Long Road to Ruin

Titans

I expected to enter into some empty office space just above the raging party downstairs, but instead I found myself standing on what looked to be a large platform. Over head was an arched glass ceiling that stretched the entire length of the building and was clear enough to look up into the skies.

This Lucas character stood in the middle of the platform waiting for me to take in the unique sunroof, and then with a jerk of his head gestured to the railing that overlooked literally the rest of what could be a run down studio or a warehouse. There were no walls, and no other rooms to designate anything as a kitchen, living-room, etc. Just an open floor plan with the kitchen on the far-side of the studio, a couch and a small TV propped on some kind of nightstand in the center of the floor-plan and a bed just below the platform I stood on.

I could see straight down to it through the steel floor-paneling and someone was laying on it … she was a girl, I could tell through the shape, but other than that her image was obscured. So I stood beside Lucas as I leaned out over the rail as far as I could to look under the platform, and there I saw Blackfire dressed in one of X's brown collared shirts. I knew it was X's shirt because he told me it was his favorite shirt. The one with the golden Oriental-Dragon swirling over the right shoulder with a large yin-yang symbol on the back, but she appeared to be wearing nothing else under it, I sneered.

No, I wasn't jealous … I don't get jealous … I was above jealousy … but for some reason seeing her in that shirt, laying on his bed, with his black-and-white Bose earphones on bobbing her head to whatever she was listening to on his iPod agitated me to no end.

"Hmm …" Lucas hummed and tore me out of my agitation as I look up at him and watched him narrow his glassy-black eyes as he scanned his surroundings, he then blinked and dryly said, "That's strange … he's suppose to be here …"

I arched a brow, "By he I assume you mean …"

He looked at me and nodded, "X … this is his place … when he's not working in Jump City that is …"

"So I noticed …" my eyes scanned Lucas from head to toe, and unable to hold my gaze he looked off into the abyss content to keep to himself. Quiet … reserved … so far Lucas seemed to be lacking in personality, and lacking in information. So I figured since X wasn't here I'd prod Lucas into telling me more about himself and how he knows me (I don't exactly tell everyone I'm from a different dimension, it's not something that's casually mentioned in everyday conversation), "… Who are you?"

He spared me a glance before he leaned on the rail and sighed heavily and droned, "I already told you …"

I tilted my head and I too leaned on the rail, but on my elbows with my back facing the studio, "That's not telling much …"

He frowned and looked away from me with a bored shrug, "Maybe I don't want to tell you anything …"

"I'm not one to judge."

"… I'm a sorcerer …"

Common knowledge, most of the people from Azarath are either magically gifted or have studied the arts enough to be considered too dangerous to set loose here on Earth, like me, "So am I … but that's still not telling much either …"

His jaw clenched and unclenched, I could see the muscle under his skin move as he shifted from one foot to the other and then, as if in defeat, he sighed again and stood up. I followed his motion, only to look down from his black eyes to where his hand lifted up his hoodie on his left side to show me a black tribal tattoo that crawled over the entire length of his side. For a moment I thought it was a snake … until I saw its dual claws scrapping into his flesh and then its head turned towards his heart spouting out what would only be symbolized as flames from a dragon's mouth.

The fire of Hell that'll consume his heart as he slowly gives in to the beast that lurked around the corner. That's what his tattoo represented, just as my raven was drawn flying southward into the bowels of the underworld, these tattoos were a clear sign to any who understood there meanings that we were cursed. I looked up into his eyes after scrutinizing his brand and saw the glassiness become even more so reflective so I couldn't see into his soul as he straightened out his hoodie and shrugged, "Just as every child born with a demonic heritage has their future read I was no different, the monks predicted a terrible fate bestowed upon me and marked me as Tekzy Shta …"

"… Soul Stealer …" I narrowed my eyes in confusion and shook my head, "But you don't have any demonic blood in you … I don't sense it …"

Dryly, he shrugged and droned, "I don't expect you to … I'm not, nor have I ever been a demon … not even a half-breed by standards."

