Chapter Five
Red X strolled down the street lazily, hands in his pockets, and seeming not to have a care in the world. Well, he didn't, beside the basic I-see-something-I-like-so-I'm-going-to-steal-it-and-you-can't-catch-me. Except this time was different. It was differently simply because he was occupied with something.
He was thinking about what Robin said, and Robin's offer to him, two days ago.
Well, it was pretty interesting to find out Trigon was worried about something. In addition to that, he had an apprentice. Red X was pretty sure that no one had seen that coming.
He snorted. Ah, what am I doing? He thought, running his fingers through his hair, and then walking over and into a tavern that happened to be located conveniently nearby.
The tavern's name was named Exposure; the complete opposite of its workings, for it was a hideout for villains everywhere. And if any heroes ever ventured near or inside, well, they would just think it was a regular bar for idiots and drunks like every other place, not what it really was meant for.
He felt eyes turn to him as he entered the place, and gave a little wave to the inhabitants sitting inside.
"Heya, Brandon." X greeted to the man behind the bar, taking a seat on a stool at the same time. Though Exposure was first founded by one of the known villains, lesser villains became its occupants as well, in an attempt to become big-time criminals. However, the only ones who there were those who could be trusted with information, while maintaining a lesser villain status at the same time.
"Ah. X." Brandon walked over to him. "What can I get you today?"
"Well," Red X was about to order, when slender arms suddenly wrapped around him.
"Well, well, well. I didn't know you would be here!"
Red X smirked. "Well I didn't know you would be here either." He responded, and Blackfire let go, taking the stool next to him.
"Don't be such a smarty-pants." Her purple eyes went over to Brandon and she spoke to the bartender, ordering for the two of them. "Water please." She looked at Red X. "Unless you would like something else?"
Red X shook his head. "Water is fine," he replied.
Though Blackfire was an all-out bad-ass villain like the rest of them, she really surprised people by her choice of drink. However, most people didn't know Blackfire drank water because she didn't trust the people who served other drinks. And her Tamaranian senses allowed her to detect anything wrong in drinks, more easily so in water.
Brandon nodded and poured two glasses of water, sliding one towards each of them. They both took it, and the bartender went back to minding his own business.
"So, what's the trouble?" Blackfire asked, sipping her water.
"Well, nothing really new, besides the regular things."
Though Blackfire was his girlfriend, Red X had already decided to be careful about who he let know about what he knew from Robin. After all, the Titan leader could be easily pulling on his leg and trying to trick him, and telling others would make him look like a fool when they discovered it wasn't true. His reputation would be toast.
And even if he thought he knew the kid well enough, he couldn't exactly be sure of what Robin wanted.
"And why are you in town?" he asked. "Last time we heard of you was when you were in space."
She shrugged. "Well, I lost them, and was passing by this planet, so I decided to drop in. Not to mention that I got a call."
Red X cocked his head. "Really, now? A call? From who?"
Blackfire shook her head, mouth slightly curving upwards. "It's nothing you need to know about, X."
She paused, and then gave a quick smile. "Think of it as a girls' night out."
"I see."
The conversation dwindled into silence, and the two of them sat there, quietly sipping their drinks. Just as sudden as her entrance, Blackfire got up.
"Oh, you're leaving?" Red X looked at the Tamaranian as she maneuvered her way towards the door, leaving the glass still half full of water behind on the counter.
"But of course." Blackfire left the building with not even the slightest glance back, and X gave another slight chuckle before also leaving himself, five minutes later.
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Kyd Wykkyd swung his legs in the air below him aimlessly while sitting beside See-More on top of one of the points of the bridge leading to Jump City—one of the two's favorite spots to just sit. He hadn't exactly known why, but he definitely felt somewhat off that day and needed to just sit for a little bit. See-More himself, had nothing better to do, and sitting around with his best friend was alright any time. However, silence for a long time wasn't really for See-More, (not often anyway), so the silent air soon was filled with the talking of his voice.
"So I heard that tonight the girls are having a night out." See-More said. "What do you think they're gonna do?"
His companion shrugged and gestured a question with his hands. Maybe they're just catching up with each other.
See-More considered his statement and nodded. "Well sure, that could be it, since everyone has been out, about, and gone."
Kyd Wykkyd blinked.
"No, no, you know what I mean. It's really just . . ." he considered a word before settling. ". . . different, is all. You know what I'm saying, right?"
The pale boy nodded. I feel the same way, he signed.
The mood was the tiniest bit melancholy but before it could grow itself out, See-More asked his friend, "Who do you think is there?"
