Chapter 12

2 Weeks Later

Predator sniffed the air as he carefully followed Luna's scent across the rooftops. He eventually reached her location and spotted her in an alleyway; she was standing toe-to-toe with a guy holding a knife.

The man grunted as he lunged at her. She swiftly stepped to the side and kneed him in the stomach, grabbing his arm and holding him in an armlock. As he howled in pain, she kicked him in the face and finished him with a roundhouse kick.

"You've been gettin' better at that." Predator said as he landed behind her. She jumped as she looked at him in surprise.

"Oh, hey. Thanks." She said, blowing a strand of hair out of her face.

"What'd you bust 'im for?"

"Breaking and entering."

"Nice call." Predator commented. "You contact the heat?"

"Almost." Luna said, pulling out her phone.

A few minutes later, Predator and Luna sat on another rooftop as the cops carried the man into the car - while he screamed obscenities at everyone - and drove off.

"Their reactions are priceless." Luna chuckled. Predator smiled briefly but then frowned as he watched the cars drive off. She quickly noticed. "You okay?"

"Hm? Oh yeah, I'm alright. I just...I'm just thinkin', I guess.'"

"About...?"

"I've been doin' this vigilante stuff for a while now and...I just keep askin' myself if I'm really makin' a difference. Sure, I get the thrill and the satisfaction from locking up criminals but in the end, I just feel like I'm playin' the same game over and over again. Get what I'm sayin'?"

Luna stared at him for a bit.

"Can I ask you something, Stripes?" She asked.

"Uh...okay?" He responded in confusion.

"Why do you do it? I mean, why do you go around beating up criminals? Did something happen that brought you to this point or is it for… 'other' reasons?"

Predator looked down in thought, despite her abruptly shifting the subject.

"Honestly..." He started. "I just like the notion that I'm doin' some good. The thing is...when I was ten, my dad was killed in accident; I was there - I pretty much watched it happen - and it ended up turning me into this. Since that day, all I've tried to do was run away, desperately tryna forget it all happened. But I can't get away - sometimes I think it's 'cause that whole situation was a crazy tragedy in the form of a life lesson: to really cherish what you have before it's gone; and what a lesson it was that day, 'cause I hated him for a while before that. I wouldn't blame him if he hated me, too."

She was stunned by the end of his response, but noticed the tone in his voice signalled regret.

"Did they...ever get the guy who killed your dad?"

"No...they didn't." Predator answered, angrily, thinking back on it all.

"Can I be...honest with you?" She asked.

"Yeah?"

"I think the reason you fight crime is because you still wanna make your dad proud." She said, not looking at him, directly. Predator's eyes widened at her from the statement. "You said you regret how you treated your dad; you constantly blame yourself for what happened to him, so you wish to atone for everything by making light of your powers and doing some good in the world and all you want is to let him know how sorry you are. But the thing of it is, Stripes, is that sometimes making a difference doesn't involve changing the world, but changing who you are, individually."

The moonlight struck Luna with intensity. Her hair gracefully blew against the wind as she looked at Predator with an assuring smile.

"So to answer your question: yes, you are making a difference and your dad would be proud of you."

Her words struck him harder than ever and tears started to form in Predator's eyes. He raised a hand to cover his face. His body started trembling uncontrollably and he sniffled quietly. Luna was caught off guard; even though she gave the sermon, she never expected him to have such an emotional reaction. Throughout their partnership, she mainly saw that tough, broody and hot-headed vigilante - but seeing all of this right in front of her made her feel there was more than meets the eye. Under all of his animalistic character was a broken boy who would give anything for the life he had before.

She slowly reached out and wrapped her arm around him. He dug his head into her shoulder, to which she wrapped him in a caring hug. He then brought his head up and looked at her, his mask profusely dripping with tears. She stared at him sympathetically and wiped his tears. Predator was unable to take his eyes off her and neither could she; her hand remained on his face. The entire vibe made them grow closer together. To Predator, it seemed like Luna knew him better than anyone ever did; they spent so much time together, he wasn't ever aware that there was something growing between them.

He slowly brought his hand up and caressed the front of her hair - revealing both of her sparkling violet eyes. and slowly leaned towards her. Luna found herself doing the same. They closed their eyes as they grew closer and closer until:

"Wait..." She mumbled quietly, placing her finger against Predator's lips.

"What?" He asked. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, it's just... will you do something for me, first?"

"What is it?"

"Will you… take off your mask?"

"What?" He replied, feeling caught off guard. "Why?"

"If I'm… if we're gonna do this, then I need to know that there's trust. I want us to be completely honest with each other and I...I want to start by seeing you; the real you." Luna moved her hands up to his mask.

