Disclaimer: Don't own'em the Teen Titans that is, AND before I get this story kicked off - Which happened to be before, even thought I DID put damn Disclaimers on all the chapters.

I DON'T OWN THE SONG "MADE OF GLASS" BY TRAPT, TRAPT OWNS IT NOT ME.

So like I said before, if you're not smart enough to figure that out then you're not old enough to be reading this story - especially this chapter.

A/N: Heh … heh … heh … um … well … heh … gee … honestly I don't know what to say for this chapter … only that I think you guys'll like it … at least I hope –

(Door slams shut, Rorek and X are leaning against it panting with a frightened looks on their faces.)

Me: What the hell?

X: We … we found out what's behind the door …

Rorek: … Yo-you don't wanna go in there just yet …

Me: (blinks stupidly) But are Raven and Malchior in there …

X: (snickers and grins) Oh they're in there alright and –

Rorek: rehearsingfortherestofthechapter Let's just get on with the story already, please.

Me: (realization hits and eyes grew big) OH! So THAT'S where they've been for TWO – or was it three? CHAPTERS? Hmmm … gotta look into that, anyway! Enjoy this chapter … I just know you guys will. (smiles sinisterly)

--

Hate It Or Love It

It was a strange way to wake up …

"… I don't know anything at all and I'm somebody else. It could take years to find you; it could take years to find myself, and I don't need to hear your answer. I just need you to see, that I think its time to breakdown these walls away from me – am I still breathing? Have I lost that feeling? Am I made of glass cuz', you see right through me! I don't know who I am, and the only one who sees that – I can't ask these questions, I can't have the answer, today." An mini intermission in the song was the one that really knocked him back to reality. The sounds of the screeching electric guitar and everything else in the loud blasting, blaring rock music coming through the speakers made it impossible for him to sleep.

Fangs poking out of the corner of his lips as it flared up in an annoyed snarl, Malchior opened his black fiery eyes and clenched the pillow he noticed his head was resting on. Digging his claws in as he adjusted to the sudden bright, yet dark gray-dimmed room, the now awaken dragon glared at the cause of his discomfort. The song played on as he sat up slowly and glared at the human slumbering in an uncomfortable position on some odd chair.

It took a moment for Malchior to realize he was in somewhere familiar … an infirmary room … Titan Tower. Though what made his head spin was the fact that the human that slept while the music played was Kenneth Aftaka AKA Red X … he wasn't in cuffs or bound in any way. Yet he wore a baggy dark blue hooded jacket with light blue faded jeans and yell construction looking boots, hair messy as always. His hand laid upon an iPod that was connected to a set of speakers.

" – Even if everything goes wrong, and we start to fall apart. I don't understand where you are, I don't understand this for myself, and I don't need to hear your answer, I just need you to feel. Like there are no boundaries at all – Am I still breathing, have I lost that feeling? Am I made of glass cuz' you see right through me! –"

Malchior shook his head and growled storming up to the human he looked at the iPod and was tempted to just smash it to shut the stupid thing up in order to get some rest. The dragon lengthened his claws to do just that and raised his arm up to strike when from the sliding door came through with a hiss was the silver haired Rorek. Scratching the back of his head looking as mused and tired as ever he yawned and took one look at Malchior and jerked back, "Malchior! What in the blazing hell do you think you're doing!"

The dragon growled, "What does it look like? I'm ending the problem."

"What problem? Kenneth's done nothing!"

"He's disturbed me from my sleep!" Malchior argued, and by this point Kenneth had came through and saw Malchior's claws, thinking the worst and acting on instinct the thief kicked the threat in the gut and flung him across the Infirmary. Malchior, having had a long enough rest, corrected his pattern into a roll and stayed crouched on the ground. "Ah, he awakes."

Kenneth jumped to his feet, amber eyes glaring wearily at the dragon he glanced to Rorek to notice his presents, but snarled at Malchior, "What the fuck you think you're so slick? Getting a guy when he's on watch duty over your knocked out ass? Un-fuckin'-believable!"

"I was hardly aiming for your head, but it would have been a grand consolation prize to that silly little toy you were fiddling with in your sleep." Malchior flashed the tipped point of his claws and grinned when Kenneth sank into a fighting stance.

