Long Road to Ruin

Little Miss Get-A-Clue

By the Gods I hate being a hero in High School, the sun had barely even come up and suddenly Bumble Bee was sitting in my room, on my couch with her legs crossed giving me tips, pointers, and warning-signs of a date going horribly wrong. All while playing fashion police and dictating what I should and should not wear on a lunch-date (excuse me: 'follow-up date') with Speedy, like it even mattered to me how I looked like to him at all! I was just doing this because I felt like it was the right thing to do in order to prove to the others that Speedy and I were … how do I say this … that we were interested. That's it.

But no … as soon as word got out it spread like wildfire and now here I was being subjected to the dreaded 'girl-talk' with Bumble Bee all a buzzing with excitement, disbelief, and wonder. At one point in our conversation she even dared to say, "Damn, I guess anything is possible if Speedy managed to land a girl like you, no offence."

I went on to assure her I took no offence to the comment and proceeded to grab a t-shirt and jeans to put on and flaunt to Bumble Bee upon her insistence. She, then, predictably turned it down and after the next set of jeans and shirt I showed her she grew fed up with my lackluster approach to dressing up for this date-thingy-whatever and took matters into her own hands. Hovering over my shoulder she gazed into my pathetically filled closet and pouted, "Not even a blouse or a skirt … you weren't kidding when you and Rob said you packed light and I highly doubt you can fit any of my clothes."

Doubt never crossed my mind, Bumble Bee had a more curvy body than me, perfect even, not to mention she was a lot taller than me and her build was far more impressive. Compared to her, I literally looked like the girl next door. If the girl next door happened to have pale gray skin and unnatural violet hair and eyes; I can't blend into a crowd for my life, not without a little magic anyway. I sighed heavily and crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall shivering as the cold surface sent a chill down my bare naked spine.

I was still in my underwear after Bumble Bee ordered me to strip off the last article of clothing I presented to her because she disapproved of it and I was trying oh-so hard not to scowl or fidget impatiently as I said, "I think a t-shirt and jeans would do, this is nothing special, it's just lunch with Speedy, I don't think he'll care if I wore an evening-gown either way."

She scoffed and argued, "Yeah, but at least you can show him you care enough to take it seriously."

I arched a sarcastic brow and shot her a sarcastic look, "Advocating for a womanizer Bumble Bee? Not exactly what I expected from a girl like you."

She blinked and tilted her head curiously, "Who said Speedy was a womanizer?"

I rolled my eyes, "His Myspace page, I don't know … he just struck me as the type to change girls as much as he changes his underwear … assuming of course he changes those at all."

She cringed, "Eww, thank you for that image."

"You're welcome, now if you'll excuse me, I'm late …" I grabbed up a pair of khaki-cargo pants I discarded and a small black skintight shirt with a collar that exposed a small amount of flesh on my abdomen that I was comfortable with. Once I got them both on I sat on my couch and began to slip on my shoes and Bumble Bee plopped down with me, I shot a momentary glance to find her watching me curiously. I huffed, "Thanks for your help Bee, but I really didn't need it."

She disregarded the thanks, "Oh its okay, I know you didn't … I, um, actually came here to talk to you …"

After I slipped on my last shoe I looked up to see her face suddenly grow somber and serious. I braced for anything she might want to say then I nodded, "Okay … about what?"

"Speedy … and you …"

I huffed when I felt her apprehension and concern, "Bee, I'll be fine; I know he's a jerk, but what guy isn't."

She shook her head, "No, it's not about that … it's … well …"

"…" I stared at her when she couldn't just out right say what she wanted to say. Her hesitation actually caught me unawares, Bumble Bee, to me, never seemed the type to think twice about what she says. Usually she already knows what she's going to say and announces it with no remorse. So this was … unusual … I searched her eyes and found that though she really wanted to tell me whatever it is she wanted to tell me, she didn't know if she could, and I frowned, "Bee …?"

She looked away from me for a moment in thought then took a deep breath and huffed, "I don't know why I'm so apprehensive about this whole thing, but … I guess it's because this is the first time Speedy's ever asked a girl I know out … much less did it traditionally." She jumped up a little so she could face her whole torso to me and said, "So I just wanted to let you know and I don't care if you kill me in my sleep for saying so, but, I'm routing for you guys to take this all the way. I think you both could do each other some good. Speedy needs someone to anchor him down, and you need someone to … well … have fun with, ya know."

"…" I frowned, but didn't bother to press the topic; it was irrelevant, and stupid. Speedy and me together? Yeah, maybe in some alternate dimension I wasn't aware about and shall never be aware about … Speedy wasn't my type … he was too … good.

He just would never get me.

At least, that's what I figured from the likes of him.