Predator held his breath for a moment as she reached for the edges. After a moment of hesitation, he reached up and grabbed her hands, stopping her.

"What's wrong?" Luna asked, concerned.

"Luna...I...I can't." Predator said as he stood up.

"Why not?" Luna stood up with him as he turned away from her.

"I just... I can't do it."

"Why not? Are you hiding something?"

"No."

"Do you not trust me?"

"No, it's not llike that."

"Are you afraid of something?"

"No." He repeated, growing frustrated.

"Is the mask more important than me or your friends?"

"What the - no!"

"Then what is it!?" She yelled, angrily.

"Nothing! It's complicated for me, alright? I can't do it!"

"You can't - or you wont?" She asked, frustrated. He looked downward, not giving her an answer. She scoffed in disbelief. "I don't believe it. You're letting a stupid mask dictate your feelings and emotions."

"I don't let a mask control anything! I got my own reasons for this, okay!?"

"You're just using that mask as a shield! You think it's more important than those who really care about you!"

"I just said it's not like that!" Predator shouted. "I'm not takin' off the freakin' mask. Now quit buggin' me about it and screw off!"

Luna's expression shifted from anger to hurt as her head slowly dropped, her hair now preventing him from seeing her eyes. Predator's annoyance shifted to remorse once he noticed a teardrop fall down her cheek, leaving a black trail of mascara down her face. Predator let out a quiet sigh as he slowly approached her.

"Ah, no." He mumbled. "Luna, look, I'm sorry."

Luna quickly turned away from him as she began to sob audibly.

"I didn't mean it like that." Predator insisted, as apologetically possible. "The mask isn't important to me; honest it's not."

Luna continued to cry while still looking away.

"Luna..." Predator pleaded. "I swear I didn't mean any of that. I want ya to trust me; I need ya to trust me. I don't wanna end the night with you hatin' me. I haven't cared about anyone the way I do you; not in a long time. You gotta believe me."

"I...I don't know..." She said, hesitantly. "I don't think I can."

"I'll make it up to ya, I swear!" He pleaded. "Tomorrow, I'll do it."

"Do what?" She lightly turned her head but not enough for him to see her face.

"I'll...take off the mask."

"...Okay." She replied, choking back a hot sob.

"...So, tomorrow?"

"Mm-hm..."

"...Can I-"

"Just go." Luna interrupted, voice breaking. "Go before I change my mind."

Predator opened his mouth to speak, but ceased as he let out a sigh. He turned away to leave and resigned himself. He leapt over the side of the building and jumped off the building, disappearing into the night. Part of him felt he should've looked back to see if she would look at him, but deep down he knew she wouldn't. A perfect moment ruined by his owned insecurities; he blenched at the thought.

Luna finally looked back towards the direction Predator took off in. Her face was puffy and covered in streams of her runny make-up. She rubbed the remainder of the tears from her eyes and looked down at the ground, despairingly.

The Following Night

Predator tracked Luna's scent throughout the city. He decided he was going to show himself to her, no matter how bad he didn't want to... and he really didn't want to. But he also didn't want to lose her.

A feeling of confusion washed over him as he followed the trail towards the Red Light District. The scent led him to a rather shady-looking building with a flashing neon sign with the image of a pink bunny on it. It was clearly an adult-oriented place.

Predator jumped down, landing on the side of the restaurant and peaked through the window. Inside he could see four tables on each side of the interior. There were about 12 thug-type guys seated across the bar, all laughing, drinking beer, or playing pool.

There were seven waitresses—some of whom looked a little young—all dressed in tight, sleeveless bunny-suits. Predator searched the area a little more for Luna, but there was no sign of her. He thought about leaving before he heard one of the thugs yell:

"Waitress! Another cold one over here!"

"Coming right up." A familiar voice responded.

Predator's eyes widened as he searched for the source. His eyes stopped on one of the waitresses wearing a black bunny-suit, carrying a tray of empty glasses back to the bar.

"What the...?" Predator said to himself. "Luna...?"

Luna wore the exact same outfit as all of the other waitresses. The only thing that stood out was her necklace, her eyeliner and her net covered legs and black heels that went up to her calves.

Predator couldn't help but watch as Luna brought a fresh beer to the thug.

"Thanks, cutie." The guy said with a flirtatious smile.

"Just shout if you need anything." Luna said as she quickly turned and walked back to the bar.

"I intend to." He smirked as he glanced at her rear end.

"Oh my...GRRRR!" Predator growled ferociously as he jumped down from the window and walked around to the front entrance to the building, only to be stopped by the bouncer.

