Welcome to chapter 10! This is very important chapter, although it switched views from the original draft. Was in Robin's view but I like this view better. And I have to ask, how do you people stand writing those love parts? I can't do it without pausing mid sentence and talking to myself and pacing. Oh well. Disclaimer: I do now own Teen Titans, but I do own Shasta, Garth, and Kym.

Chapter 10

Shasta's Capture

Moonlight poured over the city in a blanket of silver. Everything was peaceful, not a person stirred. Suddenly, the silence was broken by a lone figure. A flash of green and quiet footsteps disturbed the quiet of night. The Mantis was on the prowl.

Shasta had just returned from a medical store, a bottle in hand. His friend, Kym, was sick and she needed help. The girl was one of the only three survivors of Azerath, besides Garth and himself. If she got any worse she could die.

Shasta had been stealing for a few weeks now. It was nothing new to him, and his friends needed what he brought back. The young man had to admit, that he felt bad about stealing from these people, but it couldn't be helped. He and his friends needed food too.

As the boy walked, Shasta glanced at the starry sky. It reminded him of home, of course before it was destroyed. It was on nights like this that The Mantis and The Raven would haunt the streets of Azerath, robbing shops as they went. Shasta sighed. He wished that those times could come back, when he and the girl would steal.

Shasta couldn't stop himself from thinking about the girl that had been his best friend, maybe more. Defiantly more. The boy corrected himself. He remembered the girl's clear and brilliant violet eyes, her beautiful lavender hair, and her commanding yet gentle soul. Shasta's heart broke almost every time he thought of her. There was no doubt in his mind that he loved her.

But he had no idea what had happened to the girl. Everything had gone horribly wrong one night when a strange creature alerted a shop owner to their presence. Shasta was filled with loathing for the creature. It had made a huge racket on purpose, and it caused the girl to be captured. He would have stayed with her, but as the princess of Azerath, she had commanded him to run.

After her trial, the girl had been banished, and Shasta hadn't seen her since. It had broken his heart. Afterward he had stopped stealing, and vowed never to again. But here he was breaking that vow. The green cloaked teen sighed again. It was nights like these that always brought these thoughts back to haunt his mind.

Suddenly, a soft crackling caught the young man's attention. He whipped around and searched the shadows for what had made the sound. After a few moments of silence, Shasta turned and continued on his way. He pulled nervously at his gray long-sleeved tunic, green eyes flickering from side to side beneath his hood.

All of a sudden, Shasta was knocked off of his feet. The bottle of medicine flew from his hand and smashed on the ground. The Azerathian regained his feet quickly and whirled around. There was no one in sight.

Shasta was then hit from behind. He flew face first into the dirt. He rolled over just in time to see a black cape end disappear into the shadows. The Azerathian got to his feet again, this time pursuing the figure.

But that was a mistake. The figure whipped around and before Shasta could react, something cold and hard smacked him in the face. Stars burst into his vision and he fell back onto the wall, leaning on it for support. The figure was on him in an instant. He felt the air forced out of him as he was punched in the stomach. Shasta could barely move and then pain lanced across his back. He fell to his knees and slumped against the wall.

Winded, the thief did not rise, he knew he was beaten. He felt a hand grab the front of his tunic and hoist him to his feet. Then he was pushed forcefully against the wall. His hood was then pulled down, revealing his reddish blonde hair.

"Who are you and why are you robbing…grocery stores?" Asked his captor.

Shasta met his captor's masked eyes. The pointy black hair glinted in the moonlight, and the bright, yellow, red and green uniform blazed in the dim light. It was the same person who had almost caught him last time.

"Shasta…my name is Shasta." The Azerathian said. "You must be Robin."

His captor nodded. Shasta continued, "My friends and I needed food. One of them is ill. Now thanks to you she's going to get worse."

Robin ignored him. "Are your friends Azerathian?"

Shasta's eyes widened, "H-how do you know about Azerath?"

Again Robin ignored his question. "Where are your friends at?"

Shasta narrowed his eyes, "Why should I tell you?"

"Do you want to help them or not." The boy wonder asked.

Shasta bowed his head and after a moment, "They're at the Warg Complex in the abandoned part of town."