I grew even more confused, "But then why –"

"I said I was born with a demonic heritage, my mother had tampered with arcane demonic magic in an attempt to birth a child with the strength of a demon … needless to say she succeeded, but at a high price. I stole her soul to sustain my life the moment of my birth, and my father would have nothing to do with me after which he gave me to the monks of Azarath."

Oh, now I see … his mother was an idiot.

I frowned as it all came together for me, apparently Lucas was far more dangerous than he let on. The evil that shrouded his being cloaked his human aura so if any that were not as sensitive as I was in reading people would have mistaken him to be a demon. When really, his mother just cursed him with the blessing of demonic power (cruel irony), "You steal souls to live …" I uttered mostly to myself in thought while inwardly I concluded, So the tattoo is not breathing fire … it's eating …

I'm not well versed in symbolic spells that involved the tattooing of the flesh, the only ones I was familiar with were subjugation spells and that was only because I've heard the monks on numerous occasion threaten to scar me with one if I did not learn to control my emotions. Spells involving tattoos were of the most permanent and dangerous kind, for if the symbol was written incorrectly it could prove to be disastrous. Speaking of disasters, I narrowed my eyes and glared suspiciously at the unemotional Lucas that could give me a run for my money and asked, "You said the monks predicted some kind of terrible event that would take place … has it come to pass?"

That's when the depth of his insanity flashed through the reflective glassiness of his black eyes and the hidden monster Lucas really was revealed itself to me. I tensed for battle; Lucas was a soul-eater and from what I've gathered in my studies soul-eaters could consume their prey with a single touch. That's not to say soul-eaters were common, because if that were true this world and Azarath would have one serious population problem. But in any case not only would my powers be useless against him, I would be physically outmatched since he had the strength of a demon thanks to his loving mother.

So if I were to really go toe-to-toe with him I'd have to let my demon dominate my mind and my demon wasn't known to be the most controlled being in the history of history.

I just wanted to know why the hell X would associate himself with someone like Lucas.

Furthermore, how the hell did these two meet?!

Lucas and X were the most unlikely duo to ever have been conjured into being, it didn't make sense.

My thoughts were grinded to a halt when Lucas bowed his head to hide his maddened grin and after about a minute of his shuddering frame and trembling shoulders I concluded that he wasn't trying to control the power-crazed looney-toon within him. He was trying to stop himself from laughing. I frowned when he sucked in a deep breath, held it in and then released the tension in his shoulders before he looked down at me with the same glassy-guarded black eyes and this time a lazy smile spread across his face.

If I didn't already know he was nuts I'd have thought he looked quite handsome, even the dryness of his words betrayed no hint of his psychosis as he answered my question, "It has … I consumed my entire village to saturate my starvation for the energy the monks had me eat was not nearly enough to quench my thirst …"

I gulped and glared, "You regret none of it …"

He shrugged, back to his dry, boring, blunt, expressionless self he again leaned on the rail, "Regret is a six letter word … and I can't regret what has been foretold …"

I took a stab in the dark, "You were banished from Azarath."

"No … I left, I figured I was going to be executed for my heinous crime so I escaped to Earth …"

I honestly wondered how long ago that was … Lucas, to me, looked no older than 20-something and stealing souls was the only way he'd be able to stay alive. I inwardly shuddered when I realized his body-count must have been staggering. "… How many people have you killed?"

He arched a brow and with a blank look he stared at me, "You think I should be punished for my actions?"

I noticed he didn't say crime or sin … he really didn't care about the innocent souls he took to sustain his own gluttonous greed. The righteous girl in me didn't like that injustice, "I think, you should answer to those who do not deserve your cruelty."

"Cruelty? The monks were the ones that left me to my fate and did nothing to help aid me in controlling what I am … and you think I'm the cruel one? What did the monks do to assist you in your hour of need?"

"…" Blank … that's all I was getting from him, his aura didn't even flare up in anger or passionate protest, he was just a blank slate, completely neutral and that's what disturbed me. His hatred for the monks was rooted so deep in the depths of his core that he honestly believed he was guilty of nothing and the monks were the ones to blame. His hatred was what fueled him and what kept him alive … that kind of hatred … it's cold … unfeeling … and lifeless.

