, pulling her ever closer Raven shot a hand to his chest pensively but couldn't find the strength to push him back. Yet she found something better … she spoke, she asked in a weak whisper, "What did you mean … when you said my curse … was lifted by forgiveness? I never said I forgave you."
Shot down, and ruined.
Malchior, his breath that was held was let go in one huff, yet he didn't pull away he stayed close to her it's just … it was gone. The moment was gone when she opened her mouth to ask the inevitable question. He was right when he said she could be exhausting at times … she just knew how to stop something she didn't have the physical strength to stop. Words worked just as well if worded correctly.
He should know.
"You may not have said it out right, Raven," Malchior sighed sadly, "but you did forgive me for everything I've done to you … once I've found the courage to say I was sorry and ask for your forgiveness. So you see … it was actually a two-way curse that couldn't be broken unless the caster had some part in helping to break it."
No … Raven pulled away from him after his explanation and turned her back to him, wrapping her arms around her body holding herself for a moment in thought. Raven shook her head inwardly, No … I didn't forgive him … did I? Why? How could I do something so … so … he did it, he's playing tricks again … there's got to be something else to this curse … Forgiveness … it can't be just that … right?
The funny thing about knowing a dragon is that you never know what's going on in their heads. Because behind her, Malchior had bowed his head and closed his eyes looking sullen and sad, in other words, he looked nothing like the cocky arrogant dragon he made himself out to be. With a shaky sigh he walked up to stand beside the spaced out girl praying that she wouldn't move away as he sat on the grassy ground staring out to the city where they had earlier felt a surge of powerful magic emerge from.
Another reason why Raven went into meditation, it was so strong that it sent shock waved of it's magic through out the entire lands she was in. Disturbing her already chaotic aura, it was so much she could take before she lost herself and thus went into meditation to sooth her mind. The hem of her cape was pulled. Looking down to Malchior who silently gestured for her to sit, Raven obliged, but curled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. Resting her head on her knee she sighed.
Silence … she thought it was going to be uncomfortable for them … yet it was actually quite … nice. Funny how she could now stand to be with the strange dragon that acted just as immature as Kenneth/X, though she had to admit anything Malchior did was better then when he came on to her. It wasn't good for the nerves. At least not hers … nerves are something that came rarely for her and right now they were just … floating around in her head lazy and brooding, not in the mood to work.
Just the way she liked it for now.
"You know …" Malchior said thoughtfully with a tilt of his head, "You never did answer my question."
Raven raised a brow, "What question was that?"
At the very moment he sent her a mischievous grin Raven regretted the question and cursed her slowness. Glaring warningly at the dragon, just daring him to try anything, Malchior chuckled and stood up, knowing that she finally got what he meant. He dusted himself off and headed to the forest, "I'll let you think on it little bird."
"Even if I did," Raven argued, her logic thought pounding into her skull asking: "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Shut up! He's baiting you!" yet the pride in Raven just wasn't listening and hooked her deadly glare at the dragon, "I would draw up the same conclusion. No."
Malchior just smiled and laughed softly, "Sure, see ya when I get back."
Arrogant, one track minded, sleaze, son of a … Raven let the rest of her thoughts ramble on as she crossed her legs and began to meditate, it was good for the mind, she needed to meditate so badly.
--
Steal … steal … steal? What in the name of all that is good is that idiotic half-witted human thinking? Stealing? It's … it's … it's just ludicrous! Rorek snorted and shook his head, as he entered a shop the nervousness of being caught long fled from his mind. Now he was just pissed off and agitated that X could even think he was capable of stealing! Even in his thousand years of staying alive he never had to result to such drastic measures … and yet … X could do it without a second thought or a conscious on his mind.
It was sort of unsetting how one human being could be so … so … cold.
Rorek stopped to stare at the ground inside the shop he had entered; unaware of the odd looks he was receiving because of his ever changing face and his angry aura he was giving off. Yet it was hard for him to notice because the conclusion he had reached was bizarre and odd, where the thought came from he hardly knew … but X was … in a sense … cold. Colder then even Raven, because Raven at least had a heart … a conscious to tell her that what she was doing was wrong … hell even Malchior, as a matter of fact … everyone is born with a conscious.
