Hey guys, I'm back after my four month long hiatus. Sorry to keep you waiting but alas school comes first. Still I'm determined to get this story finished. I appreciate the readers who haven't given up on me and of course the new ones who just started. You all rock! Anyway, on with the story!

I do not own Teen Titans

Chapter 9 (What's Freedom Worth?)

Despite the fact that they had arrived at the Gotham City Detention Center, Raven's hands did not leave the steering wheel. She stared ahead at the long gates and the guards posted around the perimeter. Anywhere that was not Gar's disbelieving eyes.

"Raven, are you telling me that your ex forced you to kill someone?" Gar demanded. "You, Raven Roth who refused to play video games with me because they were 'mindless killing simulations'? There's no way such a thing could happen!"

The girl smiled softly at her defense. "Well, I did not go through with it, if that's what you're wondering. My father might have been an insane jerk but I am not a killer. The only thing I wanted was freedom but Malchior thought this was my only option if I wanted to escape."

Raven fidgeted uncomfortably as she continued. She remembered how trapped she felt back home and the confusion over Malchior. Was it only a few years ago that it happened? Still she took a deep breath and continued on with her story.

"He placed the gun in my hand and when my dad was in sight, he held me close and demanded that I shoot him. My father would have been unaware and it would have been easy but I didn't do it. Malchior got mad when I refused, so he grabbed the gun out of my hand and shot my father himself. I panicked and called 911 and before I knew it, the police were arresting Malchior and taking him away in handcuffs."

Gar's eyes widened in shock. "Did he kill your dad with that one gun shot? If he saw you reaching for your phone then he might have missed."

"He lived" Raven replied dryly. "But I couldn't exactly stay at home anymore. I avoided my father till graduation and with the money I made doing part-time jobs, I used to buy my old and fairly cheap house. It wasn't over though. No matter where I went, nightmares would surface."

"This punk didn't bother you again did he?" Gar demanded. "Have you seen him around the neighborhood? I want to keep an eye out for him just in case."

He threw a punch into his fist to emphasis his point but Raven just rolled her eyes.

"Not yet, but when Kori showed up with an eerily similar story, I had a feeling he was returning. I don't know why or how he got out of prison but something's up. That's why I called in a favor for an old acquaintance of mine to look into this. There's also the problem that Kori still has no idea of how bad Malchior really is, especially if that guy really was her ex."

Gar took hold of Raven's hands and smiled softly at her. "You'll have to tell Kori eventually."

The girl narrowed her eyes. "I wanted to but then that would mean I would have to tell her everything and I mean everything! Like the fact that I almost murdered someone in cold blood. If she knew the truth then she would probably hate me and never speak to me again. We finally resolved that one fight and I don't want to start another one. Besides, I'm tired of being alone."

"But you're not alone. You got Victor, Richard and especially Kori! They will always be your friends, no matter what!" Gar assured her with a smile.

Raven raised an eyebrow at his last sentence. "You're not including yourself in my list of friends. Funny, you were the most persistent out of all of them to get close to me."

"Well…" Gar began. "Maybe because I see you as something that's even better. I see a beautiful woman who was willing to protect her friends and family no matter what. I also see you as a kinder person then you let on and… I bet you secretly laugh whenever I try to include you in on my jokes."

By now Raven felt her cheeks warm up at his praise. He really was laying it on thick but there was not a trace of irony in his voice. He was being sincere and the way he was looking at her, well she found herself feeling a whole bunch of strange emotions. Part of her screamed that she should get out of here but mostly Raven wanted this moment to never end.

Gar saw her expression and gave her a warm smile. Still holding her hands, he pulled her close to him in a comforting hug. She leaned awkwardly against his chest and almost as if she was in a daze, found herself smiling back at him. She didn't even really mind when he leaned over and kissed her softly.

Raven even felt herself responding to his gentle kisses, returning them with her own enthusiasm. She had kept all the frustration and desire inside for so long that for the first time she did not care about the repercussions. Instead she pulled him closer and threaded her fingers through his blonde hair. She held him on to him as though she were afraid that he would disappear, because too often fate had a habit of being both kind and cruel. The moment ended sooner then she would have liked because the sound of footsteps soon brought Raven out of the lovesick daze she found herself in.

Scowling upward she saw an elderly man looking at her in bemusement. "When you told me you were coming I didn't expect that you'd bring…company Raven. Do you still want to talk or should we move our appointment to another time?"

Raven pushed Gar away in embarrassment and smoothed down her ruffled clothes, while Gar annoyed by the brush off studied the older man in front of him. "So…I'm guessing this was the acquaintance you contacted earlier?"

"Yes Gar, this is Police Commissioner James Gordon. Commissioner, this is Gar my ur…friend." Raven explained, obviously trying to return to business. "I came here to talk to you about the attempted murder case involving Malchior Draco back in 2009."

Gordon nodded. "Yes, you mentioned that over the phone. I'm not surprised that you wanted to contact me but really there's nothing I can do. Mr. Draco's case was reevaluated a few months ago and because there was some damaged proof and the fact that it was his first offense, he was put on parole until there would be further investigation."

"But that's insane!" Raven growled. "Malchior almost killed my father and now he is loose on the streets? I have reason to believe he was the one who vandalized my house and attacked my friend Kori. You have to stop this Commissioner."

"Believe me I want to." Gordon insisted. "But we need further proof. Did you actually see him attack Kori or vandalize your house?"

"Well not exactly" Raven admitted. "I was asleep when he shattered the window and Kori still isn't sure if her ex and mine are the same guy. She says he looks different but she won't actually tell me what's going on. All she does is avoid the problem."

"Then I can't help you." Gordon sighed. "I wish there was something I could do. I don't like Mr. Draco anymore then you do Raven but my hands are tied."

Gar quietly listening the entire time, jumped up out of his seat and ran over to Gordon with a big smile on his face. "So…you want proof? We'll just have to get you proof then! It couldn't be too hard right? Come on Raven, we can't just give up."

"What do you propose we do then?" Raven inquired.

"Hey Commissioner…you wouldn't have some technological thingamajigs do you?" Gar asked curiously. "Like some sneaky spy stuff or something cool like that?"

"Well I…." Gordon stuttered. "I suppose but it's not like you can just…"

"Awesome! Wait right here Raven, me and the commissioner will be back in a second. I have an awesome idea but you can't know about it. At least not yet anyway." Gar grinned mischievously. "Are you coming Commissioner? You have to show me where you keep that cool spy stuff and I'll explain on the way."

The two men wandered off inside one of the main buildings while Raven remained in the car. She sighed and shook her head in frustration. "Why does my life have to be so complicated?" She muttered irritably to herself.