"You're not getting in here, kid-" He said before Predator grabbed him by the shirt and landed a powerful headbutt, knocking him straight to the ground.

Predator cracked his knuckles and kicked open the door. Everyone in the bar jumped up and turned their attention to him.

"Hey, who the heck is this kid?" One of the thugs shouted.

"It's one of those freakin' Titans. Get the little freak!" Another shouted.

The sounds of punches, grunts, screams, broken bones, glass and the occassional gunshot went on for several minutes before finally stopping.

Predator panted as he stared down at the large group of felled thugs. His eyes glowed bright yellow as he glanced back at the frightened waitresses. Most of them were backed against the wall, all except for Luna, who just stared at him indifferently. Predator walked towards her but she was unphased.

"You didn't have to-" Luna began to shout at him.

"Get outta my way!" He growled, shoving past her and making his way to the bartender - who cowered behind the bar in fear. Predator yanked him to his feet and shoved him against the wall, smashing the shelves filled with alcohol and breaking some bottles along with it.

"You run this place?" Predator snarled.

"Y-yeah, why?" The bartender said, nervously.

"Ya like being a sicko, huh!?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Ya like hirin' underage girls and dressing 'em up like playboy bunnies, huh?"

"What? No! I swear they're all over eighteen! I wouldn't hire minors!"

"Oh yeah? Well, she's not eighteen!" Predator pointed at Luna. "So what's the story there!? You lyin' to me?"

"I didn't know-!"

"Shut up! Shut! Up!" Predator pulled him close, morphing his teeth into fangs. "Here's what's gonna happen: You're gonna shut this place down...permanently. And if you're still open tomorrow, by the time I get here, you're lunch meat...got me?"

The bartender whimpered and nodded shakily. Predator punched him in the face and knocked him out before letting him slide down to the floor. He turned back to Luna and the waitresses.

"All of you...!." He said, frightening them. He realized he still had his claws sticking out. He slid them back into his fingers. "Get outta here."

Some of the waitresses hastily exited the premises, including Luna who was suddenly halted by Predator when he grabbed her by the shoulder. She looked back at him, somewhat embarrassed.

"Not you." He said, angrily. "We're gonna talk!"

Predator suddenly picked her up by the waist and put her over his shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down!" Luna yelled as she started beating against his backside. "Let me go!"

Predator continued to ignore the protest as he carried her outside and into the alley behind the bar.

"I said, let go of me, you crazy…" Luna shouted before Predator finally set her down. "What is wrong with you!?"

"Are you serious!?" He shouted back. "I should be askin' you that! You work in a dive bar, dressed as some skanky rabbit, paradin' and servin' drinks to the scum of the town… and you ask me what my problem is?"

"So what? I need a job to make money. It's not like I get everything handed to me on a silver platter."

"How'd you even get this job? You're freakin' sixteen!"

"Ever hear of a fake ID? Yeah, you should try it."

"So all that junk we talked about yesterday; what was that all about?"

"Don't you talk to me about honesty, Mr. Masked-Vigilante." She retorted.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho, don't even go there, 'Cutie'; I wanted to be honest with ya. You know somethin': you were the only thing on my mind today,Luna. I was gonna take this mask off - just like ya wanted - because I actually wanted somethin' with you and yet, as soon I show up, I see ya dressed like this! This is a bar way lower than before."

"Well, obviously, you won't have to worry about this anymore, since you just cost me my job!"

"No way, you can't get mad at me for this! I did the right thing. I mean what would ya parents say-"

"Don't you ever bring up my parents!" She shouted. "They don't care and neither do I."

"Well, what about me, huh? I care about ya. Don't I count for anything?"

"You don't care about me. You just wanna control me and tell me how I should live my life when you don't know the first thing that goes on in my life. Well, you know what: I don't need someone like you in my life; I was doing just fine before you showed up."

Luna turned and tried to walk away, only for Predator to catch her by the arm and stop her.

"What're you nuts!?" He said. "I let you in on my patrols! I told you about my parents; I TRUSTED you!"

"I don't need the trust of a freak!" Luna unexpectedly slapped him in the face, causing him to release her and turn away from her. Predator snapped; he roared and punched a hole in the wall next to her, his eyes glowing bright orange and teeth sharpened to fangs. Yet again, Luna was unperturbed. What once was the look of trust and possibly something more was now replaced with contempt and derision by both parties.

Predator managed to calm down and slowly drop his arm to his side, not taking his eyes off her. His anger then shifted to numbness. Luna's expression however, shifted to regret when Predator looked downward.

"Predator, I-" She spoke.