--

Speedy laughed as he walked down the pathway of Steel City's Hathaway Park, I remained comfortably placid as he relayed (in great detail) the reactions and conversations he's had with the other Titans about our phony date last night. He turned to me with a big sneaky smile on his face as he said, "You should have seen the look on Robin's face when I confirmed your story, classic disbelief, he even thought I was lying till I flashed him the diner's recite then he shut up."

That's when I arched a brow and shot him a curious look, "Diner's recite?"

He nodded, "Yeah," he then dug into his pocket and whipped out a crumbled recite that looked barely readable, much-less convincing to a trained detective like Robin. He offered it to me and I took it as he reassured me, "Relax, I know what I'm doing, unless Robin actually goes to that diner to check out our story – and if he does it'll just make him look like an ass for not trusting us – he's none the wiser."

I stared at the recite and tried to make out its contents under the smeared ink that was conveniently smudged out due to some unknown liquid droplets and the crumbled mess that it was didn't help either. After examining it for a couple more seconds I gave up and handed it back to Speedy who again stuffed it back in his pocket as the wind blew and my hair latched onto my neck and face. I collected the strands as best I could and tucked it behind my ear with a heavy sigh, "Are you always prepared with an alibi every time you return to the Tower late at night?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, "Everyone's gotta know my business and sometimes I just like to keep some things to myself is that a crime?"

"… No …" I flipped my hair back over my shoulder and added coldly, "… but locking-down your portion of the Tower and leaving your team vulnerable to attack, is. It could be considered sabotage and you could be held liable if anyone were to get hurt."

"Bee says the same thing …" he scoffed and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants as he bowed his head to stare at the ground.

I didn't bother to press the subject, content enough to know I shut him up for a while so I can think. I needed to think, I wasn't in the mood for talking much less in the right state of mind to hold up a decent conversation, I needed to put everything that's transpired in my life in order so I know what to do from here. I'm sure Speedy noticed my reluctant posture and sudden irritability and was probably chalking it up to be my way of dealing with this so-called date thingy I really didn't want any part in.

He can assume my bad-mood was his entire fault all he wants, I don't care.

My mind was elsewhere.

Far away elsewhere … beyond Never, Never Land, pass Wonderland, and on the other side of Treasure Island two skips and a hop down memory lane into a nightmare I never knew existed. I closed my eyes tightly shut and sighed for the umpteenth time as a last ditch effort to again rid myself of the image of X and Blackfire. I don't know why their image still plagued my mind after I had accepted the reality of their strong connection. They just had that instant chemistry, they clicked and vibed off each other like … like … like Orion and Kayla.

I didn't have enough time to study X and Blackfire's aura like I did with Orion and Kayla, but I was pretty damn sure I'd get the same reading, a reading of perfect harmony. Chaotic in its own right, passionate, and wild … soul-mates … I was beginning to wonder if there really was such a thing now.

Speedy asked me something … wasn't quite sure what it was, the question I knew was so sudden I didn't react fast enough to process each word, so I guessed he was probably wondering if I was alright, so I muttered a curt, "I'm fine."

"What?"

I gritted my teeth, I hate repeating myself, but I did so anyway for Speedy's sake, "I said I'm fine."

He scoffed, "Yeah, I know, I heard that, but what?"

My brows came together and I turned my head to glare at him in confusion, "What?"

We stopped walking and stood in the middle of the path now facing each other as he shrugged with his hands still in his pocket, "I dunno, I'm asking you what."

He lost me, "Huh?"

Under his mask he rolled his eyes and then looked around when he noticed we were rudely blocking the path of joggers and bikers, he reached out and grabbed my elbow to gently pull me off the path so we were on the grass. He then let my arm go and walked on ahead to a nearby unoccupied picnic-table conveniently placed under a tree; he sat down on one side of the table and gestured for me to sit with him. I inwardly scowled; this was the kind of thing I've been trying to avoid all afternoon: a heart-to-heart moment with the last Titan I wanted to open-up with. Damn the Fates and their cruel sense of humor!

In defeat I trudged over the grassy ground and plopped down opposite Speedy and glared when he narrowed his eyes and stared analytically at me, I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, I hated to be analyzed; he said, "This guy is really getting to you isn't he?"

He asked with such assurance that I almost expected him to out right say Red X was my boyfriend. I blinked and caught myself before I fell into such a trap and instead played stupid till I understood just who and what he was talking about, "What guy?"

He shrugged, "Whoever it is that you're seeing besides Robin … or me for that matter …"

"…" Now he really, honestly, lost me, "What are you talking about?"

