Dangerous
Chapter One

-o-

"Dreamwalking has a variety of useful purposes, Nightwing, but I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was not meant for this."

Raven tapped her fingers on the metallic surface of his desk and looked up at her leader and friend, watching as he paced back and forth over the floor. His hands were shaking and he kept running his tongue over his lips, as if trying to taste an answer clinging to them. He looked almost harried, like he was on the verge of breaking at any moment, his desperation running so deep into his veins that he was nearly losing control of himself. Raven had seen this side of him before, but it had been so long ago that she had forgotten what it looked like. Her heart twisted at the sight and she sighed, her friend didn't deserve this kind of torture.

If only Slade could have stayed dead, they would have never found themselves in this predicament.

"I understand why you want to do this. Really, I do. And if this were any other person or any other situation, I would agree with you." She rubbed the bridge of her nose and looked away, trying to be as tactful as possible. "But, Dick… think of all the things that could possibly go wrong if I agree. Think about the fact that I could very well find myself in an impossibly dangerous situation if I infiltrate his subconscious and something doesn't go exactly according to plan. If he perceives me as a threat-"

"I know how dangerous it is." Nightwing whirled on her, slamming his fist on the table. He wasn't angry with her, but with himself, knowing that he was asking Raven to put herself in a very precarious position. One wrong move and their cover would have been blown, and Red X wouldn't take the blatant invasion of his privacy standing down. Nightwing just wished he had the strength and talent to do what Raven could, and she knew that. He heaved an echoing sigh and his head fell to his chest, staring at the floor as he spoke. "Raven… I know what I am asking from you is very, very dangerous-"

She snorted incredulously, but let him continue.

"-but I also know that with what little intel we've gathered on Slade's next move, nothing should be left uninvestigated. His plan is in pieces and we're looking for a way to bring it all together so it at least makes sense in a way we're able to fight it. Slade is dangerous, and he likes to surround himself with dangerous people."

Raven chose not to point out that Nightwing had been one of the people Slade surrounded himself with.

Nightwing licked his lips and sighed. "Red X has connections and friends that we might not even think about. I don't want to do what I'm asking you, but if he knows anything – anything – about what might be going on, we should at least investigate it."

She scoffed. "By delving into his privacy? By violating practically every law known to justice? By putting myself and my subconscious in very real danger?" Raven's head fell into her hands and she watched his shadow stop pacing against the floor. Her heart was slamming into her ribs as she realized Nightwing was honest. He truly was worried about her, but his fear and determination far outweighed his desire to protect her. "I know that Slade's threats and his little clues make you nervous, Nightwing, but I don't know if I can agree to this. I don't know if I can agree to do something so… wrong."

"I know I'm asking a lot." He didn't apologize, just simply admitted he knew how wrong this all was.

A long stretch of silence slid between them, and Raven finally lifted her eyes to his own. She set her mouth into a thin line and leaned closer. "I'm going to learn his identity, you know that."

Nightwing winced, and he clenched a hand by his side. "Yeah… I know."

"So then, you must also know that due to the circumstances under which I discover his identity, I won't be able to tell you who he is, because I very, very illegally obtained that information. And as much as we want to prosecute your dirty thief, I can't tell you who he is." Raven let her hands fall to the desk again, her stare relentless on his own. "This is going to eat you alive."

"Saving the city is more important." Nightwing sighed and dropped into the chair across from her. "I know that what I am asking you is a lot for you to handle, and I know the situation I am putting you in is not only dangerous, but morally wrong. I know that I can't ask you to tell me who he is, but I am asking you… please, help me with this. Let's see if he knows anything at all that can help us bring down Slade. That's the most important thing that we address - that the city is safe, and we did everything in our power to save it."

Raven sighed and shook her head, a small black, bubble of nervousness rising into her belly. This whole situation was far too dangerous, but Nightwing was so desperate… what could she do, but submit to him? He wanted to keep the city safe, but invading someone's dreams to shake them for some kind of intel was not the way to go about this. Everything about this felt so utterly wrong, but she would do it because he asked her, and for the safety of the city.

"Alright. If that's what you think is best, then I'll go get ready."

He breathed a long sigh of relief. "Thank you, Raven."

Her stare flicked up to meet his own. "Just… don't make me regret this."

-o-

Preparing for dreamwalking was fairly easy, just a few spells and a special, herbal tea that tasted bittersweet and a bit sour. It used to be a spell that was far more common, but the concern and respect over privacy (even that of your enemies) made the spell a moral conundrum. She was supposed to be the one who rallied against behavior like this, but here she was, initiating it. And this was not an easy task in any shape, although she wished it was.

Knowing that she was going to delve into the minds of one of their more peculiar enemies made Raven a bit nervous. It shouldn't have bothered her really, in all their battles she had never sensed that Red X was a bad guy. He was selfish, a little pigheaded, kind of crass, and eternally looking out for "number one", but Raven never sensed that he had any kind of real evil intention. For all intents and purposes, Red X was just kind of an asshole, end of story. But going into the rawest part of his emotions and feelings could prove something completely different. He could very well be someone far too dangerous for herself alone.

