So I'm kinda hoping that the story starts to pick up a bit more speed here. Or do you think I'm progressing things too quickly? Reviews welcome, as always ;) sorry for taking so long homework's a b*tch and a half if ya know what I mean…. Ah well that's college I s'pose.

On the other side of town lay yet another warehouse. This one however, was occupied, though whether it was officially was a bit of a mystery. This warehouse was home to a certain weapons provider that villains liked to employ. He was rather famous in some circles: Professor Chang. He was not strong, he was not powerful; but he was smart, manipulative and cunning. He also had musclemen equipped with tazing spears and other such weapons to protect him.

As clients went, he was a rather good one. He wasn't any real threat; he was just doing his job like Vendetta, though she hated to have any sort of connection to him. He was slimy, slippery, like an eel. But he paid well enough and she was able to make connections to his clients.

Her last mission-the one where she had attempted (unsuccessfully) to speak to Robin-had been for the Professor. He probably could have done it himself, considering there wasn't much security on what Vendetta had retrieved, but she figured he just liked the idea of ordering someone about, even if he had to pay a rather hefty sum to do so.

She sauntered into the warehouse, picking her way over large chords and wires. She was tossing a small metal sphere into the air and catching it with one hand, allowing it to soar higher and higher each time she released it.

The professor watched her warily, on guard and ready to call his henchmen at any moment. Thief-for-hire the boy may be, but Chang didn't reach his position of weapons provider for the whole of Jump City by acting recklessly. The girl came to a halt a few feet away from Chang, still tossing the sphere absentmindedly. He plastered on a fake smile, the edges of his lips stretching in a manner he was obviously unaccustomed to. "Ah, Vendetta, how good to see you. I take it that the mission was successful?" he simpered.

In answer, Vendetta tossed the sphere at the professor, who scrambled to catch the contraption before it hit the floor, the sneer finally torn off his greasy face. "The Titans showed up, Chang. That doubles my fares," she informed him, her electronically lowered voice taking on a tone of immense boredom.

The scientist glared at the thief, who either didn't notice or simply didn't care. "You attracted them, Vendetta. That's not my problem if you can no longer keep a low profile," he snarled. When it came down to it, Chang had very little power, yet he wasn't afraid to wield the little that he had. He believed he have enough to bully his hired thief.

Vendetta finally glanced at Chang, frowning beneath her mask. Client though he may be, Chang was a simpering idiot who thought Vendetta worked for him because she was subservient to him. She was growing tired of these possessive villains. She stalked closer to him, invading his space. He tried to back up, but Vendetta simply followed.

"I'm a thief, Chang. I take what's mine," she bumped Chang's hand, forcing him to release the sphere. It flew up into the air. Vendetta reached up and plucked it right out of Chang's outstretched hand. She retreated a few steps, holding the sphere warningly. "I want my full cut, Professor," She told him calmly, her visor glinting in the overhead lights of the warehouse where Chang was stationed.

With a sigh, the man nodded in defeat and Vendetta couldn't help but to suppress a smirk. She had to had admit, it felt good to have even a little bit of control over someone, especially after not even having any control over her own life when Slade got involved.

Vendetta sauntered over to the Professor and placed the sphere in his hand, which was now stretched out expectantly. She didn't have to worry about him backing down on his end of the deal; he always paid up; he had to if he wanted her services again. "What is it, anyways?" Vendetta asked as Chang turned away from her. The man froze in his tracks, as if her question had shocked him completely.

"You stupid boy," he sneered. "You went tossing it around without even knowing what it is? This is a xenothium reactor, very unstable and very dangerous," he turned slightly to face her, his face twisted with scorn. Vendetta shrugged, sending him a dirty look that was shielded from view by both her mask and goggles. He started to walk away once more and Vendetta followed.

"So who's the reactor for then, anyway? Not many people have much need for stuff like that," Vendetta tried again. She was rewarded with an answer, one not quite as rude as the one before.

Professor Chang didn't stop this time to give her a reply. Instead, Vendetta was forced to follow him up and down metal ramps and platforms that rose around the entire warehouse. Vendetta noted that there was a good amount of villains who had a taste for stationing themselves in warehouses.

"Some new thief, like you. I don't ask questions, it puts clients off. Perhaps it's a talent you should learn to pick up?" at this last remark, Chang craned to look over his shoulder as he walked, a cruel sneer curling at his lips as he leered at Vendetta.

Vendetta didn't answer. Many of her clients thought that she was scum compared to them, that she was lowly and there to serve only their needs. It was part of the job. No one likes a sneak. Vendetta could handle the cold smirks and grating comments about her profession; she hated most of the other thieves herself. It was the way of the criminal. Vendetta may have been at the top of the realm of the thieves, but that didn't mean she was worth anything to the rest of them.

"He'll be here soon, so get out of here before he sees you," Chang ordered. "I have enough work to do without you getting in my way."

Vendetta nodded to his retreating back, too deep in thought to catch the rudeness in his tone. She melted in to the shadows around the warehouse, swinging out a small ventilation window in a back alley. She crouched to the ground behind a pile of irreparable machinery that was destined for the dump.

She did not have to wait very long. The new thief must have entered almost as soon as she left and left just as quickly. He took the same exit she did. A rookie mistake.

"You never exit through such a small window when you're around villains, kid," Vendetta called out, smirking as she stepped around the hunk of metal. Her arms were crossed over her chest, completely nonchalant and at ease.

The thief started, obviously not expecting anyone to have found him. He twisted to face Vendetta. "Well I could say the same to you, right? You must've taken the same way."

Vendetta chuckled, allowing her arms to swing to her sides. "Aw, kid, you're cute. I took that way 'cause I figured you would too. It's dangerous to leave this way. Did you even scope it out before you took this exit?" when the other thief didn't answer Vendetta took it as an affirmation. "This is a tough job, bub. I don't think I've seen you before in the city. Why are you going to Chang?" Vendetta asked.

