Summary: The Titans discover a shy heroine, and offer her a place in their family. But can she overcome her fears, herself, and her secret crush? Red X/OC

Chapter Four: Catch

Snow wriggled like a snake under a firm grip that clung to her waist and mouth. She was so panicked she couldn't even change form. Red X tightened his grip as Snow tried to shrink away from him. She shivered as she felt the warm dampness from the cloth that covered his mouth close to her neck. She was torn between horror and disbelief. How'd he break in? What was he doing here?

"Calm down Peachy," he whispered, "I don't want to do any more damage than necessary," He eased his hand off her mouth and spun her around. She was shaking like a leaf. With his mask, Red X looked like a Grim Reaper.

"What do you want?" she whispered.

"What I came for last time," she was pushed back onto the bed. She feared the worse, but was less tense when he chose simply to lean against the door.

"Didn't it bother you that a pretty gem like that was in a science center?" It took a moment for Snow to realize he was talking about the artifact they had protected.

"I wasn't...paying attention..." she said in a hushed voice, looking away from Red X. The way he sounded and looked at her made her shiver.

"Well if the Boy Wonder was a little more through in telling you what you guys got your butts kicked for," he smirked in remembrance, "He'd tell you it was a xenothium regenerator. But he at least told you about the suit?"

"Ummm...." At her lack of response, Red X looked almost overwhelmed with impish glee.

"Oho! Keeping secrets? I find that attractive..." he cooed slightly, lifting her face up with his forefinger, "Nothing that your cute little face doesn't already do," Snow bit back a harsher retort.

"It's not my place to pry into his business!"

"It's his place to trust you," he responded simply, pulling away with a drawl, "Or does the little Boy Wonder find himself above trusting others?"

"He can trust who he wants," Snow bit back, trying not to sound bitter, "Its only fair he trusts me first."

"But that's beside the point," he said, waving it off like a speck of dust, "Here's my question; where's the regenerator?" he asked, gripping her wrist tightly, hovering over her small body like a vulture, "Be nice and tell me or I'll regrettably have to break your wrist." He squeezed tightly in emphasis, making Snow wince.

"No-" she said trying to pull away, already morphing into stone. Red X pinned her down and yanked the wrist that hadn't been transformed yet. Snow made to cry out in pain when his other hand clamped against her mouth. His heavier, fitter body nearly crushed Snow's petite frame. The gleam in his eyes was almost playfully inhuman.

"Tell me..." he growled lowly, his hand moving from her mouth to her neck. Snow was terrified, too terrified to focus. She attempted to buck him off, but he was heavier and physically stronger than her and she could barely move under his weight. It didn't help that his hand was tightening around her neck and wrist. She barely breathed as the constricting hand clenched tightly, leaving bruises on her neck.

"N-no..." she gasped, "Don't...know..."she could barely talk but he heard clearly. He sighed as he loosened his grip.

"Pity, but..." he pressed a smelly cloth against her nose with much less pressure, "You'll do."

The mixture of trying to gain back her lost breath, her aching neck and arm, and the dizzying smell of chloroform was too much. She was pushed over the edge in a dark abyss...only aware of a pair of arms lifting her up with the upmost gentility...

When Snow roused back to consciousness, she tried to open her eyes. They felt heavier than before, and everything was still dark. The soft fabric rubbing behind her ears and wound tight behind her head indicated she was obviously blindfolded. She felt for her arms. They were bound more roughly, with a coarse rope. The same went for her feet. Her back was propped up against what felt like steel bars. The lack of sight opened up the others senses. A thick, heavy smell of gunpowder and sea salt hung in the air, and there were audible sounds of machine cogs churning in protest as they squeaked and rattled with age. The air felt chilly, and Snow was thankful for her choice in warm clothing. She pushed herself up with her knees against the bars of her cage. Quietly...she called out.

"H-hello?"

Nothing. Red X must have gone. Bargaining with the Titans no doubt. Snow slowly tried to transform-

*ZAP*

She shrieked as she was met with an unpleasant shock. It disappeared fairly quickly, but Snow was left stinging and twitching in pain, a slight burn on her wrists from where her arms had snapped and jolted up in shock. Snow slumped miserably against the bars. Obviously Red X had foreseen that. But now she felt some strange vibration in her chest. Was this an aftershock? Then her eyes flew open in realization.

Her communicator!

She tried to stay calm. Red X could be back any minute...but apparently he didn't know her communicator was in her coat's chest pocket. If she could slide off the blindfold at least...she'd be able to pull out the communicator with her teeth and try to call the Titans and keep a look out for Red X. She firmly pressed the back of her head against the bars and moved around until she felt one of the bars hit the knot tying the blindfold together. Very carefully, in case Red X came back, she nodded her head, pushing the knot further up. It was made of some smooth silkly material, and soon flopped off as it slid against her ears. She opened her eyes, slightly itched from ruffled eyelashes. She saw she was now in a warehouse...with many wooden crates building a slight wall around her cage piled on top like a fortress, bidding only one entry through a gap. She didn't see much beyond the gap, but she did see the edge of a simple makeshift bed and table that must be Red X's. Above were rusted metal tiles with cracked, but not shattered, glass, showing a grey sky, and often a few seagulls swept by, crying out in the bitter chill. Metal frames held the entire place together. It was the perfect, classic hideaway.

Snow returned to the matter at hand. Nudging at the communicator, still vibrating stubbornly in the pocket, she pushed it up with her knees and yanked at her coat with her teeth. Finally, with aching wrists and ankles from where the ropes had burned her skin, it fell gently in her lap, Titan logo bold white against yellow and black. She picked it up gingerly with her teeth and clumsily pushed the button with her forehead. In and instant, the welcome sight of Raven flashed on the screen. Her cape was fluttering behind her, and Snow could only guess she was on top of Titan Tower.

"Snow?"

"Raven! Oh God I'm so sorry-" Snow began, but Raven cut her off.

"Stop. Wait. Where are you? What's going on? FIrst Red X shows up and says he has our jewel, then Robin runs of...what's going on?" Raven said smoothly and quietly, she noticed snow furtive glances around her cell.

"I can't explain now but if Red X tries to bargain with you guys on anything...and I mean anything...don't accept! It's not...I'm not...worth being traded for."

"Wait...do you mean-" A loud clang made Snow quake with terror.

"I gotta go! Don't call back please!" Snow hurriedly jammed her head on the communicator, shutting off anything Raven was about to say, and quickly stuffed it out of sight behind her knees. She watched horrified at the gap as a familiar shadow filled the space.

Red X was home.