Whoa… I seem to be on a roll here… another update for Hard Luck? Eh… I don't own the Titans… they're property… of whoever owns them. Don't own Dante, Vergil and those of Devil May Cry. Don't own Sakurazaki Setsuna, she's from the Del Rey published manga Negima! But yeah… on with the story.

"I have always been afraid… Always pretending to follow you closely, always pretending to sharpen my teeth, when the truth is, I am…. Scared to death just treading on your shadow." – Bleach 16

8. Blinded in Chains…

Last time on Hard Luck….

"Mention that one more time and this time, I will shoot you." Raven snarled at him.

"The boss won't be so happy if you shoot me. Since I still have to clean up your mess," Sean stated with a shrug as Raven glared at him. "Don't get too distracted, cause then the boss might send me out to eliminate those distractions."

AGX

Several hours later…

"Like I've said before, you tend to overreact. Seriously." X leaned back against the padded cushions of the booth he and Kori sat in. He popped a couple of fries in his mouth as Kori watched him. "But seriously, is that the reason why you were mad at me? Cause I punched the Merc out?"

Kori gave him a nod, choosing to busy herself in eating her salad. Weezer filled the booth and X pulled out his cellphone, answering "Yo," he listened for sometime "Why me? Why won't you send Dante? You know I don't do that." He hung up the phone, sliding it back into his pocket as Kori watched him.

"Who was that?"

"I'm being used as an errand boy," X said with distaste. He paid for the meal and once they were outside, he caught sight of Vergil's Lotus Elise parking. Setsuna stepped out of the car, giving a goodbye to Vergil as he drove off, before making her way to X.

"I'm your backup," she said simply, tossing X 2 backpacks.

"So, you want a ride home, Kori? Or will you get Roy to pick you up?" X asked Kori as he opened the car door and dropped the backpack into the seat.

"I'll ask Roy for a ride," Kori answered nervously, keeping her eyes on X to avoid looking at Setsuna. X waited for a few minutes to make sure that Kori was getting a ride before taking off.

On route…

"So, why me?" X's question cut the silence between him and Setsuna.

"Because I prefer working with you, makes things easier." Setsuna replied, reaching into the backseat and grabbing both backpacks. She began rummaging through one of them, laying a carefully folded and clean black long sleeve shirt. "Put this on," she slid him a pair of slim rectangle framed green tinted sunglasses. He slipped them on after putting on the shirt as he watched her starting taking things out of the other pack.

She passed him his other Taurus pistol along with several clips. She then tried to hand X a bulletproof vest only to get a questioning look.

"What's this for?"

"Its general purpose is to stop a bullet." Setsuna replied dryly as she strapped her katana to her side and slid 2 guns into side holsters.

"Well, no shit," X rolled his eyes, "I don't use these, they hinder my movement." He tossed the vest back into the car, watching her scowl at him. "Let me guess. Vergil planned on me wearing that, right?" with a nod for a response, he rolled his eyes as he checked his guns once more.

"Let's go." He followed behind Setsuna at a slow pace. After climbing the stairs, they arrived on the dark fourth floor where another car awaited them at the end. Setsuna pulled out her cellphone, holding it to her side as it rung.

A man wearing a black suit appeared from behind a pillar and motioned for them to step forward. "Are you carrying weapons?" he asked, watching as X rolled his eyes at him. "I'm going to ask again, are you carrying weapons?" the guard's hand went to his side where his gun was holstered.

"Look, rookie, I'm only gonna tell you this once. Dark Knights are always armed. Always." X snapped, stepping past the guard. Before the guard could finish unholstering his gun, X had one of his guns against his throat.

"He's still in training, so you'll have to forgive him for his lapse of judgment." A kind, yet commanding voice reached him and X holstered his gun. He turned around to see Setsuna finishing her bow to the man that stood a few feet away.

