-Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules-

-Here's the Deal-

I swear to God Gregory, when this is all over I'll fucking ring your goddamn neck with your own intestines! With his back against the wall, gritting his teeth and clenching his hands into tight fights. He sighed and closed his eyes, recollecting his calm sense of easy self control. He huffed and blew up the bangs that covered over his nonchalantly indifferent eyes. Looking around the corner and down the stairs to where a lovely "plastic" blonde with a unique beige mink fur coat draped over her shoulders, he frowned and had to hold his breath to keep himself from whining, Why … why … WHY! Did you have to be persistent!

Wanting to tear his hair out, Trent slumped, straightened out, and then sucked it in with a smirk, rounded the corner and leaned on the wall. Playing it off he chuckled, "Well … I was always a sucker for a girl that knows what she wants … how'd you find me Quean?"

With a flick of her bouncy, platinum blonde hair and a vicious narrow of her conniving sharp blue eyes, she stared up at Trent with a smirk all her own. With her skin as smooth as silk and impeccable tastes right along with her "bought" beauty, she giggled and placed a hand on her hip as Trent came down the stairs. Slowly, calmly, and especially with his signature grin when she equally stalked towards him, her voice even more shrilling than it was on the phone not a few moments ago, "It's not hard to play hide and seek with you Criss … besides … you always let me win, remember?"

"That was a while back cutie," Trent shrugged, and stopped at the base of the stairs, letting Quean cross the rest of the hall to wrap her arms around his neck and tangle her perfectly manicured nails into his hair. He snickered when she pressed herself against him and kissed him possessively upon his lips; playing the game he returned the kiss full force. Pulling away he chuckled and pulled her arms from around him, watching her face slowly change from sensual to that of confusion, when he reminded her of his current position, "I got another girl, remember? You shouldn't have come."

Furious, her sharp blue eyes suddenly grew hot with heated fury, stepping away from him she growled and clenched her hands into fists, "Criss … I already told you, you're mine, no one else can have you, but me. Remember."

She shot back sarcastically and Trent scoffed, leaning on the rail of the grand staircase he shrugged nonchalantly and flicked his wrist dismissively, "Yeah, well, things change. Sorry to break your heart."

"Sorry to break my heart?" Quean repeated, with every word her anger rose higher and higher and higher until it finally reached its peak and she raised a hand to slap it hard across the face.

Trenton braced for it, but the hit never came, instead a voice – a very monotone voice – echoed across the large opened space of the main entrance from Quean's left, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything …"

Quean blinked, and blinked again when she turned to see Raven leaning nonchalantly on the dividing pillar which leads into the dinner just around the corner. Her violet eyes locked on Quean Moth's deadly pissed off blue hues. The sorceress pushed off the wall and casually strolled across the way to stand before Quean and Trenton. Trenton grinning devilishly when a wicked idea popped into his maniacal head as he watched Raven stand before Quean with her arms crossed in a suggestive pose. Quean sneered and leaned back to scan Raven up and down, sizing her up and seeing if there was anything to compete with … Quean was not impressed, "And just who might you be?"

Raven raised a brow and in turn scanned the Quean with a passive face, snorting she opened her mouth to reply wittingly. Yet only succeeded in letting out a shocked gasp when she felt arms encircle her waist and her back pressed against a lean body from behind. Warm hot breath breathed down her right neck as another's head nudged hers slightly to the side, wide-eyed and speechless. Raven didn't know what to do when she felt a lingering kiss planted on her cheek that sent shockwaves of unused feelings running up and down her spine. Closing her eyes tightly shut, she felt – no heard a voice within her mind soothing her to, "Relax … just relax princess … play the game for this moment … just this moment … relax …"

" … X …"

Trent blinked when he felt Raven connect her thoughts to his and he had to faintly wonder if she literally read his mind when he felt her tense body suddenly slacken and her surprisingly soft, small, and curvy body "relax" into his arms. He had nothing to complain about and grinned as he rested his chin a top of her head and winked at the jaw dropped Quean who could not believe what she was seeing. So Trent made it clear, "Quean Moth, meet my princess, Raven Witchett."

