-Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules-

-Lookin' Out for Number One-

--

I wasn't seeing through his eyes this time …

I was watching him – X as a child I mean – however, this time, he looked older a bit more grown up than the little boy back at the prestigious elementary school. He was sitting at the ledge of a building, feet dangling over the 100 foot drop down to his death. I don't know if that was such a good idea or not, but I do know that this won't be the end of him; after all, he was just in my lap the last time I was conscience. Watching him sigh and look up at the dark black sky of whatever city I was in.

I took a moment to look around and went wide-eyed when I realized I was at the Vatican!

Italy? What are we doing in Italy? I thought with much suspicion, turning my attention back on X, the child stood up on the ledge and looked down over the drop. Seeming to be contemplating if he should jump or not … I slowly walked up to him and stood by his side, looking down and wondering just what he was thinking at the moment.

He tilted his head and spoke, "You know …" I froze, did he know I was here? Looking up at him, he sighed and shook his head, repeating, "You know … I don't see why I have to do this … I mean … if your boyfriends so good at what he does how come he can't do it himself."

He wasn't talking to me.

I looked around and spotted Reign – or Siren – standing at the exit of the roof top, staring at him with … hold on … I thought her eyes were silver, how come their dark brown now? She sighed and walked up to X who turned around, still on the ledge, with little to no fear of his life as he stared at Siren and shrugged when she shrugged, "What can I say little brother … he likes you … you're his little apprentice."

X glared his silver eyes on the young woman and sneered in disgust, "I'm not your brother."

Siren chuckled, "Yes and no … but anyway, I'd like you to meet someone who's been very eager to see you. Ace … meet Azul."

Ace … that's the name Lance used … I furrowed my brows in frustration, not liking how many identities X had. It was almost scary.

Besides that, from behind Siren, right on cue the doors to the roof opened and out stepped a cute kid about the same age as "Ace" was right now, but with amber gold eyes and midnight black hair gelled into a spike. He smiled sinisterly and walked up to stand next to Siren and waved at Ace, "Hey … I hear we're going to be partners …"

Ace raised a brow and jerked his head back and turned to glare up at Siren, "Is this a joke? I was told I work alone."

"Well …" Siren looked down at Azul and patted the top of his head, "things change … I think you'll get along with Azul just fine … right Azul?"

"Yep," Azul giggled and winked at Ace, "we're gonna have lots a fun while looking out for each other …"

Ace scowled and turned back to stare out at the large open Vatican, bringing a hand up to his left ear he nodded and threw over his shoulder, "I look out for number one."

Without much else he leapt over the ledge to the ground, I ran to the edge to watch at the same time Siren and Azul walked up beside me, both of them watching Ace drop. Only to grab a hold of a pole and using the momentum of his fall swung himself into an open window and vanished from my sights. Hearing Siren and Azul murmur a few words, I couldn't hear exactly what it was before the scene changed and I was within the building watching Ace slid up against the wall peak around the corner to count the guards standing in front of a safe.

I frown in realization, he was on a heist.

At such a young age … I didn't know whether to be impressed or shocked.

Because even at this age, he was good at what he does … almost as if … as if he was born to be what he is. I watched his facial expression and notice him smirk when from his back pocket he took out two cherry bombs. I shook my head not believing what I was seeing as he lit them both with a lighter and tossed them around the corner to the guards. Crouching down and plugging his ears, I did the same; despite the fact that I knew I couldn't feel anything real in a memory. The explosion none the less was loud and shook the building.

But it did the job …

The guards were out … maybe even dead, and once the smoke cleared Ace hurried to the safe and I looked around trying to hear for an alarm, anything to alert the public that their was a break in. You can imagine my disbelief when none of it was heard … still watching as Ace moved a guard out the way of a code pad. He hacked it like an expert and waited for the safe to open up for him. Producing from another pocket of his he held two flash bombs and chuckled when the safe opened and four guards came rushing with assault rifles at the ready, "Fire in the hole …"

He giggled and pulled both keys then tossed the flash bombs into the safe, once against getting down and holding his ears both bombs went off and under the cover of smoke, Ace pulled up his shirt to cover over his nose and mouth. Taking a deep breath and holding it the child ran in and went straight for his prize, a golden pendent of sorts.