He looked like an older version of Vergil and Dante, dressed in an immaculate black suit, his almost platinum blonde hair carefully combed back out of his face. His voice was smooth, with a tone that seemed to radiate power. He was the head of the Sparda family, Jericho Sparda, and current leader of the Dark Knights.

X bowed to the man, keeping his eyes on the floor. "Now, no need for that. You're practically my son and that's no way to be greeted." He straightened up and shook hands with Jericho, who smiled. "I worried when Vergil informed me of your attack," he stepped back as they both relinquished their grip.

"We're here to be your guard detail for this afternoon, sir." Setsuna stated, ignoring the glare that the other guard shot at him.

"Guard detail?" X groaned at the thought, wondering how long it'd take him to strangle Vergil and move onto Dante. "Alright," he pointed to the guard, "Is the rookie coming along?"

"No, he shall take your car back to headquarters." Jericho answered curtly, turning and getting back inside his car. X turned and tossed the bodyguard the car keys and waited until he received the other set in return.

There was a heavy amount of traffic throughout the more populated areas of Jump city, making their trip longer. With Setsuna driving, X sat in the passenger seat of the dark blue Saleen S7, answering questions for Jericho. "So, tell me what led to your injury after the mission in the dock area?"

"I got careless. I thought the area was clear and when I was leaving, I encountered 2 people." He kept his gaze outside, the world tinted green in his eyes as he watched for threats.

"2 people? That doesn't sound so good for you," Jericho's answer lacked severity.

"I took a slug to the torso. I would've gutted the shooter but her guard protected her." X clamped his teeth down on an unlit cigarette, Setsuna's gaze only stopping him from lighting it. "The guard isn't going to be doing much anymore, not after I ripped into his cervical vertebra."

"So you've effectively turned him into a quadriplegic?" Jericho sounded slightly amused. He didn't bother him that his surrogate son might've left a man completely paralyzed. After all, it was self defense on his part and the viciousness was required in this business.

"Yeah… should be. I rarely mess that up." X answered as he reached for the stereo, tapping the play button on the mp3 player. Music slowly filtered through the speakers, filling the car.

"You can light that up, you know." The sound of a lighter was lost in the music and the flaming lighter appeared held by a black gloved hand. X lowered the window as he took a drag of the cigarette before offering back the pack to his boss. "Thank you, but I have my own." Cinnamon scented smoke reached Setsuna's nose and she shook her head in disapproval.

The remainder of the trip was spent in silence; the only sounds were sounds of music as The Doors filtered through the speakers. She drove into the lower level of a bank parking lot, bringing the car to a halt near the elevators. X was the first one out, his eyes darting about in search of threats. After making sure that the area was clear, he brushed off stray bits of ash from his black t-shirt and fixing the shirt collar.

The echo of footsteps reached his ears and he casually turned in the required direction. He flicked away the cigarette butt in the direction of the incoming people, another already in his mouth and being lit. Setsuna joined him outside, eyeing the other side with cold eyes as Jericho got out of the car.

After a 30 second staring match, the guards led them to an elevator. The guards remained there on the lot as the elevator started its rapid ascent. "I hate elevator music," Setsuna commented with a scowl.

"Good afternoon, Arella," Jericho greeted the woman that waited for them. Both Setsuna and X kept an eye on her as Jericho kissed the back of her hand in greeting. 'She looks familiar' the thought crossed X's mind.

"I see that there's a new face with you this time," Arella commented as she led them through the long hallway. "I expected either one of your sons. He's handsome," She gave X a smile, a smile that many might've taken for much more, but he kept his face blank as he took another drag of his cigarette.

"He's another son of mine," Jericho's answer received a questioning look from Arella. When he didn't elaborate, she let it go as they reached an impressive set of mahogany doors. When Jericho gave him a look, X crushed the remains of his cigarette in an ashtray that stood next to the door, and he passed through the doors behind Arella.

He watched silently from a corner of the room as Jericho conducted his meeting with Jonathan Scathe, leader of the Hellborns. He didn't pay much attention to what they spoke about, but he caught Scathe looking at him several times. Once it was over, Setsuna was the first to go out and followed by Jericho.

