Yeah… just another chap of Hard Luck… Don't own characters from Capcom, Del Rey, DC…just own like 2 characters or maybe more… depends… but yeah. Just finished DDR SuperNova so I'll update to celebrate.

"Light a fire to the fang that cannot be reached. So that I do not have to see that star. So that I do not slit this throat." – Bleach Volume 11

6. Slow Motion

Last time on Hard Luck….

"You've been on my mind since that night."

She gave a snide laugh at that. "I doubt that."

X whirled around, pulling her into a hard kiss. Raven was too surprised to even bother fighting back as he kissed her, slowly surrendering into the kiss until X pulled away. "You doubt that?" he asked almost angry before he stood up.


"I'm gone…" he said as he walked off, leaving Raven sitting there dazed for a bit before she snapped out of it. For several seconds she contemplated on following him and shooting him, but she decided against it.

AGX

"What happened?" the voice was cold and emotionless.

"I couldn't kill her," the blond girl's voice shook a bit as she answered.

"What happened?" the cold voice asked again.

"She was better trained than what I expected," another excuse rolled off her tongue.

"What happened?" the owner of the voice was losing patience.

"The Dark Knight was there and he stopped me from killing her," her voice was sounding desperate as she looked around the dark room. She sat at a wooden table with a bright light illuminating her and the table while the rest of the room remained shrouded in darkness.

"Your report stated that you succeeded in killing him. Tell me, why was he able to interrupt your task?" the sound of a lighter clicking open and close started up from one of the corners of the room.

"He lost too much blood to be able to survive, I personally witnessed it," she bit her lip as she cursed her own luck.

"Am I right to think that you might've failed in the attack against Slade's lieutenant?" there was a flicker of flame in a different corner and the glow of a lit cigarette reached her eyes.

"The rocket struck its mark, their chances of survival were minimal at best…" she said, licking her dry lips as her gaze followed the cigarette.

"I will take your word on that…" the voice sounded indifferent. The blond sighed in relief as she slowly started to relax. "Do not fail me again… or it will be your last, Tara." A door opened and then closed, leaving Tara alone in the dark room.

She waited until she was sure there was no one around and she quickly exited the room herself. "I told you that this is no game," a man wearing a white doctor's coat stood near the door.

"Don't start trying to sneak up on me, cause I will shoot you, Chang," Tara snapped walking off as the Asian man followed her closely at her side. "How's his condition?"

"Why don't you see for yourself?" Chang asked as he led her to another room, opening the door. The quiet beeping of the machines surrounding the bed filled the room as Mammoth lay on it. "He did quite a number on him. Mammoth is recovering but it will take a while."

Tara gave a slow nod before exiting the room, making her way to the exit of the building. "Where are you going?" Chang was once again at her side, "I urge you to refrain from doing something stupid."

"Mammoth's in there because of him. This isn't stupid," Tara answered coldly as she turned to face Chang.

"You attacked him on the boss's orders. He is very formidable as Mammoth found out and he will be guarded by the other Knights," Chang stated as he rummaged through his pockets until he found a pack of gum. He popped a piece into his mouth as he continued "I suggest you keep away from him."

Tara's clenched fist collided with Chang's stomach. "Don't suggest anything to me, Doctor." She said with a sneer as she walked away, leaving a doubled over Chang alone.

"Such a foolish child…" Chang grunted, straightening himself before heading back to check up on his patient.

Elsewhere…

"You okay?" someone groaned weakly.

"Does it look like I'm okay?" was the response that was given.

"Who the hell was that, Robin?" Stone asked as he slumped against a metal wall, his shoulder wrapped up tightly.

"I don't know yet… but I'll find out eventually," Robin said, muttering a curse as he held was remained of his and Stone's cellphones. "For now, we just have to make it back to headquarters so let's go."

Stone stood up slowly, following Robin as they stepped out of a metal storage shed. Both limped off in the cover of the night.

Two days later…

"It wasn't the Hellborns…" X repeated once again, giving a frustrated sigh as he was forced to repeat himself.

"Are you sure of this?" Vergil asked, gazing directly at X.

"Where'd you get this bit of info from?" Dante's question was left unanswered as Setsuna silenced him with a hard tap on the head.

"Yes, I'm sure. Considering that the same blond opened fire on Raven, who is a Hellborn." X answered as he cleaned his knives thoroughly before putting them away.

