Chapter 2:

One-Eyed Villain

Stranger's POV

"WHY DID I STAY?" I shout angrily as I remove my mask and threw it on the concrete floor in my room. "I WAS SUPPOSED TO DISAPPEAR RIGHT AFTER I APPEAR!"

I found myself standing in the front of the mirror, staring at my green skin, "It's like you want to be found," I whisper to the mirror, "but you can't… I can't."

I sighs, turning away from the mirror and walk straight to my bed and flops on it.

My mind begins to fill up images of Raven and I sigh at the image of Raven being so close to my face after I rescued her from Cinderblock.

Her skin was smooth and soft like it used to be. Her hair was bit longer. And her eyes, oh so purple eyes.

My mind went back to a year ago where I watched Raven cry over my death and sighs, "I'm so sorry Rae, for causing you so much pain back then…" I whispers as a tear rolls down, "At least you are happy now. Better off without me."

No one's POV

The team walks in the common room and flop on the couch. All except for one, Robin, standing in front of main computer and typing furiously, sighs in frustration, "Why does he keeps on disappearing? He had done nothing wrong…"

"All he had done was doing the saving," Starfire comments, "Does that makes him… our friend, yes?"

Robin turns around, focusing his attention on Starfire and her innocent green eyes, "I don't know, but it seems like it… Yes."

"So what are we goin' to do with him?" Cyborg questions.

Robin sighs as he turn his attention back to the computer screen, "I'm not sure, but I was thinking that if we finally get to meet him, face-to-face, and if it all works out…" Robin pauses, turning to face his teammates, "He could be one of us."

Raven, who was sitting quietly next to Cyborg, glares at Robin, "Do you mean to replace B-"

"No," Robin interrupt, "I'd never want that, but we do need a new member. An addition, not a replacement."

Raven scoffs, shaking her head and trying to hold back her tears. Cyborg wraps his arm around Raven and whispers, "Robin is right. That dude have been saving our butts for a year since. Face it, we need an extra member to our team."

Raven nods slowly, "I know… I just…"

Cyborg smiles softly, "I understand. I feel the same way."

Raven glances at Cyborg, giving him a small smile in return before lying her head on his shoulder.

Robin smiles sadly and clears his throat, "Alright, so all of us agreed?"

"Only if I approve," Raven said, "When we first met Terra, I felt something bad coming from her. My only mistake was not act on it, but I refuse to make the same mistake. If I sense something dreadful coming from this stranger then he cannot join us."

Robin stares at Raven for a moment before nodding, "I agree. I don't want to deal with a traitor again."

All of the members nod in agreement.

The computer behind Robin beeps noisily, indicating an incoming call.

Robin turns around and notices the call is coming from an unknown number, "Who could be calling?" Robin questions, not expecting an answer as he accepts the incoming call.

The screen flickers alive, showing a man with a half black and a half orange mask, only revealing one eye on the orange half.

"Slade!" Robin growls as everyone behind Robin stood up and gasps at the same time.

"Robin, it has been a while since we last saw each other."

Robin grits his teeth, remembering the last time they saw each other, "Well, I guess you got what you wanted."

Robin and Slade walked into hell itself together with two different goals. Robin's was to find Raven and Slade's was to get his blood and flesh back. They went off different directions, only to meet again when Slade attacked Trigon along with the Titans. Unfortunately, when Raven defeated Trigon, Slade disappeared.

Disappeared for a long time, until now.

"Yes, you are correct, Robin. I got my blood and flesh back. It's good to finally breathe and feel beats of my heart."

"What do you want Slade?" Robin narrows his mask suspiciously.

Slade merely chuckles, "What? Can't I drop by?"

Robin is silent, waiting for Slade to proclaim his plan.

"Well, Robin. Surely you must know that I was going to drop by since I sent Cinderblock to let you know in advance."

"What are you planning?"

"That's for me to know and for you to find out, Robin."