Rorek ended whatever conflict was to happen as he stepped in between the heated "debate", "Enough! We're still in Titan Tower and Robin refuses to relinquish our freedom until there is a proper discussion of what is to become of the three of us and so far it's not looking very promising."

Kenneth scoffed and turned the iPod off, his mood shot and anger growing, "Fuck Robin! The only reason why I stay here is because I got a good chance of wiping my slate clean, if featherhead could do that for me, then I'll be on my merry way."

"But you are still here," Malchior sneered mockingly; smoothing back is unevenly slicked now shot black hair. He sighed and closed his eyes, taking a moment to enjoy the sudden silence of the Infirmary, his sensitive hearing picking up the harsh droplets of rain that still fell here on Earth. It was comforting to know that some sense of stress was released just by the sound of the falling pouring rain. Reopening his eyes, a thought came to his head when he picked up her strong lingering scent, "Where's Raven?"

He asked, the mood in the room switching to fast it made Rorek's head spin. Suddenly Kenneth had forgotten all about earlier and sat himself back on his chair he unplugged the iPod and slipped it into his jacket pocket. Rorek raised a brow at the two and jerked his head back in order to get a cowlick of fallen snow-white hair out of his ice-blue eyes. Only to have it fall back as he looked up at Malchior, "Raven … she left off with Starfire and Robin in search of groceries before the night gets too late, it would appear that food is scarce … which would be the reason I came down here in the first place. To avoid Beast Boy and Cyborg's … um … rather unhealthy addiction to the interactive animated TV."

Kennth scoffed and looked up to Rorek dryly, though with that odd natural smirk of his, "Just straight up Video Games would suffice your majesty."

"You're grammar is so ill I shutter to believe you actually pass English with flying colors." Rorek sneered, then stilled and paled – well more then usual, "English … school … Shit! Kenneth we had been so caught up in this mess that we had completely forgot about our schooling! Damn it all!"

The human and the dragon jerked their heads back in shock … had the proper-perfect-gentleman Rorek Aiedail cursed so freely? Kennth and Malchior looked at each other, with faces that asked the other if they had heard what they heard. The earlier shook his head slowly in disbelief and snorted, "Man, Rorek, you get hyped up by all the freaky things, chilax dude, it's cool. Just transfer to a new school and take it easy after that. Trust me."

"NO! Not trust you!" Rorek growled, his anxiety growing as he began to pace, "Good lord, why hadn't I have thought of school before! My grades will drop; the school possibly had called Bryson numerous times – Bryson! Damn! I can't believe I've forgotten about Bryson as well! I hope he took care of the mansion, shit! What did he say? Kenneth what do we do!"

Kenneth eyed Rorek wearily, "First, you're going to stop acting like a damn chick! Its just school! So what! Grades can be made up! Besides, remember, you went to Jump City Public High School. Population over 995 kids, us two ain't gonna be doing any difference. So chill, I got it covered. My boy at Pleasure Lamp can hook us up if Bryson didn't make it easier for us if you're so worried about it."

Rorek glared at Kenneth, "Okay, who and where are you talking about again?"

"Never mind," Kenneth rolled his eyes and walked to the exit of the Infirmary, "just trust me, I can get stuff done if I got a phone."

Malchior followed and watched the interaction between the humans as the trio made their way towards the Ops Room. Rorek pausing ever so slightly to look up to the cooled dragon, Malchior raised a brow and asked crudely, "What?"

"Why haven't you asked how long you've slept or what's been going on? I'd figure that be the first question to come out of your mouth rather then where Raven is," Rorek shrugged.

"Well," Malchior replied, "I don't think I really need to because you'll eventually tell me."

Rorek sighed, "Maybe so … but you've missed a lot …"

Kenneth sneered, "A lot? I say a shit load, only two days and running close to two nights things have been really weird – well weirder then usual around here. For one thing back at Azalon Gale-gard's starting up a new government since the bitch is dead, then when we got back Robin started to pull some fu –"

"He's doing his job," Rorek interrupted before Kenneth could further enrage himself, "Robin – like I had earlier stated – put the three of us on lockdown in the Tower until you awake so we can go over our findings then decide what to do about our records as it is. Raven had agreed to put in a good word for us when the meeting came, though Kenneth is a different story even with the goodness of Raven's generosity. After all … he is the one that stole the Red X suite and used the alias as his own."

