Disclaimer: Don't own the Titans, they own themselves, however Kenneth and Gregory Johansen belong to me along with a few other things, but they're not in this chapter just yet.

A/N: You know what, i was actually trying to decided whether or not to postpon(spel?) this chapter because ... um ... well ... just because I can to be evil, BUT since you guys have been so nice to me, i decided to be nice to you and just update this little puppy.

SO moving right along folks, and thank you all do very much for your lovely reviews! I love you all! Hugs and kisses and cookies and chips and whatever I can to give you guys some much needed appreciation! You know what? There should be a review appreciate day … hmm … there's something to think about. So excuse the terrible grammar and ignore the even more atroshious spelling, because i had a few other things on my mind as I was typing up this little segment.

ANYWAY! Where are my beautiful characters? Time to take center stage! Hopto Hopsing!

X: Go to hell! God when the hell is story every going to end!

Rorek: Hurry! Into costume! (runs by Malchior's dressing room and slams on it to warn the dragon in side) Let's go Malchior! 27 is up and running!

(the dragon comes out, but following after him is Raven who runs into a grumbling X, the thief grins)

X: "Rehearsing" again I see?

Raven: Shut up (gives the evil eye and follows after Rorek Malchior trailing behind)

Malchior: So what's the opening scene?

Me: Just stand there and look pretty! Places! Places! Aaaannnnddd … hit it!

--

Not Worth the Effort

"… and finally I, Gregory Johansen Mayor of the Jump City District here by declare Kenneth Zane Aftaka, Rorek Keone Aiedail, and Malchior Sirelle clear of all crimes against Jump City along with majority support of the Teen Titans. You are now officially off the record and have full citizenship, just don't try anything funny." The overweight, overzealous old man boomed through the super-computer TV screen glaring and pointing at the three young men standing in front of the five Teen Titans and before the politician. Kenneth with his bangs long and covering over his glaring amber eyes with a bowed head to keep from showing the scowl on his face. Rorek to Kenneth's right stood at attention, his hair neatly combed back and looking as serious as ever with baring ice-blue eyes, Malchior to the wizard's right wasn't afraid to show his agitation.

With his now shortened black hair that was all over the place and in complete disarray, some might say it was spiked, but it was just how his true form liked it's shortened hair. Because he had spikes in his true form, his human form was to follow as much as possible how his dragon looked like. The only evidence that he once had long hair was the long shoulder length tendrils on either side of his head framing his face and resting on his shoulders. The hair do was courteous to Starfire, and though he had to thank her for keeping it as neat was she could, he'd still rather have Raven do it. Letting another female besides the sorceress touch his person was flattering, but it was uncomfortable for him. Black eyes found themselves wandering from the irritating old human to the bay window where he saw Raven's faint reflection on the glass surface.

Yet, before he could linger on her any longer Robin stepped up, "Thank you Mr. Johansen, with that said three days would be the maximum to keep the three under close surveillance until they are set free into the city."

"I'll make record of it," Gerald nodded, "Have a good day Titans, and good-luck."

"Thank you," with that Robin turned off the super-computer and Kenneth snorted.

"Fat-ass politician, don't know shit," Kenneth growled and jumped over to the couch storming towards the hallway sliding door.

Robin turned around and called after Kenneth, "Kenneth! Wait! You can't go just yet, we're all having a training session at the obstacle course. I can't leave you or the other two alone with out supervision."

"Screw you," Kenneth shouted back, his amber eyes still blazing with much frustration, "there's nothing here in this dump that's even worth my time to take, with the exception of your lives which I've had many generous offers of ending, but you know what? Since I'm such a nice guy? I declined all those offers, but it's not like I can't just turn right back around and gut you like a flying fish."

"Idle threats aren't something I take lightly, Kenneth," Robin growled, "you're coming with us to the course, or I can just call the Mayor right now and have him burn every single document of you ever having been granted clemency. You should know as well as I do that silence CAN be bought."

The thief glared challenging at Robin who lifted a finger to the big shinny red button and threatened to press it, Kenneth gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, "You. Wouldn't. Dare."