I followed close when he ran back out and straight to the window he slipped into. Jumping out I watched him drop and one floor … two floors … three floors … four floors … all the while grabbing ledges to slow his fall until he touched ground and took off down the street once against disappearing into an alleyway.

The scene changed and I found him leaning tiredly against a bricked wall, hands on his knees with the golden pendant he gasped for air from his long sprint. Gulping, he bit down on his lower lip and closed his eyes, slowing down his pounding heart he stuffed the pendant into his pocket and sighed, "Okay … gotta move …"

Not two steps and he was suddenly grabbed by a shadow I didn't even catch, biting down on my lower lip when I noticed it was a cop I watched the interaction. Ace sneered and pulled out the pendant and swung it teasingly in the cops face, "You want this?"

The cop reached for it, but Ace sent a hard kick to his shin, forcing the cop to let him go, Ace leaned back up against the wall and chuckled when the cop cursed, "Damn brat … give it here!"

"Forgetting something here? I don't work for free."

"Fucking kid …" the cop made a move to hit him, but Ace sidestepped him and laughed when the cop stumbled.

"You're making yourself look like a jackass, where's the green, come on I got all night what about you?"

From behind a dumpster I watched the cop reach for a hidden duffle bag and roughly tossed it at Ace, Ace caught it and unzipped it to see the wads of cash within the bag. Grinning he nodded and tossed the pendant at the cop, swinging the duffle back on his shoulder he made his exit, "Have fun."

With that the cop shook his head and took off in the opposite direction I watched Ace for a bit longer and shivered when I felt something strange in this memory. Something that Ace was blind to notice … instinct told me to look up and when I did, upon the roof I saw the silhouette of Azul watching Ace carefully. With his arms crossed, I didn't know if I was hearing this myself, or if X hardly remembered this at all, but Azul chuckled, "This might actually be fun …"

--

"Okay Uncle Trent, get this, there's a tornado coming towards this bus stop right, and at the bus stop there's three people one of them is your best friend that has saved your life countless times in the past, then there's a sick dieing old lady, and lastly is the girl of your dreams, right. Okay, now, you have a car, but there's only room for one of them … who would you take?"

"Hmm … toughie … can't I just cram'em all in there?"

"Uncle Trent! This is serious! There's a tornado coming … who would you take? And don't say yourself like last time cause that isn't an option."

"Oh, okay … hmm … my best friend that I owe my life to, an old dieing hag that I don't even know, and a chick that's supposed to be the girl of my dreams … hmm …"

This was the first thing that Raven heard when the darkness of her mind began to subside and her consciousness was returning along with her strength, quite rapidly too. Slowly opening her eyes, but staying still and quiet, not wanting to disturb the conversation, the silent sorceress looked around for the voices and found uncle and nephew sitting at the bay window within her room inside the Manor. Facing each other with Lance's back to her and Trenton facing her direction, his quicksilver eyes moved in her direction and caught her violet hues.

However seemed to pay no mind for the moment and returned to the question at hand … shrugging, he gave up, "I don't know kid, it's too hard … hey why don't you go check if Gregory's done with breakfast yet I'm starved."

Lance pouted and jumped off the seat, marching down trotted towards the door he muttered, "Stale."

With a silent click Trenton got up from the window and went to stand right beside Raven who was lying on the large bed closing her eyes and sighing. She reopened them to find Trent staring down at her with that same cheeky smirk of his, not a trace of pain written on his face whatsoever, "Mornin' beautiful, thought I'd have to play Prince Charming just to wake you up. You've been out for a solid day, since yesterday."

Raven drew in a shaky breath and nodded discreetly, "Oh … sorry for the delay, we were supposed to leave for Egypt yesterday … weren't we."