But Nightwing was desperate for information, and Raven was at his disposal, so she had nothing to do but do what she could for him.

She just hoped this didn't backfire.

Raven closed her eyes and let her body sink into the softness of her mattress, her head growing heavy as the spell started to take effect. Dreamwalking was always a surreal experience, the emotions and sensations of a million creatures and being each vying for her attention, drawn to her powers. She could feel the the auras pulling at her with claws and teeth or soft caresses and secrets, and for a moment, Raven honestly believed that she might be pulled apart by how many there were. It was overwhelming, but she couldn't let them control her.

Shaking off the feeling of millions of people reaching for her, she shifted and began searching, wading through all the souls, dreams, and wishes that existed from person to person. Minutes seemed to turn into hours until she felt him, and not just felt him but was drawn to him, like a beacon. His aura was dark, a little bit cracked and broken, but there was light inside, light that was just begging to get out. When Raven touched it, it felt warm and soft, not at all like what she expected to live within him. And still, that light, it wrapped around and pulled at her psyche, trying to get closer and closer. It was almost as if he was calling out to her, reaching for her attention across so many different planes of existence.

Barely hesitating against the strength of his emotions, Raven touched his aura and fell into him. A second skipped by before she felt herself disappearing into his emotions, landing somewhat unceremoniously in his dreams. Her head spun a bit and she shivered, trying to pull herself together before she investigated Red X.

"You look like you could use a drink."

Raven blinked, still feeling a bit disoriented as she looked around an old, empty bar, a jukebox in the corner playing classic rock songs. Licking her lips, she turned and looked into a maskless face, seeing ebony hair fall into too-bright green eyes, a lock of white hair mingling into the dark fringe. A scar near his jaw and a fading bruise on his neck were echoes of wounds that had once been there, and Raven was certain that if she pulled his shirt up, she would see the marks of crowbar still burned into his skin like a brand. She twitched, and bit back a soft gasp as she realized who Red X really was.

Nightwing was going to shit a brick if he ever found out.

"I… um, yeah…" Raven blushed and pushed at her hair, needing to do something with her hands to keep herself from losing her mind. She gave a weak laugh and forced a small smile. "Yeah, I think I could use a drink."

I could use the whole damn bottle.

"Hm. Well, let's see what I've got… I've got whiskey, whiskey, and whiskey…" He leaned over the bar and snatched a glass and a bottle from the shelf, watching her expression in the mirror behind the bottles. "And if you're not in the mood for whiskey, there's always whiskey."

"With such a selection, I don't know how I'm going to choose." She took the glass from his hand and smirked, still unable to control her heart. "Whiskey it is, I guess."

He chuckled and offered her his hand in a firm, pleasant. "It's nice to see you again, Raven."

"Thanks." Raven forced another smile, trying to keep a hold on herself. "I'm always glad to be around."

"I know." He poured himself another glass and set the bottle down, staring into the amber liquid for a long moment. "You're here a lot, Raven. I'm even beginning to remember your favorite song. I think. Sometimes I feel like you change it up just to keep me on my toes."

Raven's eyes widened just a little and she swallowed in surprise. Knew her favorite song? How often had he dreamt about her? Yes, she was here right now, but that didn't mean that he didn't project an image of her as he slept. He could have easily made up some ideas about her in the back of his mind, using them to fuel his dreams. And, if that was the case, then how often had he thought about her? And what did they do in his dreams? Although, judging by the way his lips curled at the edges, she was willing to bet it wasn't just sitting and drinking good whiskey.

She blushed and looked away, taking a gulp of the burning whiskey in her hand, hoping to focus on anything other than the sinful slash of his mouth.

"So…" Jason shifted on the barstool and smiled. "Did you want to pick the music tonight?"

She shook her head, trying to keep her mind pulled together and not dwell on the fact that Jason had dreamt of her before. If she did, she could very well mess up whatever mental image he had of her. If he began to suspect that she wasn't his Raven (whatever construct he had designed of her), her cover would have been blown and she would have been left with no way to get him to trust her again. "No, I actually came here hoping for some information."

"Oh. That's new. Usually you're here to bitch about Gar or Dick. How are they by the way? I imagine Princess Bluebird is a peach as usual, and how many pranks did Gar pull on you this week?" He shrugged and poured them both another glass. "Actually, you know what? It doesn't matter. I don't really like talking about them anyway." He took another sip. "Okay, shoot. What do you want to ask me?"

"I… um…" Raven stumbled over her words as she watched Jason's hand slide over the bar and rest next to her own, barely rubbing the tips of his fingers over her hand. It was an intimate touch, something he had been trying to keep private, but all it did was make Raven gasp and her eyes flutter. Just what was he doing to her? Even more than that, just what did he dream about with her in it? She cleared her throat and tried to talk again, trying to decide if she should pull her hand back. "We're looking for info on Slade, and we were hoping you might have had some answers or information."