"But I still saved a damn dimension from further destruction from a corrupted government, he better take that into consideration or I'm gonna a break his god damned neck," Kenneth growled glaring at the ground visualizing his statement coming true.

The other two ignored his sudden violent state of mind, Rorek cleared his throat, "Yes, well, despite what may be, Azalon is still far from saved Kenneth … it's Power really is still waning … I can already feel Earth's aura signature fluctuating. Preparing to merge with a different dimension as a back up in case Azalon really does take a turn for the worst in a matter of … well … it's unpredictable really, it's hard to place a set date."

"Assume after two seasons in possibly early winter," Malchior stated with an FYI sounding tone, "spring is coming to a close, summer is just around the bend, and fall comes closely after the vacationing season … it would be in a matter of months then that Azalon will fall. Assuming of course Fernaco died 10 years prior to this current date."

"Fernaco vanished when I was 8," Kenneth stated slowly and almost distantly, his constant mood swings already becoming a normal thing for Malchior and Rorek to handle as he sighed and shrugged, "I'll be turning 18 in November 13 this year … so yeah … that sounds about right."

Rorek nodded in understanding, "Clever Malchior, how'd you figure that much when you never even knew Kenneth's birthday until now?"

Malchior shrugged, the three stopped at the entrance to the Ops Room, finishing up their conversation as the dragon stated with a boring tone, "It doesn't take much to observe your conversation, and plus since I already knew the age you'd pass for then it wasn't have for me to figure that Kenneth was the same considering you two were friends since what is the title … freshmen?"

"Of course," Rorek chuckled then sighed and looked to Kenneth, "well, ready to face the Titans?"

Kenneth put a hand to his heart, pretending to be hopeless, "Please, spare me the grief."

Rorek snickered, "Honestly Kenneth, after everything we've went through … how is it that you never let the past slow you down?"

"Because my friend," Kenneth sighed in a sagely tone, "if us men were to linger in said past praying and hoping for a future that soon comes yet we not be ready for it, dost thou linger on a past that had once been a future when future now becomes a present? Come on Rorek, you know me; once I'm done I'm through, end story. If you're still referring to the Queen thing then get over it, cause I'm already way a head of you."

The sliding doors opened and Rorek looked up to Malchior who had raised a brow and they two just glanced at one another. Malchior knowing a bit more of Kenneth's personality then Rorek himself, they shrugged and followed into the Ops Room preparing for trouble when they spotted Kenneth making a straight beeline for the open kitchen. Said open kitchen that contained Robin, Starfire, and Raven in civilian clothing putting food into their places.

The sorceress sighed and bent down to the cabinets in order to store her replenished tea and closed it just in time for Starfire to clumsily spin around already trying to cook food for the full house. Leaning back, Raven yelped when she couldn't hold her balance and ended up falling on her bottom her back slamming against the opposite cabinet. Starfire gasped and looked down at her friend that was currently glaring up at her, "Oh! I am terribly sorry Friend Raven! I did not see you in place there!"

"It's alright Starfire," Raven grunted and got up looking down at her snuggly fit pants with her signature jewel belt wrapped around her waist and falling to her left hip. Her long sleeved black form fitting blouse that had a V-line neck and a hood in the back being dusted crudely as she looked up to Starfire's bright green eyes, "really Star, it's alright, just make sure you look around yourself before you move any more."

"Yes! Of course!" just as soon as she had said it, she spun around and ran smack into Robin, a 12 dozen eggs went flying in the air, Robin gaped and got ready to catch them all without cracking a single one. Raven sighed and rubbed her temples, Why do I bother? She asked herself as she held out a hand and snatched all the eggs within her black magic and carefully levitated them to the counter.

Kenneth snorted as he took a seat on the stool and propped his elbow on the yellow counter and settled his chin within in his palm, "Yeah, she sure is observant."

