A/N: Hey guys I'm back! I'M SO FREAKIN SORRY! Something was screwy with my computer and it wouldn't let me into Microsoft! (My writing resource) so I couldn't add ANYTHING to the chapter in till we had fixed the computer. Luckily, my dad was able to fix it before I DIED with EMBRASSMENT 'cause I said I would have this up months ago!
Ok, sorry for that inconvenience, now it's review-answering time!
Alexnandru Van Gordon- Thank you! I've only read one other story with Red X as the apprentice too. Except it's not 'Identity Theif' it's called 'Secrets of a Traitor'. You should read it too; it's very well done. But mine goes in a different direction, you'll see.
TEENager- Hold your horses! I'm getting there, lol.
Aeris-Raven- Thanks! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
titanfan- If you liked the last chapter, then you'll probably like this one to!
Me- Get a life
dlsky- Believe me, this story is original. I have tons and tons of rough drafts of the story plot and if it does sound like another story, I'm sorry. I hate it when people don't use their own creativity for their stories. But thank you for the compliment!
Moonlit Ballad- Thank you very much! Oh, want to hear something a little funny but sad? For my Terra fic. (Lost) I had Terra's original name as: Tara Daniels… but I can't have that now 'cause that's your name! (I had this idea before I saw your profile). Lol, but now I havta find a new last name for her!
strodgfrgf- I'm flattered! Thank you! Hey, by the way, what does strodgfrgf mean anyways? If you don't mind me asking.
Blonde Shadowcat- You have to update your fic too! I'm DIEING to know the rest!
ilove2read- Yes, I know, I'm sorry that I said I would have it up ages ago. Hmm, my cousin said something like that to me to….
Kayla- Sorry, I shouldn't have 'yelled' at you like that. I'm just so sick of people nagging on me, and well, you just happened to be the one that I ended up yelling at. So I'm sorry Kayla, it was wrong of me to do that.
Me- Don't be to hard on Kayla, but it would have been better if she had worded her 'review' differently, and I don't think she meant it for offense.
LIGHTFIRE GRAYSON- Thank you! I'll try to keep working on the next chapter in the mean time, but thanks!
Heh heh, and now for the long awaited chapter!
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Chapter 5
Old Enemy Part 4
A boy's footsteps echoed as he ran down the street. His arms pumped at his sides, he took deep breaths while he ran. He looked behind him.
He saw him.
He swore under his breath and picked up his pace.
The sun's last rays of yellow and orange could still be seen in the sky before they disappeared into the night behind the tall buildings in the city. The streetlamps were turning on as the mysterious figure ran underneath them.
The people who were out at the hour stopped to stared at him while he ran down the sidewalk. But he paid them no mind.
He was running for his life.
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Robin's eye mask widened.
"No…"
There, in front of all the titans, stood Red X.
"Yes" He hissed as he took a step towards them. But instead of attacking, the titans looked him up and down in shock; something was different about him. Red X looked beaten, hurt. His uniform was torn in several different places on his body and he was bleeding in a couple spots. His mask was a little lop-sided and a part of his cape was missing. He looked bent and even his 'eyes' looked lower; which made him look tired.
But that's not what made the titans gape, for his costume had altered as well. Where the red X on his chest was supposed to be, wasn't. In its place was a brown, familiar, S.
Slade's symbol, the one that Robin and Terra once wore.
Robin took a bewildered step forward. "What happened to you? How did you survive and how did you become affiliated with Slade?"
Red X laughed.
"So many questions for such a simple guy" He turned his head to the side and coughed at the end of his sentence.
Starfire lit up her hands. Her brow furrowed. "You will not get away this time" She said definitely.
Red X laughed again.
"Don't worry cutie, I'm not going anywhere". He said, keeping his ground.
Robin grit his teeth in anger. He made fists at his side.
"Don't call her that" He said dangerously.
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Meanwhile…
Raven meditated as she hung from the wall. After she realized Red X was there, she had begun meditating immediately. She knew she would need her strength to fight him even though she was exhausted.
Her eyes were closed as she chanted her ancient words.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"
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"What? Are you jealous?" Red X laughed. Then, he crouched down, and shot a sharp red X at Robin.
Robin's eyes widened.
He exhaled.
