Well, I finally updated. I would have done it sooner but I went to camp for a week and there was no way to get out of it. Anyway hope you enjoy and please take that poll!

If anything is confusing please let me know. I cannot improve on my writing unless I get feedback on my mistakes.

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Look at chapter 1

Alarms blared, interrupting the four heroes sleep rudely. One by one, each titan drudged towards the main room with murderous thoughts at whichever villain had the audacity to steal at night. It was an unspoken truth...the titans were excessively violent when called on duty in the night. Most villains knew not to steal past midnight.

Now it was one o'clock...and Cinderblock, Plasmus, and Overload somehow escaped prison again and were currently were terrorizing different parts of the city. As Robin sleepily gave out commands, he noticed someone was missing. "Where's Raven?"

"Raven told me she was not feeling well and needed to meditate. She fell asleep when she finished. I could not bear to awaken her, she looked so tired out." Starfire nervously spoke up, hands squirming in discomfort. The Tameranian hated this feeling, like she was covering up some secret. It made her feel like a despicable liar, an untrustworthy friend.

Starfire was caught, torn between her friendship with Raven and her duties as a titan. Raven was sick, and protocol demands that Robin be informed. It was a simple and clear-cut rule. Now Raven wanted Starfire to cover and hide this sickness. Was it an embarrassing ailment? Surely nothing could be more embarrassing than the transformation Starfire had undergone a few years ago?

So what was it? What secret was Raven hiding this time? Yes, 'this time' because the last secret Raven had nearly destroyed the world. Nothing could get any worse than that. So whatever this was, should be trivial. Then again, Raven was a harbinger of doom. Perhaps innocent secrets were impossible for someone like Raven.

Dilated pupils, constant shifting, nervousness. All of these described Raven now, as Starfire tried to add another coating of nail polish to Raven's toenails. What was wrong? She looked like a thief that had been apprehended.

"Raven, is everything ok? You seem fidgety." The alien paused in her meticulous painting, and her green eyes stared earnestly up at the violet eyes titan. Starfire noticed the pursed lips, the tense frown and the pained eyes. Was Raven hurt?

"My mind, why does he keep trying to enter my mind?" Purple eyes darted frantically, before fixating on Starfire's face with a cold menacing glare. Raven's voice whispered coldly. "I can't stand the smell of nail polish. It's making my head hurt."

Starfire gulped fearfully and nodded, twisting closed the bottle of polish. "Is that better, Raven? Shall I get you some water, to maybe take some headache medicine?" A tentative smile spread of Starfire's face, hoping to calm down the odd-acting half demon.

Raven laughed, the sound chilling Starfire to the bone. Why did her friend sound so...deranged? Why was Raven sounding like those mental patients in Bell Reeve? What was wrong with Raven?

"Pain meds? You think pain meds will make thiss man leave me allone?" The sorceress speech was beginning to sound slurred and choppy. "No, look in my drawer. Yess, that one. Give mee the green bottle."

Starfire did not miss the trembling fingers, fast and labored breath and chilled pale lips. The alien bit her lip nervously as she held out the bottle. What kind of medicine was in that bottle? There was no label, no marking. Just a simple green bottle. The simplicity scared Starfire. Cold, frosty fingers chilled the alien's hot sweaty palms as they reached out; the trembling was very visible now.

The erratic rattling of the pills in the bottle frightened the red-haired teenager. Was this right? What if Raven was...addicted to whatever those pills were? What if she was...a drug addict? Starfire blinked rapidly, trying to quell the ugly thoughts from her mind. Raven wouldn't do something like that.

Raven knew better, right?

"Raven, R-raven. Perhaps meditation would be better than those...pills?" A forced grin spread on the alien's frightened face.

Raven was asleep.

It would be best to keep Robin from finding out. Just for a little bit, Starfire wanted to figure out more...before she accused her friend of something ridiculous. Green eyes stared at the flashing red lights, then at the darkened night sky. Midnight.

"Robin, perhaps we should leave now, I left a note for Raven, in case were not back by the time she awakens. It is midnight, and if we delay, we might not get back till morning." Starfire looked to the others, and pursed her lips at the emphatic nods.

