Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules Chapter 5: Shed a Little Light, a teen titans fanfic

-Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules-

-Shed a Little Light-

"I'm confused –"

"Aren't we all doll-face?" Trent grinned over his shoulder to the sorceress that sneered up at the not-so hidden thief, with clumps of his light brown hair falling just over his eyes he jerked it away and turned his head back up the stairs towards the roof.

Raven followed, but that didn't mean she was cursing every step she took after the thief, "Look, if you think you're going to get the Wolf's Fang from the Titans, you're dead wrong."

Trent scoffed, "Nothing stopped me from getting the Red X suit before, it was like taking candy from a baby."

"Don't flatter yourself," Raven snapped and Trent stopped in mid-step, hand on the door that lead up to the roof, he turned around and loomed over the Titan that neither shrank away in intimidation or stepped up to challenge him.

She just stood passive and indifferent, waiting for a come back that Trent challenged, "Well why shouldn't I? I think I earned myself some bragging rights, especially when I took you fools by complete surprise … come on, admit it. Before you even considered there was a real thief lurkin' about, you turned on your own leader, that's why you never went all out. You thought you were being tricked again … didn't you." (1)

Before Trent could even brace for conflict, Raven's aura flared and in an instant he was airborne right along with the steel doors, both which were thrown out onto the roof. The door landing in the back-street while Trent came oh-so close to rolling off the edge to plummet to his doom, Raven, calmly and very elegantly stepped out into the sunlight. Her violet hair suddenly whipping about at the heavy winds that swirled around the small building, glaring at the thief she placed her hands on her hips and stood with a sassy aura to her already deadly persona.

"If you've known the full story behind the suit you wouldn't be running your mouth." Raven growled while Trent carefully measurably got back to his feet, being sure that there was nothing broken, he glared at Raven who practically pinned him to the ground with a cold stare, "Now. Let's get to the point of your arrival, I haven't got all day."

Trent dusted off his shoulder and bit back the urge to hit something, "You already know what I want."

Raven sneered, "And you're not getting it."

"Well now you see that creates a problem for me, because … I like you, I like you a lot," Raven narrowed her eyes in caution at the words he used, especially when his seemingly agitated aura was suddenly clearing up and once more returning to us usual cocky personality. Now, she didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, all she knew was to be quick on her feet where this crafty thief was concerned, "you look like a girl that would know the difference between bad and evil, someone that wouldn't be so quick to jump the gun like your little leader … and me."

"You'd be surprised," Raven answered carefully, "but what has that got to do with our current predicament? You want something that I can't give and you have something that I need to return … how is this going to work out?"

With a flick of his wrist and a twiddle of his fingers the Cat's Eye suddenly shimmered in between his fingers, its white strip staring mockingly at Raven right along with the thief that held it hostage. The thief in question grinned and winked, an illusion was cast over the Cat's Eye that made Raven think the jewel itself had winked with its possessor. (2) Rethinking the idea that the Cat's Eye was just a gem of history, Raven was getting the feeling that this thing was a gem of mystic abilities.

Did the thief know that?

Judging by the way he tossed it carelessly in the air only to let it fall right back into his hands and stuffed into carelessly into his pocket, Raven's guess if he felt its power or not was as good as the next average Joe. Red X, he just knew how to throw people off … she reasoned that was what made him an excellent thief to begin with. Crafty, smooth, and cunningly cute he had the attitude to parallel his slick moves. That's what made him formidable.

He does what he loves and he loves what he does.

"Okay," he snickered, Raven took a deep breath of patience, "you know I have the Cat's Eye with me … where's the Fang?"

Raven debated whether or not to show him that she had it … and figured if she was going to betray her friends by conversing with this criminal she might as well do so without hesitation. With a swirl of her wrist she created a black-hole in thin air, opening up a portal to her secret dimension of special items she reached her hand in and called forth the Wolf's Fang.

Under a minute flat she held the golden jewel encrusted handle and pulled her hand back out. The hole closed and she flipped the blade to let the sunlight glisten on its priceless value. Back in her hands she held it in a stabbing like pose and held out for X to see, "What happens now?"