Raven had to glance her eyes upward to where Trent still rested his chin on her head, dry look upon her face she didn't have to ask why – or even how – he came up with the name "Witchett". Oh … jokes huh, Mr. Funny-guy got jokes, keeping her thoughts to herself, Raven sighed and tried to look teasing when Quean shook her head in disbelief, "Excuse me, wha-what did you call her, your princess. Just who the hell do you think you are Daniels thinking you can go around and pick up any girl off the street when you already have me! What does that ho have that I don't!"

Trent rolled his eyes, "Well for one thing doll-face she doesn't talk as much as you do."

Quean gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, her eyes burning so hot even Raven's icy stare was beginning to melt to suspicion, Is Quean somehow different than her sister … Raven had to wonder, she was building up her rage to a boiling point. Signaling the dangers of some hidden power … Raven leaned further into Trenton's arms, but not to snuggle, no, far from it. She was pushing him back incase something where to happen, he may have been a villain, but she was still a hero and heroic instincts automatically kicked in when her warning bells went off.

Trent – thank god – got the message and discreetly scooted the both of them back a few inches, keeping his eyes locked on Quean when the blond growled low in anger, "She. Still. Can't. Have. You."

"Get over it," Trent smirked, "cause I'm over you."

Raven gulped and bowed her head in shame … shame? Why was she so a shame when Quean Moth was a daughter of Killer Moth and possibly an evil villainess herself. Why was she so a shame? Because she knew what it felt like to be rejected, to be used and the part that made her feel dirty, was the fact that Trenton Bou, (currently Criss Daniels) was exactly as Raven thought he was. Shallow … very shallow, and heartless when it came to others, He really does look out for himself …

Raven looked up to Quean and stilled when she saw her blue eyes discreetly narrowed her jaw line slightly morphing and the muscles in her hands move and quiver to follow the length her growing finger bones. Her well manicured nails lengthening to deadly talons, she brought up said hands to her shoulders and shrugged off the pricy fur coat to stand in her chic tan blouse and white skit and silver strap heels. Raven felt Trenton tighten his grip around her waist – specifically his left arm – the sorceress kept her eyes locked on the angry woman.

"You …" she growled in a voice that sounded not human, but mechanically enhanced … sort of like over lapping feminine voices combined in one. Her blue eyes growing still narrowed, but growing nonetheless the irises consuming her entire eyes as she opened her razor rowed teeth to hiss dangerously at the couple, "… messed … with the wrong Moth."

In a loud ear piercing roar Quean nearly shattered Raven's sensitive demonic hearing with the echo that surrounded the entire area, wincing in pain. She never had a chance to protest when X's left arm spun her out of the way and shoved her to the staircase. For reasons of Quean Moth's sudden wrath that reigned on the thief with a speed that hardly gave him the chance to brace for the impact of a very pissed off Moth.

Both going down, X hitting harder and skidding with Quean Moth on top her talons dug deep onto either one of his shoulders she looked ready to literally tear him to shreds if it weren't for Raven to come flying to his aid. Tackling the Moth off of X, Raven went tumbling across the marbled floor in a struggle for dominance over the surprisingly powerful mutated human. Finally finding leverage, Raven grabbed Quean by the throat and with a final roll slammed her head down on the marble and straddled her waist, settling her weight Quean snarled and opened her razor mouth. Raven got the shock of a lifetime when the Moth sprayed deadly toxin fumes into her air.

Luckily Raven shot off the Moth and scampered away desperate to escape the toxic fumes. She held a hand to her mouth and held her breath in; daring never to breath in. the sorceress stumbled back to X when she noticed him twitching about as if fighting an inner battle. Dropping to her knees next to him, she asked carefully, "What's wrong?"

He looked at her with struggling silver eyes, opened his mouth to speak, but instead coughed out blood, slightly chocking on it, Raven turned him to his side and made sure he spat it all out. Feeling his once warm body completely pale and cold, Raven gulped and looked back at the grinning Quean who simply dusted her shoulders off and brought her talons to her lips. Licking up the crimson blood liquid that Raven knew to be X's, Quean Moth giggled sinisterly, "Oops … think I should have told him I'm poisonous? First stage: shutdown of all motor skills … Second stage: slight swelling of the windpipe to create a chocking sensation … Third stage: complete shutdown of internal organs … Final stage: death. 24 hours to live … revenge is sweet."