"Very well then." Robin replied tiredly. The Boy Wonder yawned, then sluggishly set out towards the garage. Titans, you know what to do."

He'd been holding his breath for a while. Just one more laser to disarm. One more lock to pick. There! Now quickly, carefully take out the suit. Don't forget the belt.

Now, put back everything to it's original place. The pick goes here, the laser here set at frequency of 670 nano-meters. That one at 405 nano-meters. It pays to have a photographic memory. Now set this lock back to 28, the other one to 36, and the last at 1.

Replace the glass, put the coffee cup back against the pillar, the newspaper draped just so on the case, and the candy wrapper inside the coffee cup. The task was accomplished. A feeling of triumph swept over him. At last the device was in his hands again. Glancing at the clock in the evidence room the masked man smirked. There was a whole fifteen minutes left to waste.

Perhaps an exploration was in order. Feeling like a child in the candy store, Red X slipped out of the Investigation room, and turned right at the corner his sensitive nose picking up the smell of leather and hair gel. No doubt the room of the traffic light costumed Titan. Robin, was it? How'd he come up with that name? Robins weren't even green.

Red X turned the corner, and slipped into the next room. A few seconds later he darted out, clawing his eyes in pain. Pink! Fucking pink EVERYWHERE! Wait, wait, wait. It was midnight...how the hell could he even tell it was pink? A sigh escaped the man's lips. Would anyone believe him if he said his eyesight was perfect in the dark? Or that he could smell the color.

God, he needed a life.

Shaking the thoughts from his mind, the thief slipped into the elevator, traveling to the next floor. Seconds later, he was seen darting back in breathing heavily. His poor oversensitive nose. He'd probably be smelling musty sock and wet dog for a month. No wonder no one else used that floor. What being inhabited that floor?

Once more, the elusive thief traveled upwards, noticing with a sigh of relief, the calming scent of lavender and peaches. It was a weird combo... flowers and fruit, but why would he complain? Anything was better than musty sock and wet dog, right? So what else could he do but follow the smell, maybe it would lead to a greenhouse or somewhere with food.

The first thing the man had come across was a bare room, with a grand piano occupying the dusty corner. On the other side, a cluttered desk and shelf. so this floor was storage then? What was stored in here? Maybe the greenhouse, or a kitchen. The smell of lavender was strongest here. His gloved hand touched the key pad, ignoring the chill racing up his spine. He did not realize that walking into this room would change his future completely.

Goosebumps raced up his flesh, and his heartbeat quickened. He hadn't felt like this in a while. A strange, eerie, sense of foreboding filled his thoughts as Red X stepped up to this last door. Somehow it was different...whatever was behind this door, was sinister...and undoubtedly the coolest thing he would encounter.

He stepped into the room and darkness closed in on him like a thick blanket, blinding him from seeing even the front of his hand. Hmm, so was this a black-hole? Perhaps the time continuum? Where was the greenhouse? Where was the kitchen? And why couldn't he see anymore?

Whatever happened to the 'cat-like' eyes he had been cursed with at birth? Cursing under his breath, he silently walked across the floor, only to bump into something. It seemed to be a dresser, probably black and judging from the type of wood and ornate carving, Gothic looking. He swept his limited gaze over the polished top and pursed his lips with curiosity as a red object glittered back at him.

So was this the Titan treasury? Those were real, fucking real rubies. And in perfect condition and cut! Oh the money he could gain! Oh the prospect! Who cared if they were glued to the mirror. He'd take the whole piece. Maybe charge extra for the 'silver' antique. This mirror must have cost a fortune! Why did a bunch of children have such a thing?

What else was hidden in this treasury. He reached out his hand to grasp the handle when something moved on the other side of the room. He froze, listening intently, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. This place was booby trapped?

Figures. Hearing nothing, he gingerly picked up the mirror, and turned to leave. This room was really starting to get creepy. Suddenly he heard a sound again. He turned and saw a pair of vivid violet eyes staring out, directly at him!