"Depends," Trent shrugged nonchalantly, "would you trust a thief?"

Raven huffed in annoyance, "What do you think?'

Trent laughed openly and shook his head, "Princess you don't wanna know what I think."

"Yeah …" Raven sneered, "You're right … I could careless."

"Okay, let's cut to the chase," X sighed and looked behind Raven and nodded, "Come on out Lance."

An ambush? Raven tensed, thinking that she had been double crossed, she spun around expecting another criminal to take on, but what she saw caught her completely off guard. A kid … a child that looked no more older than 7 or 9, but bared a striking resemblance to X, looking back at the thief who's grin seemed to widen at her shocked expression. Lance walked by her, but never took his eyes off of her … completely taken back by the reality he was standing in the presences of a Titan.

Raven to be exact, Lance was blown clear out of the water and nearly tripped over himself when he went on his way to stand next to his uncle. Trent caught him and laughed a bit when the kid was still in a daze, "What's the matter kid? Never seen a Titan before?"

"Not in real life …" he shook his head slowly and steadily stood on his own two feet, "Whoa … Raven … you know, there's a lot of controversy on the polls of who should really be with Robin, Starfire or you. Yeah sure Starfire ended up with Robin in the long run, but there are still people out there that think you should be with him … what do you think?"

Raven blinked and shook her head, her cheeks suddenly flushing at the idea of a child asking such a silly question. She honestly never cared for the press, but she will be dreadfully honest, even in her embarrassment. Completely ignoring the thief in the background giving her an odd intense look, Raven sighed and waved her hand in dismissal, "Don't ever believe what you read in the tabloids of celebrities and heroes, it's completely idiotic. Let Robin and Starfire be."

Lance nodded then as if he was an expert interviewer he lashed out with another question, "Right, right … so do you like Robin more than just a friend and your leader? Like … would you want to be with him intimately?"

X burst out in a fit of giggles, holding his mouth to try and get himself to shut up. Raven jerked her head back in shock and stifled a gasp of embarrassment, then narrowed her eyes at the kid and shot a question of her own, "How old are you?"

"Nine," Lance answered truthfully and without hesitation then went on to say, "but that's irrelevant to the question I have asked … do you like him?"

"No!" Raven out right denied and Trent halted his giggle fest to raise a brow when Raven's earlier flushed cheeks suddenly turned beet red, and with her grayish-pale complexion it really showed, "Of course not! Not that it's any of your business, child. He's my commander."

Lance shrugged, "Fair enough … but with Robin being your, Cyborg's, Beast Boy's, and, Starfire's commander … it didn't stop Starfire and Robin, did it?"

Trent ruffled the kid's head, "Nice argument kid."

Raven rolled her eyes, "Oh please, those two can do whatever the hell they want with their lives, what makes you think I give a fu –" she stopped herself immediately and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath she meditated for a moment to compose herself and to get Red X's personality out of her system before she said something she regretted. Yet … she couldn't explain it … she couldn't help to feel, cheated and slightly angry at the very idea of Starfire and Robin.

This was odd considering she never had a problem with them to begin with.

At the same time, Trent in the back of his mind felt a nagging emotion of annoyance, confusion, and … basically a timid shudder of fear of knowledge. Like … he was afraid to even travel down this subject, and he found this odd because he could careless. So he had to conclude … it was coming from Raven, and he couldn't help to smirk at the assumption, So … I not only can recall a few of her dormant memories … but I know what she's feeling? Cool … better not push it though. Smart thinking, he figured, and quickly took back control of the meeting.

"Alright, alright CNN you can knock it off now. I didn't bring you here to get the latest for People Magazines. Let's get back on track." Raven reopened her eyes and resumed her passive state of mind, knowing that it didn't only didn't matter, if she resumed her usual persona or not. Because she had already broken her composure where cold-hearted Raven was concerned, looking up at X the thief winked. Then looked down at the little boy and gave him the Cat's Eye, "You know what to do. Doll-face you're gonna have to give him the Fang."

