Thank you to lifeishard2000 and guest runner for reviewing. I really appreciate it, thank you guys so much.

TO RUNNER: same, I wish I could learn how to deceive my brain. 24 hours is just never enough time. Also, regarding your comment about RedX, I do apologise for not making this clearer in previous A/Ns, but since the RedX in this fic is confirmed to be Jason Todd, I kinda tweaked his character a little, and followed more closely to the comics than the show. So, sorry that RedX seems a little OOC, thank you for pointing that out though, I'll try to portray him so he fits both the comics AND the show.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans. Teen Titans belong to DC (which totally stands for disappointing comics) and Warner Bros.

For the next week, Kori kept to herself. She hadn't told her teammates about what happened during the fight with Mumbo, and she wasn't planning to. Perhaps, if she tried harder in being a Titan, the public would change their views and accept her as who she is.

Tonight, the Titans West would be joining the Titans East at Steel City for a celebratory dinner. It was Mas y Menos' birthday, and the pair wanted both divisions of the Titans to be there for the celebration.

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, even at a place like Steel City. Over several missions, the Titans East had really bonded into a family much like the Titans West. Of course, they still weren't as close, but no one was complaining. They treated one another like family instead of just allies and that's what was important to the team.

Speedy knew that it would be selfish to talk about his personal problem regarding Queen Industries with Robin at a joyous time such as this, so he kept quiet. Starfire was trying to smile her brightest for her relatively new friends. It was a day of hope and happiness, and she did not want to ruin their day just because she met an overly angry man during the previous week.

Robin, however, knew something was wrong with two of his closest friends. Raven stood beside the Boy Wonder after realising similar emotions were reflecting from both the archer and the alien. "You take Speedy, I'll take Star." said the empath. Robin gave her a curt nod, and proceeded to drag Speedy away from the scene.

"What's up, Rob?"

"Roy, we've been friends for years, ever since training. If you think I won't be able to tell that you're sad, then you're incredibly dense."

"Wow, Dick move." replied the archer, as an attempt to get his friend off his back for the moment. At times like this, they should really just enjoy rather than stress about things. It was inconsiderate to Mas y Menos.

"It's been years since you've used that one." said the boy wonder, a slight smirk tugging at the edge of his lips. "What's wrong."

"What if I said 'nothing'?"

Robin raised an eyebrow, "I was trained to be a human lie detector, Roy. Now, talk."

And talk he did. He told Dick about Oliver using his technology, and how he caught a gang using them as well. He told him about his findings while tapping into the Queen Industries files. He told him how betrayed he felt, and how Oliver used him. He hold him how he felt like more like a tool than a partner. He told him how he was done with Oliver, and his plans to go after the gangs after he's stopped Queen Industries from producing his inventions.

Dick remained silent, torn between two choices:

1. Let him go after Oliver and the gangs with his gadgets, but risk losing the Roy Harper he knew.

OR

2. Make sure he stays with the Titans, and go after Oliver himself. Risk losing his position in the Teen Titans.

One thing was clear to him though : there was nothing in this world he wouldn't do for his friends.

"Dick, I've known you long enough to understand your seemingly blank facial expressions. But no, I have to do this on my own."

On my own.

The three words that Dick hated. The same three words that got Jason killed. The last three words the Batman ever spoke to him.

"Roy, even if you do stop Queen Industries from making money off your inventions, I still don't think it's wise to go after all those gangs yourself."

This earned a scoff from the archer. "Who said I was gonna do that myself? I know where to find help when I need it." Dick raised an eyebrow doubtfully."I'm not like your old man, Dick."

"Starfire, we need to talk."

"Raven! Join us in the pinning of the tail on the-"

"Kori."

She recognised the unnatural tense and strain in Raven's voice. She quickly handed Cyborg her traditional Tamaranean Throknarr and floated behind Raven, following her to the rooftop. She wasn't nervous, she had no reason to! It wasn't like she had second doubts about her validity on the team or anything!

