The End For Us [An Evil Sapphire Saga]

[Deleted]

As I made an attempt at human I noticed the green one flashing a smile at me. That certainly made me feel a lot better. I just returned his smile. But my smile instantly dropped upon overhearing the green Titan explain or rather attempt to explain what had happened to his communicator. As Beast Boy went on to explain himself I could not help, but wonder if him breaking his communicator had something to do with Sapphire. It was possible due to his inability to explain himself properly. Seriously, what were these two a former couple or something? However, I realized that whenever I mention the fire girl Beast Boy tends to get all defensive and riled up, so I decided to not pursue my inquiries concerning her and Beast Boy further. Though, I had no idea just how right I was in my assumptions. Damn my observant behavior! But I can’t help it! I just notice things, all thanks to Burgess and his strange teachings. But I didn’t want to think about Dr. Burgess right now. He was the last person I wanted to think about. No, I take that back! Jeff was. In my eyes Jeff, my former bestie was even worse. Regardless, I didn’t want to think about either one of them at the moment. Right now I was more focused on somehow stopping Sapphire from destroying Jump City, my new home.

I smiled at Raven as I shook her hand. “No, pleasure’s all mine. It’s always nice to meet ano- uh a hero or heroine,” I said, stopping myself quickly before I uttered the word, ‘another.’ However, it surely was obvious that I was about to say it. “So, I imagine…” I responded to her mention of them having strange powers and getting used to it. Being around heroes before it really wasn’t all that strange to me. In fact, it was…quite normal to me.

I just raised a knowing brow at the changeling when he clearly lied about how he broke this communicator. Sure, it was possible that he did fall on it, but I had a feeling that it wasn’t the entire truth. I sensed that it had something to do with the crazy fire girl. Perhaps the two battled and his communicator broke during the fight. I frowned at Beast Boy and before I could stop myself from uttering the forbidden words they fell out of my mouth anyway. “You’re lying,” I whispered. I said nothing further and already regretted confronting him on something so pointless and petty. Who cares if he’s lying about how his communicator broke? It hardly matters when they have so many bigger problems to face. But, I failed to catch myself in time. Then Raven said a lie all her own. Okay, what is with these heroes lying to one another about things? Sure, Beast Boy’s was harmless enough, but Raven’s was almost…hurtful. And as with Beast Boy I confronted her about it. “You should not speak such lies! Tell him the truth that you were really worried about him and his safety,” I boldly confronted the Azerathian and in thus doing so revealing to the two Titans that I was some sort of walking, living lie detector. I sort of blushed after my little outburst. “Sorry. It really wasn’t my place to call you two out like that. It’s just that…nevermind. I really shouldn’t have said anything,” I subsequently apologized to the two for butting in like that even though I knew nothing about them. I was about to inform them that I just didn't like being lied to, but decided not to.

Beast Boy wasn’t the only one who could hear the beeping. I was just about to ask them what that annoying, high pitched sound was when Beast Boy revealed the source of the sound as Raven’s own communicator. So, one of them had a means of communicating with other heroes? Well, that is certainly useful. I made a mental note of it. Being both nosy and curious I listened to see who it was contacting the two Titans. To my own shock it was apparently the fire girl. Why the hell was she contacting them after everything she did? Hell, I didn’t even know half the things she did do and still I felt angry at her. In fact, it took every last bit of my willpower not to snatch the communicator from Raven and then cussing out the fire girl. And yes I have anger issues. I listened to how calm, cool and collected Raven was during the conversation and was impressed by her ability to remain so mellow whereas I would have honestly gone off on the girl by now. However, the girl on the other end sounded genuinely frightened and confused causing me to calm down a bit as I listened to her pleas. Her pleas and the information she gave truly shocked me and most likely it shocked the two Titans as well. After all, she clearly was winning. Why all of a sudden would she give us coordinates to where she and her master were holed up? Unless…unless it was a clever ploy to trap them. Yes, that had to be the real reason of her so-called generosity. I turned hastily to my new allies. “Don’t go! It’s probably a trap of some kind! She and Slade could be waiting for you with a whole army! You will be surely destroyed if you go!” I warned, worry and paranoia in my voice.

[Silv]

It was Terra all over again.