Dante slid a pair of guns across the table, "Those knives weren't much help last time. I think its time you carry these with you."

Before X could even consider arguing with Dante, Vergil turned to him and told him firmly "You are taking them with you. I will not see you out of this house without a weapon." X recognized an order when he heard one, especially one coming from Vergil.

X picked up both Taurus PT 24/7's off the table and inspected them before putting them back on the table. "Anything else? Maybe a rocket launcher or some grenades?" he asked sarcastically.

Setsuna, who had remained quiet until that moment, knocked him on the head "You're prone to taking foolish risks, so if you don't want the guns then I'll be the one escorting you everywhere."

X gave a smirk as he asked "Everywhere? So you'll join me in the shower?" he gave her his most charming smile only to be knocked on the head again by her. "Hey! I'm a wounded man!" He glanced at his watch, catching the date.

"I'm going out," X said, grabbing the guns and sliding them into his waistband as Dante slid him two clips. "I shouldn't need more than that," X said as he went upstairs to retrieve a zip up sweater.

Setsuna was waiting outside, dressed in a pair of form fitting black jeans, a v-neck shirt with a black jacket over it. "I'll be joining you," was all she as she tossed X a pair of keys.

X stopped himself from arguing, settling for getting into the drivers seat of a dark green Toyota MR2 Spyder. "I still don't like your car…" X stated, getting punched in the shoulder as he started the engine.

It was a quiet trip, both X and Setsuna silent, even as he parked in front of a gaudy flower shop. Inside the shop, he looked around a bit before he walked to the counter where the girl manning it was staring at him, "A bouquet of pink carnations," he said simply, watching as the girl behind the counter blushed a bit.

He got back in the car after carefully handing Setsuna the flowers. "I thought you forgot," Setsuna's voice cut through the silence as X drove through the city once again.

"I never forget." X answered curtly, as he parked in front of a cemetery. He passed row upon row of graves, before stopping at one plain black headstone.

Genève Styler

1986-2005

Loving Sister, Caring Daughter

You will be missed

"We reach out with our hands, Brush away the clouds and pierce the sky. To grab the moon and Mars, But we still can't grasp the truth."

X placed the flowers on the grave, crouching in front of it. "Hey, big sis, it's been a while hasn't it? One whole year without visiting you, right?"

Setsuna watched him converse by himself, surprised that she felt sad for him. After another 10 minutes, X stood up, his face back to the blank poker face he always wore. They were heading down the winding path, when X spotted Kori herself walking in another direction. 'What's Kori doing here?' the thought crossed his mind as he followed silently after, Setsuna following him as well.

"What do you want, Richard?" Kori's sweet voice carried through the little patch of trees where she was.

"Someone tried to put me and Stone in a grave. Who the hell is it?" A familiar voice snarled out and X tensed up.

"I do not know, I've had my people looking into it… but it's like this girl doesn't exist," Kori answered, watching as Robin tensed up before pulling a gun on her. "I never said it was a female, Kori. So… What do you know?" his voice cold, eyes blazing furiously.

Kori's eyes widen at the sight of the gun in Robin's hand. "W-what are you d-doing?" she asked, frightened.

"You have information that you're withholding from me. And now its time you talked." Kori took a few steps back, "You might be my girlfriend, but its business before pleasure."

X pulled out both his pistols, closing his eyes as he muttered "Sorry for the disrespect," before stepping into Robin's line of sight.

"You!" Robin leveled his gun at X.

"Kori… get out of here." X motioned to where Setsuna stood, watching the whole situation coolly. Robin's eyes widened as he caught sight of Setsuna, "the God Blade?" his voice trembled a bit. Kori took the chance to dart behind Setsuna and stay there. Robin grimaced once he realized what Setsuna's presence signified "Dark Knights…" he muttered.

"So, I hear you've been looking for me? What for?" X asked casually as he holstered one of his guns, calling Robin's attention back to him.

"You fucked up a hit the last time we met," Robin snarled back, back in control of himself.

"You call that a hit? She called you out… and you had one of your flunkies shoot her," Robin bristled at that comment, but X interrupted him "Why'd you point a gun at Kori? If I don't like your answer, I'm going to shoot you. Be warned." He got a comfortable grip on the gun, keeping it centered on Robin's head.

"How does she know about the blond assassin? Is she working with the Hellborn bitch?" Robin gave Kori a glare.