He jumped into the air, the X slicing the air under him. It hit and stuck out from the wall right next to where Raven was, but it unfazed her meditating.
He back flipped, and landed with yet another staff already in his hand. He shouted: "Titans! Go!".
He immediately ran at Red X and swung his staff at him.
Cyborg stood next to Raven, who was still meditating, scratching his head. "Man! How many staffs do you HAVE in that utility belt?" But never the less, he ran forward with the rest of the group.
Red X ducked and swung his fist at Robin. Robin parried but Red X threw an X at him, which caught him off guard. It clamped his arms to the sides of his body so he couldn't move. Robin stumbled back and fell. He tried to get loose but to no avail.
Starfire sprang into the air and fired her starbolts.
Red X did a series of back handsprings to avoid them. When he stopped he let loose many X's with a flick of his hand.
Starfire flew towards Red X while she dodged the X's. When there was nothing more to dodge, she fired her eye beams at him.
Red X wasn't quick enough to get out of the way. He got full blast of the hit. "Ooof!" He smashed into the wall behind him.
Then, a green bull charged and smashed Red X further into the wall. Beast Boy turned back into his human form. He looked into the hole he made that Red X had disappeared into.
But Red X was nowhere to be seen.
Beast Boy looked confused. "Huh? Where did he go-?"
Then he heard a voice from above say:
"Right here"
Beast Boy gasped and looked up. He watched Red X's figure descend on him.
Beast Boy exhaled. "…Oh great"
Red X slammed into BB, making another small crater in the floor. When the dust cleared, Red X was standing out side the crater and Beast Boy was in it, unconscious.
Starfire gasped. "Beast Boy!" She flew down to him.
STOMP STOMP STOMP
"RRRRaaaughhhhh!" Cyborg came up from behind Red X. And swung both of his fists down with all his might.
Red X wasn't able to react in time, he went flying. "Uhh!"
In mid-air he back-flipped and landed in a crouched position.
Cyborg straightened up and transformed his arm into his sonic cannon. He stood his ground and aimed at Red X.
Red X stayed crouched on the ground, waiting.
They both stared each other down.
Then……Cyborg fired.
But it hit nothing but air.
Cyborg gaped. He looked around. "Huh? Where did he go-?"
SMACK!
"Ow!" Cyborg fell forward.
Red X teleported in front of Cyborg. "That seems to be the only thing you people can say around here" He uppercut his chin and kicked his chest.
Cyborg tumbled backwards.
FLASH!
Red X looked up.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
"Rrrrrauuhhh!" Starfire shouted as she fired her starbolts at Red X.
Red X didn't run, instead he hit a button on his belt, and disappeared.
Starfire stopped firing, and stayed in place, floating near the spot Red X used to be.
"Huh?" She looked around to find the menace.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Two X's flew towards Starfire at an impossible speed. But Starfire didn't see them coming.
SMACK! "Uhhh!" She fell eight feet to the floor with a heavy thud among all the severed robot parts.
"!" She struggled to get loose from the tight X's holding her arms to her body.
Red X materialized next to Starfire, he looked down at her.
Starfire's eyes widened in alarm and tried in vain to release herself.
He began to bend over, his hands outstretched towards Starfire.
She screamed.
"Rrrrahhhh!" Robin slammed his foot into Red X's back.
"Whoa!" Red X fell over Starfire and on his face.
SWOOSH!
He turned and gasped. He rolled out of the way of a freeze disk. Which exploded and caught a part of his cape. He ripped it out, making his cape even again, but three feet shorter than it used to be.
He faced Robin and reached into his utility belt. He produced a laser gun and fired, hitting Robin.
"Ahh!" Robin fell down in pain.
He clutched his shoulder.
There was a tear in his uniform where shot had singed his skin.
He doubled over in pain for it kept burning his skin.
Red X walked over to his fallen body and kicked him.
Robin went sliding and didn't get up. His eye mask was closed.
"ROBIN!" Starfire cried as she saw his fallen body. She gritted her teeth and her eyes turned a furious green. She yelled and snapped the X's holding her. She turned to Red X, her eyes and hands sparking.
Red X took a step back, and put the gun back in his belt.
Starfire yelled and fired a beam through her hands at Red X.