So how X lost his … was a matter of skill … the perfect skill to allow for the perfect killing/thieving/criminal machine to operate. For if he did have a conscious then there would be no Red X. No wonder … Robin refers to him as a "Cold-heartless Thief" because … it was true. It was so damn true that it was the perfect title for X, so perfect it was over looked, because that's what you'd expect for every villain to have the words "cold" and "heartless" put together to make them seem more evil.
When in a sense … the real true meaning of cold and heartless was to never have a conscious. X didn't and thus became the perfect villain because … no one knew what side the thief was on. He was a coin toss … 50-50 chance he'll be against or with you … it was no laughing matter when he was against you, now that Rorek had actually seen the thief in action. It was like … he was unstoppably, nothing could touch him, and he did it all with a smug grin.
Like he enjoyed ever minute of his actions, whether it be good or bad …
It was like … he was immune to the Yin-Yang balance of life …
Or was he the perfect example of balance?
"Excuse me sir," Rorek jumped and gasped slightly when a young drow child had somehow snuck up from behind him and tapped him lightly on his leg. Scared that he was under attack he tensed and powered up … but seeing it was just a little girl he relaxed a bit as she pointed to something upon the shelf, "can I please have that pink jar?"
Confused for a moment having forgotten where he had been standing, he chuckled bashfully when he realized he was still in the elfin world. The young one speaking to him in her native tongue he cleared his throat and nodded and reaching for the pink jar he handed it to the little girl. Watching her smile in delight and excitement as she rushed to the counter paying her fee, Rorek gulped and shook his head, Get it together Rorek, keep on task … how what is it that we will be needing … damn … I should have gotten a list from Raven and Malchior, this is going to be tough … but I refuse to steal.
Meanwhile …
A top a rooftop on the same street, X crouched low and chuckled, Like taking the Red X suite from Titan Tower, nothin' but a synch, close to laughing the amused thief, jumped down to one of the lower rooftops and grabbed onto it's ledge, swinging himself into the window. X landed soundlessly onto the floor, sliding himself up against the wall with the exit door to his left he peeked out the little window to see the business owner discussing a price with a local and snorted. Yup … this is just too easy.
Without hesitation X ran to the corners of the room and snatched up small boxes and bags that looked like they held anything that could be useful, hooking them to the belt that hung the sword on the side. The thief ran to the window, using one hand to flip him up and out soundlessly. X laughed a loud finding so much fun in it all, he couldn't explain it … but it felt like he as a kid again … like when he was with Fernaco …
Suddenly his smile dropped at the memory of his older brother … it dropped and was replaced with an annoyed scowl, shaking his head to get his brother's face from his line of sight. X rounded a corner and skidded to a halt dropping the things off he leaned against a wall and took off the hat for a moment, thinking, Hmm … never mind about Fernaco … if I'm right … I think we're going to need a bit of transportation. Those Air-boards work just fine … but I bet that Titan can't even balance on a beam let alone a damn air-board.
"Sir! Oh sir! Please come we are in need of your assistance! Sir!" Like a cat scared out of its fur, X jumped at the sounds of drows rushing towards him. Little kids once he turned to notice four boys and girl flagging him down trying to get his attention. Though what they were saying was far from what X could understand. In fact they were literally speaking a different language … the language of the elves. Like he was supposed to know that!
Shit! Rorek where the fuck are you when I need you? Damn it all! Unsure of what to do X had a feeling they wanted him to follow them and since he knew he was wearing a guards uniform he put the cap back on and walked their way. Careful of making a sound come out of his mouth, the kids all looked to be in some sort of panic. Pointing and crying in their native tongue, telling him something urgent … but he just couldn't understand them!
"Our friend! He's lost! Can you please help us find him! The last place we saw him at was at the Great Hall trying to get his pet before the Elders found out he went snooping around the courtyard! Please, please help us!"
They were pointing … pointing was good, it at least told X where he was supposed to go, holding up a hand he prayed the kids understood the symbol of an "okay" sign and ran down the alleyway towards their directions. Gritting his teeth the thief huffed, This is totally stupid! I can't waste my time with these … these … brats! But if I don't do it they'll get suspicious … frick Rorek, take care of everything … if you can hear me … now where the hell do they want me to go?