Raven looked to the thief, then to the wizard, and finally the dragon at the end of the counter just staring at her. She looked away timidly, though tried not to show it as she fixed herself up a bit more. Yet stopped herself when she realized something embarrassing – to her anyway, Am I really concerned with how I look around him? Get real Raven! Scolding herself, she scowled inwardly and cleared her throat.

Running a finger to trace over her ear to push a clutch a hair back behind it she reached for another bag to busy herself to distract herself from Malchior as much as she could for now. She didn't want to make any contact with him, not even eye contact, and Malchior could feel it, she was being nervous around him. Practically hearing her heart fluttered breathlessly if he concentrated solely on her. It was humorous to him that she could be so shy, yet still be so Raven.

Just watching the way she moved, how she glided across the chaotic kitchen, maybe not flawlessly with the unpredictable alien floating around trying to do her own thing. With every change of emotion of her usually emotionless face, it took an expert to notice the subtle changes, the slight twitch of her lips as she shot Robin a dry look of mockery. Then the up turn of her eyes when she stopped herself from rolling them at something odd the Green Changeling had said.

Mesmerized by every little thing she did, Malchior didn't know what to do with him self and the feelings the little Raven stirred within a dragon's heart. He often thought it was pathetic of him to be so fascinated with her when there were many, many others that were very much more luscious than her. Starfire of the Teen Titans … she was beautiful, shockingly so that it was hard to miss her radiance in more heart and exterior. Her smile, her eyes, her truth, and her trust … she was that someone that made herself known and was proud of everything she was.

So why was it he was attracted to the little Raven that shrank back in the shadows when Starfire's beauty could very much over power her own … it wasn't being poetic or anything – despite the fact that dragons loved poetry and song, Malchior was no different. It was truth, let the two growing young women stand side by side, and compare their appearance. Starfire would have been the definition of the perfect girlfriend/mother/wife/auntie/grandmother … that was what Malchior saw … but Raven … it just had to be Raven.

There was just something about her that pulled him towards her.

Maybe it was her darker side; mysterious shyness that he thought was cute … or maybe it was something else. Yet her being apart of Sun'Shane's family had absolutely nothing to do with how he felt about her. Hell, he never even knew she was related to Sun'shane and he still fell hard. Whether it was when he first spoke to her, or when he was teaching her, or when he fought her, or when she sealed him in the book and then threw him into the Harold's domain once he found another way out.

Whatever – whenever it happened, he couldn't control it, couldn't stop it, it came and hit him like a ton of bricks. He had fallen hard and fast for a girl that fought him with no remorse or regret, then turned around and fought with him for the sake of others … he had fallen for her and that was all that needed really to be said. Already he had gone through that pull-hair-no-it-can't-be-in-denial-phase of feeling and every time she turned away from him he'd go through it again and scold himself for why he even bothered!

She wanted nothing to do with him!

So as he watched her begin to set herself a cup of tea by boiling water in a silver kettle he had to ask himself something different this time. Instead of, Why do I love her … he thought, Am I just using her again? Testing his abilities in the heart once more to see if it was possible to rekindle a betrayed love … was he just using her again? She stared at her kettle … but then slowly, timidly, and ever so hesitant she cast a side-glance towards him.

Probably wondering why he was staring so hard at her.

Thunder boomed and her brilliant violet eyes shimmered in the sudden flash of lightening when the storm raged on outside. The two ignored the sudden scream Starfire gave, even her flirtatious cling to Robin went unnoticed as the lights in the Tower flickered then blew out. At this Raven looked away up to the ceiling when everything went dark, embarrassed, Raven gulped when Cyborg flashed on his shoulder light, "Whoa, why aren't the generators coming on?"

Because of me … Raven thought, cursing herself for not control her emotions, she glared at Malchior's glowing eyes that flashed on and off every time Cyborg's light pointed at him at an angle. Like cat eyes, that's what it reminded her of, and she blamed him for her loss of emotion. It was always because of her.

"Hey! Raven!" knocked out of her thoughts she turned to Beast Boy who pointed suspiciously at her, "You didn't watch any scary movies did you? Cause if you did, you better start saying you were scared of it cause I ain't relivin' that horror flick!"

Raven scowled, "Beast Boy, you don't want to know what horror is and no."

"Well, better go check the generators then," Cyborg sighed, then pulled Robin with him, "and you're coming with me."