Vivid, violet eyes...but what human had violet eyes? And what was it with the poetic thoughts? Red X blinked once, twice, and once more, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The thief kept still, praying that whoever it was would not notice him cowering in the shadows. It would not do to get caught.

There he was, crouched in the corner, eyes glued to the strange figure across the room, holding his breath like he'd seen a ghost. Who knew something so trivial could make him feel like a child?

Finally the purple eyes turned away and Red X let out a sigh of relief. He backed away slowly, edging towards the door only to freeze in his tracks as light flooded the darkened room. The thief darted further into the shadows. Damn this person! Why won't they go back to bed!

In the light of the half moon, the layout of the room was finally visible. There was the Gothic looking dresser, several book shelves, some paintings on the walls, and a bed, covered with black and purple sheets. This room must be a girl's room...Lavender, midnight blue and black; the color choice for just about everything in here.

So whoever that person was, they had to be a girl, right? And what girl did he know that had purple eyes? Surely he wouldn't forget such an oddity? Then why did those eyes seem so familiar? Why did he feel like he should know her? As if he'd seen the girl somewhere, maybe in a dream or distant memory. Where?

Where?

Ah, screw it!

Red X shifted quietly in the dark, eyes trained on the window. He was calculating the movement of the clouds. It was the only reason he decided to steal the suit tonight. Cloudy weather makes for great cover, not to mention knowing the whereabouts of those freakish experiments named Plasmus Cinderblock and Overload, and acquiring the keys to their containment cell. In just thirty seconds, the clouds will blanket the moon, shutting out the eerie forboding light and giving the perfect opportunity.

All he need to was wait. Just a little bit longer. Soon, he'll be free.

Five

Four

Three

Two

What the fuck!

What was she doing? Why was the girl crying? What was with the rattling bottle of pills? Don't...don't tell me these titans are druggies? Whatever happened to being the icon of good? What happened with 'setting a good example'?

The masked thief bit his lip, wanting to escape but finding himself captive by the scene before him. It was too intriguing, too horrible. Too fascinating. Was this what the titans were like? Hypocrites with powers? What else was this 'force of justice and good' hiding?

Damn it. The light was back. He'd missed his chance on freedom. But what he witnessed, would probably haunt him for the rest of his life.

Red X watched in somber silence as the girl slowly stumbled to the window, her breathing slightly rushed and breathy. A mournful look was beautifully etched onto her pale, heart shaped face. Who knew such beauty could come from sorrow? Why was his heart pounding like this?

What was with the warm flush, the heat emanating from his face? Red X sucked in a shaky breath, trying to calm his fluttering heart. The silver and ruby decorated mirror slipped from his fingers, landing with a quiet dull thud.

The girl turned slowly, almost as if she had been expecting the sound. Her pale, shaky hands wiped away the glistening wetness of her face, a strange smile on her lips. A soft chuckle escaped the teen's lips, breathy and tinged with fright. "Now I'm hearing things? I must be going mad."

Red X quirked an eyebrow, what did that mean? Now he was curious. What was this 'now'? Eyes glittered with interest, as the girl softly padded back to the disheveled bed and flopped upon it with a heavy sigh. A heavy silence filled the room. In the distance, a clock continued ticking with abandon, its message ringing in Red X's atentive ears.

He'd been here long enough.

It was time to leave.

The tiring fight between Plasmus was abruptly called to an end when he turned and slithered into a nearby pothole. Cyborg quickly ran to the pothole and scanned the area for him. He stared into the dark musty smelling drain for what seemed like an eternity, unable to see a trace of purple goo. His sensors couldn't pick anything up either.

The cybernetic cursed. Damn freak of nature! Why did he have to work for Slade? And what the hell was that man planning? Slade had gone off the radar for several months, and all of the 'leads' that Robin claimed he discovered were just wild goose chases.

Cyborg was beginning to think that he had left Jump City entirely. This was unlikely...and now that Plasmus and his buddies sudddenly decide they need to have some fun? Yea, definitely unlikely. Seems Robin has his work cut out for him. Turning from the drain, Cyborg glanced around the area searching for his annoying green friend. "Yo! Grass Stain, get your butt over here."