"Not with the way you are we're not," Trent scoffed and sat at the edge of the bed, "when you're strong enough to move, then we'll talk."

"Right …" Raven weakly agreed, quite surprised that she was even agreeing with him so easily … it was shocking to her and Trenton. Just by looking at the way her head tilted to the side and her eyes closed once more he could tell she was still wasted. So he actually considered keeping his mouth shut just for her rest, Raven reopened her eyes to look back at Trent and asked curiously, "So who would you take?"

Trent raised a brow and looked down at the tired Titan, "What?"

"Lance's question," she reminded, "who would you take?"

"Oh …" Trent snickered, "that … I don't know … who would you take?"

Raven thought for a moment then shrugged, "A girl – er – man I guess in my case of my dreams doesn't exist, anyone on the street could be the person of your dreams if you try … and a best friend … can turn on you. Where as the stranger, the old woman you can save and leave, you don't have to bother with her afterwards."

Trent knew where she was going with it and furrowed his brows when a new light was dawned on what exactly he knew of the sorceress. With her one explanation Trenton couldn't help to paint a picture of lifetime of suffering for the witch. A picture of pain and misunderstandings … just one big tragedy – no, not a tragedy … just a very vulgar picture. Nodding he answered her own question, "So you'd take the old lady, not because it's under the kindness of your heart … but because you just don't believe or don't care for love or trust."

Raven scoffed, "Don't evaluate me, but yes, I'd take the old lady."

"Funny …" Trenton smirked, "cause I'd give the keys to the car to my best friend so he could take the old lady away while I take my last breaths with the girl of my dreams."

"Kind of romantic for a guy like you," Raven sneered and looked away, suddenly finding it hard to hold up his royal silver eyes. They weren't critical, not even judgmental – never was – they just … observed, Raven could handle judgmental and critical people, she could handle Trenton's who-gives-a-crap attitude.

Yet … when he sits there listening, trying to see into her mind without actually trying … it disturbed her, made her feel like he could see straight through her … and now with the bond they had. Raven couldn't lie, she was afraid that he could do just that, see through her like clear glass.

Trenton shook his head and snickered, "Romantic? Me? I got the charm, I got the moves, and I got the looks … but being romantic?" he shrugged, "Maybe … you wanted to know my answer, and that was it."

"Mm-hmm …" Raven nodded her head, closing her eyes again and sighing heavily. Trenton decided to leave it at that when he noticed her settle back into the bed. Discreetly snuggling her head into the pillow she turned on her side with her back to the thief and drifted off to the sleep.

Just in time for Lance to come walking back into her room, "Uncle Trent, Gregory said breakfast is ready …" he noticed his uncle had been staring at the sorceress and raised a brow … wondering why it was he was sitting on her bed when he was at the bay window not to long ago. Lance shrugged it off to be his uncle just checkin' up on Raven, "Uncle Trent."

Trenton blinked away from Raven and looked down at Lance when he entered Raven's room, "Wasup kid?"

Lance glanced from side to side, Did someone press the mute button or was I ignored, giving his uncle a scrutinizing glare he shrugged and responded, "I just said that Gregory had breakfast ready … you hungry right?"

Trent shook his head and stood up off the bed, "Nah, I'm going to my wing, you go a head and eat. See ya."

Digging his hands into his pockets after running his fingers through his hair, Trent ruffled Lance's hair went he walked passed him and out the door, never looking back. Lance poked his head out to watch his uncle retreat and tilted his head in concern, painstakingly noticing something was bothering Trent. If there was one thing Lance knew Trent hardly did, was space out … and right now … he seemed way out of orbit.

-Later that night-

-Titan Tower-

The waves crashed over the rocks of the small little Titan Island …and the city lights lit up beautifully just over the shore reflecting off the black colored waters of the bay, Robin stood on the roof of Titan Tower and saw it all. Took it all in … but never digested it, wasn't expecting even trouble to come from the city … it was just too much of a peaceful night to suspect anything. In fact … for the passed two days since Raven's absents, everything's been … still.

