-Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules-

-Pullin' Me Back-

Lance stood, with his head bowed and his eyes trained to the ground, afraid to blink … afraid to breath … afraid to even move a slight inch least he call Jylin's attention to himself and redirect the tyrant's wrath onto his person. Not that it mattered … Lance knew no matter what he did, he couldn't escape the pain. Not when his mother couldn't find the strength to fight back.

His mother … \

The woman who stood behind him with her hands placed upon his shoulders, squeezing to give him some sort of comfort as they were forced to stand still and watch as another one of Jylin's "followers" were accused of disloyalty. Lance counted this man to be the third one this week … either the cops were getting smarter, or Jylin was just finding an excuse to hear others beg for their lives. The man, Lance knew him to be a friend's father … and he was the only thing she had as family. Lance sympathized with her and wished he could do something … but like his mother … he was just too afraid.

SMACK!

Lance flinched when the man was hit straight across the temple with a wooden plank, hard enough to send him falling to the ground, but not hard enough to knock him out. No, Jylin was not so merciful, daring to tilt his head up to see the minion that had hit the man – Jylin was too good too get his hands dirty. He frowned when it was his Uncle Azul … no, not biological, but considering he was nice and always stuck around his Uncle Ace.

There was a sense of family between the three guys in a very hostile environment.

Azul pulled away from the man when Jylin signaled him to stand aside, next to the glaring Ace, unlike Azul, Ace openly despised Jylin. So why Jylin hadn't disposed of Ace yet, went beyond Lance's understanding, he just hoped Ace was counting his lucky stars. Silver connected with silver and Lance tried his best not to look so glum when Ace sighed and also tried – from a distance – to tell Lance that he was sorry he had to see this.

"There's a difference between not knowing … and not wanting to tell," both silver looked away from each other to the mad-man behind the carnage and hidden in the shadows of the dark warehouse. Stepping into the light, the face of evil itself was shown to appear clean cut and neatly groomed. Wearing an obviously expensive tanned suit, neatly gelled black hair and haunting golden eyes that bore a striking resemblance to Azul's. Jylin Karnick circled the weakened man who could barely keep himself on his hands and knees. No trace of an emotion was on his face, his tone was cold and harsh, "Mr. Lenex … incase you don't wish to send your daughter to an orphanage, I suggest you tell me how it is the authorities were able to intercept my shipment."

Trembling in fear, but mostly in pain the man looked about ready to die of fright when he heard a gun being cocked and no doubt the barrel as being pointed at his head, he closed his eyes and shook his head, "I … I don't know boss … I swear … they-they just showed up … I swear to God …"

Jylin raised an amused brow, his golden eyes looked up from the man to Azul … then to Ace as he shrugged and snickered lightly, "He swears to God … hmm … he swears … to God … ha … now that's funny, you know why? Because that's what every other pathetic two-faced liar such as yourself says when they're in your exact same position … and you know what happens to them?"

The barrel pressed to the top of his head, basically answering his boss's own question, the man shook violently and took in a deep shaky breath, feeling the world around him cave and the sky fall upon him. His eyes watered over and it wasn't only blood that was dripping from his face to the floor … it was the tears of fear … and regret. Life … his life … his precious daughter's life flashed before his eyes as he counted every breath he took till his death.

Lance gaped and looked up at his mother … was Jylin serious?

Was he really going to kill the guy right before his eyes?

Lance was always brought in to witness the "interrogations" but never was he allowed to stick around at the death sentence!

His mother again squeezed his shoulders in reassurance, but that wasn't enough for Lance, looking across the way to his uncles, Azul just stood stone faced, but Ace was in complete disagreement. Before Jylin had the time to pull the trigger, Ace took his stand, "Jay … he has a kid … why you gonna take away the only family she has now?"

"Are you saying that I should spare him?" Jylin narrowed his amber eyes on Ace's defiant glare, "After he's lost something of far greater value to me than even your own life, Ace."

Ace looked away for a moment, probably rethinking his outburst and finding words to keep the situation under control as he looked back up at Jylin, "We just don't know for sure if he's the one who ratted us out … this could just be something unnecessary."