Robin scoffed with a daring smirk, "You don't know me so well Kenneth. I'm not as nice a guy as you think I am, I have my ways."

There was just no way out.

Kenneth knew it, Robin knew it, but did neither want to show it?

Well, maybe Robin because he had the upper hand, but Kenneth was caught in the tide and sinking fast. His head above the water was nonexistent. Chocking on the ocean that was his self made trap, the smug look on the Titan's face was starting to piss him off. He wanted nothing more than to smack it right off his face … but held back keeping the thought of freedom in his head and repeating it over and over to try and convince himself fighting wasn't worth it this time around.

Fernaco taught him that fighting sometimes was never the case … and Kenneth took his word for it.

Running had always been the better choice.

Yet … Kenneth had pride … maybe as much if not stronger then Robin's and seeing that he was loosing and succumbing to someone else's rules … was something that he just couldn't allow him self to fall under.

Raven felt the struggle raging within Kenneth and frowned, about to back up the thief she found was a distant relative. Surprisingly enough, Starfire beat her to the punch, with clasped hands and a soft voice.

Her sweet tone and bright innocent green eyes shined with much pleading. "Robin, what you propose is not fair. He's hardly considered an enemy anymore. He was granted full citizenship and a clean slate by the ruler of Jump City … plus I saw not a single evil tiding whence we all left the Tower to collect our much needed power source and while Friend Cyborg was fixing the energy gathering stick atop the Tower. You had once given a second chance to Terra, Robin … maybe … maybe Kenneth should be given one as well."

"Aw, shut up Starfire," Kenneth hissed, "thanks for the sympathy vote, but I can handle myself. If this little spaz wants me on the court because he's afraid I might raid your precious Tower, then I don't got a problem with it."

With that growling scowl the thief trudged his way to the elevator waiting for the rest of the Titans, the dragon, and the wizard to show up. He stood and shook his head, things have just not been going so well … not well at all … one thing after the other ever since that damned night he tried to take a Jewel that wasn't even worth the trouble! Now he comes to find himself in captive custody of the Titans for three more days after he had been granted freedom. It was just the laws way of saying "In Your Face" to him … he just knew it!

That's why he hated rules, regulations, authority, and politics so much!

They were crooks, but in the most crooked way possible!

Okay, so he'll take into consideration that there was no such thing as the perfect government, but just knowing that he was being called a thief, being hated, and being mocked because of his "profession" just pissed him off. Why? Because there were bigger thieves out there then him, and they were stealing right under the "innocent citizen's" noses! He just took a more obvious path, but politicians and the people that call themselves superheroes? How come they weren't looked at as bad-guys as well? In his eyes, they were just as bad as the super-villains that they tried to protect the people from.

"You're thinking too much Human," Kenneth looked up when he saw Malchior's black-eyes discreetly connect with him as he entered the elevator, then turned away to stand close to the sorceress, using the reflection of the elevator to eye the human as he further continued, "there is nothing that can be helped … if you look at the big picture there is always going to be innocents killed, crooked authority and weak minded fools persuaded so easily with just the mere whiff of money. The sad excuse that you'll hear countless times, but never in public ears is: It cannot be helped; you just can't save them all. There is truth in it … because though the times change the characters remain the same. Just the thought and dreams of heroes, hope, justice, and peace dancing around in the minds of children are all they have to help keep sane in the world they live in as hell."

Kenneth blinked slowly and frowned, the dragon's deep words really did have a point … which brought up another question that he found himself unconsciously asking the dragon, "Then why the effort in saving what's hardly worth saving at all?"

"Like I said, thoughts and dreams of heroes, hope, justice, and peace dance around the minds of children to help them stay sane in our little hell …" Malchior repeated, "… the human race is still just a child with wide open, curiously, fearful eyes that poke around and still learn through sense. They have not the motor skills or brain power to realize that fire is not a toy and eventually get burned, pain turns to fear and thus they turn away from what could be of great use and knowledge for them. It's just the way you humans in general learn … maybe not you individually, but as a whole … why do you think us creatures you call "mythical" have suddenly vanished? Because we have not the patience to teach what is too scared to understand the unknown … darkness, power … true power."

