Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, but I own the plot and the name Angel
A/N: Wow … this was a fast update … thank the Spring Break people, I'm taking advantage of it!
Hmm … you're right about that, thanks for pointing that out anonymous-reader, I'll get right to it, but I think I'm getting to it right now, see the beginning of this chapter? Yes I'll admit that it was a bit of a stretch the last chapter, but I was too tempted, sorry. Okay, besides that thanks for reviewing and telling me at least it lets me know you're reading, love you all!
So …
Enjoy!
--
Missing 500
This was bad …
So very bad …
How could she had let this happened? Laying on her stomach on top of her futon that was up against the wall of her room with the door across from her. Cheshire sighed tiredly and shook her head, sitting up but trying hard not to disturb the wound on her leg she hissed and winced when even her careful movements didn't spare her mercy. It's not supposed to be like this … damn … Trigon is not going to be too happy about this. She thought tiredly as she propped her back against the wall. Closing her eyes and gulping, she yelped when her cell phone suddenly rang.
What the … oh … it's probably him right now … sullenly she reached for the phone on the floor to her right, picking it up and taking a deep breath she put him on speaker phone, "Cheshire."
"Oh … nobody can touch you huh?"
Cheshire's eyes shot wide open and her heart stilled … that wasn't Trigon … no, that was … "Malchior?"
"That's right, I think you aimed too low for the heart, I'm still here, so fuck you."
Malchior! Malchior … was on the other end? How? How did he get this number, panicked she looked around and glanced to her door. It was closed and locked, then looked to the only window in her room, nothing there. Still anxious she gulped and looked to her door again and nearly screamed when she saw Agent Blackfire leaning against the doorframe. Gun to her side pointed down, her grin dark and devious just as well as her lavender eyes. Cheshire bit down on her lower lip and gripped the phone tighter, "No …"
A chuckle on the other end, "Yes … it's very much true … I'm afraid your luck just ran out. You see, when you meddle with family affairs … things … happen. Some good – " Cheshire's heart nearly died when Blackfire raised her 9mm and cocked it. Her grin haunting and unmerciful, " – some very, very bad. You shot at my sweet baby sister Raven, and you nearly killed her best friend, Rorek. Do you even have an inkling of a clue how much that just pisses me off? Do you?"
Was it a rhetorical question? Because Cheshire neither knew the answer, nor did she know if she should answer it. So she stayed silent and watched Blackfire carefully, gulping when she giggled at her fear. Malchior came back with a tired sigh, "Now I think I got your full attention. My father may be ruthless, but I'm the one that does his dirty work, so I'm going to be taking a crack at sitting behind the big shiny desk now, and you're going to be my perfect little tool and do as I say."
Cheshire shook her head, "Forget it, I work for one person at a time. You want me to be on your side, then you have to kill Trigon, and I know that you're not at all as you seem."
"Oh, she grows a backbone, want a cookie?" Malchior snorted sarcastically, "Frankly Cheshire, I don't see how you're going to be getting out of this mess. Your either going to be killed or going to jail, either way I could give less of a fuck, but I am giving you a chance. Get Trgon off my back and I'll see what I can do for you."
"…" Cheshire gritted her teeth and looked down to the floorboard, this was a predicament, though she didn't understand it. How could the "good-guys" be this heartless? It was like they were the villains. An Agent that was in front of her enjoying her squirm threatening her with a gun she was waving around and the grin on her face. Agent Blackfire … she was everything the stories made her out to be. Then Malchior, the protective older brother … pulling the strings … was this really happening? Cheshire could hardly believe it and sighed. " … I'll call you back in 24 hours to give you my answer."
"Glad you're considering the offer. Good-bye." The phone clicked off, and Cheshire glared at Blackfire who chuckled and waved.
"Good-bye," smugly she waltzed out the room and her apartment, leaving Cheshire tired and worried. She had been so frightened about the phone call she forgot that her cell could have been tapped. Once again in a panic, she gulped and panted for air. How could she have forgotten?
Click. The sound of her apartment door closing and the echo of loneliness …
Cheshire closed her eyes …
--
Trigon snorted and tapped his fingers on his "big shiny desk" sitting behind it and glaring at the door that was in front of him and across the way. Getting off his chair he sighed and turned to stare at the large full wall window that was placed behind his desk, bulletproof no doubt. The servants that stood on wither side of his door watched emotionlessly at their master. What were his orders they wondered, after hearing the tape from Cheshire's cell phone. They wondered what he would do.
A deep thoughtful look upon his face, his dark maroon eyes glaring down at the city he practically owned. Trigon sneered at it and hmmmed. It was a predicament he was in, an assassination gone wrong and his kids were still alive. This wasn't good business … he knew what Arnell and Malchior were capable of and that single phone call was on the sugar coated topping.
