Chapter Six: So Close

Disclaimer 1: I do not own teen titans or the teen titan's characters – though I do wish I did.

Disclaimer 2: I do though own Max Steeler. She is a character of my original thought and design. Steal and die.

Max's eyes fluttered open. Where was she? Bits and pieces of the fight filtered through her mind. The titans! She remembered. She sprang up, but was whip lashed backwards. Her vision became clear and she moaned. Restraints. One on each arm and leg and one across her chest, strapping her where she lay. Her mind began to race. Voices interrupted the silence in the room. The titans. She listened closer, but only found the sounds to muffled to decipher.

"We searched the girl and her stuff, none of the stolen items turned up. She's clean. And except for the few trackers that we destroyed nothing unusual," Cyborg reported.

"She's working for Slade!" Robin burst, "And you're telling me she's clean?"

"We cannot be certain," Starfire interjected.

"She's wearing his symbol for crying out loud," Robin yelled, the ire rising from within his veins.

"Robin," Raven spoke trying to calm things down. "We all know how much you want to bring Slade down. And yes, this girl might be working for him, but you're not going to find out anything by terrorizing her."

"We're keeping her here, at the tower, until further notice," Robin muttered.

Thick leather straps bound by large metal buckles. Maybe by melting the buckles she could loosen the…

The whooshing sound of two doors opening and closing caught Max's attention. Soon all five titans stood around the bed.

"Let's start with your name," Robin stated. His voice was calm, but possessed an authoritative firmness.

Max debated whether to answer, but reluctantly she gave in. "Max," she stated simply. No further explanation.

"What were you doing out so late?" Robin continued.

"Nothing illegal if that's what you're after," Max remarked.

"You attacked our team," Cyborg pointed out.

"Self defense," Max shot back, "You guys attacked me first!" Her tempter was beginning to set in.

"Okay," Robin snapped grotesquely, "then let's start with that symbol on your shirt! Did you still do nothing wrong?"

Max's eyes fell to the shirt she wore. A long sleeve orange shirt with black sleeves, branded with Slade's logo. She fell silent. How could she be so stupid? That's why they were chasing her. That was the reason she was here. Slade. She looked up, turning her head to Robin. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her voice a few octaves, "I didn't do anything wrong."

Robin gave an aggravated sigh. He leaned over the bed and looked her in the eyes, no doubt glaring behind that mask. She shivered. "You're not leaving the tower."

"How could I?" she answered sarcastically.

Robin turned and left. Cyborg unstrapped her and Max sat up, rubbing her hands.

"Do not be intimidated by our friend Robin," Starfire smiled.

"He can be a bit touchy sometimes," Beastboy added.

Max was about to jump off the bed when Cyborg stopped her, "Not so fast." Cyborg sank to one knee and fastened something around Max's ankle. It was a large, bulky metallic bracelet looking shackle. It conformed to her ankle. Cyborg stood and smiled, "Just to make sure you don't leave."

"So can I go outside?" Max asked.

"Yeah, just not past land. Hit the water and you've gone too far." Cyborg chuckled slightly to himself.

Max forced a small smile and then walked away, pausing before exiting. Once she was out of earshot, Raven turned to the group.

Ï don't trust her," she stated coldly.

"Ah, you don't trust anybody," Beastboy remarked.

"And you do?" Raven shot back.

Beastboy hesitated.

"Even though she had your precious Terra's stuff in her bag you trust her?"

"Don't go there!" Beastboy growled.

"You trust every sob story that walks through our doors!"

"I said don't go there!"

"I just did."

Beastboy clenched his fists and Raven powered up. Starfire was the one who stopped them. "Friends," she pleaded, stepping between them. "Do not do this. I can feel it - the drifting."

"I still don't trust her," raven stated leaving the room.

Max's arms rested gently across her knees as she sat gazing over the water, oblivious to the world and committed only to her thoughts. Slade would come after her. She knew that, didn't she. That's why she was scared. Though it was not the thought of him hunting her that struck fear into her heart, on the contrary, it was what he would do after he caught her that left her petrified.

A noise caused her head to turn and she struggled to her feet. "Who's there?" She called into the darkness, her tension audible. There was no answer. Max stood frozen, listening for any hint of another presence. Another rustle. Max turned toward the sound. "Who's there?" she repeated. When there was no reply, tears filled Max's eyes. "I'm not going back!" she yelled, on the verge of hysteria. "Do you hear me? I'm not going back!"

Raven stepped into view, "Back where?" she asked.

Max looked to the ground. Then, turning away she stared back over the water. "Back to him," she said looking at Raven.

"Slade?"

Max nodded.

"So you were working for him."

Another nod.

"Why?"

Max shrugged.

"You know working for a criminal in return makes you one."

Max shook her head, "You don't understand."

"I'm trying to," Raven stated.

"It's a long story," said Max, sitting back on the ledge.

Raven strode over to Max and sat beside her. "I'm listening," Raven said.

It was those words, the 'I'm listening', which got Max started. For the first time she felt safe. She sighed deeply and returned her eyes to the water. There was a long pause before Max stated. Then, inhaling once more, Max began.

"I heard gunshots and there was this man. He shot me, dumped me in an alley, and left me for dead. I know I would have died if Slade hadn't taken me in. He gave me a home and everything was perfect, or so it seemed…"

Max paused and looked to the sky as if searching for the words. Raven waited patiently.

"There was only one thing her required of me, payment if you wish, to build and design things. Various things: drones, machines, suits. If I didn't finish on time he would beat me, if he didn't like my work he beat me, and if he was in a sore mood he took that rage out on me."

"Why didn't you just leave?"

"He wouldn't let me. Then Terra killed him and I was going to leave, but I was scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Him. Afraid that if I left he'd find me. Besides, where would I go? I know it sounds stupid and maybe it its, but, I don't know, I was just scared."

"You could have come to us."

Max looked into Raven's eyes, "And would you have accepted me? I mean really accepted me?" Her hand tapped the metal shackle around her ankle. They both stood at the same time.

"You and I both know that trust is a hard thing to come by. It's not just handed out to anyone. It's even harder when the person giving it ahs already had that trust broken a few times. You become isolated and suspicious when your trust is broken. You feel used, betrayed and you don't want to feel that way again," Max's eyes filled with intensity. "And I have been working for Slade, the titan's arch enemy. If I were to have come, even if I was accepted I would be trusted. And acceptance without trust is empty. Meaningless. Worthless."

"I believe you," Raven replied genuinely.

"But you don't trust me," Max finished.

Raven couldn't respond. Truth when spoken can strike deep and so it did. Raven left without word and Max looked over the water one last time. Raven's reply, or lack of one, gave Max what she needed. She closed her eyes and slowly the metal restraint began to melt. Max freed the bondage from her ankle and set it aside. She lifted her hands into the air. An anchor flew out of the water in response, the metal melted together, dipped into the water and moved toward Max. Max glanced over her shoulder before disappearing into the night.

A tiny rat scurried out from under a rock, watching the girl descend. Its emerald fur rippled in the gentle breeze like waves of the ocean and its white eyes seemed to glow. Then suddenly the rat shifted, and taking the form of a hawk took flight in pursuit of the girl.

I know another cliffhanger (sorta), but alas, that is all I have for now. :) Read and Review as always.