"Wha – why!" Robin struggled out of the hyrbid's hands, but his grip was strong and true.

"Cause I ain't goin' down there by myself in the middle of a dark stormy night, that's why."

Robin scowled, "Now you're just being silly!"

"Well if I'm being silly, then you wouldn't have a problem with following me now would you?"

"Fine!" Robin looked back to Raven in the dark, "Raven! Get us some candles please, and Starfire, Beast Boy watch X, Rorek, and Malchior! Ow! Damn it Cyborg! Loosen the grip cutting off the circulation here!"

"Do be safe!" Starfire called out, Beast Boy shook his head and Malchior picked his mumbling about something to do with separation and it being a bad idea. Raven looked back to Starfire and Beast Boy then turned and left off for her room where most of the candles – well, where candles were kept period, she was the only that that used the things seriously. Going to retrieve them as Robin asked of her, Malchior got up off his seat after her, but Starfire called out to him, "Um! Malchior … I do not think it wise of you to move! Friend Robin had just ordered for Beast Boy and I to watch you and just Friend Raven to get the candles."

Malchior looked over his shoulder and grinned, "What Beast Boy said Starfire; separation isn't a good idea I'll be sure to keep Raven safe."

"But … but …" she alien stuttered, however couldn't find any come back.

Kenneth snickered with Fracnesca on his lap, purring away and being petted absentmindedly, he elbowed Rorek's side to get the wizards attention and gave him a sneaky look, "How much I bet you candles ain't the only thing Raven's getting tonight."

Rorek shuttered, "Must you be so vulgar."

"Dude! No way!" Beast Boy exclaimed, "Malchior's with Raven?"

"Not quite/Hell yeah!" Kenneth and Rorek looked at each other and glared at their over lapping comments.

Starfire, not really picking up the conversation decided not to try and gasped when another thunder sounded, then lightening crashed. Holding herself she sighed and stared at the ground. Darkness was never really her thing. She didn't very much like it and it didn't very much like her, she just hoped that either Raven or Malchior returned with the candles or Cyborg and Robin fixed the generators.

Anything to provided illumination.

Darkness was frightening.

--

"Raven! Wait!" Malchior called from down the hall, the sorceress stopped and nearly stomped her feet on the metal ground in a child like pout.

However reframed from doing so and turned to glare at Malchior, "What are you doing here?"

The dragon caught up to her in no time and answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Following you, don't want you to get lost in the dark now do I?"

Raven sneered and turned her back to him to continue on the way to her room, trying so hard not to show his presents bothered her in ways she shouldn't be bothered. "I guess not, cause then it would be such a tragedy to you now wouldn't it."

"But of course," Malchior walked side by side with her, "not only would I miss you dearly, but so would your little friends, I remember you once told me you thought of them as family."

"Don't even go there with me Malchior," Raven warned and rounded a corner briskly rushing to her room, practically running with the way she wanted to get away from the dragon. Yet Malchior kept up with out a hitch, and stopped when she stopped at her room, looking around he noticed something he hadn't before … the Tower was in mid-condition again. Meaning there was no trace of the elves that trashed it earlier in sight, not a laser blaster and the Ops Room was as it was before!

Whatever magic had accomplished that was beyond Malchior as the thought was kicked out of his important thought when the door to Raven's room opened, about to step in Raven spun around and stopped him. Giving him that warning glare, Malchior already knew what she wanted and leaned down to whisper into her ear, "I'll behave myself."

She pulled away, trying to hide the shiver and goose bumps that shot up and down her spine expanding through out her body and furthermore proving that he still had that certain effect on her. Raven backed up and headed to her drawer determined to get her "mission" done and over with quickly so she wouldn't have to endure the dragon any longer. Malchior stepped into the room the door automatically hissed shut behind him. Looking around, remembering it as it were, he couldn't help to smile amusingly at the window Raven, Rorek, Kenneth, and himself had jumped out of earlier.

It was still so funny to him … but memorable because it actually gave him an excuse to get Raven to hold on to him.

Some might say it was a shameless way of feeling her up, but hey, he was a dragon. Not a saint, very big difference between the two.