"So …" Kenneth let the information sink in, realizing that his body had been moving on it's own accord down the trial to follow straight towards the training course. Stopping when he reached the ledge of a rock he found himself perched on and sitting to watch the Titans take over the obstacle course. Above him to his right was the dragon, leisurely and lazily laying on another rock, his black eyes shimmering a metallic gray when the sunlight angled in. Below the thief to his left was the wizard that was leaning against a rock face, arms crossed, head bowed and eyes closed. Looking not only sagely but bored as all hell when Kenneth saw Rorek sigh. Yet, the point was, the three were finally alone and Kenneth spoke freely, asking, "…That's why we save what's seemingly not worth the effort? Because we live to protect our own kind?"

Malchior moved his eyes from the course to Kenneth, his bangs falling over his face gave him that sleepy look, "If you'd like to put it that way … but since when have you ever been deep?"

Kenneth scoffed, his smirk returning as the wind blew and further tangled his dark brow hair. Trying to smooth it back the best he could, the Elfin-Human sighed and plopped himself unceremoniously on a moss covered rock. With one knee up and propping an elbow on it he sighed and tilted his head to the side, "I'm willing to bet I can be just as deep as you if I tried …"

"Amazing," Rorek suddenly spoke up after looking as if he had fallen asleep, taking in a deep breath and blowing it out slowly, he looked up to the thief and the dragon with his signature charming smile and bright trusting ice-blue eyes … Kenneth couldn't help to find it creepy that the newly found out "Weapon Master" could look so honest, "your mood seems to have lightened Kenneth."

"Whatever man," Kenneth sneered and waved his hand in dismissal, "I just thought it was stupid to be so mad about something the dragon 's right about."

"Yes …" Rorek looked up to Malchior who turned into his back and stared up at the suddenly bright and sunny sky after the storm had passed … weather was funny that way Rorek noted, but dragons were even more funny whenever something odd accrued, "… Malchior does have his wise moments."

The dragon growled, "Watch it Rorek, because I still have a bone to pick with you."

"You have a bone to pick with me?" Rorek snorted, "I'm not the one that's put half his heart within my chest."

Malchior rolled back onto his stomach and bared his fangs down at the wizard, "You better be grateful, because with out that heart beating in your chest, you wouldn't even be able to know almost every little thing that goes on my head."

In a snap of a finger Rorek's honest ice-blue eyes flashed mean with a glare that chilled Kenneth's blood, "Well I never asked for your courtesy."

A flare of energy whipped up and distracted Raven from watching out for Beast Boy's run, looking up to the three off to the side, she saw Rorek and Malchior glaring at one another and feared that more Malchior will start something rather then Rorek. Yet realizing that Beast Boy was still on his course snapped back to attention and shut if off when the changeling was done. Dropping to the ground on his knees Beast Boy panted, "Dude … tha-that … was … harder … than … usual … UGH!"

The poor changeling collapsed in the ground, breathless, tired, and exhausted.

Robin clapped, "Good run Beast Boy, you're a level higher then last week now, good one."

"Marvelous run friend Beast Boy! Joyous indeed that you are now stronger then before!" Starfire jumped and flipped in mid-air, laughing and smiling with glee she floated even higher off the ground.

"Alright Rae, you're up next," Cyborg smiled and nudged her side with his elbow to push her off the control center.

Raven glared at him warningly, yet knew he meant well, looking up to Malchior a twist in her gut made her gulp when she saw him watching her intently with his critical narrowed eyes. Making it seem like he didn't matter at all she levitated into the air and took her place at the start and took a deep breath. Preparing for the course she unclasped her cape and tossed it to the side. Standing in nothing but her leotard and blue boots, Raven knew the cape would do nothing but get in the way and took another deep breath.