Even Sin was becoming a problem.
She was making things harder then it should be, already she made a point, but must she irritate him so? Didn't she see that she was already Malchior's equal? She's always been since got in contact with the Ford GT. Yes … the Ford GT … that too was becoming a problem, the car wasn't in his hands and he needed it to further boost his company.
If he had the Ford GT … then he'd become an eternal legend.
Cheshire failed, that was already unacceptable, but now she was conversing with the enemy that was unthinkable. Though he wished he could further use her to the extent of her abilities. She was too risky for him. Turning to the servants behind him he flicked his wrist, "Cheshire is off duty, make sure she disappears."
"Yes sir."
"Oh, and call Slade … I think it's time we bury the hatchet."
"Of course."
--
Angel smirked and looked among the people on the table, more in particular a certain violet haired girl who sat across from him with her infamous poker face on. She showed no emotion as always, but he wanted to see if she could read his mind, "King of Diamonds."
"Bullshit!" not exactly who he was hoping would challenge him, but Angel looked over to Herald who was shaking his head, "Liar Angel, I know you're a liar, everyone knows it!"
"Well if you're so sure then pick up the fucking card and call me out dork," Angel smugly sat back in his chair and tilted it on its hind legs. Herald grinned and reached for the face down cards in the middle of the kitchen table. Lifting Angel's card Herald's smug expression was turned to that of a horror stricken face as he jerked back to see the King of Diamonds like Angel stated.
"Shit!"
Angel's grin was even wider then before watching with great satisfaction as Herald collected all the cards on the table, "Now ya see, I may not tell the truth a hundred percent of the time, but I do still tell the truth. Your turn Rae."
Raven blinked and looked amongst her cards, well … card considering she had been winning. The object of the game was to get rid of all her cards at the same time trying to make out another of the players to be a liar whenever they stated they had a certain card. Like Angel for instants, he said hat he had the King of Diamonds and was telling the truth when he could have lied about it, Herald called him on it and thought he was lying. So when he lifted up the card to see that he was telling the truth he had to take all the cards that were placed down on the table. Thus bring him further from eliminating all his cards.
She didn't know when exactly she was sucked into playing this stupid guessing game, but she was playing it anyway. And winning. She only had one card left and if she got rid of her this card the game was over for her. She'd win. Sitting up she eyed her card and placed hers face down, after her everyone else – which consisted of Angel, Herald, and Argent placed theirs. Waiting patiently for her so say anything, Raven thought for a moment and sighed, "Queen of Hearts."
Everyone looked amongst each other wondering who was going to call the girl out. After all no one knew if Raven was a liar or a truth telling, did she keep secrets, or was she so mysterious that there wasn't a secret to tell? Poker faced, she betrayed nothing to her competitors and Angel raised a brow looking at her cards as if he had X-ray vision. He thought for a moment and decided to hell with it and called her on it, saying aloud the namesake of the card game, "Bullshit."
Raven raised a brow and stilled glancing at her card nervously, Angel grinned, he was going to win, how he knew? Because Raven never liked to loose and she was stalling, reaching for the cards he stopped to look up at her, noticing that she was getting uneasy by the inches. He had this in the bag! Snatching the cards up, his grin stalled and fell slowly. Looking up to Raven he found her smirking with great satisfaction, getting up from her chair, Angel couldn't believe it, but she said it.
"I win."
She won. Herald chuckled and grabbed the cards, "Good game, good game, you guys wanna play poker now? Raven?"
Raven flicked her wrist in dismissal, "Maybe some other time Herald, I have to go check up on Rorek."
"Shoots." With that the jazz lover turned back to everyone on the table and snapped at Angel who was staring off at Raven in wonder, "Hey, Romeo, pay attention. You playin' or what?"
"Huh?" snapped out of thought Angel looked up and Herald and shrugged, "Yeah, sure."
Herald smirked and passed out the cards, thinking it was just so humorous of Angel to be falling for the cold-hearted Scathe Princess. Fixing up his cards Herald got ready to start the game, but there came a knock to his door, "Crap, I'll be right back."
Up off his chair Herald headed for the door, passing by the couch he raised a brow when Malchior suddenly shot up from his chair and slammed down the phone. Glaring at him, Herald shook his head and continued on to the door. Malchior gulped and sighed, glad that he wasn't caught he listened close and turned off the TV. The door opened and Herald greeted Robin and Star along with Jinx, Malchior glanced at his watch to notice it was time for school to end.
"Hey, what? You guys came to see Malchior and Rorek to?" Herald let the three in, watching as they walked in casually and looked about the place.