If Robin could kill, then he would kill Slade. Unfortunately Batman had instilled in him that the worst crime in the world was to take a life no matter how much the other person deserved to die. Even working for Slade couldn't fix that though the man had tried, in how own way, to make the boy see how Batman had turned him into a child soldier. To make him see how choosing to work for Slade, someone who was so similar to him, was a freedom. You'll learn...to like it, he had been told, sooner or later, you will see things my way. In the end the Boy Wonder could not be broken.

Robin was defiant till the end. This time there had been no pleading. He did not tell Sapphire that he had been Slade's apprentice during their last confrontation when he had seen the wild look in her eyes. He didn't tell her that he had gotten out of it and she could too. He knew the dangers of relinquishing that information to Slade's later apprentices. Either she would have insisted she didn't need to get out of it and it would have broken his heart or she would have been controlled by Slade as Terra had been.

What Slade had done to Terra was something that should never be done to any living person. It was a violation to the deepest core. To control someone's body. The Boy Wonder shuddered to think of it.

When the Titans had scattered to the winds Robin did not bother to find his team. He trusted that they could work well enough on their own. It was far too dangerous for them to be together again. Robin had gone deep under cover then. He hid out in his apartments and used aliases he had come up with after his time with Slade. No one would be able to find him. Which was good, because he was preparing for battle.

He had overheard the conversation between Sapphire and Raven and had decided that the whole thing was probably a trap. This hardly mattered, however, because the Boy Wonder was prepared to give everything to save this city.

A birdarang took out a security camera with deadly accuracy as the Teenage Thunderbolt slipped by it. So far the security had been minimal. Perhaps it was because he wasn't deep enough yet. Or perhaps it was because Slade was so sure he had won this time. The Boy Wonder moved silently through the hallways and hoped that the second perhaps was incorrect.

The steel doors blasted open with force and debris scattered everywhere. A slight figure was silhouetted against the dust before moving forward. He saw his target clearly: Slade was standing in front of monitor screens that showed different portions of Jump City and others that were replaying battles between the Titans and Sapphire. It was currently replaying the last time Sapphire and Robin had met in battle before the Boy Wonder had gone into hiding.

“It's over Slade!” the boy said, brandishing his bostaff before him, all business. Robin was going to make the man wish he had never heard of the Teen Titans if he got his way.

[Deleted]

Slade turned to face Robin, reluctant to look away from the screen that showed Robin burnt slightly and Sapphire hitting his head with smoke all around them.

he knew his apprentice led them here, he was obviously no fool. and he was furious. "Robin, I'm afraid I have some damage control to get rid of. you will hold off...?"

the screen shifted to the young, fire girl laying in the streets, Slade then slightly punched his stomach and watched as the girl coughed, some blood trickling down her mouth. he had amplified his control over her, to ensure that he stayed strong. that he was able to overpower her.

"Apprentice! I told you to eliminate the Titans!" he echoed over the loudspeaker. "from now on, you don't get the freedom to shut off the earpiece! you will finish the Titans, or you will die! do you understand me?!"

so now Robin heard Slade's threat. Sapphire mentally cursed herself, now her friends couldn't help her out of this. but why would they, when she had attempted to kill them?

she cried harder, and hoped somehow this would all be over...

[Silv]

Robin did not give the man the time he requested. He might have been a hero. He might have been one of the good guys but that didn't mean he was going to stop for tea because a villain said so. As Slade was yelling at the sad figure of Sapphire Robin was closing the distance between them. He tried not to pay attention to the sad scrap of girl on the screen. He knew it would break his heart and so distract him. No, instead he focused all his energy and rage on the man in front of him.

Letting a guttural growl fly past his lips the boy raised his bostaff above his head and moved to bring it down on the villain before him. Something connected with the staff and it vibrated satisfactorily in his hands. He did not, however, see what he managed to hit or if it even hurt the man. Using the force of the first blow the Boy Wonder vaulted over the man's head and landed moving his arm, and the staff with it, in a sweeping motion. It was his intention to catch the man off guard but knowing Slade it was doubtful he would manage this.

[Deleted]

Beast Boy was emotionally drained and physically weary from the recent events. He wanted to crawl in a hole and die, not play the hero and save Jump City from a criminal mastermind and his pet fire girl. Flash's sudden accusation of him and Raven lying did not help the situation. In fact, he couldn't keep a slightly annoyed glance from being shot in the young man's general direction.