Saying a little chant in her head she slowly released and held her arms out, getting a running start Malchior paid close attention to her movements. Although the "view" was a plus it was interesting to know that "his" Raven could very well cut through a simple training course. However, the dragon would soon learn that Raven – however petit she may appear to be with her hourglass figure was even more so nimble then she let on.

Within her running start, Cyborg knocked up Beast Boy's 9th level straight to 12, so without the ground falling apart, from the dirt laser sensors shot up in random areas around the sorceress that Kenneth even took sudden notice suddenly broke into a series of gymnastic flips, twirls, spins and rolls, she ended with a backward summersault over a sudden field of disk launchers that all took aim for her.

Kenneth raised a brow when she made a perfect hand stand land then equally perfect she pushed off just in time for the launchers to fire at her to hit at once and exploded in smoke. Raven was already crouched down upon a high platform, mimicking a kind of spider she looked for whatever might come, but gasped when the platform crumbled and down she went. Levitating in the air, Raven shot up a barrier to block of a hidden laser field then flew full tilt to the end, determined to beat the clock. She screamed and shot her barrier to the lasers, but growled exasperated at Cyborg's humor when he had the lasers disappear and had deadly spinning spikes on either side of her whiz for her head. It forced the sorceress to stop and chant, "Azarath. Metrion. ZINTHOUS!"

The spikes didn't stand a chance!

Cyborg's face fell when the spikes were sliced away by her black magic and her anger further destroyed the control panel thus ending her round at a record-breaking 1 minute and 16 seconds.

Raven sighed and closed her eyes, floating down till her feet to touch the ground she took a deep breath and reopened her eyes to look around her destruction, back up to Cyborg the hybrid gave her a look of disbelief, "Rae … yo-you trashed the field!"

Beast Boy kicked a slab of metal that had once been a sharp spike and whistled when he saw the blade was bigger then his head and twisted at an inhuman angle! "Dude … I'll say … I think she did a one up from Terra."

"I didn't mean to," Raven monotonously apologized, "a fluke, I tried to hold back."

Rorek blinked and looked around the destruction, shuttering as the reality of it all settled in, "Well … if that's the kind of power she's capably of while holding back … hm, I can honestly say I fear seeing her full potential."

"Shit!" Kenneth cursed in agitation, "She really did get stronger! How the hell did that happen? I remember when I went up against her she wasn't even able to get me down much less tear this place apart!"

Malchior chuckled, obviously knowing a theory, but under the "circumstances" he reframed from saying anything. Watching Raven walk across the field looking for her cloak Malchior heard her curse under her breath when she found it was torn to shreds. Thus forcing her to walk back with the rest of the Titans into the tower with little coverage.

--

"Okay guys, remember, training at 7:30 tonight, no exceptions, we all meet at the Gym this time," Robin ordered, ignoring Beast Boy's pouts and whines, the leader walked over to the super-computer to continue a bit of filing while Starfire flew across the Ops Room towards Raven.

"Oh friend Raven! You hear that! Friend Robin had just given us a glorious ample amount of time for us to do the girl's day out, oh would you please join me in a wondrous journey to the Mall-of-Shopping?" Raven looked up to the ecstatic alien and cringed, she was just so happy, so joyous, and whenever Starfire was either or both.

There was just no getting rid of her.

Raven sighed and looked down at her state of dress, scowling softly to herself she dejectedly agreed with gritted teeth, "Oh … alright … but let's change into something less noticeable, I think people are starting to notice I'm becoming a mall rat."

Starfire blinked, dumbfounded she asked, "But I do not see you growing the teeth of ugliness and the matted fur of a blogflex … perhaps you are coming down with a serious case of haulthaphs virus?"

"I was being sarcastic," Raven sneered and turned her back to the alien, "I'll meet you back here, just let me go get dressed first."

"Of course! Please be brief because I shall be back in a Kid Flash Second!" Before Raven could turn and ask Starfire where she'd picked that phrase up and further more order for her not to use it any more. The alien was gone and left nothing but a cloud of dust standing in an outline of her presences. The sorceress let go a breath and closed her mouth; going up the stairs and through the sliding doors she briskly made her way to her room in order to find clothes fitting enough for her to be presentable to the public eye.