The very idea of a kid holding a weapon disturbed Raven, but when Lance took the Cat's Eye and traveled back to her and held out his hand for the knife. Raven understood where the thief was going with this … if she didn't trust him he figured that she'd instead trust a kid … but did it matter? Lance was on the thief's side – wait, Raven didn't want to assume it because the thief looked awfully young, but, Is … this kid ... his son?

That, to Raven, was a very scary thought.

Still not sure if he should give him the knife, Raven looked down into innocent silver eyes that reflected familiar slick and sly attitude … like X … they looked so much alike! No one could blame the poor sorceress for thinking that the kid was X's. However, even with this thought she huffed and flipped the blade in her hand so the child would be sure to grab the handle.

Lance took it and smiled gratefully, "Don't worry Miss Raven, I know how to handle a weapon, my uncle taught me how to assemble, disassemble, and altogether handle an automatic handgun … it's no biggie."

Automatic handgun? Raven blinked and had to ask while Lance walked to stand in the center of the two opposing forces, "You're uncle? Who's your uncle?"

Lance looked over his shoulder at the Titan then glanced at Trent who's grin suddenly dropped and the kid thought before answering, after all, if his uncle was a villain that this Titan could apprehend in a snap of a finger. He didn't want his cool uncle to be taken away and just shrugged in response, never actually saying his name, "He's standing in front of you."

Raven looked up from the child to the thief and raised a brow, when older silver hues shimmered and gleamed with that nonchalant aura, she tilted her head ever so slightly, Must be his sister's kid … why would X risk his nephew's life by bringing him into his affairs? It's not only reckless … it's stupid!

"Lance, the Eye will go on the opposite side of the handle of its sister pair," X informed taking his eyes off Raven for the moment to make sure his nephew got it right. Lance nodded in understanding and turned the golden hand over to see the slot where it would should have been placed … looking back at Raven then glancing up at his uncle he took a deep breath and followed instructions.

Without further ado he put the Cat's Eye inside the slot and gaped when he saw it flash and glow a liquid gold. Mesmerized by the color and the white slash going down the center of the beautiful jewel, Lance was seriously taken back by the very live-like look of the gemstone. It really did look like it was staring at him and appeared to wink when a sudden glare of light shimmered over the surface of the liquid appearance, "Whoa …"

Trent frowned, "Put it down, Lance," the kid blinked away from the gem and looked up as if suddenly returning to reality only to lock eyes with his glaring uncle, "Now."

With a gulp Lance sucked in a deep breath and quickly put the knife down and backed off three steps. Raven gave the knife a suspicions look when it flashed a bright white that was visible even under the bright afternoon sun. Lance's interest shot up and he took a step closer, Raven noticed movement from X's part, directing her attention to the thief who moved over to grab Lance. Pulling the child close to him and turning him around to burry his face into his chest, Raven raised a brow and before she could ask why he was so protective of the child.

A soft beam of light shoot out of the Cat's Eye, and a low barely audible soft childish melody wafted in the air. Lance turned to see what was going on, but Trent prevented him from doing so, "Hey, uncle Trent, I can't see!"

"Good, you're not supposed to."

"Wha – why!"

"…" silence was the child's answers, growling in frustration he tried to push himself away from his uncle, Raven observed the odd act, but decided to let it go for now and turned her attention back to the soft beam of light that narrowed and brightened. Swirling around the light and slowly coming out of the Cat's Eye other than the light was a flock of what appeared to be butterflies. Blue, radiant butterflies … now most would see this to be odd, but Raven's mouth dropped in disbelief as the melody grew in volume and the many more butterflies swarmed the rooftop.

"Grrrah!" Lance finally slipped out of his uncle's grasp, and turned to see the butterflies, only to fall back into Trent's arms. Gasping in amazement as he watched the butterflies surround him, his uncle, and the titan on the roof. Circulating and floating about, the childish melody was soon realized to be coming from the butterflies themselves, "Whoa … wha ... butterflies? But … why?"