"We'll bait him," Jylin glared at the frightened man, "we kill him, and if he isn't the snitch, then the real snitch will try to run, so this won't be such a waste of time after all."

"This isn't right!" Ace raised his voice, loosing his patience, something Lance never saw his Uncle do, "Lance is just right there and you're going to kill a man – a father right in front of him? Jesus, let Lance go before you do something like that."

Azul on the side shook his head and looked away when Jylin put the gun down and stood to stare at Ace. Contemplating his insubordination, he tilted his head back to look over his shoulder to Lance, and then looked back at the scowling thief. Then … as if he had an epiphany, Jylin grinned devilishly and turned to walk towards Lance, "Now there's an idea …"

Ace frowned at his actions and jogged across the warehouse to Jylin, "Hey … hey … hey!" Jylin ignored Ace and grabbed a hold of Lance's upper arm, gripping tightly he yanked him to the middle of the warehouse, but stopped when Ace got in front of him, "Get away from him!"

Without thinking, Jylin sent the side of the gun smashing into the side of Ace's head, knocking him to the ground and out of his way, he practically threw Lance in front of the bleeding man who was watching the scene in utter confusion. Especially when Jylin crouched down to Ace's level, glaring down at the disobedient thief who was currently trying to get his head on straight, Jylin growled into his ear, "You're not a hero Ace … so don't even try."

Still in a daze, Ace felt a gun placed into his hands, he looked down at the silver object, then looked up at Jylin's towering form. Amber eyes burning into his skull, Ace suddenly got a sick feeling at the pit of his stomach when Jylin stepped back and gestured to the man and the unsure Lance. Jylin sneered, "Go ahead Ace … show Lance what you're made of, what the world is made of. Sugarcanes and lollypop kisses a sweet little Candy-Land."

--

Lance will never forget that moment in time when Ace had fought against Jylin's sick mind … but ended up loosing when the mad-man had whispered something into his ear. Apparently … it was a secret threat … the hidden leash Jylin had around Ace's neck to keep him behaved like the good dog he was. Ace had turned around, and Lance … until this very day … was scared when the blood from the head of a supposedly innocent man had accidentally landed on his person.

Traumatized … Lance went into a state of shock and never spoke or reacted to anyone for a straight three days.

It was awful …

Though, when he finally came through, he acted as if nothing had ever happened … but after seeing Malchior kill those men the way he had … with a sadistic look on his face. It terrified Lance to no end … and though the child kept telling himself that Malchior was a dragon and that blood might have been common for a creature such as himself. Death … was something that Lance was far from ready to face … and it showed in his curled up position on the alleyway ground.

Knees held tightly to his chest as he silver eyes stared in wide-eyed shock at the building across from him. Tears coming down his face, absentmindedly, he rocked and cradled himself to calm down. Trying to get himself together, Lance bit down on his lower lip and sucked in a shakily breath, feeling so incredibly helpless and lost. He shuttered when a cool wind blew passed him, but went stalk still when a shadow hovered over him.

Slowly following it's origin he trailed up to see the face of the man who pushed his hood back and revealed – just like Malchior's eyes – cat-slit, narrowed, but instead of being red … they were a bright acid-green. He smiled and held out his hand … claws … Lance gulped as he spoke, "You must be Lance … my name is Cashes and I'm here to make sure you're safe. Take my hand child."

Something wasn't right … Lance scooted closer to the wall not sure of the man named Cashes. Keeping his eyes on his claws, Lance eyed Cashes with extreme caution as he wiped his eyes free of the tears he'd been crying, "You're … not human … are you …"

"Afraid not, but I mean you no harm."

That sick, unsure feeling at the pit of Lance's stomach grew stronger, but when he looked around and realized his stupidity for running away from the people that were protecting him. He figured he didn't have a choice, but to leave with this man … plus … he wasn't human, meaning that even if he ran it wouldn't get him anywhere. Better to cooperate and keep the status quo … like what Ace always tells him, do nothing that'll get you killed.

