A/N: =/ hmm, apparently some of you think that in the last chapter Raven's character was a little on the weak side, and I'm happy to hear your opinion, I took it too heart, but personally I have to disagree. Compared to reality and from personal experience (or observation I should say) I thought in the last chapter Raven's character acted as her character would in such an emotional situation. She kept to herself and tried not to let the things she's seen bother her so much by focusing on things of far greater importance. Raven is a strong character, I agree, but she's also … fanatic when it comes to those she cares about, she's quick to sacrifice her own happiness and comfort if it guarantees (in this case X's) life. I made sure that she wasn't whining, complaining, or crying about anything in that chapter (that to me is considered weakness in her eyes), rather she was just passively going through the motion … or even just accepting the fact that she's got no chance of competition with the lovely Blackfire.

That's my defense, just thought I'd get that off my chest, whether or not you agree is totally up to you, but I am glad someone brought it up, it helps to keep me on my toes and focus on Raven's character. So thank you for that, and I shall shut up now.

Happy reading!

--

Long Road to Ruin

Chasing Ghosts

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 …"

"…" he didn't move, didn't say anything, he seemed hesitant, and then the hands which gripped me suddenly loosened. Without his support I dropped on my knees to the pavement below but it did little to quell the dizziness in my head. My powers were trying to find a release point, running rampant and ricocheting off the walls of my mind, thus making it even harder for me to remain conscious. While my natural demon energy fought against the suppressants and drained me of what little strength I had left to spare. My heart began beating a thousand miles a minute and my breathing was becoming labored and short like a panic-attack due to my demon-self literally sucking my physical body dry for sustenance.

Dark and light splotches of color splattered across my field of vision as it grew fuzzy and incoherent. I felt like I had run a marathon full throttle without stopping and without water. I moaned in pain and threw myself forward to press my forehead against the pavement when I felt the pain of the cuffs burn into my flesh. My wrists seared as the magic laced within the silver-cuffs were pushed to the extremes. I could barely breathe, I gasped for air.

Yet, the sound of the heels of his boots clicking against the ground rang loudly in my ear as he slowly walked around me, and cautiously, ever-so cautiously crouched before me. With his rough hand he grabbed my shoulder and forced me to sit up. I grimaced at the motion, but did as was gestured and looked up into the masked eyes of my leader … my friend … my confidant … and … and … I blinked in confusion, as did he while his grip on my shoulders tightened. His mouth fell open in indescribable shock and horror as he whispered my name in question, "Raven …?"

I don't … I don't understand … I thought between the red-hot pain of my wrists and the dizzy spells within my head, my world tilted vertigo and I nearly hurled the contents of my stomach out on his chest if I hadn't gritted my teeth and swallowed the bile back down my throat. It burned, it tasted rotten, and I nearly threw-up once more in spite of that awful taste, but I composed myself and shook my head as another wave of dizziness washed over me and I again fell forward to still the world as it spun around in every which direction. I shuddered when my forehead instead connected with his chest and I withered in agony in his arms as he held me close while he still tried to overcome his shock, "Raven … Raven … what … what are you doing out here …?"

It was the only thing he could think to ask, the only thing that he could think of to say when the betrayal of what I really am, of what I've become, still had to sink in. I grinded my teeth and whimpered as my demon-self sucked more of my physical strength in order to heal the minor cuts and bruises, as well as correct the vertigo spin of my imbalanced world. The cuffs burned hotter still, and my powers were not making things better. I panted, "… It hurts … I can't … I can't breathe …"

I couldn't ask him to take the cuffs off … it would be asking too much, but I wouldn't be able to survive the night if he didn't give my consciousness the proper time to adjust to my wounds and regain reason before I fell into darkness. Otherwise … I'd either fall into a comatose state … or die because my demon instinct was too stubborn to realize it was killing itself. Whether or not he was smart enough to figure all this out went beyond me, I don't very much like discussing my demon-half with my team – excuse me, former teammates – but now I was rightfully regretting it. The darkness was coming … sweet, sweet relief was coming to rid me off this God-awful world … my breathing had become far more labored, and my chest was on fire.