She cringed at the thought.

The Public Eye … ugh … Starfire was getting smarter. Catching her off guard at her request when she didn't have an excuse to get her out of the Mall-of-Shopping. It was the last thing she wanted to be doing at this critical point in her life. After all … Raven didn't now how relationships officially started normally, but she knew that somewhere between last night and now, her and Malchior had become something of an item. A secret item that she wouldn't dare let anybody know about just yet … she was still trying to believe it herself! Which was why she scowled at going out shopping when she should be meditating all the confusing thoughts in her head.

Plus, there was Rorek.

He had something big planned for tomorrow and she didn't know whether to rat on the wizard or help him.

Frustrated, Raven huffed and ran her hands through her violet hair as she rounded the corner to her room. Only to run smack into the last person she wanted to deal with at the moment. How he got there and when was lost to Raven, but the reason why he was there to begin with was obvious when he backed her into the wall and loomed over her with tempted black-eyes, "Pleasure running into love, why the rush."

"Like you care," Raven sneered and moved her head away from his kiss. She placed her hands on his chest, putting pressure and physically telling him to back off as she sighed, "no, Malchior, not now, I have to get to my room. Starfire's waiting."

Malchior stared down at her, annoyed that she was trying to get away from him. He sighed and lifted a hand up to cup the side of her face, he let his claws trace over the outline of her chin. Amused that she wasn't at all disturbed that his sharp talons could easily slice through anything with little effort at all. He stopped with his fingers gently clutching her chin and faster then she could counter he pulled her into a kiss even after her warning, it may have been brief and short, but he just couldn't get enough of her. Everything, her scent, her taste, her everything … he wanted it all … he wanted her completely.

Raven could feel his wants, his needs, his desires, and it was all centered on her … it was always his thoughts and feelings that made her flush with just a simple kiss. Hell, he was so strong in his influential emotions it made Raven believe they were her own! Were they? She hardly knew every time he dared to sit close to her or sneak a kiss. She really was his captive … "You know love, if I never knew what you wore was just a uniform for your occupation, I'd swear you were just dressing the way you do to manipulate me."

"Don't flatter yourself," Raven breathed, then actually put some effort in pushing him away, back to her usual self she glared at Malchior, "and stop playing around. We could have been caught."

"Too late." Kenneth from down the hall Raven had come around snickered and rounded the corner; Raven stilled, but took two steps away as amber eyes gazed mockingly upon her and Malchior. Shoulder leaning against the wall and hands within his pockets he ran one hand through his mused brown hair and chuckled, "I always knew there was something between the two of you. From the start."

Malchior scoffed, "So what? You want a cookie?" Raven huffed and growled, snatching a hand out to Malchior's side she pinched him through his shirt and out of shock he jumped away with a yelp, "Wha … di-did you jus-just pinch me?"

"So what if I did," Raven growled and pointed right in his face, "I told you to knock off your theatrics in public. Now look!"

Kenneth snickered, "Ooo, trouble in paradise?"

"Open your mouth one more time human and you'll see," Malchior threatened cryptically, Kenneth shrugged with his grin ever the present.

"Honestly, Miss Raven, I don't think it really matter to keep you and Malchior a secret," Raven spun around and once again from another side of the hall, Rorek came out, but this time he came out through his room, which was right across from Raven's, but a little towards the end of the hall. Rorek looked up after dusting off his dark blue flannel button up, his cuffs unbuttoned and dark gray cargo pants with matching Vans. His long white hair was pulled into a low ponytail, Raven raised a brow at his look, he looked ready to go out to a gathering of sorts.

Even with his charming smile and innocent ice-blue eyes Rorek – she now knew – had always been capable of playing the devil behind angel's wings, "After all, the connected heart we share is hard to block off … especially when strong emotions come into play. So I'm sorry Miss Raven, but even if you tried or Malchior tried, I'd still know."

Raven nodded, not at all taken back by Rorek's knowledge, "Yes, of course, that's understandable … but Kenneth is another story … Malchior over here is the one that has to learn control."