X stopped when he saw another gateway … and he didn't have to be apart of the community to figure out that this place held some kind of special value to them. Whatever it was when X glanced back at the kids they nodded and waited in anticipation … this is where he was supposed to help them – he guessed find something. Cursing himself black and blue for getting himself into these dumb messes. X mentally measured the height of the gate, the distance of the drop on the other side, how thick it was and how much force he'd have to put in order to jump it.
Tall and wide, X knew he probably had to get a running start … no problem … backing up a few feet … a few more … a little bit more … and just an inch more, he took off in a fast sprint and without hesitation kicked off the gate. Climbing it at first with his feet one, two, three, and pushing the forth step, X kicked as hard as he could and latched his hand onto the edge of the gate. Taking a moment to catch his breath, X gritted his teeth and pulled himself up and over.
A good flip and a not so soft-landing, yet still in a crouched position the kids on the other side gaped in wonder. The eldest boy said, "Wow … that was amazing … and he didn't even have to use an ascending spell to get over … I never thought that was possible!"
"Yeah …" the little girl agreed, but tilted her head and put a finger to her chin as she thought allowed, "…but I wonder why he couldn't have just pushed the button on the side wall? That's what all the other guards do every time Joh'nae gets himself stuck on the other side of the gate."
Frick! X cursed over and over again as he limped off to lean against one of the random trees that stuck out in the middle of the courtyard, Damn! I knew I pulled something, shit! Whatever the hell those brats are looking for it better be in this courtyard, cause there's no way in hell am I entering that damn … what the … letting his train of thought wonder. X blinked when he saw something oddly … familiar … a face in one of the high windows of the tower like structure in the building. Looking down on him … it was familiar, a face that looked like … Fernaco …?
Mouth opened about to call out his brother's name; X stopped himself from doing something so foolish and looked down, Fernaco … why the hell did I just – huh? Back up the face was gone, not just moved either … it was like … it just … vanished. Hazel eyes glaring up at the window, X snorted and turned away from the building, No sense in trying to make sense of – train of thought was suddenly halted when a sharp stab of pain shot through to the back of his head.
"AHH!" dropping to his knees, X grabbed the sides of his head and gritted his teeth, a major migraine … like the feeling of a stroke … only X never felt a stroke before, but he was pretty damn sure it hurt just like the way he was right now. Withering, X hissed and bared the pain, " … aaahhh … wha-what the … aahh!"
Another stab and X could have swore he was seeing white spots in his line of vision. Pink, blue, and red splotches started to form and a lightheaded floating on air feeling started to settle in. Nothing like when Raven pierced his mind to connect and nothing compared to any form of pain the Boy Wonder could inflict on him. Before he knew it … it had subsided, but his head pounded and pulsed with the rushing blood he could feel circulating.
Too much, he almost felt like staying on the ground for the rest of the day to try and get his head on straight … but … he had other things to worry about other then a stupid headache. Trying hard not to think about the past head pains he got to his feet – slowly to be sure not to set it off again – and put a hand to the tree he had been leaning on. Taking a breath X sighed and gulped, Alright … weird … now what on this stupid planet am I looking for?
SSSHHHSSSHHH ……looking up X blinked when he saw a foot then a leg, a torso, a neck, then finally a head of a little blond boy smiling and sitting up in a tree petting what looked to be an over sized white owl. It actually gave the Bald Eagle a run for its money. "Hanafan why must you fly away so? You had me worried sick!"
A kid … up … in a tree … X shook his head, was this kid what the other kids outside the gates wanted for him to retrieve? Brow raised, X opened his mouth without thinking and called up to the blond-boy, "Hey you! Yeah, the blond with the bird! Are you the one those other brats are looking for?"
SLAP!Hand over his mouth X stared wide-eyed at the tree, Holy hell … did I just … did I just speak another language?
The little boy looked over and gaped at the oddly dressed guard, "Huh … are you looking for me?"
X blinked and looked up at the kid again, brow raised in suspicion X was almost afraid to speak again, for one thing ... he understood the kid ..."Uh … yes … at least some kids on the other side are looking for you … so – so get down here and get back into the city! Pronto!"
