SPECIAL THANKS TOO BerryDrops, Agent of the Divine One, TAUT13, acosta perez jose ramiro, RinHaru4ever, Royalfire14, Koriand'r Grayson, tennisgal456, SaoirseWaveglow, milkshakelvr, raeXXstarry, vballqueen1792, Kory Anders Grayson, Dust-in, RavenSis AND finalfanatica FOR THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS!
I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN SO LONG. I WAS REALLY BUSY WITH SCHOOL AND STUFF, I HOPE YOU CAN ALL ACCEPT MY APOLOGY.
I DO NOT OWN TEEN TITANS.
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"THIEF" - RED X HAS A NEW JOB. LITTLE DOES HE KNOW HE'LL BE STEALING A LOT MORE THAN ARTIFACTS FROM A MUSEUM.
"THIEF"
The room was dark and quiet. A sole figure was clinging to the wall with a grappling hook, his masked eyes on the prize below him. A small statue of a pegasus was perched on display at Jump City's finest museum. It was a rare artifact carved from stone and it's wings painted with gold. It had rubies for eyes and was worth millions.
The figure hanging from the grappling hook jumped down and landed in front of the display, it's eyes on the statue. The figure wanted it and planned on taking it.
The figure raised his hand, his fingers mere inches away from the statue. The figure hindered himself from making another move and sighed in annoyance at the sound emitted from behind him.
"That's far enough, Red X." Robin said strongly, his eyes narrowed.
Red X lowered his hand and turned around to face the Titans. "Titans... funny seeing you here. If you don't mind I was kinda busy..."
"We do mind." Cyborg said coldly, his arms crossed.
"Well then, it looks like we have ourselves a problem." Red X said coolly as he took out a handful of x's. He narrowed his eyes at the Titans and threw his weapons.
Robin's reaction was immediate. "Titans, go!"
The red x's soared threw the air and Robin quickly took out his birdarangs and threw them at the incoming weapons. The objects clashed with each other and fell to the ground. Robin growled and leaped at Red X throwing a series of kicks and punches. Red X was quick and dodged them all. He saw an opening and using the palm of his hand he struck Robin in the chest and launched a x made of red goo at Robin. The goo spread and the force of it had Robin trapped against a wall.
"Looks like you're in a sticky situation," Red X mocked. "Now to get the statue and-oof."
Before Red X could finish his sentence he was hit by the blast of Cyborg's sonic cannon. Red X tumbled to the floor and landed on his side. He looked up and narrowed his eyes at the Titans. Robin was free and stood in a fighting stance in the middle of a floating Starfire and Raven. Cyborg had his sonic cannon and was ready to shoot at a moment's notice. Beast Boy cradled the statue of the pegasus in his arms and showed no signs of letting it go any time soon.
Red X locked eyes on the statue. He had to get it now. Slowly Red X reached inside his belt and took out a small black ball with a skull on it. Behind the mask he smirked. Before the Titans could react he tossed the ball at them. The ball leaked a red smoke as soon as it touched the floor and the Titans were blinded. With the smoke around them they couldn't see and couldn't react when they felt a presence run past them. Numerous shouts were heard from the Titans until Raven got fed up and used her powers to spread the smoke away. When the smoke cleared five baffled Titans stood in the museum.
Cyborg scratched his head in confusion. "Where'd he go?"
Beast Boy blinked in surprise and looked down at his empty hands. "Uh... dudes..."
-
Red X chuckled as he jumped from building to building with the statue cradled in his hands. He stopped when he landed by the docks and warehouses. His eyes were focused on one warehouse in particular, one that was supposedly abandoned and closed up. Using the button on his belt Red X disappeared from the roof and landed in front of the abandoned warehouse. He quietly walked inside after walking through the slim hole in the wall. The inside of the warehouse was quiet and dark but it didn't stay that way for long.
If by magic the lights in the warehouse turned on, each fluorescent light turning on one by one beginning from the entrance of the room all the way to the back were a man and his two bodyguards resided. The two bodyguards stood on either side of the man who sat down behind a desk. He was a heavy built man wearing a suit. His black hair was combed back and had white side burns. A black mustache was above his lips which were in the form of a frown and his black eyes held a stern look.
"You're late." the man said stoically.
"Yeah, well, I had a little bit of a problem." Red X replied as he placed the statue on top of the man's desk.
"The Titans?" the man asked absently as he observed his prize brought by Red X.
"Yeah." Red X confirmed with a nod of his head.
"They are beginning to become a nuisance."
"They're no match for me," Red X said. "You don't have to worry about them."
"You toke the words right out of my mouth," the man smiled wickedly. "A new customer came to see me today. He's willing to pay big for me to deliver this part of his new project."