"I really did fall on my communicator," he growled, left ear giving a small twitch. He actually had spoken the truth, he'd just left out the part on how he'd come to fall on his communicator and consequently break it. He had been battling Sapphire rather halfheartedly, still stinging from the betrayal. She had sent a flaming boulder his way, which had slammed the changeling into a building, reverting him to his human form and shattering his communicator. He had lain low, too weak to move, until Sapphire believed him either incapacitated or dead and moved on. Then Beast Boy had crawled out of the debris and set about helping random civilians evacuate the city, which was how he eventually came across Flash.

Pulling himself together, the changeling put a hand on Flash's shoulder to calm him down. "It's alright. I knew what she meant," he said soothingly, realizing that the young man wouldn't know about Raven's reluctance to show emotion. It was strangely touching to see that he cared so much, though.

Beast Boy's attention was suddenly glued to Raven's communicator as the caller turned out to be from none other than Sapphire. A small part of him wondered how she had managed to keep her communicator from Slade, but mostly he didn't care. It felt as if a million thoughts were racing through his brain, several different emotions flooding his system at once. Did he want to immediately find and comfort Sapphire? Convince her that everything was alright and that she would escape Slade's grasp like his other apprentices had? Did he want to find her and strangle her, scream his anger and hurt at her betrayal? Or did he want to do nothing at all, pretend she didn't exist and simply ignore her?

It was suddenly a good thing his communicator had broken. Beast Boy wouldn't have known what to say if he had to talk to Sapphire.

As soon as Sapphire finished giving them the coordinates to where she was and where Slade was hiding out, Flash immediately began screaming about the whole thing being a trap like he was a converted police siren. Beast Boy cocked an eyebrow at him, resisting the urge to point out the guy's paranoia issues. Truthfully though, it had also been the first thought to cross the changeling's mind. It would be like Slade to concoct a trap by playing with their emotions. However, if Sapphire's coordinates led them to Slade, it could be the swiftest way to defeat him and regain control of the city. Plus, no matter how badly he wanted to deny it, Beast Boy was convinced he could reconvert Sapphire to the side of good. They were obviously close before all of this had occurred; maybe she still felt strong enough feelings for him to be swayed back to the Titans.

"I think we should go," Beast Boy said after a long pause. He had taken a quick peek at Raven's communicator to see where Sapphire's coordinates were before continuing; something told him his fellow Titan probably wouldn't like what he was about to do next.

"I'll go after Sapphire. If this really is a trap, she'll be less likely to attack if I go alone. The rest of you should try to find Slade and end this," Beast Boy said, already beginning to back up from Flash and Raven. "I'm sorry," he added quickly before turning around and running through the storage center. Since it was unfamiliar to him, it took a while before he found his way out and figured out where he was in Jump City. Once he had done that, it was only a manner of shifting into a raven and flying over to where Sapphire was curled up at the side of a building, sobbing uncontrollably. Beast Boy didn't land in front of her, but rather screeched from a safe distance and circled above her in case she decided to attack.

[Deleted]

confusion...

should she attack him after just promising to help him? no.. she couldn't. Beast Boy meant to much to her to fight him. but she had to convince Slade. she sent a fireball in B's general direction, knowing full well that he wasn't going to be hit. she had to fool Slade long enough for Robin to distract him.

and that Robin did...

"Robin, perhaps I could get you back... in exchange for that useless girl." Sapphire's earpiece echoed what Slade said about her. his plan had been to get Robin all along. he never wanted to use her in the first place. he had lied, saying she would be treated like queen when really she was a lowly pawn.

"Beast... Boy...." she shook a little but managed to rise to her feet and look up at him, smiling slightly and holding a half-gloved finger out for him to perch on if he so desired.
"attack me... it's the only way to stop this..." her body had no fight in it anymore. she wanted to die by Beast Boy's hands if she was destined to die today. it was honorable to go by a Titans hands. it wasn't to go by Slade.

Slade grabbed Robin's arm and twisted it to near breaking point. the staff hitting the arm where another piece of Sapphire's armor was placed, causing her to grip her arm as though she was having a heart attack. "you can't hurt me without hurting your precious friend."