"Um, yes sir!" the child quivered and jumped down off the tree, racing to the gates with the oversized owl following afterwards, X stayed put for a moment trying to make sense of what had just happened. He was … he was speaking another language he'd never even heard of and to top that he was understanding what the kid was replying back to him. Impossible … just … impossible!
The gates swung open and before they could close X ran for it and jumped out, seeing the blond boy gather with the other kids X realized that his work was done and decided to head back to the alleyway that he had placed his stolen things. The kids giving him grateful bows, thank you's and such. X understood … and it was starting to freak him out. What the hell's going on here?
"Kenneth!" startled X jumped and pulled out the blaster from the pocket of his pants and waved it around frantically looking for the voice that called to him, "Kenneth … this is Rorek … I believe you must meet me at the guard house immediately … you will not believe what I have discovered."
Not as much as you'll believe that I'm speaking drow … X cringed, and looked up to the sky, you just had to push it … you just had to wonder if an ant could actually boil under the heat of your damn magnify-glass huh God? I hope I ain't turning superstitious or nothin' that would royally suck.
Gun put back in his pocket, X sighed exasperatedly and looked around, Okay … the Guard House slash armory shop for mystics … yeah I think I remember where to go.
--
X: … The hell? What kind of crap is that?
Me: … What? What's the matter with that?
X: Not that, you! What the hell are you doing to me?
Me: (smiles idiotically) I have no idea what you're talking about.
X: Bull! And to think I was going to be nice enough to give your money back, forget it! It's all mine's now.
Me: What? How could you say that! I earned that damn thing! Give it here you son of a – (gets a tap on the shoulder just as I wrap my hands around the thief's throat) – what!
Rorek: (clears his throat professionally) I don't think it's very smart of you to be gong around killing off one of the main characters of your story … plus he – as well as Lady Raven, Malchior, and myself all belong to DC. If you kill him remember you'll get in a lot of trouble.
Me: (thinking) Damn, why the hell does he have to be so right? And with a freakin' British accent here! I feel like I should be in some kind of stupid prep school for girls. (out loud) Shut up! (releases X, who gasps for air) fine then, he lives for now, but just for that crack I'm gonna hurt him real good later on.
X: coughyou can'tcouch kill me … for once sunshine boy over here's right.
Rorek: (glares at X) I just saved your life the least you can do is show some gratitude.
X: (flicks Rorek's nose) I could give less of a damn if you were my mother, I can talk to you however I want to prissy-boy.
Me: Yeah! And for the record X, I won't kill you (thinking) At least not now (out loud) but it's amazing what you can live through, oh yeah and fork over my five hundred dollars.
X: Why? So you can go find a way to slaughter me, go straight to hell and stay there!
Me: (rolls eyes) No you idiot, I just want it to buy you a present.
X: Present … what kind?
Me: If it was a present would I be telling you? You'll see it in the next chapter I promise (smiles maniacally)
X: (contemplating) I don't know … why have you buy me something when I can do it all myself.
Malchior: (approaching from behind that snatching the money up growled at X as he hands me the money) Oh for the love of humanity just get on with the ending already! This is totally lame how you keep leaving out the good parts.
Me: (stuffs money in pocket and stays far from X) Good parts? Huh?
Malchior: The one with Raven and myself are in! Get on with it already! I'm dying here!
(Raven phases through the ground)
Raven: You know cimple, just stall our parts as long as you want, build up … what's it called? Suspense for the readers.
Malchior: Raven! Who's side are you on?
Raven: Mine.
Rorek: Has anyone noticed this skit is taking longer then necessary?
X: Has anyone noticed my lines keep getting used and abused by you people?
Me: (shrugs) Call it a mini intermission, well … we'll stop wasting you guy's time now, so see ya in the next chapter! L8er Daez!
X: Hold up! What about my present? What the hell are you getting me?
Me: I said L8ER DAEZ! Meaning end of conversation, I told you the present will be given to you in the next chapter!
X: Bu-bu-but … I wanna know what it is … please … (gives a cutesy face)
Me: (sweat drops) uh … next chapter. L8er!