With that said, Slade ends his call.

Robin widens his mask, "Cyborg!"

"I know! I am on it!" Cyborg shouts in respond as he types furiously, trying to pinpoint Slade's call.

The team waits in anticipation as Cyborg work.

"It's a dead-end," Cyborg mumbles, defeated, dropping his hands from the keyboard and drops his head, facing the floor, "We lost him."

Robin groans in frustration, "Now we have to wait…"

Starfire grabs hold of Robin's hand, "We shall defeat him like we always do." Starfire states confidently.

Robin nods uneasily, "Yeah, we will." He said in not so confidently, "But, we will need a help."

The team is silent, for a moment before agreeing with Robin.

"But, how do we contact him?" Starfire questions.

Robin smiles, "He always come when we need a rescuing. We need to lure him, by tricking him that one of us needs a rescuing."

"Who will be the bait then?" Cyborg looks around.

"You." Robin points at Raven.

"Me? Why me?" Raven confusedly questions.

"He stayed around a few moments longer after rescuing you. He might do it again. Once he does, we get him."

"Boyfriend Robin!" Starfire gasps, "Will we be doing the capturing?"

Robin sweat drops, "Well, how are we going to keep him around long enough to talk?"

Cyborg clears his throat uneasily, "This is goin' to be tough."

Stranger's POV

I stare at the cold, damp concrete ceiling. My ear twitch every time a drip of water from ceiling hits the pot that I placed.

'What a great home…' I thought bitterly as I lie on my old mattress with a radio on my stomach.

"Today is a fine, sunny day at Jump City. It's a perfect day to go outside!" A weatherman voice blares from the radio.

I scoffs as I switches the channel, 'Who cares about the weather? I can't even go outside anyway…'

I continue to switch until I hear, "BREAKING NEWS! One of Titans have been captured!"

I lift my upper body quickly, holding up the radio in front of my face and listening intently, "It's just in! The leader of the Titans told my co-worker that the Titans were fighting against the H.I.V.E.S. when it happened. Turns out, a fellow female Titan, Raven, was knocked out and dragged away by the H.I.V.E.S in the sewer while the rest of the Titans were knocked out. Why did they took Raven? Why not Robin since he's a leader and a-"

I didn't need to hear anymore, I ran to my nearly-broken closet and grab my uniform, almost identical as my old uniform but instead of maroon. It's gold and black, along with black mask with gold eyes matching Robin's mask. Right after I finished putting on my uniform and my mask, I ran off in the form of cheetah toward the nearest sewer hole.

I nearly vomited when the disgusting smell overcame my sensitive nose, "Why does the H.I.V.E.S always pick the sewer?" I moan, asking no one in particular.

I took a deep breath before shifting into bloodhound. I sniff the air, despite the horrid smell, I still could detect the familiar smell.

Lavender, green tea, and jasmine incense.

'Hang on Rae, I'm coming for ya.' I thought as I follow the smell.

"Are you sure that he will be coming?" Raven exasperated as she shifts in her chair, trying to get comfortable, "Did you really have to tie me so tight?"

"I am sure," Robin narrows his mask toward to Raven, "And, I'm sorry about the tightenings. We have to make this believable. Now I'm going to put a tape on your mouth, ok?"

Raven groans in annoyance, "Fine, he'd better be here."

"He will," Robin promises as he places a tape, covering Raven's lips, "Now, we will be hiding nearby. We will be here when he appears."

Raven nods. Robin smiles, "Attagirl."

Raven narrows her eyes angrily, Robin chuckles sheepishly, "Uh.. I'll be over there." With that said, Robin sprints to his hiding spot as Raven rolls her eyes.

Nobody's POV

A green bloodhound's head lifts up with its snout up high, taking several sniffs from different directions. A faint smell of lavender, green tea and jasmine incense coming from left direction.

A green bloodhound transformed into a human covered with black and gold streaks with a black mask covering his head. He start to run into the direction where the smell came from. His eyes dart, searching for clues, behind his gold domino mask.