"So you need me again don't you?" Red X asked smugly.
The man nodded and snapped his fingers for one of the bodyguards holding a briefcase to go to Red X. The bodyguard stopped when standing in front of Red X and opened the briefcase. Red X's eyes went wide under the mask.
"The zynothium you request is in there along with tonight's payments for a job well done. I also included some new gadgets for the mission I'm sending you on tonight."
Red X let out a long whistle. He looked up at the man sitting at the desk. "This must be an important job for you to reward me like this," Red X smirked under the mask. "So, tell me about my new mission."
"I'm glad you asked. As I said before a new client has come to me asking to capture and deliver a tool to him," the man paused. "He wants one of the Titans."
Red X froze. "Listen, Barter. I'm no fan of the Titans and I know I can take them on but... capturing one and delivering a Titan to you is a completely different game."
"Which is why I have given you new weapons." said Barter irritability.
"But--"
Barter slammed his fist on the desk in anger. "Let me explain something to you, Red X," he began. "You are a thief. I am a business man. I hired you to do work for me. You steal for me. You deliver to me. In exchange I give you the zynothium you need as well as part of my profit for trading goods to my clients. This is how our arrangement words. This is how it will continue to work. Got it?"
Red stood silent.
"Got it?" Barter hissed.
"Yeah...," Red X said after a long pause. "I got it."
"Good," Barter leaned back in his chair and ran a hand over his hair. "This will be your most important mission yet. Do you think you can handle it?"
"I know I can handle it," Red X said with pride. "Just tell me which Titan you want me to go after."
Barter folded his hands and looked at Red X with a serious expression on his face. "Her name is... Starfire."
That was all Red X needed to know before disappearing from the warehouse.
-
"I just don't understand it," Robin exclaimed as he put a hand to his chin in deep thought. He had been going over the Red X case for weeks now and couldn't solve it. "Why would Red X target museums and priceless artifacts?"
"Beats me," Cyborg said as he placed his hands on his hips and stood behind Robin as they faced the window in the common room. "Red X usually goes for things like cash and weapons. Statues aren't on his usual radar."
"Maybe he's starting an art collection." Beast Boy pitched in. His idea was instantly out the window by a slap to his head thanks to Raven.
Raven cast Beast Boy a scathing glance, one that he knew all too well and she turned her head to look at Robin in concern. "Robin, you've been going over this case none stop. Maybe it would be best if you took a rest."
"I can't rest," Robin exclaimed. "Not with Red X still out there committing crimes."
"Red X will be brought to justice," said Starfire as she stood up and went to Robin's side to face him. "But not if you keep pushing yourself like this."
Robin held Starfire's gaze and sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Starfire--"
The blurring red light of the Titan alarm cut off Robin's sentence before he could finish. Cyborg was at the computer in an instant. His face was grim. "It's Red X."
"Where is he located?" asked Raven as she hovered at his side.
Cyborg's fingers typed at an amazing speed and his face was twisted with shock. "... Impossible."
"Uh, what's impossible?" Beast Boy asked as he finally joined his friends at the computer.
"Red X's location... It's here in the tower."
"What?!" Robin's eyes went wide.
"Eeep!" Starfire grabbed Robin's shoulders as all the lights flickered off.
The flash light on Cyborg's shoulder went on in an instant. "Red X cut off the power."
"Great." Raven muttered sarcastically with a roll of her eyes.
"Well if you liked that trick you'll just love this one." echoed Red X's voice as he appeared behind the Titans. Red X quickly reached inside his belt and took out a small metallic disc in the shape of a skull. He threw the object at Cyborg and it stuck to the metal man's chest. It sparked red and Cyborg's body was covered in red sparks.
Cyborg yelled in pain. "My power cells..."
"Are being drained," Red X finished smugly. "Oh but don't worry, you'll live."
"You'll pay for that." Beast Boy growled before shifting into a bear. Raven floated by his side and they charged at Red X.
Red X was ready for them. He launched two x's that were made of goo at them. The attack was a direct hit and it sent Raven and Beast Boy hurtling towards the wall.
Robin growled and took out his bo staff. Robin narrowed his eyes at Red X before jumping at the thief with his bo staff spinning between his fingers.
"Oh come on kid," Red X mocked. "You are making this way too easy."
With that said Red X bestowed Robin with the same treatment he did Raven and Beast Boy. Only this goo wrapped around his entire body making it so that he couldn't move. Robin tried to move his legs but only fell to the ground in doing so.
"Robin!" Starfire cried as she flew towards him with glowing green hands and eyes.
"That's as far as you go cutie." Red X said as he lazily tossed a gas ball with his symbol on it towards Starfire. It exploded and red gas surrounded Starfire.