Red X did the same except with red energy.
Their shots collided with each other, going one way and then the other. Starfire put more force into it and stepped forward, gaining an advantage. Red X stayed in place, fighting back, but he knew he wasn't more powerful than a Tamaranian.
But he was a villain, and villain's cheat.
He broke the tug of war and rolled to the side, from there he shot an X at Starfire's feet and watched.
Starfire gasped in surprise; she had not expected him to do that. The X he had thrown at her became a messy glob that glued her feet to the floor, just like the one he had glued Raven to the wall with.
"Raugh! Ugghh!" Starfire tried to pull her feet loose but to no avail. She fell down on her back at the attempt (Ow!) and began shooting starbolts at it in desperation.
Red X stood up and fixed his mask so it wasn't tilted anymore. "That's more like it" He said as he began to pick up the long forgotten bags of money and headed towards the exit. "I'll just come back later for the rest…" He slung them over his shoulder in a casual way and was about to exit when the sacks became black and were yanked out of his grasp.
"Not so fast" Raven said in her usual monotone voice as she levitated in the air over to Red X. Her cloak billowed around her and her arms were outstretched as she placed the money down far out of Red X's reach. She had meditated long enough to cure most of her cuts and bruises, and she was feeling a lot better because of it. This way, she could fight and not get any worse than she used to be.
"You have to get through me first," The Empath said as her eyes glowed a dangerous white.
Red X's got into a fighting pose. "I already have" His inhuman voice seemed to echo in Raven's mind. She growled.
She summoned the pieces of robots from off the ground and flung them at Red X's figure.
He nimbly dodged them and shot X's at Raven.
She flew her hand out in front of her and caught them with her telekinesis. She flung them back with a black tint to them.
Red X's 'eyes' widened. He ducked and jumped over his weapons. He stood back up and laughed.
"Is that the best you've-SMACK!" A secretary's desk flooding with black energy slammed into him. It carried him through the vault door and into the vault, a large, white-tiled, circular room filled with shelves where most of the money still lay. He was slammed into the space between the shelves with the desk crushing him against the wall. He struggled to breath.
Raven floated into the room with her hand outstretched, the one putting pressure on the desk that held Red X.
The desk started to glow a reddish color when- BAM! It exploded into tiny pieces, as Red X stood hunched, heaving for breath where it had been. He had one arm over his chest and the other holding his gun.
Raven narrowed her eyes. She scowled.
"You've already done enough! SLADE has done enough! Now BE GONE!" Her eyes flashed four red ones for a second as she unleashed her dark power on the villain. It traveled at unthinkable speed towards Red X.
He pocketed the gun and dove out of the way at the precise moment before it ripped him to shreds.
It butchered the wall behind him, spraying pieces of the wall everywhere.
He flung a slicing X at Raven.
Raven gasped and her eyes turned their normal violet. The X caught her cloak and carried her to the opposite wall in the vault. "Ahh!" She cried as her back hit the wall. It sent pain throughout her body. Her body fell from the gravity but stopped because the X was holding her cloak to the wall. She was hanging about ten feet in the air. Her eyes closed and her hood was up.
Red X straightened up and walked towards her dangling body. "That was just too easy" He gloated as he came closer.
When he came close enough, in reaching distance, Raven's eyes snapped open, brilliantly white.
"You're right, it was" And the wall surface on both sides of her came out and slammed into Red X, pushing him into the exact opposite wall of her.
Raven pulled the X out of her cloak with her powers and began to levitate again, but her strength was waning and she was running out of energy fast.
While the dust was still clearing, a red shot came from the depths of it and it hit Raven on her side, just above her hips.
"Aaahhhhhhhhh!" She cried out as she fell to the floor, holding her stomach.
Her eyes flashed white before they became normal as she hit the floor with a heavy thud.
She breathed in deep breaths and looked to where the shot had come from.
Red X stepped out into the open with the laser gun in hand, pointed at Raven.
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Robin blinked.
He moaned and sat up. He began to rub his shoulder. He looked around him. There were up-rooted tiles and the scattered robot parts around him. He was at the far most corner of the bank, near an office with glass windows and a flickering desk lamp inside.
He gazed around. He couldn't find his friends anywhere; there was too much rubble and junk on the floor.