Hesitant, Lance reached up and slipped his hand into Cashes hand, but when he did a flash of images flew through his view and over powered his rational train of thought. Crying out in confusion, Lance felt himself falling into Cashes arms, and the images in his head suddenly stopped. The image … the place … nowhere he's been before … but it felt like home and he even knew the name. Unconsciously slipping through his lips he whispered the name before exhaustion took hold and he blacked out, "Cat's Eye … Tem … ple …"

Cashes smirked, "Well I'll be damned."

With Lance in his arms, Cashes stood up and prepared to leave, but heard the discharge of a gun and jumped back just before the bullet could pierce his flesh. Cashes sniffed the air and besides the strong smell of gun powder, he smelt magic encased silver. Cashes growled in annoyance and looked up at the fire escape where the attack came from. Azul glared at the dragon and jumped from his perch to the ground to stand at the same level as Cashes, "Put the kid down and back off."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Cashes backed up when Azul prepared to negotiate the hard way, but the dragon smirked, "but I'm sure … if you just come with me … we can discuss something with your father."

Azul's frown turned into a scowl and the gun he held with the silver bullets was brought up and aimed point blank for Cashes head, "You're bluffing, my father's dead … I killed him myself."

"No you didn't, Zak," Cashes chuckled, "you just thought you did … forgotten that you weren't the only one able to summon monsters?"

"So give me one good reason why I shouldn't plant this silver bullet right in between your eyes."

"Because the child's life depends on your cooperation … I don't think I can put it any other way." Cashes grinned and turned his back on Zak, knowing full well that the son of his master would never pull the trigger … and he was right. Zak put the gun down, but glared after Cashes and snorted, Sorry Ace … but I'll think of something …

--

Masked scrutinizing eyes scanned the perimeter of the destroyed penthouse suite, a nice place with a breathtaking view Robin figured after imagining the room in its prime. He sighed and bit down on his lower lip when he looked down and saw a book … but not just any book. Bending down and lifting it up he eyed it for a moment, turning it over, he felt his best friend Cyborg hover over his shoulder in curiosity. Robin handed him the book, whispering softly, "Raven was here alright."

"Yeah …" Cyborg nodded and frowned when he remembered the book had been part of Raven's many collections of spells. Scanning the room with his computerized eye and shook his head and informed his leader, "I can't pick up any kind of chemical or gun power that caused the destruction … the investigators got it all wrong."

Robin again crouched over the ground where the blown up couch use to sit, his set face glared at the black suet that blew outward in a small circle. With his green glove he smoothed his finger over the burned carpet and looked up to the window that was nearby. His mind racing like many other times before when it came to crime scenes, he walked over to the nearby window and looked out. Spying a few odd markings the forensic experts must have missed, he turned back to look over the penthouse and glared at the door where Beast Boy sniffed at the blood on the carpet.

Finally speaking after what seemed like forever for Cyborg, Robin sighed, "This wasn't caused by man, you're right. Something, someone magical caused this … by accident, they stood right there behind the couch, but after the chaos a third party busted in and took whatever caused the accident and ran out the door while everyone else in the room was dazed by the blast. By the time everyone came through, the one thrown closest to the door noticed the escapee and ran after him, got shot and informed his friends that the kidnapper was headed for the roof …"

For a moment Robin paused, but that was only because Starfire came flying in through the busted sliding doors with a grave face, "There's a mess of blood on the roof and a critically injured woman a few stories below us … I suspect we are dealing with nonhuman creatures because the woman is still alive."

Robin nodded, "Thanks Star … the pair headed for the roof while their nonhuman companion stayed in the hall getting over the pain from being shot at. By the time he was better he headed for the roof in time to save the day and make way for the escape while he took care of –"

"Quean," Cyborg informed, "the woman's name was Quean Moth, Killer Moth's oldest daughter."

Starfire jerked her head back in shook, "Kitten has a sister? I never knew!"

"Well, Quean was dispatched," Robin continued, "the other made his way to ground level to recapture the object that was once again lost –"

"The fourth floor squabble," Cyborg cringed, "whoever wanted our girl dead wanted it bad."