Slowly making his way to her side he looked over Raven's shoulder to see she was in search of the stands for the candles, which were already on top of the dresser. She stilled and he saw that his close proximity was starting to get to her. Then, with a jerk she up and headed to her closet, her foot caught on the edge of the dresser, kicking it harshly and stunning her foot for a moment the candles all rolled to drop on the ground. Raven growled at her clumsy behavior and got down on her hands and knees to pick them up, not trusting her powers one bit.

It was already taking all it could for her to hold her head and feelings back whenever she felt Malchior's aura swirl around her. Speaking of Malchior, the dragon knelt in front of her to help pick up the fallen candles, "You really have to learn to relax Raven, this stress you put on yourself can't be good."

"Just be quiet and help me pick up the candles already." she growled and hurriedly grabbed what she could, and once they were all up, Malchior placed his stack on the dresser and gestured for Raven to relinquish her bunch. Raven eyed him suspiciously, but figured he couldn't do much to or with candles she gave them up. Handing them to him, she held her breath when she felt a slither of his claw scrap her finger and immediately turned away to find the stands.

However, Malchior was faster, putting the candles down he reached out and grabbed her arm to pull her back, "Raven, Raven, look at me. Relax, I'm not going to do anything you don't want … at least not now."

"Yeah," she spat out venomously, "and that's supposed to make me feel so much better."

Malchior rolled his eyes, Now what's her problem, there is just no satisfying her I'm not even trying anything funny! "Raven, what is it you wish of me? I tried what I could to get you back on my side, but you won't allow yourself to even remotely trust me without us having to go into battle with an enemy together."

"Because you give me no reason to trust you," Raven snapped, the contact she had feared was coming on too quickly; she couldn't hold her head above water and escape the argument that was brewing. The contact – no – the conflict she didn't want she tried to avoid with a shake of her hand, holding her hand up she turned away from him again, "Just forget it Malchior."

"Me? Forget?" Malchior bared fang, trying hard to force down and gulp away a growl that was steadily rising in his chest, "What do you want me to forget, because as far as I can tell right now, there is nothing for me to forget about! You're the one that never wants to finish any discussion we have! "

Raven spun around, a few items in her room already starting to rumble along with many other things in the Tower as her anger rose, "That's because there's no such thing as a discussion with you Malchior! All you want is … is … what you want! You never take into consideration the lives you destroy in order to get everything you so desire! Well, I'm sorry, dragon, but I won't be your prize for your little game this time around. I'm sick of tiptoeing around you, having to watch my back every time you come into the picture because for some odd unexplainable reason you just can't seem to leave me the hell alone! So you want me to relax? Then get out of my life and stay OUT!"

"Why do you do that!" Malchior growled unwillingly, it just slipped, she was just frustrating him is all, "Why the hell is that you're so afraid of every damn little different thing that comes your way! You think I asked to fall in love with you! You think I want to feel shitty every time I think I've done something to upset you in some way! I never asked for it!"

"STOP IT!" Raven screamed and slapped her hands to her head, grasping her hair and clutching it, pulling at it as she shook her head trying to keep tears that began to swell in her eyes at hearing his proclamation. Her aura swirled dangerously beginning to lash out at anything and everything as she backed up away from him, "Just SHUT-UP! You don't love me! You DON'T! You just love the idea of me!"

Malchior scoffed, "You can't tell me that, you're not me!"

"Do you even realize what you're saying?" Raven growled, her own eyes tinting pink as she tried to control her frustration and anger. "You used me then tried to kill me and now you're telling me that you love me! What the hell kind of stupid is that, Malchior? You expect me to even remotely believe that shit when everything you've ever told me in the past was nothing but a lie!"

"But that's just it! It's in the past! God! Is that what you're getting all excited for? Because you can't let go of something I had already apologized for?"

"Like an apology's going to change my outlook on you … it was over from the start Malchior. I don't know what you thought could happen … bu-but it just can't. I don't care what you say … I won't allow it to happen. Not with you …" Raven closed her eyes and looked away angrily wiping the tear that fell down her cheek. The impact of her own words hitting her harder then Malchior because she knew … just knew it wasn't true.