All of a sudden, without warning, my throat caught as my brain forgot how to intake air and I grew limp in his arms, I couldn't stay conscious anymore. My body couldn't handle it … it was giving up and I could feel his hands suddenly grip my forearms to yank me off of his chest to shake me in order to keep me awake. It did little to bring me back, I was falling far and fast and there was nothing he could do about it, my demon-self had taken the last amount of energy it could in a futile attempt to save itself.

My heart all but stopped and everything dulled to an almost non-existent throbbing sensation that was accompanied with him screaming my name over and over and over again. Unsuccessfully he tried to bring me back, but no more, this was it … the end … I just can't believe it happened so fast.

"Raven!" Speedy screamed as he desperately tried to undo the cuffs in order to keep me alive and the moment I felt the silver-bracelets drop to the ground the world ground to a halt and I knew this would hurt him more than it would hurt me.

"… Speedy …" I whispered in warning just before a shockwave of utter destruction exploded from me as my powers and my demon-self rushed to freedom all in one setting, all went white-hot for an agonizing second and then finally:

I blacked out.

But I was still conscious … my mind was still weaving in and out of reality and I could feel my soul-self traveling … traveling at speeds that far exceeded that of any human or animal on foot. The wind whipped pass me as I hovered low to the ground and yet I wasn't flying … I was simply suspended in mid-air and with unknown little jerks that caused me to swing around like a pendulum I caught sight of various buildings. Bright lights flashed around me like laser lights in a concert, and as the puppet-master that wielded me turned to the right I saw a different white light speeding beside me.

The white-light as it turned out belonged to the headlights of a street-bike, and riding on the bike with his head ducked low for greater acceleration was none-other-than Lucas the Soul-Eater. He barely spared me – or rather my puppet-master – a glance of acknowledgement before he zoomed ahead and took the lead. It was then that it occurred to me that my puppet-master must have been X and I had somehow taken solace in the mirror-fragment he still had … but it didn't make sense, why would I be hovering in front of him?

Did he know I was there?

Was he aware of my presence?

I realized he wasn't when I saw his hand reach up to clutch my mirror-fragment, and without so much as a second thought he tucked me into his shirt and the world once again went black, but not for long. I don't know if I was seeing through my mirror or through my eyes, but once the world again came into view and through my blurry vision I saw a dark forest green fabric take up most of my line of sight. It must have been a polo-shirt I was staring at, because I gazed upon a light-skinned chin and cheek above me, he looked down and I concluded that I was back within my body for I was staring at Speedy.

The archer's lips moved, but I heard nothing, felt nothing, like a TV on mute all I saw was his worried face as he lolled my heavy head forward to rest on his chest under his chin as he cradled me in his arms. From there my consciousness again slipped from my body back into my fragment and once again I swung like a pendulum on X's neck, bouncing against his chest as he rushed up a flight of stairs. No longer on the road, he burst through a set of doors and into a new room where the first person he saw was Blackfire and the alien-convict beamed at his safe return.

They exchanged a few words, words I couldn't hear and couldn't begin to lip-sync as X suddenly turned sharply to his left where Lucas with his black hair and black eyes bore dull holes into X's skull as he said something short. X, though I may not hear it, I knew he disregarded him … something he shouldn't have, because one I felt X look away Lucas's eyes traveled to his chest and locked on me. With a slight cock of his head and a discreet arch of his brow, he blinked slowly and with a sudden sharp jab my mind screamed in horror and pain when I felt the soul-eater infiltrate my sanctuary to poke and prod in order to satisfy his curiosity.

I tried to hold him back, to build up barriers to keep him from the rest of my soul-self, but he thwarted off my weak attempts and demolished what barrier I erected to then smirk darkly and whisper hauntingly in my head, "Sek'tekzy."

Roughly translated from my native tongue to English, it meant: Easy to take. However, he used the negative for 'take' thus actually meaning: Easy to steal and I shrank away from his advances as I felt his entire being engulf the tiny portion of my soul. He converged on me, but before devoured me my world suddenly jerked and I was once again aware of X's movements. Lucas, who was so enthralled with the idea of consuming me had physically moved to snatch away the fragment which dangled from a makeshift necklace X made with a black leather strip.