Robin shrugging, "Not really, we just came to … well … check on everyone."
"Cool, well Argent and Angel are in the kitchen, we were just about to play poker, Raven's upstairs with Rorek and Malchior. Well, he's in the living room," Herald shrugged, "You guys wanna join in on the game?"
"Sure," Jinx smiled and walked on over to the kitchen waving a greeting to Malchior who scowled and sat back clearly irritated by the large gathering. Waltzing on over to Angel and pulling a sit right next to him, her cousin pouted.
"Crap, now I'll never win a game, not with you here."
"Aw, come on, you know I'm your lucky charm?" Jinx laughed and Angel rolled his eyes giving her his cards.
"Here, you play then I'm not so into cards anymore."
Herald snickered, "I'm sure you're not."
Angel flipped him off, "Go to hell Herald, I got the camera now."
"X, chill for a sec," Robin called and rushed up to stand beside him, "hey, listen, I gotta talk to you. I think there's something you need to know."
X raised a brow and scanned Robin from head to toe with a sarcastic sneer, "What could I possibly need to know from you?"
"Trust me," Robin frowned, "it's important."
"Whatever, come on, let's go to the porch I need to get some air anyway." Angel leisurely gestured and the two walked on to the exit, Angel slowed at the stairs looking up as if hoping Raven would be coming down any minute. He shook his head and opened the door letting Robin out first he followed and closed the door. Swinging himself onto the stoop and leaning his back onto the building he looked over to Robin who was sitting on the stairs. Staring blankly at the cemented ground, Angel blinked, "So what man? Start speaking, what's so important that you got to tell me."
"It's Slade," Robin shook his head, looking back to Angel his cerulean blue eyes glistening with an exhausted hue. Angel faintly had to wonder just how bad he had it with his mother's boyfriend, "… he's having some kind of masquerade party this Wednesday Night hosted at his new job to celebrate and I have no choice but to go …"
Angel leaned back, "And you're telling me this … why?"
Robin turned to face Angel and sighed, he looked like he was ready to purpose marriage! It was creeping the eldest out, "Angel … I need you to switch places with me and go to the masquerade party."
Processing …
Processing …
Processing …
Ding! Angel shook his head and stood up, "You want me to what!"
Robin got up with him hands up in defense he pleaded his case, "Angel, please you gotta do this for me, I can't go to this stupid thing, not when I'm on the verge of finding out who Sin is!"
Angel held up one hand to silence him, "Shut up! All right, just shut the fuck up and let me think … you want me to pose as you to some kind of business party? Are you fucking retarded! Have you not seen or even noticed out differences dumb ass! I'm about close to a foot taller then you, not to mention light brown hair and light brown eyes and I'm darker then you Snow White. You freakin' blind or what?"
"No I'm not freakin' blind," Robin growled sarcastically, "Look, we have to do this. Roy and them guys are already on my ass about yesterday and want results, no doubt the media is all over it and we have to try and keep up with Trigon, Slade and everyone else if we're going to try and keep the boulevard from falling into smelly business. You have to trust me Angel, if we find out who Sin is, we can get her on our side because for some weird reason everyone seems to be after her GT."
"So while I'm riskin' my ass at a party you're going to be runnin' around looking for the GT? Cause if you haven't noticed the damn thing disappeared after we did to!" Angel tensed and ran his fingers through his messy hair, "What about the other guys? What are they saying?"
Robin shook his head, "Nothing yet, I think they're all kind of worn out from yesterday. In shock perhaps?"
"Shock my ass," Angel scoffed, "Just make sure Wally and Roy keep their mouths shut, those two when given the chance will blab to anyone. Garth doesn't talk much, Garfield and Terra along with Victor … you can handle them right?"
"Angel, they're all not going to say anything," Robin reassured, "They just want to know what to do. None of them want Trigon or Slade to over run Diamond Cut Boulevard … I already told them what they need to know."
"So what do you know," Angel huffed and leaned against the door, "how close are you to finding out who she is?"
Robin leaned next to him, both staring at the cemented ground tiredly, "Enough, Sin only gets her stuff done at a company called Fear Itself, the current owner is Arnell Roth, daughter of Arella Roth who died just recently."
"Arnell Roth …" Angel blinked, and blinked again, that name … "Arnell Roth … that's Raven."
"Yeah," Robin nodded, "Arnell Roth is her real name, and her and Malchior are only half-siblings. I think Raven may be the key to finding out who Sin is."
Angel shook his head, "No … it's Rorek, Rorek's Sin's navigator, he'd know who she really is. I spoke with him earlier, I asked him if he'd tell me who Sin was, and he went all head tripped with me. He knows who she is … and I think I already figured her out."