Not like lifetimes in the Tower itself had changed, everything was smoothly running along as always, only Raven was "off island" for a job. No one suspected anything was wrong … but that was because Robin never told – not even Starfire – of the argument he had before he dumped – yes, he used the word "dumped" because that's what he did. Robin, the leader of the Teen Titans, had just dumped Raven at the Manor out of spite … of an argument … just left her without so much as a good-bye or good-luck.

To say that Robin wasn't feeling so hot about that was an understatement, for the past two days going on two nights it was eating him up. Of all the things he's said to her, and the way he had treated her … like a replacement … a thing just to make sure he got what he wanted. Yeah, Robin was feeling very crappy right about now, and it showed in his slightly hunched demeanor staring out at the beautiful city of lights.

"You're jealous of us … aren't you."

SLAP

"Don't ever presume to think that you and Starfire have something that I want."

Robin took a deep breath and bowed his head, running his fingers through his hair he shook his head, I'm sorry Raven, there you happy I said it! I'm sorry … I didn't have the right … ugh, forget it, not like she's here to hear it anyway … disappointed in himself, but most of all angry with himself that he couldn't find the courage to go back and say what he needed to say to her face. Robin turned away from the city and sat down on the ledge, glaring at the ground through his heated white mask; he steamed and seethed, loathed, and eventually cooled down after beating himself up.

She'll get over it … he thought, trying to believe in his own words … she'll get over it … she always bounces right back … always …

"Robin?"

After glaring at the ground for a good while, Robin slowly looked up to the breath taking alien princess that he had finally hooked up with after playing the flirting game for a while. Her orange skin set aglow by the city lights across the bay and silky radiant fire-red hair blowing in the wind. Her ever bright smile lighting up her emerald eyes, she was everything he – Robin – could have hoped for, sweet, beautiful, powerful, loving, caring, etc, etc … there was nothing in her that was flawed.

She was perfect …

She was his everything, because she was everything Raven wasn't.

Trying not to look away from his girlfriend after getting to his feet to meet her height, the thought that had crossed his mind disturbed him, I never compared Raven to Starfire … never … he whispered to himself, and frowned in confusion.

Starfire's bright emerald orbs slowly blinked her happy face turning quickly into a look of concern when she recognized the frustrated look on her Robin's face. Bringing a hand up to rest on his cheek and to have him look her dead in the eye, she asked sweetly, caringly … lovingly … so not like Raven, "Is there something wrong? Robin?"

"Wrong?" he repeated and forced a reassuring smile one his face, slipping her hand into his and bringing it up to his lips to kiss, he shook his head, "Nothings wrong Star … just thinking."

"Were you worrying about Friend Raven as well as myself?" Starfire asked curiously.

Robin shrugged, "Maybe … I don't know Star something about that whole bodyguard thing just didn't feel necessary. I know we're heroes and we're supposed to protect innocent people … but I'm not so sure we should be doing this."

Starfire nodded obediently understanding every word he was saying. Sighing she hooked her arm into his and leaned her head on his shoulder looking out to the pitch-black waters reflecting the city lights, "Would you like to get in contact with her in order to assure ourselves that she is undamaged?"

Yes, of course I would … and I'd like to tell her how sorry I am … and to get her to come back to the Tower pronto … but … Robin didn't know what was going on with his brain, being torn between one decision and the other, undecided of what to do. He huffed and had his mouth do all the talking; knowing that he'd regret not using his head first, but he couldn't help it. His head was as twisted as computer wires, "Nah … I'm sure she's fine, I don't want to disturb her."

"But she has not called us in the last day …" Starfire insisted, pulling up from Robin's shoulder to look him in the eye, wide with a shy request, "… I do insist that we call her … just to be sure she's doing okay … please."

