Blanket Disclaimer: Poison Tonic LX does not own the Teen Titans or any characters therein. Don't sue her, please, because if you do I won't have a home anymore…-Ralph, the muse

Neo's POV again!

He stayed under the broken window instead of leaving immediately, wanting a few more minutes before he had to go back to the apartment and face the super clones and Methuss, whom he was sure would be at the apartment when he got there.

"That was…really strange." He heard Prime say as he peeked carefully up over the edge.

"Just goes to show you: even Red's evil side ain't all that bad." The half-robot man smirked.

He saw Nemo bite his lip, reaching up to Dawson as if seeking comfort. "Do you think he'll be okay, big brother?" Nemo asked softly.

He frowned, balling his hands into fists at the sound of his little brother calling someone other than him 'big brother'. He shook his head as pain shot through it for a moment, calming himself so the failsafe would settle down again.

"Sure he will, squirt." Dawson said, picking Nemo up and looking decidedly uncomfortable as the younger boy put his head on his shoulder but not saying anything to deter the action. "He's my clone, right? We're a strong stock."

He rolled his eyes. Well, at least now he knew his pride wasn't something Methuss had thrown into his DNA like he was almost completely positive it was with Prime's super clones (especially Three).

Cloak Woman rolled her eyes just like he had and patted Nemo's arm softly. "I'm sure he'll be just fine, Nemo." She assured him. "He didn't seem like someone who needs any help taking care of himself, Rush's clone or not."

Dawson frowned at her but held his silence, blushing a little when she smirked at him.

He tilted his head to one side. Did Dawson like this girl like Methuss said he did? How weird…

"Max, what do you know about that kid?" Traffic Light asked.

Prime shrugged. "Not much more than you guys do. I've never actually fought him, but I've seen him around sometimes with those super clones or whatever…"

"Neo's a spoiled brat." Nemo said softly, not moving at all other than to speak.

He scowled.

"He's Methuss'…pet, I guess. His favorite clone. He had all the best teachers and gets sent on all the best jobs. If he's not on a job, he's with Methuss. I always hated him because…well, I wanted what he had. I was so jealous…it seemed like such a great life…but then one day I saw firsthand what's done to him when he's with Methuss." Nemo turned his head to bury it in Dawson's shoulder. "It was the day I ran away…Neo had just gotten back from a job and was sent to Methuss to tell him it was a success. I followed because…I wanted to see him one last time before I left. He was my rival…so I wanted to hear about the mission and see what I had to live up to…what they said I was supposed to be, y'know?"

"What did you see?" Annoying Woman asked softly.

"I saw…things I don't ever want to see again. I couldn't believe Methuss would do such things to his little pet…especially when he'd gone on a successful mission. I think, maybe, he wants Neo to fail, and Neo thinks he's done something wrong so he tries harder and does better, and that makes Methuss even angrier. I can only imagine what Methuss will do now that he has an excuse to do things like that."

"Things like what, Nemo?" Cloak Woman asked.

Nemo's shoulders shook. "I-it was so horrible, Miss Ren…" He could tell his little brother was crying, though he couldn't see his face. "It all happened so fast…one minute Methuss' guards were watching him congratulate Neo…and then they left and Methuss was suddenly beating him and telling him he was worthless…a second-rate copy that couldn't do anything right…it was so horrible…there was so much blood…" Nemo shuddered again. "That's when I realized…Neo doesn't lead such a glamorous life. It definitely isn't a life I would want for myself…and even though part of me still hates him, most of me can't feel anything but pity for him. I wanted to find you, big brother…because I thought you could save me from becoming like that. And maybe…just maybe…you can save him, too…"

He lowered himself from the ledge and pushed himself against the glass, his feet and hands sticking to it so he didn't fall as tears streamed down his face. 'I didn't know he was ever jealous of me…I knew he hated me, but I didn't think it was because he was jealous…I didn't think anyone could be jealous of me…'

He wiped his eyes furiously. It didn't matter either way…he was going to die in a few minutes.

He smiled sardonically as he let himself fall to the ground with a neat landing, running towards Jump City so quickly he didn't sink in the water.

He was just glad his death would be quick. Despite, and perhaps because of, the fact that he'd been through so much pain his whole life, he had a horrible phobia of pain. He didn't want to die, either, but if he had to at least it would be quick…no pain.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening the door of the apartment and entering it, finding himself almost immediately set upon by the four super clones.

"Well, well, well, look who's finally decided to join us?" Three cackled. "Guess what, Neo? There's someone here to see you!"

"It took you long enough, Omega Neo."

He had to fight hard to keep from shaking at the sound of Methuss' voice, clenching his fists at his sides as he bowed his head. "I apologize if I kept you waiting, sir."

"Yes…what took you?"

"I have no excuses, sir."

"Very well. Clones, leave."

The clones snickered as they did as told, ignoring the pleading looks he shot their way—Methuss would never strike him in front of anyone else.

He flinched as the door shut.

"I'm disappointed in you, Omega Neo." Methuss sneered as he pulled a thin dagger out of his pocket and wiped it off with a handkerchief. "After all I've done for you, you can't even bring back those riffraff originals for me? You can't do anything right, can you?"

"No sir." He said softly.

"Well…you know I'm going to have to punish you now."

"Y-yessir."

Methuss seemed to abruptly change the subject. "So, Omega Neo, what do you think of this dagger?" The oily man asked, smirking. "It's very nice, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yessir."

"But it's no ordinary dagger, you see. Instead of actually killing the person it stabs, it infects them with this new technology I bought from a man who called himself Slade. He called them 'nanobots'. And with a push of the button on this dagger's hilt, they slowly and painfully spread throughout their victim until he or she dies. Once the button's pressed I can't do anything, but I'm told it's a very, very excruciatingly painful process…and it takes three full days to kill you…unless the antidote is given. But I only have enough for one person…and I have enough nanobots to kill quite a few people. I think I'll use them to get rid of my business opponents, like that Bruce Wayne. But first, you see, I need a test subject." The smirk widened and he gasped as the dagger was thrust into his abdomen. "That would be you, of course."

He looked down at the dagger. Surprisingly, he felt no pain even as Methuss withdrew it.

But then the button was pressed.

His mouth opened, but his throat had closed tightly due to the pain, allowing only a small squeak of pain to pass through his lips as he fell to his knees, arms curled around his stomach as blood leaked from his lips to the floor.

'So much for a quick death…'

He was only vaguely aware through the haze of pain of Methuss leaving the room, laughing maliciously as he went.

He choked on a sob as pain coursed through his body like blood.

"I don't want to die…Nemo…I don't want to die…"

Several miles away in a tower shaped like a T, a thief-turned-hero fell into a similar position on the floor and burst into tears.

(THE RUSH)

A/N: Cloak Woman/Miss Ren is Raven, Traffic Light is Robin (b/c I'm sure none of you guessed that, right?), and Annoying Woman is…never mind, if you can't guess who that is you're just stupid.