Raven gritted her teeth and got to her feet, feeling it was safe to breath now, she sucked in a deep breath allowing her eyes to glow that familiar eerie white, Quean raised a brow in confusion as the sorceress chanted, "Azarath … Metrion … ZINTHOUS!"

From behind she engulfed the large chandelier within her black magic and with little effort flung it at Moth who gazed at the power in wide-eyed shock, never expecting that Raven Witchett, was actually Raven of the Teen Titans. Dodging quickly out of the way, the giant chandelier shattered and shook the grounds of the Manor. Within the dinner room, Lance and Gregory jumped at the ear piercing sound. Lance glanced up at Gregory who glared at the exit; the little boy slithered under the table and made a run for the origin of the crash.

Gregory caught his movement and ran around the table in a desperate hurry to catch the curious boy, "Lance! Get back here child!"

Lance – being the smart little boy he was – ran faster to escape the older man, running out into the hall and down to where he could hear a scuffle take place. He came close to running passed a statue of a large eagle, pausing for a moment he slapped up its head and the podium on which the eagle perched upon opened. Reaching down to snatch up a heavy silver belt with a chain of red liquid running through the inside, he looked back to find Gregory catching up and without hesitation he took off.

Gregory growled, "Lance! Stop! You don't know what you're getting yourself into boy!"

Lance ignored him and once he turned the corner into the main entrance, he gasped when a gust of powerful dark energy flung him against the opposite wall. Sliding down the wall to his knees with the Red X belt within his grasp and gritted his teeth trying to get his bearings. Never in his life had he ever experienced such a forceful hit before. A hand to his shoulder and a gentle voice whispering asking him, "You alright?"

Shaking his head, Lance gulped and looked up into Gregory's worried eyes, turning back to check on what had hit him. Lance was actually in shock to see Quean flying in the air with large moth like wing fanning out and spreading a deadly toxic dust through out the main entrance. Her inhuman appearance frightened Lance into a state of frozen fear, he couldn't move, couldn't think straight … all he could think about was the impossibility that something like Quean could actually exist!

Even her voice wasn't human, especially with her demonic like snicker, at a poker faced Raven, "Huh … out of all the Titan girls Criss could have gone for … and he went for the ugliest bitch in the bunch, I feel insulted."

Raven scoffed and rolled her glowing eyes, "You're not the cream of the crop yourself bright-eyes."

Large blue eyes widened in anger and without so much as a comeback Quean made a sharp dive towards the Titan, her razor sharp teeth and talon fingernails dripping with her venom. Lance held his breath and threw himself into Gregory's arms … he couldn't bear it … he couldn't bear to see Raven get hurt. Especially after he observed his uncle lying near lifeless on the ground behind her, the only thing that told him he was still barely alive was the way X tried to gasp in a gulp of air. With every time he arched his back and struggled against the poison while trying not to drown in his own blood … it shocked Lance.

Shocked him right out of his perfect world into the harsh reality of life … death, chaos, destruction … evil … it frightened him … so back he was shaking in Gregory's arms while clinging on tightly to the Red X belt. With his face in the family butler's chest, Lance gulped and held up the belt. With a rattled sense of security, sense was still within the child's head and he held up the belt, "Th-the nano bomb … she needs the nano bomb … to … to clear the air from the toxic pollen …"

Gregory took the belt and watched as Lance's small hand tapped on a certain part of the belt to produce two silver balls that both matched the size of large marbles, understanding what the child wanted him to do. Gregory grimaced and held Lance's shaking body close when a sudden explosion rocked the Manor, scooping the boy in his arms Gregory took him back down the hall for cover, put him down and warned him to stay put. Running back to scene of the fight, leaving Lance alone to quiver and stare at the ground, completely zoned out.

He took a shaky deep breath and closed his eyes when he remembered his uncle's blood dripping down the corner of his mouth, the pain filled expression on his face. Lance held himself for a moment and tried to quell the panic in his heart when he felt a cold chill run down his spine, gritting his teeth, the poor kid rocked himself and tried not to let the image burn into the back of his mind. Tried to forget it like a good-boy … like a good-boy … tried to forget it all …

"Get away from him!"

THWAK!

"You're not a hero Ace … so don't even try."

