A/N: The themes 26-28 were provided by Absentia (user ID: 386797) and can be found in her drabble post on ff.n, "Three Little Words". (Story ID: 3522137) Read it. It's sooo good. I don't do the themes justice, but I asked her permission and she said I could use them.

Theme 29 was provided by Aileene (user ID: 1112018) and theme 30 was provided by Guyute24 (user ID: 691047). I really hope they enjoy what I did with them.

Between The Shadow and the Soul
Three
by Em

"I love you as the plant that never blooms / but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;"
- Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII

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21: Fight (98)

If he had been paying attention, Robin might have noticed the change sooner.

He ducked under her punch, barely backflipping away from her kick. She was becoming a faster, more aggressive fighter. Still, he might never have noticed at all if she hadn't messed up and used that move. Then, he just knew.

In two moves, he dropped her. Straddling her waist, one hand easily circling her slender neck, he pressed her down against the mat. She fought him for a moment, but then she saw his eyes.

"Don't lie to me."

He didn't have to say about what.

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22: Book (99)

She never let him in her room. It was an easy thing to get inside, anyway. It was just slightly more difficult to figure out where she hid it.

Not impossible, just difficult.

There were only so many places one could stash an ancient book big enough to whack someone with.

(To imprison someone in.)

He wasn't a master thief just 'cause of his pretty face, though, and in no time, it was his. (a personal best, really, considering.)

Maybe she hadn't been able to destroy the book where that bitch Malchior was, but he had no such qualms.

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23: Angel (97)

"I'm not going to go that easy."

She quirks a brow at him. "You're awful sure of yourself."

"Damn straight."

There is a fierce desire to believe him that surprises her. "And why is that?"

He's straightforward and blunt as he replies; "Because I'll probably be going to hell and you're definitely going to heaven."

She tries not to look surprised, but her voice betrays her. "You don't believe in heaven."

"But I do, Angel," His thumb rubs at her bottom lip, his tone gentle. "I believe in a place where you'll go and I can't follow."

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24: Holiday (99)

"Loosen up, you're on holiday."

She pushed him off and sat up, shaking grass from her hair. "Holiday or no, I am what I am. You are what you are."

"Are you saying we can't ever change?"

"I didn't pick to be this," she said.

"But I did," he observed.

She cocked her head. "Did you?"

"I can be a regular guy. I can even be a hero...if I wanted."

She laughed, the rare sound soothing even as it mocked. "Perhaps. But would I still want you if you were?"

He grinned, "I'll always be a little wicked."

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25: Snow (75)

She hated the cold, but you'd never know that by looking at her. She didn't shiver, she didn't stomp her feet or try to warm her hands, she stood perfectly still. So still, in fact, the flakes of snow settled onto her shoulders and in her hair as if she were one of the statues around them.

He hated when she surrendered to that kind of stillness.

"Waiting for me, dollface?" he asked. "I'm touched."

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26: Guilt (100)

Feeling this way was quite a heady thing.

Was it the way he kissed her, every time, like he had been certain he'd never get another chance? Or the way he looked at her as if he couldn't get enough? Or maybe because he so obviously prized every moment they stole for themselves?

It baffled her.

How could someone as genuinely selfish as X make her feel there was nothing in the world he desired more than her?

He made her feel wanted. Worthy.

Yes, he made her feel guilty. That too.

But the point was, he made her feel.

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27: Name (93)

It was just a name. A nickname, even.

He had a dozen of them for her.

She wasn't like him. His given name wasn't Red-X, but her name was Raven, it was the other that was just a cover.

So, what did it matter if she'd never told him? Why should he care if Robin knew it?

It didn't and he didn't.

Not really.

But...

"Hey, Rachel."

He watched as Raven turned and waited for her leader to catch up to her on the sidewalk. "Richard."

...why did she answer to it?

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28: Honesty (93)

"Why don't you scream? Call out to your friends," he made the word an insult. "Go on," he flexed his fingers against her neck, not yet hard enough to hurt. "Save your pretty little neck."

Her hands were still at her sides, Raven would not degrade herself by flailing about or struggling. "Why don't you squeeze?" she countered calmly.

He was pleasantly surprised. "Let's be honest, sweetheart," he closed the distance between them, his thigh was touching hers, "Admit it: you want me."

"Let's be honest," she mocked. "You're the one holding me."

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29: Aberrant (96)

"You're kidding." He knew perfectly well she wasn't kidding at all.

"It's just the way it is," she answered.

Anger slammed into him with all the force of sudden pain. "Yeah?" he asked. "Does he touch you like I do?" he demanded.

She looked up and he knew the battle was lost even before the bell'd rung. "Robin and I fit," she said, plainly. "Love, need...fate," she shook her head. "He and I simply are."

"And what are we then?" X asked, lips twisted in a bitter imitation of a smile.

She turned, "An aberration."

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30: Supernova

All things die.

Even love.

Was it love, what we had?

How should I know? I'm damaged goods. So is she, really. No one can be a villain or a hero in this world without having some screws loose somewhere.

She and I...we're screwier than most, I suppose. Falling for your enemy? Carrying on an affair with them? It couldn't last. We both knew that.

Yes, all things die: vegetation, people, stars.

Some, like love, just die in a helluva spectacular way.

Like a supernova.

Explosive. Catastrophic. Sure.

But as it dies...

Damn, what a light.

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End Notes: Yep, that's right kiddies. 30 drabbles have been posted which means, it's the end of the series. C'est tout. Fini. Hope you enjoyed the show. Y'all come back now, y'here?

I feel I have to say, no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get Supernova to come out the way I had envisioned it. Guyute24 was happy with it, and she gave me the theme, so I suppose that's the most important bit, but I still couldn't get it just the way I had it in my head, so ::shrug:: I dunno. I happen to like Aberrant and Book very much. Fight worries me because the scene is sticking in my head and that usually means Puck the Muse might be inclined to do something else with it, (but I make no promises) and I don't really like Name much at all.

But that's just me. What do you guys think?

P.S.: I was inspired for a few of these on a particular quote from poetry or lyrics or even from a movie. Eventually, I'll post those up on 'emsscraps'.