"A word of advice to you, young knight, be very careful when trying to court a hellborn." Scathe's words were a nothing more than a veiled threat. X walked out, refusing to respond.

Raven turned the corner and saw X walking out of her father's office along with people she knew to be Dark Knights. She watched and waited until he walked out of sight with a cigarette clamped in his mouth before she entered the office.

"Ah, you've arrived late," Arella said in an almost sing a song voice. "You just missed meeting Jericho Sparda's third handsome son." Scathe scowled at Arella while Raven processed what she'd heard. 'He's a son of Sparda?'

"I see, is there anything else I'm needed for, mother?" Raven asked as she continued to stand straight, waiting for her dismissal.

"Not at all, dear. But your father doesn't approve of the young knight's courting of you." Raven controlled herself admirably as she heard her mother's throaty chuckle. With a wave of his hand, Scathe dismissed Raven, who walked out quickly to avoid being interrogated by her mother.

Several Days later…

"Yo… wake up, your school suspension is up and Vergil's taking you back." X groaned when Dante threw open the door and yelled. He was about to try and burrow under the covers again but this time the mattress flipped. "Wake up."

He groaned and got up slowly, seeing Vergil holding his mattress and glaring at him. With a defeated sigh, he grabbed a pair of black pants and a green t-shirt among other things and headed into the shower. "You take too long in there and I'm getting Setsuna to yank you outta there," he heard Dante complain halfway through his shower.

Once done and dressed, he grabbed several of his knives and a Taurus along with his backpack. Vergil was sitting at the breakfast table with Setsuna and Dante, drinking a cup of coffee. X went rummaging through the fridge and grabbed a tall black can with a green m on it and closed the fridge, following after Vergil.

Their trip to the school was a quiet one and Vergil kept the stereo off. X sat outside the office while Vergil spoke to the principal and when he was called in; he was given a written pass back to class. He waited till Vergil was gone before walking in the opposite direction of his class, cutting through the building and heading towards the back of the library building.

"Yo…" he greeted Raven, who sat against a wall with a book in her hands. She looked up and gave him a nod in greeting as he took a seat next to her. She turned to look at him when she heard a loud pop and saw him drinking from his drink. "MONSTER Energy? You drink that?"

X gave a shrug, "Tastes good. I drink it cause of the taste, no other reason." He offered her the can and she took a quick drink before handing it back. "Didn't know you were the daughter of a big player, that was a surprise."

"I didn't think you'd end up being a son of Sparda." Raven answered, turning a page in her book. "Now I know why Scathe is unhappy with me." Raven shook her head at that, her left hand opening and closing slowly.

X took another swallow of his drink before pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He had one clamped between his teeth and lit when he offered one to Raven, who shook her head. With a shrug, he put it away the pack and grabbed his backpack. "Why's your father pissed at you?"

"He owes the Dark Knights a debt of honor," Raven eyed his cigarette and took it from him, ignoring X's complaints. "Be careful around Sean, he's one of us but he's taken an interest in you."

X arched an eyebrow at her, "Nice way to pay back a debt." The bell rung and she flicked away the cigarette as he stood up, giving her a hand up.

School had let out and X was walking down the street when he heard the telltale sounds of wheels screeching. He looked back and saw Raven running in his direction and a familiar black car heading his way as well. He took off running when he saw the barrel of an assault rifle pop out the window.

"Well, I can see you're popular," He said as she caught up to him, both of them speeding up when a chunk of sidewalk got carved up behind them. "In the middle of the damn day…" X snarled as he pulled out his Taurus and caught Raven pulling out her Beretta. They cut through an empty lot, jumping over a wooden fence as more bullets flew close to them.

"They're gonna circle around to that side," Raven pointed out as X looked around. "This way," he took off at a run towards the alley next to the apartment complex across the street, dodging around an ice cream truck and a beat up pickup truck.