X had swatted his hand away and shoved him back, the motion startled Lucas out of whatever hunger gripped him and with an expression of utter confusion the soul-eater looked at the thief with an expression of utter bewilderment. I never got to see the end of the outcome for my consciousness faded out of existence and once again I returned to my body when I heard someone calling my name softly, "Raven …?"

"…"

"Raven … you awake?"

"Mmm … argh …"

"Raven …" I sighed when I felt a hand heavily laid on my left shoulder gently shake me awake, I bit down on my lower lip as a moan of exhaustion escaped my throat and slowly, hesitantly I opened my eyes. I expected to find myself back in the Tower surrounded by the other Titans all looking at me with mixed emotions of uneasiness, fear, worry, or even anger. I expected that … but instead I found myself staring down at the handle of a car door next to my lap. I blinked and still with blurry vision I looked around the vehicle I was in and discovered I was in the passenger seat of some sports car with black high-end quality leather and a very, very good nice new car smell.

With furrowed brows I pushed myself up from slouching, but winced when I brushed my wrists across the fabric of my jeans and I recoiled from the pain. Tentatively in confusion I brought my wrists up to peer over the healing burn and scratch marks and it took only a few seconds for the realization of what had transpierced to earn me these wounds to hit me. I bit down on my lower lip, clutched my hands into tight balled fists, and dropped them back down on my lap to gaze out the car window to find solace in the still dark skies. Only to find, strangely enough, I wasn't in the city.

I was on the outskirts atop some kind of scenic lookout point with a beautiful view of the city. I frowned and turned to my left, the driver's side, where Speedy looked at me with an incredulous expression, yet once he was sure I was coherent enough to understand him, he asked, "You alright?"

"…" I gulped, but refused to meet his gaze as I nodded meagerly in confirmation, a few aches and pains here and there, nothing my demon blood couldn't cure with a little time … but I knew none of that mattered. The inevitable was upon me, and as I sat here in Speedy's car, I knew I couldn't lie my way out of this. There was a reason he took me down in that street … there was a reason he parked on this scenic point … there was a reason he waited for me to come to.

The reason was simple.

He was going to turn me in … but not without knowing the truth, a confession, that's what he wanted. He wanted my side of the story before he did his job. If sitting here in this parking lot with the silver-bracelets dangling off his belt wasn't proof enough I also knew of the hill we were on. An out-of-the-way scenic-point on the way to Steel City Penitentiary that sat at the top of this hill where he could place me in a holding-cell made for people like me. I chewed on my lower lip and felt the swelling sensation of checkmate looming overhead.

I lost …

I lost … to Robin's pawn!

Robin may not be here with Speedy now to interrogate me, but I knew in some indirect fashion the boy-wonder had played his hand and won! I was never a very good loser – contrary to popular belief – I hated to lose just as much as Robin hated to lose, one of the many impossible things we shared alike. Yet, I couldn't deny this … if I tried to fight, I'd still lose because where would I go? I couldn't go back to X, I'd be bringing to heat to him and I couldn't do that to him again … not again, not after this major-ass screw up.

I can only hope that he'll somehow catch wind of my capture and take it as a big clue to turn tail and run the other way around. He had to, it was his only option, I'll kill him myself if he even so much as whips out a blueprint to plan a daring rescue (not that he would). I stilled when Speedy shifted in his seat, and I clenched my hands into tighter fists when he pulled out the silver-bracelets and fingered their pristine texture of pure silver. I expected him to slap them on my wrists again, but instead he surprised me by asking, "What the hell happened back there?"

I blinked, but despite my surprise I gathered up all the strength I could to hold a straight face as I softly explained, "I … I was leaving The Caribbean to return back to the Tower when –"

"No, no, no," he interjected and held out the cuffs so I could get a better look at them, I flinched at their awesome power which tickled my demon senses and stirred the flight-or-fight response within me. My demon wanted to fight … my human wanted to run, but I sat perfectly still, still as a statue when he waved the cuffs in my face and said, "I meant when I put this on you after you tried to do a summersault in the air and nearly broke your neck and then nearly destroyed half a block radius when I took these off – by the way, that explosion hurt."