'Grass Stain' complied, sluggishly slithering out of the pot-hole, leaving a disgusting dark trail behind him. The cybernetic stared, a look of abject disgust etched onto his face. A slug? Really? Hadn't he seen enough slime and goo tonight? "Did ya have to be a slug, BB? That's gross!"

Transforming, the shape-shifter frowned. "Dude, don't you know? Slugs can taste acid in stuff...and I'm sure Plasmus is full of it!"

Cyborg rolled his eyes, not bothering to comment. "Find anything then?"

"No, he dissapeared. Say, I've been thinking-"

"Oh so you think now?"

"He-he, not funny. Anyway, I've been thinking, what if Slade brought all these goons out so he could pull of another of his schemes. Maybe he's trying to kidnap Raven!"

Cyborg nodded. "I thought about it. And it is possible...so let's high-tail it back to the Tower. Radio the others and tell them where we are."

oOoOo

Raven opened her eyes and winced at the searing headache. Someone touched her mirror... Quickly jumping out of bed she flew to her dresser, hoping to find the mirror. "Where is that damn thing?" Violet eyes roamed her room rapidly. Wasn't it on the dresser?

No?

Then maybe the bookshelf? Not there either!

Oh, oh, the clothes hamper! What?

Okay, maybe the bathroom. Raven made a mad dash across the room, tripping over shoes and books. The sorceress barreled into the door, pushed open and flipped the switch. She then proceeded to ransack the drawers, sending brushes, combs and hair utensils flying.

Not here either?

Raven fled from the bathroom and flopped on her bed, lifting the pillows and throwing her bed sheets into the corner. It wasn't in the bed! Pale, trembling hands tangled themselves in mused, tousled dark tresses. Oh where, oh where, could that mirror have gone?

There!

In that corner, right beside the dresser! A sigh of relief washed through her. "How the hell did it end up on the floor?" Her face was etched with confusion as the tired girl stooped to retrieve the offending object from the floor, ignoring the stiffness in her back.

"I need to follow up on my yoga exercises more often-" Suddenly, colors flashed before her eyes, Green... Yellow... Light blue... Dark green... Black... then searing spotless white.

Raven staggered back, covering her eyes. Her head reeled, like that one time she downed two bottles of vodka. After a few minutes her eyes fluttered open.

White.

Everything was white, spotless, nothingness.

What had happened? Where was this? Certainly not Nevermore. So, a vision then? No, if this was a vision, she'd be able to see. Then this was blindness. Pure and simple. Raven had gone blind.

Any normal person would have freaked out. Perhaps screamed, fallen to the floor and uttered curses to the gods for such a cruel fate. Raven, however, simply stood there. Her face was uncharacteristically blank, body stiff and formal.

Blindness was not what Raven feared. So when the walls began to bleed, the sorceress widened her eyes. No, this was not blindness. This was a vision.

The girl began to tremble, her hands shook violently, knees knocked together, loosing the will to stand. Before her frightened eyes, red and black began to paint the once spotless walls. A shiver ran through her body. What kind of a vision is this? The black covered the walls, soaking up the once pure glow of the white, and the bloody tinge of red.

Soon, the only thing that remained was a dripping red X.

X.

Why an 'x'? Unless...no, no... it couldn't be! He was back? Why did he come back? And he'd been in her room! Raven screamed and fell to the floor.

"Rae! Is everything alright? I heard you scream." It was Cyborg... why did he sound so panicked? Did the alarms go off? What if he heard the scream? No, calm down. Don't get too riled up. Remain calm... blank, uncaring. Regaining some composure, Raven opened the door, any trace of fright gone from her face and eyes.

"Cy, I need you to radio Robin and tell him to get here as soon as he can. I have to check something." Her voice was commanding and firm, a desperate attempt to hide the nervousness in her eyes. Cyborg wouldn't be fooled. He probably saw right through everything.

"What happened, and where are you headed?"