[Silv]

Slade wanted him back? The boy's stomach did a terrified flip but he quickly replaced the fear with rage. If he could defeat Slade here and now then Sapphire would be free and Slade would be carted off to jail. It was an ideal solution. That wasn't going to happen. The attack was brutal and short.

His arm was pinned behind his back and this was incredibly familiar and very much unwanted. The Boy Wonder growled and tried to shift but the pain in his arm caused his vision to flash white and so he went rigid in Slade's grip. His mind reeled with possibilities and ended focusing on their hopeless situation. What else could he do? If he fought Slade he would hurt Sapphire. But...if he...joined Slade then the man would let Sapphire go and she would stop destroying his city.

The boy went limp in Slade's grip, his head hanging in a defeated fashion and he closed his eyes. This was the last thing he wanted to ever do...but he couldn't leave Sapphire like that. Nobody deserved to be used in such a fashion. And besides, she was one of his team, one of his friends. Even despite the betrayal. He would lay down his life for any of his friends. “I'll do it.” his voice was soft, as though he was choking on the words. He managed to repeat himself with more ferocity, turning to glare at the masked man who held him in an iron grip. “I'll do what you want. Let Sapphire go.”

He was really much too predictably noble.

[Aly]

Even though she had been living with the Titans since she came to Jump, Barbara still had an appartment close to the school she supposibly went to. The livingroom was full with wall-to-wall computers and books, while the rest of the apartment was small in size and empty in comparison. If anyone were to stumble onto her little pseudo-abode, they wouldn't believe for a second that someone lived there. Well, at least until recently that was.

Ever since Sapphire went on a rampage and destroyed the majority of the tower, including Batgirl's own room, the Titans spread out. Barbara went to her apartment while the others scattered, not knowing where they went. She guessed that Dick had his own apartment somewhere, but she didn't know where that would be. She would have liked to find him, but she knew that was impossible when he didn't want to be found, even with her sharp brains.

At the moment, she was furiously slaving away over her large computer, glasses propped up on her nose, long red hair pulled back into a ponytail, and wearing sweatpants. Back at the tower, she never could wear anything like this, as she was a stickler for wearing her mask every second of the day. Right now, she was trying to pinpoint Slade's location. She had picked up the frequency of Sapphire's earpiece and was currently trying to trace it back to Slade.

Furious with herself for not finding it as quickly as she had thought she could, she got up and fixed herself a cup of coffee. At least this place had came with a coffee pot. Behind her, a loud ping sounded from her computer. Almost dropping her cup in haste, she bounded over to the screen and spotted a glowing red dot in the map of Jump she had up. She found him.

It wasn't minutes later when she had her batsuit on and glided out of her window on the way to Slade's location. The computer had also told her what floor he was on and what room she could find him in. It was the same software she had installed in the tower, but her computer there hadn't been nearly as large as the one in the apartment.

When she entered the building, she had a batarang ready to take out the security camera, but noticed something odd. There was a red birdarang stuck in precicely the spot she was about to hit with her own batarang. She had found Robin after all. Darting through the hallways, she encountered no security but a few unconscious bodies littering the hall. More proof that her teammate was here.

She slowed as she came upon the room, but stopped just outside it when she heard voices from inside.

"Robin, perhaps I could get you back... in exchange for that useless girl."

Her jaw dropped as she rounded the corner, simultaneously dropping the batarang she had ready in her hand. Slade was speaking as if Robin... No, she couldn't believe it. She wouldn't. Robin would never do that. He was one of the most fierce leaders she had ever seen, second only to Batman. He wouldn't betray his team like that, would he? Would he betray his own sense of right and wrong?

She would have attacked Slade when he grabbed a hold of Robin, but she was too shocked to move. "Wha- what's he talking about, Robin?" He had said he would do it. Get back with Slade? There couldn't have even been a first time! Could there?

[Deleted]

The green raven hovered high above where Sapphire lay, debating on whether to descend and attempt conversation. That option seemed impossible, however, when she chucked a fireball towards him. He quickly dodged it, screeching in protest. Fortunately for him, Sapphire's aim was poor and there was almost no need to avoid the flaming projectile.