Robin pulled out his communicator and flipped it open. "Cyborg, I've captured the thief. He has friends at the Warg Complex. Get the other Titans and round them up. "

Cyborg's voice came back loud and clear. "We're on it."

"Meet me back at the tower with the other two." Robin said then closed the communicator.

"You're not going to take me to jail?" Shasta asked in amazement. Robin's outline was growing blurry, and the thief guessed that his left eye was swelling shut.

Robin pulled him off the wall, turned him around and thrust him back against it. Then the boy wonder tied Shasta's hand behind his back. Then Robin pulled up by the shoulder and gave him a shove towards an alley way. Then the boy wonder responded, "A friend of would love to meet you."

Shasta thought in confusion, Who would know me here?

The sun was rising when the thief and the boy wonder arrived at the tower. Robin led Shasta through the tower, and up many flights of stairs. Finally the two came to the top of the tower. The sun had turned the sky brilliant orange, and it took a moment for Shasta to adjust his eyes to the glare.

They were on top of the tower, for what reason Shasta did not understand. Was Robin going to throw him off of the top? Of course you would think that he could just levitate, but Shasta had never been a very good study of the magical arts. He might mess up and lead to his death anyway.

Then Shasta saw a dark shape sitting off to one side. He squinted at it, but could not make out what or who it was. Then Robin cut through Shasta's bonds.

The thief, startled, turned around and stared at Robin as if he were crazy. "You're letting me free?"

Robin ignored the question and called out to the dark shape, "Special delivery!"

Shasta gave him a confused look and then looked back at the dark shape. A hand appeared and beckoned.

Robin gave Shasta yet another shove. "Go on."

Shasta cautiously approached the shape. As he got closer he could make it out better. It was some kind of chair, it had wheels, and someone was sitting in it. Shasta stopped a respectful distance away.

"Who are you and how do you know me?" He asked.

There was silence for a moment, then the person replied, "I'm surprised, Shasta of Willowhawk, that you don't know your own partner."

Shasta stood frozen in shock as the person turn in the chair. The thief was met with caring violet eyes and locks of lavender.

Shasta felt like his heart would stop. He felt like he would fall over in a dead faint. It was Raven! Raven, the girl he loved. She was alive! ALIVE!

He took a few shaky steps towards her, his eyes wide. "R-Raven?"

Raven lifted an eyebrow and said "Yes, Shasta it's me."

Shasta then kneeled and embraced her in a hug. Raven hugged right back. When they pulled apart, Shasta had Raven's hands in his. "I can't believe you're alive! You're okay!"

Raven's smile faded a little. "Well I'm alive, but not in the best shape ever."

"What? Why?" Shasta said with a tilt of his head.

Raven sighed. "Shasta, I can't walk anymore."

The green cloaked teen stared at his love trying to understand what she had just said. "W-what?"

"I can't walk anymore. That's why I'm in this wheelchair."

Shasta stared at the girl. "Why? What happened? Who-"

Raven put a finger to his lips. "I'll tell you later." Then she let her brush hand over his hair. She shook her head, "What did Robin do to you? Your eye's all swollen up. I told him to be gentle."

Shasta rubbed his stomach and said, "Well, if that was gentle I'm afraid to see what his rough is."

Raven chuckled quietly. Robin then approached the two. He said, "Sorry to break up your reunion, but Shasta mentioned some friends and they should be here any minute."

Raven's eyes widened and her head snapped back to Shasta. "Friends?"

Shasta nodded, "Kym and Garth are alive too."

Raven's expression became one of amazement and excitement. Shasta smiled and said, "Kym is ill though."

Robin then said as he turned towards the rooftop elevator, "The other Titans are gathering up the other two. They'll head straight for the medical bay. So come on."

Shasta turned to follow the boy wonder, but then Raven grabbed his arm and held him back. He watched as she reached onto her belt, and pulled out a broach. Shasta's broach. The green thief's eyes widened. She said, "I believe this is yours."

"How did you get that?" Shasta asked in amazement.

Raven smiled slyly. "Robin picked it up after your first little skirmish."

She handed him the object, and the two headed for the elevator where Robin was waiting for them.