"The evidence room... I think Red-X stole the belt back." Raven dissipated into the air, a pool of fading black, the only indication she was ever in the room.

oOoOo

Tension hovered in the air, and Beastboy bit his lip to keep from speaking. Robin had been pacing the room, his mask hiding the anger everyone knew was there. His face, however, was blank.

Beastboy watched his leader's feet, imagining the carpet wearing thin at the endless pacing. His keen ears picked up the sound of Starfire gulping softly. Only Raven looked calm, her slender hands carefully clasped in her lap, as she watched the Boy Wonder's face for any sign of emotion. Somewhere in the tower, a clock chimed.

The sound of buzzing filled the air.

Beastboy looked around; eyes landing at Raven, who pulled her phone from her pocket and began to respond to a message. Her thumbs flew over the tiny keys, violet eyes gazing intently at the screen. The shapeshifter glanced up at Robin, and finally saw his jaw tense. He was pissed, and probably at the sorceress for breaking his concentration.

The shape shifter continued watching as Starfire leaned over Raven's shoulder, no doubt trying to read the message. Had he been able to send out a clone, Beastboy would have probably done the same thing. This was Raven, cold, unfeeling Raven. And now she was texting? Of course he'd want to know who it was!

"Raven, I had no idea you still talked to Mal-" The alien's quiet voice entered into the green titan's ears. Who was Mal? And why did Raven cut her off? Beastboy watched curiously as Raven clasped a hand on the alien's mouth. He watched her press the send button and hide the device in the pocket of her baggy sweatpants.

Raven then whispered in Starfire's ear, her words muffled and unrecognizable. Of course. Keep the secret to yourselves. Eyebrows darkened as he continued to observe the exchange between the two female titans.

He saw Starfire's quizzical look, and Raven's annoyance. From the look in Raven's eyes, Starfire wasn't supposed to know either. Beastboy smirked inwardly as he watched them whisper among themselves some more. When it seemed like the conversation was finally over, Beastboy opened his mouth, questioning his friend curiously. "What was that all about Raven?"

Violet eyes narrowed slightly. She looked pretty scary with tousled streaked hair and narrowed, mascara smudged eyes."Don't worry about it. Robin you may continue with your pacing. I believe you stopped at one hundred and twenty nine."

The leader growled. "This isn't time for jokes, Raven."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Raven intoned, gesturing at her blank face. It was always the blank face for Raven. That blank face unnerved the shape-shifter. A funny reply to a joke- face straight as the prime meridian. When she fought with Robin-face straight as the equator.

And Robin always fell for the straight face. He always seemed angered by it. Why hadn't the leader learned that Raven was always like that? Or did something happen between the two?

"I don't have time for your smart remarks Raven. Now tell me exactly what happened." Robin's tone was gruff and demanding, it probably grated on he sorceress' nerves. Beastboy knew how much Raven hated to be snapped at. Interestingly enough, Raven couldn't help but snap when she talked. She could be quite the hypocrite.

Raven sighed with annoyance. "For the millionth time, I was asleep. I woke up and realized that someone entered the Tower."

"But how did you know for sure it was X?"

"He touched my mirror."

A gasp echoed in the room, and Beastboy put his hand over his mouth. Presently he spoke. "He entered your mind?"

Raven shook her head. "No he just touched my mirror, and moved it off the dresser."

"Red- X was in your room... and you didn't think to tell anyone? What if something happened to you?" Robin's concern seemed to confuse the sorceress.

Beastboy couldn't understand why. Wasn't it Robin's duty to be concerned about them? Or did something happen between the two that no one knew about...yea, something happened. Why else would Raven appear so troubled, so angry and irritated?

"Well nothing happened now did it."

"Rae, what are you hiding from us?"

Ah, the inevitable staring contest! Who'll win this time? Will it be Robin, with his non-existent eyes? or Raven, the contestant with resolve of steel? Such intensity! Such tension! Beastboy moved eyes rapidly between the two, only to whimper with sorrow as Raven tore her eyes away from Robin's mask and to the couch. Why'd she lose? Raven never lost the staring contest!