He shakily stood up and pocketed his staff.
His ears pricked when he heard footsteps coming from behind him.
He whirled around but saw no one.
Robin's face was deadpan.
He walked over to the glass windows of the office and pressed his face and hands against it, trying to see inside.
And there, in the flickering lamplight, he saw a moving shadow.
Robin's lips parted.
"Slade"
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Raven took deep breaths as she eyed Red X. she looked down at her stomach and pulled her hand away, it was covered in blood. Raven winced and placed her hand back on it. Her hand produced a blue aura as she began to heal her wound.
Red X trained the gun on her as he spoke. "You know Raven, you were always trying to hide what you really were" He paused. "Destruction, heh, just like me".
Raven lifted her head and opened her eyes. "Nhh, I'm n-not like y-you…" She wheezed out. Her eyes began to roll to the back of her head.
"Not like me? You caused the end of the WORLD Raven." Red X said with venom in his 'voice'. "As I will to…" He said softly so that Raven couldn't even hear him.
Raven passed out.
Red X grinned never the less. He pointed his gun at Raven.
But before he could pull the trigger…
A combination of Cyborg's sonic cannon and Starfire's starbolts hit him with full force.
He went slamming into a rack. Money flew everywhere.
"And she's saved the world BASTARD!" Cyborg yelled.
He, Starfire, and Beast Boy stood at the entrance to the vault.
Starfire was in the air, her fists a bright green.
Beast Boy had his arms crossed and had a mean glare.
And Cyborg had his arms to his sides, and one had transformed into his sonic cannon.
"Titans, GO!" Cyborg shouted as he ran at Red X.
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Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep!
BOOM!
The door handle exploded and Robin rushed in.
But there was no one to be found.
"…" Robin walked over to the desk. Looked at the lamp sitting on the right part of the desk.
He leaned over and pulled the chain that turned the lamp off.
WHIRRRR BANG!
Robin heard a whirring sound and turned his head to the side to find that the wall to the left of the desk was giving away to a circular shaped entrance that lead to a descending stairway.
Robin walked over to it and looked down the stairs.
He couldn't see where it lead because it became pitch dark after the first three stairs.
"Well that's a start". Robin said as he began to run down the stairs.
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When Robin reached the end, he was surprised at what he saw.
After a very long journey of twists and turns and scurrying rats here and there, he had reached solid ground and found that he was no longer on the surface anymore.
He was in an underground cave, and it seemed to go on forever. He could feel the size of the cave even though he could barely see in front of him. Robin walked with caution across the floor because of that.
As if automatic, lights from the top of the cave lit up everything with a dazing white light.
Robin jumped in surprise and covered his eyes from the blinding light; his eyes were still used to the dark.
"Now, now, Robin, we wouldn't want you to go blind" Robin heard the voice that had been haunting him for a while.
He edged his head to the side while he kept his hand up, blocking out the light.
He saw Slade's figure just mere meters in front of him.
Slade stood with his hands behind his back, calm.
Robin lowered his arm and brought out his staff. He got into a fighting pose. The dark walls of the cave and floor had helped him adjust to the light.
"Slade" He said the name with hate. "It's about time you showed your face".
"Robin, I'm surprised, normally I start the violence". Slade said as he brought out his own staff.
"You're not getting away this time," Robin said definitely as he stood his ground. "I've become better since the last time we met"
"Really Robin? Then show me". Slade said as he twirled to the left, gaining ground towards Robin, his staff swung around him, and then he jabbed at Robin's head.
Robin blocked and swung his leg at Slade.
Slade dodged, fell to the ground crouched, and swung his leg out towards Robin's feet.
Robin did a back flip and charged Slade swinging his staff.
Slade caught his staff with his own across his chest and they compressed their weight on one another.
As they struggled Slade spoke: "Indeed Robin, you have gotten better, but this not good enough!" He finally threw Robin off of him with his strength.
Robin took some awkward steps backward from the sudden force.
Slade straightened his posture and began to walk towards Robin slowly. "No matter, I shall fix that soon"
Robin grew angry.
He swung his staff low at Slade.
But Slade jumped in the sir and came down on it, causing it to break.
Robin caught it in the air, twirled it again and it became extended once again.