Beast Boy landed on top of the building, staring down at the hapless fire girl with beady eyes. It was impossible to see what he was thinking from that distance, but his mind was racing through the possible scenarios. Was Sapphire faking her exhaustion, to try and lure him into a trap? Or was she actually at her limit, but still tried to defend herself with that halfhearted attack? Or maybe...possibly...she was feigning aggression. Maybe she was trying to fool Slade so she could talk to him, as silly as that sounded. Trying to trick Slade was like tossing pigs off of a roof in the hope that they would sprout wings and fly.

Beast Boy's raven head tilted to the side as he stared at Sapphire. She was asking--almost pleading for him to attack her. To end her suffering and cripple Slade's army by taking out his precious apprentice. Even if Beast Boy did attack the fire girl, he could never bring himself to kill her; it just wasn't in his moral code to take a life, no matter how stained their soul could be. The green raven squawked and flew down to ground level, where he reverted to Beast Boy's human form. He glared at Sapphire from a yard or two away, green eyes blazing with anger, hurt...betrayal.

The changeling currently despised the world for making him suffer through this situation again. Fool him once, shame on him; fool him twice...

"We warned you about Slade," he growled, spitting out the villain's name like it was a piece of spoiled tofu. "We told you about Terra and her mistake, and you still didn't listen to us. We were helping you get your powers under control! But no, that wasn't enough for you! You still had to run to Slade like he was the only person who could help you with your stupid problems!" Roaring his frustration, Beast Boy turned and kicked a giant garbage container so hard he winced. He knew he was being petty and that yelling at Sapphire wouldn't solve anything, but the recent occurrences had proven too much for the changeling to handle. His emotions had finally boiled over and gotten the best of him, and there was no stopping the green boy from steamrolling over Sapphire and anyone else in his path.

"Did the Titans mean nothing to you? Were we not good enough for you?" Beast Boy yelled, stifling a sob. The back of his eyes stung, but he refused to give Sapphire the satisfaction of seeing how hurt he really was. Swallowing back the tears, he added venomously, "After everything we did for you, you turned around and stabbed us in the back. Why should I help you?"

[Bry]

At the words of Reflecto, his accusations that she was lying, Raven turned her head and stared at him, a small white spark in her narrowed eyes.

"And perhaps you should not intercede where it is none of your business," she said, a biting growl lying underneath her normally monotone words. It was strange, Raven was normally rather respectful to those older than she, to her elders, providing they were not villains or criminals. But somehow Flash had gotten under her skin with his accusation. "To concern Beast Boy with the fears and worries of the team, especially while they are no longer relevant, is pointless. There are bigger things going on--"

And that had been when her communicator broke through her words.

Raven listened intently as Sapphire explained-- No, begged. As she begged them to kill her, and gave them the means to do so by sending the coordinates. Flash though it was a trap, he made that very clear, and Raven thought it too.

"I think we should go."

Apparently Beast Boy did not think that.

Raven looked up at him, calculating, as he continued speaking. He was backing up, and it didn't take a genius to guess that he was gonna run. But Raven was too slow, and when she reached out to grab his arm, to anchor him there in the safety of the storage room, he was already gone.

"Curse you!" she shouted helplessly after him, slamming a fist sideways into the doorjam before she put the lid back over top of her anger. Instead, trying to focus yet again on the task at hand, she spun around to face Flash again.

"You," she adressed him. "If we're going to work as a team, I need to be able to trust you. And that will be nigh impossible if I don't know what you're capable of." She squared off her shoulders as she spoke, every ounce as imposing as a seventeen year old girl could be. "So you either give me a rundown in five minutes, or I'm going after Slade alone."

True, there was more tact to be had in her statements. She could've been nicer, more polite. More respectful. But desperate times called for increasingly desperate measures. And with Robin out incognito, Batgirl nowhere to be found, and Beast Boy on a wild hunt for the girl who stabbed him in the back....

Well, Raven had no time for tact.

[Deleted]

I just bit my lower lip nervously as the blue cloaked girl practically chewed me out. Deep down I knew she was right. I had messed up and spoke out of turn. Worst of all I foolishly spoke as though I knew everything about them when I knew little to nothing. However, I did have one advantage over the two Titans. I knew more about them already than they did of me. I knew their powers and now I was starting to learn of their personalities. All they seemed to know about me was my big mouth and my freakish glowing yellow eyes. Still Raven’s words hurt. “I…I am…sorry. You are right. I shouldn’t have called you and your green friend out about something so…pointless. However, is it not equally pointless for you to yell at me about it?” I asked thinking I too made a fair point.