Lance gasped and quickly slapped his hands over his ears to shut up the raising memory of a past long forgotten … at least … it was supposed to be forgotten. Rocking with a bit more force, Lance bowed his head and gripped his ears feeling hot tears stream down his cheek. Gritting his teeth ever harder and willing the dark, dark memories far away with a chant his uncle had taught him a long … long time ago, "When fire drowns and water burns, know it's a dream and a lesson you'll learn … When fire drowns and water burns, know it's a dream and a lesson you'll learn …"

Over and over he chanted until he was safe … until the evil went away and all that was left was his shaken emotionally exhausted body. Leaning against the wall he took deep breaths and reopened his eyes, only to find himself staring not at the carpeted ground … but at black slacks and shiny dress shoes, "… Huh …?"

"You know … Ace's right Lance," Lance's eyes narrowed in confusion, That voice … he thought to himself, slowly looking up to scan over a silky blue button up shirt, a black jacket and silver framed dark glaring sunset red lens sunglasses staring back at him. A familiar cheeky grin with a hidden agenda upon the man's fine lips, his dark midnight black hair slicked back with enough gel to lock it all in place. Lance never had the chance for realization to slap him in the face before the man crouched down to his level and tilted down his sunglasses to glare hot amber with frightened silver, "he isn't a person to be admired … his recklessness in saving that Titan killed him … he won't survive the night, I promise you that."

"K –"

Lance was silenced when a large hand came up and gently placed it over his mouth to keep him quite, silver eyes shimmered with amusement as it winked and a finger was placed over his lips in a silent, "Shhh … remember the rules, don't talk, just listen. You've been a good boy for Siren now haven't you? Nod your head."

Numbly Lance responded in kind with the demanded nod and the man's smirk only grew to a satisfied grin, "See, I knew you were such a good boy … now, since I trust you so much … fetch me the map to the Dragon's Trove. Go get it …"

At this Lance had push himself further against the wall for fear of his life, when he stuttered, "I-I-I can't … I-I don't know where Uncle … er … um … Ace … I … don't know what or where it is … I-I-I'm sor-sorry …"

The man raised a brow and tilted his head as if debating whether or not the kid was lying … determining that he was telling the truth, the man chuckled and reached out a hand to ruffle Lance's light brown hair, "Of course you wouldn't … Ace didn't get it yet … that's why he was at the Museum, wasn't he, with that Titan yes?"

"Uh-huh …"

"I knew I shouldn't have taken you then, it would have been too soon …"

The man seemed to have been talking to himself, because when Lance gulped and bowed his head, asking in a very low submissive tone, he suddenly snapped back to the child's attention, "Wo-would you like for me to get it for you?"

"What was that?"

"Do you want me … to get … the map for … you … I mean … um … Si-Siren left me fo-for Ace and Raven to go get something from Egypt … something about a map … is-is it the same thing? Cause I'll get it for … you …"

"You are such a clever little boy … I knew I kept you alive for a reason … yes … I was just thinking the same thing, give the map to me if ever you're in contact with it. You know my number …"

Lance watched the man stand up to his full height as turn to leave without so much as a good-bye … or a snide remark. Feeling that something was a bit off, Lance sucked in a deep breath and jumped to his feet, not knowing what to do or what to say to the man that never looked back. Lance just blurted whatever his mind was telling him to blurt … and it just might get him killed, "Wait!"

That was all he said … and that was all it took for the man to look over his shoulder and glare suspiciously at the defiant child, Too much free time with Trenton's gotten to the boy's head … he thought with much disgust, turning around to face Lance. The child shrank back two steps when he took two closer, "Something you want?"

"Uh …" courage had just left the building. Lance shrank back two more steps and licked his lips, suddenly feeling parched and weak he shook, but clenched his fists and pressed on with what little his heart could muster, "… if-if-if I do-do what you say … tha-than you have to save Ace … an-and … um … lea-leave us … uh … Ace, Siren, and me alone … fo-for good … you promise …"

His voice was so small … barely an inch above a whisper … but surprisingly enough, the man caught it … he heard it all and instead of finding it threatening he found it oh so cute for the child to strike up a deal with him. It was just so adorable it almost made him sick. Grinning like it was his birthday the man nodded his head and humored Lance, "Cute … real cute … alright than, it's a deal. I don't know how you figured out Quean Moth was apart of my set up, but clever nonetheless." Pausing for a moment to dig into his back pocket so to pull out a vile of green liquid he tossed it in the air and watched as Lance fumbled to catch it, nearly passing out in faint shock when the vile nearly hit the ground. Amused the man smiled and winked when Lance stared up at him in disbelief, knowing that he had purposefully tossed it short, he bowed his head and turned back to retreat. "Have a good night."