He then closed his eyes and turned away from me to again stare off into the abyss, "Just as I thought … they did nothing …"

That wasn't entirely true … the monks, though they were bastards in their own right for openly discriminating and encouraging public prejudice-affairs against my mother and me the monks did teach me enough magic and tricks to stay alive. However, I wasn't going to argue with Lucas, trying to convince him otherwise was pointless when his hatred blocked his hearing.

So for a while we stood there on the platform still unnoticed by Blackfire (or ignored, either which didn't matter to me) and we listened to the heavy techno music that vibrated through the walls while the bass pulsed like a heartbeat pushing pressure into our eardrums. Lucas seemed content and void, I was a bit on edge and skeptical with nothing left to say after I discovered this Azarian was a killer. What do you say to that? How do you respond when instinct told you to arrest him, when your heart told you to pity him, but your head told you not to bother? I sighed heavily and decided to listen to my head, to just let it go and play the passive-indifferent card.

Lucas wasn't my problem.

So I listened to the thrumming bass-line occasionally picking up on the electronic voice that added to the mystic, something about 'Love …' and 'Shadows …' yet despite the generic lyrics the overall sound was something I could (if I were in the mood) dance to. But then a new rhythm entered the mix, one that did not flow with the beat, Lucas seemed to senses it the same as I and together we looked up through the sunroof. A dark shadow cast over the night-sky and with a heavy beating of the shadow's large wings it landed with a thud on the roof beside the window. I narrowed my eyes, "Malchior?"

I watched as the window's latch lifted and X dropped into the studio on the platform to stand before Lucas and me. I couldn't help to notice simultaneously the previous techno song I was listening to switched and the bass was the only thing that dominated the building as the vibration grew heavier. It made me inwardly shiver while I noticed X's hair was in disarray and his clothes all jumbled, no doubt from riding Malchior's back as said dragon morphed into his human form and also dropped into the studio. He flinched and I'm sure if the dragon had ears atop his head it would be flat against his head in an expression of discomfort from the loud music.

X greeted us with his usual cocky smirk, a wink and his signature two finger salute, Malchior settled for a mute nod of acknowledgement while he stood to the side trying to adjust to the booming bass-line. X chuckled and addressed me, "Heh, I see you and L have already met, enjoy each other's company?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and sneered, "Enjoy is not exactly the word I'd use; I'm actually more curious to how you two met, it can't be mere coincidence that you somehow got in touch with a soul-eater – no offence –"

Lucas shook his head, "None taken."

"And somehow have him working for you."

X chuckled and smirked deviously as he stalked me and forced me to lean back against the rail as he trapped me there with his hands placed on either side of me to keep me in place. His eyes gleamed mockingly at me as he said, "Ever wonder if maybe I'm the one that's in his debt?"

I frowned and cast Lucas a suspicious glance which he didn't return, but instead stared off into his imaginary abyss as he leaned against the far wall with his hands in the pockets of his jacket and his head tilted and bowed ever so slightly. I could hardly imagine what it was X did to piss him off, and I honestly didn't want to know, whatever it was I'm sure Lucas had every right to hold a grudge against X for X wasn't exactly the nicest guy in the world. Nor was he the most easiest to get along with, I looked back up at the thief when I felt him reach a hand up to finger a tendril of loose hair that I failed to capture in my hasty braiding before I embarked on my journey to him.

Yet, he lost interest in that single tendril and instead looked down at me again with a renewed smirk of mischief in his golden eyes. It made me want to tear out my hair and stomp the ground in frustration and disbelief at the fact that all he had to do was give me this one look and most of my suspicions against him were wiped clean. It annoyed me to no end that I can never seem to hate or distrust X as much as I should every time I'm near him … I swear to whatever God it was he prayed to he will be the death of me.

Though most of my suspicions subsided, I refused to fully submit to his charm and instead challenged him with a new string of questions that I also needed answered, my tone of voice dimmed, but the sharpness of my direct question did not dull, "Where've you been?"