Starfire coughed and swayed as the gas clouded her senses. Her limbs felt heavy and she flew down to the ground, resting on her knees. She could feel herself getting sleepy and she gave in. She closed her eyes and fell to the ground in an unconscious state.
"Starfire? Starfire?!" Robin called out. He growled and glared at Red X. "What did you do to her?!"
"Relax birdie, she's just... sleeping." Red X answered absently as he scooped up Starfire and threw her gently over his shoulder.
"Where are you taking her?!"
"Some place where you can't find us."
With that said Red X pressed the button on his suit and disappeared, taking Starfire with him.
-
Robin paced and ran a hand over his hair. He was worried about Starfire and he was frustrated with himself for not being able to save her. He had managed to free himself and once he did he wanted nothing more than to go and help Starfire but he couldn't, the others needed him too and he would need their help if he wanted to find Starfire. With that in mind he went to Cyborg first to charge up his power cells. Once Cyborg was up and charged he got to work in finding Starfire while Robin helped free Raven and Beast Boy. They were currently all in the living room with Raven and Cyborg at the main computer while Robin paced behind them and Beast Boy sitting crossed legged on the floor looking at the others.
"What's taking so long, Cyborg?" Robin snapped as he glared and clenched his fist, his pacing coming to a halt. "You should have tracked Starfire already."
"Man, I'm trying but something is blocking her communicator's signal." Cyborg said as he typed at the keyboard.
Robin punched his fist in the palm of his hand and narrowed his eyes. "Why would Red X kidnap Starfire?"
"Maybe he kidnaped her so he could take her out on a romantic date." Beast Boy said as he imagined a small cartoon version of Red X and Starfire by a candle lit dinner.
Robin gritted his teeth and growled, he glared at Beast Boy and his masked eyes looked like they were on fire. Beast Boy shrunk in fear and he could have sworn that he saw smoke coming out of Robin's nose.
Beast Boy's ears dropped and he chuckled nervously while holding up his hands for protection. "Or not."
"Ugh! I can't find Starfire." Cyborg said in frustration.
"What do you mean you can't find her?!" Robin asked, his temper rising.
"Wherever Red X took Star he made sure our tech wouldn't find her."
"Maybe you can't find her," Raven began as she crossed her legs and floated in the air. "But I can. Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!"
-
The want to be awake became necessary as Starfire felt cold, hard ground under her. She knew something was wrong, and when she slowly began to open her eyes her suspicions were confirmed. Starfire was locked within a big glass prison, one much like the one Redstar used on himself but the one she was in had a blue hue to it. Starfire sat up straight and looked at the area that surrounded her prison. She could tell by the interior that she must have been inside a log cabin. She looked forward and her eyes fell on her kidnapper who was sitting comfortably on a wooden chair.
"Hey," Red greeted blandly. "Nice to see you up."
"Why have you brought me here?" Starfire asked softly, using a tone that surprised Red X, as she touched the glass wall of her prison.
"Let's just say it was apart of my job...," Red X said as he watched her stand up and touch the glass at various parts, almost as if she was studying it. "Don't think about escaping, nothing can break in or out of that box you're in."
Starfire looked at him and sighed. She sat back down and rested her chin on her knees. Her eyes were focused on Red X. After a long silence she spoke. "You say you have brought me here because it is apart of your 'job'. Why would your employer hire you to capture me?"
"To get paid, why else." Red X said rather harshly.
"You sound as if you do not like your boss very much." Starfire said softly.
"Because I don't."
"Then why do you work for him?"
"Because that's what us bad guys do." Red X exasperated, growing weary of all of her questions.
"... You do not seem like a 'bad guy' to me," Starfire said softly as she turned her head to the side to avoid Red X's gaze. "You have helped me, and the other Titans before. A bad guy would not do such things... You are different."
Red X got up from his seat and sat in front of Starfire, his eyes locked on her's as if they were in a staring contest. "What makes you say that? What makes you think you know me?"
"Because you remind me of Robin," said Starfire. "You do the messing up but at the end you set things right... Or, at least you have when you helped us."
Red X chuckled. "That's very observant of you, eh, cutie."
"Starfire please. My name is Starfire, not the q of tea."
Red X chuckled once more. "Right... Starfire," he paused. "That's a nice name."
Starfire smiled. "I welcome you."
Red X stood up straight and stretched. He turned his back to Starfire, ready to go and sit in his chair and wait for Barter, then he looked back. He looked back and saw those big, beautiful green eyes and he suddenly felt guilty inside. Here was this innocent girl who had taken the time to look beyond the line of heros and look inside of him. She saw more to him than just the theif, she saw a good person. And here he was, ready to exchange her for a profit. Red X sighed, he knew this wasn't right.