"No … no …" Robin thought aloud, "Not Raven … they weren't after Raven … by the time Lance was saved, he took off running in fear when he saw how easily the inhuman fighter took care of the humans. We have a runaway child and Raven's went looking for him."

Beast Boy, walking in during the middle of the explanation morphed back into his human form and raised a curious brow, "Dude, you figured all that out just standing here?"

Robin shrugged, "I'm just going by what Raven would have done … but she's here, and she's looking for Lance with Trenton and … someone new."

"So …" Starfire frowned in worry, "… the young boy was the cause of the accident?"

Robin nodded, "In a way, yes, but it was done by something he was holding …"

"So theses baddies aren't after our girl?" Cyborg questioned, Robin nodded in confirmation and was hit with another question, "So whatever the kid has they're after him?"

"Yes, and judging by the apparent destruction in this room he can't get rid of it."

"What now?" Beast Boy looked around and rubbed the back of his head in confusion, "Raven's here, but she's not here and she's still not contacting us … hey … do you think X could be the one after her?"

"X?" Robin shook his head, "This isn't his style, and I don't think he has the guts to kidnap a kid … but I've been wrong before."

Starfire sighed and looked out the window in wonder, "The butler lied about the Trenton's trip, Raven's not answering her com, and a child went missing and Raven still hasn't found the means of even speaking with us … could it be possible she does not want us to find her?"

"Want to or not …" Robin glared at the ground, "Raven's in trouble and we're going to find her. Lance is missing in the city, so she's still here … we're splitting up, Starfire check the harbor, Cyborg you check uptown, Beast Boy you got downtown … I'll search around here. Go."

Like a well informed team the Titans split up and Robin stayed within in the hotel, for a moment, looking out the shattered windows to the setting Egyptian sun. He frowned deeply and narrowed his masked eyes on the city, lifting up a green gloved hand that held a casing of a silver bullet. Remembering a bit of information Raven had given him a long time ago about pure silver and magical beings: "… it's almost like a double edged sword, silver can be used to harness magic … but with the right spells it can be used to weaken magical creatures. That's why I suggested you use silver rather than titanium …"

Useful information he admitted, and thought of something interesting, Raven's not the primary target … besides Lance … the inhuman being with her has to be the other objective otherwise silver won't be necessary … but silver bullets … very pricy. Without further ado Robin jumped out the window and went in search of something that he thought would help him find his friend more efficiently.

For if Raven wouldn't come back to him, he'll find what's after her and bring her back to him.

--

Malchior snarled and groaned in one when he felt Raven manually trying to heal him, reaching her clawed fingers deep into his shoulder where the bullet was lodged. He bowed his head and kept his instincts under control. Keeping himself from reaching around and lashing out at the sorceress, digging his claws into the cemented ground. He felt Raven place her free hand on his other shoulder to keep him steady, her voice strained and merciful, "Hold on … this parts gonna hurt."

"Like it doesn't already!" Malchior snapped, already at his wits end with the pain she was already implying, but silver was hard to counter … they were the ultimate magic harness and the ultimate dragon killer. It prevented them from healing as fast as they should because it couldn't be pushed out and it sucked up all of their magic.

Henceforth, the reason why Raven had to dig for the bullet …

She looked up at Malchior and held her hand still as he took a breath, reading his aura and feeling that he just wanted it to be done and over with already. He signaled her go ahead with a nod, and she nodded in response, concentrating on her mission, her eyes glowed and with her powers she lashed out and grabbed the silver bullet. Cringing when Malchior roared, and shot a hand up to grip her wrist, his claws slightly cutting flesh, she ignored it and yanked the bullet out.

Wanting to back off to give Malchior breathing room he didn't let her go and she was patient with him, bearing his harsh grip and his sharp claws. She understood his pain … demonic magic mingling with dragons were dangerous. Nothing good comes of it, but it was the only way to save Malchior. In order to help him calm down, she reached up her free hand to the side of his pain stricken face.