His grin grew as he shrugged and leaned forward so his face was shamelessly close to mine and his lips were a hair's width away from a quick kiss that I could already feel the tingling sensation shoot down my spine and flow throughout the rest of my body. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I knew X was doing this in front of Malchior on purpose … probably trying to get back at the dragon for what he saw at Carmen's birthday maybe? I hardly know, I hardly ever know what really goes on in X's head, and I wish I did if only to understand what it was about him that I just couldn't let go.

"Does it matter anymore?" He whispered only so I could hear with thick amusement laced in his words, yet weaved within it was a good amount of genuine sincerity as he stated, "I'm here aren't I …"

To trust blindly was a fool's errand, though it felt good to know I was reunited with my addiction, I couldn't let him rule over every fiber of my consciousness, however, otherwise I'd lose him forever. Drug addicts are stupid, I'm no different, but I still chastised him, "X …"

He dared to so much as steal a fleeting kiss from me, one that I did not return for it was too fast for even myself to respond to and I knew if I pulled him back to me I would not want to let him go. That was dangerous … I can't be thinking like that, so I pretended not to notice or care about the fleeting-kiss and instead focused on his heavy sigh as he gave in to me, "You're team ain't the only one on patrol tonight sunshine, we're all on our toes."

I blinked and refrained from rolling my eyes in disbelief while I pulled my head back and sarcastically replied, "Wow, someone actually spooked the great Red X, I'd love to see who this character is."

He snorted, "Slade spooks me, this guy annoys me."

"And who might this mysterious stranger be?"

"Ja'marnixzz." I glanced over my shoulder and glared over the railing at Blackfire who now stood in the middle of what is assumed to be a living-room still with the iPod on and still in X's shirt, although now I can see she was actually wearing tight short-shorts underneath them. She eyed the iPod curiously, then looked up at X and flashed him his iPod, "Can you tell me again how to get it off repeat, the vile contraption doesn't seem to have voice command."

I blinked and shot X a dry look which he then returned with a dry shrug and I knew it didn't take a damn rocket scientist to piece together what was going on here, I hissed, "Please don't tell me Strongheart's still looking for her here on Earth."

He nodded slowly, "Okay, so what do you want me to tell you?"

I almost blew up, but I held it together and smoothed by hair back as I shook my head, "You're helping her aren't you?"

He nodded slowly again, "Yes …"

"She's the reason I haven't seen you since Carmen's birthday party, isn't she?"

He nodded slowly … again, "Yes …"

"And you want me to help her too, don't you?"

He began to nod, but then stopped and shook his head, "Not … really … but it's an idea that has crossed my mind …"

"X …"

"Raven …"

"I'm not helping her."

"Why not? She's as much a wretch as myself, what makes her so different."

"You haven't tried to kill your brothers on numerous occasions for the sake of power and money."

"You don't know that."

I arched a sarcastic brow and sneered, "You're being thick again aren't you?"

"Hello!" Blackfire exclaimed as she drew our attention from one another back down to her as she propped a fist on her hip and tilted her head, exasperated, she huffed, "You do know I can hear you just fine right?"

I scowled, "Good, that way I don't have to repeat myself."

She scoffed, "What is your problem? I'm not here to take over your pathetic little planet, alright, it's not as impressive as you humans think it is, and besides that my problem is with Ja'marnixx, not my precious baby-sister. Despite what you may think, Rae-Rae, my whole world doesn't revolve around the dimwitted red-head, but if my staying here makes her – or you for that matter – miserable, it's all the more power to me."

I blinked in bewilderment, looked back at X to ask him if she was for real, and he shrugged with his hands up in his defense, so I turned back around to glare at the unapologetic ex-princess and growled, "Call me Rae-Rae, one more time Blackfire and I'll shove my boot so far up your ass you'll be licking the dirt off its sole."

Insulted, Blackfire's eyes lit up a bright purple as powered up and curled her hands into tight fists crushing X's iPod in the process as she matched my challenge, "You got lucky a couple of days ago when I went easy on you for X's sake, you think you can take me on now?"

