What I Want

Out of necessity, Raven and Red X formed a partnership, but a chance meeting with Robin and the Teen Titans threatens their business understanding. Raven begins questioning her powers and what they should be used for. Will she stay on the wrong side of the law, or will she do good and join the team?

)O(

Prologue

Raven felt stupid for doing this. Actually, she felt worse than stupid, she felt downright guilty. Her mentor had always told her that her powers were special, and should be treated as such. What her father was and what she was supposed to be come, those things should not affect her soul. She was raised to be good, to be honest, and to protect others. But standing huddled under a shop overhang, cold, early spring rain pouring down around her feet, her stomach eating its self alive, she didn't have a choice. Necessity breeds desperation.

And so she answered the advertisement.

There was a shift of air next to her, the faint scent of black licorice, and the nearly silent scrape of metal on brick. It would have been unnoticeable to someone without her talents. She turned and stared into the dark alleyway, picking out the dark shadows. "I don't suppose you're Red X?"

There was a slight shuffling, and a mask appeared with a caricature of a skull. "Perceptive." His voice was tinny and distorted, but it didn't seem to hide his ego. Raven felt his emotions carefully as he paced around her, humming and hawing as he moved. "I have to say that I'm rather impressed. You're the first girl who managed to see the code in the ad."

"First girl? Or first person?" Raven peaked an eyebrow and shoved her hands into the pockets on her hooded sweatshirt. Her fingers poked through a few holes worn threadbare. Hopefully he didn't notice her desperation.

He pondered his statement before responding. "First suitable candidate. There've been a few code-breakers to show up, but they aren't much for physical activity. Although, I suppose sitting behind a government desk can do that to you…"

Didn't this guy shut up? Did she have the job or not? She felt her irritation spike, and something in the distance took the full brunt of her powers. Calm. She needed to calm down, or something worse was going to happen. She took a deep breath and returned her stare to Red X, who was still prattling on like she was listening.

"… but that's not important." No? Really? Raven bit back a snide comment. He eyed her again before leaning against the wall next to him. "You appear to be in fairly good physical condition, and you're smart enough to crack the code…" He leaned close to her, his mask hovering above her face. "So, what's the catch? Are you FBI? CIA? Or worse, hired help?"

Raven snorted indelicately and shoved her hand into his mask, pushing him away from her. "You're the one with a coded advertisement promising riches and infamy galore, and you want to know what my catch is?" She shook her head and sighed. "I'm parentless, friendless, homeless, penniless, and starving. At this point, I might assassinate a foreign dignitary for a meal. I'm not here to uproot you or your… job… I'm only here so I can live."

"Sad sob story. Good cover." He leaned back on his heels and hummed again, still watching her. Goddess, he was such an asshole. He waved his hand as if unimpressed by her story. "And I don't do the mercenary thing. Too messy and too much red tape."

"How very noble of you." Raven sighed and pushed her hood down, exposing her pale, gaunt face. She felt the air around them change with his emotions. It turned thick and sticky, but she couldn't back down now. She had to be close to a deal with him, and that meant food and shelter. "Look, do you want me or not? If you don't need me, then I need to find another form of employment and you're wasting my time."

"How about a test?"

Raven's eyes closed. This was getting bad. How could she have let him talk her into this? She was thieving as a test? Just to prove she could do it? The thought made her empty stomach churn, but what choice did she have? She wouldn't last much longer without some kind of livelihood. "What kind of test?"

"See that very pretty necklace in the window across the street?"

A pawnshop had a chintzy looking, tacky gold plated chain with an obscene dollar sign hanging from it. Was she going to have to steal that? Of all the things he could have made her steal, that was one of them? She turned back to him and nodded. "Yeah? And?"

"Grab it without setting the alarm off, and I'll buy lunch and we can talk business."

The mention of food made Raven groan. "You're exploiting me and my need to eat."

He cocked his head to the side, and Raven felt him smile under the mask. "You're hiding something. Call it fair game."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine."

But her powers were supposed to be used for good… weren't they?

Necessity breeds desperation, and sometimes confusion was a close brother.

)O(

So, I've decided to rewrite the premise of this. I found myself trying to weave back story into this, and was a little confused as to how Red X and Raven got together. The storyline is staying the same, but things will be a little different. I'm hoping it'll come out a whole lot better. Thanks again! Let me know how you feel about this.