Her soft touch never went unnoticed, Malchior felt it and like a princess singing her sweet song to sooth the suffering beast he settled down and opened his tired eyes. Staring up at Raven, feeling her softly caress the side of his face, he couldn't help but purr ever so discreetly. Slipping his hand from her wrist to lay it on his lap, he could have whined in protest when she slid away from him, but he was a bit too weak for that.

So he let her go.

Raven stumbled back and looked down at the wrist Malchior held. Seeing her powers already working on the scratches, turning her arm over to open her palm and see the silver bullet that was lodged into his shoulder. She frowned in suspicion, but jumped when she felt Trent come up behind her stealthily, asking innocently, "So what's with the bullet? Couldn't he have popped that out himself?"

"Um …" Raven scooted away when she felt he was too close and stood a good three feet from him and shrugged, "… sure, but it would have taken too long … it's a silver bullet and he wouldn't be in any condition to travel. Silvers' a magical sort of element, used to either harness magic or counter it, in Malchior's case, since he's a creature composed of magic it'll suck his powers dry then move on to his life force and eventually kill him if it's not taken care of immediately."

"Mm …" Trent nodded in understanding and finally knowing why she looked so disturbed, "… silver bullet huh … pricy."

"And it has to be pure silver …" Raven sighed, "… whoever's after us knew we had a dragon in our mitts … they not only were they after Lance, they wanted Malchior dead … know of anyone?"

"Not really …" Trent ran his fingers through his messy hair, feeling out the tangles he sighed and frowned in thought, "… there's an old partner of mines, we separated on bad terms –" Raven gulped, Zak … she thought, but held her head steady as she looked up at the thief, "– but … he's not stupid enough to mess with me that way."

Forgetting about his partner's true identity, Raven sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Then what about … that Jylin person … Lance's father."

"That's a possibility," Trent sighed, "a big possibility … but then why kill the dragon he'll need to unlock the ring's secret."

Memory hit Raven, "That's right … you're after Dragon Trove … and in order to get there you need a dragon to hold the Eon Ring … don't you?"

"That, or if a human where to wear the Ring then the dragon in necessary to be a sort of translator," Trent shrugged, and looked over his shoulder to Malchior with narrowed eyes, "so I'll ask again … why would Jylin kill the one thing that he'll need to get to Dragon Trove?"

Malchior's crimson slit eyes glared up at the human and growled in annoyance, the wound on his shoulder still pulsed with pain, but not as unbearable as before, "Oh please don't tell me you're having trouble trying to figure that out … it's obvious your little villain had found another dragon to do his bidding … it's really not hard to get us under your control. A few simple words and we're bound until our master dies or they find us a new master."

Trent raised a brow, "But where the hell would you find a dragon in the middle of a human world? I mean, by the way you act it's as if your entire race resents us."

"Oh," Malchior smirked and chuckled, "trust me when I say the majority of my race doesn't resent you, lucky or you'd be under siege right about now, no, but I can tell you of many other races you've never even heard of that hates you just as much as the next alien invader that visits this sick little planet."

"Well aren't we loved," Trenton snapped back wittingly.

Raven rolled her eyes at the two, "So our new advisory has a new pet … we just have to make sure that new pet doesn't spot Lance before we do."

"Too late …" Malchior sighed tiredly and struggled to get back on his feet. Raven rushed to his side, aiding him to sit back down, but he fought against her protest and got to his feet anyhow. Slightly hunched over due to the weakened state his body's in after having a piece of silver lodged in his flesh. He locked his crimson eyes on Trenton's scrutinizing glare, completely serious; Malchior shook his head, "… I spotted a tracker not too far from Lance's trail … he was a dragon and chances are, Lance is already under his custody and most probably on his way to the first checkpoint to Dragon Trove."

"So we gotta get to the checkpoint before they do." Decided the determined thief.

Malchior rolled his eyes, "Easier said than done, we don't have the map … little Lance does, Lance is not with us, he's with the tracker. So unless one of us can pull a rabbit out of the hat, that plan is useless."

Trenton hated to take sides with the dragon, but Malchior was right … the Eon Ring was the only way he knew to get to the Trove. Looking up to Raven for any ideas the sorceress was in much the same position as he was, the only one actually thinking, Trent noticed, was Malchior. Malchior turned to stare off into the city in thought, racking his brains, trying to find another way to get to Dragon Trove, but it was hard.