I tilted my head, my eyes flashed eerie white and my fisted hands glowed threateningly while the demon in me itched to claw her eyes out, "Only one way to find out."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," X pulled at the back of my shirt and forced me away from the rail so I couldn't see Blackfire as he leaned on the rail and eyed the both of us warily, "down girls, easy … no need to tear each other apart on the first date now, come on."

I shook my head, "X, I am not going to help her adjust to life on Earth, I refuse."

"Well good for you, but I never asked you to help her. I can take care of Strongheart on my own with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back, what I did call you here for was just to let you know. A little professional curtsey so you can make sure the rest of kid-wonder's toy soldiers stay off my back while I do my job."

My eyes narrowed, "I'm not promising to cover your ass if you ever get into trouble."

"I don't expect you to." He shrugged like it wasn't a big deal and in a backhanded like manner all but told me I was useless to him … for some reason that irritated me.

I opened my mouth to tell him off, but Lucas's bland and void voice as cold as the deepest trenches in the ocean silenced us all while he captured X's attention with a single phrase, "We got a problem."

I shuddered … whatever Lucas considered a problem was not something I wanted to find out for there was little in the land that soul-eaters considered a 'problem'. Though they most certainly weren't immortal, they had the power enough to contend and match blade-for-blade with the divine. At least … that's what I've read in stories … I've never bothered to verse myself in soul-eater fact and fiction simply because their kind were so rare I always figured it was impossible for me to meet one in my lifetime.

I should have known with my track history, this was bound to happen.

Beside me, X asked warily, "What kind of problem?"

Lucas shrugged and took out the Bluetooth earpiece I hadn't noticed he had put on as he dryly said the last thing I wanted to hear, "Titans … one of them gave Justin the slip and right now Jessie's on the look out … how do you want to handle this?"

TitanS! My brain flew into a flurry of rapidly blending reasons, ideas, possibilities, and probabilities for any one Titan to have come here! To this specific club! It was too perfect! Speedy … it has to be Speedy, he was the only one up when I left … but … plural … who's with him? I looked up when I sensed X move from the rail beside me towards the staircase where he met Blackfire downstairs. I slowly walked to the rail and looked down to watch them as she closed the gape between each other in a single stride and grabbed a fist full of his shirt to pull him to her. She whisper into his ear, but with the help of my demonic blood and my heightened senses her voice rang loud and clear in my ear, "Don't play the denial card with me X, you know damn well she lead that Titan to us. You should have just handled this on your own, Lucas, Malchior, and I are all you need. You don't need her."

What she said didn't bother me, but what X said stuck a dagger in my chest, "I know … but you know what they say, fight fire with fire, if we're gonna take on the Titans we need one on our side … she's our best bet."

That hurt … but I won't say it shocked me.

I was always considered a tool to be used and abused as however my user saw fit.

I never had choices … I never had chances.

So I won't fell bad or heartbroken over what I heard … because what I feel didn't matter, it's what I do that counts.

Other than that, I furrowed my brows and frowned in thought, Take on the Titans … what exactly does that mean? I forced my eyes away from Blackfire and X as the two thieves conversed quietly with one another on the proper ways of dealing with their current dilemma and chewed on the inside of my lip. I couldn't help to flashback at the numerous times I've seen Starfire and Robin together … watching X and Blackfire … it was like déjà vu.

They just went together … so perfectly. I gulped and held my head up, inwardly shaking my head to rid myself of such thoughts when more pressing matters had to be seen to. I glanced to my right as Lucas stepped up to my side, he spare me a dull glance and I used him as an excuse to turn away from X when I felt his attention directed at me. Lucas, with his dull expression tilted his head curiously and before gracefully throwing himself over the edge of the railing to land soundlessly and flawlessly beside Blackfire.

Still refusing to acknowledge X's gaze on me I narrowed my eyes and fisted my hands as I glared at nothing but air, but sensed Malchior's presences standing to my left. His crimson eyes were fixed on me and despite the muffled trance music bouncing off the walls; I knew he heard every word X and Blackfire had said the same as I, so I growled in defense, "I was not followed."