They managed to get into the alley when the sound of wheels screeching reached them again. "We're going up." He pointed to the rusty fire escape above them. He cupped his hands and when Raven put her foot in them, he tossed her high enough to begin climbing the ladder. He kicked off the wall and grabbed onto the bottom ladder rung and followed her up.

By the time the SLR swerved into the alley, both Raven and X had climbed up to the third floor fire escape. X popped the clip out of the Taurus, giving it a once over before slamming it back into place. "How accurate are you with that?" he asked as he watched the car slowly move forward.

"Accurate enough. I thought you didn't use guns." Raven's response was quiet as she saw four men get out of the black SLR. They were carrying rifles of an unknown kind.

"Shit… those are XM8's…" X managed to stop himself from cursing even more.

"XM8's?"

"The XM8 Lightweight Assault Rifle. Those are the new military issue assault rifles." He stuck his hand in his pocket, leaning away from the edge of the fire escape and pulled out his cellphone. With a press of a button, he leaned against the locked glass doors that led to the fire escape, quietly while Raven watched the men comb the alley.

"Yo… boss. Kinda need help." He listened for several minutes before answering. "We have at least 4 in a car with XM8's. Yeah, we're on a fire escape a couple floors above them." He listened a bit before hanging up. He got closer to the rail, bringing his Taurus to bear as he closed his left eye.

"I got the one on the left; you take the one on the right." He waited until Raven nodded to him before he fired a precisely placed round, shooting what appeared to be the driver in the head. The body was dropping to the floor when another shot rang out and his partner dropped in a spray of blood. X fired off two more rounds at the remaining two men, getting them to duck while he turned and kicked the glass doors.

Raven followed after him, running down the hallway, with her weapon out of sight. Several bursts of assault rifle fire peppered the empty fire escape while people peeked out of their doors. They took the stairs two at a time as they ran down, with X in the lead. As they both slowed down when climbing down to the first floor, Raven spotted shadows moving at the bottom of the stairs and managed to pull X back before a spray of bullets hit him.

"They didn't wait for back up." Raven shook her head in disgust, while X was watching the bottom of the stairs. "How fast is your draw?" Raven's question got her an offended look from X.

"I'm fast enough. I'm not the Dual Edge for no reason." He shook his head as he turned back to the stairs, muttering about those of little faith. He heard someone step closer to the stairs and Raven ran forward jumping off the top. He bit back a curse as he jumped after her, rolling to a crouch as he opened fire at the enemy on the left.

Seeing as he didn't feel the burn of any bullets hitting him, he assumed that Raven had gotten her target. He picked up the fallen assault rifle, turning it over a couple of times before dropping it back onto the floor. "We should go before the police arrive." Both he and Raven turned to the door, pistols aiming at none other than Trish.

"You're out of bullets." She pointed to X, who scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Let's go, kiddies." She walked outside, to where both Dante and Vergil stood by the black SLR. "They're getting dangerous. Packing military issue weapons." She shook her head at that.

"They're carrying both our crest and a hellborn insignia." Vergil examined said items, ignoring the smirk on Dante's face as he glanced at X and Raven. X glanced down at one of the fallen XM8's and he grinned as he picked it up.

"I'll be taking this with me," He examined it over before turning to Raven, "Let's go. We'll give you a ride back to your place or your father's business."

"Don't worry. Your old man can't call this a debt; we were just here to pick up our wayward little brother." Dante knocked X in the head and walked away towards the car, his words cutting off any argument that might've sprung up.

X slipped his hood on and motioned for Raven to follow him. Raven gave the SLR one last look before she followed X at her own pace, catching sight of the minute amounts of C-4 placed on it. A small muffled explosion reached their ears as they drove away. 'Lunatics. They are lunatics.' She gave a sigh.

A/N- and that brings us to the end of number 8…. D No cars, thugs, or innocent buildings were hurt in the production of this. So Adios for now… hope you all enjoyed.