Considering the fact that he's never been there himself, Malchior growled and smoothed back his messy hair, tilting his head to the side. Trenton growled and leaned against a wall, with a bowed head he glared at the ground, and felt so completely helpless. Closing his eyes and sighing, he suddenly winced in pain when he felt someone place their hand on his shoulder that was still bleeding from the close call he had at the hotel. Glaring at the sorceress who untied his make-shift bandage, she ignored him and placed a glowing blue hand on the wound and said, "You know … you're too reckless … one of these days you're going to get yourself killed."

Trent blinked slowly and loosened up when he started to feel the pain ease away, "Never knew you cared."

"…"

She didn't respond, and it made Trent raised a brow in curiosity, "What? No snappy come-backs?"

Raven slipped her hand from his shoulder when the deed was done and gave the thief a deadpanned look, "I was being serious."

"Ah … so the Ice Princess does have a heart huh?" Trent chuckled and reached out a hand to the sorceress's chin, "You take of yourself, and I'll take care of me and it'll all work out in the end, you'll see."

"I don't need reassurance, X," Raven moved from his hand and crossed her arms over her chest, looking away with a disturbed look on her face. She shook her head and turned back up at Trent with a dead serious face on, "I just need for you to remember, that I'm not on your side of the tracks … helping you … being with you … it's a criminal offence and a serious one considering I'm still a Titan. If Robin – when Robin finds us … I'm going to have to tell him everything."

Trent nodded, finally understanding where she stood with him and he wasn't going to lie, he hoped against hope that it didn't have to be this way, but Trenton already knew. With the luck he had, this was inevitable, looking away from her to stare off into the city he scoffed, "Oh … so I see you're still with your boy huh?"

"He's not 'my boy' … he's my leader." Raven corrected, "Besides … I think it's better if we rejoin with my team, we'll probably have a better chance at finding Lance anyway."

"Yeah … right …" Trent sneered, "You can go back to your boy; I'll stick with my chances at finding Lance myself."

"X –"

"I hate to break up the happy couple," Malchior cut in, both Raven and Trenton glared at the dragon for a number of the same reasons, but for different ones as well. Crimson eyes glanced over his healing shoulder, still a bit under-the-weather, he never managed to loose his 'charming' personality and trademark fanged grin, "but we're not out of the woods yet."

Trent left Raven standing and went to investigate what Malchior was talking about. In the back-streets out of sight from their point of view, Trent spotted two women holding silver chain leashes that were strapped to the necks of mean looking rottweilers, Trent raised a brow, "Dogs … so?"

"Silver chains," Raven observed and frowned, "we gotta go, those aren't normal dogs."

"Then what are they?" Trent leaned over the rail in order to get a better look at the creatures; Malchior grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him away from the edge. Trent shrugged him off and glared warningly at the dragon who eyed him with the same intensity.

"They're bewitched and their masters' are the witches that cursed them, so we have to go."

Trent grumbled as he followed after Malchior and Raven, "Witches, dragons, and silver bullets, why don't we thrown in a couple of vampires and werewolves and we'll have a ball."

Raven shook her head and ignored him as she phased through the roof to appear on the ground dusting off her jeans and white peasant girl's blouse. She flipped back her violet hair when it fell in front of her face and looked up when a sudden shadow fell over her. Mouth falling open, she sucked in a breath to quickly chant her mantra, but with a harsh slap a piece of tape kept her quiet. Slammed up against the wall with another hand to her throat, she squirmed and glared at the man who glared down at her and reached for his gun.

Thinking fast and lengthening her claws scratched the man's wrist, forcing him to release her. She was dropped to the ground in a crouch, extending her leg she twirled and swept the floor from under the human, dropping him to the ground he was faster to recover from the cut than she thought and rolled back to his feet. His gun finally in his hands, he fired two shots at the sorceress who dodged both shots and rushed up close to the man. Literally all up in his face, she ducked down and twisted her body so her foot smashed into his temple while the other leg again swept him to the ground.