She often lied to herself … or thought lowly of herself … and was quite conscience to doing so. Sniffling quietly Raven glanced to her closet and scowled at the candle stands that were hidden within her clothes, Of course it be there. With a tisk she briskly walked to the closet and harshly jerked it open, reaching for the leaning stands in the back. All the while holding her breath trying oh so hard to not show he affected her so much.

Sure she was shouting, sure she fought back when he argued, but what she didn't want was for him to see that he really did have power over her. Always had, and always will considering he captured her from the start … there was just no escaping him. No way of getting rid of his presents, of the thoughts and dreams she often had from the past year he had been gone, when she banished him into the Harold's domain. She thought she could forget him and move on and for a while she fooled herself rather well.

But … that night … when he came back (again) to steal the Red Sea Saphire after he had been gone and she was getting over the idea of him … he just had to reel himself back into her life. Why, oh why, oh why was it that she could never get rid of him? How was it that he always managed to snatch her, hold her, drag her down and drown her in a deep dark pool of romanticizes imaginations and dreams? All with just a single glance, a mere look, and a touch of his slender claws that weaved in and out of her mind to nit up charming ideas of love and kindness.

Why … why her? Why did she have to be such a romantic?

To fall hard for a smooth talker and charming stalker … funny how even being a supposed stalker, Malchior could make it look so easy and – dare she think it – tempting. Blushing with embarrassment of her own thoughts she gathered up the last of the candle stands and with a free hand reached for the closet door and closed it shut. The point to her thoughts having been reached and finally – after everything she's ever went through with him, Rorek, and Kenneth, after her denial, and after their fight.

Raven just couldn't believe it … but it was obvious from the start … Malchior had captured her heart … and as she turned to gather the candles on her dresser. She stopped dead in her tracks, training her eyes to stare blankly at his dark blue shirt daring not to look up into his black eyes. Raven just couldn't find the emotion of surprise that he'd suddenly sneak up on her … because she knew him, she knew he wouldn't have backed down so easily. He'd fight, and defy her every threat and sarcastic retort just to keep her within his grasp.

It was obvious from the start as he reached a hand up to her chin and tilted her head up to face him as he took the stands with his other hand and leaned it against the closet. However to do so he had to take a step forward closer to her, yet Raven followed, taking a step back. But she was his captured favorite and with the same hand that put the stands on the closet door rested dangerously low at the hip of her snug pants then slid it up her back to pull her closer to him.

Then like the good little servant she was to her captor Raven followed and gulped when he leaned down so close to her, his narrowed black eyes flashed when the lightening struck, but the sound was mute to the two of them. It was only their heartbeat, their breathing, and their rustled clothing, just them that could be heard. Every little move, every little sound … just … everything about each other was the only thing that was thought of.

Nothing else.

"You know … the feelings mutual," he started slowly and whispered, yet to Raven it sounded loud and clear, "I honestly don't care what you say either, love… what I feel, is what I know … and whether or not you feel the same … mine's will never change."

He closed the gape and stole her second kiss … but this time it was soft and meaningful, Raven literally felt electrified with how much emotion was spilled into just a soft touch. It made her want to cry with how much it hurt to have her heart swell and clench with so much want and need, whether it was all just for the moment or not. Raven found herself responding to her captor's kiss. Leaning up and tilting her head further back in order to get a better angle at returning his affection.

It was over in a matter of a couple seconds and when he pulled away Raven sighed and opened her water eyes, frowning at her weakness to succumbing to something as useless as this. She was just so torn up inside it was hard to even get a grip on reality … her head was swimming and everything felt abstract. When she blinked the tears came down and she gulped, shakily whispering so lowly it didn't even sound like she said anything at all, yet Malchior heard every syllable, "Why can't I ever escape you …"

He smiled charmingly, not manically or mischievously … but truly and happily, it just took Raven's breath away, he really did look good with a smile. With the fangs to give him the edge needed to not be such a pretty boy, he leaned down to capture another kiss, then another until Raven was responding freely, but being careful to not be too open least she bring down the tower.