Speedy smirked and with no-holds-bar he laid out his cards, "Okay, so it's like this … everyone from Titans East to Titans West – your guys – thinks something is going on between Robin and you. I thought it was an affair that was getting kinda serious since you arrived here and not Starfire, kind of a roundabout way of dumping her. I actually had a bet with Aqualad about who'd accompany Robin on his little fieldtrip, I thought it was going to be Starfire, he said it'll be you and low and behold now I'm out forty bucks."

Explains why he was upset when Bumble Bee phoned him in, I thought bitterly, then scowled, "Well I apologize for what inconvenience I may have brought you, but I am not having an affair with Robin, you're the second Titan that's asked me the same question."

He snickered, "I didn't ask you anything, and you didn't let me finish."

"Oh, my apologies, there's more," I leaned away from him with my darkening scowl as I folded my arms over my chest and Speedy chuckled.

"Look, the reason why I know there's someone else is because of last night when you left the Tower to go on your little 'patrol' without Robin, I'm insensitive, not stupid." I refrained from looking in his eyes, a little afraid of what his conclusions might turn out to be … he wasn't Terra, "So anyway, I've concluded that you're seeing someone else outside of the Titan ring, can't be a civilian otherwise why bother hide it … no, it's someone that you don't want Robin to know about … someone that we both know Robin might not approve of … someone that you have to have been seeing for a while if he's able to get under your skin right now … stop me if I'm wrong. Whoever he is … he's written all over your face."

"…" I glared at him unwilling to say a word.

He shrugged again and went on, "What can I say, I know what strung-out looks like and you are Strung. Out."

I sneered and with my arms still crossed and my back rigidly straight I pinned him to the tree with a cold look as I replied calmly, "So your conclusion is since I'm not having an affair with Robin, I'm having an affair with someone else behind Robin's back? Does that really sound like something I'd do?"

"At this point, I think you're capable of almost anything …" he leaned forward and whispered, "I may be endangering the lives of my teammates sometimes, but what feats have you taken to cover your ass?" He pulled back with a smug smirk on his lips and a bad taste in my mouth; I balled my hands into tight fists to refrain from jumping the table and beating Speedy to a bloody pulp. How dare he try to make it seem as if I'm the monster here when he didn't even know me! No wonder Aqualad can't stand him, and still he had more to say, "Besides that … based on what I've witnessed so far … I know I'm right."

"No, you think you're right …" I sneered in annoyance, "You want to catch me doing something bad so that way I'll be more of an interesting character for you to interact with." I sucked in a deep breath and with the straightest of faces (and calmest of tones) I said, "Speedy, I am not having an affair, I'm not seeing anyone outside of the Titan ring, and I'm just doing my job. Something we both should be doing right now if you didn't have me sitting out here in the middle of a park on a supposed date that's feeling more and more like an interrogation tactic. Unless you have another agenda to fill with this line of questioning, get to the point."

He nodded and scoffed as if everything I said was little more than an idle threat he brushed off of his shoulder, "Alright then, Little Miss Get-A-Clue –" my sneer turned into an irritated scowl at his precious little nickname, "– my point is, let it go. Just let him go, this constant pining –"

"I am not pining!"

"Can I finish?"

I huffed and pouted, but otherwise closed my mouth and let him continue, he shook his head at me like an irritated parent and sighed, "Anyway … your constant pining, is unhealthy and I really don't see the appeal in remaining with a guy that's causing you so much grief. I barely even know how it is you really live your life back at Jump, but judging by what I've seen so far, you're acting like a drug addict that needs a hit every few hours. Jonesing for a fix every time you're away from him, he's obviously tearing you apart, so take your own advice. Get a grip on reality, get over him, and get on with life. Let. It. Go. That's my point, period."

I rolled my eyes and just as he dismissed me, I dismissed him, "I give you a chance to state a point and you're still going on about me and some imaginary guy I don't have."

"Don't bullshit me Raven," he argued with a patient look on his face and a tone of voice that gave no room for me to interject, "Robin can pretend not to notice what's going on all he wants, but I don't play that game. I can't look the other way when I know you're doing something so stupid it boggles my mind! I know if anyone were to leave you unchecked you're gonna go run off to be with someone you shouldn't be with." He then laughed curtly, harshly, and mockingly, "So consider this an intervention."

He paused to shake his head and satisfied with his in-depth look into my personality he sat back in his seat and stared at me, patiently waiting for a rebuttal, but I knew arguing was pointless. His mind was already made up, and no matter how hard I tried to appeal otherwise he wouldn't hear any of it, which agitated me. An argument lost to Speedy … either I was losing my touch, or I didn't know him well enough to strike him where it hurt the most. It's like every insult I threw at him didn't faze him in the least and it was irritating me!

Especially since he apparently knew more about me than he was leading me to believe!