"Kori, for Azarath's sake, your emotions have been haywire lately. I keep feeling your anxiety all over the place, so why don't you just TELL me what's going on?"

Kori's feet touched the ground. Her usual bright aura was dimmed. Raven could feel Kori's heart forming knots, seemingly in attempt to strangle herself.

Raven sighed. "Kori, I know I'm not extremely nice to you - or to anyone for that matter- but please know that I care about you" she started, "you can be an annoyance sometimes, but that's just part of who you are. I have to come in terms with that because you're not just my teammate, but you're also my friend. You've always tried to be there for me...And right now, you're not happy, so...I'm going to try to be here for you."

Kori didn't want to tell her. Not because she didn't trust her, or was afraid Raven would agree with the man - what was she thinking? Raven is half demon herself! She was afraid of what Raven may think of her and how truly pathetic she was. It was nothing but a comment by an ordinary civilian who was probably having a bad day so he took it on her. Yes perhaps that was it! There is noting to worry about-

"Starfire, I normally don't do this but I feel like you really need it." she gestured for Kori to begin speaking, but the princess simply looked down. "Your emotions are all tangled up again and it bothers me. Not just because I can feel that you're troubled, but because you're refusing to open up." Said Raven in her usual monotone voice.

Koriand'r sighed. "If I tell you, you promise not to tell anyone else?"

Raven nodded, and Kori told her everything. She started with the attack by Mumbo, and then about the comments that ungrateful man spit in her face. She told Raven about her doubts and her validity on the Titans. Once she started talking, she just couldn't stop. She knew Raven was a good listener, but she had expected Raven to cut her off halfway. She didn't, instead Raven hugged her. Raven wasn't the type to comfort one by physical contact, but it warmed her heart to know that she could always find comfort in her friends. She accepted the sudden embrace, Kori hadn't known that she needed one.

Raven ensured Kori's doubts by replacing her woes with words of wisdom and kindness, and also reminded her that the Titans get hate messages every other week when they wrecked a couple of buildings anyway so Kori shouldn't worry too much. Kori laughed a little at that, and decided that she should just forget about what the man had said.

The two friends returned to the party to find Kid Flash finally joining them. For someone with super speed, it was a wonder why he was late to almost every event.

Must've taken after his mentor.

Despite how her heart seemed to weigh a lot less, a small piece of Kori still held the doubt from before.

"Is this really it, X?"

"You said not to 'trigger any alarms' and 'don't alert the Titans'. This was how much I was able to carry without tripping on anything important."

A sigh came after that reply. "All right. Boys, give him the promised amount."

A body bag filled with A Hundred dollar bills was thrown to X's feet. "A body bag? Really? Couldn't afford a fancy briefcase?"

Shut your trap, X. You got your share, and you're still alive. Consider yourself lucky."

If only they knew how dead the Red X had felt for 12 months a couple of years ago. But never mind that. He had an opponent now, and he was determined to overthrow this new crime lord because this kingpin was threatening his reputation as Jump City's number one big bad when it came to thievery. He figured that taking this gang down from the inside would not only be entertaining, but he'd also get to mess with the Teen Titans like he'd used to.

Of course, the only downside to this is the rumours regarding whether the RedX was a puppet for someone else - which he was not.

Though it may appear that the RedX was under someone's command, it was really just for kicks and taking down a criminal organisation because why the hell not.

Over the years, Jump didn't have much else to offer. He could always return to Gotham to steal from…well, Wayne Enterprises was always fun to steal from, and Central City proved to be fun that one time he was there, but he liked to stay close to what he knew best.

More specifically who he knew best.

Not that the RedX would admit out loud, but being in the same city as his adoptive older brother brought a sense of security. Nothing in this world could make him admit it though.

Which reminds him - it's Friday.

Also known as 'rob a jewellery store to piss off Dick Grayson and his precious Titans' day.