"Their souls …" Raven whispered in answer, cupping her hands and biting down on her lower lip, a sorrowful look in her violet eyes as a few of the "souls" as she had mentioned landed and tickled her fingers, "… reincarnated children souls … and there're countless of them …" (3)

Lance gaped and looked up at Trent who sighed and just stood listening to the hummed melody of a sort of bittersweet relief of sorrow. No words, just a tune that could very well get stuck in one's head if listened to long enough, the thief shrugged, "Yeah … the Wolf's Fang's blade was created from a chip of the Angel of Death's scythe … no one ever actually got hurt from it … but wherever famine, poverty, basically all of suffering was located. This blade was close by, and where this blade was close by the kids that have died in the years pass since its forge never found peace, always attracted and ambushed into being trapped within this knife for all eternity."

"So …" Lance thought aloud as he reached out for one of the butterflies to land on his hand and when it did he couldn't help to giggle as it tickled his finger, "… their all free because we put the blade together?"

"It was never supposed to be completed," Trent went further to explain, Raven on the side listened intently, "those with evil intent that knew of the knife's value also knew that if they were to ever die and go to hell, they would be granted free from suffering and become a soul-collector for hell instead. That was only if Azrael himself found their dead body with the knife … in their hands."

"And the Cat's Eye?" the inquiring Lance looked up at his uncle for answers, "Why is it so important?"

Trent grinned, "Have I taught you nothing? Ancient Egyptians believed that cats were the guardians to hell; they were praised and revered as protectors of the mortal realm. Whoever the good-guy was that knew the evil that the Wolf's Fang possessed created this gem in hopes of one good deed will free the innocent from the blade's eternal binding."

Raven scoffed, "Ironic this heroic story should be passing through the lips of a thief himself," Trent looked up and eyed Raven with every intention of defending himself, but instead she continued with a shrug, dropping her hands from the souls. She watched them swirl and thus finally … after hanging around the three human bodies began to ascend to where they truly belong. "Nevertheless … I have to ask … how'd you know all this? There was nothing documented about a blade or a gemstone, to the public … if anything they were all said to have been just myths and legends … what made you believe they were true?"

Instead of Trent answering, Lance did with a smile on his face, "Because you just gotta have something to believe in … usually a higher power is stretching it … but still, I bet my uncle here was riding on pure dumb luck alone … weren't ya?"

Trent chuckled nervously and purposely messed up Lance's hair to tell him not to say another word as he shrugged, Raven raised a brow and tilted her head when the thief answered vaguely, "Heh, yeah … whatever."

"Thank you …" whatever conversation that was happening was halted and all heads turned to look up at the single butterfly that stayed floating in the air. Her heavenly voice, sweet and innocent and full of life even in her state of disembodiment, Lance gulped and backed up even further into his uncle's arms. It was cool to be seeing this kind of stuff and all, but he was still a kid and for some reason he sensed that what came next … wouldn't be something of a fairytale ending at all, "… for all that you have done … your reward, I give unto you, my knowledge, my blessing, and my existence in hopes that you shall carry on and do what you believe is right …"

Without so much as a warning a white beam shot through the Cat's Eye of the Wolf's Fang and the butterfly was no more. Lance flinched when he saw the creature's delicate wings flutter and drift to the ground in mournful ashes. Raven gulped and Trent sighed … no one needed to hear an explanation … what the child had done was simple.

A sacrifice seems to be an inevitable thing where life in general was concerned. (4)

For their help she had sacrificed herself … and in the mists of her sacrifice the beam widened and exploded into a brilliant array of smoke and ash. Leaving in its wake, when it all cleared the blade and gemstone along with something else: a piece of parchment rolled up into a scroll. Lance rushed to it, and Trent froze up trying to keep from panicking and instead of grabbing the kid back, he placed a hand on his hip and ran another through his hair to try and calm himself down when Lance picked up the blade and parchment.

Raven glided across the roof and snatched the blade from the child, feeling X's anxiety with Lance being too close to whatever he was holding. The kid glanced up at Raven for a moment then looked down at the parchment and unraveled it. X jogged over to be next to his little nephew and look over what it was he was staring at in confusion; he even said it aloud as if it'll make anymore sense, "The Pharos Lighthouse?"