It was hard to when a content purring growl rumbled in his chest causing her to smile, she tried so hard not to laugh at the thought of a dragon purring, and he felt her amusement. Sneakily he silenced her as he ran his tongue across her lower lip then pulled on it to suck and scrap his fang along the soft skin for a moment before he slithered his way to finally get a taste of his newfound drug. Already knowing her scent was intoxicatingly sweet, he now knew she tasted just the same, if not better. Coaxing her to relax and go with the flow, Raven found herself experimenting and copying everything he did to see if she'd elicit the same struggle she had to swallow down a groan.

Everything he was doing to her was unbelievable, like nothing she'd ever felt. Loosing herself too far into their activities she hardly knew what she was doing anymore, it was hard to think of much when she felt him so close. Then … her back suddenly touched the soft sheets that was her bed. How she went from the closet to the bed was not even thought of, but it was sending dangerous alarms blaring in her head to pull up before she crashed. Yet even that was fuzzy to comprehend when Malchior traced her left arm high up over her head, weaving his fingers into hers and clutching her sheets at the same time. Gripping tight with a dominating aura consuming her. Raven dared to let out a low whine when he pulled away from their kiss and pressed his weight upon her small body. Hissing when he trailed wet kisses down her chin, to the crook of her neck, his fangs grazing over her soft skin as he kissed every tear away. Anything to get another sound from her, his free hand daringly felt up the her hourglass curves, tracing her body until his claws "accidentally" hooked the hem of her blouse.

Bring it up to expose even more of her tasty skin, Raven nearly allowed for him to raise it over her head, but snapped out of her bliss when he lifted up from her neck to trace his tongue along her stomach. Raven gasped and pulled up, "Wait!"

"What?" Unconsciously he snarled low and annoyingly at being disturbed, but loosened up when he saw her scurry to the far side of the bed away form him. Shakily holding down her blouse and whipping her mouth she panted and looked ready to bolt for the door. Eyes wide with a dark crimson blush on her cheeks, she stared at him in embarrassment and slipped off the bed.

Softly whispering shyly as she walked to the candles on the dresser, "Too fast."

Malchior blinked, looking lost and as innocent as a clueless child being told he couldn't do something. Realization struck and he chuckled at her shyness, smoothing back his hair he jumped off the bed and grabbed the stands, "Ah … is that so? Well then, as my lady wishes."

Raven didn't know whether to be annoyed at the response or ignore it all together, she chose to shoot him a soft sarcastic glare and huffed trying to make herself look presentable to her friends. Like control the temperature of her body heat so to not look so flustered she snorted and exited her room first, "Don't think this gives you the freedom to do as you please in public."

The door hissed shut behind Malchior and he sneaked up besides her wrapping an arm around her waste he pulled her close and kissed her playfully. Pulling away before she could throw him off, she sneered at him and mockingly whipped her lips of him he chuckled and winked, "Wouldn't dream love."

--

X: Feh, rehearsing your lines alright … my ass.

Malchior: (grinning triumphantly) She was nervous.

Raven: (flushed, blushing and glaring at anything and everything) Was not.

Malchior: Yeah. Sure you weren't love.

Raven: Shut-up or I really WILL kill you one of these days.

Rorek: Hmm … how convenient for the power to die.

All: Cimple …

Me: (enters after hiding behind her computer chair) What? HEY! Don't give me that look! I never intended to put the power outage thing, it was the power plants fault and I'm serious here! Just as I was writing the beginning of this chapter the power goes out and left me in the darkness with nothing but the light of my laptop. My grandma came in with a candle to light my room and presto! The power outage idea came into play! Honest.

Raven: And we should believe you why?

Me: …

Francesca: Mew!

Me: Because Francesca does!

Malchior: Whatever the case may be, I'm quite satisfied with the outcome.

Raven: Gee that's supposed to be news to us, how?

Malchior: Oh, come now love don't be like that … you know you enjoyed it.

Raven: I. Said. SHUT-UP!

Me: Okay, I think it's time for us to go before Raven gets upset –

X: Too Late!

Me: (dodges random flying object) Crap! AH! Uh … see ya guys in the next chapter – WHOA! HEY watch where you're throwing that – uh … X said it!

X: Fuck You!

Me: – l8er daez everyone! AHA! Raven! Calm down! Oops … uh … Rorek said it!

Rorek: Oh-no you didn't!

Francesca: MEW!