I then watched almost helplessly as Beast Boy turned to flee the scene before Raven and myself had the chance to stop his non-planning dumb butt. I normally would have taken off after him as I believed myself to be fast enough so long as he remained in human form; however his words burned thru my brain. It made me think that maybe he really did have a plan after all. Unlike Raven, I didn’t yell after the green one because it sounded like he knew what he was doing and an amount of yelling will suddenly cause him to change his mind return to them. Even I recognized such an attempt as foolhardy.

And then when Raven took a few seconds to settle herself down she returned her full attention to me. Her choice of words truly angered me and I sent her a glare. Sure I could understand and even respect her curiosity towards me, but the way she said it truly pissed me off. She made it sound like she wanted me to perform tricks as a form of entertainment just as Burgess had done to me in the past. But as much as I wanted to scream my head off at her I knew we did not have time for all this. The green one could be in danger as well as their team’s leader I’ve heard so much about. Taking a deep breath I decided to remind the blue cloaked girl of this face. “Look, as much as I like playing twenty questions we seriously don’t have time for this! Your green friend and your…leader could very well be in grave danger. We have to leave…now! We must save the city and them before it is too late!” I told her in as calm of a tone as I could muster. I then glanced at my briefcase; which contained my Reflecto costume and weapons. I sighed at her. “Um, could you turn around real quick? I have to change,” I told her, revealing that I did indeed have a costume. “And don’t worry Rae, you’ll get a chance to see me and my er abilities in action I’m sure,” I said with a sly smile, speculating on what her nickname was.

[Bry]

Raven glared right back at the glowing-eyed stranger, stubbornly holding his gaze before crossing her arms tightly over her chest and spinning around on the spot.

"Change then."

She made sure her hood was safely over her head, took a deep breath and held it--

/Azarath.... Metrione.... Zinthos..../

And let it out.

/Calm down. Fighting is pointless. Arguements hinder progress. Rash words breed regret.... You don't have time to be petty, Raven./

Staring at the wall, she continued speaking, her tone now level again, her attitude in check and her tongue under control. Precautions still couldn't hide the bitter snap in her voice though.

"Do not lecture me, Flash, and do not call me Rae." Not that she truly minded the nickname, but it was reserved for friends and teammates, and she considered this man neither as of yet. "I am very well aware of the danger posed, of the situation my team is in. Perhaps you'll understand though, that Sapphire--" Eh, no, wrong thing to say. Too much information, and this man could truly be on the
wrong side for all she yet knew!

/Be smart, Raven, what's wrong with you?!/

"Please understand," she began again. "This past week has proven difficult. Trust is treacherous. Slade is not to be toyed with, and I am hesitant to go charging into battle with a stranger watching my back. So, if you would make good use of your time as you change, would you mind at least informing me of your powers? Perhaps where your allegances lie on the surface?" She finished speaking, still staring daggers at the wall, though the daggers were considerably more blunt now that she had managed to chill out a little.

OoC:
Raven turned into a chatterbox, guys! WHATWHAT!!
Also, for whoever may not know, the words in the /'s are Rae's thoughts. ^^

[Deleted]

I gave a nod at Raven’s permission to change though in truth I would have changed clothes regardless of what she said. I am thirty years old after all or at least I used to be. I did look only twenty at the moment. Still, I wasn’t about to let some teenager tell me what to do. I was pretty quick at changing clothes, so the blue hooded girl wouldn’t have long to wait. Still, if she decided to continue to pester me with questions it will take me a heck a lot longer to change into my Reflecto costume.

However, it did not take the Azerathian long to lash out at me again. And then I heard her utter the name, Sapphire. Yes, that had to be the fire girl’s name. I heard her say her own name on Raven’s communicator and the Beast Boy mentioned her name yet again upon leaving to find her. I was just about to snap back at her when I managed to stop myself from doing so. I chewed my lower lip. By this time I only had my pants on. “No, you are right. You do know what’s going on more than I do. If you truly wish for us to team up then perhaps you could fill me in on the details, so I may better understand. So, please begin sharing,” I said as calmly as I could. After all, it couldn’t hurt to know the whole story. However, I could not understand what Raven’s deal was. Why was she treating me this way? What did I ever do to her and her teammates?