No … we don't need to call her, she's fine … Raven's always fine … she can handle herself, Robin argued within his head, all the while his expression stayed emotionlessly indifferent, while his head stayed still seeming to look Starfire dead in the eye. His blue eyes swerved off to the pitch-black ocean – not the city – the ocean, to where he could see as far as the darkness would allow for him to see, convincing himself of one sure thing.

Raven always bounces back, there's no need to feel guilty.

No need at all …

"Never mind Star," Robin repeated, "it's just a kid. Not like it'll be so hard for her to look after just one kid. The worst that could happen is if he's spoiled rotten and gives her a hard time is all. Let's go back inside, it's getting cold."

"Of course …" Starfire nodded, and lead the way back into the tower with a sad smile on her beautiful face. Walking up to the doors, the Tameranian Princess reached for the door and gently pushed it open, but before she could step inside, Robin grabbed her shoulder harshly and jerked her back, "Huh? Robin? What is the meaning –"

"The power to Titan Tower … it's knocked out," Robin scowled, "the door's supposed to open on its own … someone's broken in."

Starfire titled her head in confusion, "But … no one's able to penetrate the Tower's defenses since …"

Realization downed, and Robin chilled when they both voiced their worry, "Red X …"

Eyes glowing green, Starfire levitated off the ground and flew down the stairs, leaving Robin to run in after her. Both of them reaching the empty silent halls, and both of them glaring at the pitch black darkness, trying to feel if there was anything wrong in the Tower, Robin scowled and took the lead. Red X? What would he want here? He's got the belt … the suit … a mission for money maybe? Working for Slade? Makes sense …

"Star," Robin whispered low so not to echo his information through out the halls, Starfire leaned close, "take the East Wing … I got the West … and don't wake up Beast Boy or Cyborg … we don't want to spook the intruder."

Starfire nodded obediently, "Understood."

Silently she took to the air and flew to search the East Wing as instructed, while Robin took off to cover the West, the Titan leader still trying to wrack his brains on why X would be in the Tower. He immediately scanned the upper floor, the floor of Raven's room; it was always closer to the roof. Coming up to it, he chilled and gawked when he saw her door opened!

Raven's room … he thought dismayed and peeked inside, expecting to find X raiding her room, what he saw was another man standing before her bookshelf scanning it's contents as if some secret were held in the shelves. Dressed casually in a black oversized hooded-jacket, dark blue jeans and yellowish Timberland boots, his long unruly pitch black hair reaching his waist. Looking maybe about a few years older than Robin, Robin snapped out of his shock when the guy reached a hand up to a specific book.

Getting ready to jump in and take the guy by surprise, the tables were turned when the intruder glanced back and his piercing amber eyes grinned mockingly at the Titan leader, "Don't be shy, the names Azul, and I promise that I won't be long."

Robin flicked out his bo-staff and stood his ground firmly, "You got a lot of nerve showing your face here, what do you want."

"A book really," Azul frowned and turned back to the book he had taken from the shelf, "this one in fact, the Rexxez Chronicles … you see, a certain pet of mine's failed to do his job a while back, but that doesn't mean I still don't need him. Apparently I do for the coming challenges that await me."

"I don't care about your agenda, but you will put the book down and come quietly," Azul slowly looked back at him and snickered sinisterly, Robin tried to ignore the creepy ju-ju vibes he was getting from the intruder and scowled, "first and last warning."

"Cute," Azul chuckled and tucked the book under his arm, "but without lifting a finger to move you, you will get out of my way … and you will do so willingly."

Robin scoffed, "Highly doubt that, but you can try me."

"If you insist."

Robin made a move to attack, but a scream tore through the silence in the tower, a familiar scream, stopping Robin in his tracks he spun around and stared out the door in worry, "Star …"

Azul smirked, "You better help her, Robin, I think she's dieing."

"Bastard!" Robin scowled, "What did you do to her!"

"You'll never know if you stand here asking me now would you? Run along now."