"Don't." He interrupted in a low tone, lacking the anger that had been present before. "Just forget it; I'm done."

"W-what does that mean?"

"It means it's over; all of it. Ya don't want me in your life; pretty much proved ya point. So this' it. Go and do whatever you want...cause I don't care anymore." He maintained his low tone as he lifted his hood up and headed off in the opposite direction. "...I really freakin' don't."

"B-but I thought that... I thought we were-" She said, voice breaking. Predator stopped and lightly turned his head to her, similar to how she did to him the previous night.

"Guess we were both wrong about that." Predator said. "...I shoulda known I couldn't trust you."

His words made her heart skip a beat. Predator leaped upwards onto the roof above them without another word.

"W-Well... fine!" Luna shouted at him. "I never needed you, anyway!"

At that moment, it started to rain. Luna continued to stare upwards, even as the water soaked her hair and clothes. The rain caused her make-up to run down her face.

"But… I wanted you." She said, quietly.

Titans Tower

Predator stepped through the elevator, his combat suit soaking wet and his head hung down in frustration and despair. He was immediately met by the scent of rancid socks and week old undershirts.

"Stinkball!" Cyborg and Beast Boy exclaimed gleefully as Cyborg held out a ball of smelly clothes.

"It's about time you showed up, dude." Beast Boy said. "Raven didn't wanna be referee so we thought-"

He was interrupted by Predator as he grunted angrily and sliced the ball to pieces with his claws. Beast Boy and Cyborg stared at him in shock and dismay.

"This isn't one of your good days, I take it?" Cyborg asked.

"Just leave me alone." Predator said as he walked away from them.

"Well, it was fun while it lasted." Beast Boy sulked, picking up a dirty sock.

Predator made his way to his room, indirectly approaching Raven on the way.

"Let me guess: Stinkball?" She asked, meekly. Predator walked past her not saying a single word. "Hey, you okay?"

He groaned, reaching his room. The door slid open, allowing him to step inside. Raven stared at the door, concerned.

The Next Day

Luna walked through the streets, the look on her face filled with nothing but despair and broody. Her eyes indicated she had been crying. Since the other night, she started to feel worse than ever. She just lost her one and only best friend. She couldn't blame him for leaving her anyway. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him, it was that she knew how brash and protective he could be. Now because of her, it's over.

The rhythmic sound of a group of footsteps shook Luna from her thoughts. She glanced back and noticed four shady-looking men wearing dark clothing and bandannas. She knew they were following her.

She tried to act normally and turned forward and continued walking at a faster pace, only to hear them walking faster as well. She stopped suddenly, only to hear them stop walking, too. Luna knew she was in trouble. She hesitated for a moment before taking off running. The guys immediately followed her as she ran into an alleyway, only to find a dead end. She turned and glared at the four gang members slowly approaching her. We'll call them Hal, Stuart, Ricky and Don.

"What do you want?" Luna asked them.

"Nothin' much." Stuart said. "We just have a little question for you, that's all."

"We just wanted to know where we can find your boyfriend this time of night." Don said.

"He's not my boyfriend." Luna said. "There was never anything between us."

"That's not the answer we're looking for, Princess." Ricky said. "Our boss says you're the tough guy's girlfriend, and that you can tell us where to find him."

"Well, you're just wasting your time because I don't know where he is."

"Well, I guess we'll just have to break a few of your bones, and you'll have to hope you scream loud enough so that he can hear you." Hal said, menacingly. Of course, they all sounded menacing.

"You guys are making a big mistake."

"Not as big as-oof!"

Luna roundhouse-kicked him in the stomach and sent him over backwards to the ground.

"Get her!" Stuart shouted as he and the other thugs lunged at her.

Luna ducked between them kicked Don in the face again before he could stand back up. The impact broke his nose, causing him to recoil in pain. Luna turned back to the rest of them, just as Stuart charged at her. She swiftly brushed past him, only for Ricky and Hal to charge at her and grab her arms and legs. Luna growled as she struggled against them; they had her restrained too tightly.

"Don't let her go, now." Stuart said as he reached into his coat and pulled out a mag light that had been strapped to his waist.

"You plan on blinding me with that?" Luna taunted him.

"Well, ya see…" Stuart said as he stepped towards her. "I'm not allowed to carry a gun."

Luna closed her eyes as Stuart swung, striking her in the side of the head with the top of the light. She groaned as she felt her ears ring and an intense pain rang out in her head. She could feel blood running down her face and neck.

Stuart swung the light and hit Luna in the same spot again. She barely felt the second one as it nearly knocked her out. Her knees buckled as she began to slump over.

