(Last one of these for now, I'll mark it as complete, but may reopen it later if I go beyond the RobRae week prompts. Thank you so much for reading and the reviewing!)

~RavensMind~

Between Lovebirds: A Series of Shorts

Scene 7: Red X and the Rise of Theatur

Sirens echoed in the streets as the Titans bounded after Red X on a rooftop overhead. The team had been called in to prevent Red X from escaping with a data chip containing top secret government information. Robin told the team that Red X was probably planning on passing it along to the highest bidder. No matter the reason, he couldn't be allowed to get away with it.

Cyborg took aim and fired at Red X using his sonic cannon, missing by mere inches, before Beast Boy leapt in as a cheetah for a tackle, succeeding in scratching the villain's cape and leg, but ultimately Beast Boy got booted off the side of the roof. The changeling saved the fall by morphing into an eagle and circled back, while Starfire flew up from beneath Red X when he jumped between buildings, hitting X in the chest with a star bolt and getting hit in return with one of his gadgets, which stuck to her and sent small shocks through her body, making her stop and try to remove it.

Red X jumped cleared the next rooftop before dodging another of Cyborg's shots and landing in view of Raven, who sent a hail of bricks from a nearby wall in his direction, pelting him and making him turn to the edge of the roof, where he was promptly struck by a surprise uppercut from Robin, who had rappled up the side of the structure. Robin pinned Red X when he fell and Raven stood nearby, watching as Cyborg and Beast Boy closed in to help. Starfire was returning when a blinding red flash made them all cover their eyes.

A dark figure swept over the roof, diving through the blinded Titans to knock Robin off Red X, pushing him off the roof. Raven ignored the new combatant to dive after Robin. Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire were left to face off against Red X and the newcomer. At first glance, this new threat was nothing special, another masked crook in a cape with some tricks up their sleeve. Easy for them to take out, even without two Titans in the fight.

"Three on two, give it up, X!" Cyborg threatened, aiming his arm cannon at the pair of criminals.

"Not a chance. You haven't met my new friend yet," Red X replied, "this is Theatur."

The newcomer's mask was a mixed visage of comedy and tragedy, the lips of the mask flashing in lights either in a grin or deep frown, currently flashing a grin, they raised their hand and red flames erupted around them and they were spreading toward each Titan. Starfire flew down and grabbed Cyborg, lifting him from the roof just before the encroaching flames reached his feet. Beast Boy morphed into a pterodactyl and flew up, then down into a divebomb, focusing on Red X. Theatur held Red X close until Beast Boy was closing in and then flew up in the air with him, a smoke trail following her feet. Beast Boy had to redirect and narrowly avoided skidding into the ground. He pursued the two criminals, following Theatur's smoke trail.

Flying around skyscrapers, the criminals led Beast Boy far from the other Titans. With no help, Beast Boy was more determined in his pursuit, flying after them with increasing speed. When there were no more tall buildings in sight to worry about, he went straight for the two crooks. As he neared, he could have sworn he heard a familiar mantra on the wind and moments later, a small dragon made of smoke formed behind the criminals and it took a great breath before unleashing a torrent of red flame at Beast Boy. He dove and turned in midair, flying away from the dragon and breaking off his pursuit. The dragon gave chase, following him and breathing fire down his neck. He dove into a river to escape or deter the dragon, morphing into dolphin just before he hit the water. A few minutes later, he came out of the river, dripping from head to toe, examining his singed uniform and arms. His communicator went off as he scanned the empty sky.

"I lost 'em," Beast Boy said to Starfire's questioning face looking back at him on the screen.

"That is most regrettable, but I am certain you did your best! Shall we meet you at the tower? Friend Raven took Robin there to see to his injuries, I am certain she shall mend yours as well!" Starfire exclaimed.

"Yeah, see ya soon, Star," Beast boy replied.

Taking one last look around, he sighed and morphed into the world's first green, sad crow.

rrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Red X groaned as Theatur laid him out on their bed. He looked up into the face of tragedy as she slowly took off his mask and outfit, setting them on their bedside table. The lights of their lavish apartment were low and the lights from the city lit the room better through the tall windows. Theatur ran her fingers through his spiked hair and then set her palm on his scarred chest, a blue glow surrounding her fingers as they worked their healing powers. He groaned again as the pain shifted and his muscles relaxed.

"Really should've had you there at the start, wasn't expecting Star to be where she was," Robin said.

Theatur shook her head and removed her own mask, shaking her violet hair free and frowning at him. He knew she was still pissed at him that they were doing this at all. Robin had sworn not to lie to the team again, but something came up, and the opportunity wasn't something to be ignored. This time, he had pulled Raven into it with him, and made up a criminal identity for her as well. As much as he hated to lie to his team, he hated lying to her more. Things had gotten more complicated since they started dating.

"You should be more careful, expect more of the unexpected," Raven counseled.

"Right, I'll be better about that next time," Robin said.

"Next time? How much longer will we be doing this? I hate lying to them," Raven said.

"I know, I do too. It'll only be for another month," Robin replied.

"A month? I don't know if our tech will last that long, the two doubles you had made of us aren't going to take many more of our own punches," Raven said.

"We have a couple more to spare, I figured we might be in this for a while," he said.

"Of course you thought of that," she said with a sigh.

Raven climbed in next to him in their bed, still wondering if the dragon she had summoned had been too much, or if she had severely hurt Beast Boy with it. She had to do it, he was getting too close and they couldn't afford to lose to any of the Titans. There had been several things she had done for Robin's Red X that the team hadn't been aware of, but this was the first time she had taken her Theatur identity for a real spin, channeling anger to alter her powers. Lying to them was fueling her anger anyway, it wasn't hard to encourage it.

"What's the plan for when they don't find us back at the Tower tonight like we said?" Raven asked.

"I've already given them a message that we went to grab a bite, that you said I needed to eat something specific to help with my injuries," Robin replied.

"Oh, well, at least that's taken care of," she said, her voice trailing.

"I know, I don't wanna keep lying to them either, but once we send this data chip in, we'll get our invite to the new Hive academy, find out who took over for Brother Blood, and we'll stop this, okay?" Robin asked.

"Fine, "she said, "but I want something."

"What?" he asked.

"Can we go out tonight? For real?" she asked.

"Anything for you, name the place, we'll go when we get dressed," he replied.

"Perfect," she said.

Raven leaned over and pressed her lips to Robin's in a long kiss, before she got up and started to change her clothes. Robin watched her as she moved around the room, glad that he had someone he could trust, with this, with everything.