"Another victim found, another missing." Robin made a sound of disgust as he read the headline of the newspaper. "Jesus, the girl was only 13 years old. This man is sick." He buried his nose in the paper and read the article.

Raven lowered her book so she could peer over the top. "What does it say?" Beast Boy plopped down in the chair next to her and casually rest his arm over the back of her chair. She glanced at him dully as he threw a grin at her. She turned her attention back to Robin.

"Just like the last five. He kidnapped them, raped them, and then murdered them. This time it was brutally. It doesn't go into detail, but it says that she was scattered all over County road 170. Someone needs to find this bastard." Robin glanced over as red hair fell over his shoulder and onto his lap. Starfire was leaning over his shoulder, reading. "Her parents must be devastated."

"Yep." He cleared his throat lightly, uncomfortable at how close Star was. "This has been going on for way to long now. I just wish we could do something about this."

"Robin, we fight villains who rob banks and such, not sick pedophiles. This is something we're not experienced in. This is for detectives and the police force. Not teen super heroes, most of who have not reached the ages of 18." Raven said, lowering her book.

"Yeah, but that's just you and Star. And can't I say something without you trying to correct me? I know we can't help, but I can still wish, right?"

"Wish all you want, Robin. It is not going to happen. We wouldn't know what to do if we were given the chance the track him down."

"Yeah," Beast Boy added, slouching down in his chair and stretching out his long legs. "Anyways, Star and Raven are just about the right age. If we did have to do something about this, they'd be easy targets. Then we'd have to rescue them and take up valuable video game time."

Raven turned her head to give him one of her 'death' looks. "Are you inferring that we would not be able to defend ourselves if we were to be taken? And, if it were to happen, I wouldn't want you saving me. I would need a knight in shining armor, not a green changeling who can hardly walk straight without tripping over his long legs. So, if it were to happen, just sit back and play you video games."

Beast Boy sat up, uncomfortable at the thought of another guy's hand on her, and tried to change the subject away from the pedophile. "I wouldn't worry about it, Robin. They'll find the guy and maybe they'll find the girl. All we need to worry about now is finding and bringing Slade down."

"I wonder if Slade had anything to do with this."

"Robin, Slade isn't behind every single crime that goes on in Jump City." Beast Boy slouched back down and threw a bored look at Raven. "Anyways, I don't think Slade would go so low as to rape and murder young girls still in middle school and high school."

Raven gave Beast Boy a disgusted glance. "For once, I think Beast Boy managed to say something intellectual. Well, there is a first time for everything."

"Shut up, Raven. Not everyone had time to shove their face in "intellectual" books and float away from the real world. While you're in you fantasy books, the rest of the world is dealing with things that you won't have to, like murder and rape."

Raven sneered at him. "And while you're playing your video games because you have no real life, I'm dealing with powers and emotions you couldn't handle."

"Yeah, you're one to talk about personal lives. I bet you've never even talked to a guy other than people here, much less even gone out on a date or even kissed a guy. Face it, Rae. You hide behind you're book because you have no personal life. At least I can actually find someone for me. You won't even allow yourself to talk to a guy. I feel sorry for you, I really do. It must be hard to spend your life alone."

Robin jumped when half of the couch burst, sending stuffing flying everywhere. The chair Beast Boy was sitting in flipped backwards, taking Beast Boy with it. He yelped. Cyborg flew into the room just in time to see Beast Boy crash to the floor. Cyborg howled with laughter.

Robin glanced at Star with a grimace. He swatted at stuffing the floated in front of him, trying to manage dignity while looking like a playful cat.

"Dude…that hurt." Beast Boy sat up and glared at Raven. She returned the look with a smug smile.

"Well, guess I found your button that I don't want to push anymore."

She stood up and stepped over him, purposely kicking the side of his head. "Ouch." She opened the cupboards in search of her herbal tea.

Robin cleared his throat and read the rest of the article. "It says that the girl missing is Hannah Carson Jones, the mayor's stepdaughter. The rest of the town is in search for her. Mayor Jones fears the worst. 'I am worried sick about her. She was never the strong type, and if this pedophile gets a hold of her, she will never be able to fend for herself.'" Robin lowered the paper. "Well, he isn't exactly to sure of her, is he?"