So, childish as it would seem, I struck the last nerve I thought would have greater impact since it seemed to work with Robin when I felt like being a sadistic-bitch. I was a sore loser, I don't like to lose unless I know the victor felt some kind of dismay, so I scoffed and in a chilling tone I hissed, "Like you'd know what a drug addict looks like Richie-Rich."

No hero likes to speak of their upbringing.

Dark histories should remain just there, in the dark.

No one abide by this rule more strictly than Robin and Speedy.

At least … I thought Speedy would crumble and I would finally get to see the human behind that smug, lazy grin of his … but no! It was like he was impervious to everything I said, and in response he chuckled and stood up from the table. With the wind blowing from behind him, forcing the collar of his shirt to flip up around his neck he stared me down and in a voice that had a suspicions dark undertone yet still with his trademark lazy grin he said, "Don't go judging what you don't know."

"…"

I stood up with him and wordlessly we continued our walk through the park with nothing left to say.

At least … this time I really didn't want to say anything and he seemed content enough to leave me to digest what we've discussed.

The park filled the gape between us and the silence that shrouded us.

People went on with their lives, oblivious to who and what I am.

Kids played games in the field.

Dogs barked here and there.

Bikers raced passed us, followed by joggers, and walkers, and other park goers.

Yet none of them … not a damn one of them cared about our existence or cared about the mess I've put myself through. I highly doubt any one of them would be able to understand the seriousness of my position … not even Speedy understood despite whatever secret he may be keeping from me. Let go? Let go of X? Yeah … I wish it were that simple … I wish I could just say: 'Sorry, I don't want to see you anymore, but it was nice knowing you, have a good life and try to stay out of trouble.' If I could say that and walk away unscathed I'd do it in a heartbeat … but the fact of the matter is I don't live in Pleasantville.

I don't have the fairytale life like Robin and Starfire.

I don't have friends that love me no matter what my sin is like Speedy.

And I don't have anyone to fall back on or catch me if I should fall off my high-horse.

I was on my own.

I was the only person I could count on … no one else.

No one – Speedy nudged me, I blinked out of my stupor and looked up at him when he gestured with his chin for me to look in a particular direction. I followed his general direction, eyes searching for anything out of the ordinary and it wasn't long till I caught sight of the last person I expected to find sitting under a tree with X's iPod in her ears. I furrowed my brows and scowled, Is she retarded? What the hell!? No, I wasn't worried about her, far from it – so far from it in fact it wasn't even funny – I was worried about X … I knew if she was around it meant he shouldn't be far off since he was suppose to be protecting her. Also, if she were here it meant Strongheart would spot her in an instant if they were within the vicinity.

Speedy tilted his head and arched a brow, "Huh … how convenient …"

I chewed on my lower lip nervously, but refrained from showing my anxiety to pounder aloud, "We should call it in … Blackfire isn't exactly a damsel in distress."

He shook his head, "I don't wanna spook her … besides … if she's here, it could only mean she's either waiting for someone, or something's about to go down because she's out of her usually attire. Decoy?"

I never thought of that, but he was right, Blackfire was no longer in her skit and top covered in her battle-armor, but instead she blended in with her surroundings … I was pretty sure if Speedy didn't have a sharp eye we would have totally missed her and went on with our lives. In dark blue jeans, a turtle-neck long sleeved skintight top that exposed her midriff, she looked like a college-student taking a breaking from her studies instead of a hardened convict. I shook my head, "For all we know she could really just be enjoying the sights," I scoffed, "but incase that isn't the case … go right and tail her if she moves, but do nothing else."

He nodded and without further instruction we made the transition from civilian life to experienced Titans and flanked the Tameranian. Slowly, we converged on her without giving away our positions, with my eyes everywhere, my ears to the ground, and my senses on high alert I was prepared for anything. Anything, that is, until I crossed paths with a large tree that kept me from Speedy's and Blackfire's views and someone grabbed my left elbow. I reacted without thinking and swung around with a straight punch, but my assailant snagged my wrist and with sheer strength alone he shoved me against the tree and pinned me.

With my enchantment at the tip of my tongue, a sudden wave of dizziness and exhaustion came over me and my knees gave out from under me. I don't know what happened, but it felt like I had received a hard punch to my gut that knocked the wind out of me, but my assailant didn't even hit me! Out of reflex as I fell to the ground I grabbed his shoulders and clenched his shirt with tight fists to keep myself from fainting when spots started to appear in my field of vision. It didn't help that I started to tremble uncontrollably when the wind that blew passed us felt like someone had turned the AC on high and jammed my face into the vent.