Still with my eyes on the cuffs I gulped down a thick lump in my throat and tried to explain as best I could, "You placed the cuffs on me too soon after the initial shock of the attack. My consciousness had yet to catch up with my physical body when you disrupted the flow of my magic which automatically kicks in when I've been jarred out of a meditative state … or … if I was zoning-out."

I spared him a sheepish glance of acknowledgement and saw him scowl like a scolding parent, "You were zoning-out while riding a crotch-rocket? No wonder I was able to drop you like a rookie-sniper, next time be a little more alert, Steel City ain't as fair as Jump alright. If you're on a supped-up bike in the middle of the night chances are you're either incredibly stupid or a suspect in some kind of investigation."

I stiffened, "Which one am I to you and Robin?"

He blinked and his scowl suddenly turned into a frown of confusion, "Robin? What does he have to do with this?"

I rolled my eyes skyward, "I know you were with him at the Caribbean, Speedy … the two of you were following me …" when I didn't get any vindication from him to confirm my suspicions I slowly turned my head to look into his masked-eyes, I nodded to encourage him to play ball, "Right."

"…" he stared at me for a moment longer then turned away with his frown deepening, "Actually … I thought you and Robin were following me …" then he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes suspiciously on me, "but why would you think that Robin and I were following you?"

Chasing ghosts … I thought to myself as it occurred to me that there must have been some mix up, some miscommunication here and if Speedy were being honest about not knowing why I was at the Caribbean than it could work to my advantage, I seized the moment, "I could ask you the same thing …"

"You could … but … I don't think you will." He sat back, and judging from his relaxed posture I knew he was going to take the same advantage as me. He did have something to hide … something that he didn't want the other Titans knowing about. Meaning, I've been right about Speedy from the start, but that doesn't necessarily mean I was happy about it. Secrets dire enough to destroy one's life with a strong enough current to drag down those we love along for the ride wasn't something to rejoice about.

An awkward silence suddenly fell over the car and nothing but the sound of our clothes shifting could be heard as we tried to adjust to the small space to comfortably seat ourselves in case some serious allegations did come up. I was sure just as I was thinking of excuse after excuse to cover for my absents from the Tower, Speedy was doing much the same. At least … I thought he was, from the corner of my eye I saw him loll his head back against the seat of his chair as he sighed heavily and tiredly. He muttered something inaudible that I didn't catch even under all this silence, I didn't bother to ask what it was he said, content enough to prolong this empty silence so we didn't have to explain anything to each other.

Talking at this point had become too dangerous.

However … I had to know at least one thing, "Speedy …"

"… Hmm …" he mumbled in acknowledgment as he turned his head to face me, I trained my eyes to the dark floor of the car as I quietly asked.

"Why did you shoot at me?"

"…" he frowned in confusion, then sat up and suddenly snickered as if the memory had just hit him, "Oh … that … well, long story short, you were riding the same bike as a girl I knew who owed me a little money after she hustled me in a game."

I blinked and glanced at him with a doubtful look on my face, "You could have killed me … or that girl if I were her."

He snorted cynically and turned to sneer at me, "You're the last Titan I expect to care about people dying."

"… So … you don't care?"

He shook his head slowly and unemotionally, "Nope." After his flat-straight answer he didn't let me question him any further about his ethical standing on civilian life before he turned the table back on me, "So what were you doing around the Callie Strip? Still patrolling?"

I narrowed my eyes, and under my breath I whispered only loud enough for him to strain to hear, "Can you keep a secret?"

"…" he leaned forward, closer to me and whispered softly, "Yeah …"

I looked up at him, stared him down for a good long minute, let the suspense build, and then said, "So can I …"

"…" he blinked, then scowled and scoffed, "You're not gonna tell me jack are you?"

"No … and in return … I won't tell Bee ayou were out tonight either."

With an arched brow he gave me a curious look before chuckling, "You know … you might be a little more fun than I first thought you were."