There was no choice, but when Robin made a dash back into the hall, Azul casually following after him, the Titan leader quickly punched in a code on the side of Raven's door and locked her room down. Azul raised a brow and glanced out the sorceress's window, watching a steel plates slide to cover it, he glanced up at her vents and saw the invisible barrier that shot up in a shimmer. Thus, trapping him in Raven's room, he sighed with a snort and put the book down, Should have seen it coming, but is he always this annoying? Reminds me of Ace.

"Star!" Robin called out to the princess, running down the East Wing halls, and without warning Starfire came flying up to him with a startled look on her face.

"Robin, what is it? Did you find the intruder?"

Robin skidded to a stop and blinked with a confused expression on his face, "You were screaming …"

Starfire tilted her head, "Uh … no? The only one screaming is you screaming my name … is something urgent? What's wrong?"

Robin growled, and high-tailed it back to Raven's room, "Damn it! I'm so stupid!"

"Robin! What's wrong!" Starfire followed, but when they reached Raven's room, the door was once again wide open and Azul was gone. Robin gritted his teeth and punched the wall. Starfire touched ground and gaped at the open door, someone was within in Raven's room … that couldn't have been good.

--

Still sleeping soundly in her quarters, Raven's contorted face of discomfort, pale skin of paranoid fear, and pant breathing was evident enough of her nightmare. Twisting to her side and gulping she shuttered and gripped her sheets. Her demonic nails lengthening till it tore through the sheet when she jerked her hand away, blood-crimson eyes shooting wide open. Teeth gritted with her upper lip pulled up in a vicious snarl, she snapped up in a sitting position and roared inhumanly, "Zak …"

Throwing herself back on the bed and arching her back she moaned painfully and her entire room rumbled to express her sorrow. Eyes clenched shut, Raven gasped out of desperation to regain her sane train of thought. Again twisting from side to side, the half-bred demoness buried her face in her pillows and willed her demonic blood down … down … down deep down in the dark depths of her nevermore.

Azarath … Metrion … Zinthous … Azarath … Metrion … Zinthous … Azarath … Metrion … Zinthous … she chanted over and over again until she calmed down and laid upon the bed, spent from the struggle to stay human. She gulped and slowly, cautiously opened her eyes after moving her head to stare at the bay-window where she last saw Lance and Trent. Now awake and in control, Raven carefully sat up, wincing when the room suddenly spun out and a terrible migraine stabbed at her head.

The half-breed, leaned her head on the palm of her hand and clenched her eyes shut, Ooo … two moves … two dangerous moves I've used on that thief … Raven … when are you gonna learn your lesson? She growled at herself, Not only did you over exert yourself just to keep that idiot alive, but you always come close to draining your life away … you're reckless and it's not you … it's him …

"I wouldn't be stickin' to that theory just yet precious." her voice scoffed; accept it wasn't coming from her mouth.

When Raven reopened her eyes she found herself sprawled on a floating rock within the darkness of nevermore. Blinking for a moment to make sure she was where she was, she looked down at herself and raised a brow when she found that she was wearing a large oversized black t-shirt and comfortable shorts.

Shorts … and an oversized t-shirt?

These weren't her clothes … they were … Raven nearly came close to blushing, X … did he …? He better not have!

"Wow, found yourself in Nevermore and that's all you can think of? It's worse than I thought!" again her voice shouted, but it wasn't coming form her mouth, looking around she found her rock floating just off another island.

With a few menacing black lifeless trees and cartoonish ravens perched and slumbering. At the base of the closest tree to the edge was Nonchalant in her trademark smug smirk. Adorned in the same oversized t-shirt, but substituting black for light-blue, she chuckled when Raven carefully got to her feet and jumped gracefully from her rock to the island to stand before her.

Her violet eyes taking on the usually emotionless expression glared at the unwelcome emotion, "Did you summon me here?"

"Me?" Nonchalant shrugged, "Maybe … but you just have to observe the damage you've done now that you've allowed Demon to come out and roam Trenton's veins."