"Sin? You know who she is …?" Robin stood up and moved to stand directly in front of Angel who was still staring thoughtfully at the ground as if it held all his answers, "You gonna tell me?"
"Maybe …" Angel shrugged, "just a hunch, but think about it for a moment. Raven isn't Raven's real name, Arnell Roth is. Even though she has a company of her own she still works under Trigon, why? Her mother dies suddenly, and her father wants her dead for obvious reasons. Trigon wants her company. Yet … on the other hand you have Sin and Rorek, they both get their things at the same company Arnell Roth inherited, they both have a connection with Raven and a navigator is like the driver's best friend. What if … what if "Sin" is "Raven" who is Arnell Roth?"
"Raven being Sin …" Robin let it sink in and let his mind do its own processing, "… two aliases … why would you want two aliases?"
"To throw people off," Angel answered obviously.
Robin rolled his eyes, "Yeah to throw people off … if people found out that Raven is really Sin all she can do is pick up and leave with the name of Raven for the cops to try and find. Remember in her records it doesn't have any last name, so Trigon would be safe, and no one would have a clue that it would be Arnell Roth, because Arnell Roth is not a public person. No one knows Arnell Roth, no one cares for Arnell Roth … so if "Raven" is found, it doesn't specifically mean that Arnell Roth is found. Makes sense …"
"So what?" Angel shrugged, "You got nothing to prove everything we've said is true. I mean we can go up to Raven right now and ask if she's Sin, think she's just going to confess right off the bat? Don't think so."
"We got the evidence that Rorek is the navigator and where he's been shopping," Robin shrugged.
Angel shook his head, "No, no, little Robin, that's not even stabled, you can know who the navigator is, doesn't necessarily mean that his next closest friend is the driver. Though it's a good bet, remember that he has many other friends that'll toss stories around like a volleyball with no end insight."
"Which is why I have to stay away from the party to continue my research," Robin sighed, "So what? You gonna be me for a night?"
Angel cringed and walked away from Robin to the other side of the stoop, looking off down the street he glared at the buildings, "Being you is the last thing on my mind right now kid. I don't think I can hold my stomach just thinking about it. Blah!"
Robin snorted, Baby, he thought with a sneer, "Come on Angel, just a night … I promise you won't regret it."
"Don't promise something you can't give boy-wonder," Angel scoffed, and held back the urge to hit his smug little smirk. He knew. Robin knew, just knew Angel couldn't pass up the opportunity to mock him. The counter part looked at his mirror reflection and stunned for a moment, Angel blinked … he never realized it from the start … but he and Robin really did look similar. Just a little dye, a pair of contact lens … yeah … it could work. Plus … it was a masquerade party, meaning masks! It could work … though Angel just wasn't thrilled about it all. With a deep frown he closed his eyes and then shot them open to glare at Robin, "500 says I'll do it."
Robin jerked his head back in horror, "Five hundred! Dollars?"
Angel rolled his eyes, "No beach balls, what the fuck do you think?"
"That's a bit much."
"Five hundred or you're dancin' with an SOL sign." Angel grinned.
Robin, put out and about to be broke in a minute gritted his teeth, "350."
Angel raised a brow, "You, feather-head aren't in any position to be haggling with me. 500 on the spot, or I put in interest. Come on boy-wonder I know your pockets are deep."
"Five hundred …" Robin whined, "five hundred, god damn it Angel you're killin' be here!"
"Not as much as it'll kill me to be faking you in a day." Angel's grin got bigger as Robin stuffed his hands in a pocket and pulled out a wad of green. Giving him a solid five hundred reluctantly Angel ripped it from his hands and laughed, "Oh yeah, 500 richer, I just love money."
Robin growled, "Just for that you better behave yourself while being me."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever. Just be happy I'm even going to be you for the night. When again?"
"Wednesday," Robin sighed, still depressed about the loss of his 500-dollar bill.
"Yeah, Wednesday. Done deal," with that Angel winked and walked back into the house leaving Robin to sulk. Five hundred … five hundred damn dollars! Angel you're such a fucking thief!
--
So now you understand the meaning of the chapter, Angel never does a job unless he gets something out of it. Let this be a reminder, a thief is always a thief, whether he steals 500 (not that I'm trying to get him in trouble with Rouge), he steals a kiss, or a heart. He's still a thief.
As for Cheshire … well … hmm … I think that's self-explanatory until the next chapter.
So besides that, do you guys know the card game they were playing? It's called "Bullshit" aka "BS" and it really is a true card game, I thought it was fun when I played it. Besides all that, see you all in the next chapter!
L8er daez!