At the slumber party? He signed questioningly.
"Where else?" See-More replied. "I'm gonna say . . . Kitten, Cheshire, and Angel."
What about Blackfire? He signed.
"Huh?" See-More scratched his head. "Well, last time I checked, she was out in space."
She could have came back. For a visit or something.
"I guess so." See-More shrugged, then turned and slightly jumped. "Gah!" he exclaimed, loudly with some surprise. "When did you get here?"
Kyd Wykkyd peered around See-More to look at the masked man sitting on his friend's other side.
"Just now." Red X took a seat beside the green-clad villain because they were all still in costume. "What's up?"
"Oh, the girls are having a night out." See-More responded.
"Yeah, I know. Blackfire told me." Red X replied.
"Huh, so she's here?"
"Uh-huh." Red X nodded, and then glanced over at Kyd Wykkyd who began to sign something.
Is that all you're here for or is it something else?
Red X chuckled. "I can always count on you two to somewhat get straight to the point."
"Well?" See-More asked.
Red X stared at the two of them. "I can trust you two among the villains, cant I?" he asked softly.
They nodded, interested what he was going to say.
"That's good. You see, right now, I've found out some . . . interesting information." The older teen carefully watched the two's expressions. Yes, he had their attention.
"What kind of info?" See-More asked, unable to help himself.
Red X gave an inward smile. "Well, I'm not sure if it's genuine or not, but lets say it is, for now. In order to confirm this kind of information there was a catch. I'll have to help the informant find a certain object that would assist him."
"So you want us to help you look for this object." See-More guessed.
"Right on the mark. What do you say?" Red X asked.
"Hmm…" See-More turned to Kyd Wykkyd and they began to converse in sign language before turning back to Red X. "Sure thing, X." See-More said with a grin, sticking out his hand.
Red X shook it. "Glad to hear it. I'll send you what I know later." He let go and began to turn away, but suddenly stopped, as he remembered something. "I also meant to ask, have you heard of Trigon?" Red X asked, watching their faces but not looking like he was.
Both See-More and Kyd Wykkyd exchanged confused glances before nodding. After all, who hadn't heard of Trigon? The demon had tried to destroy the world and almost succeeded, but didn't due to the Titans—who else could have come so close?
"Yeah, what about him?" See-More asked, trying to sound casual.
"Well, it just so happens that there's a small and confidential rumor flying around that," Red X examined his nails, expressing a non-caring air, "he has an apprentice . . . but I'm sure its nothing." By now he had looked up, and was taking in every little detail of their surprised expression.
See-More was seemingly more wide-eyed than he had ever been in his life—the news was indeed that shocking. And the possibility of it being true . . . It could cause the galaxy to explode! Or some parts of it to ripple. Well, that was what See-More thought, and he was shivering with a grin of excitement on his face. This would definitely be worth a lot. He was already thinking of ways to discreetly confirm the rumor, find the apprentice, ally with the apprentice and so forth.
Kyd Wykkyd was also wide-eyed. But unlike See-More, he was not excited. Yes, he too, shivered. But not with or even from excitement. No, that was far from it. He shivered with the emotion of fear, and felt a chill of dread run down his spine. How could Red X possibly know something like that? It was a very outrageously outlandish thought, but recalling X's words, Kyd Wykkyd remembered that it was rumor told by someone else, therefore someone else knew. But how?
He shook his head. No, this was not a time to think of this. Maybe later, but not now. Yes, he, like every villain trusted Red X, but only to a certain extent. And he knew that behind the mask, Red X was watching their faces for their reaction, so he had to be careful. Super careful.
Kyd Wykkyd's face reverted from that of a wide-eyed twin of See-More's back into an unreadable mask that stared carefully at, yet not focused solely on Red X himself.
"Wow, is that true?" See-More asked, containing his voice from sounding like he really, really cared.
Red X shrugged, and slowly began to stand up. "Who knows? But remember. This information is confidential, as it could be just a trap." His tone was gravely serious, and the younger villains nodded, a promise to not tell, nor say a word to anyone else.
Red X nodded approvingly. "Good." He pressed his belt and teleported away. He had gotten a nice surprise, since he hadn't been expecting it.
Well, well, well. It seems like our little Elliot just might know something . . . Red X thought as he appeared inside his room.
He maneuvered his way to the desk and turned on his laptop, typing something in when it finished loading.
A certain Titan's face appeared on the screen and the villain gave a casual smile.
"Robin? You've got yourself a deal."
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A/N: The chapters may be short now, but I'll definitely try to make them longer. Thank you moonkitty717 for reviewing!