"I heard that she reported that her stepfather beat her. No one believed her. The media asked Ethan Matthews, Jones's nephew, and he wouldn't talk. He became flustered and said he had to get to school. Personally, I think he does hit her around a little. I've seen bruises, but people say she's just clumsy." Cyborg shrugged and plopped down on the other side of the couch, the side that was still intact. "I think no one will believed her because the mayor has a lot of power and a lot of money. Hell, he was filthy rich before he was even elected. She probably ran away to get away from the beatings. Hopefully, the creep doesn't have her and she's with a boyfriend or something."

"I hear that Ethan guy is really guilty. It says in here that Matthew's was the one who finally told that she had runaway. He says he saw her push past the gates and headed south. He wanted to stop her, but he say, and I quote, 'Hannah has a will of steel and is completely stubborn. She won't listen to anyone and does what she wishes. If I tried to stop her, I'd just piss her off. She'd probably push past me and run away anyhow. I'm so scared for her. Even though she can defiantly defend herself from harm, I don't think she can handle being taken by that creep that rapes women. I just hope that she's walking the streets, unharmed, and not with that bastard.' Well, Matthew's thinks she's strong, and yet the mayor thinks her weak." Robin shrugged, lowering the paper.

Raven sat back down in her seat. "Just like a man to think women weak." She aimed a stare at Beast Boy, who now steered clear of her.

"Uh, okay. Anyways…whose turn is it to cook dinner?"

"We order out tonight." Raven said, leaning back against the chair. "I'd prefer Chinese, if that is fine with the rest of you."

"Yeah. That place down at the corner of 31st had really good tofu." Beast Boy said, walking close enough to push up the chair that had tipped over with him in it. He cut a glance at Raven, and then sat down quickly, as if she would slide it out from under him. He gave a relived sigh when he managed to stay in his chair and slouched once more.

"Chinese is fine with me," Cyborg muttered, picking white stuffing from the couch.

"What about you, Star? Chinese fine with you?" Robin asked, studying the picture of the mayor's daughter.

"That is fine with me."

"All righty then. Write down what you want and I'll order." Beast Boy offered, rolling his shoulders.

"You'll just screw it up. Maybe I should."

Beast Boy glared at her. "Is your life mission to make me miserable?"

"I make you miserable? Hmm, then I guess talking to you does some good after all."

"You seriously need a man."

She gave him a dull look. "No thank you. I personally don't need an pompous man who thinks woman are inferior and thank they can rule my life."

"I hope your not talking about me, 'cause the thought of actually dating you is… disgusting."

Raven straightened her shoulders. " You think women are inferior?" She would never admit that what he said stung.

"No, of course not. I know good and well women can be as good as a man, but you said pompous and that's what you always call me, so…"

"As if I would actually sink so low as to date you. You and I both know you couldn't handle me." Raven crossed her legs and rested one arm across the wing of the chair.

"I couldn't handle you? Jeez, I deal with more depressing chicks that even you."

She cocked her head at him. "I was talking about my emotions and powers, but think what you want."

He blinked. "Whatever. Anyway, I'm too good for you." He gave her a smug smile.

She said nothing, just grabbed her book and flipped to where she left off. Beast Boy studied her profile, noticing the way she clenched her teeth. Did what he said actually hurt her feelings?

He leaned forward so only she could hear. "You know I was just joking, right? I didn't really mean it. Come on, Rae. Don't ignore me like that when I'm apologizing. I don't do it often, but if I hurt you, I'm—"

"Hurt me? Don't kid yourself, Beast Boy. No one can hurt me, at least, emotionally. You know that."

He leaned back, but still watched her. "I think you're the one that kids yourself, Rae," he said quietly, his usually joking manner gone, replaced my something more mature, more serious. It drew her attention quickly.

"What do you mean?"

He shook his head and gave her a small smile. "Don't worry about it. One of these days, you'll find out what I mean." The comedian slid back over his mature side and he was off bugging Cyborg.