Luck me (yeah, right) the man that pinned me used his body and the tree to help support me back on my feet, I didn't want to think it, but his body heat lessened the tremors enough so I could gain control of myself long enough to look up at my attacker. It must have been X, it couldn't be anyone else, no one else was stupid enough to press his body against me like this unless they wanted to die an early death. However, I couldn't be anymore wrong; once my eyes focused I peered into the startling intensity of Lucas's cold, hard, black gaze that stared at me with no expression or emotion.

My mouth fell to the floor in disbelief and I held him tighter, afraid that I was hallucinating and I had really gone and lost my mind. Lucas? The hell …?

He blinked, "You're very cruel …"

I blinked, "… What?"

"If you can stand on your own, please do so, otherwise I suggest we refrain from all bodily contact."

"Oh," I said stupidly, then realized what he meant and all but leapt out of his arms to only slam my back against the tree and bounce back into his embrace. A traitorous scarlet blush appeared on my cheeks when our faces came so close I could smell the sweetness of his breath, which was weird considering no living life-forms' breath was supposes to be sweet. However, it also confirmed how inhuman he really was compared to me, his grip on me tightened and again a sudden wave of lightheadedness swept over me and I couldn't stand on my own two feet.

I groaned and leaned on him, but he growled and let me drop to the ground in an exhausted heap as he marched away from me to angrily pace back and forth as that psychotic personality of his began to overwhelm him and his aching hunger pierced my gut. It didn't help to quell the dizziness in my head as I struggled to get back on my feet, why the hell was I feeling so goddamned weak?! It's like the Earth it self was sucking the life out of – it hit me suddenly – I looked up at Lucas when his pacing slowed, his breathing became collected, and he was slowly reverting back to being a shell of a human-being. He looked down at me with no expression and I found the strength to get back on my feet, though still a bit lightheaded I leaned on the tree and scowled at him, "You should spend a little more time on developing a sense of: Self. Control. Steal from me again and I swear to Azar death will become more of a blessing than a curse for you."

The exertion behind that threat made me sigh heavily and lean forward to prop my hands on my knees in order to help keep me steady. However, it didn't lessen the dark look I bore on Lucas, even as he bowed respectfully and made me cringe at how formal it was in our culture. He covered his mouth with his right hand, signifying he spoke out of line, and kept his left hand pressed flat against the side of his thigh, a sign to suggest equality. Even his speech was perfect … just like it sounded when he was in my head, "Zaan rajsheri, it is within my nature as you know."

'My apologies' he said and I scowled. Stubbornly I forced myself to stand fully on my feet without the support of the tree, yet I still swayed for a moment before I found my balance long enough to say with authority and make it quite clear that I didn't consider him an equal. "Don't you dare give me that excuse, I am the half-demon here and I don't go around pretending to help people while stealing their life-energy –"

He calmly interjected, "Force of habit then, you attacked me and I reacted as I would in any other fight."

"And I wouldn't have tried to hit you if … ugh …" I shook my head again when my world tilted and I nearly fell over to follow it, I took a moment to collect myself, then sneered, "Forget it, where's X?"

"Busy."

"Doing …?"

"Doing whatever it is he does," he shrugged dismissively, "but he's not important, I came here to have a word with you."

I was irritated now, "Does it look like I'm in any position to have any kind of discussion with you right now?!"

"I didn't mean right now," curse him and his straight face, he made me look like a fumbling idiot when it came to the poker-face game, he had the stone-cold look down-pat, "whenever it is you're free and you manage to sneak away from the Titans come see me, I'll make it worth your while."

"Oh, I highly doubt that."

No sooner had the phrase left my lips did a sonic-boom split the air somewhere in the distance, it rang in my ears and felt like it echoed all across the nation, but Lucas seemed to know where it was. He glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment, but it was long enough for me to notice how his poker-face demeanor suddenly changed and he went ridged and stiff. He looked down at me as I glared at him and he nodded his head, "That's my cue … just wait for yours." With that he backed away from me and in one bound he disappeared into the tree behind me.

I stepped away from it back into the clearing where Speedy, from across the field looked up at me with a bewildered expression on his face, probably asking himself where the hell the sonic-boom had come from. I had an idea of what caused it, especially when my sights laid on Blackfire, the Tameranian who also noticed the loud commotion and sprang up on her feet. With X's iPod still in her hands she pulled the ear-buds from her ears and had her gaze fixed on one location glaring at nothing, yet focused on something, I pulled out my communicator to get in touch with Speedy when I saw him preparing to move in for the capture. I immediately hooked up with him and growled, "Stay where you are, let her lead us to the source of the commotion."

My radio crackled and he came back exasperated, "If she flies we're shit out of luck."

"Don't move Speedy, just wait." Just wait … easy to say, harder to do, even I was jumping at the chance to pin the ex-princess down to make sure she doesn't fly off. Yet, with how Lucas reacted to the explosion, and now watching Blackfire not moving an inch from her spot I knew Speedy was right the first time. Something was about to happen and I didn't like the looks of it.