"…" he didn't respond and I expected him to walk off (or jump off) to join X, Blackfire, and Lucas on the ground, but instead I stilled when he curled his long fingers around my hand and pulled me to him. I looked up at him as he turned his back on me, still holding my hand, he lead me towards the window I had entered the studio from. He stopped beside it and pulled me around so I faced him and his crimson eyes bore gaping holes into my heart, he place his hands on my shoulders and in a strict tone of voice that made no room for argument, he said to me, "You have to go Raven."

I frowned and with a slow shake of my head I pulled away from him, "I can't just leave –"

He shook his head, "No, you have to go, you're no good here and if this Titan finds you, you know it's all over."

"It could already be all over if I was followed – and I wasn't – so what's the point of me leaving when I could be used as a distraction to get him out of here without jeopardizing you or anyone else's identities."

He bared his fangs, obviously not happy about the fact I had concocted my own plans to ward off the threat to X's home. He didn't like it and he openly expressed it with a furious snarl that made me visible flinch and I cursed myself for not controlling that internal reaction, "That plan of yours does nothing to insure your well being, I won't let you go through with it."

I stepped up to him, "You can't stop me."

"Raven … –"

"Malchior!" X called to him from the spiral staircase, but Malchior didn't move, he leveled his cold crimson eyes with me and I made no attempt to back down even when X whistled loud enough to pierce my eardrum in order to grab our attentions. It didn't work, so he shouted, "Hey! Staring contest is over! We gotta move! Jessie hit the panic button they're asking questions let's go!"

I blinked away from Malchior to pin X with an unrelenting stare I knew sent a shiver down his spine as I asked, "Where are you going?"

"…" he hesitated to answer now that he understood there was more going on than just a mere staring-contest, "Kid-Wonder's done his homework Rae, he's downstairs with Speedy right now interrogating the bartender, it's only a matter of time before he comes up here. As soon as Lucas dumps the computers of their hard-drives and burns every trace of evidence of our existence here we'll be moved to a different location."

"I'm coming with you."

Malchior growled and snarled, a sound so feral it reminded me that despite his human appearance he could very well tear into my flesh without a second thought. I expected the reaction and didn't so much as bat an eyelash while X jumped at the sudden exclamation and watched Malchior when the dragon barked, "She's delusional!"

X didn't dare interject, instead his amber eyes darted from Malchior to me and back again when I lost my reserve and with little regard of what Malchior could do to me if he lost his temper I argued with him. I rebelled against the bond we shared that instinctually told me to keep my mouth shut and to obey my betters. I think it was all due to the demon in me that didn't like to be held down or treated with care, because at some point in time I altered my speech so I could curse Malchior in my native tongue and much to my honest shock he kept pace. Fluent and eloquent, I knew it must have sounded more like we were singing rather than arguing, but nevertheless X – for the second time that night – broke up a fight I had started.

"Knock the shit off already!" He came between Malchior and me, but neither of us physically acknowledged his presence, too engrossed with charging the air with static electricity as our auras swirled and clashed violently with one another. A chilling feeling better known as a bad-vide that X was either oblivious too, or pretended not to notice as he waved his hands and shrugged his shoulders as a gesture of disbelief, "Are you people serious? You're gonna do this shit right here and now?!"

I opened my mouth to state my point, but Malchior was quicker, "Fox, she has to leave, if the Titans in anyway find out of her association with us how much longer do you think it'll take her leader to connect the dots, assuming of course he hasn't already and is just using her as a lure."

I scowled, "You know damn well there's no point in my going, especially since I took Robin's bike to get here, if he's already here it'll be stupid of me to pretend nothing happened when he knows something obviously did happen!"

X cut in, "You took Robin's bike? Robin's bik – Raven! Have you lost your goddamned mind?! Did it ever occur to you that something like this would happen at all?!"