I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily, "Yep, that's me alright."

He shifted in his seat then reached over and started his car, the engine roared to life and it wasn't until I bothered to notice, but I was riding in a Ford Mustang Fastback, it had to be a 78' model because of the classic design, but it smelt brand-new. He must have had it detailed. I thought to myself and revered in the sound of the V8 engine vibrating under the hood, it sounded beautiful, and it reminded me of all the things Cyborg had taught me in engineering. It felt good to me to know that I was one of the least girls in this world that actually took great interest in cars.

Speedy then reached around to place his hand on the back of my seat to help himself as he reversed out of the surprisingly empty parking-lot (I expected this place to be some sort of make-out point), shifted gears, stepped on the clutch, and with a jerk sped onto the empty road. Going downhill instead of uphill where Steel City Penitentiary sat I glanced over at Speedy curiously while he sat comfortably in his driver's seat and seemed rather content with his world. Like none of what had happened really bothered him … like he really didn't care. It disturbed me, and with a frown I discovered I just couldn't hold my silence tonight and ended up opening my mouth to say something … but he beat me to it.

As if he anticipated my urge to reproach the subject of our dark secrets he reached over to his radio and turned it on. A song in stark contrast to the techno music I had been exposed to blared through the speakers and sent a shockwave throughout the quiet car. It was loud enough for me to discreetly flinch as it pounded my eardrums and my head, but Speedy, however, didn't seem to mind at all. It was heavy head-banging rock-n-roll that I had never been exposed to at Titans Tower Jump City. The only other person I knew who listened to something as heavy as this was X, but even I didn't know what was in his iPod collection (unlike Blackfire).

It's not that I don't like their genre of music, as a matter of fact I was partial to it, but in small doses. How one can listen to it on a daily basis went beyond me, but for now I didn't question it. If Speedy didn't want to talk than that was fine with me, I didn't want to indirectly set myself up for failure anyway. So I sat back and let the heavy guitar rifts, loud pounding drum-line, and the gurgled scream-o lead singer paint me a distorted picture of a dark and dreary world.

Before long, with the speeds at which Speedy traveled on empty deserted roads we had arrived near the cliffs where we both knew Titans East Tower was stationed just below it. However, there was no hidden roadway into their Tower, at least none that Speedy showed me; instead he parked his car in some empty warehouse that also housed a number of other tarp-covered vehicles. Once we both exited the Fastback he motioned for me to help him drape a tarp over it. I muttered my enchanting words than lifted the tarp out of his hands and over the car to then neatly dress it as it should be before releasing my energy and nodding in satisfaction at a job well-done.

Speedy strolled up beside me, gave the car a one-over then playfully sneered at me, "Show-off."

I didn't bother to rebuke, instead I followed him out of the warehouse where I manually helped him close the gate and dusted my hands of the rust and dirt that I collected while Speedy sucked in a deep breath and looked out over the horizon. Or rather, to the Tower we both imaged to be at the base of the cliff, another long silence fell over us, but this one was a thoughtful one. How were we going to explain being gone all night with Robin's bike missing and such, Speedy, as it turns out, already had a plan, "We were on a date tonight …"

I blinked and then shot him a dark look, "No one is going to believe that."

He looked down at me with a shrug, "Why not? It's the perfect excuse. We can say we borrowed Robin's bike and caught trouble on the way back. They'll never be the wiser."

I shook my head, "Robin won't believe it …"

"Again, why not?"

"I don't go on dates."

"…"

"… I'm serious, and since I just arrived here and this is my first night in Steel it will be suspicious even to your teammates."

He threw up his hands in exasperation, "Well, you got a better idea?" Unfortunately no … I thought as I looked away from Speedy to try and come up with another explanation that could be believable, but after a minute of scrounging I gave up and shook my head in defeat. He sighed, "Look, Robin will believe you … he takes everything you say to heart and trusts you more than he's ever trusted anyone. You just gotta sell it Raven; sell it like you've never sold anything else before. Make him believe you."

"Speedy."

"Yeah."