Without warning, like a missal dropped from the sky a streak of green energy split the air and in a matter of seconds the park went from beautiful and green to utterly destroyed when the green streak impacted the ground that Blackfire stood on. It felt like an explosion that knocked everyone off their feet and popped my eardrums as I fell against the tree and tried not to inhale the dust and dirt that flew into the air and scattered all over the park. Across the way Speedy stumbled back on his feet, shaking his head to clear himself of the dirt that covered him while he struggled to get to the crater to see what had happened.

I attempted to follow him, but gasped when my strength still had yet to catch up with me, I cursed Lucas black and blue as I clutched my heart and tried to catch my breath. Damm it all … I swore to myself as I shook my head and gritted my teeth. I was no good to anyone like this, and I was sure it would take longer than a few seconds to regain the chunk of energy I lost to that damned soul-eater! With options at the minimum and time not on my side I swore aloud once more and paused to concentrate on bringing forth my demonic instincts. Seconds before I was prepared for the change I felt an electrical charge surge through me and the thrill of bloodlust consume me.

My senses sharpened and the world around me was suddenly brought to life as I gazed over the park and saw it vibrantly as if for the first time in forever. My bones suddenly became harder, yet my body felt as light as a feather, like I could dance across the clouds without the worry of falling through, even my nails grew longer till they were a fine razor-sharp point. Perfect for tearing through metal and dicing flesh, the only discomfort I felt was my jaw. I had to open it and crack it a couple of times when my lower jaw momentarily disconnected from the rest of my face so to readjust and accommodate the fangs that graced my mouth.

By the time the transformation was complete and my human consciousness took the backseat I had already beat Speedy to the scene of the accident and with my sharpened senses I peered into the hole, but discovered much to my dismay nothing. Speedy stopped beside me, breathing heavily he pointed ahead and said, "This is the impact sight; I caught a glimpse of our green fireball flying over the park. I'm pretty sure the damn thing bounced from here into the city somewhere."

I sneered, "Then let's go after it."

"Back-up?"

"Word will spread, right now I don't want to lose the only lead we have to X so lets do the others a favor and track it down."

He stood straight up and smirked arrogantly as he mockingly saluted me, "On your six boss."

Lucky us Speedy saw fit to go on this interrupted date with his quiver of arrows and his bow despite his casual wear. I nodded and without further delay I dropped from the makeshift hillside and raced across the crater to bound up the other side and dart into the trees with Speedy at my six. Now, contrary to popular belief, I'm not super-fast, and I'll never be, I could run about as fast as an Olympic sprinter with longer endurance that might possibly create the illusion that I had inhuman speed, but no. Only the pure-breeds, the true demons could travel long, far, and fast, with godlike strength and the like, I was merely a half-demon, therefore if you do the math I could only measure up to half that power.

If I was lucky enough to measure up to anything at all that is.

I was pretty sure, because I've deluded my demon-half with so much of my human-half, if I were to challenge Malchior in this form he'd win by a landslide. Simply because I don't train with my demon-half … I was always taught to conceal it, keep it locked away, and to never, ever, under any circumstance unleash it. Needless to say I became more human than demon, unlike Lucas who wasn't even a demon at all, but a mere copy of the original. It wasn't until much later, pretty much when I first discovered Robin and we created the Titans along with the others on our team, did I realize that there was no way I could keep my demon sealed away forever.

So, thanks to the Titans I learned, eventually, that I couldn't change who I was no matter how many good deeds I performed, I was a demon … and I either had to accept it … or learn to wield it as a weapon. I chose the latter of the two and though I was still training myself how to use this form, I was confident enough to give it a test run now. With Speedy still keeping pace behind me I broke through the last portion of the park, jumped the fence and landed on the sidewalk. There, I stood frozen in place when I felt a slight tremor in the ground when another explosion went off; Speedy landed beside me and huffed, "That sounds like … what … sixteen blocks from here?"

I scowled and evoked my magic to hover off the ground till I was above Speedy, I didn't have to say anything, he lifted his bow up over his head and I grabbed it. With him still holding on I used my magic to help me lift him off the ground as we soared over the streets and higher till we were above the buildings where we spotted the mushroom-cloud not too far off. I pushed myself faster till we were finally over the chaos and I caught a glimpse of Blackfire attempting to charge up a purple energy-ball to launch at her assailant, but her opponent was faster.

He disarmed her by launch a starbolt into her energy-field which dissipated her ball and caused it to implode upon itself. The explosion flung the two a part one up the street and one down. I lowered myself over a building and Speedy shouted, "Drop me here!"