I hated to admit it, but no, the thought never occurred to me … I was too focused on getting to X and getting my answers that I didn't even properly calculate the Titans East sleep patterns. I should have known something trippy was going on when I met Speedy in the middle of the hall … maybe … maybe they did follow me … maybe I didn't cover my tracks as well as I thought … damn it I should have known this was a set up! Berating myself inwardly I swallowed my pride and answered solemnly, "You can't expect me to keep an eye on every little detail …"

Malchior rolled his eyes skyward and left us to help Lucas with the tedious task of dumping out files and copies while he silently cursed our luck. X just shook his head and threw up his hands in defeat, "Yeah, sure … why don't you just go a head and write: Hello my name is Idiot right across your forehead and save us all the trouble and stand outside with a megaphone to announce our location to the fuckin world!"

For the second time that night his words struck a cord in me and a pang of pain resonated throughout my body. Damn it … he had every right to be mad at me … even Malchior did … I screwed up, I screwed up real bad and I deserved every word that came out of his mouth, however I didn't express it. I remained passive and indifferent, unwilling to verbally admit to my stupidity … and yet after X was through with pacing the platform in curt strides he stopped and shot me an inquisitive look. I felt him wondering why I hadn't returned his sharply phrased insults with quick sadistic jibes of my own.

A strange inquiry seeing as the situation we were in didn't allow for us to idly ponder of trivial matters such as feelings or to saturate starving curiosities. We didn't have time for that, so I steeled the expressions on my face and betrayed no pain … yet … somehow he still managed to sense or see that I was upset and he softened his expression. He took long strides so he now stood before and reached a hand out to place it on the side of my face as he forced himself to be gentle with me, "Raven … I didn't really –"

I stopped him with a shake of my head as I stepped away from him and placed a hand on the window preparing to leave. He could apologize all he wanted, but it won't change the fact that he was right. I caused him a lot of grief and though I know going back to the Tower was probably the stupidest idea, I just knew I had to get away from here as far and as fast as I could before Robin and Speedy discovered my whereabouts. It was the least I could do to correct my awful mistake, so I opened up the window to the fire escape and before I climbed out I told him, "Whatever it is you're up to X, make sure Strongheart get's off this planet for good."

He looked about ready to say something, probably finish his apology, but words failed him and he closed his mouth with a tortured expression on his face. He really wanted to say he was sorry … I could feel it in his aura … but he also knew it was pointless, especially with me; he'd be wasting his breath. He was smart enough to remember I don't like trivialities, and apologizing was a triviality, but he wasn't going to let me go without having the last say. When I thought I was sure he wasn't going to say anything I reached one leg out of the window and leaned forward to flex my body so I could fit the rest of the way out. However, X grabbed my arm and stopped me.

I glared at his intrusion, but stilled when he brought his face so close to mine the bangs of his unkempt hair brushed against the skin of my forehead while his golden eyes held me in place unwilling to release me. I felt my pulse skip a beat and my cheeks flush rosy pink due to the heat of his breath on my skin sending shivers down my spine, I gulped as he whispered in reassurance, "I'll get in touch with you as soon as possible Rae … I promise."

I blinked my eyes slowly shut when he moved in to seal the deal with a quick kiss, but I shook my head and pulled away from him so I was now fully out of the window forcing him to lean out. He stared up at me in confusion and anxiety as I put my foot down and kept this strictly business, "Don't make stupid promises X … you know you can't do that so soon with Robin nipping at our heels … it's suicide."

He scowled in defiance, "Damn it Raven! Screw him! I don't –!"

"X!" Blackfire called to him urgently and he turned to see what it was that she wanted, whatever he was going to say lost to the wind as I sank into my darkness and vanished from his sight just seconds before he turned around to readdress me.

I reappeared near Robin's parked bike and swallowed a large lump lodged in my throat when I imaged the exact words X was just about to say before Blackfire interrupted him. It was wrong … so wrong of him to think that much less say it aloud. To all but admit he was willing to damn his entire life to prison if he could only be sure we'd be … we'd be … I closed my eye and did away with that perilous thought. Instead I focused on the rational and some how created and image of Starfire and Robin that blended till it became that of Blackfire and X … one word came to mine: perfect.