But then those questions of mine were soon answered by her and it brought me a sense of relief because now at least I understood why she didn’t trust me. By this time I managed to put on my shirt and long, dark green trenchcoat. Her question was certainly a fair one and because she asked so nicely it made it difficult to say no. However, her wanting to know about my…allies and associations was entirely a different ballgame. Even though it was a reasonable request after the fire girl’s apparent betrayal of them (their anger of her seemed almost…personal). Still, I was most…hesitant in revealing those. I did not want to end up in a jail cell with the masked man, Slade should we succeed in saving the city from him. I took a deep breath before I answered her. “Oh, well I would not hold my breath. My…abilities aren’t really all that wonderful. Compared to yours and Beast Boy’s they are nothing and certainly not good enough to stop the likes of this Slade fellow and…Sapphire, but I will explain them the best I can,” I began as I undervalued myself. I took another breath before continuing. In truth, I was sort of…embarrassed by my abilities because the effects of them made me feel freakish. “To put it simply I am not human. Hell, I wasn’t even born. Technically, I am…part cat created by this...ingenious scientist. My mother who was his lab partner, also a genius, enlisted her partner to help her make me when a doctor informed her she couldn’t have children. She really wanted one though and well here I am. Also, I am not exactly from around here. Hell, I’m not even from this universe,” I explained, purposely not mentioning the fact that the scientist who created me, Burgess became insane and power mad later, turning on my parents. Not to mention the bit of how he’s always trying to capture and control me. However, Raven was already worried enough without having me mention those tiny, significant bits of information. By this time I had my dark green fedora, my fingerless gloves, and my black cape on. I had nothing left to put on. “As such I have…catlike abilities to put it bluntly; which explains my yellow eyes and retractable claws. I am also not half bad at using whips and this mirrorized gun I made. The gun can be compared to that of a laser only the effects could be greater depending on the setting I choose. But really we are wasting time standing around chatting about my…weirdness. We should really get gone and stop this…Slade before he turns Jump into a big pile of rubble or worse… Oh and I changed into my er costume now, so you can turn around now. And before you even ask, yes I am sort of a…hero. Just I haven’t really done much lately though when I do see someone in trouble I do try to help out as I am wanting to do now. I mean I may not have been born here, but Jump is my home now and I’d hate to see it destroyed and all those poor civilians out there. They don’t deserve to be homeless. So what do you say, Raven? You ready to get out there and help your teammates stop Slade?” I asked, getting actually pretty pumped up myself. I seriously need to stop watching sport related movies. Still, I hope my little speech inspired her enough to trust me without questioning me further.

While I waited for a response I pulled out my mirrorized pistol and examined it under my glowing eyes using them as a flashlight. But, I wasn't really thinking. I had forgotten that most of the time such weapons were associated with villains. "You can just call me Reflecto whenever I am wearing this costume," I added softly without looking up.

[Bry]

Raven stood silently as Flash began talking, her arms remained tightly crossed and she focused fully on everything he said, about his parents, his beginning, his origins and his half-human DNA.

Ah, so he had the abilities of a cat? How.... Coincedental. Considering Sapphire's own feline features. Raven forced down a wave of unease, refusing to judge him solely on his feline abilities. Where the heck would she be, after all, if she'd been judged purely on her own lineage?

Turning around again, Raven looked him once up and down, taking in his costume, his new appearance. He was certainly original, she'd give him that.

"Well, Reflecto," she said, trying out the name just as her eyes fell upon the gun in his hands. She tensed before continuing, and her own fingers started to glow before she realized he was in no way threatening her with it. She calmed her powers and went on. "You certainly like to talk."

She walked over to him, pulling her communicator back out of hiding, the coordinates Sapphire had provided still glowing brightly. "While I admire your spirit and your willingness to dive into heroics, I think perhaps we should be prepared. Not go charging like madmen into the midst of the flames."

/Like some green idiots I could name..../

Her irritation over Beast Boy's antics stemmed from her fear though, and the feeling of helplessness he'd left her with. She hated feeling that she couldn't help her team, that she couldn't be by their side in a moment, should they need it. Ah, well, she'd just have to trust them to know what the heck they were doing. They weren't incompetant after all.