So I did, I released him on the building and gently landed beside him. No sooner had I done so did both or communicators go off at once, Speedy ignored his as he notched an arrow into his bow and picked a target: Blackfire. I answered the call and no surprise there; it was Robin on the other line, "Raven! Trouble, you and Speedy head down to sector eighteen pronto, there's some sort of disturbance over there."

"Already here, it's Blackfire and some other Tameranian –" I cringed when another explosion rocked the building and pierced my eardrums, I hissed then turned back to the screen and said, "It's getting messy Robin and I have no idea who's on who's side."

Robin scowled, "This isn't about sides, if they continue people are going to get hurt, hold them off till we get there, that's an order!"

"Copy." I flipped the communicator closed and looked up at Speedy to find the archer grinning at me.

"So … light meat? Or dark?"

"You take Blackfire, I'll cover the stranger."

"You got it." With that said he leapt over the edge of the seven story building, leaving me to dive after him, grab the back of his shirt to keep him from hitting the pavement with a splat, and at the right time release him so he could drop and roll after Blackfire. It worked like a charm and once I was free I half flew, half ran up the street towards the stranger thinking it was Strongheart, but again, I was wrong.

Once the Tameranian picked herself up off the ground after another attack gone wrong, she lifted herself into the air and growled. Screaming something in Tameranian she looked ready to throttle Blackfire, but I leapt high into the air and tackled her back onto the ground. She cushioned my fall, but she took the brunt of it and needless to say, she wasn't very happy. She screamed and with glowing green eyes she snarled up at me and in perfect English (thank Azar) she said, "How dare you meddle with this challenge! You have no right to stop me from avenging my family's honor!"

She was strong, hella strong; I couldn't hold her down, even with my added demonic-strength. Like a rag-doll she tossed me off of her and I landed on the pavement with a slight bounce, I grunted, but otherwise rolled back on my feet quick enough to dodge a lethal blow to my skull when her fist pounded the pavement and created an indent. Whoever she was, she was mad as all hell with me, her eyes still glowing a deadly green, pinned me with a look that promised absolute death. I tensed for a fight, but something in the back of my mind kept nagging me, telling me that I've seen this woman before … but where?

Maybe if her eyes weren't glowing hot-green I'd be able to figure it out.

Speaking of eyes, she fired a deadly laser beam at me, I dodged it, nimbly rolling, running, and ducking out of her range and the moment she seized fire I lifted up chunks of debris from her previous battle and flung it at her with my power. At the same time she was obliterating the boulders with her fists I stealthily snuck up to her and landed a solid punch straight across her jaw. I then spun around and landed a kick to her temple where she dropped to the ground more in shock than pain. Her eyes stopped glowing green for a brief moment and I could see her full face (minus the smudged dirt from my shoe on her cheek that is), she looked up at me and I arched a brow, She was at the tournament thing … she must be the other woman that sat beside Strongheart … his sister!

Wow … I guess he was telling the truth about one thing.

In any other case I would have asked her what honor was there to restore against Blackfire she was a convicted felon, band from her own planet, and banished from the throne. Blackfire, in the eyes of her government and her people, held no more authority or worth than a grain of sand! She was lower than dirt! But culture was culture and I had no right to judge them, so I didn't, however I did have the right to defend myself when Strongheart's sister took me by surprise with her hidden speed and jumped me. On the ground I gasped for air when she closed her hands over my throat and clenched it so tight she could have easily crushed my windpipe.

With a maniacal look on her face she whispered, "Die …"

Tighter and tighter still, I choked and started seeing spots, my claws dug into her arm, but it didn't seem to faze her in the least. Dammit! Think! Think! Think! I couldn't say my mantra, my demon wasn't strong enough to deal with her, and I was pinned to the ground losing oxygen fast. With my mind racing a mile a second trying to think of someway to get out of this rut before I died, someone else figured it out for me. Without warning Strongheart's sister suddenly released me and as I gasped for air I was aware of the fact her entire weight had left me as well. I propped myself up in a sitting position and searched for the crazy Tameranian while still breathing heavily, only to find her on her knees with X – in full uniform minus his mask – gripping her in a deadly choke-hold that could easily snap her neck in two.

It took a moment for me to process what was going on, but when it finally did I leapt on my feet and without thinking and only reacting I balled my hand into a fist and punched X hard enough to knock him over and to release his grip on Strongheart's sister. They dropped to the ground, bewilder and confused, Strongheart's sister blinked at either of us, but X just stared at me in wordless shock as he shook his head and shrugged as if to ask: What the fuck?

I replied by rushing up to him and helping him back on his feet none too politely and shoved him as hard as I could without the use of my demonic strength and I snarled, "Get out of here what the hell are you thinking?!"