It didn't take a fraction of a minute for Raven to figure out just why this little piece of information was important, looking up at X, not expecting him to be standing so close. Raven suddenly found her self dwarfed by his impressive height that she never realized till now was actually quite intimidating, especially without his mask where the sunlight was free to hit every angle of his natural silver-gray eyes. When he turned to glance down at her, Raven turned away, realizing with great embarrassment that she had been staring. X smirked, when she cleared her throat and stepped away to position Lance between them, "The Pharos Lighthouse … that's where your map is … isn't it?"

The thief chuckled and shrugged, Lance watched their interaction with great observation, "Technically … yeah, that's all I wanted the Cat's Eye and Wolf's Fang for, after words the value to me would have been worthless. Of course I'd sell it back to the owners for a substantial amount after the deed was done, but you can have them both back all the same."

"And your map?" Raven narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "You going to be stealing another priceless artifact from innocent people?"

Before X could defend himself Lance explained, "Actually Miss Raven, the Pharos Lighthouse is a mythical place … not many archaeologists believe it actually exists … so … if my uncle were to find it and this map that he's looking for. The finding would all be credited to him, as well as everything within this lighthouse … so … he wouldn't really be stealing anything."

Raven crossed her arms over her chest and eyed the child with great scrutiny, glaring up at the proud thief who looked ready to bust with laughter at the pleasure of seeing one of the smartest Titans being told off by a kid. This Titan scoffed and X chuckled when she growled, obviously resentful, "Well … cute and adorable, a double hitter, next thing you know he might actually have the talent to go with it."

"He's workin' on it," X ruffed Lance's hair and Lance pushed his hand away with a glare of annoyance X sighed and abruptly started to direct the kid towards the entrance back into the building, "well kid, you did your part, you can go now."

"Wha … bu-but what about you?"

"I got to talk to Raven alone, I'll see you downstairs got it?"

Lance pouted and stormed away, with much distain, "Fine …"

Raven raised a brow and with X watched the kid disappear down the steps, pausing only to shoot his uncle a mean look reaching to slam the steel door he snorted when he remembered that Raven had shot the door out of its hinges. The frustrated child grumbled something to himself and finally stomped away. Leaving Raven with X, they both glanced at one another, but Raven straightened up and twirled the knife in her fingers and had it vanish from view with her powers, "Just as long as you stay out of the law's hair … you can go a head and do what you will."

"Oh …" Trent nodded, and couldn't help to grin with an amused chuckle, "and here I thought you were gonna try and take me in."

Raven shook her head, and sighed following after Lance, already knowing that this meeting was going to be fast she threw over her shoulder a simple, "I have no solid evidence that you're who I know you are … in court my word would never hold up … so … just – "

Cut off by the ringing of her communicator, Raven bit down on her lower lip and reached for it, X stood back and smirked just knowing who had connected on the other side, "Raven here … go ahead."

"Raven, it's Robin! I got a hold of the cycle, a Red X hologram had stolen it, is everything alright over there?"

Raven looked up at X who shrugged "innocently" leaving her to roll her eyes and immediately come up with a lie, "Really now? Coincidently I was just about to phone you on a Red X sighting."

Excited, Raven sighed when Robin replied eagerly, "He's there?"

X held his breath and Raven exhaled in a tired huff, "No … well not anymore, I was questioning the manager on a bit more information on where the Wolf's Fang had been excavated and I spotted Red X in a reflection. I gave chase … but he vanished after returning the Cat's Eye … and Robin … I think I know where he's headed. Whatever he wanted with the Cat's Eye he found it."

"Oh … okay then … I'm coming back to pick you up, we'll discuss your findings with the rest of the team. I'll be there soon. Robin out."

Raven nodded and flipped the communicator closed then clipped it back to her belt, looking up at X who raised a brow questioningly at her. She answered his unasked question, "If I were to tell him I cooperated with you, he wouldn't understand."

"Saving face."

"Actually I'm saving my reputation … I've already broken trust with my teammates once, (5) I won't do it again," with that she turned her back and proceeded down the stairs with Trent coming up behind her.