The dragon blinked, and pointed at himself stupidly, "You talking to me my dear?"

"I'm certainly not talking to myself now am I?" Raven sneered, then looked around at the other two and paused to notice something … she was surrounded … black, amber gold, and ice blue eyes all gazed upon her. The sorceress suddenly narrowed her own in a suspicious glare and scowled at each of them, "Okay … what's going on … what do you all want?"

"A day break," Malchior, Kenneth, and Rorek all said in a creepy unison that even made Raven shiver because she just knew she was being used again.

"A … "day-break" …? What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded carefully with her narrowed violet hues.

Malchior took the liberty of explaining, "Well, love, what it means is. Since it appears the three of us are going to be stuck here for three more consecutive days, we were hoping that maybe … you could provide us with a little … getaway. At least for the day you're gone with Starfire."

"So … I'm a ticket … is that it?" Raven sneered, then scoffed and turned her way into her room, "Unbelievable."

Rorek stepped away when she stormed passed him, though that didn't mean he wasn't ready to plea with her, "Miss Raven, please, it's not as if we're going to run … we just want to get out and … you know … get a little fresh air. We all know that there's more laying a head of us down the path to keep Azalon from falling and merging into Earth … so we thought … at least … just to follow you and Miss Starfire. Just for the day … please."

Raven looked over her shoulder and shook her head, "No, if I do this, it'll turn into even more favors and pretty soon, you are all going to be getting it in your heads that we're a bunch of old friends that can mooch off one another. Besides, three days isn't long, it'll pass by faster then you know."

"Like hell it will!" Kenneth growled, "Look, just one frickin' day, that's all we're asking. Rorek's right, we're just going to be following you and the ditz around, what's the harm in that?"

"Ditz?" Raven scowled, "Oh yeah, like that's really going to get me to allow you out of the tower."

"If it'll at least get you to listen to me, yeah," Kenneth challenged.

Raven glared, "Alright! Fine! You three can come … but after this, no more. You're all on your own."

Kenneth jumped up and pumped a fist in the air with a wide grin shouted, "Yes!"

Rorek smiled and bowed humbly while following Kenneth as the human danced his way back to the Ops Room, "Thank you Miss Raven, we are in debt to you. We'll be waiting in the Operations Room."

When the two exited around the corner, Raven found her glare resting on the dragon that sauntered towards her and snaked his arms around her waste, pulling her close with the snakiest grin on his face. Raven put her hands on his chest in order to keep her upper body from him, "You're all conniving, scheming weasels, you know that?"

"Maybe so," Malchior shrugged, "but at least you'll never be bored of us."

"Malchior …" Raven sighed and pulled away from his embrace, her door room already just three steps away as she walked backwards towards it. Shaking her head at the dragon she allowed herself a small smirk – she blamed it on him, Kenneth, and Rorek. They were all beginning to rub off on her. Especially Malchior … "… with you … there's just no telling what the day may bring."

With that she entered her room and left Malchior to dig his hands into his pocket and keep from breaking out into a fit of laughter. Raven was just … so … she was just something else … but at least she didn't think of him as boring. That was as good a compliment he was going to get from her … but it was just enough for him at the moment as he whistled his way down the hall towards the Ops Room.

--

Raven: (swats Malchior on the chest) You used me again!

Malchior: (flinches away from her when she hits him again) No I didn't! It was Rorek's idea! Hit him!

Rorek: Was not! X's the one that wants out of the Tower, not me … well … I do want out, but that's besides the point!

X: Woo! Out, about, and away from high-strung tight ass, YES!

Raven: (growls and glowers at the three) You'll be far from happy when you read the next scenes. (throws him his skit)

X: NO! Not a again! Goddamn it! CIMPLE!

Me: Not here! Quick Hi and Bye to you guys before I fly or by the looks I'm getting I'm gonna die. So l8er daez gotta split! (red xs whiz over my head) HEY! I didn't mean it literally!

X: I'm sending you to hell if it's the last thing I do, I killed once I'll do it again!

Me: Uh … heh …