Raven picked at the spine of her book, confused at what Beast Boy said. What did he mean? She was the one that fools herself? It made no sense! Then again, most things Beast Boy say makes no sense.

Raven returned to her book, losing herself in the morbid stories of Edgar Allen Poe.

"Guess it's time I order, huh?" Beast Boy snickered when Cyborg dove at him and fell of the couch with a thud and muttered curse.

"I'm gonna get you, you little grass stain!" Cyborg was up again, chasing Beast Boy around them room, yelling hollow threats. It just made Beast Boy laugh harder.

Starfire watched them, amused, while Robin shook his head at their immature behavior.

"Guess I'm gonna have to be the one to order out." Robin stood up, brushing off his jeans. After three years of being part of the Teen Titans, they decided it was time to wear comfortable clothes around, not leotards and capes. They still had uniforms, but over the years, their fighting wear became more mature. They had decided many things, actually. They were free to leave when they chose, if the problem arose, and were allowed to lead semi-normal teen lives. They could date when they wanted, as long as they were free to leave the date immediately if something went wrong, and well, they could do practically anything they wished, as long as they could still defend Jump City.

The men of the titans were thrilled when they could date. Cyborg jumped right in, roaming from one girl to another. But on the other hand, the other two were not so ecstatic. Robin had long ago promised himself he would never involve himself with another member of his team, and drowned his sorrows in other women. He never allowed himself to care for them, just to have them at hand when he needed them. When the team had first formed, he had known that he would be drawn to Starfire. A little ways along, he found himself falling for her…and he couldn't have that. Luckily, when he brought up the subject of dating and such, everyone agreed, though it had been the first time he had seen Starfire so depressed. She never dated, same as Raven, but instead, they just merely watched other guys from a distance.

After asking around and taking down orders, Robin called it in. He rolled his eyes as he repeated the order again, this time more slowly, and kicked the wall when the person on the other end repeated the order and screwed it up. He repeated it once more, shoving his fingers through his unruly hair that now brushed his shoulders, and made sure to say everything extra slow, holding up one finger each time he repeated an order.

The girl on the other end managed to get it right after three tried and Robin gave a sigh of relief. "It'll be ready in 'bout twenty minutes." She smacked her gum loudly in his ear, asking if it would be delivered or picked up.

"Pick-up, defiantly. Wouldn't want our order to be taken to the wrong place." He slammed the phone down and glared at nothing in particular. "Why is it so hard to write down and order, then repeat it? Jeez." He stretched his six foot four frame out in the chair the Star had been sitting on the edge of. He rubbed his eyes behind the ever-present mask and practically purred when Star rubbed his tense shoulders.

"Damn. I have to go pick up that stupid order." Starfire walked around the chair to rub the back of his neck. "I could go, if you would like."

Cyborg raised an eyebrow at the two and offered to go himself. "I could run by there and pick it up. It's close to Auto Zone. I need to pick up a few things anyhow. It won't take me but thirty minutes or so. Ya'll can wait that long, right?"

Beast Boy groaned and plopped down next to Raven…again. Without looking up from her book, Raven asked, "Is there a reason you chose to sit by me?"

"Yep. Your scent is somewhat delicious and completely invigorating."

She blushed. "Is that your word of the day?"

"Yep. Tomorrow's is delectable. I'm sure I can slid that in a sentence while talking to you." Her cheeks burned.

"Alright, this is staring to sicken me immensely, so I'm headed for the food. Let's just hope you two don't jump each other before I get back." Cyborg shook his head as he headed for the T-Car, parked in the garage below the tower.

"Jump each other? Yeah right. I'd get my butt kicked." Beast Boy pouted before he found something of interest to bother: Robin and Starfire.

His head popped over Starfire's shoulder, making her jump. "So…having fun?"

"Beast Boy, go away." Robin glanced up at his with a glare. Beast Boy's grin was innocent. "I was just asking a question."

"Yeah, well, go bother Raven."

"I bother her enough." Robin's look screamed 'you've got to be kidding me'. Beast Boy's look was mock shock. "You're right! How could I ever bother Raven enough!" Beast Boy slithered over to Raven, literally, and crawled to the top of the couch to peek over her shoulder.