So, right. They belonged together, they just clicked … they could be together without the constant reminder of how ridiculously dangerous their relationship could be to each other's livelihood. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they even finish each other's thoughts when it came to their criminal-minds because they were so much alike. If X was stupid enough to ignore that plain and simple fact, than he was an idiot. I may not like Blackfire, but if this was for the sake of keeping X safe I'd be willing to forfeit our … 'friendship' so he could go on without the constant threat of my friends looming over his head.

I sighed heavily and placed a hand on the throttle and mounted the motorcycle, but didn't start it yet as a thought occurred to me, Is this what X feels like when he sees me with Malchior? It wasn't jealousy, or hatred, or even resentment … it was a feeling of utter pointlessness, like no matter what I do I'll never be able to get the one thing I wanted – no, needed – the most in life. It sucked … I hated the feeling … but I shook my head and started the bike as I went on to think, X has deeper feelings for me that are best left in the dark … feelings that I shouldn't share …

I rolled the bike out of the alleyway and onto the sidewalk where I climbed off the curb and with a sharp turn to my right headed out of the Callie Strip. Gradually picking up speed with the wind roaring pass my ears, whipping through my hair, and the engine screaming beneath me, I gripped the throttle tighter and nearly twisted it to go much, much faster, but then I cursed, "Damn it!"

I slowed down when I remembered I had stupidly forgot to get back my mirror-shard from X, lord knows when or even if I'll see him again and this fragment was much too important to leave to chance. I had to go back to get it, but I cursed aloud again when I knew I couldn't … going back was suicide. I gritted my teeth and started to grind them together as I considered what I should and shouldn't do the pros and cons and finally reached the terrible conclusion of sacrifice. I couldn't go back … it was too dangerous, so I twisted the throttle and zoomed through the streets, By Azar X, you better not do anything stupid …

Little did I know, the stupid one here was really me.

I should have been paying attention.

But I wasn't, ting!

What the – "AAAHH!!!" Robin's bike suddenly stalled and stopped dead in its tracks when an electromagnetic stalling-device pierced through the engine and sent me flying high. I flipped over and crashed onto the pavement nearly breaking my neck as I bounced, rolled, and skidded to a stop an unbelievable 50 meters from Robin's bike. Face down on the rough pavement I groaned while every part of my body throbbed in pain as I tried to prop myself up on my hands and knees to assess the damage and to defend myself if need be.

Electromagnetic-stallers don't grow out of asphalt and they damn sure don't just appear out of thin air … someone was coming after me and it couldn't be anyone friendly. Trying to fix my vision before it blurred and my hearing before it muffled I managed to pick up on the slight sound of boots clicking against the ground, it was coming from my right. I shifted my head to see who my assailant was at the same time I cringed when I felt a strange tickling, tingling sensation crawling up the back of my neck. I tried to ignoring it to concentrate on my dire situation, but instead ended up screaming in agony when he grabbed (the hands were large, callus) my upper right-arm and twisted it along with my left. He placed them together on my back and then click … click went the sound of pure silver-bracelets laced with weaves upon weaves of magic being slapped on my wrists.

Specially designed and exclusive only to certain Titan members the power-suppressant handcuffs left me feeling weak and drowsy as he forced me on my feet. I tried to hold my own weight, but my knees buckled under me and I growled when he jerked me again and I grunted, "The suppressant cuffs … are keeping me from properly regaining consciousness … you should know that already … Robin …"

--

Disclaimer: I don't own the Titans, and I don't own X, Blackfire, or Malchior DC does … but Lucas, Justin, and Jesse are mine so that's that …

A/N: Uh-oh … looks like it's the end of the line for Raven XDDD NOOO!! Eh … it was necessary and you all will understand why in the next chapter, so for now I ask you to please be patient in my uploading, something is wrong with my laptop and I don't know if it's a hard-drive problem or a virus problem (February is virus season). Which means I have to steal my brother and father's computer if I'm even going to type up the story much less send it in … ahh, sorry for the inconvenience guys, but I luv u all!!

L8er daez!