He held his staff with both hands and pointed it at Slade. "Whatever you have planned for me Slade, it's over! You already tried to make me your apprentice once and it didn't work! What can you do now?"
Slade held his staff up with both hands. "Oh many things Robin, but I would be more concerned for your friends if I were you".
Robin's throat went dry.
"W-What did you say?" He said as he gripped his staff harder, it didn't help that his voice almost cracked. But he hadn't forgotten the last time Slade had threatened his friend's lives.
"Your friends boy! I wouldn't be surprised if something didn't happen to your precious alien friend you have-"
"SHUT UP!" Robin yelled as he flew at Slade with his staff.
Slade stayed still. As Robin came to hit him, Slade grabbed his arm and twisted it in a way an arm isn't supposed to twist.
Robin yelled in agony, dropping his staff. He was forced to stand next to Slade with his back to him, his arm in Slade's grasp.
Slade lowered his mouth to Robin's ear.
"Control yourself Robin, did I touch a sensitive subject?" Slade asked mockingly.
Robin grunted. He stayed still, controlling…
Slade dropped his hold on Robin and backed up a few steps. Robin fell to the floor and sat up.
"It's been fun Robin, but I must leave," Slade said. "My time is up".
And with that, he threw some pellets on the floor that let loose smoke.
Robin coughed on the ground. The smoke got in his mouth and blurred his vision.
When the smoke had cleared, Robin got up slowly, holding his arm.
Slade was gone.
The boy wonder hung his head and sighed in defeat. The lights snapped off, leaving him in darkness to begin his long climb up the stairway.
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Man, that was such a bad chapter, I'm sorry guys! You must be so pissed with me WAH. I should just give it up now.
…
…Anyways if I end up not updating in a while, here's a little preview on what's gonna happen next!
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Robin was supine on his bed.
He rubbed his temples. His brow furrowed in frustration.
"Uhhh! He couldn't know that I…what does he want?"
There was a silence, one such, that it was unnatural. Then all of a sudden, Robin new something was wrong. He could feel it. He sat up on his bed. His feet touched the ground. He waited.
Nothing.
His eye mask narrowed. He stood up and began to walk towards his door.
SWISHH!
He walked out into the hallway. He gripped his fists.
Tick, Tick, Tick…
He walked pass Starfire's door which was at the end of the hallway.
Tick, Tick, Tick…
"Huh?"
Robin heard the Ticking. He looked around. He heard it come from…
He pressed his ear up against her door.
Tick Tick Tick!
Robin gasped.
A bomb.
In a last attempt he pushed off the door and rolled to the ground.
BOOM!
Debris of Starfire's door was scattered everywhere. A very large part happened to end up on Robin, Which pinned him down; he was helpless. His head and half his shoulders stuck out from underneath but the rest of his body was stuck under the concrete.
"Uhhh! Starfire!" He tried to get himself loose, but to no avail.
But then, he heard a scream, which he new far to well. He paled.
"ROBIN!" Starfire's voice came out from her room.
"STARFIRE!" He yelled back, trying with all his might to get free. He managed to free his left arm, but the rest of his body wouldn't budge.
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There, I hoped you liked it (just so you know, (for the preview) I took some things out which will be added in when the real chapter comes). Noticed I used SUPINE, one of my vocab words in English. Ahahaha. If you don't know what it means…look it up! Heh I feel so proud…Anyho, It might take me a bit to get the next chapter up (as I've already stated…) Yes I know and I'm sorry. I'm gonna try to put up my Zelda, and two Sailor Moon fics. Before I update ok? Also, if me not updating is ABSOLUTLY KILLING you, just tell me and I'll really try to update faster (and no, I'm NOT lying about this) because I HATE waiting forever for someone to update their story.
God, I am SO HAPPY I finally finished this chapter! (Now on to the next one…lol) Also I know, I know! I'll work on the grammar! I suck at it ok? I'll try to be better with the next chapter! I swear! …Yeah, I said that last chapter, but this chapter was really long so I got lazy. (This is my longest chapter yet….)
Special Thanks:
Thank you all who have read and reviewed my story thus far. And all those who have waited out the wait for this chapter. You guys deserve it!
As Always,
Stargazer aka Moonprincess