He snorted and took another drink, licking his lips as he pulled the glass away. "Pfft. Yeah, right. Even I think that guy is too psychotic for me, and I fucking died." He shook his head. "Unfortunately, I can't help you out there, Little Bird-"

Her cheeks flushed at the nickname, but she chose not to point it out.

"-the only thing I can tell you is that I've been getting a few bits and piece here and there about him. Not much, but just enough to make my hair stand on end a little. From what I hear, he's been trying to get a bunch of baddies together for some hullabaloo or something. It sounds pretty big and pretty dangerous, but I don't know more than that." He shrugged. "And I don't know specifically who he's been talking to, and I don't know what for. He hasn't reached out to me, and I'd like to keep it that way. I wish I could help more, but that's all I know."

That was a little something at least, she sighed and downed the rest of the whiskey in a single gulp, feeling her head start to spin with the sudden booze. It might have been a dream, but in this world, the alcohol was very real to him, and Raven could feel its effects start to rub at the edges of her senses. "Well, thanks anyway. I appreciate it." She stood up, but Jason grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the barstool.

"You can't leave just yet."

Raven's nostrils flared and she looked over at him. "W-what?"

"Come on, Rae. You know the rules, one kiss before you get to leave. That's always been our agreement. I get a kiss, you get whatever you need off your chest…" He hummed, rubbing his thumb along his jaw. "But tonight I gave you info, so I think that's earned at least two kisses… maybe I even get to cop a feel." He looked almost boyish, his grin lopsided and teasing, and Raven's heart fluttered again. Just what in the world was he doing to her?

The way he was looking at her seemed to make those echoes of scars fade and disappear, and Raven could see those same scars and bruises practically dissolve into fresh, clean skin as his fingers circled her wrist and pulled her closer. He didn't look so tired or broken or damaged, he looked young again, playful, sweet, like he was finding solace and heaving in her. She shivered and her eyes met his again, watching as his stare turned almost hungry with each passing second. He stood up and moved closer to her, his hands leaving her arm to bury in her hair, and Raven watched more scars on his forearms and neck vanish as he rubbed his nose against her own. It was a surprisingly affectionate move, and she felt a little shiver run down her spine.

"One kiss," she whispered, unsure of what she should do, but feeling her heart tremble and twist inside her chest. If she acted too out of character, it was very likely he would realize that this was not the Raven he dreamt about. And if he realized that, it could destroy everything she had worked so hard at.

At least, that was the excuse she kept telling herself.

"Two if you're good."

"Oh, Little Bird, I'm always good." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her own.

Raven's eyes shot open as a bolt of lightning practically whipped through her, lighting the very edges of her soul on fire. Something in his kiss was damn-near addictive, and before she knew what she was doing, her hands found his hair and she buried her fingers into his locks. Her heart was no longer fluttering inside her chest, but it felt as though a chorus of timpanis were slamming against her ribs, pounding out a frantic, symphonic rhythm. A low moan rumbled in her throat, and her eyes closed and as she moved her mouth against his own.

Sparks snapped and crackled against their skin, and Raven felt lightheaded and dizzy as he continued to kiss her over and over and over again. Each movement of his mouth drawing out another sensation that made her forget everything she had come here for. His kisses tasted of whiskey and black cherries, and the flavor alone was sending her straight to heaven before dragging her back to the pits of Hell. It was all too much, too quickly, too… everything.

Shivering, she gasped as he pulled away, nudging his nose against hers again.

"You seem nervous." He tugged her lower lip between his teeth and smiled. "You know you can trust me, Little Bird."

Raven could do nothing except tremble in his arms. She was frightened by the intensity of him. She'd been kissed before, made out before, even had sex before, but this? This was something entirely different. This was something that threatened to consume her with lightning and fire and smoke and steam, and everything destructive before building her up into a new person she doubted she would recognize. Swallowing, she lifted her stare to his own and watched the echo of that final scar near his eye fade as he whispered her name again.

If this was what he did to her, what did she do to him?

"O-one more." Her words were raw against her throat, and her hands slid down from his hair to rest against his chest. "One more kiss before I leave."

"Just a kiss?" He brushed his lips over her own, eyes searching hers. "Or something more?"

She didn't know what she wanted.

"Just a kiss..."

He moved closer to her again, his breath warm as he leaned in to kiss her again.

"...for now."

Jason paused, grinning brightly as he pulled her back into Hell, letting her burn and writhe against him, and she succumbed to everything he offered. This should have been wrong in every sense of the word, but Raven couldn't find it within herself to escape. He was finding comfort and solace in her, and there was something about him that kept her against his side. This was not what she had expected when she told Nightwing it was dangerous, but it was no less frightening.

Just what was happening between them?

His mouth moved against hers again, and Raven forgot everything she had ever thought about, falling into his arms as he murmured her name into her lips like a brand.

Raven knew one thing: she was already giving into him, and she had no idea how to save herself.

There are a few chapters to this, but it doesn't have a whole lot of very definitive plot, but a general idea of where I want it to go. I might pick at it, I might not. I just wanted to share what I had so far.