Raven gave the green snake a frightening sneer before slamming her book across his head. Beast Boy just managed to keep from being squashed and, jumped into the chair next to her. "Jeez, you could have killed me!"

"If you wouldn't have moved, my day would have improved incalculably."

"Incally-what?"

"Immensely, greatly, hugely. Take your pick, it all means the same thing. My way of using it is just a tab bit harder."

"Oh…right…so, whatcha readin'?"

"Edgar Allen Poe."

"Cool. Isn't he a poet or something?"

She gave him an impressed stare. "Good guess. Where'd you learn that? Television?"

He sneered at her. "No, I actually read, you know."

She chuckled, amused. "Wow, you finally made a funny joke."

"Edgar Allen Poe was a morbid writer. He wrote The Raven, The House of Seven Gables, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Telltale Heart, and Amelia (which was actually a poem), along with many others. When he wrote his many stories, he was on heroin, which, eventually, was the thing to kill him…well…I think it was." Beast Boy looked smug, folding his arms over his chest.

Raven's eyes widened. "How do you know all that?"

Beast Boy looked sheepish. "When I was younger, when the titan's first grouped together, I thought that if I read morbid things, I would have a common subject to talk to you about. But you kept to yourself and I didn't want to bother you. I'm surprised I remembered all that."

She lowered the book to her lap and studied him with her head cocked. A long stand of violet hair fell over her shoulder, which instantly drew his attention. "You studied Poe to impress me?"

He blushed. "No, it was just so you wouldn't think you didn't have anyone to talk to. It was right after you said you were alone." He shrugged, as if the matter were not of importance. "Now, my sole mission to come over here was to bother you, so…" He grinned at her.

"I like it better when you act like yourself, not some annoying little brat." She lifted the book to read, almost smiling when he made a sound of offense. "Ugh, that was rude. And, anyways, how do you know what the real me is like? Hmm?"

She leaned forward and he gulped, watching the way her hair fell over her shoulder. "You forget, Garfield Logan. With my powers, I can tell what's inside you. I might not have emotions, but I sure as hell can tell what other people feel." Her lips curved seductively while he gaped at her.

"Seriously? Awh, dude, that is just creepy."

Her lips twitched, then her emotionless face slide back into place. "My powers aren't the strong yet, Beast Boy."

He gave a sigh of relief and slide down in his seat. "You had me going there for a second."

Starfire grinned, rubbing her thumbs in a circular motion across Robin's shoulder blades. "Are they not adorable?" His response was a lazy grunt.

She glanced down at him with a grin. "They would do well together."

"I don't know. I don't think it would."

"And why do you think that?"

"When teammates date each other, they aren't able to pay attention to more important things. They'd always be worried about the other one, and in the end, that worry would be the destruction of the person. It's why I will never date, care for, or fall in love with a teammate. It just leads to trouble."

Starfire lowered her eyes, blinking back tears. Though her hands never faltered, Robin noticed the change. "Yes, well, it could be a different outcome for them. And, who knows, maybe one day they will be together. No one knows what the future hold. Frankly, I would rather focus on the present instead of looking to the future. It just is a waste of time to me."

An alarm sounded, indicating a visitor. Star pulled her hands back and walked to the monitor where security cameras transmitted a picture to the screen, which was commanded by fingertips.

Three men, all dressed in black, waited at the front entrance of the tower, their backs straight and shoulders squared. They all seemed to be tall, though their faces' were obscured but the darkness of night. Robin stood beside her and pressed the intercom button. "Can we help you?"

All three men glanced up, obviously startled, but regained their composure. "Can we speak to you and your team?"

Robin's eyes narrowed. "What do you need to say? I'm sure you can say what you need here."

The men exchanged glances before the tallest in cleared his throat and took something out of his breast pocket. "I'm detective Lex Twain. The man to my left is Captain Ronald Waylin and the other man is Detective Lance Ortega. We need your help, titans. We need you to help us find this pedophile and what I ask maybe dangerous. But, if you want this man captured, I suggest you let us in." The man's voice changed, as if he were embarrassed. Then, it was smug. "We have a plan."

XxX