Raven flinched, she already had an idea of what she had done, but followed after Nonchalant anyway through the winding trail that cut through the dead trees till she reached a clearing. Within the clearing was her "idea" and she shook her head when Nonchalant and her tinted glasses glanced back at her with a curious expression, wanting to know what the Primary was thinking about the Portal between realms.

Or in this case … minds.

"I hoped that wouldn't have happened …" Raven growled and ran her hands through her long violet hair … but stopped to grab a hand full of long hair and stared at it as if it was a creature from another dimension.

"Well … I guess we've established that hope just ain't gonna be cuttin' it sweetheart," Nonchalant sighed and shrugged once more, leaning against a tree and crossing her arms over her chest she shook her head while staring at the portal, "lucky it's in my turf, I'll keep the other emotions out of the way … but if Junky or Temptress come around … you're on your own … they've gotten strong now that the bond between you and him is nearly impenetrable."

Raven huffed tiredly, "So it is X that's doing this to me … he's the one that's literally corrupting my mind."

"Not really," Nonchalant grin, "you're the one that's making it easy on him princess, mixing your blood with him and all … not a very smart move on your part. Speaking of which, I think it's time you better smack some sense into Intel's head, she's been talkin' with Junky and actually getting' a kick out of her."

"Intelligence? My intelligence having a conversation with one of you new emotions?" Raven shook her head, "She's smarter than that."

Nonchalant raised a brow, "I did just tell you that all Junky needs to do is overtake two of either Intelligence, Rapture, Courage, or Timid right? Or were you just purposefully ignoring me?"

Raven ignored her sarcastic retort and stared at the portal knowing exactly where it connected; she sighed in annoyance and turned away from it, "I have to sever the connection … it's the only way to get my life back in order."

"To sever it, you might wanna start with leaving X," Raven looked over her shoulder to the nonchalant emotion and glared when her violet eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint, "you know … go back to the Titan strong hold, back to your team … back to … Robin and Starfire."

Raven's look darkened, demanding coldly, "What are you trying to pull."

Nonchalant blinked innocently, "Me? Pull? Nuthin' … but this is a small place and you know word travels fast. You really did like your leader … didn't you? Before he hooked up with Starry and all … you had hope for him and you … didn't?"

"…"

"…"

The two just stared at each other for a long moment in time, Nonchalant's eyes gleaming mockingly under the lit swirl of the red glowing portal, Raven's violet orbs aflame with pure and utter disgust. Because, Raven always had a thing against being read so clearly, coming into her mind meant having to face what was true … and Raven was going to honest about telling the truth. She hated the truth … hated it with a passion … but was grateful for it, because it reminded her of so many things she wished so desperately to forget.

To forget is to be naïve to a repetitive past.

The truth can be painful, and Raven welcomed it with open arms.

Pain … was the only way she'd learn …

Without saying anymore to Nonchalant, Raven left the island and willed herself back into her body, back into the Manor where under the rooftop was a little boy, and old man, and the one thief that didn't know of the corruption he had caused her. Temptress and Junky huh … Raven thought, trying to get Nonchalant's other words out of her head as she stared at the far wall in thought, there's no way I'm loosing their fight.

CLICK!

Raven snapped out of her thoughts when the sound of her knob turning caught her attention, glaring at the door, she felt for an aura, but before she could establish who it was, he had always opened the door and poked his head in side. Looking in her general direction, silver eyes widening in slight shock, it was Trent, and he whispered in astonishment, "Whoa … what time is it? I thought you were asleep."

He let himself inside, silently closing the door, keeping the lights off and walking towards her bed. Raven glared, not liking how he just let himself in, "I could say the same thing … what do you want?"

"You had a nightmare," he stated, and Raven raised a quizzical brow, how would he kn – Oh … wait … she stopped to think for a moment, the bond … she turned away from him when he sat at the edge of her bed, "it was about that Zak guy again … what's so specially about him? I mean … I keep getting flashbacks about how swell you two had it for one another … but … I don't get it. And who's Tac?"