Never caring if amber eyes had really left, Lance turned tail and ran as fast as he could back to the main entrance where he heard the large double doors into the Manor slam open and Raven chanting one final round of her mantra. Just in time, Lance turned the bend to see Quean Moth go flying out the doors and Gregory come rushing back in sealing the doors shut. Leaning against them and sinking down the heavy entrance, Gregory wiped beads of sweat that came from his brow.

Lance made a run for Raven when the sorceress levitated back onto the ground, on her knees next to X who was still struggling to fight the poison in his veins. Raven scooped the back of his head up onto her lap and held a hand to his heart, getting ready to exert even more of her power. She was stopped when Lance literally came sliding on his knees next to his uncle, shakily handing her a green liquid within a glass tube. His voice trembling in desperation while his red puffy eyes cried a river of pleading, "Please … he has to drink this … it's the antidote … please, before he dies, please …"

Raven took the vile in her hands and looked down at X who's eyes looked about rolled to the back of his head when he struggled to open them, biting down on her lower lip, Raven tapped his cheek and demanded, "X … X … you have to open your mouth … Lance say's this is an antidote … now open …"

The thief appeared to shake his head in protest, but it was hard for Raven to determine when it could very well have been the jerky motions of his body reacting to the poison. Firmly grabbing a hold of his chin to keep him still and to try and open his mouth. X found the will power to move his arm and smack the green vile from her hand, sending it smashing and splattering all over the floor. Lance started wide-eyed along with Raven, "No …"

X grunted in pain and Raven gasped when he gripped her wrist and yanked her down close to hear his strangled whisper, "Black … heart …"

That's all she needed to know, Black-Heart was a biochemical … a deadly substance with a mind of its own once introduced into the body. It seeks out its host's heart clogs all arteries and creates a killer heart-attack … only to die afterwards when the host is dead, leaving no trace of its existence. A very … very dangerous weapon that not many in the world knew about … Raven gave Lance a startled look, but the little boy shook his head in defense, "I … I … it … I thought …"

He stammered, but couldn't find the right words, Raven looked back down at X and held herself from fearing the worst when he closed his eyes and his twitching and shuttering slowly became nonexistent … until he went limp all together. Pressing two fingers to his neck to listen in for a pulse, she nearly didn't find it … but it was faint … too faint.

Raven glanced up at Gregory who slowly walked over to the gathering and knelt before the sorceress, his eyes telling her he was thinking the worst, "Is he …"

Raven shook her head, "Barely … he's just lost conciseness, does this place have come sort of med-lab to help me work on him with?"

Gregory shrugged, "What would we need one for? We can just take him to the hospital."

"By the time they figure out it isn't a damn snake bite you'll be standing at his Eulogy," Raven scoffed, noticing Lance's silver eyes brighten when an idea popped into his head, "and no we aren't going to Titan Tower … this isn't as bad as it looks …"

Lance snapped, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Isn't as bad as it looks! Ace is lying near dead on your lap and all you can say is that it isn't as bad as it looks! What kind of stupid is that! You're supposed to protect us!"

Raven raised a brow at the name that slipped through Lance's lips, but never questioned it, instead she skipped on down to the point, "Technically I'm just protecting you, and I'm a half-demon … let me handle this. Gregory, take him."

"Take me?" Lance growled and yanked his arm from Gregory's hold, "No. I'm staying right here."

"Lance …" Gregory put a hand on his shoulder, "come now … be reasonable child, Raven will save him … right?"

Raven took a deep breath and reassuringly nodded her head, "I promise."

Lance glared, "Well if you're so confident than why can't I stay and watch?"