Meanwhile …

Hiding on the steps listening in to the entire conversation, Lance gulped when he heard the two start to make their way towards the stairs. Jumping to his feet and as quietly as he could the child scurried down the stairs and into the Gallery, jumping five steps to the bottom, he landed in a crouch and stumbled forward. Holding his balance he scampered away, only to run into a solid body, completely taken back Lance stumbled backwards and fell on his butt, groaning in slight pain, "Oww … hey! Who the … uh … oh … i-it's … you …"

"If only, if only, if only … I guess Red X is just too much for the Titans … isn't he …"

Lance backed up slowly, even slower he got to his feet his eyes never leaving familiar dark brown orbs that glared down at him with an unfamiliar aura of malicious intent, Wha … what did I do wrong to make him come back … uncle … Trent, "I … I … I'm sorry …"

"Don't be … I don't want to hear your excuse child … come with me … now."

A shiver shot down Lance's spine and without word or protest he followed obediently and bowed his head, trying not to think of the horrors he'd have to endure after being caught. Gritting his teeth and balling his hands into fists he walked out of the Gallery and glanced to his left in time to see Robin pull up at the Gallery, his attention never drawn to the kid. Only up at the top of the stairs where he'd have to meet up with his teammate. Wanting so bad to call out to the commanding hero of the Titans, he found himself silenced when the back of his shirt was grabbed and he was yanked away from the scene.

"Damn it Lance, I told you to wait down stairs!"

Uncle Trent? Confused for a split second, Lance looked up and behind him when he was forced in the opposite direction of both Robin and the white van that the other man wanted to take him in. Seeing similar silver glaring down at him Lance smiled in relief, never actually believing that he'd be happy to see his uncle's disappointed eyes again. Throwing his arms around his waist and nearly throwing the two of them off balance, Lance held on tight and hugged Trent close, "I'm sorry uncle Trent … please forgive me, I'm sorry …"

Trent blinked and grew worried when he felt Lance shiver and shake, looking around his eyes narrowed in suspicion. There was only one time did Lance ever act as odd as this and that happened only 2 years ago. The kid's spooked … that asshole better not be here … "Come on kid, let's get out of here …"

"Uncle Trent …"

"What?"

"… uh … never mind …"

"Raven …" Robin stopped mid-step when he saw Raven coming down, her violet eyes actually centered on the oddest scene she had seen taken place with nephew and uncle. Never in her life had she actually thought of Red X as a human being … ironically though it was that particular thought that always – always – got the titans to hesitate in making a move on him. It was never Robin that made us second guess ourselves with you … X … it was the belief, the hope, the doubt, the twisted trust we have in you that has lead us to hesitate. You have more power than you think …

A gleam of white flashed over her hidden violet eyes and she was pulled away from the hypnotic, spellbinding scene of the uncle that the nephew didn't want to assume was who he really was. As if, with a turn of the Raven's head to look down at the curious Robin, the turn of a page was felt with the start of a new chapter to continue with this dangerous tale …

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, but I own Lance, the mysterious character, Trent, the Cat's Eye, and the Wolf's Fang.

Info Center:

1. Again refereeing back to the "X" episode, when they discovered Red X was back Robin's team all thought he was undercover again. Think about it, wouldn't they have taken down Red X faster if they hadn't assumed it was Robin?

2. A little useless information, the Cat's Eye, in reality when angled right with the light does look like it's winking at you. It's kind of creepy, but all the same rather interesting to know, because to me personally I like this gem.

3. More useless information, butterflies … I forget which culture it was, but it was depicted that spirits take the form of butterflies, plus did you know that a certain type of species of butterflies migrate in flocks to escape the cold? True story.

4. I'm "spoiling" you guys here … but this one part in the story, just keep it in mind, cause I'll be referring back to it.

5. By this I was referring to the part where she gave into Slade and had him take her to her father. What I was trying to get at was … she thought that her teammates were thinking it to be a form a betrayal … you get what I'm trying to say? If not then just hit me up with a question.

A/N: Hmm … what's with the kid and the man? I wonder, I wonder, I wonder … oh well, I guess we'll never know until later, so thanks for your lovely reviews, and keep'em up, I might just have another chapter waiting for you.

L8er daez