"You don't need to know …" Raven whispered, not liking where the subject was heading, praying that Trent wouldn't be as persistent as he always is, and God was not listening to her prays either.

Trent narrowed his silver eyes on the half-breed, "Well I need some closure, your thoughts keep running along with mines and it's not fun."

Raven sneered, "The feelings mutual, but you don't see me asking you about your past, so don't even try to snoop around mines."

"Just trying to be a friend."

"Don't make me laugh."

The sorceress rolled her eyes and looked away, but leaned back when Trent suddenly loomed over her, his hands on either side of her apparently trapping her against the head board of the bed. She glared at the thief and dared him to make an inch of a move on her, but couldn't suppress a shiver that went down her spine when he whispered, "We're stuck together until my sister comes back from her trip … and by then you, Lance, and I will be on our merry way to Egypt, Alexandria. Why not make the best of it? Your little leader could careless if you went back to the Tower or not anyway and you know it. It's just as you said: you're all mine now, princess."

He was right, she did say something along those lines not too long ago, and right now she was cursing herself for even being so distraught as to let such words slip. Scowling she looked away from his glowing silver orbs and scoffed, "Your sister? She's not even your sister, X. Or should I say Ace. If you wanna make the best of something, just make the best of keeping your nose out of my past and I'll do my best to try and sever this curse that binds us together. I was already stupid enough to save you, don't make me regret it by seeing you try to understand me."

Trenton leaned away from the sorceress that burned into his soul with her heated amethyst orbs. Not being able to hold her gaze he got to his feet and nervously ran his fingers through his hair with a heavy sigh, "I'm not even gonna ask how you know that … but … no, Reign isn't my biological sister … my real sister died of mysteries causes just 8 weeks after Lance was born. I don't know how Reign got a hold of Lance … but ever since then she's been acting as his real mother and my sister."

Raven's narrowed eyes grew cold and skeptical, "Does Lance know about this?"

The thief scoffed and with sad amused eyes smirked weakly, "That's the sad part … he does, when I, nor Reign never told him the truth. He's a bright kid … but not so slick, he knows he's living a lie, why he's willing to play along I'll never figure it out, but that's only the surface of tales behind me."

"Obviously," Raven shook her head; suddenly feeling uncomfortable sitting in the same room was the unknown thief. Trenton understood her discomfort, often times feeling uncomfortable in his own skin. Never knowing who he truly was whenever he really thought about his identity, he glanced at Raven when she huffed and looked up at him, "Do I even want to know why you're telling me all this?"

Trent shrugged, "Because you're going to find out anyway."

Well … he's right there … Raven thought solemnly with a tired sigh as she laid down on her side and watched Trent march his way to her exit, already getting the feeling that their little conversation was over. He walked out the door, leaving Raven alone in the large room to stare into the darkness, just about to slip back into sleep, she gasped in fright when she heard the familiar jingle of her T-com.

Upon instinct she reached for it on her belt at her hip, but when she didn't feel it she rolled her eyes and reached for her nightstand, opening the drawer she pulled out the vibrating ringing communicator and came close to flipping it open, but stopped: "You really did like your leader … didn't you? … you had hope for him and you …" "Your little leader could careless if you went back to the Tower or not anyway and you know it."

Raven gulped and hesitantly reached for the red button on the bottom and shut it off, killing the ring and severing her connection with the Titans. She sighed and threw it back into the drawer and slammed it shut. Turning on her side with her back to the drawer she closed her eyes tightly and bit down on her lower lip trying to forget about what she had just did.

The Sorceress willed herself to sleep.

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Disclaimer: Don't own the Teen Titans, but I own everyone else that I've made up and you know who those people are, and that book Azul was holding, I own the name of it.

A/N: Well, it's been awhile since I got back to you guys, but if you see the length of this chapter than you'd know that was the small cause of why it took long. Again, I'm sorry for all the mistakes, I kind of neglected to look it over after I was done. I was just so relieved it was over that I just posted. So big sorrys, and big thank yous for reading my story, reviews are always nice.

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