"I see now what birdboy likes so much about her." Red X whispered to himself as he went over to Starfire's cage. There was a small keypad on the front and Red X began to punch in a series of numbers using his index finger.
"What are you doing?" Starfire asked curiously as she stood up to her feet.
"Freeing you." Red answered bluntly as he continued to type in the code as quick as possible.
"But... What about your boss?" Starfire asked in concern. She was grateful to him for doing this and she so desperately wanted her freedom, but she couldn't help but wonder if Red X would get hurt for doing this.
"What about him?" Red X said indifferently as he typed in the last piece of the code. Just as he was about to type in the last of the code he stopped. A voice wavered over to him.
"Well, well, well...," Barter began with an amused tone as he stepped into the cabin room with his body guards falling into step behind him. "Look at what we have here." Barter dropped his amused voice and his tone hardened. "Red X, I'm surprised you would betray me to help save a super hero. Surely we can talk about this."
"I'm through talking with you." Red X hissed as his finger inched closer towards the 'enter' button on the keypad.
"You're making a big mistake..."
"No," Red X's voice was calm and genuine. "I'm making the right one."
The glass walls surrounding Starfire sunk into the ground like the windows to a car door when Red X pressed the 'enter' button. Starfire's eyes glowed green and she stepped besides Red X with a fierce expression on her face.
Barter gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "Take care of this and get the girl. We'll deal with that traitor later."
Barter stepped out of the cabin and walked over to a black car which was waiting for him. The car drove away and once it did the bodyguards left in the cabin took out weapons from their pockets as they advanced towards Red X and Starfire.
"How about we take these guys out." Red X said coolly as he pulled out his weapons.
Starfire paused for a moment and looked at Red X with thoughtful eyes. She smiled at him and raised her glowing hands. "Let's."
Just as the two opposing sides were about to clash with each other a huge form of a black raven appeared between them. The bodyguards were instantly wrapped in black magic and forced against the wall. Four Titans poured out of the black raven and appeared in the cabin.
Starfire's powers flickered off instantly and she beamed with a smile on her face. "Friends! It is glorious to see you!"
"Starfire, you're okay!" Beast Boy cried joyously as he prepared to hug his friend.
"No thanks to you guys." Red X mocked.
Raven narrowed her eyes and used her powers to wrap Red X up like she did the bodyguards.
Cyborg had his sonic cannon pointed at Red X in and instant with a frown on his face. "I'd be quiet if I was you."
"Stop!" cried Starfire as she guarded Red X with her body, creating a wall between him and her friends. "You have it all wrong. Red X is not the enemy. He freed me from my imprisonment."
"Yeah," said Raven as she crossed her arms. "After kidnaping you."
"Save your breath, Star," said Red X. "Your friends don't trust me."
"Star?" Robin questioned with a raised brow. He narrowed his eyes at Red X and pointed a finger at him. "You can't call her Star, only I--only we can call her Star." Robin coughed after correcting his mistake and blushed a little.
"Robin, Red X is not our enemy," Starfire said softly. "You believe me, don't you?"
Robin turned his head to the side to avoid Starfire's gaze. "I believe you, Starfire, really I do but...," he looked at her with a stern expression on his face. "We're heroes and Red X is a criminal. I'm sorry but this is the way it has to be."
"I believe I have a say in this." Red X said cooly as he wiggled an arm free and reached inside his belt. He pulled out a smoke bomb and quickly tossed it. The room filled with smoke and when it disappeared so did Red X.
"Dudes," began Beast Boy after a long pause. "This is like, the third time today Red X has escaped from us!"
Raven rolled her eyes and delivered a blow to Beast Boy's head.
-
The room was dark with only one lightbulb hanging from the wall to provide light. Barter stood under the light and though he tried not to express his fear it was easily noticeable.
"My deepest apologies," Barter said with a lowered head. "I had no idea the situation would get so... out of hand."
"You failed me, Barter."
Barter took a step back in fear. "Please! Give me one more chance! Surely there is something I can do for you."
"Something you can do for me..." chuckled the voice and Barter could hear footsteps coming closer to him.
He panicked and stepped back some more, causing his head to bump into the lightbulb. Barter tripped to the ground and the light began to swing back and forth, shining light on to different areas. A masked figure came into Barter's view as the light flashed against it's form. The figure's mask was black and orange. The light stopped swinging and the figured leaned down and Barter got the whole view of the mask.
One eye looked at Barter and the voice spoke again. "I think that's the smartest thing you said all day."
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NEXT CHAPTER: A NEW HERO APPEARS IN STEEL CITY. ONLY FIVE MORE CHAPTERS LEFT UNTIL THE STORY ENDS! A COOKIE TO THOSE WHO FIGURED OUT WHO BARTER WAS SPEAKING WITH AT THE END.
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