"Don't call me Rae."

What a deadly tone! Beastboy blinked. And blinked again. Why was she so...angry? Cyborg called her 'Rae'...even he did. What made it so wrong for Robin?

"Maybe we should leave you two alone. C'mon guys we'll just head to bed while it's still night." Cyborg's voice cut across the tense silence, and Starfire jumped up eagerly. Beastboy didn't blame her...she was probably just as confused as he was.

Besides, it was already two o'clock. So he nodded solemnly and followed the two halfway into the hallway. The teen then stopped, pretending to fumble with the strings of his shoes. Green eyes glanced up apprehensively. Good, Cy and Star turned the corner.

The green titan promptly morphed into a fly and buzzed quietly out the hallway, landing on the bookshelf beside the television. The room was quiet and still brimming with tension. Beastboy watched as Raven fidgeted with the chipped black polish on her nails. fidgeting was something that Raven didn't do. Perhaps she was sick.

The sorceress didn't wake up to the extremely deafening alarm, she lost the staring contest...and now this? What disease or flu had she caught?

"Raven, I need you to answer me. How did you know it was Red-X?" Robin's voice was cold and demanding. It was obvious that he was losing patience. And it was to be expected.

Beastboy knew how Raven could be. You simply couldn't deal with her without having a room full of patience. She could sit and stare at you till kingdom come, and still you would learn nothing. That's just how things were. Robin should be used to it by now.

The purple haired titan sighed. "I told you, he touched my mirror."

"But how did you know that he touched the mirror?"

"He moved it."

"But how do you know it wasn't Beastboy that moved it?" Of course Robin had to cross that would he ever want to touch that freaky thing again! Beastboy bristled slightly, feeling rather annoyed at Robin's logic.

"I had a vision… something bad is going to happen." Somehow, Raven sounded... frightened. Were visions something to be feared? The shape-shifter didn't even know Raven could have visions. Maybe it had something to do with knowing magic and spells? What if Malchior could have visions? Or even Zatanna? They were magicians as well.

The green teenager stared intently at the scene before him. Eyes darted from face to face, trying to catch glimpses of emotion. Really, these two would make the perfect duo. They were so alike!

Robin also had that 'dead pan' look and the same upturn in his lips when trying to make sense of his surroundings. The two were perfect at 'the eyebrow raise' and don't even get him started about the ' look of disgust'.

So now, watching the Boy Wonder from his perch on the television, it wasn't hard to catch the upturn of his lip, and the jaw that clenched in determination. Raven, however was different. She seemed...agitated; her fingers danced erratically against her thighs, as if playing a hyper tune. Her thin, perfect eyebrows were scrunched, and her lips were red and blistered between pearly white teeth. Raven did always have perfect teeth.

Robin nodded, a gloved hand reaching out with a slight hesitancy. Beastboy watched as Robin gently placed a hand atop the sorceress' slender palm. "Maybe this time your vision was harmless. If Red-X comes back... we will stop him."

Silence cut across the room, and the shape shifter watched as Raven's hand stopped abruptly. The titan stopped gnawing on her lip, and cocked her head to the side, ever so slightly. The sorceress raised a slender brow, eyes no doubt twinkling with amusement.

Beastboy watched in awe as Raven laughed. Wow! Who knew someone could have such a wicked laugh? It rang out in his sensitive ears...full of mirth and yet, mocking and condescending. As if she was laughing at Robin's determination. Why did she sound...somehow deranged. Almost as if, she were another person?

His green eyes widened as the laughter stopped abruptly. Raven pushed the Boy Wonder back, and swiftly stood to her feet, head still cocked in arrogance. Wow, could Raven be any more awesome! How does she pull that off?

"Maybe, and maybe not." Her words chilled the shape-shifter, leaving him shivering and yet, warm and hot with admiration. Green eyes longingly followed the woman as she left the room, envious of the graceful saunter in her step.

Oh, Raven! Why can't I be as cool as you?

Well what did you think? I hope it was not confusing.

Any other suggestions... please review... They could end up the story (I will give credit)

~heartless16