"Whoa, whoa." Ricky said. "I don't think you're hitting her hard enough if she's falling asleep on us."

"I think you're right there, Ricky." Stuart said. "Maybe you two should take over."

"Certainly, Stuart, old pal." Ricky said as he grabbed Luna by her hair and turned her around to face him. "You hear that, Princess? Hal and I are gonna be taking over for our friend Stuart. Now be a good girl and try to stay awake for every second of it."

Stuart walked over to Don and helped lift him up off the ground.

"You'll be fine, pal." Stuart said. "Sit back for a minute and watch the fun."

Hal punched Luna in the rips, causing her to gasp and reach for the pained area. Ricky turned her so that she faced him and kneed her in the stomach several times, eventually causing her to buckle over and fall to the ground. Hal raised his boot and brought it down onto Luna's left arm, nearly snapping it in half from the force.

"That's it." Stuart cheered them on. "We don't want her trying to fight back, now do we, boys?"

Hal and Ricky began mercilessly stomping and kicking at Luna as she lay helpless on the ground, too weak to even summon the strength to defend herself. Each blow sent a new wave of pain throughout her body, which seemed to slow time to a crawl. Luna tried to distance herself from the world, but the pain brought her right back. She thought that she had been lying on the ground for hours, where in reality she had been there for just a few seconds.

"Alright, alright." Stuart called. "I think she's had enough. Give her a break and pick her up."

Ricky and Hal grabbed Luna by her arms and picked her up from the ground. She tried to ignore the shattering pain in her broken left arm, but couldn't help but cry out in protest as Hal bent it out of contortion.

"Hold her still." Stuart ordered as he grabbed Luna by the hair and lifted her up to face him. "Let's try this, again: where is your boyfriend?"

Luna gazed back at him with disinterest as she spit the blood out of her mouth and onto his face. Stuart growled as he wiped it off, and grabbed her by the neck

"Don't say we weren't trying to be nice." He said. "Your turn, Don."

Stuart stepped aside as Don walked up to them, fuming angry. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a switchblade, flicking it open.

"You're gonna pay for what you did to my nose, you little brat." Don said.

Luna closed her eyes as a black teardrop fell from her eye. She felt her life flashed before her eyes, and only one memory came to mind that she regretted…

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Hey, dipstick." A familiar, gritty voice called from out of nowhere.

Luna opened her eyes as the four gang members looked up towards the source. Stuart was suddenly met with a rock hard punch, sending him flying through the air and colliding into a garbage can.

"What was that?!" Don shouted as he turned away from Luna. The others dropped her to the ground as they searched for their attacker.

Predator glared at the three other gang members as his eyes shifted into those of a jaguar while his fingers shifted to claws and his teeth grew sharp. He emerged from the shadows and the thugs immediately jumped and turned towards him.

"It's the freak! Get 'em!" Ricky shouted as he and Don charged at him.

Predator charged and landed a flying kick to Don, pushing him back. He followed along with an angry, relentless series of punches. Don attempted to cover his face to no avail.

Ricky pulled out a knife and ran at him, only to be surprised by a claw to chest. Predator leaped up and connected a powerful hook to his jaw, followed by another punch and an uppercut. Ricky threw a punch, only for Predator to avoid it. Ricky turned and was immediately met by another claw, swiping against his face. The impact left three vicious scars and he flew back to the ground unconscious. Predator turned to see Don charging at him again.

"Why you little-" Don was cut off when Predator grabbed him by the jacket and slammed him against the wall.

Predator suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and looked down to see a knife sticking out of his stomach.

"How does that feel, you son of a-"

Predator swiftly grabbed Don's face and slammed his head against the wall again, knocking him out. He pulled the knife out of his stomach and his healing factor went to work, patching up the wound in seconds. He turned back and stared down at all the critically-injured gang members. His eyes fixed on Hal, who was hysterically trembling over in the corner, trying to crawl away.

Predator quickly walked over to him and grabbed him by the back of his shirt, lifting him up face-to-face.

"Run." Predator growled in a low voice. "Leave town and don't come back because if I see ya again, you're dead."

Predator dropped Hal to the ground for him to make a mad dash out of the alley, never to be seen or heard from again.

Predator's ears perked up as he heard Luna groan. He turned and knelt down beside her, nearly cleching his fist as he glimpsed at her body bloody and bruised.

"It's okay." Predator said in a comforting tone. "I gotcha; I'm gonna getcha to a hospital."

Luna gazed at Predator, as her body became heavy and her vision soon began to fade. She closed her eyes as Predator's voice became more and more distant.

"Luna. Come on, don't give up on me! Luna!"

To Be Continued