Title: I will
Author: ferretgirl1124
Genre: Action/Adventure, angst
Rating: R
Warnings: Dark themes, graphic content, child abuse and death, implied character death
Pairings: RaexBB, RobxStar, KFxJinx, CyxBee, SpeedyxAqualad

Summary: Neko's return hails a new reign of terror, and her latest plot shows itself to be more terrible then the Titans could have ever imagined.

A/N: From here on, the plot's going to be really twisted and weird. So if you don't understand something, wait, because it should be explained in the next chapter.

The medical ward of the penitentiary was divided into many small rooms, a cell for each patient. Upon their arrival the head physician, a Dr. Richards, approached the Titans. He gave them a curt nod and pushed his glasses up to the dome of his balding head, smiling slightly at the curious look Beast Boy gave him. "I only need them for close work. So, I hear that you want to see one of our more infamous patients."

Robin nodded, frowning slightly as two guards started towards one of the cells. "Yes. We were told that Trickster survived."

"You were told right." Richards jerked his head towards the now guarded cell. "We have to check him before you go in, of course. He's been…a bit of a hassle."

"His throat was cut." Cyborg's eyebrow was now up to his non-existent hairline. "How much trouble can he be?"

The doctor rolled his eyes dramatically and held up his hands in a pleading gesture. "Please, don't ask. Most of our patients are willing to receive medical treatment, but this boy…" He sighed and shook his head, leaving them to fill in the blanks on their own.

Raven frowned beneath her hood and glanced towards the small room. "How did he survive?"

Richards favored her with a wry smile, rubbing at the bags beneath his eyes. The man obviously hadn't slept for a while. "Damned if I know. Best we can figure is that she was in a hurry. The cut was deep, but it missed the artery. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go talk to him before I let you in."

They stood quietly after he left, and only the girls realized that the boys had automatically gone into a protective position around them.

Trickster sat up in his cot, glaring at the doctor. He had many complaints, and first and foremost was the food. Unfortunately, it hurt to talk and Richards wouldn't give him anything to write on, he was left with no options but to glare at the man in hopes of intimidating him.

The doctor ignored him. He had been working in a prison far too long to be affected by a simple glare. "Listen up. You have some visitors here on urgent business. You'd better co-operate, or I'll let them deal with you."

That perked the boy's interest. He tilted his head slightly and smirked.

Interpreting the look easily, Richards leaned forward in his chair, an evil glint in his eyes. "Yes, I do think they could handle you. In fact, they already have."

Surprise, confusion, and then horrified understanding crossed Trickster's face. He shook his head quickly and the doctor smirked coldly.

"They're coming in here whether you like it or not. The cloaked girl seemed particularly excited to see you."

At that point, Trickster wished more then anything that Neko had just finished him off. Sure, under normal circumstances he could have handled them, but he was currently handcuffed to a prison cot without even his trench coat to boost his confidence. When the door opened, it took all his strength not to cringe, and it wasn't until he saw how paranoid the Titans looked that he calmed down. If they were scared of him, he could intimidate them, and that was just what he needed.

Beast Boy gave him a dark glare, standing in front of Raven defensively. Trickster managed to keep from laughing until Richards left the room, but he couldn't keep a few sniggers from escaping. Despite the pain, he couldn't control the urge to comment. "That doesn't really work when the chick is taller then you." He let a nonchalant grin slip onto his face as Beast Boy flushed. "So, what brings you here? Come to gloat?"

"Nothing quite that petty." Robin crossed his arms and glared down at the boy. "Where did Neko go?"

Trickster laughed, wincing slightly at the pain before speaking again. "Even if I did have the balls to betray her, that bitch never tells anyone what she's planning. We were her patsy's, remember?"

"And you have no idea what her thought process might be?"

Dark, pupil-less eyes turned to focus on Raven. "I'd don't think even Neko has any idea what Neko's thought process is."

The Titans glanced at each other, and Robin finally turned to plan B. "Do you think you could track her, in any way?"

"Well…hey, I could try. I mean, she's bound to start a pattern somewhere." He shrugged, trying to keep his answers short as his voice began to grow raspy.

"Good. From here on out, you're working with us. We have the papers filed; we leave tomorrow to start looking. She already killed two children, one here and one farther down state. She'll probably be in Arizona soon." Robin's voice held it's usual authoritative note, and the it was obvious that the issue was not up for discussion.

However, just because Robin didn't want to talk didn't mean Trickster was going to bow to his demands. The dark boy snorted and glared at them, one eyebrow arching slightly. "What makes you think I want to help you?"

"We do not think that. But we can strike a deal with you." Starfire glanced at her friends, hoping that her phrasing had been correct, and she calmed slightly when they nodded at her.

"Oh yeah? What'll you offer me?"

Robin frowned and crossed his arms, eying Trickster warily. " What do you want?"

"Out."

"No."

The villain sighed and shrugged. It had been worth a try. "I want my trench coat back. And better food!" Odd requests, but he was a teenage boy after all. Food was one of the main focuses of his life at that point, and he wanted his coat back more then anything else. He loved that thing like a pet, as twisted as that was.

The Titans hesitated, glanced at each other, and then grudgingly agreed. With one condition. "Raven gets to put a spell on it. It will keep your powers under control."

Trickster glared at Robin, then scowled. "Fine. I'll help you with your damn hunt. But, so help me god, if she comes after me I will make sure you guys take the blame."

Cyborg scowled and crossed his arms. "We'll put her in another prison, alright?"

"Alright. Deal."

Once back home, the Titans gathered in the control room, eerily solemn. None of them were talking, or even meeting each other's eyes. Once four of the teammates had found a seat on the semi-circle couch, Robin clicked on the screen. The now familiar image of Neko appeared, along with two pictures of young children.

"These are the children she's killed. One was killed here, last week. Yesterday the second victim was found outside her home downstate. She was poisoned, then..." Robin winced and shook his head. "Then she was thrown against one of the families picture windows while still alive."

The other Titans winced and Star inhaled sharply. The image of the most recent victim showed a sweet looking four year old, with black hair and bright green eyes. Raven was the first to notice the most startling part.

"Sandra Richards?" The sorceress voice was soft. "That's a common enough name...but still a weird coincidence."

"It wasn't a coincidence." Robin folded his arm over his chest and sighed. "His work transferred him, but his family stayed behind because of his wife's health issues. I have no doubt that she targeted the girl purposely. I don't know who else she'll go after though."

"Man...no wonder he wanted to help us...I thought he'd be more pissed though." A soft sigh echoed around the room as Beast Boy slumped down in his seat, leaning against Raven slightly.

Cyborg shook his head, still staring at the picture. "He was in shock, BB."

All five of them sat quietly, digesting all that they had learned and what could come of it. She was already almost out of California. They had no doubt that reports of child abductions and deaths would begin flowing from Arizona. But if that was true, that opened up a possibility too horrific to really be considered. If the theories were right, she was acting out Hansel and Gretel, with bodies of children instead of bread crumbs, and god only knew how many more she would kill if not caught.

She was hungry. It was a bad time for distractions, but knowing that didn't lessen her hunger. Once this was all over, she would need to go 'shopping'. Until then, she had to focus all her attention on her project.

Ah! There it was. Phones open amazing windows of opportunity. As the thirty-something socialite hurried to answer the call from either her over-weight husband or her under-thirty lover, Neko struck. The three-year-old boy left momentarily alone in the back yard, managed one cry.

Then there was only a rustle from one of the bushes lining the spacious yard, and both captor and captive were gone.