The thief turned away, unwilling to answer. "That's none of your business, mister. I'm just looking to make a quick buck, isn't that why any of us get into this job?" Vendetta didn't believe his answer for a moment, but she decided to say nothing; let him think she would believe such a stupid response. There was silence for a moment then he ventured: "Why did you wait for me anyways?"

Vendetta cocked her head to the side, her arms back to lie crossed over her chest. "Curiosity, kid," she replied "I wanted to know who the new guy in town was,"

The thief looked at her for a long moment "You're Vendetta, aren't you?"

"The one and only," Vendetta announced proudly, but she watching him carefully now. If he was a newbie, even with how careless she'd been lately, there was no way he could have heard of her yet.

He very obviously was not a thief for the reason he gave her; he probably wasn't even actually any kind of criminal, but why would he be here then? Vendetta didn't know, but she hoped to find out- you don't rise to the top of your field without knowing your own people. And if he was really just a stupid kid who thought he could get away with this life without getting caught and doing nothing to protect himself, then she would do her best to turn him back to the light. No one deserved this life if they could avoid it. There had been no one for Vendetta; she'd make damn well sure that that wouldn't have to happen to anyone else.

"You a merc?" she asked, staring at him levelly. She thought he wasn't going to answer, so she was a little surprised when he finally did after a moment.

"Yeah, but I haven't had much luck in the way of clients,"

~*~Thief's POV~*~

Vendetta didn't trust me, I knew that. How could he, in this kind of profession? But Vendetta could help me get what I wanted, so I played along. Vendetta didn't reply; he didn't need to. He had to know the person I was looking for. He could take me right to him.

"You're at the top of the ring in the city, right? Maybe you could help me get started on my rep," I offered. It was a long shot, but it might make me seem more naïve and trustworthy-just enough for Vendetta to let his guard down.

"I don't help grunts," Vendetta said, voice dripping with sudden scorn.

"That's fine," I amended hastily, switching tactics. "Well, I know of a few of the bigger masterminds, maybe you could put in a good word for me or give me some information on how to find them?"

I could tell that this piqued Vendetta's curiosity, though he clearly knew it was against his better judgment to ask

Interest won out and Vendetta probed "Like who?" I had to smile to myself. He may be one of the best, but he could definitely make slip ups, and that would lead me right to where I want to go.

I pretended to think a moment, trying to remember name of criminals who had a penchant for using thieves as their underlings, but I knew exactly who I was after. "Well, let me think… I know of Mad Mod, Killer Moth…oh… and Slade?" I was as nonchalant as I could be, especially with Slade. He was the one I was after, the only one that mattered.

Vendetta seemed bored with my first two suggestions, but as soon as he heard Slade every muscle in his body tensed up. "Listen here, kid," He said voice harsh with intensity. "Do not go to Slade, no matter what. The guy's a total nutbag. You'll regret working for him. Trust me."

That took me aback. Vendetta knew Slade on a personal level? I knew he'd run into trouble recently that somehow had something to do with the villain, but to actually have a tie to him… this was a game changer.

I played stupid. "You know of him?" I asked, allowing hope to color my voice. I had to pass off as an actual thief, he had to trust me enough to give me the information I want.

Vendetta stared hard at me, trying to scrutinize my masked face from behind his own shielded visage (teehee…visage…). "Where did you even hear about him? He's underground still. Most of us don't even know of him. I didn't until he contacted me," Crud. Now what do I say? I hadn't been counting on the fact that Slade was still underground.

I opted for nonchalance. "I've just heard the name around since coming here. Heard he's been stirring up trouble for the Titans," Vendetta grunted noncommittally; he didn't believe me. This was not going the way I had expected at all.

"Look kid, I know this whole thief thing might sound like fun now, but trust me it's not. You've got all sortsof people after you: police, other thieves, the Titans- when they finally catch word of you- masterminds when they think you've cheated them, everyone. You're going to be running for the rest of your life, get it?" Don't do it if you can do anything else," Vendetta advised me, surprisingly earnest. "And if you really can't get yourself out of this, then at least don't go to Slade, for the love of God,"

"You sound strangely sincere about that," I ventured at the end of his rant. I was a little shoch at how vehement he sounded.

"I know of a lot of people who got the short end of the stick in life after they entered this world, kid. I don't want to see it happen to anyone else," Came the short reply.

I couldn't let him get away; this guy had valuable information about Slade and I was not going to lose that. "What if I joined you? Then I wouldn't be ableto do anything too stupid, and you can train me to take care of myself until I can go on my own?" I proposed, the words just streaming out of my mouth before I could stop them. Even as I was speaking, I was cursing myself. Stupid! HE's going to catch on for sure!

Vendetta didn't answer immediately; he just stood there, head cocked to the side, like he was deep in thought. I Cringed as I waited for him to speak.

"Okay, I'll do it."

What.

~*~Vendetta's POV~*~

This kid really was bold. No one had ever flat out asked her to partner up before. The kid would be trouble, but he was interesting, and she could still try to turn him form the path of the criminal.

"I'll do it," She went on. The thief looked stunned, as if he couldn't believe it. Better start believing, Champ. I want to know what you're up to.

"What's your name, kid?" She asked.

"You can call me Red X,"

Im sorry… I didn't mean to wait so long to post. I just started college this year so im getting into the swing of things. Anywho, I pretty sure that even before he named himself it was pretty obvious that it was you-know-who. I want to pick up the pace of this a tad because I have a lot more I want to do with it and the longer it takes the less motivation I have. Kindly review as always! Tell me what I can do better! Just please no flames! Ta~