"Shut-up …" I stormed away from him to keep him from seeing the pained-expression that crossed my face when every word he said hit me so hard in my gut I nearly let out a scream of anger, frustration, and agony. I know, I know it was necessary to sell-it … it's what I've been doing for the pass six months, but to hear someone else say it as if it were all apart of the game made me sick to my stomach. No, Speedy didn't make me sick, it was the confidence I had within myself that I could sell such a well thought of lie that made me sick.

It was true … Robin did trust me, and it was within this trust that I knew I could manipulate the hell out of him into thinking anything I wanted him to. I almost wanted Robin to call me a liar to my face and lock me away already, because this wasn't fair. It was so not right on so many different levels it wasn't even funny. I sighed heavily and stopped before the chain-link fence which stopped twenty-feet from the cliff where Titan Tower sat. I gripped the fence with my fingers as I leaned my forehead on the metal to close my eyes and catch my breath.

Speedy then appeared at my side, but I didn't bother to acknowledge him, didn't care to as I mentally prepare myself for another story to tell. The archer, however, insisted on being my conscious, "You know what you need … a vacation."

I shot him a dry look, "You're not the only one who thinks that."

He snickered, "I'm not surprised, you're so tense you make me nervous … so I was thinking … maybe I could take you out to lunch tomorrow, just you and me on an official date."

He's kidding right … I stood up straight and pinned him with a look so suspicious I made him shift his weight from one foot to the other as he waited for my reply. I blinked, then shook my head slowly to begin my rejection, but then stopped when a sudden thought struck me and I glared at Speedy with renewed suspicion when I found out I had no choice but to accept his offer. The longer I glared at him the brighter and brighter the gleam in his eye grew till it reached his lips and he began to smirk in amusement. I scowled and shook my head in defeat, "You've done this before haven't you."

He chuckled and shrugged, "Hey, you can't say you went on a date with someone without a follow-up, and look at it this way. So long as everyone puzzles over our relationship no one'll look too deep into our whereabouts tonight and future nights if this ever happens again. It's the perfect scam."

I growled, "Don't say it like that, this is not a scam it's a rouse that'll only last for so long before someone smartens up and finds out the truth."

"No one's gonna find out shit," he playfully punched the side of my left arm and I was pretty sure he winked at me when he said, "we play our cards right, we'll be in the clear, you just gotta sell it."

"…"

--

Sell it I did.

When morning came (not an hour after Speedy and I went to our separate rooms after we discussed how to tell our story) the alarm for morning training-exercises sounded at 7 am sharp when the sun had peeked just over the ocean horizon. Speedy and I both arrived on the training grounds outside of the Tower about fifteen minutes late to stir up the Titans' curiosities, Robin's interest in particular showed clear on his face as he eyed us both carefully and charily. I pretended to pretend to not notice, even gave Speedy a sideways glance for extra measure before I was suddenly confronted by an angry Bumble Bee who chewed me out for being late.

I justly apologized and she went on her way to chew on Speedy's ear while I stretched my arms high over my head in preparation for whatever exercise she and Robin had in store for the team. Speaking of Robin, the Boy-Wonder silently approached me from behind as I bent forward to grab my ankles in order to stretch my calves. I wouldn't have even noticed his approach if the tingling sensation in the back of my neck hadn't warned me, and yet, I still pretended to not care as I ducked my head to press my nose to my knees. Patiently counting to ten, waiting for Robin to speak up, and he only did when I resurfaced with a jerk of my head to flip my hair away from my face.

Smoothly, I ran my fingers through my hair and spared my leader a glance of dull acknowledgment. I also made note of the hard look on his face as he stared me down with a cold unreadable expression that made my skin crawl respectively, but I refused to say anything. Meanwhile, somewhere in the back of my mind I was totally aware of Speedy's attention as it flickered in our immediate direction, his aura anxious and jumpy, but his demeanor calm, cool, and collected. I inwardly scoffed, Show's he's done this before.

I was just about to drop to the ground in a perfect split to continue my stretching when Robin finally spoke my name, "Raven …"

I blinked and sucked in a deep breath, Here goes … slowly, I turned around to look at him with my face as unreadable as steel and I nodded, "Robin."