Finally disarming the man she kicked the gun away and attempted to rip the film he slapped on her mouth off, but when she tried it wouldn't budge! That was when she looked down and saw that it was red, Xinthonium! She thought in shock, but shock turned to anger and she growled at the man who struggled to get back to his feet. Raven would not allow it and sent a harsh kick to his gut actually rolling him into the brick-wall. So prepared to do some more damage to the man that dared to slap a piece of xinthonium on her, she was stopped when she heard Malchior call to her from above, "Raven!"

She looked up and saw him leap off the fire escape that Trent was climbing down, the dragon landed smoothly on the pavement beside her, and so did Trent when he got down to a safe jumping distance. Both guys looked her over and Malchior raised a brow when he spotted the tape, Trent jerked his head back in confusion at seeing the red tape on her face, but it turned to a mean smirk as he snickered, "Nice look for you."

Raven snarled inwardly and flipped him off; Trent just blew her a mocking kiss, already frustrated and pissed off, items all around them stared to go off in loud explosions as Raven lunged at the mocking thief. Malchior caught her and pulled her back, "Raven, get yourself together! All your noise attracted the dogs, we have to move!"

Mumbling, Raven shoved Malchior away from her and flicked back her violet hair, eyes locked on Trenton's smug little face, the strong urge to rip his eyes right out of its sockets pulsing in her black-blood. She snorted and with the tape still in her mouth took off running in the opposite direction, forcing Malchior and Trent to follow her. Well, actually just Malchior, Trent was going to go the other way if it wasn't for the dragon to turn and grab him, "Where in bloody hell do you think you're going? We have to follow Raven."

"You follow her," Trent shrugged him off, "I work alone … I always work alone."

Malchior growled, "You're being foolish you can't find the child on your own. It's ludicrous!"

Trent rolled his eyes, "Yeah, says you and 10 other shrinks I was forced to see in my lifetime. Do us both a favor and get away from me."

Malchior was relentless, suddenly appearing in front of the thief, he snarled in his face and forced him back, "Just because Raven's not on your team does not mean you should act so foolish on the account she's going to betray you. So do us both a favor and use your damned head human, Kain will see to it that we're out of picture now that he has the map."

Already annoyed and too stubborn to listen, but also too smart to be an idiot, Trent narrowed his scrutinizing eyes on the dragon and asked, "Who the fuck's Kain?"

"Your Jylin," Malchior informed, "now are you done sulking? Let's go."

Trent growled in frustration, torn between wanting to believe the dragon and staying with Raven or going on his own and taking the risks all on his own. Malchior began walking away, slowly making his way to Raven least Trent decided to follow, which the thief wanted so desperately to do … but then he'd be at risk allowing Raven the chance to turn him in. Or was the dragon right? And he was just running because he had known along that it was pointless for him to hope Raven was on his side. He should have known she was never with him … never from the start; she was always a hero and once a hero, always a hero.

He should have known …

So why did he dare to hope?

When had he started to hope?

Staring at the ground, Trent's eyes rested on the gun with the silver bullets no doubt … with a heavy sigh he reached down to grab it. Stuffing it in his back pocket and looking up to the dragon with a nod, Malchior returned the gesture and without further ado Trent followed after the dragon. Knowing that anything was better than to leave Lance alone with a man that wasn't even from this world, for Trent had once promised the kid nothing would ever happen to him. And though the thief was a thief with hardly any honor at all, a promise to a kid was a promise for life.

--

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, never did and sadly never will.

A/N: This was a complicated chapter and it was inspired by a frickin hip-hop/R&B song – if you know what it is good for you, and if you don't, the title of the song is the title of this chapter and NO I DON'T OWN THE SONG it's owned to Chingy feat Tyrese. Just goes to show you to never listen to an R&B song and type out a chapter, it tends to influence you in a weird way.

Well, it influenced me weirdly anyway.

But the choruses of the song just matched, listen to the song's choruses and you'll see how it possessed me.

And again, sorry for the mistakes, forgive, forgive, please forgive.

L8er daez