"Don't argue," Raven pinned him with a cold stare, one more frightful than the man's. Stubborn, Lance stood his ground, but eventually gave up when Raven turned back to X and placed a hand on his forehead, feeling it heating up. His breathing ragged and shallow, the once untouchable thief, Raven came to grips, was dieing in her arms. Bittersweet … very bittersweet that she should see him in such a state of vulnerability … but what made it sad was the fact that his nephew could see him in such a condition.

Remember, Lance wasn't a stupid kid; he was smarter than an average 7-8 year old, mentally and spiritually. He understood why Raven wasn't him out of the way, but he was still a kid … and death isn't something a kid of his age could handle with a straight face. Yes, he understood Raven, he understood her all too well … he just wished that he didn't and with a turn of his shoulder he followed Gregory away from the main entrance. Leaving Raven with a silent prayer to make sure that she knew what she was doing.

Ye, of little faith … once Lance cleared the entrance, Raven sighed and brought her hands up to X's shoulders, closing her eyes she chanted softly and emitted a blue aura from her hands. Pouring all she had to cover the bleeding wounds on his shoulders, her brows furrowed and she slumped forward slightly when she felt her life-force being swallowed by X's weaker one. Biting down on her lower lip, trying to control the flow of energy from her body to his, giving him only enough to speed up the healing process, Raven was near blacking out when she had finished.

Tiredly she slipped her hands from his shoulder and took another deep breath … shaking her head, trying to clear her sight when she began to see spots appear in her vision. Once again controlling herself, physically and mentally, she gathered up all she could, all of her strength and shakily brought a hand up to rest it on X's cheek, tapping him lightly she hoarsely called out to him, "X … you have to wake up … X … X get up …"

He was non-responsive, out cold, Raven sighed and delved into his mind to find their link, "X … do you hear me … get up …"

He groaned … Raven listened for a thought, but instead hissed when he responded mentally with feeling. Pain. He was hurting, so bad in fact that he couldn't even think a coherent thought, Raven gulped and nodded, "I understand … but you have to at least try to swallow what I'm going to give you."

Suspicion flashed, and Raven shook her head, not like he saw it, so she reassured him, "No, it's not the Black-Heart … it's … it's my blood, demonic blood to strengthen your human immune system to help you fight the poison. I'm going to guide it through your veins and have it kill all the toxins … afterwards I'll pull it back out. It'll burn for a second, but at least you'll live … ready?"

Questions, hesitations, and slight annoyance was felt for her response, but in the end she felt his mind relax and coax her into doing what she thought was best for him. Raven took another deep breath and slowly exhaled; repeating for three more times until she felt she was ready then lengthened her left pointer finger to a claw. Sharp enough to tear through flesh as if it were paper, Raven closed her eyes and dove into the deepest, darkest, hellish side of Nevermore. Calling out to her demonic half, she shivered when she felt it growled – a growl that came from her throat – felt it ravish the lighter side of her mind, and overtake her human blood.

Swirling and turning her red veins black, Raven shuttered and clenched her sharpening teeth to try and hold back from loosing herself all together. Growling, she opened her mouth and her eyes, the violet hues literally bleeding over scarlet she huffed and chanted, "En lintri nel azkartia rezerath …"

Gently prying open X's mouth she brought her right wrist over it and with one swift slice of her claw cut open her wrist and squeezed out the black thick blood drops down his throat. Almost immediately the cut sealed itself back up and when it did, Raven closed his mouth and closed her bleeding eyes, concentrating on the demonic blood within the human's body. She controlled its thirst for a take over and hissed when she felt X's mind suddenly explode in siring white hot pain. Apparently, the entrance of demonic blood into a human body was far more painful than she had first suspected.

Oh well, at least she was healing him, she could feel her blood already doing the trick for him. Killing every harmful poisons substance, it was all over in a matter of a minute and once she was sure it was down, she raised a hand over his abdomen and called for her blood to return. The black goo phased out of his body and into her hand, settling back into her veins. Raven willed her demonic side to subside and when it retreated back into the dangerous part of nevermore, Raven passed out next to X … her mind, body, and soul finally having enough.

--

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.

A/N: I'm sorry this took a while, school works murdering me, but at least I updated right? Oh come on, cut me some slack, I'm already working on chapter 10 so just review me and tell me what'cha think. And I'm sorry for the mess this chapter is, I didn't look it over.

l8er daez