He tilted his head and inquired, "You seem tense … is something bothering you?"

"Except for the fact I didn't get any sleep last night, nothings bothering me."

"Really? And … what exactly were you doing last night?"

"Does it matter to you?"

"Yes, actually, it does. It matters a lot to me."

"Why?"

He took a step closer to me and I stood my ground, even as he lowed his voice and growled, "Because for some reason, when I left last night to follow a lead my bike was not where it's suppose to be and it still has yet to return, mind explaining that to me, Raven."

The ferocity behind his words engulfed me, but I immediately snuffed out the flame before it consumed me as I placidly blinked slowly and evenly in tone I replied, "Are you questioning where my loyalties lie so soon after you said you trusted me? Why didn't you ask me to go with you?"

His expression turned to cold-hearted stone and the look in his mask darkened, "It's a simple question Raven, why won't you answer it?"

"Why won't you answer mine? It's only fair …"

"… I didn't want to wake you."

I sneered to hide a victorious smug smirk on my lips when I knew I won, "You have to do better than that Robin … and though I don't think you have any right to treat me like a little girl with a curfew, I feel I do owe you an apology for your bike. It had an accident."

He jerked his head back in confusion, "Accident? What the hell does that mean?"

"…" I shifted from one foot to the other and let my eyes trail away from Robin's face to set the stage for my 'confession' I even swallowed a gob of saliva for show and sighed heavily, "I went on a date … last night … with Speedy … one thing led to the other and … your bike wasn't spared."

Like magic, Robin's stone-cold, confused face turned to a cartoonish expression of shock and disbelief, "What?"

I bowed my head, "I'm sorry."

"I don't care about the bike Raven … Speed – What?!" He didn't shout it, but through gritted teeth he hissed at me still in shock as he stepped even closer to me and whispered in a harsh tone, "When the hell did he happen?! I thought … I thought …"

I looked up when he sputtered and couldn't form the correct words for a proper sentence … it was actually amusing to know I had rendered Robin speechless, but to keep in character I furrowed my brows and shook my head trying to understand him, "You thought what?"

He glared at me, "I thought you didn't like him!"

"I don't," I answered to quickly and immediately scrambled for an explanation when I saw his expression turning suspicious again, "I mean, not in the way you're suggesting … it was just a friendly get-to-know-you date … Speedy initiated it, I just kinda went along for the ride."

Robin didn't buy it, "Raven, you don't just kinda do anything, much less go along with any ride."

"I know … but … he liked your bike and … I couldn't just let him go on a joyride with it alone … for that I'm sorry …"

"…"

"…"

"… Robin …?"

"Just gimme a minute …"

I frowned, "You don't believe me …?"

He glared at me and asked suspiciously, "Where did you guys go?"

I shrugged and remembered what Speedy had said, but couldn't recall the name of the diner he mentioned, so I decided to leave that part to him, "Some diner on Frankford Road … it was the only one open at that hour."

"What hour?"

I shook my head, "Robin if you don't believe me go a head and ask Speedy, he's right over there."

With that I turned my back on him and stormed away to pick a different spot to stretch leaving Robin comically-speechless while I swallowed the urge to cheer and cry at how well I played that lie off. I spared a glance at the archer when I felt his gaze on me, and I blinked slowly and discreetly bowed my head then brought it back up in a nod to confirm all had went well. He in turn grinned deviously and winked, though I didn't see it with his mask, I felt it and with that, life went on with none of the other Titans the wiser.

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Disclaimer: Don't own the Teen Titans, I own Lucas however …

A/N: Alright … I hated making this chapter, it was boring for me to type, but each scene was necessary to set the stage for the next chapter where it'll get a little more interesting, again I am sorry for the long wait guys. Though I did get my laptop back (YAY!!) my psychology class and math class is kicking my ass. I had to pay a little more attention to it if I ever had hopes of passing either of them. But in the meantime, thank you all for being patient, for reading and reviewing, and most of all for your support. I will try to answer some of your questions to the best of my knowledge (and so I don't give too much away either) other than that …

L8er daez …