He glared, "Uh, I think I just saved your life! A thanks is in order!"

"My life is not worth the risk you are taking right now if you don't get the hell out of here!"

He looked as if I had slapped him across the face and he couldn't believe I did it, Azar I wish I did, "Not worth the risk?! What the hell does that –!" He stopped himself suddenly and shook his head to change tactics, "Fuck it, now's not the time, but this isn't over."

"…" I didn't bother to reply, I just wanted him out of here, I wanted him to hide, I wanted him to be the thief that he was and not give a shit about my life anymore! I didn't want him to risk anything not a damn thing for me, especially not at the cost of going to prison by my hands. How stupid, how selfish of him to be unselfish in a time when he should be selfish enough to turn the other way! By the Gods I hope no cameras were around to witness that… I screamed, "Shit!"

Strongheart's sister!

Where did she go?!

I searched all around me and it wasn't until I looked down the street where Speedy was still trying to hold off Blackfire did I see him also trying to dodge the other Tameranian's attacks. I gritted my teeth and ran to help him; just in the knick of time I grabbed his quiver and yanked him towards me when I saw both Blackfire and Strongheart's sister preparing to launch attacks at the other with Speedy sandwiched in the middle. Seconds after he stumbled over a chip in the pavement and fell on his ass the explosion enveloped us in a cloud of smoke that immediately cleared up when Blackfire kicked off the ground and rushed her opponent.

Speedy coughed, "Jeez, what took you so long?"

I ignored him and instead said, "Cover your ears."

I then took off to separate the two women before they did any further damage, once I jogged close enough I summoned up my soul-self and lifted up a wall of darkness between the two. I forced them to back off as the giant black raven peered over them and screeched loud enough to shatter all the windows in the surrounding buildings. Blackfire and Strongheart's sister floated back to the ground holding their ears desperately trying to shut the noise out. Once I grew close enough to either of them, I dropped the raven from existence and went over to Strongheart's sister who was quickly recovering from the shock of the sound-waves.

I rushed her to keep her on the ground, but she saw me coming and jumped back into the air to continue her assault. I skidded to a stop when she charged up her fists with green energy and prepared to fire, I prepared to block, but then I heard a familiar ZING noise, it wasn't from X, but from one of Robin's explosive disks. It was headed straight for Strongheart's sister, but the moment it got within two feet from her chest Speedy's arrow intercepted the disk and BOOM!

The explosion was enough to push me back, my demon senses tingled at the strength behind both concussion bombs going off at once, but my sight was fine enough to catch a glimpse of Blackfire. The ex-princess and the smarter of the two Tameranian women didn't bother to either finish the challenge or fight the Titans, she took off running first then jumped into the air gaining altitude and speed till it was pointless to go after her. Meanwhile, Strongheart's sister laid unconscious on the pavement … one too many explosions could do that to a person I suppose, she just couldn't take it and finally conked out. I sighed with relief, but Bumble Bee wasn't too happy, "Aww, come on! What a jip! We come all the way out here for a fight and instead get left with the clean-up! I told you it was a left at Kaushic Street!"

Aqualad (apparently the one she was referring to) argued back with the sound of disbelief laced in his tone, "Wha – me?! Robin was the one driving and you're blaming this on me?!"

"You had the map!"

Speedy instigated, "You gave fish-boy over here a map? Wow, that's awfully clever of you, next time why don't you stop by the reef and ask Dori where it is, I'm sure she'd remember."

From then on the argument ensured, but I tuned them out as I helped Robin properly cuff and secure the unconscious Tameranian. After securing a metal plate over her head and around her eyes he looked up at me and first asked the obvious, "Who is she?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, but I think she's Strongheart's sister, she was fighting with Blackfire to avenge her family's honor apparently."

"…" Robin stared at the woman for a moment longer before huffing and shaking his head, "I would have preferred to have captured Blackfire … but … you work with what you got."

"Mmhm …"

"…"

I felt his aura suddenly shift uneasily and I looked at him with concern, "Something wrong?"

He looked at me with his masked eyes then tilted his head and asked with a slow creeping smile on his lips, "How was your date?"

I groaned and rolled my eyes.

--

Disclaimer: I don't own Never, Never Land, Treasure Island, or Wonderland … someone else does, neither do I own the Titans, DC owns them, Lucas and 'Strongheart's sister' are the people that I DO own, so no touchy!!

A/N: Wow wie, I think I owe you guys an apology for this chapter too WAYY to long for my tastes =( I'm sorry, but you gotta admit, a lot of shit took place here. A lot of things to digest and the like, so if you have any questions that can't already be answered with the wait of the next chapter, or you got any comments, suggestions you know what to do. Until then, I'll see you all

L8er daez!!