"Mm-mh!"

The man in black and gold skid to halt, his ears perks upon the sound.

'Raven…' He thought, 'Hang on there!'

He sprints toward the sound.

Raven glares at her teammates' hide place. Oh, how much Raven hates being a bait.

Just when Raven was about to use her powers to rip the ropes that are painfully rubbing into her skin.

"Psst…"

Raven looks around confusedly, 'Must have imagined that…'

"Psst, over here."

Raven follows the sound and widen her eyes in shock.

Stranger's POV

I quietly made my way to the edge of the wall before transforming into a tiny spider to survey the surrounding.

'There's Raven, but where's the HIVES?' I wonder, 'Those stupid HIVES, they actually left Raven all alone… '

'Maybe it's a trap,' I thought before transforming back into human behind the wall.

'I need her attention,' I thought as I peek, "Psst…"

"Psst, over here." I said again, little louder.

Her beautiful amethyst eyes connecting mine. I stiff in fear and hopeful of her recognizing me.

'Focus dude, focus!' I hissed in my mind, "Don't panic, I'm here for ya but you gotta tell me one thing…" I whisper quietly, but loud enough for her to hear.

Raven nods slowly.

"Good," I mentally smile, "Is it a trap? Is there any HIVES around?"

I stare at Raven's eyes darting around before nodding hesitantly.

'Strange, normally Raven is confident with her surrounding… Maybe the bindings canceled her powers.' I thought before proceeding carefully.

I look around my surrounding as I approach her.

The air smells so bad that it hurts, 'I hate sewers…' I moan internally.

Raven was like one feet away when I smell something off, oils, hair gel, and mustard.

"TITANS GO!"

I stare at Raven's beautiful amethyst eyes full of 'I'm sorry' look before ripping off her bindings with her powers.

I turn and saw Cyborg, Robin, and Starfire running at full speed toward me.

I turn and tried to run, but Raven acted faster and cased me in a black sphere, trapping me.

I panicked, trying to find a way to escape.

'I can't shift in front of them.' I tried to think of a plan.

"Hello," Robin greets, "I'm sorry that we had to meet like this but we need your help."

I stopped panicking and stare at Robin indecorously, 'It's ok to talk, your voice had changed over the year…' I mentally calm myself before clearing my throat.

"I have helped you, so what's the difference now?"

Robin sigh, "A villain that we thought we defeated has returned and we need help. I don't know if you know him, but he's known as Slade."

I stiff, "Slade is back?"

Everyone widen their eyes in shock before Robin asks, "It seems that you know him. How?"

'Stupid! You weren't supposed to know him!' I mentally beat myself up before finally found an excuse', "I grew up here, I've seen every villains y'all have fought."

Robin nods, believing me, "Ok, so are you in?"

I briefly glance at each teammates before lying on Raven's amethyst eyes.

'Could I do this?' I wonder, 'How do I eat with this mask? How do I hide from them?'

I looked down at my feet and sigh, 'I really hope this is going to work out at the end…'

I bring my face up, facing the team leader, "I am in."

Suddenly, the black sphere disappear and Robin's hand reaches out for a handshake.

I took it.

"My name is Robin," He greets himself before pointing to alien girl, "Her name is Starfire." Pointing at the half robot and half man, "That's Cyborg and…"

Robin gesture toward a dark girl behind me, "That's Raven."

Raven walks from behind me, "Sorry about tricking you into a trap," She apologize in monotone voice.

'That voice, I never thought I'd miss it.' I sigh internally.

The four members stand in front of me.

"So, whats your name dude?" Cyborg questions.

I racked my brain for a name. I never expected this to happen, I gulps when a perfect name appear my mind.

"Phoenix."

Did you enjoy the chapter? Sorry for the long wait.

Each chapters will take long time to post, I've been busy.

Hope you understand.

R&R