She digressed.

Setting the communicator down on a wooden crate that coughed dust when bumped, Raven crouched down beside it, initiated the hologram feature and watched a small model of the city shoot up into the air, glowing pale blue with two dots blinking angrily. She touched one and the map zoomed in, closing in on a city street just like all the rest.

"That's where Beast Boy will be," Raven mumbled before zooming out again and opting for the other glowing beacon. This time the image zoomed into a building, displaying the adress across the top of the hologram. It wasn't very specific, this dot. It told her only the building, not the floor Slade could be found on, not the room, and it gave her no indication of what security they might run into. She gritted her teeth and turned to Reflecto.

"And this is where we are headed," she said. Providing this was not a trap, which Raven really didn't have time to dwell on too much. They were either going, or they weren't, and to try and read Slade's mind in this instance would take forever.

Time for a nutshell history lesson. "You should know before heading into this fight. Slade is worse than any we've encountered, probably many you've encountered as well. He is ruthless and cunning. You would do well not to underestimate him." She met Reflecto's eyes to see if he was paying attention, continued talking. "His strengths lie in his martial arts, and he may or may not have retained a demonic control over fire.... He does however have full control over Sapphire's actions."

/If that suit is anything like last time..../

"Sapphire's powers lie fully in heat and flame; she too you should not underestimate, especially with Slade calling her shots."

Raven looked up again, this time standing to her feet and tucking the glowing communicator away on her belt. She met Reflecto's eyes. "I apologize for meeting you on the wrong foot, Reflecto, we've had no time for niceties." She paused, considered her words. While she could probably delve further into her apology, she opted not to. They were out of time as it was. "I hope we can trust each other from here out."

She secured her hood in place, and held a hand out to Flash. "If you will allow me, I would perfer to transport us straight there, rather than run unprotected around the city...?" She waited for his permission before dragging him back into the cold black dimensions of time.

OoC:
Okay, so here's what I'm thinking, and someone whack me with sourdough if I'm oversteppin' boundries. ^^

With the Titans all spread out, and most of them in hiding, Raven has become a sort of impromptu stand-in leader for the Titans that have found their way to the underground headquarters. Anyone who joins this little storyline that Toast has started for us can either join in their own hiding place, or be a part of Raven's makeshift team?

Sound good or am I rambling? XDXD

[Deleted]

Sapphire's body naturally retreated back a few inches as Beast Boy released all his pent up anger, all his frustration. to her untrained eye, she could not see that he really cared for her. all she saw was yet another judgement against her motives.

"understand this," her voice was bitter, as though he was just another person to her. as though he had no significance to her whatsoever, "I only joined him because I thought that when the time came, I'd be able to take him down. I didn't mean to permanently betray the Titans. I wanted to learn to use my powers the fastest way possible."

that was the truth, she figured at a later date, once she claimed mastery of her powers, she'd destroy Slade and rejoin the team. sure, it would take her a while, but in the end she would show them the remnant of him, his charred, orange mask. they would grow to retrust her, in time. she could wait, she'd waited for friends for how many long years now?

"as you can see, if I wanted to hurt you, I'd have done it by now. did I ever actually aim a serious blow at you? the answer is no. why do you think that is?" she wouldn't admit her feelings, rather she'd let him figure it out. at least at this point her stubborn anger kept her from crying anymore.

"perhaps, it would be far simpler were there not a certain Titan." you had to be downright stupid not to take the hint now. but Beast Boy had been known for his oblivious nature.

meanwhile in Slade's lair however, there were three very perceptive people. Slade had just gotten his wish, Robin would serve him once again. and hey, who said he had to let the girl go? if he made a vague contract, Robin couldn't tell him that he had to let her go. he could keep the girl, who actually posed quite a threat to anyone in her fire's way and Robin, the most cunning teenager he had ever seen.

"do you promise to serve me, now and forever?" he conveniently left out the part about freeing his flaming fury of an apprentice. then he turned to Batgirl. "I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Robin. please tell her all about our time together." the phrasing was highly ambiguous. did he mean it as an apprentice? or some sick, twisted relationship way.

no one ever quite knew where they stood with Slade.