It had started as a cloudy, overcast day and now slowly rain drops fell to the earth. "So, you got a visit from her too?" X asked, with a harsh grin. "Kori knows about the assassin from me, and watch your mouth."

"So you're in league with her?" Robin leveled his second gun at X.

X gave a harsh laugh, as he pulled up his t-shirt as the rain started to pour even harder. "She shot me and tried to kill Raven. So we're all in the same situation. I'm not in league with anything."

Robin slowly lowered his weapons, watching as X did the same. "How can I trust you on that?" Robin asked suspiciously.

"Because I would've shot you already if you couldn't," X answered, completely at ease. X turned his back on Robin as he started walking away. "Walk away. Today isn't a good day to shed blood, and not here."

Robin holstered both his guns as he watched Kori, Setsuna, and X walk away. After several moments, he turned and walked out the way he entered.

X walked in silence, not sparing Kori a glance as Setsuna kept an eye out. "T-thank you…" Kori muttered nervously, flinching when Setsuna fixed her with a cold look.

Once they were at the car, X tossed Setsuna the keys. "Take her home," he ordered, pushing his hair back out of his face before walking away. The quiet rumble of the car engine filled reached his ears as it drove away, quickly being swallowed by the sounds of thunder echoing throughout the sky.

He walked through the streets of downtown Jump, watching people hurry by cowering from the rain. Umbrellas, rain coats, hats and anything to keep the rain off of them as traffic was as slow as a crawl. X leaned against a wall in a freeway underpass, pausing to light a cigarette as he watched the world around him. A homeless man shuffled up to him slowly and gave him a pleading look.

X pulled out a couple bills from his pocket and handed them to him without a word. He exhaled watching the homeless man shuffle away from him with a smile on his face. He continued his walk through the city, still smoking as the lightning kept flashing in the sky.

He stopped once again, to light another cigarette under the small awning provided by a café. He succeeded in lighting it when someone bumped into him hard enough to knock it out of his hands. He turned to look at who bumped him, coming face to face with Raven. "Well, isn't this strange…" X said with a smirk.

Well I start just broke
Of a line in your tasteless joke

Before he could say anything else, Raven slapped him. Hard. "Who do you think you are?" she hissed at him, her eyes filled with anger.

"So does this mean that you're pissed at me?" X asked dryly, rubbing his cheek a bit.

What's up with that hutch you've stolen
Don't worry 'cause it's not broken, it's just swollen

Raven scoffed as she looked away. "Its not my fault you make me feel…" X said, another cigarette in his mouth as Raven's cheeks colored slightly.

"So now it's my fault?" Raven rolled her eyes as she started to walk away. The telltale fork of lightning lit up the sky quickly followed by thunder. Raven flinched a bit before managing to control herself as she muttered a few curses.

Could anticipate
How you're feeling from day to day
Well about you now, that's your needing

"Don't worry about the lightning or the thunder. They can't hurt you," Raven turned, catching sight of X walking right next to her. He handed her his cigarette, watching her hands tremble a bit as she took it "Didn't think a professional was scared of a bit of thunder and lightning…" he chuckled a bit

"I'm not scared," Raven said, forcefully exhaling a cloud of smoke as X gave her a smirk. "What are you following me for? Are you going to stalk me now?"

Don't worry 'cause they're laughing, and you're bleeding

"You need someone to watch over you." X answered with a shrug as he stepped over a large puddle of water. He tugged Raven back as a car splashed across the puddle at the edge of the curb. "See?"

"I don't need anyone to watch over me, and definitely not you." Raven pulled herself away from X. She crossed the street quickly, avoiding another large puddle as X quickly caught up to her once more.

Well I'm drowning your ocean
It's much cooler in slow motion

"It seems like you do…" X answered back as casual as he could be, dropping the cigarette as Raven whirled around to face him.

Don't care where you've went
When it's obvious that you bore
I'm not worried 'cause it's five minutes to your glory

Raven stepped closer as she snarled at him "You don't know what I need."

"That's where you're wrong," X answered as he wrapped his arms around her, his eyes meeting hers fully. He pulled her into another kiss, this time it was gentle and slow as the rain continued to fall.

Well I'm drowning your ocean
It's much cooler in slow motion

A/N: and that's about the end of this chapter of Hard Luck. The lyrics in here are from "Slow Motion" by Nickelback. As always, I hope you enjoyed reading this… now Adios for now… R&R.